Dawn

Chapter 05 - Panacea

Panacea

[noun]

a hypothetical solution or a remedy

"I'm your what?!" she repeated.

Aryan whipped around eyes wide, the shock on his face reflected on hers.

"We're married?!" Imlie demanded, panic making her voice shrill.

"Imlie, wait, you..," he began.

Imlie could hear nothing except the sound of the blood rushing to her ears. Her head started throbbing with new vigour, and her eyes saw black as she slid to the ground. In her last conscious moment, she was aware of a pair of strong arms lifting her once more to safety before her mind gave in to the comfort of darkness.

Aryan was an avid sportsman. He believed in fitness ethic as much as work ethic. To that effect, he'd even won multiple boxing medals. So it wasn't a surprise that his reflexes were excellent. 

And good thing too, because Imlie's skull was headed for the solid floor when he caught her. He lifted her high against his chest as though she weighed nothing and hurried to place her on the bed.

He glanced at his family with a look that said, now what?

Arpita and Narmada who were both reeling from surprise looked up to see Meethi enter the room, the smile on her lips faltering as she took in everyone's worried faces. Imlie moaned once, calling out to her mother. Aryan nodded at his sister, silently asking her to take charge as he rushed out to find Dr.Bose. He missed seeing Imlie open her eyes in a daze.

"Amma?"

"I'm here, my baby." Meethi rushed to Imlie, moving her hand over her head in a soothing motion.

"Amma. Amma," Imlie's voice broke. "I didn't believe her, Amma. I thought it wasn't me, but it is," she rambled tearfully.

"What?" Meethi was aghast at Imlie's condition.

"I'm married, Amma? Married?" her panic was rising again.

"Bitiya, who told you..."

"Bindiya, I saw her. She told me I married a sehri babu. Amma, tell me the truth, please," Imlie pleaded, struggling to stay awake now. "Is that him? Aryan Singh Rathore?"

Meethi was completely stumped. Where had that come from?

"Amma, please," Imlie cried, now pushing herself up. She swayed in weakness, her fight to stay conscious draining her. 

"Bitiya, please calm down. Please! I'll tell you whatever you want but please, stay calm," Meethi begged.

Dr.Bose rushed in, Aryan hot on her heels. Seeing him set Imlie off again. Narmada pulled Arpita and Aryan out of the room to give the other ladies a chance to get the situation under control.

They walked in silence to the waiting area nearby and sat on the seats. The place was mostly empty for the lunch hour, a scant few hospital staff milling about.

"Yeh kya ho raha hai, Aru?" Narmada finally ventured after some time.

"I have no idea, Ma. I don't know why she reacted like that but.."

Aryan stopped, seeing Dr.Bose and Imlie's mother walking towards them.

He got up as they got closer. "How is she now?"

"She was panicking. We had to sedate her. She's resting now," Dr.Bose informed gravely. "I thought I had made it clear that stress is injurious to her health right now. How did this happen?"