Rupali panicked for a moment as she slowly opened her eyes. Everything around her was a blur and the place was unfamiliar. Slowly her vision and head cleared and she saw her mother, sitting with her eyes closed on a sofa. She looked around and could make out that she was in a hospital room. She could not recall what had happened. She called out to Mouli in a feeble voice, “Mom!”

Mouli immediately opened her eyes and rushed to her, “Rupa. You are awake. How are you feeling?”

“I… I… What happened? How did I reach here?”

“Oh! Don’t bother. Are you feeling all right?”

Rupali had to think for a few moments to decide how she was feeling. Then she realized that she was hurting. Especially her shoulders and her head. She felt confused and scared. She wanted something badly and she had no clue what it was. She started crying.

“What happened, Rupa? Is it hurting? Talk to me dear.”

“I am scared. What has happened to me? Am I dying?”

“Hush! Don’t panic. It was just a small accident. You are all right now. Please calm down. I need to call the doctor.”

Rupali tried, but her nervousness and confusion just wouldn’t go away. She needed something. What was it? She kept crying. Mouli was perplexed. Crying could be no help to her health.

Just then Paritosh walked in with a packet of medicines and a cup of coffee in his hands. He stopped in his tracks when he saw Rupali awake and crying. Mouli looked at him helplessly.

“What happened?” He kept the medicines and coffee on a nearby table and rushed to her bedside, “Why are you crying, Rupali?”

When Rupali saw him, she felt like she got what she wanted. It was a strange feeling. It made no sense. But she felt an urge to sit up and hug him. She was physically in no position to even move. And even if she had been physically fit, there would be a huge mental barrier is doing something like that. But just seeing him around had a calming effort on her. Her nervousness subsided.

“Paritosh. Please be with her. I will call the doctor.”

Paritosh nodded and sat beside her, while Mouli left to get the doctor. As soon as he was within reach, Rupali brought her hand forward and clutched his. He was unsure for a moment about how to react. But then he followed his instincts. He patted her hand and then her forehead.

“Calm down Rupali. Everything is all right. Why are you crying?”

“I was scared.”

“Now you are not, right?”

“No.”

“Then stop crying,” he used his free hand to wipe her tears softly, “And tell me, is it hurting?”

“Slightly.”

“It will be all right. The doctor is coming.”

“I’m sorry. I behaved like a kid.”

“That’s not a problem. Kids are adorable. But you did alarm you mother. Now you must behave yourself before her, okay?”

Rupali smiled, albeit faintly due to the pain and weakness.

Mouli walked in with the doctor by then.

“Thank God! You have stopped crying.”

“I am sorry, Mom. I scared you. I was nervous. I still can’t remember how it happened.”

“That’s normal,” the doctor said, “We tend to block out traumatic memories to cope with them. Don’t worry about it. You might remember later. And even if you do not, it doesn’t matter. It was a road accident. But you look fine now.”

“My body aches. Especially my head and shoulders.”

“We will do the tests. But most likely you just need to rest for a while more. Please have her eat something,” the doctor addressed Mouli, “And then give her the medicines. They will help reduce her pain and also help her sleep.”

“Sure.”

“Mom. You look tired. Why don’t you go home and rest? I’m fine here. You can come in the evening when they discharge me,” Rupali said after having her food, “I will be sleeping till then anyway.”

“She is right, Mrs. Banerjee,” Paritosh agreed, “Please go home and take rest. I will be here.”

“No Sir. You would also need rest.”

“Don’t be silly, Rupali. I’m fine. Mrs. Banerjee, please. You also need to look after yourself.” Mouli knew that he was referring to her own deteriorating health. She nodded quietly as she gave medicines to Rupali, “Fine. I will come in the evening. I’m sorry for all the trouble, Paritosh.”

“Don’t be. I am not the one in trouble. Rupali is. She needs to be looked after. And for that you must remain healthy yourself.”

—

Rupali closed her eyes after Mouli left. She tried to understand her feelings immediately after gaining consciousness. Seeing her mother had comforted her, but she had still wanted something. Rather, she had wanted somebody. She had wanted Paritosh to be there. Why? That longing for him didn’t make sense then. Unless… Unless… she was… It felt weird. What was happening to her? Mom… Crying… Laughing… Dr. Khanna… Walking in with medicine… Comforting her… Scolding her… It was all mixed up. Sedatives had taken over.

—

Mouli noticed a change in Rupali when she came home after getting discharged from the hospital. She appeared very reticent and tense. Mouli reasoned that it was because of the semester end being so close. She had to work hard to make up for the classes she could not take during her hospital stay. She would also have to check the final submissions of the assignments and projects apart from preparing the papers for the final exams. And all this with a body still weak from the injuries, and a mind still traumatized by the accident. She hoped that all will be well afterwards, when she would get the winter break. She had to tell Rupali about her own illness too. But it could wait for a couple of weeks.

Paritosh noticed a change too. But he found it difficult to attribute it to the work-pressure. She would get edgy in his presence. She was withdrawing from him and avoided meeting him or talking to him beyond what was absolutely necessary. If it was the work pressure, she should actually have sought his help rather than avoiding him

“Coffee?” he found her working late in the evening once and asked.

“No, Dr. Khanna. I was about to leave. Would rather sleep early.”

“Sure. That’s a good idea. And you should not exert yourself so much, Rupali. You can ask for my help for setting papers, or grading–”

“I’ll manage. Thanks!”

He ran into Rohan on his way back from Rupali’s office. He was carrying two cups of coffee from canteen.

“Working hard?” Paritosh asked him with a smile.

“Got no other option. I was taking this for Rupali,” he indicated towards the coffee, “Do you want one?”

Paritosh didn’t understand it. She was planning to have coffee. Rohan was bringing it for her. Why didn’t she tell him that? Why the alibi of wanting to sleep early?

“Uh no!” he replied, “I am planning to go home and sleep. Coffee won’t be good. You guys go ahead.”

“Sure. And Dr. Khanna. Rupali wanted me to discuss a draft paper with you. I will send the draft by e-mail. Are you free sometime tomorrow afternoon?”

Why did she want Rohan to discuss the paper with him? Won’t she be there? Paritosh had to to get away; else he might end up saying something offensive to Rohan.

“Send me the mail. I will let you know. Good night, Rohan,” he walked away quickly.

—

To be continued