Chapter 1
She couldn't move. Something was holding her back. It felt strangely like… tubes? But she was in a plane, boarding a flight to Chicago to visit her best friend Rano. So this should be a seat belt. Then why the hell couldn't she move? She tried to scream but no sound came out, her throat was aching. She tried again but she could barely open her eyes. Wait a second, they were bandaged! What was going on?
Before she could gather her thoughts, she heard a voice. It was gentle, soothing- a doctor's voice. "Mrs. Walia, how do you feel now?" The girl on the bed panicked. Mrs Walia? She was Bani Dixit. Ms. Dixit and definitely not anyone's wife! Her head started to spin now. She tried to speak again but no words would come out. Tears trickled down her cheeks as she agitatedly moved her hands. Good lord, they weren't moving either! The doctor sensed her desperation and hushed her. "Remember me- Dr. Mohan Khandelwal, your husband's best friend? Relax Mrs. Walia, you will be in perfect shape in no time. No internal injuries at all. You and Sonia made it in good time. Speaking of her, Jai left your side only a few minutes ago to be with her. Sonia was refusing to eat and you know how kids are. Only parents can handle them at these times, even we doctors fail at these times!"
Bani knew he was trying to make her smile, but her cheek muscles ached too much. Her head was going to burst any moment and before she knew it, she had fallen into a disturbed but dreamless sleep.
The next time she woke up, she could sense someone sitting next to her. This time, she was able to open her eyes, albeit with difficulty, as they were still partially bandaged. Her frantic gaze met the steady black gaze of ……who? The man at her side sensed her anxiety and clasped her small hands in his firm, rather large ones. Almost like in a trance, she raised her stricken gaze to his. His eyes had compassion but his smile did not reach his eyes. It was concerned, polite but not happy. Not unhappy either, but it did not reflect the relief or the joy of seeing someone close to you survive a brush with death.
Bani closed her eyes in frustration. The doctor was wrong- her brain was affected by the crash. She was expecting a handsome-she couldn't see his face clearly, but she knew he was - stranger to hug her in overwhelming relief and to express his profound elation at seeing her alive. But then, why was he here if he didn't know her?
"Relax Pia", he said in a calming voice, his deep baritone all too obvious despite the gentleness he was employing. "You and Sonia are going to be absolutely fine. The doctors are very optimistic about you- just one surgery and you'll look as beautiful as ever. Much more in fact!"
Pia? Surgery? Before she could even attempt to try to speak, the pleasant doctor came striding in. Beaming at Bani, he said jovially, "Ahan, Mrs. Walia, you are finally awake. Jai has been waiting for you to wake up for the past five hours."
Bani stared blankly at the two men in front of her, their words staying with her yet not making any sense. From what she gathered, it was obvious that they were in the wrong room. This Jai Walia was the husband of some Pia Walia, who probably got injured in the same plane crash as her. Who are these people? Why are they mistaking her for Pia? Who is Sonia? How can a man mistake his own wife?
Anupamaa
