As you wish

Chapter 9

Chapter 9

Meanwhile at the Oberoi Mansion, the glass was retrieved from the waiter and a large sum of money changed hands. The glass was held carefully as to not to tamper with the fingerprints and placed strategically where only one person entered, the evidence was planted, along with the jewel box. The aberrant bottle, purposefully placed in it and left tactically on a high shelf with a pretence of being hidden.

The stage had been set. Finally the person who had robbed her of the one thing that was most dear to her will pay. She will, have her revenge. Omkara will finally pay.

The ride to the hospital seemed to have lasted eons, yet it was only fifteen minutes away. Omkara reflected on the events of the morning. Surely Gauri would not have taken his words literally. He looked at the petite form in front of him. Her eyes were now sunken. The makeup that was applied artfully by the stylist earlier was now garishly streaked.

Her attacks occurred at intervals. As they reached the emergency entrance of the hospital, she was in the throes of yet another violent attack. The doors were flung opened and an army of health care practitioners were ready to assist. She was moved to the hospital emergency ward.

Omkara was asked to wait in the foyer, whilst the practitioners began their work. He stood in the corridor completely bewildered. Shocked that his idiotic parting shot to Gauri a few hours earlier was taken literally. He thought of the Gauri he had first met, her feisty character with a no nonsense attitude had allowed him to forget his own issues for a while. Until that image was tarnished by what he had witnessed at Kali Thakur's Mansion.

But her loyalty to him and his family during the entire Swetlana episode was unquestionable. After being betrayed by his two previous girlfriends, he questioned his judgement. Therefore, he had unfortunately never given Gauri an opportunity to absolve herself. Neither had he listened to her countless assertions of her innocence.

The door of the emergency room opened. The doctor walked out, wearing a grim look that screamed dread. He did not want to hear what he had to say. He ran his frustrated fingers through his hair. As the Doctor reached him the other door opened and he was joined by the other members of the Oberoi family, all in various degrees of fear and agitation. They surrounded him in support, as was their usual stance, Shivaay was on his right, a pillar of absolute strength, whilst a tearful Rudra flanked his left.

The doctor addressed him, "Mr Oberoi, your wife has definitely consumed poison." The members of his family gasped in shock,

"We were able to identify the poison as strychnine. The dosage that she seemed to have taken is lethal. We have given her an antidote. Hopefully this will have the desire effect. But I have to warn you to prepare for the worst. The fatality rate, after consuming this poison is extremely high. I am sorry, Mr Oberoi this matter has to be reported to the police, who will be conducting an investigation." The doctor finished.

"Doctor, you have to save her. She cannot die." Omkara told the doctor tearfully.

The comforting arm around his shoulder tightened, "Don't worry Om, Gauri is a fighter." Shivaay said while indicating to the rest to the family to hide their emotions simply to support Omkara.