Chap 26 Broken links…. and bridges
Early next morning, Ghazal woke up with Vrinda shaking her. She got up quickly to find she was already late for school, having slept late. She quickly got Vrinda’s lunch box ready and handing her an envelope with her leave application for the in-charge, saw her off for school. Vrinda was reluctant to go but she convinced her that Arun would be there at home, when she returned in the afternoon. Picking up the phone, she dialed their family doctor’s number, who also happened to be Arun’s good friend.
An hour later, Dr. Shailesh after thorough check up, diagnosed him with viral fever. Writing the prescription and a few precautionary tests, he assured Ghazal that everything would be just fine, Arun needed complete rest and lots of nourishing liquids. After seeing him off, when Ghazal came inside, she saw Arun getting ready to leave.
“Where do you think, you are going ?”, she asked.
“I don’t want to disturb you, I think it would be better if I go back home. I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”He said
“No ! you are not going anywhere, not until your fever is gone and you are fully recovered. I promised Vrinda, you would be here when she came back from school.”She said in a firm voice as if talking to Vrinda, surprised at her own tone.
“But………”
“No buts please… just lie down and rest. I’ll get something to eat with tea for you”,She interrupted him.
Quickly she went to the kitchen, resting against the wall with a deep sigh. She had never been much communicative with Arun, his being short-tempered and reserved nature. But things have changed gradually between them, especially after the time spent together recently, owing to Vrinda’s illness and that last trip to Arun’s house, which was once her own home too. She prepared tea with toast and vegetable upma, and took the tray to the living room. She sipped her own tea, watching him now and then, eating his breakfast with eyes fixed on the newspaper in hand.
Defying his age, Arun looked much younger and as handsome as he looked, when they had got married. except for a few lines added to his face, he had maintained himself well. Had it not been for his possessive nature and orthodox thinking, they could have lived together and even made their marriage work, like any other couple in an arranged marriage. Lost in her thinking, she did not realise that she had been staring at him. It was only when Arun called her name, she quickly looked down, looking embarrassed. He was asking for a refill of his tea-cup, which she quickly did from the hot kettle.
Cleaning the extra bedroom, she shifted his luggage there, arranging his clothes and belongings in the cupboard. When she came back, Arun was already sleeping , his strength being sapped off due to fever. She silently drew the curtains and covering him with a duvet left the room and busied herself with preparing lunch and other daily routine works.
An hour later, Dr. Shailesh after thorough check up, diagnosed him with viral fever. Writing the prescription and a few precautionary tests, he assured Ghazal that everything would be just fine, Arun needed complete rest and lots of nourishing liquids. After seeing him off, when Ghazal came inside, she saw Arun getting ready to leave.
“Where do you think, you are going ?”, she asked.
“I don’t want to disturb you, I think it would be better if I go back home. I’ll be fine, don’t worry.”He said
“No ! you are not going anywhere, not until your fever is gone and you are fully recovered. I promised Vrinda, you would be here when she came back from school.”She said in a firm voice as if talking to Vrinda, surprised at her own tone.
“But………”
“No buts please… just lie down and rest. I’ll get something to eat with tea for you”,She interrupted him.
Quickly she went to the kitchen, resting against the wall with a deep sigh. She had never been much communicative with Arun, his being short-tempered and reserved nature. But things have changed gradually between them, especially after the time spent together recently, owing to Vrinda’s illness and that last trip to Arun’s house, which was once her own home too. She prepared tea with toast and vegetable upma, and took the tray to the living room. She sipped her own tea, watching him now and then, eating his breakfast with eyes fixed on the newspaper in hand.
Defying his age, Arun looked much younger and as handsome as he looked, when they had got married. except for a few lines added to his face, he had maintained himself well. Had it not been for his possessive nature and orthodox thinking, they could have lived together and even made their marriage work, like any other couple in an arranged marriage. Lost in her thinking, she did not realise that she had been staring at him. It was only when Arun called her name, she quickly looked down, looking embarrassed. He was asking for a refill of his tea-cup, which she quickly did from the hot kettle.
Cleaning the extra bedroom, she shifted his luggage there, arranging his clothes and belongings in the cupboard. When she came back, Arun was already sleeping , his strength being sapped off due to fever. She silently drew the curtains and covering him with a duvet left the room and busied herself with preparing lunch and other daily routine works.
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