Mr Chakraborty was out grocery shopping when he received a text from Mrs Saha informing him about Ankita's condition. He immediately rushed to school, in plain kurta-pajama, slippers and the shopping bag that was yet to be loaded with the vegetables he just paid for.
Ankita had more or less stabilized by the time he arrived, except for the weakness and constant dizziness and a subtle uncomfortable feeling in her stomach.
He ran to her, out of breath and asked with a worried gaze "How are you maa? What discomforts are you experiencing?"
Rishav promptly got up, letting the worried father sit next to his daughter. Mr Chakraborty nodded in gratitude and pulled his daughter in his arms. The tears she was holding back for so long, flooded her eyes, feeling the warmth and security of her father's embrace. She clung to him and wailed. Mr Chakraborty cradled his little bun, gently caressing her head.
Almost an hour later, Ankita's cries faded into little sobs. Mr Chakraborty softly wiped her wet cheeks and brushed her dishevelled hair.
"Let's go to the hospital." He said.
Ankita's eyes widened in fright and she shook her head furiously.
"Don't be like that Anu, I'll be there. No need to be afraid." He tried to convince her.
Ankita just gripped his hand and shook her head hard. New tears welled up in her eyes. She hated the oppressive environment of hospitals where rows and rows states of anxious patient parties waited outside the wards on pins and needles, not knowing if the person inside would survive.
Mr Chakraborty tried to persuade her but she was rigid in her decision. Finally, Mrs Saha intervened.
She tapped on the bed and started signing.
"Mr Chakraborty, getting her checked at a hospital is necessary but not urgent. So I think you can let this matter rest for now. She seems scared for some reason. You should calm her down first."
"And Ankita, you need to go to the hospital for a check-up. Maybe not right now, but this is for your own good. Try to brave up and get it done with okay? It won't take much time. I know you can do it."
"At least do it for your father okay?" Mrs Saha added.
Ankita looked at her father's anxious face, then at Mrs Saha's pleading gaze and slowly nodded.
"There, good girl." Mrs Saha rubbed her head.
Mrs Dey got the news from her husband and returned home early. She strictly told Ankita not to get up from bed unless necessary.
Ankita laughed. Her mother's expression reminded her of Rishav who was scolding her making the exact same face.
"Why are you laughing?" Mrs Dey was puzzled.
"Nothing Maa. I just remembered something funny. Now go, rest. You just came back and you're fussing over me already. You need to give your body some rest." Ankita said, worry for her workaholic mother enveloped her face.
"Look at you. It seems like you're the mother and I'm your daughter." Mrs Dey said.
"Yes, I am. Now listen to me and go to bed." Ankita said indignantly.
"You too. Don't try to jump around like a grasshopper even if you feel a little better. We'll call a doctor tomorrow. Till then, complete bed rest." Mrs Dey narrowed her eyes at her mischievous daughter, warning her.
"Ahem, Maa, w.. why would I d.. do that? Am so foolish?" Ankita said with a huff.
She refused to admit that her mother saw through her. Mrs Dey cast a knowing smile at her and kissed her forehead before leaving the room.
"Haaah." Ankita gave a big yawn and closed her eyes.
Later at night, Mr Chakraborty brought her some light food and medicine. Ankita tried to escape the medicine but she had to admit defeat in front of Dr Chakraborty who straightened up even the toughest of patients. Her face scrunched up at the sight of those bitter medicines.
"Waak. Baba, was that medicine made by mixing neem paste in concentrated bitter gourd juice?" She gagged.
Mr Chakraborty ignored her and said that he would come again three hours later for the next dose. Ankita wanted to find a way to seal the door.
Inside the bedroom of Ankita's parents.
Mrs Dey was typing something on her laptop when Mr Chakraborty entered the room. She was so focused that she did not even hear him. He discreetly crawled onto the bed and hugged her from behind. She flinched, startled by the sudden hug.
"Trina, you don't care about me at all." Subhashish complained.
Trina sighed and kept the laptop aside before turning around and hugging him back "I'm so sorry honey, I made you feel like that. I would never do that. I'm soo sorry. It's just that a lot has been going on at the office lately. And now Anu is also.. sigh."
Subhashish kissed her tired eyes. He turned her around and started massaging her shoulders. Trina groaned in satisfaction. She leaned back and pecked his lips.
"Close your eyes." He said.
"Mhm." Trina hummed.
It had been quite some time since they spent some quality time together. Mr Chakraborty was a physiotherapist and was an expert when it came to relieving pain through massage.
After some time Trina spoke up "Neel filed a complaint against Juhi for sexual harassment."
Subhashish squinted as that name recalled a vague memory "Neel.... you mean that Neel? Who solved that loan embezzlement issue?"
Trina nodded, "Yeah. Our company would have faced serious financial problems had it not been for him. I still remember how frightened he looked standing in my office - a young, inexperienced, employee presenting evidence against the Deputy Financial Officer. One has to have guts of steel to even think about doing that, let alone proceed with the plan. But thanks to him, I quickly found out that the DFO was laundering huge sums from the employee welfare programs through another account. He had also taken a substantial amount of loan but tampered with the records to make it seem he had repaid."
She cuddled her husband and continued, "Subsequent investigation proved that he was bribed by a rival company. But he made the blunder of being overconfident. You should've seen his face when Neel brought the evidence to court. He never expected that the boy whom he called ignorant lad would be the one to connect the dots and expose him."