RaBir FF -A Cast of Characters chapter 97/98 & Epilogue pg121/2 (4 - Page 81

Chapter 71

Rachna doubted that she could have slept more fitfully than she had by virtue of the fact that she was away from home and in a strange bed, so she made every effort not to disturb the young woman who slumbered in the double bed across from hers when she woke up unexpectedly in the middle of the night. Quite possibly Arpita could be experiencing the same restlessness, she thought, but when she peered in that direction, her assistant seemed quite content. Rachna shook her head realizing that she was grasping for a benign excuse for the edginess that had plagued her all evening and now disturbed her rest. Not for the first time, her attention moved to the bedside table and she looked expectantly at her mobile resting on it. Unless there had been an extreme emergency, there wouldn't be the need for anyone to contact her, so why was she anticipating finding a message that there was some problem at home? She picked it up and frowned; Nothing...the screen was blank of any sort of alert. She shook her head at her fanciful thinking that something was awry, and then got up. Treading as lightly as possible, she crossed the dimly lit hotel room to go to the bathroom. When she finished her business she returned back to her bed. There was ample time for her to try to go back to sleep, and knowing that it would be in her best interest to get as much rest as possible, Rachna extinguished the bedside lamp enveloping the room in complete darkness. Tomorrow was destined to be monumental day in her life, and she had to be in top form. Sleep was a must. Why then did the sudden urge to pray for the wellbeing of her loved ones overwhelm her, and supplant any thought of her resting? Intuition made her close her eyes, and instead of falling back asleep, she fervently began asking for God's protection for her family.

The whoosh of something being slid under her door sounded loud in the silence and interrupted her litanies. She opened her eyes just in time to see a shadow disturb the corridor light shining under the door of her room. It was an envelope of some sort. Curious she got up to see what it could be.

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She was fading fast, but she couldn't allow herself to lose focus. There was so much blood, and she had to staunch the flow; to control the life-force flowing from his wound. What use would be all of her training and certifications if she couldn't save the one person who meant the most to her? She added another cloth over the one already saturated refusing to let any harm come to him. She couldn't lose him, not like this; not now... she couldn't exist without him.

"Just tell me you are okay, that he didn't ..."

Her vision blurred further with unshed tears. How could he even be considering her state when it seemed that he was growing weaker by the minute? She averted her face away ashamed, choosing to focus on her task, and away from thoughts of the liberties she had allowed a complete stranger.

He placed his hand on hers purposively.

"It doesn't matter to me, it never would..." He paused to take a few slow deep breaths.

They sounded labored to her ears and Naomi looked back at him in alarm. "Rajeev?" She began panting in her terror.

"Calm down Sweetheart, you're hyperventilating. Take deep breaths with me, thik hai?"

He raised his hand then, distracting her and she followed its track with her tear filled eyes. She couldn't tell if the unsteadiness of his hand was because he was getting weaker or because she her own trembling was skewing her vision. All she knew was that his fingers were now stained red from where he had covered her hand; almost to the point of dripping. It was far too much blood and it frightened her immensely. Her breathing rate soared to match her panic.

"I'm glad your hair is tied back, these curls of yours can be a wild mess at times, Naomi. I think it definitely best that only our daughter inherit these curls. They will be just too much for a little boy to contend with, I think," he inanely joked.

She began sobbing loudly.

And then, giving no indication of his intent, Rajeev gently touched her forehead before running his fingers back into her maang. "Just in case you need reminding in the coming days of how much I truly love you, Sweetheart, "he said softly and winked at her with a gentle smile. He reached to the back of her head and pulled her closer. "I love you wife," he whispered against her lips before closing his eyes against the pain in his side, exhaling against her lips, when she exerted even more pressure.

She couldn't hold on any longer, and her last thought was of her failure before her world suddenly went dark. Rajeev captured her against him when she would have fallen to the floor.

Daadi stood in the doorway shaking her head worriedly.

"You shouldn't have done that Rajeev beta; it was the wrong thing to do." She came beside him, and helped him settle Naomi in a more comfortable position before draping a blanket over her to cover her scanty attire. She added one more cloth to his injured side.

"Nay Daadi, whether she realized it or not, she needed that reassurance that nothing has changed. Besides, for all we know she may not even remember any of this." He opened his eyes. "But if she does it will help her get through our time apart."

"Ha, but did it ever occur to you that you have now made it more difficult for her to leave, beta? That was not an overture a woman in love easily forgets or can walk away from."

"She doesn't have a choice in the matter, Daadi, she has to leave for her own safety."

They both looked over to the door where Kabir stood accompanied by their doctor and Rachna's mother. Shail took in the scene and then stoically entered the room.

"Nanhe," she called, taking charge of the situation, "Carry Naomi to the bed, so the doctor can attend to Rajeev."

"Nay," the coach called out when the physician approached. "Examine her first; make sure she's okay."

"Beta you are the one in immediate danger; you need to go the hospital now."

"Nay Daadi, I won't leave her." He turned to the doctor. "I will go for treatment after I know she is safely away, but not before. Do what you have to, to make that possible."

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She turned over reaching for the man she had laid with; for the arms that had offered warmth and solace the night before. The bed was empty save for her.

"Rajeev," she called out hoarsely as she sat up slowly, wondering why her body ached so much. She felt cold too boot, but that was to be expected since she was dressed in one of the negligees that she had bought for her honeymoon. A fleeting thought that she hoped Rajeev had liked it, came to her, and was gone just as quickly.

"Aacha, awake at last." A glass of water appeared in front of her , which she gratefully took...and almost dropped when she looked up to see it was KT ,dressed in his bathrobe, who had handed it to her. She struggled as she reached for the blanket to cover herself.

"KT...what are you doing here? Get out!"

He didn't respond.

Neither could she say any more, as she came to realize where she was.

The glass she had fought to maintain a grip on fell on to the bed, its contents splashing her, before rolling off it and onto to the floor to shatter.

Kabir jumped back to escape the shards of glass. His action only made things worse, as in moving he had given Naomi a fuller view of the room and confirming her fear.

She gasped for air, and looked at her best friend's husband in stark horror, as questions began racing through her head. Foremost was what had led up to her waking up in Rachna's bedroom, in her bed. Vainly she searched for some memory that would give her any clue as to what had happened the night before, but for the life of her she couldn't recall anything. All she had to go on was what she knew in the light of the new day and each fact was more damning the next. Why had she awoken in her best friend's bed and more importantly who had she lain with last night?

There was movement at the doorway, and Naomi looked in that direction. Rajeev stood there. He looked unsteady on his feet as if he was shocked, as he looked at the two of them. She began shaking her head.

"Rajeev, I swear...on my life, it's not what it looks like."

Something very much like regret shone in his eyes before he closed them, blocking his emotions from her.

"Tell me," he rasped, opening them to glare at her with an emotion far more vicious. "Tell me then what possible reason can justify you being in KT's bed?"

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Arpita looked up to see her former schoolmate approaching. She looked tense.

"You have five minutes tops; has she returned yet?"

"Nay."

"I can't believe she is risking such an opportunity; couldn't she have got someone else to handle this emergency?"

"Clearly not," Arpita answered tersely. "It has to be a serious issue, if she had to leave; can they not consider that at least?"

"This isn't a game. We have a tight schedule we are working with and this is a highly competitive process. Banaras Beauty's presentation is slotted next, and that's the only opportunity there will be for it." The young woman recognized the pressure her friend was under, and softened her stance. "I'm sorry, Arpita. There is nothing I can do."

Aprita nodded and then took a deep breath. Resolved to what she had to do in support of the designer who had shown such confidence in her. "Banaras Beauty will present."

Six minutes later the young woman stood alone at the dais. On either side stood two mannequins adorned with two of Banaras Beauty's best designs.

"Namaste Ladies and Gentlemen, as you rightly guess, I am not Rachna Tripathi. Unfortunately Mrs. Tripathi has been called away for a family emergency."

She noticed a rumbling of discontent amongst some of the audience before she continued.

"One thing I have learnt in my time with Banaras Beauty is that the exquisite designs represent only the very beginning of a lifelong commitment that begins when a bride becomes a wife; a daughter transforms to a bahu and eventually, if one is so blessed and indeed inclined, from bahu to mother."

A few of the participants smiled at her words, and the air in the room became slightly more accepting.

"However, most importantly the bride becomes an integral part of her new family, which in turn becomes her utmost responsibility. This has always been the case with Rachna, and I believe that reason she is able to create her exquisite designs is because she is able to translate these very principles into each and every one of her designs. As such, I feel privileged that I can stand in her stead as she embodies the qualities behind the Banaras Beauty line."

Arpita clicked to the first page.

"If I may bring your attention to the first slide which is page 2 of the hardcopy of the presentation we have provided...

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She was floundering around for an excuse; none would come, as it was clear Naomi remembered nothing of the previous night. All she could do was to insist that Rajeev trust her; that their love and her truth would never allow her to do anything the scene in front of him had suggested. But he could see her doubts because although she didn't understand what had happened; she was aware that something definitely had.

Unwittingly Naomi had offered the perfect excuse that would allow him the assurance that she would leave, but he felt an absolute bas***d at how he had to treat her. Even though Rajeev knew that it would only be a very short period that she would be under duress, it still went against every principle he had in dealing with the woman he loved. He had to make their interaction short and to the point, to make sure she left for her flight. She would understand when they had the opportunity to explain it to her. He was wavering though. Aside from his conscience railing over the deceitfulness of his words , his physical condition was also deteriorating rapidly. It wouldn't be long before could no longer ignore getting proper treatment. But he had to get her on her way before she became clearheaded enough to wonder at and want to know what had actually happened to her; or worse yet to remember his injury. Either would prevent her from going back to her family where she would be safe from whoever had attacked her last night.

"Don't just stand there KT, tell him nothing happened!"

Wrapped in the cover, Naomi had turned her attention to the designer, imploring him to defend their integrity. He wasn't even paying attention, as he focused over her shoulder in the direction of her fiance. Rajeev watched as she ran one hand through her loosened hair in frustration, and then stopped. Slowly she brought her hand down a looked at it curiously. She let go of the blanket she held to cover her dishabille and studied the hand she had freed, turning them over and over. She raised one finger to her forehead, and then turned and met Rajeev's eyes with her own pooling ones. He had moved into the room and was sitting on the small couch now. She began walking to him, and he knew then that it was too late. If she hadn't remembered out right, she would soon discover enough to prevent her leaving.

"You witch; I trusted you!"

The sharp grip that held her and spun her in the opposite direction pulled Naomi right into the vicious slap. Her hand flew up to cover her cheek.

"Rachna?"

"Ha...Rachna." She looked her up and down in disgust. "Obviously you weren't expecting me," she said snidely. She noticed Rajeev there, and looked at him sadly before turning back to the woman she had considered her sister. "Oh dear, did my Sir interrupt the two of you as well, hmm mess up that last opportunity for you to sleep with my husband before you left, Pari?" Her fingers dug into the smaller woman's arm.

Naomi cried out in pain.

"Bas Rachna; you are hurting her!"

Rachna released Naomi's arm and addressed her husband. "You would defend her? Wait, of course you would, you would do anything for her wouldn't you? Tell me Kabir Tripathi, who did you assure she returned home for: Rajeev Sir or yourself?" She reached into her bag and pulled out an envelope. "You like the medium of photography to tell stories, Kabir Tripathi, so tell me what tale are these telling...but make it quick since your lover has exactly 45 minutes to gather her things and get the hell out of my house!"

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The artificial lighting in the hospital room was overly bright as the patient regained consciousness. The nurse noticed when he opened his eyes and squinted against the harshness of the light, and rushed out to call the doctor. Outside the room Kabir came to attention. He ran his hand through his hair.

The attending physician returned to the room from down the hall with Rajeev's parents in tow. He asked them to remain outside so he could conduct his initial assessment. Before he could return Mr. Agrawal's mobile rang, and he answered it. Suddenly he motioned to his wife and they went back down the corridor, to take the call in privacy. The door to Rajeev's room opened and the doctor exited.

"Doctor how is he?"

"He is out of danger, but we will have to probably have to keep him for a couple of days or so. His parents?"

Kabir pointed in the direction the couple had headed, and watched as he hurried in their direction. Because he hadn't said otherwise, KT entered the room in hopes of speaking to Rajeev before his parents' inevitable return.

"It seems I've lost most of the day. Tell me, has she landed yet?" the coach began without preamble.

"If not yet I expect it will be very shortly. I'm waiting to hear now."

"Good."

He grimaced as he reached for the control to adjust his hospital bed. Kabir grabbed the device and began elevating the head of the bed.

"Thank you." Rajeev said. He breathed deeply. "Apparently the injury was more serious than any of us expected. Thankfully Naomi didn't have the chance to discover it." His lips turned up slightly. "You have to thank Rachna for me; I would never have taken her for such a talented actress."

Kabir swallowed and attempted to smile, but the twin burning in his throat and eyes prevented him from doing so.

"And you would be right; she's not. She...Rachna has left home."

Rajeev looked back at the man in utter confusion. "What are you saying, that she actually believes it to be true; how is that even remotely possible?"

Kabir was prevented from answering when Shailish and Savitra Agarwal entered the hospital room. In particular Rajeev's step-mother's face was a countenance of worry.

"Beta, how are you feeling?" his father asked.

"Better Papa."

The room fell quiet with a strange silence. Rajeev studied his parents. His step-mother appeared on the verge of hysterics.

"Ma, I am fine."

"Where is Naomi," she blurted out. "Where is my bahu?"

"Ma you knew she was travelling today, I am sure she will call once she has arrived." His attention was drawn away when Kabir's phone rang.

KT smiled at everyone present. "It's Daadi's call. I will put in on speakerphone so we can all hear...

Namaste Daadi did you have a good flight?"

Sobbing: full of pain came over the line.

"Daadi what is wrong, tell me what has happened," Kabir demanded. "Dammit Daadi tell me!"

He had never heard his grandmother's voice as frail as when she answered him.

"She never showed up Nanhe; Naomi never made the flight..."

Kabir staggered in shock. "Daadi that is not possible we got her to the airport; we know that she checked in for the flight. What are you saying?" He took the phone off speaker and walked out of the room.

Immediately Rajeev started to rise from his bed. His father intercepted him. "No Beta, you must rest, you are still weak."

Rajeev shook off his father's hand off. "My wife is missing, how can you expect me to remain..."

"That's exactly what I expect beta. You must stay to recover. She will need you fit and hale, thik hai?" The older man relaxed when his son lay back down. "You need to tell us everything that has happened, so that we can locate her." He looked to his wife who silently cried and then back to his son. "Do not dare to hide anything from us beta, hers and your child's life may very well depend on what you tell us."

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She had begged him not to listen, that none of it was true, that the photographs and worse still the recording of a supposed tryst between her and Kabir were a pure fabrication; something she could do herself...and he had responded by removing her engagement ring.

She wailed for him to believe her and begged him to just take her home, away from everyone who would dare spread these lies. That she only wanted him, had only ever wanted him, and the family they would create. She hadn't said the words, but her action, of placing his hand low on her abdomen was tantamount to a confession...and he had responded by pulling away from her and walking away.

"Your information must be wrong, she would never have kept that from me," Rajeev said incapable of reconciling that he could possibly have treated the mother of his child so callously. "You are wrong, you have been misinformed Father."

When his mother's broke into disconsolate sounds of grief; he knew he was only lying to himself.

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Redial...wait...no answer.

Redial...wait...no answer.

First she tried calling and leaving numerous messages, pleas for Naomi to return the call. Then she resorted to messaging her: mobile, WhatsApp, Facebook, Skype every social media application she could think of.

She got nothing back.

She had made everything worse. She hadn't comprehended her friend's condition and that her physical and mental state would have Naomi's so susceptible to her falsehoods; that she could be swayed to believe that she was capable of what her supposed best friend had accused her of.

Naomi had tried to follow Rajeev when he had walked away, but she had stopped her, aware that the driver was there waiting to transport the injured man to the hospital.

"Are you hard of hearing, he doesn't want you," she had hissed to her friend. "Why don't you just do what you do best and run away, Naomi?" She took one look at her watch and then taunted her friend with the time she had remaining until her deadline to leave was up.

Rachna had retreated to the nursery and called daadi who had already arrived at the airport, and had checked in on the same flight that Naomi would fly on. They would make sure that Naomi got to the airport and see her as far as the security checkpoint. Daadi would pick her up on the other end, and would accompany her and remain with her in the UK. More importantly, the gentle woman who had been such a guiding force in the Naomi's life, during her time with them would explain everything and assure her of the magnitude of Rajeev's love for her. They would all bear the brunt of Naomi's anger, would welcome it, as long that she and her child were safe from harm.

Instead they sat helpless, unsure of where Naomi was, or how she and her baby fared.

Rachna covered her mouth and silently cried into her hands. She wanted her husband's comfort, but their separation too was part of the game. She had shattered him with her "belief" in the amateur scheme to separate them and by her taking Aryia and retreating to her parents' home, but she had to let Sonal think that she had the upper hand. The woman and whoever she had recruited to abuse Naomi would rue the day she dared to mess with her family. Rachna would not spare her; at the very least she would see everyone involved behind bars.

But first she had to find their Pari.