Chapter 3
Something interesting and yet distressing happened in KGH that morning.
The carpenter climbed down from the high stool and wiped his forehead. Phew! It had been a hot day. And that blasted fan was not working when most needed.
"Work done? And take care you don't leave any nails lying around, this is a hospital..." Dr Ranganath's voice pierced through his discomfort. Yes, indeed, the place where the carpenter was standing was right next to the receptionist, right outside Dr Ashutosh's cabin. His hand held a board bearing the once famous surgeon's name and its replacement was done a few minutes ago.
"Yes, Saab...Work done. Now may I go? and my charges?"
"Here they are..." Dr Ranganath mechanically handed over the required amount and shuddered inwardly. So Dr Mallika was in charge of the hospital now. The Management had agreed for this ad-hoc decision till Ashutosh recovered from the amnesia episode. That is, for a period of 6 months. And after that, a hunt for a suitable successor would begin.
Dr Ranganath had an awful premonition of impending doom. What would happen in the next 6 months, nobody could predict...
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The breakfast table had a surprise addition that day.
Mallika wheeled Ashutosh's chair at the vacant space at the head of the table, totally ignoring the dagger's look from her brother and sister-in law. So this man was going to be the head of family next, eh?
"Aditya, now onwards, Ashutosh will have his meals with us, here. That will help him recover faster, if he is in normal family environment, don't you agree?"
"Of course, Didi..." Aditya had a pressing sense of doom as he sensed his wife ogle at the handsome lost man. By God, what a situation he had gotten himself into?
"Suhasini, why don't you get some fresh paranthas for Ashutosh? I will feed him myself..." Mallika's voice was like a splash of cold water on the face. Suhasini tore herself from drooling effort and hurried to the kitchen.
There was complete silence on the table for a while after that, the only sound being that of noisy chewing by 8 yr old bunty. He finished the last bite on his plate and gazed curiously at the new entrant.
"Bua, who is he?"
"He is a friend of mine, beta..."
"Why doesn't he speak? And how did he get hurt?"
"There was an accident, beta..."
"Ohhh.." The eight yr old couldn't comprehend beyond this, and Mallika continued, "See, beta, he has forgotten everything. His name, his office, his friends, everything... So best is that he is in such an atmosphere which is friendly and caring, right? So I got him here to have breakfast with us!"
Bunty was quiet for a while. Then a new thought stuck.
"But then Bua, there is another old man upstairs, who has also forgotten everything. Why don't you get him also down?"
Bunty might have well dropped a bomb somewhere. Mallika's face registered a myriad of expressions, right from disbelief to stunned anger. She leant to her nephew and Aditya froze in anticipation.
"How do you know about him?"
"Well, Bua...that day I followed you quietly, and overheard everything..." Bunty's eyes gleamed conspiratorially and Mallika had not interrupted him angrily.
"Enough, Bunty...bad manners. Who told you to eavesdrop on me?"
Bunty's eyes darted to his mother, holding a platter of hot paranthas, her eyes daring him to reveal her instructions. Aditya froze with the possibility of a secondary hazard.
The scene stayed frozen for some time and everyone at the breakfast table missed the tiny smile that displayed on Ashutosh's lips. It was obvious that Bunty knew many things. He had to make friends with Bunty soon.
The situation was diffused by the ringing of Mallika's mobile.
The driver was waiting for her. It was time for her to leave for KGH.
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The security guard at the gate, Ramdeen, rose unsteadily to his feet as the car swept in the gate, his hand rising to an uncertain salute. He had always saluted Dr Ashutosh, who in turn returned the small gesture with a small nod. But now onwards...should he extend the same to Dr Mallika? He was doubtful.
"Ramdeen..." his reverie broke with a command from her. He stood up hesitantly.
Mallika stood in front of him. Next to her were the wheelchair and its famous occupant.
"I am the new Dean of this hospital. So whatever you felt or did for Dr Ashutosh, see that you do for me also. OK? Is that understood?"
Ramdeen rolled his eyes and saluted hesitantly. So now onwards, the power centre had changed. Dr Ashutosh had never insisted on anything, but Ramdeen felt like respecting him. He sat down, hesitantly, as Mallika walked off to the hospital, wheeling the uncaring occupant in front.
"See, Ashutosh...your cabin. Now it is mine! Mine! I had cherished this dream for so long..." She did a small jig in the cabin, twirling around herself. "Dr Mallika Trehan, the Dean and Chief surgeon of the hospital...soon to be Mrs Mallika Ashutosh...!!!"
The sound of door opening put an end to the self appreciatory talk.
"Dr Ash..." Nidhi stood in the doorway. Mallika whirled around, her eyes spitting fire.
"Dr Nidhi Verma, may I remind you of the hospital protocol?"
"Hospital Protocol?"
"Dr Mallika, I just saw lights in this cabin and thought..."
"That your Ashutosh had come back? Huh, big hopes...he has forgotten everyone, including you. Now it's in the best interest of everyone that you move on!"
There was no reply from Nidhi as her eyes latched themselves on the occupant in the wheelchair. Ashutosh just stared out of the window throughout this exchange, his hands clasped lightly in his lap.
"Dr Nidhi..." Mallika's voice was like a splash of bucket of ice-cold water. Nidhi jerked up haphazardedly.
"Yes, Dr Mallika..."
"First and foremost. I would like to be addressed as Ma'm from now onwards. Second, I am in command here and I am going to be occupying this cabin from now on. And third..."
Mallika paused dramatically and Nidhi waited with bated breath.
"Please knock before you enter this cabin henceforth!"
"Ok Dr Mallika...errr...Ma'm!"
Nidhi withdrew, fighting tears in her eyes. Mallika smiled victoriously.
Ashutosh clenched and unclenched his fists, unknown to either of them.
------------
Suhasini fumed inwardly. Aditya had once again failed her miserably.
Why couldn't he just gather enough courage to ask his sister for his share? Or at least that house? It was all due to his arm-twisting effort that Nidhi was forced to sell that house, right? So didn't he deserve that much?
The only silver lining to this dark gloomy despair was the presence of Ashutosh in the house. Ever since Mallika had brought him in, he had not spoken a word. But as days had passed by, his wounds started healing and he had started smiling at people around him. And Suhasini would have sworn at one thing: Ashutosh's face practically lit up when she entered the room.
Aditya was feeling disturbed for the same reason. He had not missed on the changes in his wife's demeanour ever since the day Ashutosh had entered the house. She had started spending a long time grooming herself, something unusual given the fact that she had not done so even when she was a new bride. Was this some sort of an itch which needed to be scratched?
There was only one way out. Ashutosh had to be sent out of the house or they had to move out. The former was a better option, but didn't look feasible at the point. The latter was a less ideal option, but highly feasible, provided Mallika willed the house to them. But why would she do it? Of course! A ghost of a smile came on Aditya's face. Mallika was totally unaware of the growing attraction of Suhasini towards Ashutosh. If she ever came to know...Aditya was sure Mallika would ask them to leave. And they wouldn't leave unless...
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"Dr Nidhi! Can you come right away to my cabin?" The pager sounded.
Nidhi closed the file she had been updating with a tired sigh. This was the fourth time she had been summoned to the presence. What was it this time, she couldn't figure out. Anyways...she knocked politely on the door and peeped in a few minutes later.
"May I come in, Ma'm?"
"Yes Dr Nidhi...please come in" the impatient voice responded. Nidhi walked in cautiously, her head bowed.
"You asked for me, Ma'm?"
"Dr Nidhi, I believe you know by now why we employ doctors like you?"
Nidhi looked at Mallika in askance. What was being conveyed to her? Then she looked around and saw Dr Aparna, the head of paediatrics, seated across the table.
"You are a doctor. You have the MBBS degree, which you are going to use to cure sick patients with the help of medicines. Am I making sense?"
Nidhi nodded her head. A lot of things started making sense now.
Dr Aparna was one of Dr Mallika's favourites. And now that Mallika was the supreme, sycophants like Aparna would certainly flourish in the new regime.
But what was the matter now? Where had she erred? Mallika's voice cut through her thoughts.
"So when a child shows up with cough and cold, you are expected to provide a prescription of anti-tussives, antibiotics and antihistamines. And not provide a recipe on tulsi-ginger-honey concoction! Is that clear?"
"But Ma'm, that's equally effective, as tested across time. And without the adverse effects..."
Mallika waved her to silence a second time, her eyes blazing.
"Enough, Dr Nidhi! I don't need any further discussion on this matter. You may leave now. And let me warn you, if this repeats another time, there could be severe disciplinary action against you. Consider this to be a last warning!"
"Ok, Ma'm..." Nidhi fought back the tears that threatened to spill over. She turned around and exited the room with the maximum speed that she could gather at the moment. And once she reached the ladies restroom, she just let go...
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A few days later a significant event occurred, which turned the course of events in a definite direction.
The red light glowed outside, indicating the operation to be underway. The patient was a little girl of 5 yrs, who had been born with a defect in a heart valve. And luckily enough for her, the hospital authorities could find a matching cadaver donor. The cardiac surgeon was one Dr Awasthi, whom they had borrowed from another hospital. Dr Mallika had walked in the beginning, made sure that everything was fine and then walked out.
And then she heard it. While discarding her scrubs on her way out, it was an unmistakable sound coming from one of the lockers.
The ringing of a mobile, its ringtone set to a favourite song of Ashutosh.
Zindagi Bhar Nahi Bhoolegi...Wo Barsaat ki Raat...'
Mallika hated this song. She walked rapidly to the locker that was the source of the song and froze at the label.
It was Nidhi's locker. The ringing stopped abruptly. Mallika located the mobile with a little effort and froze at the display.
There were about a dozen missed calls from a number she knew very well.
Her residence number.
Mallika's eyes narrowed till they were mere slits. Who was calling Nidhi from her landline?
----
The caller was obviously desperate. He had been a mute witness to the professional spat between Mallika and Nidhi for more number of times than he could count. But this time Mallika had surpassed herself, she had insulted Nidhi on an extremely personal front. Nidhi's doe eyes had glistened with unshed emotions by the time Mallika had finished.
It had taken a supreme effort on his part to restrain himself and not lunge at Mallika. All because he had to find out what the woman was upto. And he had made a mental resolve on the way back home.
But why wasn't she taking his call? He had called so many times since morning, letting the call go on beyond the stipulated number of rings. At least she could call him back?
Then he heard footsteps coming his way and he almost dropped the cordless.
And in a hurry to return to his perch, he forgot a vital thing.
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"So how are things, Ashutosh?"
Mallika peeped in to see Ashutosh reclining and staring at the ceiling with a blank bored expression. He turned at the sound of the door opening and practically looked through her.
"Had tea? Would you like to eat something?"
No response.
"Is it still hurting? Your head?"
No response.
"Come let's have tea together. Suhasini!"
"Yes Didi?"
"Can you get us tea? And some snacks? Freshly made, preferably. There are some onions in the basket. See if you could fry some pakoras?"
Suhasini nodded and withdrew with a barely disguised grimace on her face. This was the limit...what was she, a housekeeper or a servant maid? Had it not been for the presence of Ashutosh in the room, she would have given this errant sister-in law a good piece of her mind.
Aaah...Ashutosh...Suhasini had practically salivated when she glanced at the man. It was sultry and he had been wearing one of those transparent tops which showed off his torso to the full extent. She had visually devoured him and when he had turned to her, with that eyebrow raised by no more than 1/8th of an inch...well, she was a goner!
Oblivious to all this, Mallika continued her one way chatter with the man seated on the bed.
So Ashutosh...how are things with you? Life is fine, hectic as I have taken charge at the hospital. I took you to the hospital that day with a purpose. So that you could remember a little more, and get out of this room...' She looked across the room and her eye locked on to the receiver of the cordless lying on the side table. Something was not quite right.
Mallika was about to go to the cordless when there was a soft knock on the door.
"Come in..."
"Didi, the snacks..." Suhasini entered with a tray. Mallika's eyes widened as the visual gastronomic sight: hot steaming golden pakoras, piled up high, with a bowl of fresh mint chutney and tomato ketchup. A couple of mugs nearby contained the standard brew: hot tea with a dash of ginger.
"Is the cordless working fine?" Aditya breezed in without the benefit of knocking. Mallika was about to admonish him when she realized, just in time, the significance of his comment.
"What's the matter, Aditya?"
"I have been trying to call up my client for quite some time. But can't go through: the connection is busy! So just came to check with the extension here..."
Ashutosh froze as Mallika walked around to the receiver. It was indeed in the active mode. She quietly picked the cordless and noted the last dialled number.
It was Dr Nidhi. Mallika's eyes gleamed conspiratorially.
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Days passed by and Ashutosh improved further. He started to reply in small sentences.
Mallika encouraged him to get out of the room and sit in the early morning sunshine. One fine morning, as he was basking in the early hours of morning, Mallika got a small contraption fit in his room.
It was a webcam, hidden behind a wardrobe door. A small hole in the wardrobe door concealed the opening of the shutter.
Mallika had initially fumed in anger when she had discovered Ashutosh's pretence of Amnesia. But then logic took over and she quickly cooled down.
What was he upto? Why the pretence?
She was quite sure of one thing. If Ashutosh was pretending, and he was the one who had called Nidhi from the cordless extension, then he hadn't missed Aditya's discovery, and its implications. But how to nail him?
Then it struck her. She would catch him red-handed in the act. Through a secret video recording.
There was one hitch although. She had to put the recorder when Ashutosh was not aware. And that reduced her options severely. She had to get him out of the house, or at least the room.
Till then she could pretend as well, right? She had pretended as if the discovery of the cordless in the active mode was something trivial.
But the horse had bolted. Ashutosh avoided calling up Nidhi, fearing a backlash, but made another call, wherein such a eventuality wasn't possible.
He called Armaan and gave him precise instructions on what to do.
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