Satsangi - (A Search For Truth)

CHAPTER 23

I woke up to the sound of a hymn being sung softly in the distance. The melody was soothing, bringing a small smile to my face. Curious, I got up and followed the sound. I soon found Parvati Aunty and Karthikeya in the prayer room, performing aarti with devotion. Parvati Aunty’s voice filled the room as she sang, and Karthikeya’s soft voice blended in, creating a peaceful and reverent atmosphere. When they finished, she came over and offered me the aarti. I took it, bowing my head in respect. Then, she extended the aarti behind me. Turning around, I saw Manasa and Anusha standing there, who took the aarti as well, sharing a quiet smile with me.

Parvati Aunty smiled at us. Breakfast is ready and I’ve packed  some for Rehaan and his family she said. "Join me downstairs after you freshen up."

We nodded, exchanging excited looks, and headed upstairs to get ready. After freshening up, we gathered for breakfast, enjoying the meal that Parvati Aunty had lovingly prepared.

After breakfast, we made our way to the hospital to visit Rehaan. Anusha knocked gently on the door, Arjun Uncle opened it, welcoming us with a warm smile. Inside, we saw Subhadra Aunty, Swadhinetha, and Rehaan still fast asleep. I suggested to Uncle that he take some time to freshen up, while I gently woke up Subhadra Aunty and Swadhinetha. Meanwhile, Anusha and Manasa set out the breakfast dishes and poured coffee.

As Rehaan’s family finished breakfast, the doctor arrived for the morning check-up.

“Doctor, when can I be discharged?” Rehaan asked eagerly, looking hopeful.

The doctor gave a small smile. “You’re recovering well, Rehaan, but you’ll need to stay about two more weeks to ensure complete recovery.”

Rehaan’s face dropped. “Two weeks? That’s way too long, doctor! I can’t stay cooped up here for that long. I’ll leave tomorrow instead.”

Before the doctor could respond, Subhadra Aunty quickly interjected, her tone firm. “Rehaan, you’re not leaving this hospital until the doctor says you’re fully recovered. Do you understand?”

“But, Mom…” Rehaan started, his voice bordering on a whine. However, she cut him off with a final “No means no, Rehaan.”

Turning to the doctor, she asked, “How is he doing otherwise, Doctor?”

The doctor nodded reassuringly. “He’s doing well, but it’s important he gets rest and follows care instructions. Rushing recovery could lead to setbacks.” With that, he left the room, leaving us in a slight silence.

Rehaan looked at his mom, exasperated. “Mom, there’s so much work piling up! I can’t just lie here doing nothing. You have to understand.”

Subhadra Aunty shook her head, giving him a pointed look. “Is there a single day where you don’t have work, Rehaan? This is about your health. The work can wait.”

We stifled our smiles at Rehaan’s obvious frustration, amused but not wanting to make the situation worse. I stepped in to help lighten the mood. “Aunty, we’ll stay here with Rehaan while you all go home, freshen up, and come back later. We’ll keep him out of trouble,” I added with a wink.

Relieved, Rehaan’s family thanked us and headed home. After they left, I turned to Rehaan. “So, how are you really doing?” I asked gently.

He groaned. “Honestly, Divya, I’m so bored here. I don’t know how I’ll make it through two weeks.” He looked at me with hopeful eyes. “Can you try talking to my mom?”

I laughed, shaking my head. “I think she’s made up her mind on this one. Besides, I don’t think anyone could convince her otherwise—not even you!”

He sighed dramatically. “Great, just great. I’ll be here forever, then.”

“Why don’t we do something to pass the time?” Manasa suggested. “How about a movie? It’ll make the time go faster.”

Rehaan brightened at the idea. “A movie sounds perfect. Anything’s better than staring at these walls.”

We picked a movie and settled in, enjoying the distraction. Laughter and conversations filled the room, lightening Rehaan’s spirits. After a few hours, Rehaan’s family returned and joined us, settling comfortably on the couch. We all chatted for a while, catching up on family news and sharing stories. Finally, as the evening drew closer, Anusha, Manasa, and I said our goodbyes and headed home, content with having made Rehaan’s day a little brighter.

"So, where should we start?" Anusha asked, breaking the silence and looking at each of us expectantly.

Manasa, a bit puzzled, glanced over and asked, "Wait, what exactly are you talking about?"

"Yesterday, we discussed looking into Srinivastav Uncle’s case," Anusha clarified, leaning forward with a determined look.

"Oh, right!" Manasa and I both said, nodding as the memory clicked into place.

I paused, then added, "But remember, there's something important we need to keep in mind. We're investigating Srinivastav Reddy the archaeologist, not my dad, Srinivastav Reddy."

Anusha tilted her head, clearly a bit confused. "But how does that really make a difference if they’re both the same person?"

I took a deep breath and explained, "Well, usually, investigators and police aren’t supposed to work on cases where the victim or the suspect is a family member. The reason is, emotions  can cloud our judgment, and we could end up biased without even realizing it. Especially when it’s someone close to you." So, it's crucial we stay as objective as possible."

They both nodded, seeming to understand the gravity of what I was saying. Manasa spoke up, her voice a little softer. "That makes sense. It’s going to be challenging, but if we keep that in mind, we can do our best to stay focused."

Anusha chimed in, "Agreed. We’ll have to remember to stay objective, no matter what we find."