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SNEHAL
Snehal pulled out some blue jeans and a pale lavender T-shirt from the closet and put them on. Her glance shifted to the wall clock. She didn’t want to upset Priya by being late meeting her at her home.
She adorned her neck with a gold chain and put on the pale orange glass-bangles before she smeared the lip gloss and mascara. After making sure everything was all right with her makeup, she went to the living room.
Her parents were seated on the couch, watching a movie.
She smiled and put her hands on her mother’s shoulder. “Hi, Mum.”
“Where are you going?” her Dad asked.
Snehal heaved a sigh. Her father was keen to know where she went whenever she put on a new dress. What should she tell him? Even if she told him the truth, he would become suspicious of her. Better she would tell the fact and seek her mother’s help if he argued. “I’m going to meet Priya, Dad.”
“How are things going with Ranjit?” Her father straightened in his seat. “Did you speak to him?”
Guilt coursed through Snehal’s mind. She had avoided calling Ranjit and hadn’t received any calls from him either in two days. Perhaps, he was humiliated as Snehal hadn’t responded to him in a cordial manner. “I did call him, Dad. But his phone was busy.”
“Are you sure he was busy?”
Snehal swallowed. She was astonished as her father had acted as a vigilante. She drew in a heavy breath to conjure up enough courage. “Yes. You must trust me.”
Her father paused, staring down and then said, “Why don’t you call now? I too would like to speak with him.”
“Dad, it’s getting late for me. Please let me go. I’ll call Ranjit later in tonight.” Snehal bit her lip.
“Okay.” Snehal’s mother turned to her father. “Let her go. She is calling him tonight, anyway.”
Snehal’s father remained silent, staring at Snehal.
“Bye, Mom, bye Dad.” Snehal rushed outside.
A cool and gentle breeze comforted Snehal. Her heart still raced as she attempted to confront her father with enough daring. It had been difficult to face him because he always asked about her dating Ranjit. She wasn’t sure how long her sticky situation would continue. She needed to speak with Vivek soon about their union to end her suffering.
Snehal wiped the dust off her scooter and started the engine. She put on the helmet and then drove out of the garage. The sunrays were moderately intense. The sky was clear, and a roaring airplane in the sky flew towards the airport. A few parrots shrilled on the nearby tree as Snehal headed down the main street.
Her phone rang. Snehal didn’t want to stop driving and would answer after reaching Priya’s home. Perhaps, it might be Priya calling as Snehal had left her home late. The phone rang until the end. After a few minutes, it started ringing for the second time. Snehal sensed the caller had something important to talk about. She parked her scooter near the curb and killed the engine. She grabbed her bag and took the phone out. Her friend Rithika’s image flashed on the screen. Why had she called now? Snehal hastened to answer the call.
“Hi, Rithika.”
There was a silence for a moment before Rithika said, “Snehal, where are you?”
Snehal’s brows knotted as Rithika’s voice shook. “I just left my home.” She removed her helmet. “What’s the matter?”
“Snehal, I have some sad news.”
“What is it? Are your parents all right?” Snehal sounded impatient.
“It’s not about me. Before I tell you, promise me you’ll control yourself.”
“Tell me what has happened?” Snehal swallowed and waited in eagerness to hear from Rithika.
“Priya and Deepak met with an accident.”
“What?” Snehal’s breath caught in her chest. She got off her scooter, locked it and then went to open space.
“Yes. I have been to the hospital,” Rithika said.
“When did it happen?”
“Last night. When they were returning from Bangalore.”
“Oh, my God.” Snehal’s eyes filled with tears. “How is their condition?”
“Not good, Snehal. They are admitted to the City Hospital. I met her parents, who are shocked by the incident.”
“Did you see Priya?”
“Yes.” Rithika remained silent. Perhaps, she didn’t want to tell about Priya’s condition. I will go and see Priya and her parents instead of asking Rithika.
“I’m going to the hospital.” Snehal wiped a teardrop rolling down her cheek. “Let’s pray God they both recover soon.”
Rithika remained silent. She should be in shock after seeing Priya at the hospital. Snehal hoped Priya and Deepak would be all right.
“Rithika, are you there?”
Rithika was crying. Snehal’s chest tightened. Something must be very wrong with Priya. “Rithika, let’s keep faith in God. Priya and Deepak will surely recover. I’m going there to see them.”
“I think so too, Snehal. Let’s hope for the best and pray to the Almighty for their speedy recovery.”
Snehal parked her scooter in the available parking slot of the hospital and entered the main hall. She waited in the inquiry section queue until her turn came.
“May I know the room number of patients Priya Verma and Deepak Agarwal?”
“Which department?” the man behind the counter asked.
“ICU.”
“ICU number eighteen and nineteen,” the man in the blue uniform said.
Snehal followed the signboard and located the place on the second floor. Outside near the entrance, Priya’s parents and her brother, Sridhar, were seated.
When Snehal came closer to them, Priya’s mother stood and started crying. She buried her face in her sari and wiped the tears rolling down her cheeks.
Snehal’s heart sank; her breath increased and her body started shaking while she hugged Priya’s mother.
“Control yourself, Aunty.” Snehal put her hands on her shoulders. “I’m sure Priya and Deepak will recover soon.”
Sridhar was also crying, leaning forward, and face down. His father removed his glasses and wiped his tear-filled eyes.
Snehal sat Priya’s mother back on the chair and she made herself comfortable beside Sridhar. She put her hand on his back. After a few hiccups, he sat straight and looked at Snehal.
Snehal needed to know the accident details and the condition of Priya and Deepak. But she needed to avoid talking about the matter in the presence of Priya’s parents.
“Can you come with me?” Snehal looked at Sridhar.
He nodded.
Snehal walked him away from the seating area towards a window. “How are Priya and Deepak? Will they be all right?” She leaned on the window.
Sridhar wiped tears from his cheeks. “They both are on life-supporting machines.” He crossed his arms.
Everything around twirled for a few seconds. God shouldn’t have been so harsh on them. “How did it happen, by the way?”
“Deepak was driving. And the police said the accident occurred in the early morning.” Sridhar rolled his eyes. “Deepak had lost control of the car during that ill-fated hour.”
Snehal stared down. Maybe, Deepak dozed off while driving. They shouldn’t have traveled overnight by car.
Snehal needed to see Priya and know how serious she was. “Sridhar, I want to see Priya.”
He nodded. He walked her towards the door and spoke with the security person. The guard looked at Snehal for a while before allowing them to enter.
Sridhar walked her inside. The beep-beep sounds of medical gadgets filled the surroundings. The hall was partitioned into several sections with green cloths separating them. Snehal shivered when a patient moaned in pain.
When they came near Priya’s section, Sridhar pulled the curtain aside.
Snehal’s breath caught in her chest. Priya was laid on the bed with her face bandaged and her body covered in a green sheet. Her hand was covered with a bandage and was buried partially inside the blanket.
Snehal’s eyes flooded with tears. Fate shouldn’t have been so harsh with her friend. The sound of a ventilator and other machines pierced her ears. She went and placed her hand on her friend’s forehead, crying. She couldn’t even recognize Priya as the bandage was covering her face.
When Snehal continued to wail and wiped her tears with a hanky, Sridhar held her hand.
“Try to control yourself, Snehal.” He tried to take her away, but Snehal shrugged and resisted his attempt. She wanted to remain there for a while.
She chanted a few prayers, seeking divine intervention to make her friend recover soon.
“Where is Deepak?” she asked.
Sridhar slid the curtain beside Priya’s section. Snehal’s heart sank as Deepak’s head and legs were similarly covered with the white dressing. He too was put on the life-supporting machines.
Teardrops continued to flow from her eyes and down her cheeks.
Sridhar immediately closed the curtain, perhaps not wanting to hurt Snehal further. He put his hand around her shoulder and took her outside.
“When is the doctor coming?” Snehal asked as they walked back.
“He already visited in the morning.”
“Did he say anything?”
“He said the condition is acute and they’re trying their level best,” Sridhar said.
“If they’re not confident, we can take them to a better hospital in Bangalore.”
Sridhar nodded. “I think so too.”
When she came out of the ICU by pushing the door open, Priya’s parents stared at her with their eyes filled with tears. Snehal went and hugged them.
“Aunty, try to control yourself,” Snehal said. “Let’s hear what the doctors have to say.” She looked at Priya’s father. “We can take them to Bangalore for better treatment.”
Priya’s father wiped a tear-drop on her cheek. “We have to save their lives.” He looked at Deepak’s parents. They were seated beside him, grief cast on their faces.
Later in the afternoon, a doctor approached. Snehal and Sridhar rose as the doctor entered the ICU. They followed him inside after speaking with the security guard.
Snehal waited near Priya’s section. The doctor approached, checked the pulse and glanced at the details on the pad hung on the bar. He scribbled on a paper and handed it to Sridhar. “Please get these medicines.”
Sridhar took it, heaving a sigh. He looked at Snehal with what should I do expression.
Snehal cleared her throat. “Doctor, how is their condition?”
“We can’t say anything now.” He fidgeted with his stethoscope. “We’re doing our level best.”
“What’s your gut feeling?”
“I told you already. We can’t say anything at this stage.” He went outside the section.
Snehal wanted to know the details. She wanted to take Priya and Deepak to Bangalore if the doctor agreed. She ran up to him. “Excuse me, please.”
The doctor stopped and looked at her with a questioning look.
“What if we take them to Bangalore?”
The doctor’s face went pale. “I suggest you not.”
“Why doctor? Is their condition-”
“I’m sorry to say. The condition is critical, and they can’t live without the life-supporting machines.”
Snehal’s chest constricted. She blamed God for being so unkind on her friends. Her eyes filled with tears and her lips trembled as the doctor went away.
She went back to Sridhar.
Snehal needed to help Priya’s parents while they stayed in the hospital. Though Sridhar was with them, Priya’s mother needed a woman who would care for her.
She should tell Vivek as she wouldn’t be going to work for a few days. She took her phone and called Vivek.
“Hi, Snehal. Where are you?”
“I’m at the City Hospital.” Snehal swallowed. “My friend Priya has met with an accident.”
“Oh, my God. I am sorry.” He paused for a moment. “How is she now?”
“Not good, Vivek. I may not be attending work for a few days.”
“It’s okay. I can manage myself.” Vivek coughed. “Do you need any help from my side?”
“I will let you know if you’re needed.” She ended the call.
Snehal told Sridhar she would bring something to eat for his parents. Sridhar told her they hadn’t eaten anything since morning, and they disliked the food from the hospital canteen.
When Snehal arrived home, her mother opened the door with a why-so-late look on her face.
“I’ve been to the City Hospital.”
“City hospital? Why?”
“I’ve bad news for you, Mum.”
“What is it?” Her mother sounded curious.
“Priya and her fiancé met with an accident. They’ve been admitted to the ICU.”
“Oh, my God.” Her mother knitted her brows. “This shouldn’t have happened to Priya. Her parents must be in distress.”
“Yes, Mum. And Priya’s brother Sridhar is also feeling sad.”
“Did you meet the doctor?”
“Yes, I did.” Snehal swallowed.
“What did he say?”
“Their conditions are critical. I told him we can take the patients to Bangalore. But he said they are on life support machines and advised not going there.”
Snehal paused for a moment then said, “Mom, it’s good we helped Priya’s parents while they are in the hospital. Her mother needs someone who cares.”
“I understand. Please do whatever you can to make them not feel grief.”
Snehal spent a couple of days in the hospital consoling Priya’s parents. She brought homemade food and asked them to eat. She didn’t want them to fall sick.
Sridhar continued coordinating with the doctors and nurses and bought the medicines they prescribed.
On the fourth day, one of the attending doctors came out and told the sad news. Priya and Deepak had gone to the Almighty.
Snehal arrived at Priya’s home on the day of the funeral along with her mother. Priya’s parents were inconsolable and the relatives tried to calm her mother. Priya’s and Deepak’s bodies were laid in the main hall, draped with a white cloth. The wail of the visitors filled the surroundings as Snehal put a garland on the departed souls.