The Chronicles Of Subhadra Hegde √

Chronicle 1

Subhadra Hegde sat before the council. Confident as always.

Dr Naresh Tripathi stared at the documents for a long time, while Dr Pooja Behl grew restless.

" Sir.... "

Naresh as if woke up from a deep slumber.

" Yeah.....
So Subhadra, I... I would like to elicit that the hospital authorities have suspected you to be involved in.....

Euthanasia....

We have found out that many critical patients under your duty did expire soon...and...

And we have eye witnesses of you injecting drugs not prescribed to the patients...

Do you have anything to say in your favour? "

Subhadra stared straight into his eyes. And said calmly,

" I'm a budding oncologist sir. I mostly deal with critical patients. And yes there have been cases of death under my supervision. But I would like to know who are the eye witnesses and why did they never stop me before murdering someone than later become witnesses of a supposed crime .. "

Naresh Tripathi looked at Pooja Behl, who now stared with disgust at Subhadra.

" A group D staff will never stop a residing doctor from injecting drugs. " , she uttered.

" A group D staff won't even know if I am injecting something illegal. " , Subhadra didn't even glance at Dr Behl who looked nothing but a jealous snake to her at times.

Naresh Tripathi talked again.

" Listen Subhadra. I trust you, I know how efficient and capable you are. But since such stories are making rounds, why don't you just be more careful? It'll be better if you ask the nurses to inject drugs than do that yourself. "

" I'm sorry sir. I handle my patients myself. "

" None of them were your patients. You were just the residing doctor. " , Pooja hissed.

" Whoever i reside upon becomes my patient. Sir, I owe no explanation to anyone. If you can, catch me red handed with lethal injections. I'll happily go to jail. "

Dr Subhadra Hegde walked out of the cabin, head held high, leaving behind a smiling Naresh Tripathi and a fuming Pooja Behl.

-------

The secluded cabin had its lights on till late. Nurses and staffs had time and again told Rishabh to sleep early, but he was not ready to waste days of life sleeping. He had to finish as many books as he could.

Subhadra pushed the door of the cabin and entered.

Rishabh kept aside the book and stared at her. She pulled the stool from under the bed and sat beside him.

" Did you bring..... " , he asked anticipatingly.

Subhadra slowly nodded her head.

" So, what are you waiting for?

I never thought you would come so soon though." , he stared at the unfinished book.

Subhadra smiled and brought out a
tiny box from the pocket of her apron. A rolled stick of something emerged from it.

" Try this. "

Rishabh took it and stared at it for sometime.

" Smokeless nicotine free cigars. Looks like, and tastes like. " , Subhadra smirked.

The twenty six years old lung cancer patient chuckled. And sipped a bit.

" Tastes like, I agree. But doesn't feel like. Without rings of smoke, cigarettes don't feel like them. "

Subhadra scratched her feet, smiling.

" But I believed you brought.... "

" You'll cure soon Rishabh. Don't behave like a child. "

Rishabh sat up straight.

" I don't want a cure Dr Subhadra Hegde! My life has got nothing! I miss my mother like hell. After huge prayers I got this disease as hers. My father is a scoundrel. Now doctors say I'll cure and get back to him. I don't want to, damn it!!! I beg of you, only you can help me.... "

" Dump him. Do something for yourself. Live alone. "

" Will I get back my mother that way ? "

" Who said you'll get to see your mother once you die? "

Rishabh suddenly grew utterly restless.

" Why don't you understand?? I... I.. I need to... I need to take a chance, I'll have to... I have read that if we can die within two years of our beloved's death, we get to meet them... "

" Bullshit "

" It's not!!!!!! " , Rishabh shouted.

Subhadra jumped up from the seat and hugged him, pressed his head into her chest, and kept patting his back, while he kept shaking.

Then she whispered distinctly..

" I'm not a murderer.... Don't turn me into one. Because if I do... I'll be the best, the most devastating, one and only...... "