“Sir, there is an emergency. Two girls have been brought in. Can you please come in quickly…” Rupali’s call came hardly ten minutes after she had left for her round.

“Where? In the ward or emergency room?”

“They brought the girls in the ward. There is a woman in ER, presumably their mother.”

“I will be right there.”

Paritosh appeared surprised to see the girls at first and frowned. But he recovered and gave instructions for injecting IV.

“Such severe malnutrition…” Paritosh wondered aloud, “I haven’t seen that even in street children. Even they manage to eat something…”

“Just spoke to the nurse in ER, Dr. Khanna. She said the same thing about the mother. Looks like she hasn’t eaten in days. And to top that she is pregnant.”

“Oh?”

“And Sir…”

“Yeah?”

“They don’t look poor. Their clothes…” she pointed towards the girls, “And those ear-rings are almost certainly gold…”

“You suspect foul play?” Paritosh looked at her curiously.

She nodded.

There was nothing to be done for the girls now except to keep them under observation. “Let’s go and see the mother,” he told Rupali, “Police might need to be informed.”

—

“Who brought them in?” Paritosh asked the nurse on duty in ER before getting into the room.

“Will have to check the paper work for the name. But someone saw them on the roadside and called the ambulance.”

“Okay. Can I see her?”

“Sure Doctor. If you want to talk to Dr. Naidu, he is in the admin office filing paperwork.”

“Will do. Thanks.” Paritosh and Rupali went into the room.

“Oh my God!” Paritosh stopped in his tracks and looked horrified.

“What happened, Sir?” Rupali was taken aback by his reaction.

“Those girls looked so familiar… No wonder… This is…”

“You know her?”

Paritosh sat down on a chair nearby and sighed loudly, “I just told you about her… This is Chand.”

“Oh!” What a coincidence!

“And no… She is not poor,” Paritosh continued talking, “She was married in a a very well-to-do business family in Howrah.”

Her clothes and jewelry definitely confirmed that!

Rupali saw the agony on Paritosh’ face as he stared at the patient. She went forward and put her hands on his shoulder. He was surprised, but did not move.

“Dr. Khanna. Are you okay?”

“Yes. Of course,” he came out of his thoughts and looked at her, “I am okay. Don’t worry. Let’s go back to the girls…”

“You can stay here, if you want. I will be in the ward. I will let you know, if something changes.”

“Okay… Thanks Rupali… I will stay… And…”

“Yeah?”

“I think I need to call her family. I don’t have the number.”

“Some common friend would have it?”

“Her father is Rajesh Malhotra…”

“Of Malhotra and Sons?” Rupali asked, startled. It was a well-known business family in the city.

“Yes.”

“I will start by calling their office, then. The number should be on the website.”

“Yeah. That sounds like a good idea. Please do.”

For the first time, Rupali noticed, Paritosh looked like he was not in control of the situation and was grateful for help and support.

“Don’t worry Dr. Khanna. They are in good hands now,” she said assuringly.

He nodded with a faint smile.

—

Paritosh came to the ward with an elderly man accompanying him. He was dressed in a starched white Kurta-Paijama and was being graceful with a lot of efforts. Unchecked, he would have burst out in tears.

“Mr. Rajesh Malhotra,” Paritosh introduced them to each other, “This is Dr. Ruapli Banerjee. She called you…”

“Hello Sir,” Rupali mumbled to Rajesh Malhotra. “Thank you,” he nodded and mumbled in acknowledgment and sat down beside the younger girl on the bed. He gently ran his hand over her hand.

“How are they?” he looked expectantly at Rupali and asked.

“Their vitals are improving. We have to observe until morning.”

He nodded looking sad.

“Uncle,” Paritosh addressed his softly, “You don’t look too well yourself. You can go home and come in the morning. They are in good hands now.”

“I’d like to stay here,” the old man said desperately, “If it isn’t against hospital’s rules.”

Paritosh sighed and nodded, “Sister Teresa can escort you if you want to go to Chand’s room. I will be in my office.” He looked at the nurse and nodded at her to indicate that she should do what he promised to Rajesh Malhotra. She nodded back.

Then he looked at Rupali and she followed him.

—

“What happened?” Rupali asked as soon as they entered his office.

Paritosh indicated her to sit. It would be a long story.

She was at her in-laws place. Pregnant with her third child. Two daughters were already too much for her family. They went for gender determination, even though it was illegal. And the the unborn baby was a girl too. They wanted her to abort. She refused. She had called her father for help. But he told her to deal with her family matters herself. He doesn’t know anything more. But…

“They starved her and her daughters to force abortion?” Rupali completed his thoughts.

“Seems likely. She must have run away. But could not make it all the way to her father’s house due to weakness.”

“How is the baby?” Rupali asked anxiously.

“Things don’t look good. Dr. Nanda is with them,” he replied referring to the gynecologist on duty.

“You don’t want to be there?”

“I was not helping there.” He was too disturbed!

Rupali had barely nodded in response when his mobile rang. He turned pale as he heard the person on phone.

“The baby died,” he said after disconnecting the call.

“Oh! And that would create complications for her too…”

Paritosh nodded.

“Dr. Khanna. You are…”

“I never thought ill of her Rupali. Even when I was angry and hurt… I never did…”

“Of course, you didn’t. Why would you… Oh my God!” The realization dawned on her about what was bothering him so much apart from sudden encounter with Chand under such circumstances. “Please Sir,” she went near him and put her hands on his shoulder, “It has got nothing to do with you. It was just a coincidence that we were talking about her today…”

He shook his head. She continued, “No. Listen to me please. This is just not right. I was the one listening to you, right? I can judge it. There was no ill-will whatsoever in you.”

“I hope so, Rupali…”

“Please. Dr. Khanna. I can’t see you like this. You can’t be like this. Not after all the wise things you know and say…”

He looked at her and frowned as he tried to understand what she meant. Then a small smile spread on his lips, “All the wise things, eh?”

“Whatever,” she was suddenly embarrassed at her words, “You are a doctor. You are supposed to be rational about things.”

“Of course,” his smile was broader now. Somehow her agitated outburst had pulled Paritosh out of the guilt-pit the evening’s incidents had thrown him into.

“If you want to go home, you can go Dr. Khanna,” Rupali offered helpfully, “I am here and the girls only need observation.”

“No. I intend to keep our breakfast date,” he grinned much to Rupali’s surprise and relief, “We will leave together in the morning.”

“Okay,” she smiled and left.

—

To be continued