Episode 68

In the visiting room of the private clinic closest to the college, Baldev Kochar calmly countered the anger-distorted features of the vice principal.

“You can’t be serious about this! Prithvi has to be punished!” Kamal Motwani stated wrathfully.

“If anyone has to be punished, it is Dhiren,” Kochar replied. “And Prithvi was kind enough to do the needful.”

Appalled, Motwani yelped, “Didn’t you hear what the doctor said? Dhiren will not be able to even sit up in his bed properly for three months. He hardly has any unbroken bones or unharmed flesh on his body. And Prithvi had the gall to summon you out of the auditorium during a performance to tell you exactly what he’d done, and you let him leave without so much as a reprimand. If Dhiren’s family learns about this, we’ll have to face terrible repercussions!”

“The repercussions will be incalculably worse if any action is taken against Prithvi,” Kochar said mulishly.

“You do remember that Dhiren’s father has been very generous during all our fund raising initiatives and his uncle is a politician!”

“Which is why I’ve overlooked several complaints about that hoodlum for the past four years.  But times have changed. Dhiren’s family business has been tottering for a while, and his uncle is merely an MLA….who is facing an interrogation in a major scam. Prithvi, on the other hand, has….Have I told you about his father, Adityaraj?” Kochar asked abruptly.

“I know he was a powerful personality, but that was two decades ago,” Motwani said dismissively. “And I also know he belonged to a royal family but that kind of background doesn’t hold any importance these days!”

Kochar laughed grimly. “Not in this case. Adityaraj died twenty years ago but his closest friends have never stopped looking out for Prithvi. I don’t think the young man even knows it, but they are like his personal guard. They got in touch with me when he joined the institution, just to make sure he is treated well. Do you want to know the positions they hold? Two are cabinet ministers, another is counted amongst the richest businessmen in the country, one is a Judge who is shortly going to be promoted to the Supreme Court according to news reports, and yet another is a police commissioner. Would you rather get on their bad side?”

Flabbergasted, Motwani stared at the principal.

Seeing that his point had gotten across, Kochar firmly said, “We’ll talk to Dhiren’s family. If they create a ruckus, they’ll be informed about his misdeeds and the seriousness of the criminal charges that he could face. Then we’ll have to stop the girl from going to the police,” Kochar contemplated. “This issue has to get sorted without any legal hassles.”

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Despite the quiet and solitude of Vrinda’s home, sleep had eluded Nandini for most part of the night. Horrible nightmares had sent her bolt upright in bed several times, sweating and trembling. She’d called up Sumer Singh frequently until daybreak, needing to reassure herself that Prithvi was fine.

Dawn had come as a blessing. But before leaving for the hospital, she had called up her family. She had tried to steel herself before dialling the number, but the first sound of her mother’s voice had made her want to break down. The story had come out in choked, almost incoherent, mumbles. But from the horrified reaction on the opposite end, Nandini knew her mother had understood the gist. She hadn’t intended to talk about the incident with Dhiren, but the harrowing account had tumbled out eventually.

Towards the end of the conversation, her mother had started crying along with her, unable to handle the knowledge that her daughter had escaped horrific assaults twice during the day, and the person who had saved her on both occasions was injured so badly that he had to undergo surgery. Her mother had been too shaken to demand explanations for the delay in being informed. Nandini knew there would be many questions once the shock had reduced. Yet, she had kept the phone with a heart that was slightly lighter, feeling immensely comforted by the knowledge that she would be able to see her family within a few hours. She would deal with the questions as and when they arose.

The conversation had also made her realise that Sumer Singh didn’t know about Dhiren too. The truth could come out very soon, and Sumer Singh’s support and wisdom would be crucial to deal with the fallout.

Though it now seemed like an unwise decision. Sumer Singh had been only slightly less outraged than Prithvi. Far from worrying about his nephew’s involvement, he had fully supported Prithvi’s actions and furiously declared that he would make sure Dhiren was thrown into prison for his crime. It had taken considerable effort to calm him down.

Sumer Singh had then revealed contritely that Prithvi appeared to be furious with him and Sankatmochan. Despite being conscious for most part of the morning, he hadn’t spoken much to Sumer Singh. He had ignored Sankatmochan too, only breaking his silence to snap out an order to the plump man, asking him to stop moping around and to go tend to his responsibilities at the temple

Nandini had listened to the rueful tale empathetically, inwardly aware that Prithvi wasn’t nearly as angry with them as he was with her. Then she had convinced Sumer Singh to go down to the cafeteria to eat breakfast, while she waited in the room with Prithvi.

It was relief to see that the oxygen mask had been removed, and only one tube was attached to Prithvi’s hand. She had sat by his bedside, watching him silently, occasionally keeping a soft hand over his brow or stroking his hair. Then a few minutes ago, she had noticed a few muted marks on the fair, powerful torso visible above the bandage and on the sculpted muscles of his upper arms.  

It took her a moment to realise that they were very old scars. Reminders of wounds that she intuitively sensed would have hurt terribly at the time they were inflicted. Now they were nearly indistinguishable from the light tone of his skin. But to her eyes they were still glistening nastily, reinforcing the brutality of his past.

She traced the marks with unsteady fingers. How could anyone have hurt him like this…how much cruelty had he borne at a tender age…

At the sound of the door swinging open, Nandini withdrew her hand and stood up, brushing away the tears.

“He’s still sleeping? That’s good,” Sumer Singh said, walking into the room with a flask. “You should go downstairs and have your breakfast.”

When Nandini began to demur, he wryly said, “Trust me, you will need your strength if we have to deal with Prithvi. He just hates hospitals. Hates being confined to a sick bed. I don’t know how we’re going to deal with him for 10 days. And the medicines are being given intravenously at present, but he’ll have to take tablets -”

He stopped as they perceived a faint movement in the person on the bed.

Nandini almost smiled at the blazing aggression in the gaze fixed on her. And when Prithvi spoke, the hostility reached out to grab her by the throat…

“Get out,” he commanded icily.

Aghast, Sumer Singh quickly glanced from him to Nandini. But she was staring back at Prithvi just as coldly, and then she turned and walked out of the room without a word.

“Nandini, wait,” Sumer Singh said hurriedly, not daring to look at Prithvi as he followed her into the corridor.

As she halted and spun, he hastily said, “I didn’t think he would angry with you as well. He must be upset because you asked Indrajit for help. Please don’t take it seriously. I’m sure he’ll calm down soon.”

But to his amazement, she grinned. “You know as well as I do that he’s not going to calm down soon,” she chuckled.  

“You’re not upset?” he asked warily.

“Not at all,” she assured him. “But since he doesn’t want to see me, I’ll sit outside for the rest of the day. If you need to buy medicines or call the nurses, you can tell me. I’ll do all of that,” she said firmly.

“But -”

“I know he’s not going to ask for me,” she continued hesitantly, “but in case he does, could you tell him I’ve gone home?”

Sumer Singh wavered with anxiety, realising that he was being dragged into a battle that he was ill-equipped for. He couldn’t antagonise Prithvi, but neither could he refuse the request of the girl who had become part of their family.

Earnestly hoping that the whole matter would be resolved by tomorrow, he sighed and nodded. Then he doubtfully asked, “You’re really not upset with him?”

“You needn’t worry about my feelings, uncle,” Nandini smiled, and inwardly mused, ‘You should worry about his….’

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Sumer Singh sat up on the bed adjoining the wall, feeling infinitely refreshed after the long snooze. Post the hectic events of yesterday, his aging body had needed the respite. Today, however, Nandini had taken care of all the minor tasks, thus letting him rest adequately during the afternoon. A fretful Sankatmochan had also dropped in, but Prithvi’s snarled orders had sent him scurrying back to the temple.

He was a little concerned about tomorrow though. Uday Singh Rathod was coming to visit, and the day after that, Adityaraj’s friends would be here. The former had kept in touch since Prithvi’s last visit, but the latter group would be meeting him after ages. How would Prithvi react to them…

He looked worriedly at the patient’s bed.

Prithvi was staring in the direction of the door with eyes that were incensed enough to actually damage the structure. The prince had been doing that frequently since morning, Sumer Singh mulled amusedly.

Trying very hard to pretend ignorance, he asked, “Do you need anything, my lord?”

“The company of intelligent people would be nice,” Prithvi retorted cuttingly, instantly looking away from the door. “How long am I supposed to be stuck here?” he asked curtly.

 “Maybe around 10 days,” Sumer Singh said apprehensively.  

Briefly transferring a mocking gaze onto the elderly man, Prithvi grimly said, “Not unless I’m dead.”

Sumer Singh didn’t argue, having learnt from experience that it would be a losing battle. He quickly picked up a newspaper from the corner table and pretended to be immersed in the reports. But the silence only lasted for a minute.

“Where the **** is she?”

The extremely impatient and angry question had come hurtling at him from nowhere, but Sumer Singh felt unfazed as he glanced up. He was only surprised that Prithvi had restrained himself for so long. Even now, the question had clearly burst out against the boy’s will, as evident from Prithvi’s flushed features.

“You asked her to leave, so she went home,” Sumer Singh answered with all the sincerity he could muster.

The irate colour on Prithvi’s face darkened dangerously. “Just waiting for an excuse, was she?” he seethed under his breath, “Fine, she can go wherever she wants. Who the **** cares,” he muttered furiously. After an edgy moment, he ruthlessly demanded, “Have your men found that *********** yet?”

“No, he has gone completely underground. But I’m certain Vikrant will be located soon,” Sumer Singh assured sombrely.

“Remind them he should not be harmed,” Prithvi said casually. “After I kill him, they can work on the carcass.”

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Lolling against the wall near the hospital’s office, Rajiv fiddled with his phone, playing stupid games when he actually wanted to talk to his girlfriend and grumble about the day. But the king could call for him at any time and he didn’t want to be seen engrossed with the mobile. He looked up to verify that Rajyavardhan Singh was sitting huddled in the same spot in the lobby. Yes, he was….a veritable picture of gloom.

Rajiv desolately wished his father, Manohar, had not entrusted him with this work. He would never be able to live up to his family’s expectations. This was his first real assignment, and he was failing. An MBA degree had not prepared him for such situations. He was desperate to please the king but the day seemed destined to end in disappointment.

The man who had looked after Prithvi since childhood - Sumer Singh - had refused to let them even go near the room of the prince. Rajiv had gone upstairs first, hoping to return with success, but Sumer Singh had nearly ripped him apart for daring to set foot in the hospital. It had been humiliating for him, but he believed it was a positively mean refusal as far as the king was concerned.  Rajyavardhan Singh had every right to see his grandson.

Strangely, the old man hadn’t kicked up a fuss, which was highly unusual. He had simply said he wanted to sit in the lounge for a little more time before heading back home. Rajiv had stood next to him unsurely for a quarter of an hour, frequently enquiring if he required anything to drink or eat, before the king had barked at him to leave him alone for a while. Which is how he had ended up standing in this place, bored and upset.

A faint, lovely fragrance made him glance sideways. The door to the office had opened and a girl was coming out, clasping a receipt. She paused and gazed thoughtfully at a gaggle of nurses standing some feet away. He could only see part of her profile. Her hair was tied up casually in a large bun. Rajiv felt an idle curiosity to know how long the tresses would be if she left them loose…

Then she turned, and he instantly straightened.

While the girl was startlingly beautiful, it was the familiarity of the face that actually astounded him. This was an unexpected piece of luck!

“Excuse me!” he hurried after her, reminding himself hastily that he needed to be careful while talking because she knew very little about Prithvi’s background.

The girl swung around with a puzzled expression and Rajiv thought distractedly that those indistinct, secretly taken snaps hadn’t done any justice to her loveliness.

“You’re Nandini, aren’t you?” he asked excitedly, joining his hands in a respectful Namaste. “I’m Rajiv. My father had told me about you. He has been the minis – I mean, assistant to Prithvi’s grandfather, Rajyavardhan Singh, for decades. Can you help me? The ki- Prithvi’s grandfather wants to see him very badly. Just once. But Sumer Singh is refusing to let us meet him. I know he was a very devoted servant of Prithvi’s father and he has taken care of Prithvi for very long, but His Maj – Rajyavardhan Singh is Prithvi’s own grandfather….they are family! So please, if you could just talk to Sumer Singh and convince him, I’d be really grateful!”

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Shocked, Nandini looked at the young man who had rattled out so much information without a pause. She had come downstairs to give a cheque in the hospital’s administration office and also to look for the wonderful nurse who had comforted her so kindly yesterday. This ambush had caught her unawares.

Had he just said that Sumer Singh was the servant of Prithvi’s father? But she had always thought he was related to Prithvi on his mother’s side.

With some effort, Nandini beat down the angry bewilderment. She didn’t want to know. Not now. Not until Prithvi had recovered enough to bear the brunt. And how did this man know her? His father, whom she didn’t think she knew, had told him about her?

She strove to stop the churning in her head. He had said something else too….something equally astonishing but more urgent than the rest….

“Prithvi’s grandfather is here?” she asked, shaken. She had passed through the area but hadn’t noticed anyone in particular because the lobby was quite full of people as it was visiting hours at the hospital. And she was unsure if she wanted to see him at all.

“Yes. He’s very unwell but insisted on travelling all this way because he was so worried. I tried explaining that to Sumer Singh, but he almost tore my head off,” Rajiv grimaced.

Trying to get a grip on the situation, Nandini vaguely mused that a small mystery was solved. Around half an hour ago, she’d left her seat for a short while to speak with her mother, who was fortunately carrying an old mobile given by her aunt. Due to reasons her mother had not revealed, they had left for Shamli just a couple of hours ago and would reach home only by late evening or night. When Nandini had returned, it was to see Sumer Singh looking angry and flustered. He had asked about her family but brushed off her concerned questions about his state.  

She could fully understand his agitation now. And she concurred with his decision too. Sumer Singh had very good reasons to bar Rajyavardhan Singh from seeing Prithvi. This was the man who had tormented Prithvi inhumanly as a child. She too couldn’t ever forgive him for that.

The aged man may have travelled a long distance in spite of being ill….but that didn’t compensate for past sins, did it…

Ignoring a queer pang, Nandini shook her head apologetically. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I can help,” she said softly.

“Please! Just meet him once,” Rajiv importuned, “Or you could see his condition from afar. If you still don’t want to help me, I won’t press the issue.”

He looked so desperate that her discomfort multiplied, and against better judgement, she reluctantly asked, “Where is he?”

Rajiv raised a tense hand to point out the king. “There….that’s him,” he whispered timidly.

Feeling extremely uneasy, Nandini gazed in the direction he had pointed and saw an old man sitting silently in the corner of the lounge.

For some reason, the first glimpse of him came as a huge shock.

Perhaps it was because from everything she’d heard, she had pictured a monster in her imagination. A vicious -faced person with no compassion….no emotions….no heart….

Instead, she saw a frail, frightened and defeated looking man. Shoulders hunched in misery, gnarled hands gripping the cane handle, eyes on the floor. There were people around him, but he appeared to be utterly, wretchedly alone. An abandoned human being trapped in some private hell…

She watched him wordlessly for a minute, then quietly said, “Okay, I’ll try to help.”

Rajiv finally let out the breath he’d been holding.  

“I love you for this!” he declared exultantly. “Thanks a ton! I won’t forget the favour, and if you ever need help from me, you just have to say the word.”

Nandini didn’t hear him. She was still looking at Rajyavardhan Singh.

Every word she had heard about him was fresh in her memory. Yet, at the moment, she felt incapable of thinking anything beyond the fact that he was the most unhappy human being she had seen in her life.

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