Part 11
Milind had scoured the empty corridor in search for her but in vain no one seemed to be around,he stood stumped the hospital sprawled on an extensive piece of land,the place was massive how was he going to find her.Just then a nurse clad in starched white walked past him and he stopped her to ask "Dr Krishna kahaan hongi?" Where would Dr Krishna be? "Apney cabin main" In her cabin came the prompt reply. Asking her for directions he had followed her to the heart of the building the clicking of her heels resonating in the shiny corridor,pointing to a room she had gestured him to knock and had walked back the way they had come.
Knocking raptly on the white ash door he had heard a disgruntled "Come in",stepping inside he found the doctor poring over X-ray results gauging by her apprehension he realized the conversation should be a brief one. She had looked up to see him standing there dissapppointedly trying to pacify a very restless Preeti in his arms.
"Mujhey Prachi key baarey main puuchna tha... woh kahaan hai?" "I wanted to ask about Prachi where is she?" he had enquired without any preliminaries. "Prachi kon? .....oh inki mummy?" Prachi who? .. oh her mother" she had clarified "Woh to chali gayeen, mujhey laga aap bhi saath hii hongey" She's left I thought you'd be with her. A sudden wave of panic washed over him,where could she go in such a battered condition, maybe she went home. He stood musing on her whereabouts when he saw the doctor hand out something to him, it was her purse she had forgotten it in her haste, Damn he had thought taking it from her. As he turned the door knob to leave he heard the doctor call out to him "Mr Mishra next time you send your family out see to it that they have enough cash to get around."
"Kiya matlab?" What do you mean? he had asked confused , he soon received his asnswer when she handed him a gold ring and plain gold chain. "What's this?" he had asked flustered why was she giving him jewellery and whose was it anyways. "This is your wife's she didn't have anything to pay for your daughter's medical treatment so she gave these to the receptionist.Since you've paid all the bills I think you can return these to her." Taking them from her hand he had looked at the objects perplexed. Had she really done it? Given up her valuable posessions for his daughter's treatment. He knew how deplorable her financial conditions were and these trinkets would've meant a lot, yet she had parted with them for Preeti.
He had turned to leave when on a sudden impulse he had turned around halfway through the doorway "Kiya Prachi ney aapsey kaha tha keh woh Mrs Mishra hai?" Did Prachi tell you she's Mrs Mishra? Dr Krishna had stared at him strangely "Nahin" No she had replied "Jo couple unhain yahaan chor gaya tha unhon ney bataya tha" The couple who left her here had informed me. and she had noticed his face lose colour as he shut the door behind him. Preeti had been highly amused to see Prachi's gold ring she recognised it immediately trying to pull it from Milind's firm grasp. He had to find her he just had to and with that sole thought running wild in his mind his pace had quickened towards the parking lot.
Prachi had no idea of her next course of action she was far from home and that too penniless, she watched as people slowly started leaving the park she realised it would soon be empty. She had to walk her way home whether she liked it or not. Her mind understood the gravity of the situation but her body refused to comply, she just couldn't make herself move.She felt like screaming at the top of her lungs if only she could just go home ......somehow. Tightening her grip on the hand rail of the bench she had managed to get up ignoring the sharp pain that arose every time she moved a muscle she trudged forward.
She had been about to cross the park gates when she heard a voice call her from behind turning around she was surprised to see Krithika her neighbour stand there."Prachi tum yahaan?" Prachi how come you'r here? she had inquired pleasantly, she obviously was there for her own kids who scampered around her. She had two of them six year old Karan and three year old Tina the kids had immediately come to Prachi extremely pleased to see her there. They were very fond of their Prachi aunty who baby sat them sometimes when their mother was busy with work. "Aunty chaliye na ghar humarey saath" Aunty come home with us Tina had pleaded circling her small arms around Prachi's leg, joined by Karan "Haan na aunty aap ney humain Jungle Book bhi parh ker sunani hai, aap ney vaada kiya tha yaad haina aapko" Yes Aunty you have to read Jungle Book to us you promised remember he had smiled cheekily at her.
Prachi couldn't have felt more relieved she thought she could hitch a ride home with them. It was then that Krithika had realized that Prachi was silent moving closer she was horrified to see her wounds. "Prachi kiya hua tumko?" Prachi what happened to you? she had asked alarmed gently placing a hand on her sagging shoulder. Prachi had found it hard to keep her tears at bay but she braved a weak smile telling her that she had had a simple accident and would be extremely grateful if Krithika could take her home.The other woman had immediately assented, stopping a passing auto rickshaw she had quickly explained the driver their destination cramming in it they had headed for the chawl.As they rounded the bend Prachi had noticed a black Kompressor follow their rickshaw, she recognised it as Milind's had he seen her she had wondered fearfully.
Milind had floored the engine trying to keep calm, his eyes scanned the roads furtively hoping to find her walking down one of them. He had been extremely taken aback with Prachi's gestures for Preeti, she had risked her own life, received injuries, bore his wrath and had left without a word that too without any cash on hand. "Sab meri ghalati hai" It's all my fault he had thought angrily why couldn't he have just let her explain atleast she wouldn't have fled in that state.Keeping a sharp lookout for her he had driven around the corner away from the bus stop when he had noticed her talking to some other woman at the park gates, slowing down his car he watched as the two kids smiled up at her pulling her hand towards the doorway. He saw her smile half heartedly and walk with the trio to an auto rickshaw and then they had gone.
He had been assuaged to see her head for home and had decided to leave for his own when he saw her purse adorning his dash board.Aw crap he had thought now he'd have to return it to her but why, the question had arisen on his mind's surface countless times throughout the drive to her house. Why was he fretting for her discomfort after all she was just an employee. Just an employee, just an employee the words kept echoing in his mind till his head had started swimming. He followed the rickshaw to the chawl, he saw the other woman pay the fare and help her out but before they could advance further he had gotten out of his car and called out to her.
She felt every pore of her skin break into an icy sweat as his hand touched hers the bag fell from her hand her face strained "Mainey jaan bujh ker nahin kiya kuch" I didn't do anything on purpose she had said frightened by his sudden move "Main...main ney kuch nahin kaha tha doctor sey app...aap yaqeen karein...please" I.. I didn't say anything to the doctor... trust me please she had whimpered and his heart had stopped beating for a fraction of a second.Taking her hands in his he had gently turned her so that she stood facing him, her eyes were down cast and he noticed the fresh tears that stained her cheeks. "Mujhey malum hai" I know he had told her looking at her tenderly, he saw her face lift up to him her eyes mirroring her disbelief "Main eik haftey kii chutti dey sakta huun iss sey zyaada nahin" I can just grant a week's leave not more than that. he had said somberly before he turned around leaving her stare after him, pulling away from the place he watched her still standing on the spot in the car's side view mirror till her image faded in the distance.
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Health and Fitness
Cricket
