Sweet Surprise

Chapter 11

Fifty thousand dollars.

For the last few days, Neeta's mind was working out ways to pay for the hospital expenses. She was looking at the bill in front of her, and then at a sleeping Lawrie. Neeta patted his hand and sighed, as Dia walked in with home-made food.

"Mom is everything alright ?", she asked. Neeta smiled at her daughter's curiosity and hesitantly shook her head, Dia did not buy that and pestered , " Well of course it isn't. I know that face. What is eating you up so much Ma ?"

"Dia the bills and expenses are climbing high. How will we manage this ?", Neeta asked hopelessly. Dia brightened up and said, "Mom, Dad has insurance, so its going to be fine."

"What if that's not enough ?". Neeta asked, she had a sinking feeling that the insurance would not work out, and they were going to face a major monetary issue, very soon.

"Mom we have enough savings from Rizzo, it should work out, " Dia trailed off uncomfortably. She desperately hoped that her mother did not catch her awkwardness regarding the financial situation. Money was tight. The insurance company would pay only if the cost exceeded fifty-five thousand dollars.She checked the accounts and the total cash balance at the moment was about forty five thousand dollars. They were short by five thousand dollars, and she knew she could ask Adam, but then she remembered it would hurt her father's pride. So she thought of asking Rosa. Dia kissed her sleeping father and told her mother not to worry, as she had to go check on Rosa.

As she was walking through the hallways to enter the cafeteria, Dia was momentarily stunned at the familiar girl in front of her speaking with a doctor. She called out, "Karen ?" The woman in question however did not turn , and rushed off to the exit in the other direction. Dia tried to follow the mysterious woman, but she was caught in a haze of accident victims being stretchered towards emergency. When she finally emerged from that, the mysterious woman was gone.

"Dia what are you doing here ?", Rosa looked amused, Dia wandered off as usual.

"I went to look for you in the Cafeteria ...", Dia trailed off, when Rosa chuckled, "Yes I can see that , you definitely missed a wing." Dia turned around and then offered a sheepish smile, "Well. Yeah. I was kind of lost.", she asked, "Did you see Karen ?"

Rosa was stunned, but with a practiced impassive look she replied, " No. Did you see her somewhere ?"

"I thought I saw her here today.", Dia replied puzzled. Rosa's eyes widened, and she asked ,"Are you sure ?" and then she thought about the other day when she saw both Karen and Harry kissing in the parking lot, the situation was assuming catastrophic levels. She dissuaded Dia's concerns regarding Karen by distracting her with, " What did you have to ask earlier ?"

"Oh yeah, do you happen to have five thousand dollars ?", Dia asked awkwardly.

"Why do you need five grand, Dia ?", Adam interrupted their conversation, he had received information that Karen had visited the hospital shortly, he had come in person to verify. When he saw Dia he felt drawn to her, and quietly joined their meeting.

Rosa winked at Dia and conveniently added, "Well you two talk, I'll see you guys later."

Dia was moving awkwardly from one foot to the other as she found the ground rather interesting, Adam found that action endearing , held her shoulders and asked , " You are not answering my question my dear. "

Dia blushed and she was about to say something, when she remembered that Adam, was distant lately. He did not even visit her father after the surgery, and had mysteriously vanished from the hospital premises, so she answered saucily, "Well I can be secretive when I need to."

Adam was visibly amused and she could see he could not hold off the smile threatening to escape, so she added ," I'm quite serious here Adam."

"I don't remember saying otherwise. But my question still remains unanswered –"

"It will be, because you left me alone while Dad was in surgery. "

He pulled her against him and while she blushed being in his arms, he whispered , "I know it was wrong, but I hate hospitals, they make me squeamish. Don't tell anyone." Dia giggled in disbelief, she could not imagine her hunky husband afraid of hospitals. So she said, " I accept your apology. I need that money to finish paying the bills."

"How did you know that I was apologizing ? ", as he held out his credit card for her to pay off. Adam wanted to foot the entire hospital bill, Dia was tempted to accept his offer. She resisted his persuasive nature and finally relented when he said, " In health and sickness, remember." So she accepted to use his credit card only for the remainder of the money.

"Sometimes you don't need to say sorry toapologise.", Dia replied brightly