A suitable Man

Chapter 28

Smriti was totally exhausted by now, but seeing Mahendra coming out of consciousness had taken all her fatigue away. She was still sitting, holding his hand as he was going in and out of delirium. The doctors told her that he would take a couple of days to totally open his eyes and almost a fortnight to be fit enough.
Vasundhara completed the hospital formalities and came back to their Special room. She looked at Smriti lovingly, " Smriti dear, go freshen up, change in to something comfortable and firstly eat something, I don't want Mahendra complaining to me that his wife has become skinny" she smiled again. Smriti too smiled at her mother in law and said, " Yes Amma, I will be back in a minute, but I don't have clothes here, I May have to buy them".
" Don't worry dear, I have asked Suma Akka to pack few things and your clothes so that Shankar will bring it here in some time",Vasundhara added. Smriti nodded her head and asked, "What about that Sheena Nayak Amma?, has he been arrested? Prabhakar Anna also didn't call !!
"Prabhakar and his force was chasing Sheena, only that much I know, I came back from there as Mahendra needed me more, I would had shot that scoundrel, but he escaped," Vasundhara replied in an angry tone.
Mahendra again stirred saying, " Smriti..... Smriti .... are you hurt? .... where are you Smriti ?" Smriti rushed to his side again taking his hand and assuring him, " I am here, Mann, I am not hurt, I am fine... look at me dear, look at your Smriti..." Mahendra opened his eyes slowly again to see a blurry Smriti. He tried to sit up, Smriti and Vasu both helped him. He sat up and clutched Smriti's hand. " You... You are fine na Smriti...." Smriti went close to him and held him in her arms. A dam of tears broke as she hugged him in her embrace. All throughout she had controlled her tears, had tried to be strong, but after seeing him recovering,the relief had opened her suppressed agony. She realised again what this man, this incredibly wonderful man, meant to her. She had never never ever loved anyone so much as much she loved Mahendra. Having him in her arms, hale, hearty and alive was like having the world in her arms. She hugged him tighter, caressing his head, tears of happiness flowing through her eyes. She had so strong a connection with him that she felt drawn to him in a way she had never experienced before. And when he was about to be snatched away from her, she realised, she loved him so deeply, so strongly.... that she began to doubt if she had ever truly loved anyone prior. Her Mahendra, her precious Mahendra, her reason for existence. No words were spoken, the poignant silence said it all, Vasundhara also let off her guard and let the tears flow. She hugged her children and cried, cried to her heart fill.
Smriti kissed his forehead and broke the silence saying, " You have to recover soon Mr. Shetty, you have a villain to catch" and Mahendra smiled, so did vasundhara. The mood turned lighter as Mahendra said, " That bloke hit me very hard, my head is throbbing, I am not able to see clearly, how long will it take?"
"Just a couple of days more and we will be back to Kumta" Vasundhara replied.
Mahendra extended his hand towards his mother, " Amma, you don't worry, this time I am not going to rest until Sheena is convicted, I don't want to fail you or Dodda". He again felt a stabbing pain in his head and he closed his eyes. It would take few more days for him to recover properly.

Shankar arrived from Kumta with few of Mahendra Smriti's belongings. He asked after Mahendra and was relieved to find him out of danger. Vasundhara asked Smriti to freshen up and change. Smriti did as she was told.

Mahendra could understand Shankar had come, he tried to getup, this time he managed to sit up. Shankar was by his side, " How are you my dear Putta?" Mahendra replied feebly, " I am better, but he hurted my Smriti..... but.... but ... you know Shankar...... my Smriti fought him so bravely... never did she show any weakness, she bit him, scratched him, kicked him and what not..... she .....she is my hero Shankar.... my wonderful Smriti" . Shankar had seen how Smriti was hurt, his anger on Sheena grew ten folds for hurting an innocent girl.
Mahendra called his mother by his side, " Amma, what had my poor Smriti done to that rascal, just because she is my wife, he hurt her, he handled her like she was some animal, I wont spare him Amma, I swear.... this will be the last time Sheena walks free.... I .......I....," Mahendra's voice trailed off. There were tears in his eyes..... Mahendra didn't realise his tears flowed thinking about Smriti. He had endangered the very life he had promised to protect, he was feeling very guilty. But once he recovers, he would not spare Sheena, he made up his mind. This time he needed a plan, a carefully devised plan and he would execute it himself. He closed his eyes, letting the pain engulf him.
Smriti came back all freshened up, she was still walking with a limp. Vasundhara took her to the doctor on call, had him examine her foot, and came back with the necessary medicines. She compelled Smriti to eat something and rest for a while. Smriti too obliged, as she was too exhausted by now. She ate her food and slept on the spare bed in Mahendra's room.

A week passed by and Mahendra was feeling much better now, even the blurry vision had cleared. He was able to walk around, his headaches had reduced. Overall he was feeling better. The Doctors decided to discharge him in a couple of days. Smriti was more than happy to have Mahendra discharged.

They returned back to Kumta in few days. Vasundhara was with them all throughout. Smriti took charge of the house immediately, delegating work to the house helps, the maids and all the other daily routines. She settled Mahendra in the bedroom, he still needed a few more days to be fit enough to go to the plantations. Smriti was busy the whole day with the plantation over seers, she looked in to the matters which usually Mahendra handled. Shankar being present, it was simpler for her to delegate and work. They sorted out the security glitches, the sowing season demands and other petty things which had not been looked at for the days past. It was almost night when Smriti finished her work. She had a quick dinner with Mahendra and Vasundhara and bade good night to her mother in law after that.
Mahendra Smriti walked hand in hand to their bedroom, supporting each other. Smriti had pinned the daily medicine dose list on her bedroom wall, and she got busy getting the doses for Mahendra to take. She held out the tablets in one hand and a glass of water in the other. Mahendra took the medicines, gulped down the water and took Smriti's hand in his.

He caressed her cheeks, " Let me see where all has that bastard hurt you" he exclaimed. He ran his hands through the wounds on her face, her hands, and her ankle. He winced thinking of the pain these wounds must have caused Smriti. He held her in a tight embrace feeling all the more guilty. Smriti patted his back and said, " You need a shave.... you have grown a stubble..... and pouted saying, " I don't want to bruise my cheeks with your stubble, they are already sore, Come let me give you a nice shave, what say ?" And winked at him smiling.
Mahendra smiled at how Smriti turned their conversation on a lighter note. There was so much positivity in this girl, this wonderful girl. The mood softened and Mahendra pulled her towards him.

" Sore... your cheeks, then let me kiss the sores away.... what say ?" Mahendra teased.
Smriti pushed him saying " Arrrgghhhh.... look at this hero, you gave me the scare of my life, you are still to recover fully.... still to catch hold of that villain, but no; this hero wants to sing a duet.... O Devi Parmeshwari... Ee aanana yaan yenchina malpodh ( omg what to do with this boy) please drive some sense in this boy" Smriti laughed.

" then let me kiss you senseless.... so both of us will be devoid of it" Mahendra said softly. She smiled as she faced him, "You ought to be coddling your wounds instead of embarking on such activity Mr. Shetty!!!!
" Why Teacher, you always punish me..... let me also teach you a few things.... starting with like 'how to make love when wounded'!!!!!! Mahendra teased her again.
Her mouth curved in a sublime smile while her eyes grew dark and sultry, burning in to his and promising him more than expected. He held out a hand in invitation as she knelt on the bed beside him and leaned down to press her lips to his. He felt the warmth go through his body as she covered him, and he saw her eyes go soft and limpid. They turned their passions end over end in an ever rushing race. It was a moment meant to be, eternally bound by their love, like the stars in the heavens, the fish in the sea, unable to exist long without the other.
The world could fall apart, and still they would be one. Conflicts and angers were banished, as they were caught together in a rapturous expression of their love.

The next day

Vasundhara was having her breakfast when Smriti Mahendra came down. They had a chat on how to go about the work as Mahendra would over see the plantations in a day or two. Mahendra thought over deeply for a minute and said, " I have a plan Amma, this time I am not going to leave any loopholes, and that plan will require Smriti"
Vasu, " But son, what if he harms her again?"

" He will not touch a finger to my Smriti, I will not let him, but Smriti you need to be alert"
Smriti was excited, " what do you want me to do?

"You will have to go back to stay with your father".... Mahendra stated. Smriti gasped, so did Vasundhara.

To be continued....