Chapter #1
Traversing the sterile hallways of the medical center for
what had seemed and eternity, Vihaan headed towards the ICU ward, his mind
cluttered with pessimistic thoughts.
"Bas Vihaan," he muttered, chastising himself for once again delving
into areas best left alone. He paused when he reached the heavy partitioned
doors that separated him from his family, and the reality of his beloved
sister-in-law's condition. He hadn't heard from anyone in the time it had taken
to notify his parents, and then taking care of what he had felt necessary
before making his way to the hospital. Surely no news had to be good news.
Besides, Sareena was an amazing doctor, and if anyone could have stabilized Bhabhi
until she reached the medical facility, it would be her. But she too had been
extremely worried when they had exchanged words before the ambulance left. He
grimaced because he knew this pep-talk wasn't having the desired effect. He
absolutely dreaded what he could possibly discover on the other side of the
door, but there was no choice; bhai needed him.
On one hand thankful
that his cherubic nieces had escaped the shock of the harrowing incident that
had taken place at home when bhai and bhabhi's
neighbors had lent their aid and had hurried the toddlers out of the flat and
next door, Vihaan had found himself in a situation that he could not easily
remove himself from. At least they had stopped squealing after too long, he
thought of his cute-as-a-button twin nieces, who in tandem had begun vying for his
attention when he had appeared at their Aasha Aunty's door. To Tanvi and Lalita
the day had seemed a lifetime of waiting for Uncle Vihaan who was coming home
at last. Bhai had forewarned him to expect such a reaction as the girls had
been for days, counting the number of sleeps until his arrival, but even he was
overwhelmed by their response. It hadn't been easy to tear himself away from
the toddlers, who were thrilled to finally see him in person instead of over a
computer monitor, and it had taken some major concessions on his end, mostly in
the shape of promises of extended playtime with them when he returned.
Thankfully they had been persuaded that his leaving would be okay - after all
they still had their playmate in the form of Kanan, their slightly older
neighbor and best buddy. He was the best boy they knew, the little girls had
insisted on informing their uncle. In fact he was the reason that they were
determined that baby in Mummy's tummy be a boy so they could have their own
Kanan for their house. Vihaan had choked up when they had relayed this bit
information, as he wondered if the highly anticipated infant had even survived...
"Seven weeks early is
no big deal nowadays, Vihaan," Aasha had piped up suddenly, obviously reading
the direction of his thoughts.
Vihaan had blinked and
nodded, before opening his dark eyes to smile at the expectant faces of the
curly-haired moppets who literally clung on to him. He assured the pair that as
soon as he returned he would have retrieved the gifts he had stowed away in his
luggage, but they had to be good girls for Aunty and Uncle. All would be well,
he stated convincingly, allowing a sliver hope to enter his psyche.
Unfortunately it had only lasted as long as it had taken to secure bhai and
bhabhi's flat, where he had again been confronted with evidence of how serious
the situation was, in the bloodstained bedroom where his Bhabhi had given
birth.
Now with his hand raised, Vihaan had to take a few breaths
and push that particular memory out of his head so that he could finally push
the doors to the ward open and face whatever was in store for his family.
********
Dr. Sareena Arora continued to let the steamy water wash over
her bare body, the rivulets at first taking on a pinkish hue as the stream
carried away the blood stains that she hadn't even been aware that covered, and
then seeped through her clothing. All that had mattered at the time was
stabilizing her patients: work she believed had been born to do. Barring her
brief exchange with Vihaan- the only
time she had let her concentration slip -she had stayed in that zone: the one
that allowed her to zero in on the task in front her. Now, despite heat of the
water, she shivered slightly. She recognized the aftereffect of the adrenaline
overload for what it was, and forced herself to take a number of deep breaths.
She knew that she had done all she could for both mother and child prior to and
on the route to the hospital, and even after, when due to her professional
status, she had been called on to supplement to emergency responders' report.
After this, she had handed over her two patients over to medical staff of the
hospital; waiting alone with Rajeev as he kept vigil over his wife and new
child. At first she had kept her composure by treating the coach as she would the
family of any of the unfamiliar patients she dealt with in the A&E Unit she
worked for: concisely and matter-a-fact, explaining the situation. She had
managed a single phone call back to the Tripathi residence, trusting that
Vihaan had contacted his and Rajeev's parents and then sat outside the surgical
unit Naomi had been whisked into. And then she had waited. It soon became clear
that her status had become common knowledge in the facility, when in act of
solidarity for their profession a nurse approached Sareena and offered the use
of the staff facilities so that she could clean up and at the very least change.
Only then had Sareena realized the dire state
of her clothing, and she gladly accepted her offer, if not only for her sake,
but also for the husband who if he paid attention, would be cruelly confronted
with tangible proof of his wife's dire condition and the thin thread that his
wife's life hung by. Yes, even changing into a pair of nondescript scrubs would
be preferable to Rajeev, or any of the family and friends, who were certainly
making their way to hospital, coming face to face with when they met her.
She sent a quick message requesting a change of clothing as she followed the
sister. When finally left alone, Sareena at last allowed her facade drop, leaving
only an anxious friend left to strip her bloodied clothes off. Her silent tears began shortly after, but it wasn't
until she was under the pelt of the hot water flowing from the shower head, did
her sobs begin for the young couple she considered as close as family. She
prayed that her actions had been enough.
*********
The door was still swinging behind Vihaan when he watched
the group further down the hall turn as one, when a tall man in surgical wear
approach them from one of the wards interior egresses. Vihaan stopped, rooted
by the scene: unable, or perhaps just unwilling to face the truth of the
situation. The group stood as motionless as he was and then, as a unit then
they all reacted. Vihaan's eyes widened in despair as he witnessed it all:
bhaiyaa stumbling back and then sitting hard on the chair he had risen from
when the doctor had arrived, immediately covering his face with both of his
hands; Rachna turning to bury her face
in her husband chest, and his arm's arms immediately wrapping around her. Only
Papa had stayed in place, seemingly stuck in place, the only one still
listening to the physician. Vihaan watched as his father nodded, and then with
his face not revealing anything approach his first born.
"Maa," Vihaan whispered, unconsciously seeking a child's
source of comfort, only to realize seconds later that his mother was nowhere to
be seen. Illogically, he even spun around in the direction he had just arrived,
disbelieving that the matriarch of the Agarwal family would not be here. Just
as he turned back, he noticed that Kabir had caught sight of him and whispered
in his wife's ear. Immediately, Bahbhi's best friend raised her head, revealing
her tear-stained faced. Inexplicably she pulled away from her husband, and
hurried to close the short distance to him, throwing herself at him when she
reached him.
"V...Vihaan," she stammered.
He put her aside and walked away: his destination clearer than
never now if the news that had been relayed would have the young woman reacting
so.
"Bhaiyaa," he sobbed crouching, ready to enfold his brother
where he sat.
Rajeev stood and met him halfway, grabbing his brother desperately.
His larger frame wracked with his sobs, shuddered, and Vihaan experienced despair
such as he had never known.
"She's alive...she's going to live, Vihaan. Somehow they saved
her..."
Vihaan stilled before throwing his head back in relief. He
took one deep breath before joining his sibling in a release of tears of utter
relief. His gripped his brother tighter,
thanking God for the miracle that they had been given.
"Rajeev, beta."
The two brothers released each other so that they could turn
their attention to their father.
After Shailish Agarwal got his son's attention back to
physician who was waiting to detail Naomi's condition, he turned back to his
youngest. "Namaste Beta," he whispered emotionally.
"Namaste Papa," Vihaan countered before giving himself over
to the waiting embrace. Silently, the men celebrated their reunion although
inwardly, both wished for, if not more ideal, than at least normal
circumstances had prevailed. They kept their greeting brief as both wished to
hear the doctor's news on Naomi's prognosis.
Amazingly, anything good that could have happened in this
hellish situation had occurred. With a clear understanding of the incoming patient's
condition, there had been time to ready the necessary operating theatre and
assemble the needed personnel. The doctor, himself had nearly completed his
shift and had been winding down to leave the facility, when the word had
reached that he would be needed. This had been fortunate, as being one of the
advanced surgeons, his expertise had been necessary to succor the young mother,
whose condition had severely deteriorated en-route to the hospital. Added to
these facts was that in an extremely fortunate happenstance, for once there had
been no issue in procuring the ample blood supply of Bhabhi's blood type that
was needed. However, the surgeon reiterated over and over, none of this would
have mattered had it not been for the care she had received prior to her
arrival, from the doctor who had been with the young woman at the time.
When the doctor made mention of Sareena's involvement,
Vihaah realized that she, like his mother wasn't there, however he put this
aside as the surgeon continued.
Bhabhi was still weak, but out of the woods. Vihaan
continued to listen with the others to the doctor who reassured that although
very weakened, and not yet having regained conscious, that Naomi was expected
to come to sooner rather than later, and that after some time was expected to
make a complete recovery. The physician had further words for Rajeev alone, so
the group left the pair to their private discussion.
Vihaan turned his attention finally to the couple that had
waited with his brother. "Kabir, Rachna...thank you so much for coming."
"Where exactly would you expect us to be, Vihaan," Rachna
tearfully replied with another hug, that this time he returned. He let her go
and turned his attention to the man towering over his wife. He held his hand in
greeting. "Namaste Kabir." The brawny
man blinked, his eyes suspiciously bright, as he greeted Vihaan in an emotional
tone.
"Welcome home, Vihaan."
Little was said between the pair, as Rajeev had at that
moment rejoined the group. Everyone watched as the man pressed the heels of his
palms to his eyes, and release a shake breath. Miraculously he informed them that, despite
everything, Naomi's ability to carry another child had not been affected. The
group laughed nervously when Bhaiyaa declared that his determination never to
touch his wife again than risk her wellbeing - all understanding the man's
sentiment after such a harrowing time.
"The baby," Vihaan then asked.
"Better than...his..her...mother."
"Bhaiyaa, what are you saying, not another set of tw..."
"Nahi, nahi," Rajeev interjected, "There is definitely, only
one, I just don't know... I never even asked to be honest. Sareena may have
told me on the way, but then Naomi's blood pressure plummeted and...and all hell
broke loose in the ambulance." He had to stop a minute to collect himself. "Maa
didn't believe for a minute that her bahu's life wouldn't be saved, and went to
get a report on her grandchild to give her daughter-in-law all the information
she would want when she awoke. She wasn't wrong was she Papa," the coach said
to his remaining parent of Savitri Agarwal's absolute faith.
His father nodded, and Vihaan smiled, the explanation for
his mother's absence perfectly clear and understandable. Her actions were so
her.
"I imagine she and Daadi have taken complete control of the
nursery by now," Kabir muttered, in doing so offered the explanation for his
grandmother absence, unimaginable considering that she considered Bhabhi as one
of her own. Imagining the two headstrong women browbeating the faculty to get
the necessary answers had the entire group smiling.
"At least Sareena should be able to smooth the way for them,"
Vihaan suggested. When no one responded, Vihaan looked to his older brother.
"Nahi, I'm sure she left before Maa arrived. I vaguely
remember one of the sisters approaching her but, after that..." He shook his head
indicating his confusion. "I have no idea where she is."
"Don't worry about it bhai," Vihaan indicated. "I know you
all will want to wait here for Bhabhi to recover so I will go and track
everyone down, thik hai?"
Already heading in the opposite direction, he didn't notice
as they watched his abrupt departure, the majority of the group aware of the
underlying motive behind his actions.
***********
The scrubs Sareena now wore were soft, as if recently
laundered, and comfortable, and most importantly, a blessing from the alternative.
There was a different sister who waited for her in the staff room with a plastic bag for her
soiled clothing. Graciously Sareena accepted it, declining the offer to have the
items laundered. She would take care of them later, along with the linens and
towels that awaited her back in the flat.
"Do you have any updates of Mrs. Agarwal's condition," she
asked the young nurse, before realizing that it was out of her remit to be
pressing for information. She was no longer in London, and thus far removed
from her own jurisdiction. And she certainly wasn't family. "I'm sorry, I
shouldn't have..."
"Nahi, Dr. Arora, everyone is aware of your connection to
the case, and we have been given permission to answer any questions...the baby is
doing as well as can be expected for a preemie, oxygen is still being
administered, but no other complications have arisen thus far. There has been
no update on Mrs. Agarwal; none that I am aware of anyway."
"Thank you," Sareena answered sincerely.
"We're actually closer to the nursery right now, if you
would like to check on the baby," the young nurse offered.
"Only if you won't be circumventing any rules," Sareena
responded, grateful for the opportunity to get to see the infant, but not
willing to let any of the accommodating staff members to bring trouble on themselves
in allowing her entry into the restricted NICU.
Following the nurse, Sareena paused at the entry of the ward
to grab some hand sanitizer offered outside the door, and applied a generous
amount of the gel to her hands and forearms. She then passed through the door
being extra careful not to come contact with any additional surfaces. She was
halfway down the corridor when she heard the frantically expressed call that
she automatically responded to.
"Doctor, will you please help us?"
*********
As expected, Vihaan found his mother and Kabir's grandmother
talking the ears off a pair of medical staff, most likely demanding details on
the baby's condition. He watched as the ponytailed doctor turned to speak to
the nurse who accompanied her and saw when the sister responded with a nod and
then hurry off to follow the directions given to her. The tolerant doctor then
directed the two older women to a pair of chairs in the nearby waiting room and
followed them by taking a third seat. This couldn't be good, Vihaan thought,
and he rushed to join the group.
His mother caught sight of him first. "Vihaan, beta," she
called out anxiously as she stood.
Her back to him, Sareena froze. She was so not ready to meet
him again, but it looked as if it was unavoidable now. She closed her eyes
feeling his approach behind her.
"Doctor..."
She stood up and rotated to face him, and took advantage of
his shock to avert her eyes away from him. And then, in a moment of pure luck,
she saw the door to the ward swing in, and her savior enter.
"Jack," she whispered and darted past Vihaan towards her
safe haven.
Jack Thompson...of course he would be there Vihaan supposed
when he reacted to Sareena's sudden departure. It was far-reaching at best to
think that the fates would have at last favored him over the Englishman who had
been a factor in Sareena Arora's life for years now. Nothing had changed, Vihaan thought dismally
as the doctor reached her hero, and despite that bag he carried, he fully embraced
her. Four years hadn't wrought much of a change in the man who had for a time
served as Bhabhi's bodyguard: he was a fit and alert as ever. And now he was
staring directly right back at him, as if he totally comprehended the ill will
emanating from Vihaan's eyes, and totally expected that his rival understood
his own.
Edited by crtkelly - 7 years ago
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