Invisible Bonds-Complete FF (5 parts) (Pg 27)

Invisible Bonds

Part 1

He turned towards the door, his ears straining to catch the familiar sound of her footsteps as he waited impatiently for the few happy moments of the otherwise drab days he has been spending at the sanitised hospital for the last six months. He was brought in there as an accident victim with serious injury to his eyes and multiple fractures to his leg bones. In a freak accident, an iron rod from the lorry in front of his car had rammed into the wind shield. He had escaped certain death by instinctively bending down to avoid the rod and the shattered glass pieces which sprayed. In the process he banged his head on the steering wheel. At the same moment his leg pressed the accelerator instead of the brake and the car collided with the lorry. The front portion of the car was completely dented, jamming his legs and breaking them in several places.

The orthopaedic complaints were addressed and rectified over the past months but the ophthalmic complaint persisted. A solution was in sight though (pun intended) as one of the leading eye surgeon and as well as a renowned neuro surgeon were visiting the hospital the next day and his surgery was the first one scheduled for the day. Although he did not have sight, his other senses had sharpened over the months and more than made up for his short coming. His ears could discern her step, his nose could recognize her fragrance and his skin could distinguish her touch.

Finally the object of his wait entered in, the clicking sound of her heels and the mild caribbean lemon fragrance of her deodorant announcing her arrival. He straightened up on his bed in anticipation of her gentle touch. She took his wrist in her soft hands and checked his pulse.

"So how are you doing today, Mr.Mishra?" she asked in her pleasant melodious voice, wrapping the BP monitor around his arm and pumping up the pressure.

"Why are you late today?" he asked gruffly. "Do you know for how long I have been waiting for you?"

"I'm sorry. Got delayed in my rounds," she apologised.

"Is there anything you want?" she asked him as she prepared to leave.

'Yes, your love. I want your love,' he wanted to scream but did not say it out loud. Instead he asked for water.

"Here you are," she said and taking his hand in hers she gently thrust the glass of water in it. Before she could remove her hand, he gently wrapped his fingers around hers. Pulling her hand up along with his, he took the glass to his lips. Her heart fluttered as she observed his full lips as he sipped the water. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down as the water went down his throat. Once he finished drinking he gently released her hand and she took the glass back to the table. She was about to leave when he held her arm and forced her to sit on the bed by his side.

"Don't leave so soon," he partly ordered and partly pleaded.

She couldn't say no to him. She silently sat before him.

"I wait all day for these moments and you hardly spend time with me," he said in a complaining tone.

She remained silent.

"Won't you talk to me?"

"What do you want me to say?"

"Anything.... everything" he said enigmatically.

She looked at his handsome face. She could not see his eyes as they were behind bandages ever since she had first seen him in the hospital. Eyes are the windows to one's soul they say but without them she was at a loss to figure out what was going on in his mind. She wished she could read his thoughts though. Although he was one of her more difficult and demanding patients, she had grown pretty fond of him over these past months. He seemed to be quite a recluse. He had no living relative. So barring the initial months when he had a steady stream of visitors from his office, no one visited him of late. His manager occasionally dropped in to get his signatures on some official documents. He always made sure she was around to read the documents before he signed on them. He had perfected the art of signing even though he cannot see.

The guy was moody and had a fiery temper. She used to be terrified of him in the initial days but over a period he seemed to have softened towards her and except for the occasional snapping, was generally quite well behaved. Besides her regular duties as a nurse every morning she read the newspaper to him and every night she tucked him in. Whenever she was off duty she tried to make time for him. But still the guy was not satisfied and always complained of how little time she spent with him. She could sense that he was becoming attached to her. Her professional ethics tried to curb her own attractions towards him. That was the reason that of late she was trying to put some distance between them but the guy was stubborn and insisted in having her around more often.

Not knowing what to say she asked him how he felt about the surgery scheduled for the next day.

"Well, I am eagerly waiting to see the world again," he said, his voice full of hope and expectation.

To himself he said, "Especially you."

"You'll be leaving the hospital soon then," she said with a trace of regret.

He did not see it that way until now. Suddenly he was not that eagerly looking forward to this surgery. He would have no excuse to stay back and have her occasional company. He certainly did not want to be away from her. If only he could confess his feelings to her and get her to accept him! he sighed. Maybe they can then get married and he can keep her with him forever. But every time he thought of voicing what was in his heart, he developed cold feet and backed out. Now time was running out. A week from surgery, his bandages will be off and he will have to bid adieu to the place which had been his home the last six months.

As he worked up his courage to speak up to her, her pager went off and she excused herself and left him with his myriad thoughts.