His Lost Bride

Episode 3: Leave me alone

Sarah reached the hospital only to find doctors desperately trying to save her father. While doing a check-up, her father’s condition had become unstable again. She couldn’t believe that her healthy father was fighting for his life.                                                                                                                                                        

With a heavy heart, she sat on a nearby bench but her eyes couldn’t leave the OR which now had its light on. Her heart was frantically praying for her father’s recovery. Her mind wandered about the time when she came looking for her family.                                                                                                                                             

A few hours ago                                                                                                                                                                

As soon as she left the office, she tried to stop the taxi but none had stopped. She kept desperately looking at her watch and wanted to reach S City Hospital, as soon as possible, which was at the other end of the city.                                                                                                                                                                                  

 Even though her office was located in the center of the city, then also it would take more than an hour for her to reach the hospital. Sarah was desperate to hire a taxi and reach the hospital. While waiting for the taxi, she saw the arrogant CEO’s Maserati leave the building gate.                                                                           

To avoid him, she tried to hide behind the pole, but in doing so, she missed a passing taxi that stopped a meter away for someone else, who was quick to board it. All because she was busy focusing on the sleek jet-black car to leave.                                                                                                                                              

Sarah’s POV                                                                                                                                                                  

“Hey! I need that cab. Please can you take the other cab.” I tried to tell the other passenger who boarded the cab, but it was in vain. The cab had already begun moving and soon realized, I was screaming for nothing. 

It has already been half an hour since my mom had called. “There would be another showdown, for me reaching late,” I thought to myself as I walked towards the subway. It would take another extra half an hour if I had to take the subway.                                                                                                                                               

It was like I was having an internal fight in my head whether to take the subway or wait for the other cab to arrive. Finally, I chose to take the subway as it was rush hour and was much in doubt as to whether there would be any free cabs available. So, I took the subway. I consoled myself by saying, “it's better to be late than never.” It took me forever to reach the hospital.                                                                                             

Once I reached the hospital, one of the nurses at the hospital lobby, told me that my dad was on the third floor of the building. As soon as I reached there, I heard a person wearing a white coat and stethoscope, call for dad’s name.                                                                                                                                                             

I went there assuming him to be a doctor, I asked, “Dr! you called for Mr. Brown?” “Yes, are you his family?” “Yea Doctor! I am patient's daughter.” “But before you, there was a lady along with two boys.” “Oho Doctor, she is my mom and both of the boys are my brothers. I just came from my workplace so I have no clue why they aren't here.” “Okay! Your father complained of chest pain while we were doing the check-ups. So we need family’s consent for the surgery.” “Surely Doctor! I am his daughter. I will sign the form. Please do all the necessary things to save him.” After the doctor took my signature, he left towards the OR.             

Current time                                                                                                                                                                          

I don’t know how long I sat there on the bench with my hands on my head only wishing if time could be reversed. I already missed my father’s usual composed demeanor and reassuring voice, something that has never ceased to calm me through all of my life’s dilemmas - before today.                                                

But now he was laying there, and I felt helpless thinking of what I couldn't do. I can only wait, I thought to myself. It seemed that time had stopped and my heartbeats were getting erratic waiting for the doctor to come out.                                                                                                                                                                       

After some time, mom and my brothers came back and I explained the situation to them. Adam, the elder twin, informed me that they had gone to the cafeteria to grab something light to eat. I ruffled his head and said, “good work guys!” When I raised my head to look for Neil, he gave me a proud smile.                        

Adam and Neil are fraternal twins but both of them have nothing in common other than playing pranks on me. Adam has dark brown eyes like dad but he has jet black hairs like mom. Whereas Neil has dark blonde hairs like dad but he has blue eyes.                                                                                                                        

Adam always behaves maturely or so he tries; I almost chuckled at the thought. However, he gets angry fast while on contrary, Neil is childish and very stubborn. I am proud of one thing is that both of them conduct themselves responsibly and reasonably. God! I love both of them.                                                     

Normal POV                                                                                                                                                               

"Today, mom seemed to be unhappy with our sister. According to mom, somehow, she was responsible for our dad’s poor health. Seeing mom getting angry at our sister, made my brother and me equally irritated," Neil thought to himself.                                                                                                                                                 

Neil and Adam wanted her to shut her ramblings and focus on the current scenario. Funnily, today Adam had snapped at her twice and asked her to shut up bluntly. Hearing him, she instantly made a face and kept her thoughts to herself.                                                                                                                                                     

If it was any other situation, Asher would have laughed but today, he just kept a solemn face. He was not in a mood to listen to mom’s grievance for sis Sarah hanging her phone. So he had suggested to his brother that we can go to the cafeteria to grab something light to eat.                                                                                  

Adam, generally acted conceited because he was born two minutes earlier than Neil, but today he seemed to have agreed to his idea. And all this while, it seemed mom was on the verge of fainting with all this stress so they took Hannah along with them to have something.                                                                                  

Feeling slightly energized, we came back when Neil saw Sarah sitting on the bench with her hands on the head. She looked disheveled and depressed.                                                                                                       

Before he could call her, Adam asked, “Sis! When did you reach here?” When Adam had called her, she looked as if she had been woken from her trance. Adam informed her that they had gone to grab something and Sarah started explaining all that happened when they had gone to the cafeteria.                                      

When Sarah raised her head to look at Neil, he noticed her face was slightly swollen as if someone had slapped her. Her hair was unsurprisingly all ruffled and her eyes were also red, probably from crying.     

From his childhood, this was the first time Neil had seen her so sad and broken-hearted. She always tried to help their parents in any possible way. She would work even in her summer vacations and take tuitions after school so that she can earn a little bit to fulfill all our desires.                                                                    

She would always smile and say, “nobody spoiled me by getting things that I wanted or protected me from our parent’s scolding. So I want to spoil you to your heart’s content.”                                                                 

Hannah was about to lose her head when Sarah explained her dad’s situation. Before she could react, they heard the doctor call for Sarah. They all heard him say, “Your father’s condition is now stable but the next 48 hours are critical for him.”                                                                                                                                   

“What actually happened to my father? Is he alright?” Sarah asked him nervously without giving him a break.                                                                                                                                                                                

The doctor smiled and put his hand on her shoulder and said, “Child! Calm down. He is alright. During his check-up, he fainted after saying he was having chest pain. We ran a couple of tests and we took him to the operating table. Now he is alright. However, there is some risk of reduced sensation on his left side. But we can tell that for sure only after he wakes up.”                                                                                                     

Seeing her disheartened face, he said, “We are working on him, Don’t worry! If all goes well, he should be alright. But the next 48 hours are very critical.”                                                                                                    

Faintly, she smiled at him and replied, “Thank you, Doctor.”                                                                                    

He nodded and left. Neil saw Sarah looking towards OR with her back turned towards him. Seeing her tired face, he wished if he could grow up fast so he could protect her as she did for them.                                  

Thinking back, Neil realized she always protected them and got them everything they wished for. But what he didn't understand, for what reason their mom has always been cruel to her as if she is her stepdaughter. 

A loud shouting brought him back from his thoughts. When he looked for the source, it was their mom who was screaming.                                                                                                                                                            

“What did you say? Repeat again.” said mom. Sarah repeated in a low voice what the doctor had told her. All Neil could make out was that their dad’s condition was critical for the next 48 hours.                       

Hannah again started, “You’re a stroke of bad luck. If you weren’t here he wouldn’t be in such a state.” Adam and I yelled simultaneously, “Mom! Stop it. “                                                                                             

Adam continued, “She was not there when dad said he was not feeling well. Don’t blame her.”                      

Ignoring their protests, Hannah went on hollering at Sarah. Sarah tried to console her but she refused to concede and talked to Sarah as if she had some kind of grudge towards Sarah.                                         

Hannah kept on blaming Sarah for their dad’s deteriorated health. It seemed Hannah believed that Sarah came late because she didn’t care about her father as she didn't want to spend money on his medical expenses.                                                                                                                                                                     

Sarah tried to explain again when Hannah suddenly roared, “Leave me alone! I don’t want to see your wretched face.” One could see, she was deeply hurt by Hannah’s words but she nodded and got up from the bench.                                                                                                                                                                            

While leaving, she saw Neil and gave him a forced smile. And said, “Kiddo, mom doesn’t want to see right now so I would be at the hospital lobby. If you need anything, call me. This is the card, it has enough money for now.”                                                                                                                                                                           

Neil tried to refuse her but she kept it in his palm and folded it saying, “Don’t worry. I am here only.”         

“Sis! Don’t take mom’s words to heart. She was just being paranoid because you were not responding to her call.”                                                                                                                                                                                

“I know but I had some troubles, “Sarah said and continued, “I will explain everything later. Right now, you and Adam, be here with mom.”                                                                                                                                    

With that, she left and Neil looked at Adam helplessly on whose shoulder Hannah was resting her head. Their eyes met but they knew in their hearts, the damage was already done. It won’t be fixed so easily. 

Unknown to anyone, one pair of eyes were silently watching all the drama. He clenched his hand when he saw Sarah being scolded for no fault of hers. But he couldn’t interfere, so he watched the whole thing and left without anyone seeing him when he saw Sarah walking towards the staircase.                                                                                                                                                                                      *****                                                                                            

A/N                                                                                                                                                                                  

Hello Readers,                                                                                                                                                                     

I apologize to my readers for the delay in posting this chapter. I will try to update the story daily. Keep your patience if it gets delayed by one or two days. And I would love to know your responses, so don't forget to leave a comment.                                                                                                                                                                                        

Thank you for your support and love.                                                                                                                        

Regards,                                                                                                                                                                           

Eliza Tom