Bombay Romance ♡ COMPLETED

[ 60 ] Strange Happenings ■

'Nothing will happen to him,' Damodar Kaka says. 'We're there with you, beti.'

But Rukmini is inconsolable. Her eyes have turned red and small; her cheeks are tear-stained and her throat hurts from hiccupping. She sits on one of the metal waiting chairs lining the corridors of St. George Hospital. A couple of ladies from the police quarters are there too, trying to console her.

The hospital is an old, brick-lined colonial building. The nurses in white-washed uniforms move about holding trays of surgical equipment, medicines and reports. The place smells of disinfectants and floor cleaners. The bluish light from the tubelights adds to the glum atmosphere.

Savitri Kaki grunts at her husband, though her words are loud enough for everyone to hear. 'I'm not letting this girl into my house. Don't know what bad luck she'll bring again. First her parents, now her husband! You don't want to get our daughters married into good families or not?! With this girl in our house, we'll be ruined!'

Rukmini doesn't lift her head from her knees. She just continues to cry like her heart would break.

Damodar looks at his wife in disgust. 'Are you even a human being?!'

'I'm saying the truth,' Savitri mutters. 

There is a commotion near the staircase and everyone turns to look. Amarnath bounds up the stairs, taking three at a time. Two constables are in tow and they station themselves at the landing. The constables already deployed near Murai's ICU door, fold up their guns and salute.

Everyone except Rukmini gets up. Gauri runs in right behind Amarnath. Savitri automatically goes quiet seeing her.

'I'm leaving. Stay here as long as you want,' she hisses to her husband and leaves.

Damodar rises to make space for Gauri. She perches beside Rukmini, whose head is still bent down to her knees. She puts a hand on her arm. Rukmini jerks her head up.

'He'll be fine,' Gauri says softly.

Rukmini hugs her and continues to cry gut-wrenchingly. Gauri hugs back, not knowing what to say in consolation. She glances at Amarnath helplessly as Rukmini cries against her chest.

Amarnath blinks, swallowing. He turns to the ICU and treads slowly towards its glass window, fidgeting his fingers. The sight inside sucks the air out of his lungs.

Murali, wearing the hospital's pale blue pyjamas, is stretched out on the bed with huge, intimidating machines around him. The monitor beeps monotonously. Intensive care pipes run from his arms to the drip bottle and the machines. An oxygen mask almost covers his face, fogging up and clearing as he breathes unconsciously. A doctor and a few nurses are present beside him, recording observations.

Amarnath staggers back, shuddering. He can't bear to acknowledge that it is Murali inside. Suddenly, the disinfectant smell of the hospital seems to congest his chest. He blinks and looks again. It is the same sight. He steps back further.

Seconds later, the doctor comes out of the ICU, taking off his surgical mask. Everyone stands up.

'Doctor, h-how is he?' Amarnath asks.

The doctor turns to Rukmini first. 'You should be brave, my child. Don't lose faith in god.'

Then, he looks to Amarnath. 'Mr. Muralidhar's condition is very critical. We can't say anything for the next forty-eight hours. We'll keep in under observation. He's lost a lot of blood. We've done our best.'

'But I'll not get your hopes too high,' he adds in a lower voice. 'Chances seem to be very less.'

Gauri feels sick as the doctor walks away; as if the strength is being sucked out of her limbs. Oh god, if she's feeling this way, then ...