More than just Feluda (Fanfic)

Sorrowful shock

The meeting with Dr. Ashok was long. Ashok explained him about brain injuries such as hers and the risks it may have. She was expected to regain conscious between the coming few hours to 2 days, and if she did not respond, they'll have to consider her a case of coma. Ashok also added that he would be involving a senior doctor for better treatment. He listened to everything and understood. When they were almost done, Ashok revealed another shocker to him.

"Mitter, did you know she was five weeks pregnant right now?"

He stared back blatantly astonished. "What?! No! I didn't..."

Ashok sighed. "Yeah. I found out from her reports today morning. But the child wouldn't have survived the accident, so we may consider it lost already..."

His shoulders slumped in the chair.

Ashok slowly said. "If she doesn't know about it either, don't mention anything when she gets up. It will only make her recovery more difficult."

"Yeah, I- I understand..."

Ashok gave a sympathetic smile. "These are testing times for you, but don't worry. Things will fall in place."

He managed to thank Ashok and left the cabin. Walking to her room, he stopped before entering it. Another child lost, even before he knew about it. What if she did know she was pregnant? What would he answer to her when she would ask about their child? Would she even wake up to ask him about it, or would he end up losing both his child and his wife?

He walked inside in this blurry of thoughts towards her bed. Tapesh was sitting by the side joined by Lalmohan babu who had come only fifteen minutes ago. Seeing him Tapesh started bombarding questions about what the doctor said, when would she wake up, what happened to her etc. He just rubbed his temples and painfully said,
"Topshe, just keep quiet right now. I'll tell you later."

Tapesh fell silent immediately and looked down. He settled onto the chair besides her bed.
"Could you check or telephone to see where Kaka and Kaaki might have reached?"

"Yes. I'll go." Tapesh said and rushed out as Lalmohan babu followed behind.

He was alone with her. Taking her hand and squeezing it, he sat there with closed eyes for some moments until when the nurse came clattering in, checked on everything and left again. He sighed as he thought about their child.
"It's all because of me... I've failed you both... I've failed to take care of you and our baby again, Sindhu; I've hurt you again!... What a terrible father and husband I am..." He buried his face in his hands trying to organize his thoughts and bring himself together. Finally succeeding after a struggle of six complete minutes, he took a sharp breath in and stood up.

"We've had enough of this case; I'm going to make sure it doesn't bother us ever again. I'll either be closing this very soon, or leaving it for your sake; I promise...
But you'll have to open your eyes again and talk to me; you can't leave me alone like this. You will wake up again, I know you will." Saying this he leaned over and softly kissed on her bandaged forehead.

Tapesh came in a few minutes later and he gave him some instructions to look after Sindhuja.
"I'll be back by three, as soon as I can manage. Please, look after things here." And with that he walked out of the room again. Tapesh and Lalmohan babu could only stare at his back.

Lalmohan babu slowly said, "How does he manage to keep cool in such a situation!"

Tapesh replied still looking in the direction he went from, "He certainly isn't cool, but there's no other option left for him. I think this is by far the most challenging case Feluda has ever handled; It isn't just testing his smartness, but also his emotional strength.... To its extreme."