Nandana is behaving like a lunatic and continuously mumbling,

“I can’t remember anything…my name…what is my name?...Ahhhh…”

She tries to untie the bandage on her head and pulls out her drip needle. She tries to get down from the bed when Aditya steps forward and grabs her with the shoulders. But she still struggles to free herself…her wound is again oozing out fresh blood. Having no other option, Aditya picks her up in a bridal position and places again on the bed but Nandana is still fluttering like a caged bird. Aditya pins her down on the bed with full force, brings his face near to her and looks through her eyes.

“You are Nan….Nandita….my fiancée…we are going to be married next month.”

Aditya’s words sound like a bomb blast in the room. The doctor and Ayan are looking at each other totally perplexed. Nandana stops struggling and looks at Aditya with sheer astonishment while Aditya is continuing,

“We went for a long drive and on the way, I lost my control of the car. It hit a tree and you had a head injury.”

Nandana’s eyes automatically shift to Aditya’s body. Her curious eyes are trying to find out any wound or scratches. Aditya can read her eyes and immediately prepares an answer.

“It is a miracle Nandita that I didn’t have a single scratch on my body. Maybe because my seatbelt was fastened and yours was not.”

It is quite a reasonable explanation. Till now Nandana has become a bit stable. Observing this, Aditya slowly withdraws himself and looks at the doctor. He gestures with his eyes to give her a sedative as she needs rest after this mental restlessness. The doctor again fixes the drip in her vein. This time Nandana doesn’t resist. Perhaps she is still trying to sink into Aditya’s abrupt revelation. The doctor injects the sedative into the drip bottle and after a few minutes, Nandana slowly closes her eyes.

.........................

Aditya, Ayan and the doctor are sitting in the living room downstairs.

“Doctor, I couldn’t think of any other excuse to calm her down. If I would have said that she might have been thrown out from any car and we saw her lying on the road then she would have had thousands of questions. According to you she is suffering from temporary amnesia and can’t recollect her name and other things how could she take this bitter truth. It would have been more stressful for her to remember her name and past. Now, at least she has a name and identity. Gradually when she will be more healed and able to recall her past, I will tell her everything. But now, this is the best solution.”

Aditya’s logic is irrefutable. Ayan and the doctor nod in approval.

“Mr Aditya, maybe you are right. She is recovering and, in this stage, any kind of shock could be dangerous for her. We have to wait for her full recovery. Until then, let her be in this illusion…”

The doctor sighs and continues.

“By the way, right now, I don’t think there is any need for immediate medical help for her. She will sleep until the evening which is necessary for her. I will come at night to check her again.”

The doctor gets up to leave when Aditya again says,

“Ummmm, Dr..actually I am thinking to take her home and handing over the case to my family doctor. You know…this place is remote and doesn’t have any facilities…I think you can understand.”

The doctor thinks for a while and nods with a smile.

“You are a very kind-hearted person. She is lucky.”

Praise is evident in his eyes. Aditya turns his head and smirks. The doctor takes their leave. Until now, Ayan was totally silent. He is observing and listening to Aditya’s every gesture and word. After the doctor leaves, he asks for the first time,

“Sir, what if she gains her memory and recognize you?”

Aditya keeps on looking at him. His eyes are blazing with a sinister emotion.

“She will never gain her memory. I will never let that happen. I thought to enjoy her just for a night. But it seems that God is benevolent to me. Now, I can have her every night and she will not deny either. After all, I am her fiancé…ha ..ha..ha..”

Aditya laughs. His handsome face is now emitting lust. Ayan turns his face. He is feeling disgusted now. How can be a man so evil to take the opportunity even of a helpless girl? His mind wants to revolt but unfortunately, he can’t. Aditya Oberoi is dangerous. Nobody dares to go against him.

“Ayan, get the car out of the garage. We will leave after half an hour.”

Aditya says curtly and is about to go upstairs when Ayan says,

“Sir, Nandana is sleeping…Dr said that it is necessary to take a rest for her…I mean would it be safe for her to travel in the car right now?”

Aditya halts for a moment and turns to come near to Ayan. His penetrating eyes dry Ayan’s throat.

“Ayan, you have been working with me for the last 3 years…isn’t it?”

Aditya’s voice is arctic. Ayan can only nod in positive.

“So, you must know that I don’t allow people to speak without my permission. So, speak only when I permit you…take out the car and call Dr Nikhanj and tell him to visit my home now.”

He commands and looks through Ayan’s eyes.

“That’s it…move…”

He ends and approaches the staircase.

..........................

“Aditya, do you even know what are you asking me to do? This is utterly against the ethics of the profession of a doctor. I am supposed to treat her for a healthy recovery and you are telling me that I have to treat her in such a way that she can never gain her memory? Have you lost it?”

Dr Kamalesh Nikhanj raises his pitch with an excoriation. Aditya and he are sitting in Aditya’s office room which is in his house only and he operates all his political works from here. Hearing this, Aditya gets up from his seat and goes to the nearby cupboard. He opens it and takes out a blue file kept inside. His face is emotionless but if notice his eyes are flickering thousands of emotions…obsession, vileness, insanity and shrewdness.

“Dr Nikhanj, if I am not wrong, your elder daughter has got a scholarship for her higher study in the U.S.A…right?”

Aditya again occupies his seat. His tone is normal yet Dr has sweat beads on his forehead. He slowly nods in positive.

“Poor she... must be thinking that she achieved this out of her merit. She couldn’t even imagine that her father Dr Kamalesh Nikhanj, the famous MD actually bought it at the price of his so-called ethics. How could she even know that last month her father signed a death certificate of a poor village girl showing that it’s a case of normal cardiac arrest? But in reality, it was a brutal murder after the gang rape done by 5 spoilt ruffian sons of 4 influential people. In return, they rewarded her father with this scholarship assurance. Now, if she comes to know about the bitter truth behind this happiness, will she be able to enjoy her achievement? Will she be able to respect her father who actually built the castle of her happiness on the grave of that unlucky girl who didn’t even get the justice?”

Aditya grinds out each and every word making Dr Nikhanj gradually lose all the blood from his ashen face. He brushes his sweaty face and curls his fingers with fright and helplessness.

“How…how..do…you know?... There is no proof of this. I…I didn’t do this because…because of any greed. They threatened me to kidnap my daughter and rape her just like that girl….I ..I….didn’t have any alternative. I didn’t want to but I had to….”

He chokes palming his face in frustration.

“Whatever the reason…you did it… by going against your ethics. And I have the proof which I am sure you won’t want me to show her.”

Aditya’s voice is as deep as an ocean but as dangerous as the roar of a tiger. He opens the file and places it in front of Dr Kamalesh. The Dr glances at it and realizes that it has every proof which can easily ruin his reputation and his happy family life. He bends his head…in defeat.

“What do you want?”

His voice is shallow. A triumphant smile creeps on Aditya’s lips.

“Good…that’s the point. I will forget about this file and you have to forget about your ethics. Give her such medicines that she can never remember her past…her name and her identity…erase her all memory…. Forever.”

Aditya’s perilous tone sends a chill to his bone marrow.

“And what if those medicines take a toll on her health?”

Dr Nikhanj tries for the last time.

“I don’t care…I only know that from now she is Nandita…my fiancée…she has lost her memory in an accident. She doesn’t have anyone except me in her life. Her day will start from my name and the night will end with my name…I will make a new life for her… a new identity and you will help me in this…”

Aditya leans forward a bit and announces curtly. Dr Nikhanj sighs in despair and bobs.

“One more thing…if she asks anything about my family…you will say that you don’t know. She shouldn’t know anything about my past or me. She will know exactly which I will tell her…..got it? Now, check her and start your treatment…Ooops!...I mean show off treatment.”

Both come out of the office room and head to the bedroom where Nandana is still sleeping. Suddenly Dr Nikhanj says in a pitiful voice,

“I hope someday you will contrite for your deeds but I am afraid…it might be too late to mend.”