The Unventured Passions

A Prelude to the heart

Within the high walls of the Raybahadur Palace, was a dampness that did not belong to the air outside. Despite the courtyard being open to the elements, the odour and humidity were quite different... The place reeked of treachery and deceit! Upon entering the large iron gate, Satya had noticed that the ground-covering, leading to the entrance of the main building was sparse, and those that grew were the shade-loving flora of broad leaf and juicy stem, interspersed with tufts of grass.
Satyakirth was walking through the grass, alert, yet a little absent-minded, thinking about his mission, his plans to invade the basement of the same house where he was invited to stay. He would need Raimoti, she was the key, metaphorically and literally... But, the question of what he would do after all these was done, was hammering constantly in his ethical senses. How would he tell Raimoti that whatever he did or said... Whatever he made her feel, all were nothing but a facade!
Would the girl live then?

The final rays of the dying sun was bidding it's last farewell to the nature, gifting her his final glory, and Satyakirth closed his eyes once and took a deep breath before crossing the threshold of the palace.

"Dr Sen... Welcome... Welcome once again." The old RayBahadur was sitting inside the hall, as he stood up to welcome him.
"I see that you haven't brought much of your belongings."
He pointed at the single suitcase that he had carried.

"Well, just books and some clothes. My work would make me stay at the college campus mostly." He flashed a bright smile in reciprocation of the old man's enthusiasm.

"Good, good... So doctor, what does 'S' stands for? Pardon the old man, I quite didn't catch your name in the morning."
Neelmoni was smiling at him.

That's because I didn't tell you old man!

Satyakirth smiled too.
"Sarthaki... It's Dr. Sarthaki Sen."

The RayBahadur had appeared to be unexpectedly pleased with him, and Satyakirth was given a room upstairs, left to the spiral staircase, opposite to that of Raimoti's. This seemed advantageous to his cause as without wasting any time further, he picked up his medicine box, leaving the mid sized suitcase in his room, as he slowly knocked at Raimoti's closed door.

"Miss Mukherjee... May I come in madam?
His voice was low and the knocks were just soft taps on the unlatched Mahogany door.

"Would you not enter if I forbid you?"
Raimoti's voice came from inside making Satya press his lips in an unnecessary amusement.

"I have a moral responsibility towards you as your doctor. So, if you forbid, I'd still have to enter I'm afraid."

Satya heard a sharp sigh from inside.
"Then let's drop the pretence, shall we?"
Her words were sharp, yet slow, faintly uttered with an effort.

Satya had pushed the door open, but his eyes weren't prepared to witness what he saw inside. The room was no doubt cleaned, with no scattered papers and the chain of saree was also removed from the window. Everything looked redone, except Raimoti. She was seated exactly in the same way, the same position as he had left her. Her back was rested against the cushioned bedpost, her legs were stretched forward, her hands lay loose on her lap, and her head upward, as if counting the number of petals on the large ceiling decoration.
She still wore his white shirt from the morning, and her feet had traces of clay making the bruises look worse.

"You haven't changed yet?" Satya's tone was gentle as he walked past her bed, and parked his box on the bedside table.
"Your feet needs immediate attention Madam."

He pulled out a bale of cotton and some antiseptics, before walking towards the rear end of the bed, as he sat on its softness, and picked up Raimoti's feet, placing them gently on his lap.
Raimoti didn't react.