"We can't tell her about this."
The worried father refused his wife to let her tell anything about his poor health to their sensitive daughter. He knew how nervous and worried she could get if she ever get to know about her father's health.
"But, we really need to tell Naveen. As we could be needing him anytime."
The man laying weak on the hospital bed gave his agreement to his wife's words.
"She should have reached by now. I wonder if she got stuck in traffic because of the rain."
Preeta's mother, Sarla left the room not waiting for his husband's response and stood in the corridor to ask Preeta about where she had reached till now. She was about to call her but before she could press the call button, a familiar soft voice called her from behind. She looked back to see her daughter standing tired yet cheerful with her suitcase. Preeta left them near the door and rushed inside the room to hug her mother.
"I missed you, maa."
"I missed you too, beta. How come you reached so late? You have called an hour before saying you were at bus stand?"
Preeta pulled apart and loosened her scarf around the neck.
"Obviously rain, maa. Now let me see my father."
She ignored her mother's ranting to change her wet clothes first. Entering the room that was allotted to her father, she gasped seeing her father. Dark circles around his eyes showed that he hadn't sleep last night because of the pain. The IV was connected to his wrist as he was sleeping peacefully. Her father's happy, cheerful face was now looking dull. She walked forward and sat on a stool which had been there already beside the bed.
"Papa."
She whispered nervously while putting her hand on her father's. She looked at her hand waiting for the movement.
"Papa."
She whispered again and gently shaking his hand. Finally, her father opened his eyes slowly and coughing while looking towards the person sitting beside him.
"Preeta."
His eyes lit up and he immediately raised his weak hands towards her to touch her head in blessing.
"When did you come?"
Preeta kept on holding his hand and replied nervously.
"Five minutes ago. What happened to you? I thought it was a minor ache in your back. But it seems more serious."
She spoke honestly looking at his pale face. Her father smiled kindly and replied.
"Its nothing serious, babu. The pain was worst last night but right now I am fine. You shouldn't be worried. You don't know how these doctors are just irritating me for no reason that I should rest one more day."
Preeta wasn't convinced as she already tensed hearing the word worst. Her father is the most important person in her life. She couldn't bear to have him even a little scratch. But hearing his last sentence, she got distracted.
"Yes. You have to do what they say. After all, they are the doctors."
Her father smiled and patted her cheek lovingly.
"Okay, meri maa."
Preeta shrugged and was about to tell her father about the mystery books she had bought for her father knowing that he had a great interest in mystery and thriller novels. But her father had asked her something before she could utter a single word and the question made her speechless.
