“Right now, I am almost running along the hospital corridor holding Mini against my palpitating chest. The poor soul even forgets to cry sensing the restlessness of her mother. Rishi’s hand is tightly gripped by me as he was adamant to escort me when he overheard my convo with Ayan on the phone. I know how much he is attached to Aditya and the news of his accident is definitely shocking for him. When someone called me from Aditya’s phone, I was anticipating him as some employee of Aditya’s company. I thought Aditya told someone to inform me about something. We had a bad word last night and he is an expert to show his ignorance. However, the caller informed me about Aditya’s accident. But before I tried to know more details about it, he cut the call telling the hospital name. As usual, I immediately called Ayan and came to know that he doesn’t have any idea where Aditya is. In fact, he didn’t even know that Aditya left early in the morning. Strange! Where have you been, Aditya? But right now, the more important question is how are you, Aditya and what happened to you? I nearly bang to the reception desk and spurt out.”

“Aditya Oberoi. Accident case. Where is he? How is he? Nothing serious, right?”

Nandana demands in one go. For a moment, the receptionist girl keeps on staring at her and then some movement gets visible in her body.

“A..ditya..Oberoi. Wait, let me check. By the way, you are..?”

She enquires without moving her eyes from the laptop screen.

“Wife. I am his wife, Nandana Oberoi. Can you please make it fast?”

Nandana requests while tapping Mini’s back to pacify her agility.

“But there is no one admitted here by this name. Are you sure about the hospital’s name? Because there is only one person admitted here this morning. It was a severe accident case. The car has been blown by explosives. The victim was almost dead when he was brought here. We tried our best but…”

The girl sounds despondent. Nandana staggers and steps back to control her momentary blackout. The receptionist immediately gets up from her seat and cries,

“Ma’am, are you alright? Ma’am!”

Nandana was about to respond when Rishi frees his hand with a jerk and rushes in his left direction. Nandana can hear his cry,

“Adi…Bro…Adi…”

Nandana instantly turns in that direction and the sight hitches her breath. Aditya is coming out of a cabin having a sling on his left hand. He is discussing something with a doctor when Rishi’s cry grabs his attention. Rishi almost jumps on him and shackles him in a bone-crushing hug. Nandana is still moored in her place. Her limbs are too numb to even move her forward.

“Oh…he is the guy who got that accident victim here. He also had some minor injuries but now he is fine. Were you looking for him?”

The receptionist asks eagerly. Nandana nods at her words and without looking back, saunters to Aditya. Until then, he successfully pacified Rishi.

“No worry, Mr Oberoi. There are no major wounds. Just take care of your hand. It got a sprain. Ummmm…but I am not sure about your shoulder. After the x-ray report, it will be cleared whether you have any muscle tear or not. I will advise you accordingly.”

The doctor says in a composed tone. Nandana reaches them at a tiring pace. Rishi tries to express his excitement,

“Nandu Di…Adi…Bro…fine…”

Aditya’s eyes meet Nandana’s panic-stricken ones. In the blink of an eye, Nandana roams her ardent eyes on his whole body. Apart from the hand sling, Aditya has a sticking plaster on his right temple. Some scratches and bruises are visible on his arms. Fingertips have blood stains too. The white shirt is blemished with many mud spots. Mini withdraws her face from Nandana’s chest and turns at Aditya. The sight instantly brings a toothless smile to her face. She stretches her tiny hands to her father making an adorable purring sound. Aditya nears them with a big smile and takes Mini from Nandana’s lap.

“My family. My wife. My daughter and my brother-in-law.”

He gives a brief introduction. The doctor nods at Nandana and takes their leave after some formal greetings.

“How did it happen? Why did you go without telling me?”

Nandana’s tone is laced with petulance. Aditya arches his brow at her while Nandana squints her eyes more. Right at that time, Ayan steps in and after looking here and there locates them. He rushes at them.

“Sir…what happened? How? I mean, I didn’t have any idea.”

He sounds hell confused yet relaxed to see Aditya in front of him.

“My car was stolen. The man who died in that explosion might be the thief. He just stole it by a whisker. But unfortunately, it exploded around 10-15 meters away from me when he was trying to whiz past.”

Aditya squares his shoulder a bit and distorts his face in pain. Nandana gulps to control her emotions.

“But where is your phone? Somebody called me from your number and informed me about this accident.”

Nandana’s words instantly form lines on Aditya’s forehead. He gives Mini to Nandana and searches his pocket with his right hand.

“SHIT! I might lose it when I got thrashed on the ground.”

He sounds exasperated.

“But Sir, why did your car explode? That means somebody kept an explosive inside the car. And whoever did this, his target was…”

Aditya finishes Ayan’s line,

“Me…no second thought about it. Fortunately, that thief saved my life.”

For a moment, Nandana’s heart comes to her mouth. Instinctively, she dashes on Aditya’s chest. Ayan immediately turns his face in another direction. Although he is like a family member, he knows his boundaries. Aditya lightly places his palm on Nandana’s back and asks Ayan in a stern voice,

“Track my number and inform me. If the police investigate then say that it was stolen 2 days back. They shouldn’t know my today’s location. Tell the hospital authority to strike out my name from the attendant list. I didn’t come here. Nor I admitted that person. Clear?”

He demands in a determined tone and Ayan nods.

“Good…I will see you in the office. Come Rishu.”

Aditya frees himself from Nandana’s embrace and heads to the exit grabbing Rishi’s wrist in his tight hold.

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

5 days have passed. Ayan tracked Aditya’s mobile and found it near the blast spot. However, he didn’t find out who called Nandana from that number. The police didn’t come to Aditya for further investigation. Nor they have found out who kept that explosive in the car. However, the identity of that thief got disclosed. He was nothing but a petty car stealer. But this time his greed stole his life. Aditya’s x-ray report showed that he has 2 muscles torn in his shoulder. Because of that, the doctor has advised him to take rest at home. No movement of the left hand and no sitting for a long period. It’s around 1 pm. Nandana enters the bedroom after feeding Adirah and makes her sleep. Rishi was with Aditya a minute before but now he has left to take some rest. Aditya is sitting on the bed placing two pillows behind his back and working on his laptop. Nandana’s eyes fall on him and her jaws get hard. He hadn’t bathed since the accident happened. Nor was he shaved. Right now, he is looking like a mess. Fucked up hair and stubbled face.

“How long will this continue?”

Aditya stares up to see Nandana who is standing near him crossing her arms. Her brows are scrunched and her lips are pursed. Aditya frowns quizzically.

“I am talking about this get-up of yours. How long will you continue this beggar look?”

Nandana again asks. Her tone is equally piqued. Aditya controls his amusement. Since this incident happened, he has been purposely avoiding Nandana just to show that he is still upset with her. On the other hand, it is making Nandana more irritated. Aditya again concentrates on his laptop and retorts casually,

“Till my hand gets healed. Doctors forbade me to move it.”

“But he didn’t forbid you to shave or bathe.”

Nandana sounds more exasperated. Aditya answers without lifting his face,

“I am a lefty, you know that. It’s not possible to do this with one hand. If you are so concerned then help me. No…in fact, leave it. Otherwise, you will tell me that I am tricking you to get close. You know I always seek chances to touch you. So, I will manage.”

Nandana feels the mockery in his tone. Her ears turn hot and red.

“What does he think of himself?”

Her mind grunts. She abruptly pushes the laptop flap and closes it with a thud sound.

“Get up! I can give you that chance but this horrible look is unbearable.”

She mouths sternly. Their eyes remain locked for a while then Aditya keeps the laptop aside to get down from the bed.

“Okay, if you insist!”

He utters in a husky voice without breaking the eye contact. It has an explicit challenge that gives a tremor to Nandana’s body. She ties her long hair in a bun and heads to the bathroom. Aditya keeps on looking at her. A smirk peeps on his lips.