Reawakening

Part 7 - Seeds of doubt

With winter approaching, it was relatively less busy. Surrounded by beautiful scenery the Guptas were in awe. What with comparing their busy life in Delhi, this seemed heaven. With just the family they never felt more united, more at peace.

There were no boundaries for her now. Khushi was not bound to anybody. She felt like a little girl. She thanked Devi Maiyya for the umpteenth time for the cancelled engagement. Engage to a man she would never be able to love.

She was mentally relaxed too. Perhaps for the first time after the sheesh Mahal incident. One event which had the domino effect of a series of events that followed, changing her, and their life forever. Somewhere she did not still regret anything when she recalled those chocolate brown eyes that had looked at her invoking an unknown emotion from her that sat at the bottom of her heart..

The Gupta's saw many patients with similar conditions being treated by various assistants, family members and doctors. Seeing other patients some of whose conditions were worse than Shashi's, their hopes rose.

Dr.Kiran, an elderly doctor took a keen interest in the case, curtesy, Payal. She reminded him of his deceased daughter who had recently passed away in an accident in Europe. Taking history and making preliminary notes for the patient, the first question asked was, "Where are his medicines for the heart problem?"

The ladies looked at one another blank faced. They had given him all they had. Taking the tablets from the doctor, Khushi explained, "These were the only medicines we have been giving him."

Concerned, Payal asked, "What's the matter doc, should there have been other medicines too?"

"Well beta, these are no tablets for his condition at all, they are just cheap vitamins, that you and I can take, but I have never come across these, thank god no harm has been done. Who gave you the prescription?" He asked them point blank with a bit if frustration.

Buaji came forward, "We have a paying guest who has, until now looked after all his needs. I made sure we bring all that he has been taking, just check once more doctor..", given a choice she would have taken the opportunity to praise the snake, but seeing the situation, she shut...

Garima came forward and said wisely, "Dr ji, please can you first see what needs to be done, give my daughters the list, they will try and get them from the nearest place"

"This place is meant for heart patients, so we stock up on these medicines. In any case, I will give you a list for you to keep." So saying, he proceeded to do further checks along with a qualified male nurse for assistance.

"Khushi, Payaliya, are you sure you have got all the medicine?" Garima questioned.

"Amma, I have been giving him regularly and I know these are the only ones, I would have known if anything was missing. I have not seen their names, but I do know them by their different shapes and colours, their dose, and time..." Payal replied, "and when Khushi told me to take all the medicines, I emptied the whole drawer, because we didn't know how long it would take"

Once done, all retired to the single room accommodation Khushi had booked considering the costs involved. Tough times called for tough measures. They had seen worse, they would endure anything if Shashi could get well soon.

More than these thoughts, something was nagging their minds.. Missing Medicines. ... however the next two days they could already see a different Shashi, who looked more content and definitely motivated than the old lifeless man they had seen last few months. Little did they know that the absence of a certain someone was in itself enough.

*********************************************************

Morning brought fresh bouts of pain and sorrow. Arnav Singh Raizada was utterly devastated. Arnav had come out of the shell he had build around ASR. He recalled his remorseful actions since Sheesh Mahal, realising how tougher Khushi was than him to endure his painful inflictions. He felt himself growing soft towards her.