A suitable Man

Chapter 10

Fortis Hospital, Bangalore

The doctors at the hospital had given a success rate of 50% when Mahalakshmi was wheeled in the ICCU. The next 24-48 hrs were going to be the most critical, Mahendra reached in the evening and went straight to the Doctors. The doctors were worried because of her old age, but they also praised the will power exhibited by her. She would also need a bypass surgery immediately. She was still in an unconscious state when Mahendra entered her room. He tenderly held the frail hand and unknowingly tears started flowing through his eyes. He was never an emotionally expressive person but it was agonising to see one of the pillar of his existence in such a state. The other pillar was standing with her hand on his shoulder. He touched her hand and turned to see the calm eyes of his mother.

" Amma.... Amma, nothing should happen to Dodda," and he broke down clutching her to him.

Vasundhara caressed her son's head and said, " why do you even think anything will ever happen to our Dodda, She is our Dodda, she has withstood her world crashing down in a single day when her husband died and her only son was rendered disable. A mere lady would have cried, would have given up on life, but your Dodda is not any mere lady, She has stood like a rock for me, for you, only on the basis of her sheer will. Even if she is old, she will tide through this like a rock star that she is. She has lot of things remaining to look up to, She wants to go back to Kumta once you set everything all right, she wants to see you heading the legacy she has built for you. And nonetheless, she wants to see your children growing up. She still has a lot to live , so don't cry. We have to help her come out of this hale and hearty." A tear escaped the corner of her eye when she said that.

Mahendra looked at his mother in admiration, she had so much optimism in her. He looked at the beautiful eyes sparkling with tears but not spilling out. He couldn't thank god enough for being born to this woman.

He got up with a new hope, wiped his face and freshened up. He went to see the doctors for discussing the dates of bypass. The doctors informed him that once Dodda was conscious enough, they would run certain tests on her and immediately operate her. It would take a fortnight for her to be home if all went as planned and if she responded well to treatment. Mahendra was sure he would take a smiling Dodda home.

Next four days went is jiffy, he had lots of papers to sign, lots of running around to do. By god's grace Dodda had regained consciousness in 3 days and the doctors were preparing for her bypass which would be completed in a couple of days more. In all these days he didn't have time to even look at his phone. Even if his phone rang, he didn't pick it up that time as he was busy. This morning he was waiting for his mother to come to relieve him, so that he could go freshen up and come back. Also Dodda was fast asleep. He was going through the call lists. He found few missed calls from unknown numbers and few from Shankar. He didn't bother about the unknown numbers but he called up Shankar. Shankar too was eagerly waiting for his call so as to know about Dodda's health. Mahendra narrated him all the things happened in the past few days and saying his good byes he was about to cut the call when Shankar suddenly remembered and said, " Putta, one girl had come to meet you few days back, was asking for your number, I gave it to her but she didn't tell me why she came. I couldn't ask her name too"

Mahendra was surprised hearing this and asked, " how did she look, I mean have you seen her before?

Shankar replied, "She was a tall girl wearing a saree, I think I have seen her somewhere, I think this same girl had come to the estate grounds with her friend to clean her hands and face. Do you remember?

Mahendra's heart was beating fast, Was he talking about Smriti, She had come to meet him!!!! That was heartening to know. He said, " Oh, that must be Smriti, she is a teacher at the primary school down Urkeri.... But did she say why she had come?