“I feel a stinging sensation on my head. It’s burning like hell…Ahhhh…I let out a wail… Some unclear, hushed words penetrate my ears…I stir a bit…But there is only pain…my head, my limbs, my sides are contorting.”

“Why is she still unconscious? It’s been approximately 12 hours now.”

Aditya asks in a baritone voice.

“She is under strong sedative but I hope she will gain her consciousness soon.”

Dr Nikhanj assures. He sticks the cotton on her wound and bandages it neatly. Only then, Nandana opens her eyes slowly. Her eyeballs move side to side trying to adjust the light coming from the glass window pane. Aditya observes it and closes the curtains. It helps and Nandana unfurls her eyes properly.

“Get her some hot milk. It will help her to regain energy. I will come tomorrow and check her again. Until then, follow the instructions and give her the medicines from time to time.”

Dr Nikhanj gets up. Aditya looks at his eyes and sends the message of what he has to do actually. The Dr nods and leaves for the day. Meanwhile, Nandana somehow manages to sit and reclines on the bed rest. She is feeling weak but she has to know some answers. Aditya finds the queries in her eyes too and even he wants to make the cock and bull story stronger and believable.

“And this is the right time. Mould this clay into your desired shape.”

His evil mind instructs. Aditya comes nearer and sits on the chair kept beside the bed.

“I know, you have so many questions in your mind…and I am here to answer those…but I have a request…please don’t stress yourself. It is not good for your health and I can’t compromise with my love, my would-be wife’s health…”

Aditya deepens his voice and pats himself in mind for this brilliant performance. Nandana gazes at him for a while and asks in a shallow tone,

“Where are my parents? This is your house. Where is mine?…and most importantly, what is your name?…Oh God, I can’t even remember the basic things of my life.”

She grimaces and closes her eyes in frustration. Aditya inches closer to Nandana and places his hand on her head. A soothing feeling passes through his body. He frowns unmindfully but shoves the thought away.

“Nandita,…ummm…you are an orphan just like me. We met at a public gathering of my voting campaign and after that, we became close. I suggested you move together and you agreed as till then we decided to settle our life as husband and wife. My name is Aditya…Aditya Oberoi and you are Nandita…Nandita Basu. This much information is enough for now because the rest is not so important. The main thing is that we are committed and engaged. You love me and I love you and I think that is enough for our future.”

Aditya puts his words rhetorically in every right place and arranges the puzzle as he wanted. Nandana tries to ask something further but Aditya raises both hands and gestures to stop.

“No more questions. It’s time to have food. I ask the cook to make something for you. Tell me what do you want to have?”

Aditya says in a light tone. Nandana smiles and replies disinterestedly,

“I am not hungry…whatever you like…I will have.”

Aditya smilingly nods. He feels content to see that Nandana surrenders her choices to him. Gradually, he will control her everything, whether it is her likes or dislikes. Aditya leaves the room. He has to instruct the servants about everything so that Nandana doesn’t have any doubt about his cooked-up story.

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

Nandana sighs and sits straight. A sharp pang feels in her head. She feels queasy but simultaneously feels the urge to release her pressure. She carefully gets down from the bed and scuffles towards the bathroom. After freshening up, she turns on the tap, trying to wash her hands. Suddenly her reflection in the basin mirror grabs her attention. She gazes at her swollen face.

“Nandita…It’s my name..(A bitter smile appears on her lips)...My life has become a blank paper. He is my lover…my fiancé. But why can’t I feel the connection.”

She mumbles as she is questioning her image. She looks around and observes every corner of the bathroom.

“Why does this place seem completely unknown to me?”

She murmurs again and brushes her arms by folding them.

“His touch…it’s soothing but it’s totally unfamiliar to me. Why?... Why does my life become a big question mark?”

This time her voice raises a bit. She again looks at her exhausted reflection. A nauseous feeling surges from her stomach to the throat. She throws out some sour water into the basin. Her body palpitates with the sour-bitter taste. Suddenly the surrounding is shutting down. She feels darkness consuming her slowly and her limbs start collapsing. Before losing the sense completely, Nandana feels two strong arms hold her loose body and pick it up like a feather.

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

After instructing everything to the servants and other house helps and the butler to make some non-spicy healthy meal for Nandana, Aditya comes upstairs to his bedroom. He enters but becomes a bit surprised to see the empty room. Right then a faint sound of water dripping catches his sense of hearing. He furrows his brows.

“She must be in the washroom. But she is feeble right now. What if she faints? My conscience doubts. But how can I go inside? It’s indecent. From when did you start thinking about decency? She is your fiancée…you have right on her. My mind reminds me.”

After a brief battle between yes and no inside his confused mind, he decides to enter and thanks to his decision. Aditya immediately holds Nandana’s collapsed body and carries her to the bed. He places her softly on it. Her eyes are closed. A few droplets of water are adorning her seraphic face. His face is an inch apart from her pouty lips. Her warm breath is brushing his skin. He feels an immense urge to touch those pink petals. He leans forward and is about to fuse his ardent lips to hers when a soft mumble makes him halt.

“You are…a very good person Aditya…I can’t remember you…But…I..I…will try to…love you…thank you…for..everything…your eyes…are so deep…they need love…I promise…I will make them…shine….”

Aditya withdraws himself with a jerk. For a moment, he gazes at her slack body and runs his tensed fingers through his hair. Slowly he walks towards the cupboard and takes out some clothes. He places it on the bed and again glances at Nandana. The next moment, he comes out of the room and calls one of the house helps. A lady around 45 yrs immediately comes in front of his eyes.

“Change her clothes and give her a sponge bath. Give her food and the medicine kept on the side table. I am going outside. Make it sure that she can’t come out of the room.”

Aditya says curtly and leaves. He needs some fresh air to quell his restless mind.

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

Jaya Basu is sitting on the floor. Her eyes are bleak. She is mechanically feeding Rishi, seems that she is just doing her duty.

“But Officer, it’s been more than fourteen hours my daughter is missing and you are saying that you are trying. I gave you the details of the car too. Why don’t you try to trace that car?”

Vivek Basu can’t keep his patience. He almost bursts out on the phone. The reply can’t be heard but Mr Basu continued with the same pitch,

“What do you mean by 24 hours? Do you want me to wait for 24 hours so that they can slaughter my daughter in pieces and we have nothing to do?”

His attention diverts by the wail coming out of his wife’s mouth. He thuds down the receiver and turns to her.

“Your cry won’t bring her back Jaya. Police are doing their job and I promise you…I won’t sit quietly until I bring back my angel.”

His words get interrupted by Manvi who storms in.

“Papa, whatever you say…there was Di’s fault too. Who said her to work so late in school and if she was getting late, couldn’t she wait for you? That road is so deserted and full of ruffian elements. I can’t even think of going there in broad daylight. How can she take this so casually?”

Vivek glares at his younger daughter and spits out,

“Because she is doing her job there and she couldn’t defy her HM’s order. She had to take it casually because you are casual about the financial situation of our family. Care to explain, how will you fulfil your hobbies and expenditure if your Di doesn’t bear it? She is to face those hurdles because she is to bear our burdens.”

Vivek’s bitter words can’t simmer down Manvi’s complaints. She replies with the same venom,

“She is bearing your burden Papa…not mine. If you had been capable enough to bear the burden then I wouldn’t have had any complaint.”

Manvi’s words hit Vivek straight to his heart. He staggers a bit and sits on the chair with a thud. Jaya widens her eyes seeing his husband’s condition and rushes to Manvi. In the next moment, Manvi feels a very sharp sting on her face.

“Just shut up…how dare you talk to your Papa like this?...You…”

Her pitch gets interrupted by a voice,

“Vivek, are you there?....”