Bombay Flu

03

Bombay, she'd never been here before. It'd been known as a civic and commercial hub of colonial india. As far as her eyes reached she could only see wide paths of concrete having pavements on both of its sides and a number of skyscrapers. The city was dull, lifeless even though there were a few people across the pavements. Remorse was written all over their faces, they gasped in agony. The sky was accommodating dark clouds only. As if the city of Bombay was affected with the influenza itself. Its soul was tired of witnessing the lament of death, possibly in every single household. Was the apocalypse nearing?

"Mr. Andrews is not affiliated with the Medical College anymore. He'd left in May, during the early days of this epidemic. I've tracked him down working as a volunteer doctor in a refugee camp till last month." He said with immense professionalism, then looked at her "But..."

"Not sure if he's still there?" She asked.

"Yeah."

"He has to be there, he can't leave without me."

"Would you like to tell him anything? I'll be the messanger for you while I go there."

"I'll tell that to Andrew only."

"You'd go to the campside?" He was astonished.

"Yes."

"Miss, the refugee camp is nothing but a necropolis."

''Mr. Lahit, I'll just be fine."

"It's at the outskirts of the city, quite a few miles away. Carriage or any sort of other transportation won't be available either."

"How'd you go?"

"I'll walk on my feet."

"Then, I'll walk with you."

He thought of prohibiting her but a part of him longed for witnessing her ultimate struggle to reach her beloved. Was her love so intense? Wasn't it some mere romanticism of a lady's heart?

They started walking across the pavement in such a silence that was more comfortable than two quite unfamiliar individuals could have but less comfortable than two lovemates had. The curiosity of what she'd tell the Englishman but him, flustered him.

Almost four hours later the refugee camp came in their views. An uncountable number of tents were placed in a very congested, insanitized way. Indeed some catastrophe had submerged Bombay.

She looked stealthily. Maybe it was the fatigue of the long walk or that toxin of the diseased air that made her void of emotions.

"You, okay?" He sounded concerned.

"I'm going to visit the tents." Her voice was raspy.

"Let's go, then."

"You may catch the flu." She looked at him.

"I can't leave you until I found him for you." He smiled.

He started inquiring for Andrew while visiting the tents sheltering poverty-stricken, sick, natives who waited for death to embrace them unshackling from the suffocations of these cursed lives. She was just following him around quietly, until now, "Mr. Lahit..."

"Yeah, Did you find him?"

She shook her head. "I'm Gayatri..."

"It's been nice meeting you, Gayatri. "

"I didn't tell you earlier cause..."

"You're afraid that after discovering your identity the 'Avaricious P.I.' might search for your family, inform them about the dare you'd taken, for some ransom. Right?"

"Sorry..."

"I can ask for the ransom even now."

"You won't do that anymore."

"Why?"

"I believe in you."

Her words binded his lips. He stared at her but couldn't speak.

"Here, It's my most precious possession. I wanna give it to you." She took out that luxuriously crafted brooch.

"Thank you..." He was flabbergasted. The materialistic heart came under the influence of some foreign feelings. There was something more he wanted to ask her. Maybe the question was forbidden. Maybe the companionship of the investigator and his desperate lady client was bestowed to have abruptness. Before he could even utter something more.

She called out, "Andrew!"

Following her gaze he noticed that British fellow with light brown hair, thick mustache, spaces.

"Another successful case!", He sighed.

"Gayatri...?" astonishment and hints of unreasonable joy overpowered the coarse english accent.

"Yes..." She sobbed.

She was to run to her beloved but Andrew shook his head stepping back. "No! don't come near me."

His body was covered with windbreaker clothing. A piece of mask was resting around his sculpted jaw. Puffy purple patches underneath his crystal blue eyes, traces of wrinkle on his forehead said he'd been in this camp throughout this past five months treating those infected patients.

"But..Andrew..I..." Emotionts staggered her calm voice.

"The flu is highly infectious. My duties are too vast to fancy your heart." He looked everywhere but her.

"Oh! my heart, it beats, breaks, loves, aches, for you, only you." Tears rolled down her cheeks.

"Leave!" his lips screamed. His trembled voice, moist eyes begged Stay.

"Unlove me, I dare you!"

Even if he owned a heart as ruthless as the investigator had predicted, he couldn't have taken the dare.

He bowed his head down in defeat, "Never..."

"Are you tired?"

"Nowadays, I'm always tired but never of you." He smiled.

"I love you, Andrew..." She whispered for only him to hear.

She extended her delicate fingers in the air trying to caress his stubbled cheeks. "Take me home. Kiss me when the chaos ends."

The lovers stood apart, the mild autumn breeze embraced them with the warmth of love.

Something was magical about the space between them. As if it accommodated the fairytale romance,  the stardust to be true. Perhaps this was theirs happy ending.

The investigator kept walking back across the pedestrian.

"Gayatri, You're a liar! You gave your most precious possession to him but me. A simple 'I Love You' means more than money."

The red brooch gleamed in the mellow beams of dusk. He clutched it inside his palm as firmly as he could have.

"Bombay, recover soon." He sighed.
"After such an epic tale she deserves her lover's kiss, a better ending."

The End

Word Count: 967

Author's Note 📝
Thanks to every single reader who's reading this work of mine. Don't hesitate to comment your thoughts. Happy Reading!