Agent Of DEATH

Episode 7

Anamika

It was a cold Summer night. Everyone were slowly preparing their berths to sleep. It was her first time in first class, yet Anamika couldn't follow the invisible rules of being in a First class coach. She was having all the comforts and privacy, but she never felt safe and secured like she used to feel when she traveled in Second Class. It was a new feeling and she couldn't abide with it. She just sat in her compartment looking at the not-so-half, not-so-crescent moon and just prayed god to help her get some sleep as she had to do a lot of work in the morning.

Radisa Anamika Devi was the Grand-daughter of Radisa Mohandas, who worked as a Minister handling the Industrial Development of the State, in the Darbar of His Exalted Highness (H.E.H), Nawab Sir Mir Osman Ali Khan Siddiqi, Bayafandi Asaf Jah VII at the Faluknama Palace. She was born with a silver spoon in her mouth and yet she never showed that in her behavior. She always respected her elders, rich or poor, and always worked towards helping people in need. It was her mentality and character that lead her to study Medicine and became a specialist in Ayurveda. Anamika wanted to help people and stayed away from the hurdles of marriage.

It was the time when people in India were fighting against the Britishers through violence and many were not getting proper treatment for their injuries. Also word was that, people were getting affected by a strange disease in Madras and were rushing to hospitals for curing themselves. Listening to all these, Anamika decided to go check what was happening in Madras. Amidst all the cries of her family regarding her marriage, she took the train to Madras from Calcutta. For a girl who always travelled in Second Class, she couldn't bear the silence around her. That's when she heard some huge noises outside her compartment. "What happened Anna? What were those huge noises?" She asked her fellow passenger after rushing out from her compartment. "Some Bandits attacked the Royal Cargo coach. Two men were guarding it. I think they got injured." Anna replied. Anamika immediately took her Leather pouch that had the Ayurvedic herbs and rushed towards the Royal Cargo coach. That's when she saw Sitaram.

Anamika kept staring at Sitaram for a while. "Such a handsome man." she thought in her mind. She was so awestruck by him, she didn't even realize that he was wounded. It was only after he shouted that she got out of her Dreamland and ran towards him to check his wound. That's when Sitaram started asking her questions. "Are you a Doctor? Or a Nurse?" Anamika wanted to reply, but she was busy stopping the blood from coming out. She tore a piece of her saree and tied it around his leg. He kept asking her questions, "What are you doing on this train? Where are you from? Where are you going?" But she didn't answer. She took some herbs, crushed them and applied it to the wound. She then tied another piece to his wound and rushed towards her coach after seeing Rahman. That's when Sitaram asked her name. At first she was hesitant but then she wrote her name on a piece of paper and threw it at Sitaram. She then ran to her compartment out of joy and shyness.

The next day morning, the train reached Central station. Anamika got down and searched for Sitaram in the Royal Cargo coach. But they were not there. She felt a little down. She went to a nearby hospital to check about them. But they were not there too. While standing at the entrance of the hospital, Anamika was amused with the amount of people coming to the hospital for treatment. That's when she realised that, Sitaram deviated her from the main reason, she came to Madras. She then went inside, walked towards the reception and asked for the Head Doctor's Chambers. "What type of disease is being spread here in Madras? I want all the details immediately." asked Anamika. "Who the hell are you? Why should I give an Indian women the details about this breakout?" the Head Doctor replied. "Listen. I don't care who you are and what you do here. As a Doctor, I am only concerned about the health of the public. Now give me the details or else you will have to face my other self and she is much worse than what you are seeing." Anamika said to the Head Doctor. He was unhappy with her approach and handed her a file. Looking into it, Anamika was amused. For she had never seen this kind of symptoms before. "This is the worst thing that happened to us, since the Britishers...."

________________To be Continued