Silver Linings

Downfall

Shyam groaned in pain.. he tried to open his eyes, but his eye lids felt very heavy.  The last thing he remembered was Arnav lunging towards him with a murderous glare.. and then it was lights out. He really thought that was the end for him... he couldn't remember anything after that. 

He tried to make sense of his surrounding without having to open his eyes.. He inhaled deeply and immediately scrunched his nose at the smell that surrounded him.. His face contorted unpleasantly.. He recognised a low beeping sound that seemed to come from somewhere far away.. Kahan hu mai? (Where am I?) He thought to himself before he tried to open his eyes again. 

Slowly a blur started to form as his eyelids opened up slowly, he blinked his eyes multiple times to clear his vision, and finally he was able to see the squared pattern on the ceiling, and a fan that was barely turning. He felt a pain on his head, and tried to lift his right hand to press it, but found it painful to do so. He turned his head slowly, to look at his hand, to find out why he was unable to move it, he found it was attached to a tube, his eyes followed the tube up and landed on the saline stand next to him Hospital mai hu? (I am in the hospital?) He let out another groan.

He wanted to run his fingers through his hair, and was pleased that he was able to lift his left hand without any pain or heaviness, but found that the movement was somehow restricted, he wasn't able to lift it beyond a few inches. Annoyed with everything he turned a little too quickly to his left side, regretting it immediately as a sharp pain shot up to his head and he let out a scream. He heard hurried footsteps, and suddenly there was a nurse standing in front of him, looking at him. 

He saw her stare at him for a few seconds and then she turned her head "Ganesh, Doctor aur woh Inspector ko bulao.. yeh aadmi utt gaya hai" (Ganesh, call the doctor and the inspector.. this man is awake) his eyes widened in shock.. Inspector? Lekin.. (But) He was so confused, why was the police still here? Didn't Anjali say she will withdraw the case if he signed the divorce papers? He looked at the nurse who was now busy jotting down something on a note pad. He tried to speak, but his throat felt so dry.. he coughed a little.. "Paa.." (Wa) the nurse turned to him "Paani" (Water) his voice sounded strange to his own ears. The nurse narrowed her eyes at him and shook her head, "Pehle Doctor ko aane do" (First let the doctor come) Shyam just blinked his eyes in acknowledgement, as he was scared to move his head again.

A few minutes later, he saw a man's face, from his attire Shyam concluded that he was the doctor "How are you feeling Mr. Jha?" Shyam gulped down saliva, trying to wet his throat before he spoke "Sarr mei dard hai Doctor" (My head is paining doctor) He expected the doctor to show some sympathy, but the doctor just nodded his head.. "That is expected Mr. Jha.. aap kareeban 2 din behosh the" (You were unconscious for almost 2 days) Shyam's eyes widened a little. He was unconscious for 2 days.. it was a result of Arnav physically assaulting him.. and it was done in the presence of police personnel.. maybe he did have a way to get back at Arnav.

But before he could start formulating any evil plan.. he heard another sound "Doctor.. kya hum iss aadmi ko discharge kar sakte hai?" (Doctor.. can we discharge this man? ) Shyam tried to lift his head to see who the person was, and with a lot of difficulty he managed to do it. He wasn't surprised to see a man in police uniform, but he was shocked that it was someone different. The doctor nodded his head and then the police came forward, closer to Shyam's bed, he pulled out a key, Shyam turned his head slowly to his left, and was shocked to see his left hand cuffed to the railing of the bed. 

So that was why he was unable to move his left hand freely.. but why was he cuffed to the bed? Was he still under arrest? But why? Didn't Anjali say she would withdraw the case? Had she tricked him into signing the divorce papers? He felt anger rise within him. He inspector uncuffed him and he was helped into a sitting position by 2 constables. Shyam looked up at the inspector, who saw the confusion and rage on Shyam's face.. "Kya soch rahe hai Mr. Jha? samaj nahi aara hai ke tu ab bhi police custody mei kyun hai?" (What are you thinking Mr. Jha? Are you confused as to why you are still under police custody?) The mocking tone of the inspector only increased the rage Shyam felt.