Chapter
Twenty (Part A)
"She has pneumonia."
I looked up sharply at the
doctor who was done attaching an IV drip into Shraddha's arm.
Simultaneously I flinched
with Shraddha but she never moved other than that.
Her hair was damp, this
time due to me quickly trying to put her in cold water bath to lower the
temperature in her body and to wash off her makeup.
She was dressed in one of
her dark violet nightgowns while all her jewelry was removed and placed on the
nightstand and in her jewelry boxes.
"Pneumonia?" I heard my
dad question in concern as I was still in shock after finding Shraddha in her
state earlier.
The doctor nodded.
"Yes." She said.
My brain kicked-geared
into motion.
"We should send her to a
hospital..." I said quickly while lurching forward towards Shraddha but she
touched my arm to stop me.
"Don't move her. There is
no need. She is stable and just has to make sure she is hydrated. She also
needs some antibiotics and other medicines to calm down her fever...I will
prescribe it..." She stopped midsentence as she pulled out a pad, quickly
scribbled something on it, and then ripped the paper from her pad.
"This is the prescription
of her antibiotics she is going to need to fight off the infection. Plus there
is a prescription for some acetaminophen to help her lower her fever and
relieve her pain." The doctor said and she handed the paper towards me.
"Is she okay?" my heart
was beating like crazy against my chest and I tried to control my emotions
carefully so I wouldn't go off towards the deep end.
The doctor gave me a dry
smile.
"She will be perfectly
fine. She needs to rest for at least 3-4 days, take the antibiotics, take the
medicine especially to lower her fever and to alleviate the pain that she might
be feeling." She said.
"How...how...did she become
like this?" My mom said softly.
Her expression was
unreadable but she had her hands twisted tightly together
"It's really hard to say
but maybe from someone else that had it...it's very contagious so most likely
that is how. It's even more so if she has been overworked or stressed and her
immune system became weakened. I would also say depending on her work
conditions if she was in contact with a large amount of people...someone must
have had it and it easily passed onto her." She said.
"Will she be okay?" my mom
asked again.
"Pneumonia is not
something we worry about for someone her age. We worry if its someone whose
older or younger...it can be very dangerous, almost life threatening. That is why
you should keep any children or infants around as far away from her at this
moment." She said.
"Plus the only thing to be
in concern with is making sure she is hydrated and her temperature lowers.
Check her temperature every two hours and if it's up anywhere near 103 degrees Fahrenheit
rush her immediately to the hospital." She said.
I nodded, my attention
completely focused solely on Shraddha.
"If its okay I have to
leave as I have another emergency to answer to." The doctor said.
"Oh yes. Sorry. I will
escort you to your car. Thank you for answering on such short notice." My
father said.
The doctor nodded and she
left the room with my father while my mother and I was still in the room.
"I'm going to go pick up
her medicine." I said as quickly to turn around but my mother stopped me.
"There is no use. All the
pharmacies are closed at this time of the night." She said.
"There has to be one
opened. She needs her medicine right now..." I tried to say.
"No. We will wait in the
morning and I will have someone else drop the prescription." She interrupted.
"There is no need for
someone else to drop it. There has to be a pharmacy open and I will..."
"You will stay here, at
home. You are not going on a mad dash this late at night to find a pharmacy. We
will wait until the morning to drop her prescription and you will go off to
work." My mom interrupted again.
"Work? I'm not going to
work. I'm calling in and telling Asha I'm on emergency leave. I will stay here
until my wife gets better and will take care of dropping off the prescription."
I said turning to Shraddha who was passed out on the bed.
My mother sighed but she
didn't respond.
I turned towards her when
I felt her arm on my shoulder.
"I will put Dhruv to bed
after her finishes eating and I will have someone send up your dinner. If she
wakes up I will have something small for her to eat." She said nodding towards
Shraddha.
I nodded and thanked my
mother and she gave one last glance towards Shraddha before she turned on her heel
from the room.
***************
"Happy Birthday!"
I stared at everyone as they blew out their noise makers and were
clapping and smiling for him.
There were some people I recognized and some that I didn't.
My arm was linked with his and I wore the fakest and most plastic smile
as everyone came forward and said happy birthday to Kunal as if it was his
birthday and not the birthday of one of his employees.
"Thank you so much for coming
sir!" one person said.
Kunal smiled and shook his head.
"It was no problem at all. I wanted to give something to Nakul since it's
his birthday today." He said smiling.
I saw a group of female co-workers or employees starring Kunal down, some
look like they wanted to jump on him right there and then.
Which one of them did that stupid bracelet belong to?
Which one of them was he secretly seeing behind my back?
Kunal could deny all he want but a stupid freaking bracelet was in his
briefcase and it wasn't for me.
I chanted softly to myself to calm myself down before any emotion showed
on my face.
I have been able to pretend in front of others for the past three weeks
since I found the bracelet but it was hurting.
It was hurting the fact that my husband was possibly cheating on me and
even worse it was someone who was working under his mist and I didn't even know
who.
But that hurt quickly squelched as anger took over.
Anger was the only reason I was carrying on.
The only reason as to why I was pretending as if everything was
completely okay.
"Mrs. Shrivastav, you are looking absolutely beautiful!" a female voice
said.
That knocked me out of my thoughts and stared into the eyes of a smaller
petite woman with dark brown eyes.
I was confused on whom she was but I smiled.
"Hello...?"I said leaving the question open-ended.
"Nandini. I'm Kunal's PR assistant manager. We have met on several
occasions." She said smiling.
I stared at her down levelly.
She was a very pretty girl and based on her outfit she was wearing, if
she was wearing outfits like this at work, it's obvious who the bracelet belong
to.
Kunal tensed beside me, responding to how I tensed up.
But I brighten my smile.
"So sorry but I must have forgot. I'm not interested in my husband's work
or who more align assigns to work for him." I said smiling.
Whether she caught onto the insult was unknown as she smiled.
"I understand as there are always new people coming in and out of here.
But I'm Nandini once more and it's so nice to meet you once again. Please have
a wonderful evening and please try the cake. It's really, really, good." She
said smiling before she was whisked away by a group of girls and guys.
"At least you have some type of taste." I said quietly while never losing
my smile as we walked forward into the room to greet Nakul.
"I keep telling you nothing ever happened between anyone. That bracelet
is not something I bought nor does it belongs to any woman nor am I cheating on
you." He said never changing his expression.
"Too bad I don't believe you." I said turning to him flashing him the
brightest smile.
He tensed but he didn't lose the smile nor did he stop in his movements
from greeting and saying hello to his employees as he passed.
***************
"Shraddha...what are you doing?"
I stuffed more pillows in the middle of the bed, separating my side from
his and not wanting him touching me...at all!
"Isn't it obvious? I'm separating my side from yours." I said smiling.
I went back to my task and before I could place the next pillow he yanked
some of the pillows away, tossing it on the floor.
"What are you doing?" I said with annoyance.
"Stop this! Stop this nonsense! I have put up with your accusations as
you seem convinced on whatever your mind is telling you, but this is taking it
too far. Did you think how Dhruv will react when he comes here and see this? My
mom and dad? Did you forget that my mom comes here to collect the clothing for
laundry?" he said.
I rolled my eyes but I did stall in my movements and turned towards him.
"Fine then. I will remove the pillows but I'm not sleeping on this bed
with you." I said and began to remove the pillows from the bed and arranged it
back to where I found it.
"What are you talking about?" he said.
I ignored him as I was placing some of the pillows back onto the sofa.
Before I could finish he grabbed my hand and turned me around.
I didn't expect the sudden movement and I landed on his chest.
My hand fell against his chest that was exposed and it felt warm.
I stared at his pale, smooth, and creamy skin and despite my anger,
despite the sense of betrayal, the paranoia, and lies...my body didn't care as
it responded being in close proximity with him.
I froze but I didn't pull away and my breath came out deeper and rushed
and I didn't know what to do.
My hands were pressed against his chest, slightly clenching the skin
underneath and I didn't know what do.
I felt my eyes close when his hands skimmed the back of my shirt and I
gripped his chest and he let out a puff of air that he was holding in.
I could feel his body become even tenser underneath my touch and his
hands lifted itself even higher underneath my shirt and I let out a strangled
breath as his hands started to make light strokes against my stomach.
But then images of the bracelet and the way the female co-workers were
looking and staring at him at the party poked its ugly head into my mind and
any semblance of desire that I was feeling completely cooled.
I placed my hands against his chest and pushed him away from him.
He let out a surprise gasp.
I tried to take careful deep breaths to rush air back into my lungs to
carefully bring my sanity back but it seemed there wasn't enough oxygen.
Once I regained my sanity I leveled him a gaze of disgust and he looked
back at me in confusion, anger, and there was no denial of longing that was in
his gaze.
"Why did you pull me like that? Why did you touch me like that? I told
you not to touch me like that...ever...again. I will play the pretty poster
wife in public but other than that...nothing else." I said.
"Says the one who was gripping my chest and rubbing her body against
mine. I'm just a normal male like anyone and I will respond like any healthy
male my age." He said tightly.
At that I turned to him and I felt myself blushing despite that.
"You are a healthy male yes, make sure you tell that b**** that you are
with to fulfill it as I'm not one to take seconds." I said.
"I had no problems doing it..." he said softly.
At that statement I reeled back almost as if he gave me a tight slap
across the face.
A mingle of anger, hurt, and astonishment filled me up at his insult.
More so that he brought it up.
He never ever brought that up.
Ever.
He never brought up the fact of my previous marriage, my previous
relationship, but...
He did just now.
More so...
"How can you say that?" I whispered.
"You're asking me that when you have more than on one occasion hail
malicious comments and accusations towards me as if it was nothing." He said
while staring at me as if I was crazy.
"But sill you said that to me?" I said.
He didn't say anything and instead ignored me and went to the closet to
pull a shirt on.
"I'm not in the mood for another argument Shraddha. Sorry. I shouldn't
have said that but...Sorry. I don't want another argument tonight." He said
sighing.
But I wasn't ready to let things go as my hurt and anger still lingered
on the surface.
"So that is what you think of me...as sloppy seconds?" I said.
He groaned.
"Shraddha. Sorry I didn't mean to say it, I let my anger take over and
for that I'm deeply sorry. Please let's just sleep please." He said while
massaging his temple.
"I'm so sorry Kunal. No really, I'm sorry that you got you stuck with me
sloppy seconds." I said while raising my voice.
He groaned once again.
"You're not sloppy seconds. I should have never commented like I did. I'm
sorry for that but you are continuously attacking my character and my
reputation so I'm very, very, very sorry if I finally snapped. I'm tired
Shraddha! I have stress and enormous pressure at work and as soon as finish a
good 8-10 hour shift sometimes longer I have to come back home with accusations
from you that I must be sleeping around with my co-workers. I'm tired Shraddha
so please I will just like to sleep instead of arguing. I'm tired so excuse me
you can stand there but I have work in the morning." He said.
Without further notice he went to the bed, lifted the covers and covered
himself, leaving his back towards me as I still fumed in my anger.
***************
Am I dead...am I alive?
Hot...so hot? Why is it so hot?
Is the air conditioner on?
Perhaps a fan?
Something I felt as if I was burning up.
There were times I felt myself on the verge of consciousness but then
times I would submerged back into my subconscious, back to my memories, back to
my past.
I clutched my legs closer to myself as the memories seem to weigh down
against me.
All the slurs, all the insults, all the anger, all the words I said in
betrayal, hurt, and anger.
All of it was for nothing.
Nothing.
Just nothing.
I clutched my legs closer to my body.
I'm sorry Kunal...so sorry...
I wanted to wake up from this burning, increasingly burning, hellish
inferno.
I wanted to wake up but I felt as if I couldn't move.
I sighed and just clutched my hands tighter around my legs and praying
for someone to hear me.
Someone to help me.
Someone.
Someone please help...
Why always someone?
My mind whispered in the corner of my mind.
I clutched my hands tighter around my legs, knowing it should hurt but I
couldn't feel anything aside from the blistering heat.
"Shraddha."
Hmm...
"Shraddha are you okay."
What is this? Whose calling me?
"Please wake up. Please."
The voice was so soft, so soothing, and beseeching with fear laced and
intertwined within their words.
It sounded hoarse and familiar...
Kunal?
I smiled despite myself.
I released my hands wrapped around my legs to reach towards the voice,
towards the pain wishing I could soothe it but all I grappled on was nothing
but air.
Hot, warm, air that seemed to slowly become hotter and burn against my
skin.
***************
Edited by najialuv88 - 10 years ago
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