I couldn't believe how happy I was, on hearing Geeta's feeble but sweet voice at that moment. It was enough to bring tears of happiness in my eyes.
Upon hearing Vikash's voice calling, the Staff nurses and the doctor rushed towards the room. We were told to immediately vacate the room and the doctors started their examination.
Out of sheer shock or excitement, my mind was not able to register what was going on, it was still reeling from the fact Geeta has finally regained consciousness.
I felt someone touching my arms and as I turned around to look, Master Da was standing next to me and telling "Why don't you inform your parents about it? They should know."
Without wasting another moment, I borrowed Vikash's phone and called up my father and relayed him the good news. Vikash volunteered to drive to my home and bring my parents and Monika.
I went to Mr. Banerjee and asked him "Will you inform your wife and family that Geeta is awake?"
"Son, I am not sure whether I should. After what I learned today, I have lost trust in her and cannot help but hold her responsible for what happened to Geeta." replied Mr. Banerjee.
I understood the dilemma of Mr. Banerjee after what he learned earlier from Miss Sengupta, but if he failed to inform her, it won't take long before things might turn ugly.
I requested Mr. Banerjee "Sir, I know and understand your doubts well but believe me, if we don't inform her now, she will figure out that you know everything, and in retaliation might make Geeta's life more difficult. Please call them."
Uncle probably understood what I was implying and called his wife.
As we were waiting for our family to arrive, the doctor who was examining Geeta came out and said "Everything seems to be normal. The vitals and everything seems to be normal, we will keep the child under observation for another 3 days and if the child responds well to medication, you can take the child home."
I saw the worried and scared look on uncle's face, which gave away that he too was perturbed by the same concern as me, and hoping against hope that the doctors won't let her leave the hospital so soon lest Aunty and the girls hurt Geeta again once she is back in their abode.
I went inside and saw that the nurses had inclined the bed so that Geeta can try to sit up. I was about to ask her what happened when I heard a voice from behind telling me to leave the room.
I looked around and found Gopinath Uncle with 2 of his constables in the room.
They have come to take a statement from Geeta. This is a mandatory investigation procedure that needs to be followed after a patient revives from COMA and in Geeta's case, the doctor had informed them about the abusive marks Geeta had in her body.
As Gopinath Uncle entered the room, he locked the door from inside, making sure that no-one could have access to Geeta except her doctor during the questioning. He didn't want anyone to scare Geeta lest she changes her statement or is terrified into not revealing the truth. He was with her for about 30 minutes and finally came out.
As he came out, Master da decided to ask him what Geeta said.
Gopinath Uncle replied, "The child keeps insisting that the floor to the bathroom was slippery, and while preparing for a shower, the accident occurred and the child ended up banging the head on the commode."
Master da had a skeptical look on his face on hearing Geeta's version of events and ended up asking Gopinath Uncle if he believes in the statement.
Gopinath Uncle retorted that "Right now I am not sure, I kept coercing the child to speak the truth and not to worry or be scared about the family, but the child did not deviate from the statement."
"If the child doesn't change the statement it is out of my hands," replied Gopinath Uncle and left the hospital.
I was failing to fathom what could be the reason Geeta was not revealing the truth. The only reason I could think was that Aunty must have scared Geeta so much during previous incidents with dire consequences or punishments that she is too afraid to reveal her involvement.
I went in and decided to confide on Geeta and extract the truth from her about what happened after we left.
As I saw her, I forgot everything and could only bring myself to utter these words "It seems like you forgot your smile somewhere."
She smiled at me and asked me "How are you doing dada?"
Geeta ended up asking me the same very question which I was planning on asking her. Where was
my mind at?
I stepped forward and replied "I am fine honey, don't worry about me. I just want you to get well soon."
"Honey, if you don't mind me asking why are you not telling the truth to the cops," I asked.
to which Geeta replied weakly "Dada, You won't understand. This is something much beyond you or any of your friends can help. What Aunty has been doing to me for 6 years is wrong, she will change and be the mother-like figure that I always wished upon." She paused for a while and continued "What has happened that night, was just a tip of a greater ploy at play. She and the daughters are just a pawn. The real enemy is something else."
"I don't understand. What real enemy?" I asked.
"I hope you still have the journals I gave you that night," Geeta asked.
"Well, actually I got them photocopied and kept the journals back in your room." I paused and sat next to her and continued "actually I have come to know a lot about your best friend Abhinu"
She smiled at me and replied "Well dada… continue reading the book… You will know who the real enemy is?"
I touched her forehead with my right hand and replied "You are a strong soul. I hope it's not late before I come to know about your secret. I don't want you to get hurt once again. I promise you something though. I failed you once, but I am not gonna fail you again. This friend is prepared to take a bullet for you if the situation comes."
"Promise me dada… you will not do anything reckless, please… I don't want you or Monika to get hurt because of me…" as she raised her hand and indicated me to put mine on top of hers.
I reciprocated and replied "I promise."
As we were talking, a man in uniform entered the room. By the looks of it, he was not a cop but an army man.
I saw a sudden gleam of recognition and warmth in Geeta's eyes. The man smiled at Geeta and asked "How are you doing? I hope you are feeling better now."
Geeta looked at him and replied softly "Yes, sir I am. I am feeling better now."
The man suddenly looked shocked and touched her hair and asked: "What's with this long hair of yours?"
"He he… its nothing sir… just a little style… I felt like growing my hair a little."
Geeta's face seemed like she was not happy while talking about her long hair. Something felt off. I guess she is worrying too much. Suddenly that man interrupted.
"By the way… I know what has happened, Your uncle has told us everything."
"If you want any help from us, don't hesitate. I can help you."
"I will manage sir. I know things will change." Geeta replied.
Geeta's promise to the officer seemed very abstract and delusional at that point in time. If he had witnessed the CCTV recording of that night, he would have taken her away from the family. I considered stepping out of the room to allow them some personal space and walked out.
After about 15 minutes, I saw Mom, Dad, and Monika approaching the room with Vikash tagging along.
Mom and Dad decided to stay outside and I accompanied Monika to the room. As we entered the room, I was in for another surprise, it seemed like the officer already knew Monika and greeted her with a comment "It seems like, you have not grown a single inch. you are still a lilliput."
I saw Monika smile and reply "Do you still play basketball with that big belly of yours, I doubt you can still hold the ball."
The man laughed and shook his hands with Monika and said "How are you, child? It seems like you have not forgotten me yet."
Monika replied "No sir, how can I forget you? You have been the best mentor a student can get."
The three of them kept talking for a while and after some time, he proceeded to leave. Monika told Geeta that she will accompany him out.
Before the officer left he told Geeta "Remember the 3 of us, my child, we are always there for you."
Geeta smiled and replied, "I know sir, you have always been there to take care of me. Thanks, for visiting."
As they were walking out of the room, I saw the officer saluting someone. I looked in the direction of his salute and saw Master da, Miss Sengupta and my father standing there. Whom did he salute, Was it master da, Naah...I don't think so.
As I was figuring out the answer to this, I saw my dad nodding his head in acknowledgment of the salute. But it did not make sense since he is a civilian. I ignored my curiosity and went back into the room with Monika.
As Monika saw Geeta, she opened her arms and hugged Geeta. Seeing both of them this happy, I could not control my tears of joy.
I wanted to hug both of them but I was feeling embarrassed to do so. I saw the nasal cannula tube still in Geeta's nose. All of a sudden Geeta commented in a soft voice "Monika, Joe dada is crying."
Monika turned around and lifted her right arm gesturing me to join in on the hug and Geeta too followed suit by lifting her left hand. As Geeta lifted her hand I witnessed the I.V. cannula still inserted into her hand. I tried to put on a smile but for some reason, I ended up crying. I stepped forward and hugged both of them.
Precisely at that very moment Vikash and Koushik also entered the room and saw the 3 of us hugging one another.
Vikash commented, "Wow, that's the sweetest thing I have seen in the last 10 days."
Koushik too joined in. "You know sis," Looking towards Geeta he continued, "Your Joe dada has not let you off his sight during this entire ordeal. Even when he had to go home, I was told to keep an eye on you. You are really lucky to have a friend like him."
I let go of Geeta and landed a kiss on her forehead.
Geeta replied "I know dada, even when I was unconscious, I could feel that someone was trying to reach me and encouraging me, to wake up for the sake of my friend Monika. It felt like my father kept telling me that it's not my time to leave the earth, my purpose in this life is not yet fulfilled."
Vikash barged in on the conversation, "My dear Geeta, from today on, you will be my sister, and I promise you I will protect you to the best of my ability. Just like Monika is my sister, you are my sister too, and I will leave it to the 2 of you to decide who wants to be my youngest sister."
We all burst out laughing at this confusing comment of Vikash.
Amidst all the laughing I interrupted, looked towards Geeta and said, "Jokes apart, there is something very important that you should know. Your teacher Mrs. Das will not be teaching you anymore. We have arranged for a new teacher Babul dada for you. He will come to teach you once you are fully recovered. When he is around, you need not worry about aunty anymore."
"Also, this is Koushik Dada, he will be coming to teach you physical exercise. Uncle will convince your aunty that he is only there to train you in basketball, but please know that he doesn't know anything about basketball."
"Don't worry about your sisters finding out. Trust me both of your sisters who claim that they are getting a scholarship from SAI, We know they were lying, so you need not worry much about them."
"The day they played the match with us, I understood that they were bragging, and they don't know shit. We have already had a word with your uncle, and he will make sure that you will be allowed out of the house for 2 hours every-day."
"We understand, if we ask your aunty to let you out, she will never comply, but with Koushik around and uncle approving him, she won't get a chance to deny you from playing outside daily. You should also know that your aunty cannot fire him because if she does or even if she considers the idea, he has some very kind and helpful friends whom normal people are very scared of."
"Don't be alarmed by his presence, he looks sweet and cute, he will be there to keep an eye on you. If he feels that you are in trouble, he can and he will protect you."
"I am going to make sure you will not have to suffer anymore from those mean relatives of yours."
Geeta caught hold of my hand tightly, started weeping and replied: "How will I ever repay this favor?"
Vikash looked at Geeta and replied "You know sis, some great man had once said, a big smile of a sister is enough to repay all the debt that she owes to her brother. I hope you understood what I meant."
Geeta understood what he implied and smiled. At the sight of Geeta's radiant smile, Vikash too gave a broad smile and commented, "God has made this smile of yours with leisure"
Koushik suddenly said, "Stop it Vikash. we all know you are a practical comedian, you don't have to quote Mithun dada's words to keep proving it. Dada is a legend, you suck."
We all could not help but laugh at Kaushik's comment.
Finally, we guys decided to leave Monika with Geeta alone. We went out of the hospital to get a cup of tea. Master da and Miss Sengupta left saying that they didn't want Mrs. Banerjee knowing that they were here. Dad was talking to Mr. Banerjee and Mom went inside the room to meet Geeta.
On the way to the tea shop, Vikash replied "Joe, remember the guy in uniform who went to meet Geeta,"
"Yes... what about him?" I asked.
"I think I have seen him in the hospital premises since the day Geeta has been admitted to the hospital, but I don't think he was alone, there were 2 other guys with him"
Koushik told me the same thing "Actually I have also seen him, most of the time sitting on a bench near Geeta's room. I assumed he was waiting for some other patient."
I told them, what happened when I and Monika were inside and that how both of them knew him and called him a mentor.
Amidst all this happiness, the only thing missing was Aunty and her daughters. It has been 5 hours now and there were still no signs of them.
Based on Vikash and Koushik's observations, my mind could not help but wonder a few things.
'Who was the officer whom Geeta and Monika and quite possibly my father know well?
Who were those 2 guys whom my friends saw with the officer?
Were their presence in the hospital a coincidence or somebody from Geeta's past life was keeping an eye on her?
Amidst all these questions what bothered me the most was who is this enemy that Geeta was talking about earlier?