Thanks for all the comments guy. This chapter is probably like everywhere cuz I wrote it with a really bad headache.
Just a warning, I know very little about medical stuff, so half the stuff is probably wrong lol! So don't come on my case about it. I take no responsibility of killing people through wrong medical information!
This chapter is dedicated to Yuks. For some unknown reason. So don't bother asking.
Can you tell I'm sick and am ready to shoot myself?
Anyways, hope you all like it. Looking forward to the comments!
Happy Reading!
Anam
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Chapter 113
"Anjali, you have visitors" Ryan announced when he arrived at their shared small office escorting Bani and Jai.
A genuine smile appeared on her face for the first time in days, albeit a weary one. "It is so good to see you guys!" Anjali exclaimed getting up from the chair behind her desk. She walked over to them and gave them both a huge hug.
"It's great to see you too Anju" Jai smiled as he hugged her back.
"It sure is" Bani agreed. "I've really missed you."
"I've missed you guys as well" Anjali replied. She stood back and took a good look at the couple and was amazed. "Look at both of you. I was right!."
"Right about what?" Jai asked curiously.
"You two. I knew you were meant for each other and I've never seen two people more in love than the two of you. Jai, I've never seen you look happier than right now and Bani you are positively glowing."
Bani blushed. "I fall more in love with Jai every day" she grinned, her gaze shifting from Anjali to Jai.
"Well Anjali, this is one time I'll happily admit you were right. I'm happier now than I've ever been and I'll readily admit you were right and I was wrong."
"Finally we agree" Anjali smiled. "So, how was your flight?"
"Not bad" Jai said. "The best part was getting off the plane into this nice weather."
Anjali chuckled. "And that my friend is one of the reasons I love it so much out here."
Jai shook his head and laughed. "So, how is everything going here?" He asked, changing the subject.
The amused grin on Anjali's face disappeared and she sighed heavily. "Clean up is going to take awhile" she said.
"Anju, what is it? What's wrong?" Jai could tell by the look on Anjali's face that there was more bothering her than the fact that Los Angeles County was going to need to rebuild a few skyscrapers.
Anjali looked at Jai and Bani and fought to keep her stoic demeanor. "It's Rishab. He's been missing since the earthquake."
"You're kidding me!" Jai exclaimed. "Anju, why didn't you say something?"
"Jai, at first I was too busy with work and it really never occurred to me to worry. I figured he'd call me when he got the chance. People are pretty busy out here when an earthquake hits."
"Anjali, I'm sorry" Bani said, worry in her eyes. Worry for her friend and also for the man she'd never met. She knew how important he was to Anjali; therefore he was important to both her and Jai.
"Have you tried the hospitals?" Jai suggested.
Anjali held up a list of hospitals, shelters and morgues that spread over three pages. "This is just in the immediate area" Anjali said. "I've called most of these places; unfortunately I'm going to have to go in person to look at a number of John Does."
"I'm hoping I don't have to go that route" Jai said. "I'm really hoping the TV station knows something about Ronit."
"You can share my office with me while you're here Jai and the department will grant you all courtesies. I already have all the credentials you'll need while you're here. Are you ready to start looking?"
"Truthfully Anjali, Bani and I were kind of hoping to get cleaned up first" Jai explained. "It was a pretty long flight."
"No problem, I understand completely" Anjali replied. She reached over to her desk and picked up a set of keys and a envelope with a piece of paper with directions on it to her condo taped to the front and handed them to Jai.
"Here is a spare set of keys to my apartment and directions on how to get there and where to park once you're there. People might get pretty upset if you take their parking spot. Inside the envelope you'll find several maps, A Thomas Guide which is a must when driving in southern California, directions to the television station from here and my apartment and also a list of all the local hospitals. Since I don't know where the complex is where you saw Ronit I couldn't put them in order by location closest to the site but if you have any luck at the studio I should be able to help you out with that later."
"Great" Jai said as he studied the directions. "You certainly thought of everything," he said.
Anjali grinned. "I try" she said. "I'll let the two of you decide where you want to sleep when you get to my place. There's a twin bed in the guest room and I've put a cot up in there if you both want to stay in there or else Jai can stay on the couch in the living room and Bani in the bedroom. For that matter Bani can sleep in my room since I probably won't be there too much anyway."
"Anjali, we don't want to put you out" Bani said. "You've been too kind to us already, letting us stay with you and getting Jai privileges to work out of your department. I don't know how we can ever repay you for all your kindness."
"Believe me Bani, it's no trouble at all. I'll do whatever I can for the two of you. I just wish I could help you more looking for Ronit but as you can see we're swamped here."
"Jaan, don't worry about it" Jai said. "You've done plenty, believe me and thank you." Jai leaned over and gave her a kiss on the forehead. "You're one in a million."
"You're right about that hot stuff" Anjali grinned.
The three of them laughed at Anjali's comment.
"Now, let me formally introduce you to a few people who are here beside Ryan, so you'll feel more at home. Jai, you already know Ryan and he will be the man to ask questions of if I'm not around when you get back."
"Where are you headed?" Jai asked curiously.
"I'm going to check out some of the local hospitals" Anjali answered with a sigh. "I'm getting no where fast on the telephone."
"Good luck Anju" Jai offered.
"I hope you find Rishab" Bani said. "I can't wait to meet him when you do find him."
Anjali grinned. "I can't wait for you two to meet him either." She tried to keep her tone light but Bani and Jai could both tell Anjali was seriously worried about Rishab.
"We'll call you after we talk to the TV people" Jai promised. "But please, let us know if you hear anything from Rishab."
"Will do" Anjali promised.
Anjali led Bani and Jai over to Ryan's desk and made proper introductions and then introduced them to her captain and several others who were there at the time. Once they'd met the officers and had a brief tour of the station, Jai and Bani headed to Anjali's condo and Anjali began the painstakingly tedious process of visiting the hospitals one by one.
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"Come on handsome" Judy Dwyer sighed, gently stroking the hand of the man lying in the hospital bed. "Time to wake up." Judy frowned as she walked away from the ICU cubicle where John Doe number six still lay unconscious. She returned to the nurse's station with her chart and sat down to document the findings from her latest assessment.
"How's he doing today?" The charge nurse asked Judy.
"He seems to be about the same" Judy said glancing over at Rishab's bed. His vital signs are great; all his neuro checks are fine except he won't wake up."
"He's bound to wake up soon Judy" the charge nurse told her. They've scanned him from top to bottom and with the exception of a few broken bones, cuts and bruises he's fine."
"I bet someone is going crazy looking for him" Judy said thoughtfully.
"No doubt" the other nurse agreed. "I'm sure someone is looking for him and will find him here eventually. That is if he doesn't wake up first and tell us."
"I'm sure you're right," Judy said. The nurse smiled and retreated to take care of her own patients.
Judy busied herself for a few minutes writing down the necessary information on John Doe's chart. She was engrossed in her charting when an alarm sounded and she looked up to see if it was from one of her patients. Her eyes widened in surprise when she saw John Doe number six attempting to sit up in bed.
"Joyce! Joyce!" Judy said excitedly, standing up and rushing to the cubicle. The charge nurse looked up from her work and saw Judy running towards the bed of their nameless patient.
"He's waking up!" Judy called. Joyce joined Judy at Rishab's bedside and the two of them excitedly assessed his status.
"Can you hear me?" Judy asked. "Sir, can you hear me?"
Rishab groaned softly, his head moving from side to side on his pillow, his face contorting in pain. Judy and Joyce glanced at each other and then back at their patient.
"Sir, can you hear me?" Joyce asked. "You're in the hospital. There was an earthquake. Do you remember?"
Rishab's movements became more defined and it was clear he was regaining consciousness. "Can you tell us your name?" Judy asked hopefully.
"Mmm" Rishab grunted. "My name. Ronit."
"Did you say Ronit?" Joyce asked. "Is your name Ronit?"
Rishab's eyes slowly opened. He immediately shut them tightly as the intense light in the ICU was too much for his retinas to adjust to just yet. Sensing his problem Joyce walked over to the light switch and dimmed the lights. "Sir, is your name Ronit?" Joyce asked as she approached the bed again.
Again, Rishab opened his eyes. He blinked several times and glanced around at his unfamiliar surroundings. After a moment Rishab finally focused on the two women at his bedside.
"Where am I?" He asked in a raspy voice. He coughed several times as his throat was very dry.
"You're in the hospital Ronit" Judy answered.
"Ronit?" Rishab questioned, his voice still harsh. "My name's Rishab, Rishab Singhania."
Judy and Joyce exchanged surprised looks briefly but were ecstatic that their patient finally regained consciousness. "Well Mr. Rishab Singhania, it's a pleasure to finally know what to call you. For the last two day's you've been known as John Doe number 6."
"John Doe?" Rishab repeated slowly. His mind was hazy. "Wait, there was an earthquake."
"That's right" the nurses replied in unison.
Rishab groaned again as he fought to sit up. Judy touched her finger to the bed control and allowed Rishab's bed to rise up so he didn't have to over exert himself. "May I have a drink of water?" Rishab asked.
"Of course" Joyce replied. She left and quickly returned with a cup of cold water and a straw. Rishab took a long drink of the cool water and at that moment would have sworn it was the best thing he'd ever tasted in his life.
"You'd better take it slowly at first Mr. Singhania" his nurse told him. "You've been unconscious for a few days now. We don't want you to overdo."
"I'm all right" Rishab insisted. His mind was getting clearer by the minute and there was something he realized he needed to do immediately. "I need to make a phone call" he said after he finished his drink. "I need to call my girlfriend and make sure she's okay."
"Of course" Judy smiled warmly. "Just as soon as the doctor checks you out, we'll make that phone call. If everything goes the way I believe it will, you'll probably be out of here by tonight."
"Thanks" Rishab said with relief. He closed his eyes and thought about the last conversation he and Anjali had. He knew now what he had to do. And that was tell Anjali about his past and hope she understood, because he was absolutely crazy about her and for the first time he could remember was ready to make a commitment to another person.
To be continued…
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