More than just Feluda (Fanfic)

Flowers and Tea

"What! The doctors said this?" Lalmohan babu asked in disbelief.

He nodded.
"But we haven't told Sindhuja anything. I don't want her to think of more disturbing things."

"Yes, of course... I'll keep it in mind too. But is it really...?"

"She seems improving right now, opposed to what they said... But we're still going to visit a neurologist day after tomorrow to be sure."

"That's good." Lalmohan babu leaned back relieved.
"So, did you answer the letter by Mr. Thakur?"

He sighed. "Yes. I refused the case. Told them I was preoccupied with personal issues."

"But you said yourself that it seemed a good one..."

"It is interesting, but right now I only want to focus on Sindhuja. I promised her I won't take any new cases until she is well again and asks me to start again herself."

"Hmm."

Tapesh was sitting with them quietly.

He noticed this. "Topshe... What's the matter?"

Tapesh looked up but shook his head. "Nothing."

There was an awkward moment of silence. He was about to say something when Tapesh spoke up again.
"Feluda would Boudi really be alright again?"

He took a moment to answer.
"I have faith she will. Don't worry, we'll be doing everything necessary for treating her."

But Tapesh saw in a small corner of his cousin's eyes, a flicker of fear. A shadow of uncertainty.

"Sindhu?"

She opened her eyes to find him leaning over, Tapesh on the side. Sitting up slowly, she saw Lalmohan babu standing at the door with his hands at the front holding a small bouquet of flowers; the usual cloth bag still slinging at his shoulder.

"Lalmohan babu has come to meet you." He said gesturing him to come in. Lalmohan babu walked to her bed and handed her the bouquet.
"Are you better now, Didi?" He asked in a little voice. There was no hint of a smile on his face like usual times, which made him look much older.

Sindhuja stared at the three of them.
"What's going on?"

He blinked. "What?"

"You three are here to meet me; that means you either need tea, or need to tell that you've got into some crazy case again. Right now, the first option is quite unlikely; which leaves us with the second one... So, what are the musketeers upto now?"

A smile stretched across Lalmohan babu's face, his face much more at ease.

Tapesh spoke. "No, Boudi. Nothing like that."

"Though I wouldn't mind the first option." He added putting his hands in the pockets of his black trousers below the brown shirt.

She raised a brow. "Really Mitter babu? You woke me up for this?"

"No no, I'm joking..." He smiled. "Stay here and rest."

She turned to Lalmohan babu. "Thank you for the flowers. They're very nice." Then raising her voice to a taunt, she added, "No one else gets flowers for me anyways."

Lalmohan babu beamed as he frowned. "Alright, I'll be getting a dozen bouquets every morning from tomorrow for her highness... Hm?"

She smiled. "Let's see if the promise makes it even till tomorrow morning."

He felt light inside. Sindhuja was back to smiling and joking around, even with him. That was some good progress.
She looked the same beautiful woman with dark, glinting eyes again. If Lalmohan babu and Tapesh hadn't been here, he swore he would've already taken her in his arms and tasted the sweet smile playing on her lips. But he decided to keep that wish for later.

"Actually, I can make tea for all of you." She slowly said.

"No! Stop trying to find chores around... You're staying here." He said sternly.

"I'm bored of rotting in the bed! You don't let me do anything else, and I'm tired of reading and listening to the radio... Mitter babu, making tea is hardly any work. And I want to do it!"

"You've rearranged our clothes, cupboards and even bookshelf twice already, if that isn't enough. Do you want me to scold you now to stop doing this unnecessary work?"

She rolled her eyes. "You didn't let me go to the kitchen. That's why I had to find something."

"And I'm not letting you go now either."

She frowned.

"Feluda, let her do something for a change... And Srinath is there to help if she needs!" Tapesh intervened and she smiled at him.

He glared at him. Tapesh really was a traitor when it came to Sindhuja.

"No."

"Why?!" she pleaded.

"Because there's fire, smoke and sharp objects in the kitchen. That's why."

"And what am I? A toddler?" she retorted.

"Call it whatever. I'm not taking any risks with you."

She turned to Lalmohan babu.
"Lalmohan babu, have you had tea after coming here?"

"No..." He shook his head.

"But you do want to have it, right?"

Lalmohan babu eyed Him.

"Don't look at him, he always just scares everyone around. Answer me; you want tea right?"

He folded his arms.
"Even if he does want it, I'll tell Srinath."

"But he's a guest; a special guest, he got such good flowers for me! We can't just give him tea made by the servant! I should make it, as a vote of thanks... Isn't it, Lalmohan babu?"

"Yeah..." Lalmohan babu was convinced, but saw him and kept quiet.

"Yes, see! Tapesh, what do you think?"

"I mean, you have a point, Boudi..."

He sighed. "Has anyone here ever gone against madam Sindhuja to listen to me? Nope."

She smiled again. "Let's go down then!"