THE BLOOMING OF LOVE BETWEEN FORCED MARRIAGE

20. Truth about Being a Scientist

             It took about 30 minutes to reach the lab from their Head Office. She scanned her ID card and got inside the lab. She had checked about the ongoing projects on Saturday when she came to the lab. She was prepared for doing further research on them and exactly knew the way she was going to do it. Before doing so, she informed her team about the "Doctors" who will be joining their team and told her teammates that they were arriving at 8 pm today.

Her team was glad that she was back to work again. As it would be difficult to lead a new project without the leader present and they were about to start a new project. Rutuja got changed in her lab clothes and went to check the experiments. She had asked others in her team to finish their work early so they would be not bound by the work and will be able to guide the doctors in the lab.

Rutuja was busy testing the projects and didn't notice the time. All the others had finished their work and daily report and were waiting for the doctors to arrive. It was 8 pm and doctors arrive at the lab. They got inside the lab by scanning their ID cards. Mansi and Hritvik were there to receive them and bought them to the work area where they would write reports. Nisha called Rutuja and asked her "When are you coming the doctors are here". Rutuja said, "Introduce yourself to them, I will be there in 5 minutes". She said, ok come soon.

Nisha and Mansi told them this is our team introducing each of them to the doctors. The doctors introduced themselves as Dr. Rishika and Dr. Aniket. Nisha told them our leader's name is Rutuja and she will be here soon. They were talking with each other when Rutuja entered the room. When she saw that the Drs were none other than her sister-in-law Rishika and her husband Aniket she got shocked and thought, "What is happening with me nowadays?" She was a little bit dizzy and fainted on the spot.

Mansi and Nisha ran to keep her from falling. Rishika and Aniket were shocked to see Rutuja as the leader of the research team. They came to their senses and helped Mansi and Nisha to make Rutuja sit. She wasn't opening her eyes Rishika took her pulse and told them she just fainted because of exhaustion. Nisha went and bought a glass of water for Rutuja, Rishika took some of the water and sprinkled it on Rutuja's face and she opened her eyes.

All of them let Rutuja return to normal. Then, Mansi asked Rishika you both were shocked too, "Do you know each other?" Rishika said, "Yes we know each other I am her sister-in-law and Aniket is my husband". Understanding crossed everyone's faces as they grasped the situation. Rutuja was back to normal now. Nisha asked Rutuja they told you fainted due to exhaustion you have never fainted like that before because of work. Rutuja said, it's not due to work I haven't been sleeping properly and that had caused me to faint like that.

Mansi asked, "Why aren't you taking proper rest Rutuja?" She said, "It was too hard to take rest and I haven't slept for like 2 weeks I guess". Rishika said, "Rutuja are you gone mad, "Why would you do that?" Rutuja said, "I know you want answers I will tell you everything". Rishika said, "Rutuja I want one answer from you, Does my brother know about this?" Rutuja said, "Yes he knows about me being a Scientist, I had to tell him before we decided to marry each other". And my parents don't know about it only my brother Aditya, Harshada and Ashish know about it.

Rishika stared at Rutuja wide-eyed and said, "Your parents don't know about it?" She said, "It's a secret job I can't really tell them or they would be in danger too". Your brother is in danger too and now that you have joined our team it can follow you too. I am there on the top of the list of the attackers and now Rishikesh has been added to it too. I have told him that he can be in danger but, he doesn't know that he is in that situation all the time.

There haven't been any attacks yet. But, I know that they are following us wherever we go. For the last three days, I have been sensing them near the house and because of that I have to be alert all the time and there is no time to rest. I have asked Ashish to be alert while they are in the office. We have attached an alarm sensor to Rishikesh's ring that will ring and the alert signals will come through it to me and Ashish if there is any danger lingering around him.

Rishika asked Rutuja, "Why don't you tell everything to Rishikesh?" She said, "I really want to do that and it kills me inside about not telling him". I can't tell him at the moment as it can change him and I don't want him to change all because of me". Rishika said Rutuja you don't have to be guilty about that, as you never wanted him to be in danger. You are not to be blamed as you are working for people not for selfish interests like others do.

Rutuja said, thanks for understanding Rishika. Please don't tell your brother about this I will tell him when the time comes. She said, "We both won't tell Rishikesh". But, you will have to tell us about everything that is happening around you during the day. Rutuja said, ok I will tell you about everything that will happen. Mansi said, "You should be taking rest in the lab for at least 30 minutes every day". Rutuja asked, "Why should I rest here?" She said you don't sleep properly at home so, you can just sleep here. You need to rest to be in proper health.

Rishika and Aniket said, "We agree with her you need rest to relax mentally and physically which you are not doing right now". Rutuja said, "Fine I will do that". "Is everyone happy now that I have agreed to your terms and conditions?" They said, "Yes in unison". She then said enough about that Nisha show them where they will be working and others hand me your daily reports. All of them submit their reports and she checked them. All the reports were proper so she filed and kept them in the locker.

When Nisha was done showing them the lab and their working rooms. Rutuja said, "Let's go home now it's getting late". All of them listened to her and got ready to leave. Rutuja got up still a bit dizzy. Rishika helped her and asked her should come with her to the house. Rutuja said, "No you don't have to do that I will be fine by myself". Aniket asked, "Are you sure about it?" She said, "I am sure". They all got out of the lab and parted ways.

Rishika and Aniket were there with Rutuja half of the way. She went home and saw that Rishikesh was already home. He saw Rutuja and said, "You are late today". She said, "Yes there was some analysis going on about the new project and we got late". She said, "I will go and get fresh now". He said, sure. She went and got fresh in her room then went to the kitchen and got started on dinner preparations. Rishikesh came and helped her with dinner.

When done they both ate together telling each other about the first day of their office. Later he helped her do the dishes. They both were free now and he decided to go and sleep early because of exhaustion. She checked everything before switching off the lights of the house and going to her room.

She told Harshada about the things that happened at work, and Harshada told her that, she knew they both were assigned to your team but, didn't tell you. Rutuja said, "Why did you not tell me?" "I fainted because of that" Harshada said, "What? You fainted?" "It must be due to your exhaustion, isn't it?" She said, "Yes it is". Ok bye, call you tomorrow. Her friend said, Bye to her before keeping the call. She then, laid down on the bed still dizzy to relax but, still on high alert at the same time.