SS 67 Doleful Symphony - Page 104

Orange scarf on the couch

"She knows you are married right? Or did you forget to tell her" II glared at the orange silk scarf on the sofa by the hospital bed. Nivi played with two books and a bag of blocks on the floor

"This is insane" he said bluntly

"I take time off work, grab the kid fly out and see you have actually been well taken care off"

"LET IT GO II" he raised his voice

"I cant... You never told me Marliese was going to be checking on you" she said

"It was nothing. Don't be over dramatic" he lay back down

There was a knock on the room door

Nivi got up and ran to it and stepped back fearfully when the 50 something male doc bend down to greet her

She began to wail

II picked her up

"I am sorry" she mumbled

Soothing and patting the two year old's back

"How are you?" the doctor asked R&B

"Well enough to go home?" he chuckled

"You see the wife and you don't like the hospital" he joked lamely looking at II and winking

II was not amused

"Umm... he doesn't look OK to me" II said not looking at husband

"Hes had surgery" the doctor looked somber

"He needs to promise he wont ski this year" the doctor said

"He is not the promising kind" II cackled cynically too hurt

The Doc looked confused

"Can I try to step down off the bed?" R&B offered

"Oh no... no no... you should stay in bed today, she is here you will feel much better tomorrow" the doctor looked at the diagnostics

Nivi waddled to the foot of the bed

"Can I hold her please?" he asked the Doc

"Sure... if she wont jump on you" his French accent made him gesticulate wildly to show she shudnt jump

He reached with his arms

II stood still unwilling

"II" he said

She bend down and grabbed her

"Daddeee daddeee?" Nivi coed

"That's right... " he reached

She sat like a blob... happy and smiling

He played with her hands and feet

He looked worn out and tired

His hair was longer and his stubble dense now

"How long did you go skiing?" she said quietly

The doctor looked up at her thoughtfully

"Oh she has too many questions Mr Bhalla I am going to take my leave now" he said haltingly

II smiled and shook hands and turned around avoiding the couch with the orange scarf and sunglasses

"Dad was so scared" she was tearful

Nivi was playing with his phone

She yanked R&B's IV... II grabbed her quickly

Nivi screamed wanting back on the bed

"I didn't stage this" he said gruffly

"Dad was just beginning to smile Manya is engaged, Nandu got the 99^th percentile in his PSAT, and then you go and do this" II said

"How long are you here for?" he asked

"A week" she lied

He looked wordlessly

"My job is new... I have a new boss. Bally is the new division head now. My life is in Delhi" she subtly jabbed

"II" he warned

"I can take the couch at night, can we get a crib for Nivi?" she said mellowing

"Maybe, if I can get a kiss" he said achingly

"No..." she said darting sideways look at the scarf on the couch

"The guys were at a client, my secretary had the day off, I was airlifted on a medvac helicopter" he said bluntly

II was to shocked and angry to respond

"Do u want to go back to skiing?" she demanded

He didn't respond

"Ofcourse yes" she answered

"I am not going to hang up my skis over a ligament tear" he said

"Or a vertebra shift" II continued

Nivi snoozed on II's shoulder

"Theek hai" she said

"You've had a long flight, take a nap II" he leaned back

"Main theek hoon she said quietly

There is a lounge and a bedroom across this way" he said pointing to the left

"I am not leaving this room" she said looking at his IV and not at him

"I DID NOT invite her" he said bringing back the topic

"I am going to ask for a crib" she said reaching for the phone by the hospital bed