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Present day, November 2013...
Naina was looking for a corporate law job for the past one year without success. Most firms she applied to, told her that they were not recruiting due to recession. The most she could manage was the job of an in-house counsel in a steel firm, but that too didn’t last for long.
In the meanwhile, she had taken up Latin Dance classes to keep her sanity. She was using the lull in her career as an opportunity to further her personal growth. She was doing things she couldn’t have done if she were working long hours with a firm like Singhania & Co. She took classes in Spanish language. And she also visited her home town in Coorg.
In the evenings, as if on a cue, she would go to a club or bar to relax. She had lots of casual interactions with men but didn’t find anyone as interesting as Amit. Amit was intense but compassionate, a rare quality she didn’t find in any other man.
Of course, Amit was weird in his own ways. He rarely spoke about himself and his peculiar reclusive routine. He didn’t enjoy hanging out for reasons unknown to her. Yet he made a fabulous dancing partner. She never had so much fun with anyone else.
Amit was considerate and kept a track of her likes and dislikes. Nearly all the men she met were of the type who liked casual flings, who bragged about money, cars, wine and women that put her off. But Amit was not like that. She wanted a fun loving partner, no doubt, but was she falling for the quietest boy in the town?
Most importantly, Amit had taught her to relieve stress through somewhat unconventional but artistic means. That was his most precious gift to her.
Sure he had texted her earlier but she was too shattered with her Singhania & Co’s experience to face anyone. She didn’t want her negativity and bitterness to rub on Amit, which could prove to be disastrous for his career. Now that almost a year had elapsed, she was excited that Amit still remembered and wanted to meet her. He had not minded her silence at all. How could she say no? She was about to type “yes” when her phone rang.
“Papa?” said Naina.
“We are in Delhi, Naina,” said her father in a tone that worried Naina.
“You are? Why didn’t you tell me earlier?” said Naina.
“Listen Naina and don’t panic. While coming out of the airport, our cab met with an accident. Somehow we were able to reach the Apollo Hospital and have got ourselves admitted. Can you come over fast?” said her father.
Naina’s heart just sank to her knees. She immediately rushed out and drove to the Apollo Hospital. Her parents were still in the Emergency. Her mom was unconscious. She noticed that her dad had a wound on his head. He was bleeding and was barely conscious. How could he speak to her in such a calm voice, she wondered.
Naina took over the paperwork and got them shifted to the private ward. The surgeon told her that he was getting an operation theatre readied as her parents needed to be immediately operated upon. Her mother’s condition was especially bad. She may have suffered brain haemorrhage.
Naina signed the various forms furiously and then sat down in the waiting room. Her arms were folded in prayers. Tears were flowing steadily from her eyes. She didn’t want to lose her parents at any cost. She didn’t want to be alone again.
Naina had never forgiven her parents for sending her away to a girl’s boarding school at such a young age. Why did they keep her away from them? Did they not love her? Was it her fault? If that was so, why would her mother call up and said that they missed her?
At that time, she thought they were hypocrites and had no genuine feelings for her. She recalled how she had once very rudely asked her mother to leave her alone. Now she wanted to take all of that back. She prayed to God for forgiveness.
After almost eight hours, the surgeon came out of the operation theatre wearing a green scrub and a mask. He looked frightening and there were hardly any emotions in his eyes. Naina’s heart was beating intensely. Was he going to give the good news or ....?
The doctor removed his surgical mask to speak.
“The surgery has been successful, thank God. Your parents are still not conscious but in a few hours they will come around. We will have to monitor them very closely for the next few weeks. I hope no complications develop,” the surgeon said.
Naina couldn’t stop crying. For days, she didn’t feel like eating anything. After some 48 hours in the ICU, the surgeon permitted her to see her parents. She went inside the room where her parents were lying on the bed. Her father had a bandage covering his forehead. She was horrified to see her mother. Half of her face had become black and blue due to the surgery. Her eyes were swollen. She was awake but feeling extremely weak.
“Please mama. Don’t leave me alone. I will not be able to live without you,” said Naina with tears flowing from her eyes.
“Don’t worry. I promise, I will never leave you, my darling,” her mother said in a faint tone.
Her father’s recovery was faster but it took nearly six weeks before her mother could be discharged from the hospital. Naina spent quite some time helping her mother walk a few steps and then later on climb the stairs. She also brought home cooked food regularly that her mother was missing so much.
Her mother occasionally suffered from crippling fatigue. Naina helped her with her day-to-day chores. She bought groceries and put them in the fridge.
One morning, as she was going through her BBM messages, she spotted something. It was that message from Amit in which he had asked to catch up and she hadn’t replied. Things had finally gotten under a little control, so she could now get back to her normal life. She messaged him back.
“Hi Amit. Sorry cudn’t reply earlier. Mom dad not well. Can we meet at the Food Court of DLF Promenade, Vasant Kunj this Sunday, say around 12 noon?”
“Sure. :) So sorry to hear abt ur parents,” Amit promptly wrote back.
