PART 29
When Ram returned home in the evening his mood was completely off. He
seemed sad and helpless. When Ram refused to eat Priya brought his food to the
room but he had already fallen asleep. She knew something was wrong and she
feared if something bad had come up on the reports! She began to worry... Priya walked towards the intercom to call Bansi Kaka to take the food
downstairs when her eyes fell on a folder, entitled "Ram Kapoor". She
walked towards the desk where the folder was placed and picked it up. It was
stamped the city hospital with today's date on it. This was Ram's report. With
the report still in her hands and her heart racing she looked over at Ram who
was still fast asleep. The fear of what's in the report made her throat dry;
she swallowed with great difficulty and opened the folder slowly. She read the
report, in complete shock; she looked back at Ram lying on the bed with tears
in her eyes. Dropping the report on the desk, she walked towards him, bent down
and ran her fingers through his thick hair and kissed him on the forehead. She
stood up straight, still looking at him; wiped her tears of joy and thanked god
that everything in the report was normal. But she was not completely satisfied
because something was bugging Ram. It is unlike him to come home, refuse to
eat, refuse to talk and go straight to bed. She decided that first thing
tomorrow morning she would ask him what was wrong. But for now, she called
Bansi Kaka to take the food downstairs and then went to freshen up. Ram opened
his eyes when he heard the washroom door close; he looked at the reports on the
desk with teary eyes. He shut his eyes tight when he heard the washroom door
open and pretended to be fast asleep when Priya crawled into bed. As much as it
was killing him, he had to do this. Priya turned off the light on the bedside
table and cuddled close to Ram, who had his back facing to Priya, and wrapped
her arm around him.
The sunrays brushed Priya's face as she woke up by the sound of the
alarm on her phone. She reached for her phone frantically to turn it off,
worried that it might disturb Ram's sleep. When she opened her eyes more, she
noticed that Ram was not next to her. Hurriedly, she sat up in bed checking the
time on her phone, which read 7:00am. Surely, it was too early for Ram to go to
the office and if he did than why didn't he wake her up. She called for him but
there was no answer.
Priya: BANSI KAKA
Bansi Kaka: ji Madame
Priya: Ram kahan hai? (she hated having to ask bansi kaka about
Ram's whereabouts. Their relationship had evolved past that now and she is
burning up inside with anger)
Bansi: Sir left early for work.
Priya: Okay thanks. You can go now! (Bansi left)
She picked up her phone angrily and dialed Ram's number but than
stopped.
Priya: why should I call him? He doesn't even tell me that he is leaving
early. What does he think of himself (she is marching back and forth in her
room fuming with rage) Just wait 'til he gets home, I won't talk to him.
Then she remembered how Ram seemed stressed out yesterday and wondered
whether this tension was related to his work since his health report was
completely normal. With that thought in mind she does not allow her anger to
get the better of her. She calls Ram. The phone constantly rings and than goes
to voicemail. Now she is worried. She calls the office phone and Jenny answers.
Jenny: Kapoor Industries, Jenny speaking how may I help you?
Priya: Jenny it's me Priya… Priya Ram Kapoor! Is Ram there, I have tried
calling his cell maybe he is in a meeting or something.
Jenny: Hi M'am. Sir has not come into the office yet.
Priya: (confused) But he left for the office a while ago.
Jenny: Sorry M'am he has not reached yet. (she opens his schedule on the
computer and checks when he is supposed to come into the office) Mrs. Kapoor,
Sir will probably not come to the office until 11am, that's when his first
meeting is.
Priya: how can that be, is there anything on his schedule for earlier.
Jenny: no M'am…ooh sorry Mrs. Kapoor, Sir has an appointment for 8am
with Dr. Raj at the City Hospital for 8am, maybe he is there.
Priya: no that must be a mistake Jenny. Check again. He had an appointment
yesterday.
Jenny: Yes M'am but he had a follow up scheduled for today.
Jenny's words are echoing in Priya's ears. A follow up, she thought. But
his reports were normal. She read the reports again for re-assurance. She hangs
up the phone and gets ready to leave. Priya tells dadi that she is leaving for
some urgent work at her coaching classes. She does not want them to worry until
she is 100% sure about what was going on.
Priya reached the hospital a bit late due to traffic. She was notified
by the receptionist that Ram had already left. Priya insisted on meeting Dr.
Raj and she was adamant that she would not leave until she got a chance too.
The receptionist told her that she had to make an appointment but Priya was
creating a scene. The question was about Ram's health and well-being so she was
not going down without a fight. Dr. Raj came out of his office hearing all the
commotion and Priya introduced herself. She asked, "Is my husband
okay?" Dr. Raj sighed and told the receptionist that it was okay if Priya
came in. Priya followed Dr. Raj into his office and sat down.
When Ram reached his office Jenny briefed him on his schedule and all
his meetings for the day.
Jenny: (she was about to leave his office when she remembered) Sir, Mrs.
Kapoor had called in the morning asking for you. She tried to reach your cell
but was unable to get through. I told her that you had a doctors' appointment
at the city hospital with Dr. Raj @ 8am.
Ram: What?? Why did you tell her?
Jenny: Sorry Sir, I did not know that you didn't want her to know.
Ram: just go from here. (jenny left a bit scared that she might lose her
job if her telling Priya about the doctors appointment leads to an unforeseen
consequence)
Ram looks at his phone and sure enough there was a missed call from
Priya. He called her back a bit nervous. He thought, "what will I tell her
when she asks me about the doctors appointment? He finally decides to
tell her the truth, after all she has the right to know". Priya's phone
keeps ringing and than goes to voicemail.
Ram: Yeh Priya bhi na. Never answers her phone. I hope she is not too
worried thinking about the doctor's appointment.
He calls the home phone at the KM and Bansi Kaka picks up.
Bansi Kaka: Kapoor Residence
Ram: Where is Priya?
Bansi: Priya M'am has left for her coaching classes.
Ram: okay thanks!
Ram hangs up and tries Priya's cell phone again. But still the results
are the same. He assumes that she is too busy at her coaching classes and
decides not to disturb her. Besides it would be better to discuss face to face
with Priya when he tells her the truth. He sits in his chair with his eyes shut
tight.
Ram: Priya I did not want to tell you. I don't want you to be hurt or
worried in any way. But it's better if you hear it from me. I don't know what
will hurt you more finding out the truth from me or from someone else. But
atleast I can support you when you come to know about the truth. I love you
Priya, I am only trying to protect you…
The day was excruciatingly long for Ram, he just wanted to go home and
tell Priya the truth about his health.
When he reached home he called for Priya but instead was greeted by his
mom.
Ram: Mom, Priya kahan hai?
KK: Ram, she didn't tell you. After work she went straight to her house.
Ram: no she didn't (he gets a little irritated because she could have
atleast told him)
KK: (notices his chance in expression) Ram is everything okay between
you two?
Ram: Haan Ma, everything is fine (he lies to her). Priya is absolutely
fine. Mom, I will be back. I just remembered some urgent work. (he leaves)
KK : Ram… Ram… atleast eat something first. (but it was too late as he
had already left)
AK: kya hua Krishna? Why are you yelling?
KK: Ram just came, was looking for Priya, I told him that she went to
her house and he left saying that he has urgent work. My heart is telling me
that something is wrong.
AK: (turns KK towards him) No Krishna. Everything is fine, don't say
such things. (he hugs her to calm her down but he also feels that
something is wrong)
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