Nia's grandma came to see Lucinda Fiona Sinha, her old friend at the hospital. During the week Yana was with her, Nia could not visit her family on the weekend. She called her mom on the phone and told her about Yougal's grandma and how she got involved in the matter. When grandma learned that her old friend was ill and had an operation, she forgot the past grievances.
The two best friends did not keep in contact after the death of Nia's grandfather. The last they saw each other was at the time of the funeral of Nia's grandfather. To Nia's grandma, forgetting and forgiving was a little hard at that time. Lucinda Fiona Sinha respected her friend's decision to break ties with her and stayed away.
But the news of her friend's illness washed away all past anger from her mind and Nia's grandma, Nandini Sonowal rushed to the City Hospital. Like her granddaughter Nia, grandma Nandini Sonowal feared that the buried emotions in her sick friend might rush out on seeing her. That might in turn harm the woman who just had her heart operated on.
Nia did not accompany her grandma to the hospital. Instead she informed Dr Eden about the two long time friends and her own grandma distancing herself from her best friend. She told him that her grandma was coming to see Lucinda Fiona Sinha at the hospital.
"My grandma is worried about her friend. She is afraid that Mrs Sinha might have an emotional breakdown. Since hers is a heart condition my grandma doesn't feel confident in meeting her here at the hospital."
"Tell her not to worry. Lucinda Sinha is a strong woman, as her friend your grandma must be aware of that. Tell her to look on the bright side of the outcome. Reconnection with her best friend might expedite the sick lady's recovery." He assuaged the fear she had expressed.
She thanked the good doctor, "Thanks a lot. I won't be accompanying grandma. So I was worried too about her meeting grandma Fi."
Dr Eden assured Nia that he would be there when the two friends meet. They talked for some time about the progress Yougal's grandma had made in her recovery, before Nia hung up the call.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
On the sixth day of her hospitalization Lucinda Fiona Sinha received a big surprise in her hospital room. When the door to her room opened from outside she brightened up. It must be the nurse who went out to the nurse's cabin. The nurse was exclusively assigned to her after her whining to her grandson how lonely she was in her room.
Yougal offered to stay to give her company but she rejected the generous offer. He would be buried to his nose with work and won't have time to talk much. She looked expectantly at the door. The nurse went out for a while now. Dr Eden came in.
He had a wide grin on his face. "Hi young lady!" He teased her. "How are you today?" He walked over to the bed and gave her a check up. He looked satisfied with the progress grandma had made.
Grandma Fi, that's what Nia called her and he started the imitation after he had heard that. It felt cool to him.
"So grandma Fi, tell me how do you feel today."
Grandma raised one brow at his grandma Fi. "What can I feel, cooped up in a hospital room? Send me back to home."
Dr Eden laughed at her complaint.
"We're also not happy to keep you here. We only want to make sure that you won't have to come back to hospital for a long time." He then gave her a mysterious look. "Grandma Fi, there's a surprise for you. Prepare yourself to receive it well."
"Are you sending me home? Where's Lucas?" She had a wide grin on her face.
"Hey grandma, it's more exciting than going to home. There's someone to meet you." The doctor was in a jovial mood.
"Who is it, Nirvana?" Grandma's mood immediately lifted up.
"No." He refused to disclose the identity of the visitor. "Make a guess. I'll give you a hint. Only don't scare me with your reaction." He paused, then continued. "The visitor's name starts with N too."
For a minute the old lady's eyes turned blank. Dr Eden observed her closely. The blank look soon changed into a glimmer. The woman's face lit up with a bright smile. Her eyes teared up but he noticed with relief that things were within limits. For a doctor he was quite dramatic. But he acted that way to avoid sudden surge of emotions. His patient was now looking eagerly towards the door.
The doctor walked to the door, opening it he smiled at someone waiting outside. Nandini Sonowal entered the room. She stopped after taking a few steps towards the bed. Dr Eden laughed to wipe away the last speck of awkwardness and tension. Nandini Sonowal hugged her friend lying on the bed. The doctor came out of the room to make a phone call to Nia.
As Dr Eden hung up the call he saw Yougal Lucas coming to see his grandma. He waited for his friend. When Yougal Lucas stood beside him Dr Eden smiled,
"There's a visitor inside."
Yougal Lucas gave him a questioning look.
"Nirvana's grandma." He watched Yougal's reaction.
Yougal Lucas saw the past suddenly laughing at him sardonically. With a heavy heart he pushed the door to his grandma's hospital room open.