17th September

She had always preferred rose scented incense sticks than sandalwood ones.

The fragrance of rose is much lighter and lively than that of sandalwood. Sandalwood's fragrance has that heaviness in them. It's like a serious kind of serenity which in fact, is uncomfortable to her.

And she would always prefer to stay away from anything serious and stifling. In fact, that was one of the major reasons why she opted for an unlikely career choice than most others. She never felt comfortable with a thick and staid ambience. True, sometimes it was important to deal with a no-nonsense solemn situation and those were those times when she fretted the most.

Her mother disliked the idea and sometimes tended to go too far while scolding her. Even at times, she often asked her to move out of the house and her justification against that would be something like, she was fed up of bearing the burden of family obligations.

Shreya had to turn a deaf ear whenever matters stretched to such an extent. Nowadays, which was happening often as now that she had already graduated. Trishna, her mother, now wanted her to do something to help her in the family responsibilities.

When Shreya took admission in the course of Special Needs Caregiver, Trishna was furious with her decision. She wanted her to take some job-oriented courses in marketing or finance. But when she denied, life turned even more struggling for her. Trishna turned harsher with her words and as usual, Dibyendu never refrained his wife.

In one word, her family was dysfunctional. Apparently, they were the example of a small and happy family. However, the reality was, they were anything but that. She hadn't seen her father doing much in providing financial support to their family. It had always been Trishna and excessive pressure had made her aggressive.

Her father Dibyendu, if anything, never questioned Trishna's decisions. Be it about house chores, or any big decision like relocating to Guwahati.

Shreya, didn't like this decision taken by her parents lately. The point is, even if there's a chance of getting a job in Kolkata, she wasn't very positive of the same in Guwahati. Quite obviously, not many special needs schools were out there and if she wanted to pursue her career in that same field, she realized she must at least start here.

She graduated last June and still got no luck in finding a suitable and an almost satisfying job.

Many of her friends went for either an engineering degree or business management and had already bagged high paying jobs. And, that was where Trishna was furious with her. According to her, what good your intentions were if they couldn't even make you money? Shreya, however was positive, she'd find something satisfying that'd fulfil her dream of helping. Of making a difference.

She reached for the Prasadam plate she had made with semolina, and offered it in front of the deity of Lord Jagannath, Balaram and Subhadra. Then offered her obeisance as well.

Trishna shouted aloud from the kitchen right then, "Shreya, be quick. I'll leave for office in ten minutes. What takes you ages to worship?"

"I'm coming," Shreya responded, equally loud, then muttered in a low voice, "Can't even do Puja in peace in this goddamn house."

She went to the dining area then claimed her usual seat beside the window which overlooked the street below. Trishna rushed out of the kitchen and set the bowl in her hand with a small thud, in front of Shreya. Dibyendu exited the bathroom and sat beside her, while Trishna fixed their plates.

The food was hot but didn't look palatable as Shreya grimaced staring at her plate.

Dibyendu, whereas, looked happy. He spooned through the food and took a mouthful right away. While Trishna hurriedly gobbled up her food paying no attention to either of them.

Shreya took hold of her spoon and was about to take a bite when Dibyendu suddenly inquired, "Shreya?"

Shreya looked up from her plate and glanced on her father, "Yeah?"

He took another mouthful then asked while chewing on it, "What are you planning to do now?"

The temperature dropped as she averted her eyes and looked at Trishna. She had already finished her food, and now was watching her closely. Their eyes met as Sreya lowered hers. Trishna being muted wasn't a good sign in the house. It was like the moment before a cyclone. Calm but dangerous.

"I-" she started but soon was interrupted by Trishna, "Planning to spend another useless day by sitting at home and surfing on the computer?"

Shreya's face flushed, "I'll find something today."

"You better do," Trishna snapped, "It's over a year and I cannot let it continue for another one."

Sreya's vision turned hazy with the brimming tears. But she blinked a few times to stop them from falling freely. She couldn't do that. Tears mean weakness. She couldn't fall weak. If she had chosen a work of field out of her liking, she would definitely make it work.

She couldn't give up and settle for a monotonous desk job. Despite the hard fight she might have to face on the way, she was determined to hold onto her decision. If she couldn't fight the battle at home, there was no chance she could stand against the world. And this hard truth hit her hard when she lost her dog. Jivaa.

Jivaa had been with her since she came out of high school. Dibyendu brought her home on her eighteenth birthday. And they became friends quickly. At times Jivaa used to be her only friend, only support she needed when down. Certainly she had other friends out there, but Jivaa was special to her.

It was the night of a cold December, the eve of Nabanna. Trishna and Dibyendu went to Shatiniketan to celebrate the festival with Trishna's office colleagues. Shreya was home with Jivaa, her four years old dog. Around eight in the evening Jivaa suddenly fell on the ground with a little woof. Shreya didn't know what was happening, but Jivaa's condition had scared her. She knew not where the vet's clinic was. Because, it was always Dibyendu who had the responsibility of taking Jivaa for check up and treatments.

Shreya didn't know what to do and the ignorance created panic in her. She called her parents, but the network wasn't available. She contacted a few of her friends and somehow Naveen knew about some vet. They hurriedly took Jivaa there, but her condition deteriorated in the meantime. Jivaa didn't make it and the loss had shattered Shreya to the core.

It didn't matter how small her world apparently was, it was big enough in reality. In fact it was vast and was nearly impossible for her to have full knowledge about it.

You cannot have knowledge in everything you relate or don't relate. Life is like an infinite space and you can have knowledge about only a tiny part of it. Just like your country which is part of a continent. And that again, is a part of this huge earth.

You can only choose a specific knowledge field, and gather information about it... throughout your whole life. That's how it works. Simple but wearing way.

Trishna called her out of her trance as she collected Dibyendu and her own plates. "Finish your food quickly, Sreya. And get to work. I've given you enough time." Trishna emphasized on the last sentence standing at the kitchen doorway and threw a pointed gaze at her.

"I understand," Shreya muttered.

"Good."

She watched as both of her parents left the house. She quickly turned her focus toward the window, on the street below and watched them reappear and exit the compound.

She heaved a sigh, then finished her food in silence. After that, she went to her room and sat down quietly with her laptop. Something needed to work out soon. She couldn't go on like this forever.

She opened her laptop then connected it to the internet. As soon as she did, an email window popped up on the screen. It was from her friend Ashwin. He was a nurse at Deshbandhu Hospital.

Shreya quickly opened the mail and read it in a single breath.

It read, Hi, Sreya. I have talked to Dr. Suniti. She might do something for you. But for that you need to come to the hospital and meet her. Come as early as possible.

Ashwin.

A ray of sunshine crossed her mind. She felt somewhat relieved reading his reply.

Sreya immediately got up and went to change. This should work out today. She had practically no time left and if this didn't work then she'd have to do whatever Trishna would want her to do.

~~~

The air inside the hospital was heavy with medicinal and disinfectant scent. Sreya walked in and went straight to the receptionist's desk. The lady was short and petite. She asked her about Ashwin and she asked Sreya to wait for a few minutes. Sreya sat down on the nearest bench and started scrolling through her phone.

Suddenly a painful wail snapped her attention in that direction. She hurriedly got up and went ahead to see what happened. A woman around thirty was crying bitterly standing beside the ambulance while the wardboys took out the stretcher from the ambulance. And the view was so horrible. A kid was lying in the stretcher unconscious. His head had received a serious injury as blood was spilling out all over soaking his dress and the stretcher. The woman jumped at the kid while a man held her strongly and stopped her from going near the patient. It was evidently an emergency case. They took the kid hurriedly to the emergency ward which was when Ashwin came out and caught a hold of Shreya's hand pulling her to the side.

He hurriedly said, "Shreya, you have to wait a little more. I am going to the emergency section to attain the patient that has just come. He's a relative of a renowned businessman. so, you can see how critical this case is." His eyes did a quick scrutiny of the surrounding when he said that.

Shreya nodded her understanding, "Okay. But if you can refer me to Dr. Suniti, I can go meet her myself. Would that be alright?"

"No no. I'll take you myself. Besides, she's gone for the round in the maternity section. You wait for me."

"Can I come with you to the emergency section?"

"What will you do there?"

"I saw the kid. He's not in a good condition. It has me worried. Both for him and his mother." She said genuinely.

He gave her request a deliberate thought then said, "Okay. But don't interfere with the hospital staffs' way."

She nodded her consent as they rushed to the emergency ward.

This building was different from the main hospital wing in so many different ways.

Accident patients were being treated one after another by the orthopaedics team while the cardiac patients were immediately taken cared by the cardiology department.

Shreya carefully eyed around the place and noticed the woman weeping beside the operation theater. Shreya's heart squeezed inside her chest watching her like that. Ashwin quickly went ahead and entered the room subsequent to the OT. A minute later he appeared in an OT dress and after him another person emerged. He already had a surgical mask on. Shreya realized he was the doctor. Both of them hurriedly entered the OT and the red light above lit indicating the operation had started.

Shreya's eyes fell on the woman who was now sitting while the man was patting on her back. Shreya went ahead and quietly sat beside them.

The man exchanged a quick glance with her before going back to giving the crestfallen mother some solace.

Shreya quietly asked, "Your son?"

The man shook his head and gestured to the crying lady, "Her."

"How did that happen?"

"It was an accident." The man gazed at her way.

"He fell?"

The man blinked, then he answered hesitatingly, "No. He...has some medical issues..." he stopped abruptly as the mother of the child swept her lashes up at Shreya's way. She was clearly aggravated by her unnecessary curiosity. She wasn't liking her nosiness.

Shreya immediately apologized. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry."

The mother looked away while her tears continued streaming down.

Shreya didn't know how long the operation would last but anyway, she had to wait for Ashwin. So, she sat there quietly waiting for the operation to get over.

After another fifteen minutes or so, three men came through the corridor and stood right in front of the operation theater.

The lady who was sitting beside her glanced at their way and hurriedly ran towards them. The man also followed her.

She cried out in agony, "Dev... Dev's condition is not good. I don't know why it happened. He was alright all morning. I can't see him like that... Man-" she was stopped abruptly by one of the men, who held up a hand at her to stop her.

The woman wiped away her tears which weren't stopping themselves by any means. Then she sniffled and fell silent.

Shreya could not see the men's faces from where she sat as they were facing the opposite side. Sreya noticed all three of them were about six feet tall. One of them was pretty muscly. One had a briefcase in his hand. But the person who interested her more was the one the mother was speaking to. He was wearing a fitting silver colored waistcoat with the same colored trousers and a white shirt and formal shoes. His appearance alone was telling he was some kind of eminent personality.

He spoke to the man with the mother instead. His voice was even and gravelly deep. "Any updates?"

The man answered, "Not yet. The operation started twenty minutes ago."

"Has Vikash Uncle been informed?"

The other person shook his head while this person continued, "No need to tell them yet. Rishi, take care of Didiya. I will see the rest," he said and was about to leave when Rishi interrupted, "But AR, Tiyasha needs you more than me right now."

"My presence here won't change anything. But, my presence somewhere else can make a big difference. I expect you to get my point straight," he blurted evenly, then focused a last glance at the miserable mother before turning away and leaving the place.

Shreya caught a quick glimpse of him and which made her heart experience a sudden drop unknowingly.

The man wore a pair of rimless rectangular spectacles, his high cheekbones, long crooked nose, and a skin tone of medium tan... everything had distinctly faded against his eyebrows, whose left one had a cut across splitting it in two portions.

He walked away with his companions and there the light of OT went off.