Part 2
Milind heard someone call out to him from a distance but paid no heed his mind was slowly waking up from the after effects of the shock. Once again he heard Raghu call out to him this time it seemed a lot more closer "Sir.... Milind sir" Raghu had shaken him by the shoulder a bit more roughly this time, causing Milind to stir. He opened his eyes wearily registering his whereabouts his head spun and he put a bruised palm to his temple in an attempt to soothe the incessant pounding that threatened to split his brain in two. Wincing he pulled himself together sitting up straight, watching himself in the rearview mirror he traced the solid mound of a rising bump on his forehead. Muttering curses under his breath he unstrapped himself to join Raghu on the wet road outside remnants of melting snow were scattered all over the place, soft snow, he should've known. He understood he had made a grave mistake and turned to check his driver how could he have forgiven himself if Raghu had been hurt because of him. "Are you ok Raghu?" he had inquired anxiously of his manservant who nodded his head vigorously since the brakes had been applied in time and the car had stopped instantaneously no harm had come to the lucky chap, probably God was smiling on him tonight Milind had thought amused checking out his hands and arms to confirm if what he said was but the truth.
The man appeared shaken but otherwise fine it was then that Raghu had pointed to the thin trail of blood that escaped his lip "Sir you are bleeding we should go to a hospital." Milind had licked the side of his swollen lip with the tip of his tongue and tasted his own blood, well served him right for trying to turn into Schumacer on a dangerous slope. "Forget it Raghu I have to reach Mumbaii, just drive me there" he had immediately dismissed the suggestion with a wave of his hand a cold compress would fix the lip and bump in no time. They had walked over to the front of the car to inspect the damage to it, wondering what was it that had stalled the car from jumping off the road into the abysmal ravine below. The head lights shone over a large expanse of the area and as they walked nearer Raghu had let out a faint scream while Milind had frozen in his tracks the wind knocked out of him. There sprawled on the ground bathed in blood was a divine young maiden, she was the one that the car had hit and had saved them from an untimely death. "Sir... she's dead... she's dead!!!" Raghu had cried in dismay tears running down his cheeks and Milind had looked at him in horror it couldn't be, no, he couldn't kill someone. Taking tentative steps towards her he put out a wary hand to her injured figure crouching beside her he turned her to reveal her face.
She appeared to be unconscious blood trickling in a small stream from her nose and mouth there appeared to be a gash in her temple that spilled crimson liquid Milind had put his hand to her warm temple on an impulse. The girl appeared to be quite young her chest rising and falling rapidly indicating her still being alive leaving the finer details for later scrutiny Milind had picked her in his arms and had placed her in the back seat of the Audi. Damn he had frowned he had just had the car imported a month earlier now the expensive suede covers would be soiled with her blood. Getting in beside her Milind took out his handkerchief spreading it on his pants before placing her head in his lap. "Raghu do I need to give you an invitation to start the damned car" he had snapped and Raghu had throbbed the engine to life having ample knowledge of his destination.
"Mr Mishra you need to fill out this form" a young nurse had catwalked upto him in high heels, God not the nurse he practically felt like rushing out of the double doors of the air conditioned lobby where he sat. Why did all women in the world have to ogle him he grimaced inwardly making it a point to avoid eye contact with the over enthusiastic medical attendant. "Your name sir right here" she had grazed her fingers against his cattily and he had glared at her through fiery eyes. "I think I can read" he had hissed the hint had been taken the nurse's face had a crest fallen look as she stepped back. He eyed his Tag Heur watch 8:50 pm he was suppposed to be on his way to Mumbaii to crack the biggest deal of his life yet here he sat in an ice cold lobby in the middle of December trying to fill out a stupid form. He cursed himself for ever having the notion of racing down the darned hill but what was done could not be undone he jotted down the details in fine print before handing it to the sulking nurse not that he cared she was paid to work here not flirt. The door infront of him had opened and the doctor had walked out his green tunic soiled with blood most probably the girl's he had figured. "Mr..." the doctor had stopped short "Mishra... Milind Mishra" he had stood up to introduce himself while Raghu had scurried closer to his master he had been pacing the corridor panic stricken what if the girl was dead and master would have to go to jail instead of Mumbaii.
"Mr Mishra she has lost a lot of blood I think it would be best if she is administered a fresh dosage of it the wounds will take time to heal too" as they talked the girl was wheeled out on a stetcher covered in a white sheet Milind had cast a fleeting glance at her as the warden rolled her to her room. "Atleast a week, we'll need to keep monitoring her progress" undoing the stethoscope from around his neck the doctor had started walking away leaving a grim faced Milind behind. "Doctor" Milind had finally found his voice causing the doctor to turn around "I can't let her stay here for even a minute longer" Milind had pressed in an urgent tone. "Mr Mishra you do understand that her condition is critical and I cannot allow you to travel with her in such a grave situation" the doctor had flatly refused to buy any of Milind's excuses for a swift discharge striding off in a huff. "Sir why do we have to wait for her discharge we can leave" Raghu had suggested another one of his brainless suggestions. Milind stood pondering on the matter he simply had to reach Mumbaii by tomorrow and if he waited for formalities here he would waste valuable time but he could not leave her just like that, afterall he had hit her with his car. She probably had a family who must be worried sick about her, Milind realized lodging a complaint with the police would make matters worse Mishra Group of Hotels was a worldwide phenomena he could not tarnish its name, if the news about the accident leaked to the media he would have a hard time settling things. He could not afford an upheavel especially when he was all set to receive Brand of the year award next month no, this should not get out. He had to make sure this was swept under the carpets and if it meant doing it the wrong way he was prepared to do it.
Sauntering down the cool corridors followed closely by Raghu he had entered the room where the girl was lying lifeless on the propped up bed, it was the first time he had seen her in ample illumination and was forced to admit that was a beauty. "Sir I think she is a witch we should check her feet, my grandmother used to tell me witches roam on lonely streets at night dressed up as brides.. See sir see she is all dressed up" Raghu had pointed to the crimson saree she had on Milind had glowered at Raghu which indicated that it was time he shut up. The doctor had inserted a needle in one of her protruding veins in the arm fixing it in place with a bit of tape checking the flow of the blood supply he had looked up to find Milind stand beside him hands thrust in pockets jaw set in firm resolution. "Doctor I need to attend an important business meeting in Mumbaii tomorrow and I need her discharged by morning" he had stated defiantly. "Mr Mishra if you insist I will be forced to call in the police since this is a police case afterall if any harm comes to her whilst journeying the hospital or I should not be held responsible for it. Her head injury is delicate and needs to be handled carefully" he had warned Milind who had felt a swell of rising anger in his chest. "Fine you can very well keep her because with or without her I leave next morning it's best we finish the paperwork before that" he had replied snidely.
"As you wish Mr Mishra" pulling out a clip board from a rack nearby he had gone over the girl's details " Her name?" he had asked Milind who stood silent. How was he supposed to know what was her name, it wasn't that she had it embedded on her forehead "her name Mr Mishra!" the doctor had asked in a slightly louder tone now. Raghu who had been staring at the girl for quite some time had quietly lifted up his head "Prachi" he had stated confidently making Milind fume inwardly as it was they were in deep trouble and here Raghu was lying through his teeth. "Your relationship with the patient?" the doctor had inquired again. Milind stood stumped how was he to admit hitting the woman with his car the doctor now tapped his foot impatiently on the clear tiles of the room making the sound resound irritatingly. Milind's teeth were set so damn firmly he wondered why they hadn't meshed into each other by now, "His wife" Raghu had blurted uncertainly and that had earned him a rather black look from his master. He knew the expression quite well Milind's lips were pressed together his jaw clenched tight if he hadn't known better he'd have boxed Raghu's ears there and then but he had to play along his reputation lay at stake. Raghu had gulped uneasily as the doctor inquired about other details all answered by Raghu " You should have informed me earlier of your association with her. The fact that she is your spouse does not allow me to keep her here against your will. I am ready to discharge her provided you see to it that she is treated properly in Mumbaii too. I must say Mr Mishra I do wonder how she copes up with a husband like you," the young infuriated doctor had retorted quite amazed to see the husband stand stone silent while the driver rattled on.
"None of your damned business and now that you have the details don't bother me about her" he had bit on each word emphatically before striding out only to be followed by Raghu. "Sir ... sir" he had hissed conspiritorially running up to his side. "Don't even remind me of what you did inside Raghu" Milind had stormed at him as soon as Raghu caught up with him. "But sir I only tried to help" Raghu had admitted in a hurt tone. "Help" Milind had barked training his eyes on him so that they probed right through his soul "You call lying about her help. When the hell did I marry her and how did you know her name was Prachi" he gritted his teeth making Raghu tremble in his skin. "Sir she was wearing a pendant it had the name engraved on it. If she is still in the bed in the morning we can take her to Mumbaii by flight" Raghu had tried to appease his master he still hadn't given up hope on her being a witch. Milind had been forced to soften towards the man he was already afraid of the woman he couldn't traumatize him further. "Go sleep in the car Raghu" Milind had ordered him walking into the room himself, he couldn't sleep in the car himself and had no mood to go rent himself a room for the night it was better he stayed with the woman in her room atleast the doctor wouldn't have any qualms about releasing her next morning if he played the devoted husband for the night. He stepped in the room noiselessly absorbing the details carefully this time as Raghu had pointed out he noticed the maroon bridal saree she had wrapped on her slim body, beneath the sheets her figure was carved he could make out the tender swell of her chest her hands placed on either side of her his eyes travelled to her face then. Her forehead was bandaged in bands of gauze a portion of it redenned which showed despite the layers of cotton positioned underneath it. He studied her eyes as they lay closed tinged in shades of matte gold and crimson lined with kohl and a set of most attractive curled lashes. Her nose was small and suited her oval face followed by plush full lips that seemed like pieces of velvet cut and stuck neatly, her skin was a creamy texture flawless and unblemished. He strode towards her magnetically pulling out a hand from his pocket he placed it against her cool skin feeling its silky smoothness against his fingers even in sleep she looked mesmerizing he wondered how it would be once she woke up and started talking. Little had he known her words would be the very thing he would despise in the coming days.
Edited by blind horizon - 16 years ago
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Anupamaa
