In the Oberoi mansion, a line of doctors stood anxiously, all staring at Ashwin with fear in their eyes. Ashwin glared at them, his gaze piercing.
"What's taking so long to stabilize my son's condition?" Ashwin thundered. "Why hasn't he regained consciousness? Answer me!"
The doctors trembled at Ashwin's furious tone. One of them mustered courage to speak.
"Mr. Oberoi, your son hasn't recovered fully. He's showing signs of shock and keeps calling out for his mother. We need her presence to stabilize his condition. Medication isn't working."
Ashwin muttered to himself, "Sindhu..."
Meanwhile, at Sindhu's flat, she lay on her sofa, watching the Hanuman movie on TV, trying to distract herself from period cramps. Suddenly, the doorbell rang.
Irritated, Sindhu opened the door to find 10 bodyguards in black uniforms.
"Who are you? What brings you here at this hour?" Sindhu demanded.
The lead bodyguard replied, "Mr. Oberoi sent us to fetch you."
Sindhu's expression darkened, remembering the morning's events. "Tell Ashwin I won't come. He can do what he wants."
The bodyguards stood stunned as Sindhu slammed the door shut.
Ashwin called the bodyguard, "Where are you? My son's condition worsens by the minute."
The bodyguard hesitated, "Sir, Sindhu ma'am refused to come."
Ashwin's eyes narrowed. "I'm coming."
He hung up and headed out.
Grandmother asked, "Where are you going, beta? Eadhur's condition is critical."
Ashwin reassured, "Relax, Dadi. I'm going to bring Sindhu. Eadhur needs her."
Grandmother remained silent, knowing Sindhu could soothe Eadhur.
Ashwika, sitting beside Grandmother, sparkled with excitement.
"Aashi wants to come with you, Papa."
Ashwin agreed, lifting Ashwika into his arms.
As they reached Sindhu's flat, Ashwika called out, "Mama, open the door! Aashi is here."
Sindhu opened the door, ignoring Ashwin and focusing on Ashwika.
"Baby, why are you awake so late?"
Ashwika tearfully said, "Mama, bhaiya Eadhur is sick. He's calling you."
Sindhu's heart ached, and she quickly grabbed her things.
"Let's go."
As they left, Sindhu scolded Ashwin, "You should've informed me earlier. Always creating a ruckus."
The group headed toward the Oberoi mansion.
To be continued...
For my hindi readers
Ashwin hospital mein khada tha, uske saamne doctors ki ek line khadi thi, jo usse dara dara ke dekh rahe the. Uska beta Eadhur critical condition mein tha, aur Ashwin ka gussa badhta ja raha tha.
"Aap log itne time se mere beta ki tabiyat theek karne mein lagye huye hain, phir bhi uska fever uttarna ka naam nahi le raha," Ashwin ne doctors par chilla kar kaha.
Doctors Ashwin ke gusse se khape gaye. Unmein se ek doctor, Dr. Sharma, ne himmat ki aur kaha.
"Mr. Oberoi, aapka beta abhi tak theek nahi hua hai. Usko shock laga hai aur woh mama ko bulaye ja raha hai. Humen uski zaroorat hai, nahi toh medicine ka koi asar nahi hoga."
Ashwin ne apne aap ko kaha, "Sindhu..." Usko pata tha ki use Sindhu ko hospital bulana hoga.
Sindhu ke flat mein, woh sofa par leti hui TV dekh rahi thi, period cramps se bachne ke liye. Achanak, darwaza ki bell baj gayi.
Sindhu ne darwaza khola, aur uske saamne 10 bodyguards khade the.
"Kaun hain aap? Aap yahan kaise?" Sindhu ne pucha.
Bodyguard ne kaha, "Mr. Oberoi ne aapko bulaya hai."
Sindhu ka chehra kala pad gaya, subah ke events ko yaad karke. "Unhe bata do, main nahi aa rahi."
Bodyguards Sindhu ke darwaze par khade rahe, jab tak woh band nahi ho gaya.
Ashwin ne bodyguard ko phone kiya, "Tum log kahin tak pahunche?"
Bodyguard ne kaha, "Sindhu ma'am ne aaney se mana kar diya, sir."
Ashwin ka gussa badh gaya. "Main aa raha hoon."
Usne phone kat diya aur bahar nikal gaya.
Dadi ne pucha, "Kahan ja rahe ho, beta? Eadhur ki tabiyat bahut kharab hai."
Ashwin ne dadi ko samjaya, "Relax, Dadi. Main Sindhu ko lekar aa raha hoon. Eadhur ko uski zaroorat hai."
Dadi ne kuch nahi kaha, kyunki usko pata tha Sindhu Eadhur ko theek kar sakti hai.
Ashwika, dadi ke paas baithi, excitement mein thi.
"Aashi bhi mama ko lekar jaana chahti hai, papa."
Ashwin ne Ashwika ko god mein uthaya.
Jab woh Sindhu ke flat pahunche, Ashwika ne awaz lagayi, "Mama, darwaza kholo! Aashi yahan hai."
Sindhu ne darwaza khola, Ashwin ko ignore karke Ashwika se baat ki.
"Baby, tum itni raat ko jagte kyon ho?"
Ashwika ne rone lagte hue kaha, "Mama, bhaiya Eadhur bimaar hai. Woh tumhe bulaye ja raha hai."
Sindhu ka dil dard se bhar gaya, aur woh jaldi se apni cheezein pack karne lag gayi.
"Chalo."
Jab woh nikle, Sindhu ne Ashwin ko daanta.
"Tumhe pehle bata dena chahiye tha. Tumhe hamesha shor machane ka kaam hai."
Sab log Oberoi mansion ki aur nikal gaye.
To be continued...