SS - Switched - Completed on 16th April - Page 6

Chapter 3

Madhu finally managed to get rid of Maa and Deepali who kept pawing at her whenever Maa had her eyes turned away. God that woman was infuriating. Was she trying to be seductive? It was now that Madhu understood Rishab's standoffish attitude towards her. She would never ever tell him off ever for the way he handles Deepali. When she tried to play footsie with her, Madhu was freaking out on the inside. It was wrong in so many ways. Madhu managed to get them to leave saying that she wanted to get some R & R. Eeeks!! Even before she left, Deepali moved her hand up her arm slowly and whispered seductively, "Get well soon, my hero!! Your heroine just can't wait anymore to do the bedroom scene." Madhu shuddered thinking about her again. God she needed a bath after that.

Wait, lets not get side tracked. The important question here is, 'What was she doing in Rishab's body?' and more important than that is 'How can she get back to her body?' She paced around for an hour thinking but it resulted in no answers let alone a sane answer. Well this whole situation is not sane, is it?

She was tired of pacing now and sat down. She was exhausted, her mind was exhausted and she just wanted to sleep and wake up when it was all over. She needed help. Her mind immidiately went to her mother. Her mother must be worried about her by now. She should call her and explain to her. Explain to her what? What can she possibly say to her mother? Wait a minute!! If she was in Rishab's body... who was in her body?? Madhu blanched just thinking about the only 2 logical conclusions she could draw – Either her body just lay there lifeless or Rishab must be occupying her body in the same way she was his.

Oh God!! What if her body just lay there lifeless. What about her baby? Nothing should happen to her baby. What about her mother and Malik and Didu? They would be devastated. No one would be able to console her mother. Oh no!! What if they decided to do the final rites, her body would be destroyed and her baby too. She would have nothing to go back to.

Just as her panic was reaching dangerous levels, the cell phone on the bedside table buzzed and she jumped up at the sudden sound.

*******

As Rishab opened his eyes, the first thing he saw was the worried looks on Sasumaa and Trishna looking down at him. He groaned when he realised that that wasn't just a horrific dream but reality. Padmini immidiately asked Rishab "Madhu, do you still feel nauseous? Do you want a lemon to suck on?" Rishab frowned. "Why would I feel nauseous? What is wrong with me?" Though he was worried about his current predicment, he was more worried about Madhu. Was something wrong with her? Was she sick?

Padmini and Trishna looked at each other. Trishna shrugged "Oh nothing, Maa was just worried, since you suddenly fainted. I called your OBG and set up an appointment for today late morning. So why don't you rest now and I will get you something to eat. Any preferences??"

OBG? Isn't that Obstetrics and Gynecology? Why does Madhu need an OBG? Even as Rishab asked himself these questions, his stomach gave out a loud growl, that sounded more like a lion roaring, making his stand as the king of the jungle. He clutched his stomach looking embarassed and said, "Sorry about that. I didn't realise I was so hungry. Ah yes! What I wanted to eat? Hmm.. Can I have some tuna fish and apricot jam sandwichs?" Trishna scrunched up her face, but burst out laughing as she left to get Madhu's selected breakfast. Tuna fish and apricot jam!!! Rishab exclaimed. What was he thinking asking for something as disgusting as that. But why did he really want to eat it and eat it now.

Rishab had hoped that his Sasumaa would leave with Trishna too, that way he would have some alone time to think. But no such luck. Sasumaa continued to hover over him adjusting the pillows around him. So he decided that he needed to get away from her, plus his bladder was bursting and he felt like he would pee any second now. God!! Did Madhu never have control over her bladder? Rishab got off the bed to go to the washroom. But Padmini immidiately held onto him. Rishab looked at her in confusion. "Madhu, don't look at me like that. You just fainted a little while ago. I don't want the same happening again. I am coming with you." Rishab just stared at her in horror. What?? No!! It was terrible enough that he would actually have to sit on the toilet to pee but to have his Sasumaa with him, that was not going to happen.

"Maa I feel nauseous again. Would you mind getting me that lemon you offered earlier?" Rishab fibbed. As soon as Sasumaa left the room, he grabbed the cell phone from the bedside table and bolted to the washroom and locked himself inside. The toilet seat became his thinking chair while he pondered over the situation. How did he land in Madhu's body? If he was here where was Madhu? Could she be in his body?

Even before he finished that thought, he dialed his cell number and sent up a small prayer, hoping against hope that the person on the other end would have answers to his questions.