Chapter 11
1382 Words
Mumbai India
----------------------------
With a soft feminine voice he woke up startled to find one of the air hostess beside him who was helping Alisha to buckle her seat belt.
"We are about to land. " Taking his cue he clasped his own seat belt before the jet started to descend down.
It was morning in India. The bright sunlight bathing the whole plane as they landed on Veer Shivaji airport.
"How are you feeling today? " Dhruv asked while they walked up to the terminal gate. "Better than last night." She told him with a tumultuous smile, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"You should go see a doctor soon Alisha. Your temperature was around 102° last night. It isn't normal. " Shalini piqued in, who was walking just behind them.
"I could go with you, If you want....." She spoke.
"It had been a long journey....I think....you must rest for a few hours first and then in the evening you could go see a doctor. " Dhruv opened the door to her royal blue Nexa as she settled inside. Handing over her luggage to her driver Ravi.
"So I would see you at five in the evening? " Shalini spoke, as Dhruv closed the door shut from outside.
"You sure? It won't be a problem for you, Shalini? " Alisha asked once Ravi was ready to leave, waiting for her order.
"Nah! Just take care of yourself. I will be there in the evening. " she waved good bye before Alisha pulled the glass up signalling Ravi to drive off. Only if she would have paid a little more attention she would have noticed how Dhruv's fist clenched and unclenched at his sides to let her go alone in such condition.
But then he knew if he showed even an ounce of interest in her, it would send her running far-far away.
So he stayed where he was! Watching as the car disappeared around the corner.
"Hello....earth to Dhruv....can someone hear my voice? Anyone?" His trance was broken with Shalini's little act of flashing hand in front of his eyes as everyone else broke out laughing.
Not able to do anything else, he left glaring at them, getting irritating by their laughing spree.
***
After a hearty and healthy lunch with boiled rice and curd, a boiled egg and a full glass of pomegranate juice from Veena, her help.
She retired in her room, gulping down another paracetamol before going to sleep.
A few hours later a hesitant Veena woke her up. "Someone called Shalini is here to take you to doctor. "
Alisha sat up in bed, crinkling her eyes as she watched Veena pulling out one of her plain kurti from the wardrobe for her to wear.
She felt weak, very weak in fact not even sure that she could stand straight once she gets out of the bed.
"Veena would you please shut the window. " She shivered at the cool air touching her skin.
Soon Veena was by her side, putting her palm on her head and cheeks.
"You aren't in a condition to come out of bed. Just rest! I would call someone here...." And she went out.
Alisha lied back into the mattress, with the covers till her neck when Veena came back with Shalini behind her.
"Oh God Alisha! I will call my doctor to come and see you here." Shalini panicked with her phone, leaving the room for a few minutes.
She was perhaps in another of her dreamless naps when her eyes opened with the voices of people around.
And it was him she saw first, talking to an elder doctor at her bed side.
"How are you feeling right now? " He sat beside her head as soon as the doctor left.
And unlike every other time she saw him in business suits he was in a light blue polo shirt and jeans this time around.
Although she felt like her personal space was being breached with where he sat, she made no comments on it. Hoping that he would get away soon.
"I feel like someone's hammering my head and my whole body....feels like it's kneeled into the bed."
"Good! "
"Excuse me?" She frowned. Wondering if her mind had stopped functioning due to the fever or if he just said good?
"It's a good sign, because the doctor just took your blood to run the Dengue and Chikengunia tests on it and if there's pain then it's probably just a viral fever. "
"Alright! " she sniggered still not liking the idea of saying 'good'to her when she is' dying.'
"Where's Shalini and....and Veena?" She asked hoping that she wouldn't have to stay with him alone in this room.
Because of the way he was looking at her. No! It wasn't creepy or disrespectful in any way but far from it actually.....there's a expression on his face. The expression that she had seen before on none other than his own cousin when he used to look at her.
And that couldn't mean well.
He was a little frustrated and a little hurt by her unsaid rejection he stood up leaving her side but just like the understanding gentleman he was. After all he won't do something that would cause her discomfort even in his dreams.
"Shalini went home a few minutes before you woke up and your maid...Veena, I guess her name...is making you dinner. "
Next moment there was a knock on the door, before Veena came in with two large bowls and a plate in her hand.
"I should leave then....it's getting late. And you must rest!" He said standing up.
While she served the soup and khichadi.
"Won't you have dinner?" Veena asked, stopping her actions.
"No thank you! " He smiled politely.
"Veena is right you could have your dinner here...unless of course you have some other grand plans! "Alisha spoke while sitting up on the bed.
"Alright! " he huffed sitting back down as Veena handed him a small bowl of soup and a plate full of plain khichadi.
"Thank you! " Alisha leaned her back on the head rest of the bed with the warm bowl of soup in her hands.
***
"Hello."
"Dr. Garima, I am Aditya Singhania."
"Oh...umm...how may I help you sir? "
"Just wanted to know if she came today and if everything's going according to plan?" He pinched the tip of his nose in exasperation and excitement. Walking up and down through the length of his bedroom.
"Actually...no. She hadn't came today for her appointment. "
"She hadn't? but why?" He ran his free hand through his hair.
"Don't know! "
"Dr. Do me a favor, please call her and ask her what happened? " He asked, at the verge of pulling his hair out.
"Mr. Singhania it isn't in our hospital's ethics to call and inquire about a patient when he or she doesn't show up for an appointment. Until and unless it is something related to the hospital. " Dr. Garima spoke mildly irritated by the man's antics.
"Dr. Please...there's no other way for me to know what's going on with her. I am really sorry I understand I am putting you in a false position but please....consider my stance too."
***
"You know...there's no compulsion that you have to eat it whole. " Alisha commented looking at his contorted face while eating the khichadi.
"Why do you say so? " He asked confused.
"Look at your face Dhruv...it's...." And she burst out laughing. "Oh...oh ...god!" She clasped her hand on her mouth trying to control her spree.
"What?"
"You seriously have a liking for khichadi? Don't you? " she giggled, putting her empty plate on the side of the bed.
"Leave it....Dhruv! Now.......don't torture yourself anymore. "
"Fine! " he huffed putting the darned, tasteless plate away.
Washing his hands in her bathroom, he came out. "Tell Veena thank you for the dinner and take rest. I will see you tomorrow! "
"Nah! You won't see me anytime soon than next monday. I ain't going to come to Nihar, before that. "
"You don't need to worry about that! When I had said I would see you tomorrow, then I would. "
- Writer
