chapter 17

Please lift him up… keep the pillow behind properly … she was giving instructions to him… Doctor was still there … Hold him … she was saying … I heard He said , ‘Madam I will do it…’ She said furiously, ‘Already you have done a lot … now let me handle… bring the saucer… how a patient can drink tea from a cup… don’t you understand?’ I listened … that old man … uncle… or according to him my father… was telling her … don’t stress yourself too much… he will be ok … ‘Where is the napkin…ok … give tissue paper’… she was continuously uttering something … giving instructions … I knew very well … her nature … otherwise she was very calm by nature … but when she was under stress… she couldn’t hold herself … she was doing the same now… she made me drank hot tea … wiped my mouth carefully with tissue paper … He explained to doctor … very old friend of Sir …  we met her yesterday in the mall … just a coincidence … Sanyog… I opened my eyes slowly … she was there … standing right in front of me … in white salwar , kameez … ‘How are you feeling now?’ , she asked with a voice full of concern and nothing else … Chandrya blinked his eyes and said aloud … Sameep , he is fine now … and whispered … how he will be when you are right in front of him … his viral fever is gone but the fever of love … I interrupted him … I am very well now … still weakness… but I will be fine soon , I replied her … Doctor handed me the prescription and instructed me to take the pill and food on time… She said , ‘I will look after him… now … ‘… I saw she was talking with the doctor standing near the door … Doctor was whispering something … I was happy and elated by her presence… ‘Let’s go to the hostel … it will be late’, I said… She turned back and glanced at me … her eyes overflowing with fear for me … He interrupted , ‘Sir we are in our home …’ She came towards me and said , ‘Let’s go for a walk… she said … you will fell better … doctor can we ? she asked the doctor …’ ‘Why not ..’ he replied but be careful … he is weak … She responded , ‘I will.’ I was contended that she wished to take me for a walk along with her … I will freshen up first , I told her … Sir, I will help you, he came running… Chandrya , I can manage … I told him … She said , ‘Sameep … he is not Chandrya …’ I asked, ‘Is he Babya then…’ She replied , ‘Forget it … go and be ready… we will be late …’ ‘Yes, peon closes the gate at 7.30pm near Lake Vihangam…’, I said casually … ‘Why on earth … are you stuck there … please come out …’ she urged … ‘What ?’ , I questioned … ‘Nothing , let’s go …’ , She said … she instructed him be with us , if I need your assistance … He nodded … The two oldies were observing all this sitting in one corner of the room … with a ray of hope in their eyes … We went outside in the garden … Fresh air of the evening , the cool breeze , fragrance of various flowers in the garden made my evening … but the most important of all was her presence … We walked very little in complete silence …that silence between us was also enchanting … I felt tired after that little walk … I suggested her , can we sit on that bench in the corner … I pointed towards it … She nodded and we sat… I asked her , ‘Have you gone through my notes … sorry for my illness … I couldn’t prepare notes for these three days when I was admitted … but now onwards , I will be very careful about my studies and health also… please suggest me a good academy for the preparation of UPSC , I wish to join … have you joined any or are you preparing on your own … I don’t know whether I will afford the fees or not … but my parents said … don’t bother about the expenses … consider it as one time investment … once you will be an officer … there will be no financial crunch …’ Sanyogita was staring at me , I felt shy at once … ‘what?’ , I asked … She replied , ‘Nothing… are you going to speak everything today … you are sick … health should be your first priority now for few days … after you recover and regain your lost energy … you can study very well… so at least for a week … just attend classes and take rest back in the hostel…’ I nodded like a child … I was happy , someone is here who will take care of me and my health so lovingly … in Indore … as my parents used to do back in my village… He interrupted her talk , I was very furious at his behaviour … He said , Sir, Madam , its getting cold … so better we return home … Sanyogita agreed and we started walking back… At the door she said , I must leave now , but I will come tomorrow in the morning … till then you take rest … She instructed him , now don’t do any mistake while giving the medicines … Tomorrow also we will go for a walk … and you tell me your experiences of various countries as an IFS officer … I am eager to know about it … Ok… and what shall I bring for you to eat ? Unable to answer I just smiled …Dr. Archana Pandit