Just Like Work

Chapter 4. Unforeseen Future

Maria examined her surroundings before stepping inside the hospital premises . Dressed in a black hoodie with her face hidden behind the mask , she had been extra cautious to ensure she wasn’t followed since her last encounter with Anthony two days ago .

She strolled through the well-lit hospital corridor , the smell of scented disinfectant filled her nostrils , but it didn’t trigger a headache like last time .

"Perks of a private hospital" , she thought . She stopped in front of the room on the left end , and before she entered she sent out a text - “I have arrived . Lock the doors and windows before going to bed . Do not open the door or go outside no matter what .”

In the room , there were four beds with only one of them occupied . She took a glance at the old woman who was fast asleep and placed her backpack on the bed in the right corner , next to her mother’s bed . She pulled out her phone and started scrolling through social media .

Ring ! Ring !

“What happened ?” Maria answered the call in a low voice , walking to the other corner of the room .

“Nothing . I just called to check on you .” the caller said . It was Soumya , her younger sister .

“She hasn’t woken up so … nothing to check on yet .” She turned around to look at her mother . “Let’s see what happens when she wakes up ...”

“If she doesn’t ?”

“I doubt that . She loves carving my brain out with her sharp tongue … I don’t feel like my life is going to be peaceful anytime soon .” Maria said , pressing her lips .

“Sorry . I should have taken her to the government hospital … Is the bill too much ?”

“Don’t be sorry … she might have passed away on the way . That was too far .” Maria massaged her shoulder and said , “Bill won’t be an issue . Don’t worry . Go to sleep . Locked the gates yet ?”

“Yeees , the moment you left . Did something happen ?”

“No .” Maria lied , concealing her worries .

Disconnecting the call , she recalled the underlying threat in Anthony’s voice , her spine shivered , but it was a problem for another day .

She shook it off and checked up on her mother once again ; her wrinkled eyes were still closed , dark circles covered her eye sockets , she was breathing slowly with the help of an oxygen mask , and an IV drip was connected to her hand .

The old woman was thin with her skin stuck to the bones given that she had been unconscious for the last three days and had been on IV drip for five .

Staring at several tubes attached to her mother , Maria uttered , ‘You were brought to a private hospital to get well soon , not to sleep here for days . Is this a new way to torment me ? You wanna sleep that bad ?… sleep at home . These accessories are costing me thousands every day .’

As if the sick heard her daughter complaining , the old woman’s eye twitched . Maria waited , carefully looking at if that had happened and when the eye twitched again , she sprinted to call the nurse .

While waiting outside , the nurse informed her that her mother was conscious and could be fed liquid solution and water .

[Her mother had trouble breathing after she was tested for covid-19 a year ago , the breathing problems stayed the same even after the recovery . In the last few months , her breathing problem got even worse , and she eventually had to be admitted . Doctors had confirmed a partial lung failure and operated on the same three days ago , and she had been unconscious since then .]

“What day is it ?” Maria’s mother asked her . Her voice was more of a croak .

“Sunday …” Maria answered , sitting on the stool by her bed .

“work ?” She was struggling to form words .

“I have Work . But Tomorrow . The nurse asked for someone to stay with you .”

“I… you’d abandon…. At the… first chance .” The woman took brief pauses as she talked , taking deep breaths in between .

“It was Somu . She brought you here .” Maria paused . “I'm just paying the bill .”

“Wench … I know … don't care …I live... or die …” Even though she couldn’t breathe well on her own , she couldn’t resist the urge to scold Maria .

“Don’t breathe too hard . Your lungs can’t keep up with your anger . oxygen cylinders are expensive .” Maria answered , unfazed by the insult .

Maria raised the bed to 30 degrees to feed her mother while her mother tried to scold her some more , but her lungs weren’t supportive enough , so she had to stop and focus on food .

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Maria's House :-

“I took leave from coaching . What time should I visit her ?” Soumya asked from the kitchen .

“why ? I told you not to .” Maria was getting ready for work , squeezed her brows , hurried out of the tiny room , and barged into the kitchen . “You shouldn’t miss coaching . It’s exam time .” Her baby sister’s studies were always her top priority , and that's why she didn't let Soumya stay at the hospital last night .

“One day isn’t a big deal . I can do well even without the coaching .” Soumya said , handing out the lunch to her elder sister .

"OK , Einstein ! Do as you wish …” Maria took the lunch saying , “Private hospitals don’t prohibit that much . Just be there before lunchtime . She still needs help with things . But , don’t sit too close to her . Wait outside the room , she rambles too much …call me if something comes up .” She paused then continued , “I will text you if I remember something else .”

Maria resumed getting ready for work . She had returned from the hospital at 6 in the morning and after a two-hour sleep , she was getting ready to leave for work at 8:30 .

She wore a freshly ironed uniform – light brown trousers , a white shirt , and a tailored suit in the same color as her trousers . Her middle-parted hair was tied in a clean bun , she did minimal makeup and painted her lips with a nude shade of lipstick .

She was brushing her shoes when she noticed that Soumya had been following her around . “Why are you tailing me ? Need something ?”

Soumya stood awkwardly staring at her sister . “No ...”

“Then move . You are blocking the light .”

“Actually … I got an email .”

“About ?” Maria said as she scanned the shoes for any left-out speck of dust .

“I applied for a program in cosmetic science . I submitted a report with my application and I got selected .” Soumya was hesitant . Her big round eyes were alert , making her oblong-oval face look even smaller , with her small lips pursed together . She had a small arched nose , wide forehead , thick black hair , and a peachy fair complexion , unlike her elder sister who was more of a wheatish brown shade .

“a few months back you asked for 10,000 rupees . Was it for this ?”

“yes . It was for an online course that helped me boost my application letter .” Soumya was twisting her fingers with her eyes on the ground .

“Okay … It is good news . I will bring sweets on my way back . Anything else ?”

“Yes . The program is in Seneca .”

“Where ?” Maria couldn’t guess which state it was in , the name sounded unfamiliar .

“Canada”

“That’s far…” Maria’s voice was faint , it didn’t just sound unfamiliar , it was unfamiliar and foreign .

“The food and lodging are included in the program . There are many applicants from India .” Soumya said sheepishly , her voice getting softer with each word .

“Hmm… have you responded ? When does it start ?” Maria was aware of her sister’s concerns- money . “How much is the fee ?”

“I haven’t responded .” She was timidly looking at her sister . “I should respond within a week . The course starts in three months and … the first instalment is… $10,000 .”

“Around 6 lakh rupees (600K rupees)…” Maria grabbed her phone and googled the amount . “Yes , it’s right . I am smart too . See !” She showed her phone screen with the calculated amount .

Soumya smiled at her sister , endeared with her sister’s cheerful response . “but… I won’t go . I can apply again next year … I just wanted to see if I could get in .”

“Why would you go next year when you have already cleared it this year ? Don’t tell me you are scared now …” Maria teased , but she understood that Soumya didn’t want to burden her with heavy fees .

“Scared . No way ,” Soumya objected . “I got it once , I will get it again . It's nothing big but the amount …”

“Don’t give me that money talk … that’s none of your business .” Maria had one goal when she started earning , it was to provide her sister with things she never got . It was the main reason she started earning early .

“It is . I will work in that one year and help you out ... save for college fees maybe ,” she mumbled .

“What work will you do ? It takes one year alone to find a decent job …”

“I'm a college graduate … I can get a decent job . I also have some savings .”

“We are not arguing over this , Somu .” Maria raised her hand . “We have enough money minds in this household… you just focus on studying . I have some investments and savings … Money won’t be an issue .”

“Secret savings … for what ? Your wedding ?”

“No . your wedding . Marriage isn't for me .” Maria teased while wearing her shoes . “Don’t you dare do anything stupid behind my back ? We will talk about it over dinner .”

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At Night Bridge Club :

“You dare back-stab me !” Jugul said as he hit a man tied to a chair with injuries all over his body . “Anthony , this is the traitor that helped the police with the stakeout .”

Anthony was looking at the CCTV footage that had captured a few of the assailants' faces who were involved in the shootout incident a month ago .

David came running and announced , “I checked , Boss . He is right .”

“Give him some money .” Anthony got up from the chair and ordered Jugul . “Let him go ,” before he strode out of the room .

“If I see you again … you’re dead ,” David said to the injured man who was nearly unconscious . “Hide in the deepest folds of the earth . Forget about family and kids , they will stay alive as long as you steer clear of them .”

The injured man , with his blood-soaked clothes , and bruised and bleeding face , was left with Jugul , his prior employer .

Outside the club , David and Anthony got in a black SUV .

"Where to ?" David asked while shutting the door after taking his seat .

"Aurelias" Anthony answered , his eyes spaced out as a grin played on his lips .

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