More than just Feluda (Fanfic)

One Month

Chandannagar double-murder case. The only case that Pradosh Chandra Mitter was not able to solve; because he chose to step out of it himself. Tapesh knew that his Feluda could have continued in the case if he wanted to despite the weird political turn, but did not do so. He knew Feluda had a larger reason behind quitting. Boudi.

Sindhuja had been in the hospital for about six days now. She was not making progress as expected, which was of concern to everyone in the family. However, Dr Ashok advised them to take her home today, hoping that a more comfortable atmosphere would help speed her recovery up.

He and Kaka were called in to meet by Dr Ashok in his cabin. As they both entered, they found Ashok accompanied by Dr. Dutta, a senior doctor in the hospital. He sensed something important was to be discussed today, and quietly settled on the chair in front of the desk with Kaka besides him.

After a few general words of inquiry about the patient, Senior doctor Dutta took over the conversation. "Mr Mitter, we had conducted some tests for the patient recently and received reports today. The reports indicate a higher level of cerebrospinal fluid in her brain than necessary. We have concluded that the patient is suffering from severe Traumatic Brain Injury, better known as TBI. TBI is basically due to an externally-caused injury to the head which affects it's functioning and slowly, functioning of the entire body. It's followed sometimes by a rare disorder similar to Parkinson's disease. The symptoms as you might have noticed in her already, are severe headache, nausea, seizures, loss of balance, blurred vision etc."

He nodded as he remembered seeing most of these symptoms in Sindhuja.

Kaka asked the doctor, "But what is the treatment for this? Would we need to postpone her discharge?"

Dr. Ashok answered slowly. "Unfortunately sir, there is no proven cure for this. We can certainly try our best with treatment, but considering her medical situation, I'm afraid there is much less that we can expect."

He was getting a hang of what they meant. Eyebrows furrowed down, he asked, "So there are no chances of her recovering."

"Very less." Dr Dutta replied shortly.

He frowned. "Optimistically, right? But practically..."

"Very less indeed."

He dared to ask the question following inspite of the nervousness surging through his veins. "And, how risky is this disorder?"

Dr Dutta eyed Ashok who slowly said, "I'm afraid, at her level it is fatal. In fact, she might not have more time than one month."

Everything around turned cold as he looked at Ashok's words rang in his ears.
"What?" He asked hoping that he had heard Ashok wrong.

Dr Dutta concurred with Ashok. "We are totally serious, Mr Mitter. The patient, given her condition, indeed has about 4-5 weeks left. Her health will deteriorate gradually over these days, slowing down the work of her organs..."

"How is this possible!" Kaka exclaimed. "She regained conscious, she's talking to us, sitting; she is recovering slowly!"

Dr Ashok replied. "That is because the effect of the injury hasn't completely started yet. In a few days, you would most probably see her health getting worse again."

Kaka looked at him who was staring into nothing, a strange disbelieving expression on his face. Putting a hand on his shoulder, Kaka called him out. "Felu?"

He turned to face Kaka, showing that he was listening all along. He then turned to the doctors.
"I am ready for taking her anywhere required for treatment if it isn't here in Kolkata. It's 1977, there must be something somewhere; Bombay, Delhi, Hyderabad!... The expenses are not a concern at the moment. But we must have some cure..."

Dr Dutta eyed him. "Mr Mitter, you can find doctors claiming they have cures everywhere of these cities; but trust me, none of them are of real significance. They do not help the patient in any way. The current medical knowledge still cannot treat this disorder."

He frowned and ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "What... What am I supposed to do then? How do we save her?"

Ashok sighed. "We do have treatments available here at this hospital that we can try, let's hope they work."

He looked at them wide-eyed. "Hope?" he asked trying to contain himself.
"It's a question of her bloody LIFE! How do you expect me to just leave things to hope?!"

"Mr. Mitter..."

"Didn't you just say that she has less time, and now you people are talking of trying out some treatment- just in case it works?! Am I supposed to trust such a system with my wife?!"

"Felu..." Kaka said in caution.

But he did not hear Kaka. He was not in a state to listen to anything.

"What do you mean she won't live?! If your hospital cannot find a cure for her, I'll find some other place for it!!" He almost thundered.

Kaka pressed a silencing hand on his shoulder again, while turning to the doctors. "I'm sorry..."

Dr Dutta nodded. "I understand. But the situation in front of us is what it is. You can consult any other practitioners if you want, but I guarantee any honest doctor would say the same about her case."

"I think we will talk to other doctors, yes... But till then let's keep her treatment here continued.", he declared throwing a commanding glance at his nephew.
"And... Is her discharge today postponed then?"

Ashok replied. "No, you may take her; she might find the atmosphere at home better for recovery."

He was looking down clenching his jaw, listening to the further conversation about treatment without a word.