Serendipity

32

Anupama spent the entire day by Anuj's side. She'd briefly let GK take over while she had dinner. And then she was back, on the chair right next to his bed, a fresh bowl of ice-cold vinegar water, compress strips, paracetamol, and a book. She'd called the school and taken the week off. Now that she was the trustee's fiancé, the rules seemed rather flexible.

The doctor had visited them later in that afternoon. "It's a viral infection," he'd diagnosed.

"But his symptoms..." Owing to having almost single-handedly raised three children, Anupama had dealt with quite a few viral infections in her lifetime. But none that had affected the patient to this extent.

"Stress," Dr. Vohra replied. "If I'm to guess right, Mr. Kapadia hasn't been getting much sleep. Lack of sleep inhibits the body's ability to fight off infections."

She nodded her head.

"Let him rest for 48 hours."

And diet?

"Nothing solid. Soups, broths...." He scribbled something on a prescription pad that he'd brought along, "Give him these medicines. He should be fit as a fiddle in five days," he told Anupama, ripping the paper off the pad and handing it to her.

Anupama thanked the doctor, handed the prescription to Mohan to get filled.

As the doctor was making his way out, he spotted GK on the sofa, looking dejected. He made his way towards GK. "Mr. Kapadia is going to be just fine Mr. Karodiya," he assured him. "It's nothing serious, just change of weather. I believe he's been exposed to the elements."

When GK looked unsure, Anupama pitched in. "Last night Anuj Ji came back home dripping wet. Although I immediately asked him to change and made him some ginger tea..." 

GK looked relieved.

"Thank you, doctor," he said feelingly.

"Don't thank me, thank Anupama. Her presence of mind really helped things from getting complicated."

Turning to Anupama he said: "The vinegar cold compress was a brilliant idea. Well done."

As the doctor continued to inform GK about things they could do that would help Anuj regain his strength quickly, Anupama walked up to Kanhaji's idol and lit a lamp. Anuj would be okay. That's all that mattered.

*****

The room was white. Lying on a bed he felt a strange sensation pulsing through his body. Someone was holding his hand, talking to him, placing something wet on his head, placing something wet under his feet. He tried to shake his head, but nothing seemed to move. He tried to shake his feet. Again nothing seemed to move. He tried to lift his head. He felt tired. He drifted asleep.

When he got up again, the room was black. A yellow light emanating from far away. He felt the same hand on his head, on his feet. The hand was soft. He tried to open his eyes. He couldn't. He opened his mouth and whispered water. A hand supported his head, drops of water wetted his parched throat. His eyes felt heavy. He drifted asleep again.

He got up again. The room was still black. He felt someone's head near his hand. He wanted to lift his hand and feel the head, but his body wouldn't cooperate. He once again tried to open his eyes and managed to open them for a brief moment. But they stung. So he closed them again and drifted back to sleep.

*****

It had been 24 hours since Anuj had gained consciousness. He was sitting on his bed quietly sipping on a watery lentil broth Anupama had prepared for him.

"I don't like this," he'd dared to complain only to watch Anupama's eyes turn into little slits, daring him to step out of line. He lowered his gaze and focused on scooping the broth into his spoon.

His hands shook from fatigue, and the spoon titled. Before the broth spilled, Anupama held his hand to steady it. She deftly took the spoon from him and fed him the broth, all the while refusing to look at him.

After unsuccessfully trying to gain her attention, Anuj finally gave up.

"Sorry."

He'd whispered and yet she'd heard it loud. She looked up at him.

"What did you say?"

"Sorry."

"Why are you sorry?"

He shrugged, he didn't know what he was apologizing for. But he knew she was upset with him. That somehow was enough for an apology. 

She breathed, trying to reign in her temper, one that she didn't know existed until a few weeks back.

"Don't apologize to me. Apologize to GK if you must."

Anuj looked up to see GK standing near the door, his red eyes giving away the fear and pain he'd undergone in the last few hours.

"GK," he rasped as the old man looked older than his years for the first time in Anuj's recollection. GK came closer and held Anuj's hand.

"I'm sorry, GK."

"Don't do this ever...ever...again.."

As he hugged Anuj and allowed his fears to rest, the tears he'd been holding in finally streamed down his face.

Anupama picked up the empty broth bowl and quietly made her way out of the room, giving the duo the much-needed space. She felt like an intruder.

She oddly also felt jealous of Anuj. Jealous that he had GK, who loved him unconditionally, who cared for him without any ulterior motive, and who displayed that love and care so frequently and passionately. Theirs wasn't a bond of blood but it was purer and more real than the many of the blood relations she'd seen in her lifetime.