30~ The Unpredictable Situation
"Your reports are normal but I would suggest you continue following the medicines I told you to", I explained to my patient who nodded.
I gave him back the file which had all the tests in it and he stood up.
Thanking me, he went out of my chamber and I sighed in relief.
I opened my mobile phone to check the time but instead saw Akriti's message.
Sighing, I opened it and the message said, "I need to take an appointment right? For mumma's check up?"
I chuckled and typed, "Why take an appointment when the doctor is your soon to be husband itself?"
"Flirt to acha Karte ho but aren't you busy?". Her next message read. So, she was online. Doesn't she has any work? Isn't writing a novel supposed to be difficult and time taking. I'll never know!
"I am but family comes first", I typed and she saw it instantly. The two arrows turned blue but for a minute, I received no message. Did I offend her?
One minute turned into 5 minutes and then hours, I didn't receive any more messages from her.
What happened suddenly? She was fine then?
I didn't say anything that could hurt her, or did I?
I don't know! Why are women so difficult to understand?
Can't they be more vocal about their thoughts?
I don't understand Akriti, as if I had never known her.
One moment she is close to me and the other she's too distant. What's happening?
I checked patients for the whole 6 hours, checking for her message from time to time but didn't find any.
I was worried. She never leaves on seen just like that and it's been too long.
Did something happen to her? What if Chaudhary did something?
No no! Don't think negatively, calm down. She might be busy with her work.
"Next", I called and stretched my arms in tiredness. The door opened and my eyes widened when I saw Akriti and her mumma. I wanted to yell at her so bad! She gave me a mini heart attack today. She could have told me that she's visiting today only but she left me on seen? Is this how we do things?
She smiled apologetically and I glared at her. That's not done! I'm not letting it go anytime soon. Does she even know how worried I was?
"Are you taking your medicines on time?" I asked her mother and from my peripheral view saw Akriti nodding. I am going to ignore her today just like she did.
"And are you still having headaches?", I asked again.
"Yes and they are recurrent now", her mother said and Akriti's mouth fell wide open.
"Mumma? You didn't tell me?", Akriti questioned.
"I thought it was normal", her mother asked and I sighed. Playing with my pen I said, "It's not. It should have been reduced by now. We are giving the highest doses".
"It's not normal?", her mother asked as if the ground beneath her had been slipped. I nodded and seriously said, "It's not. Medications are not working and I'm not gonna sugarcoat it for you both".
I looked at Akriti and continued, "I will monitor for a week more but if it's still the same, I prefer going for a surgery. There are 90-95 percent chances of recovery".
"Is it necessary?", Akriti asked and I had to look in her eyes that were brimming with tears. I would have never suggested surgery if it was not necessary but it is. It's difficult for me as well, she's my family too.
"It is Akriti", I confirmed.
"B-but what if-"
"We don't have time for what if! There's a 95 percent chance of recovery and every good doctor would suggest taking the chance. We can't be 100 percent sure of anything, even life", I nearly yelled.
My eyes softened when I heard her sobbing and I glanced a look at her mother helplessly. Her mother gave me a comforting look and patted her daughter's shoulder.
"He's saying right, he is the doctor, he knows his work."
Cupping her cheeks, her mother continued, "I'm not leaving you bacha, but if we do nothing then I will definitely die".
"Shut up mumma, you are not dying! Fine, I agree. Do whatever you consider to be correct", Akriti said, the last sentence directed to me. I nodded and whispered, "Trust me for once"
She nodded but didn't say anything else.
This hurts me, her not trusting me. I'm trying to win her trust but it isn't working.
How should I explain that I'm nothing like her father or her step brother?
I would die but do anything like that to her and her mum.
Her mother is an inspiration, the way she built and supported herself and her daughter is really appreciable.
She deserves a lot and I can never think to harm them both. They are my priority, my family.
I explained them the treatment plan and also told them that I won't be doing the surgery because they are related to me and doctors can't operate on their family members.
Akriti, as soon as she heard it, acted a bit reluctant but I explained her that someone more experienced would handle the case and I'll be there, there's nothing to worry about.
"I have a request", her mother said and both of us nodded.
"Before I undergo surgery, I want to see you both getting married", she said and both I and Akriti looked at each other in shock.
"But the date is 4 months later mumma", Akriti said and her mother nodded.
"I know, but I don't know if I'll be alive to see you getting married-
"We'll marry early, that won't be a problem ma'am", I quickly said before Akriti could tear up with her statement. Akriti becomes really emotional when it's about her mother, I don't blame her.
Akriti glanced at me unbelievably but remained silent. Pin drop silence enveloped us for the rest of a few minutes when suddenly the phone rang. I dismissed the call, focusing on Akriti instead but it rang twice. I again dismissed the call but Akriti softly said, "It's okay, we are going anyway".
Sighing, I read the caller name and it was Mrs. Sharda. What happened to her? Is she calling me because of Amayra? Panicking, I quickly picked up the call, glancing at Akriti once who casted me a confused look.
"A-adhi?", I heard Amayra's broken voice and my heart sank. She was crying!
"What happened? Why are you crying?", I softly asked and Akriti eyebrow scrunched. Please don't think anything wrong about me Akriti, it's not any other woman!
"C-can you come here pwease?", the three year old requested and sniffed. I was feeling more pain now, what happened to her? Akriti remained still in her place and her mother heard my talk curiously as well.
Are they thinking-? No no! Gosh! Why don't my problems end?
"Okay, wait for me okay?", I softly asked and heard her murmuring a small yes. Cutting the call, I intently looked at Akriti and the same time we both said,
"Is it Hrishika?"
"I have to go"
We both simultaneously said.
She nodded but I shook my head. She didn't say anything else and I exited my cabin, not caring about anything else.
Amayra was crying and I couldn't bear that.
I quickly drove to the orphanage, not caring to inform Akriti.
She'll definitely be pissed off. If she has problems with me calling her my family, she isn't going to accept Amayra, and that when she's not ours.
I rushed towards Mrs. Sharda's office who sadly smiled at me. Amayra was there as well and she was sobbing. Her eyes were swollen and nose puffy. I quickly took her in my arms and patted her back. I kissed her forehead but she was burning. Her temperature was too much.
"She's sick?" I asked Mrs. Sharda and she nodded.
"She wasn't ready to eat her medicines, everyone tried. She started crying and calling your name. I had no other option but to call you", she explained and I heartbrokenly looked at the child in my arms who was clutching my shirt tightly.
"It's okay, I'll feed her", I said and she nodded.
"A-adhi don't leabe me pwease", Amayra cried and I patted her small head.
"I'm not leaving you baby. I'm here with you", I tried to comfort her.
"Can I take her to my home today?", I requested but Mrs. Sharda denied and said, "It's against the rules Mr. Adhyay. You are not her foster parent"
"Please ma'am, understand the situation. She's not well and children tend to seek comfort when they are ill and I'm going to adopt her anyways", I begged and she sighed.
"Mr. Adhyay-"
"Please ma'am, I beg you. I will take care of her and as soon as she regains her health, I will return her back".
She finally agreed and warned me that she will file a case if I did anything wrong. I won't, I'm not a kidnapper for God's sake.
I rocked Amayra back and forth, trying to stop her from crying and then fed her hot soup from my hands.
She drank it with much difficulty and then after that, I gave her syrup that would reduce her fever.
She made a cranky face as soon as I stuffed it in her small mouth and tried to vomit but didn't. I diverted her mind by offering her a chocolate.
After she had slept, I took my leave from the orphanage with her in my arms and laid her on the backseat.
Subtly nodding, Mrs. Sharda bid me a goodbye and I started towards my home.
Now all that I was worried about was my family's reaction to Amayra.
Initially, I had thought that I will break the news after marriage but life is unpredictable and things got fastened.