Yakshagni - An odyssey of unbroken devotion - II

 6) The Good Samaritan

At work, the new picture on the screen saver caught Dharma’s attention. Normally, she did not notice but something about that particular image piqued her curiosity. It was a colourful photograph of an old structure; she was not certain if it was a temple or a palace but it looked ancient with carved domes and pillars. The picture was taken from afar and there was a unique stepwell in front of the grand structure. Intrigued and fascinated, she clicked on the picture to learn more details.

It was an old Sun temple in Gujarat, built by an erstwhile ruler of the Chalukya dynasty in the eleventh century. Constructed on the banks of the River Pushpavati in a village called Modhera, it was one of the few temples dedicated to the Sun god. The more details Dharma learnt about the structure; the more interested she became. The architecture was magnificent, and the grandeur of it persuaded Dharma to stay on the page to learn further. Even after exiting from the screen, the image of the intricately carved pillars and reservoir stayed with her. She wished she could visit such places.

Resigning to her humdrum existence, she replied to the emails that had accumulated in the last couple of days. Fleeing from Chaitanya, Dharma had reached her hostel and had packed her stuff in a hurry. To her relief, she had not seen Chaitanya after the confrontation in the park. Brahim had arrived an hour later to pick her up in the ambulance and the three had left Parijatpur for New Delhi. Once Kamya was admitted to the multi-speciality hospital, the surgeon and his team of assistant doctors had taken over. Observing their efficiency, Dharma had felt reassured, knowing Kamya was in good hands. Brahim and she had taken turns staying in the hospital. The doctor had removed the clot and by the next morning, Kamya had woken up. She was still frail, nonetheless, she recognized Dharma and Brahim. The nurses, however, did not allow them to stay for long. That morning, Brahim visited the hospital and assured Dharma that Kamya would be fit to go home in a week.

Grateful to the supreme power that she had appealed to, Dharma focused on her work. The Purchase department informed her that the cartons of buttons and threads had arrived. Dharma went down to check the contents.

Perching on the chair in the delivery room, she bent down to slit open the cartons. Her ebony strands slid sideways, veiling her face on either side. Focusing on the buttons, she counted their numbers, unaware of Maurya's approach until he spoke.

"Good morning!"

With a start, she straightened up, losing sight of the count. He wore a grey suit over a pale rose shirt. The darker grey tie hinted that he was prepared for an official meeting.

"Good morning!" Dharma responded.

He glanced down at the open boxes of buttons and threads, "Are they meeting our requirements?"

Dharma nodded, "Haven't checked all the boxes though."

Maurya's phone rang and answering the call, he gestured for her to continue her work. He moved to the other side of the small room, not taking his eyes off her. Sliding out of the chair, Dharma knelt on the floor to carry on with her checking, intensely aware of Maurya's presence. She wasn't sure what she was doing but her attention was drawn to his deep voice as he spoke in an irritated tone, "We are not responsible for their goof-up. Well! close down the unit and ask Mr Mishra to speak up on the inferior quality of raw material we are getting. Make a strong impression so that it suits our purposes."

The conversation continued for some time and after it ended, he turned to her. He observed her quietly and then asked, "how is your friend?"

Dharma shot him a surprised glance and he added, "Rashika told me."

"She is better," and added, "Since she has been shifted here."

"Why? Wasn't the treatment good there?" he quizzed with a curious twinkle in his eyes.

Dharma who was used to his aloofness was caught by the look in his eyes and she babbled on, "No it was good but she needed surgery so she had to be shifted here. A good Samaritan decided to bear the expenses of her treatment..."

"That is nice to hear," he drawled, his furtive smile coaxing Dharma's attention irresistibly to his lips. She lifted her gaze to his and their eyes collided. Her eyes narrowed in contemplation at the unusual wickedness glimmering in his eyes. At her silent probe, his glance fell, masking his feelings. He turned towards the doorway.

A delicious frenzy permeated the air, exciting the senses. Dharma's anticipation rose and she broke the gossamer stillness, "Maurya," she called softly. He swung around abruptly and stared at her.

She cursed herself silently for calling him by his name but, for the moment, she decided to ignore it and asked hesitantly, "Are you the good Samaritan?"

He regarded her thoughtfully, his face devoid of any expression as she waited with bated breath.

"No!" he answered, unable to decide whether he disappointed her or himself more by his denial.

************

Dharma was delighted to find Kamya awake when she reached the hospital that evening. She spent some time with her friend and when Kamya fell asleep, she waited at the hospital for Brahim. Sitting alone in the corridor with only a couple of other visitors, her thoughts invariably turned to Maurya. He was an enigma to her, and she was often unable to fathom his thoughts.  Also, from the way he questioned her about Kamya, Dharma felt that he knew about Kamya’s treatment. Was it he who bore the expenses for Kamya's medical treatment? It was well known that he was one of the benefactors at Mohandham and he donated a generous sum regularly. The director of the institute had even mentioned it in his welcome speech when Maurya had attended as chief guest.

Restless and annoyed, she paced the corridor. She ran her eyes over the other two visitors. One was chanting from a religious text and another, an old man was slumped on the seat wearily. He gave her a fleeting smile and she asked him if he wanted water. At his grateful nod, she got a glass of water for him.

"Who is in the ICU?" he asked her, guzzling the water thirstily.

"My friend."

"Is she improving?"

"Yes, they will shift her to the room tomorrow. And what about you?" she asked curiously.

"My grandson. He met with an accident yesterday while returning from school," his eyes swelled with tears.

"Oh? What about his parents?" Dharma asked with compassion.

"They are not in town. I am alone now. I have informed them about Ekveer. They will reach here by tomorrow."

Dharma flinched; her face losing all colour, giving her goosebumps. She felt faint. A sudden spasm of nerves left her dizzy and she steadied herself.

She asked faintly, "Ekveer?"

"Yes, my grandson!" the man answered with pride, "He is only six so the doctor says that he will heal quickly."

With a miserable smile, Dharma nodded and stumbled back to her chair. She blanched at the assault of confounding images.  Once again, the nightmare returned with a drowning sensation, leaving her in agony. She placed her head on her raised knees and closed her eyes. What did the man say that left her so agitated? He simply talked about his grandson whose name was Ekveer. Dharma winced at the name and realized that she was sweating. She wiped her forehead with a tissue and buried her face in her hands.

Looking at her condition, the old man became concerned but, before he could get up and enquire, he saw a very handsome and confident man arrive, pause and approach the girl. He settled back in his seat.

"Hey, are you ok?"

Dharma's head shot up and her jaw dropped at the sight of Maurya. What was he doing here?

"What are you doing here?" she asked in bewilderment. Nothing made sense to her. The familiar feeling of panic attacked her, almost choking her.

Maurya frowned. He took the chair next to her and offered his handkerchief to her, "You are sweating profusely. Are you alright?"

She didn't take the kerchief he offered but wiped her face with the tissue napkin she had. An annoyed Maurya pushed it back into his pocket and repeated his question, "Are you alright? Should I get you some medicine or coffee probably?"

"No, I just had a mild panic attack. I am ok now."

"You got a panic attack on seeing me?" he asked. She glowered at him and shot back, "Of course not!"

"Thank god for small mercies!"

Dharma regarded him with suspicion, "You didn't tell me what you are doing here."

He didn't answer at once but let his gaze rove over her face, stilling for an infinitesimal moment on each feature, "Maybe I came in search of you," he answered mysteriously.

Dharma pushed her nails into the soft skin of her palm, asking herself if it was a dream or reality. Or maybe all the past events involving the crazy Chaitanya and his equally maniacal wife were taking their toll on her.

"What? How do you know I am here?"

He showed his phone to her and answered, his voice sounding very serious, "I have an App here that traces your location."

His answer took her breath away and she gaped at him with utter disbelief. She didn't know if she ought to believe him but for the first time, she saw his face light up with a cheeky grin.

"My god! Your expression!" Maurya laughed aloud, enjoying the embarrassment that reddened her cheeks. "Relax! I came to see a patient."

"Who?" she asked at once, deliberating if he had come to see Kamya.

"My manager's wife is admitted here. So, I came to check on her. What about you?"

"I told you about my friend! She is admitted here."

"How is she?"

"She is better. They are shifting her to a room tomorrow."

"Good!" Maurya stood up and she raised her face, unconsciously exposing her vulnerability to him. She didn't want to be left alone and she was certain that it reflected in her eyes. He offered, "We can go for coffee if you want. There is a canteen down. They serve the worst coffee I know but if you have the stomach for it, we can give it a try."

Following Maurya, she nodded to the old man who was still seated in the same spot.

***************

The coffee was indeed tasteless but Dharma did not mind. It gave her strength. Or was it Maurya's presence that accorded the stability? She was not sure.

"So, how come you looked so distressed when I arrived? Did the doctor say something?"

"No, the doctor assured me that everything was fine. I was talking to an old man there whose grandson is admitted and something he said, just upset me. I haven't understood yet what upset me so much."

It was a small round table and they were sitting opposite one another. He was still in the same pastel rose shirt and grey trousers, only the jacket was missing.

"Maybe you missed your meals?" Maurya questioned and Dharma was in a dilemma whether to divulge about her panic attacks. She decided to be honest," I am prone to panic attacks."

"Panic attacks are triggered by something. What triggered yours?" he added lightly, "don't tell me it was my arrival, I won't believe that I am so awesome."

Dharma gave a vague smile, her mind once again caught in a maelstrom, "No, it was something he said. I think it was about his grandson."

"Do you know him?" Maurya asked with interest.

"Who?" Dharma asked, wearing a blank expression.

"The old man's grandson! Is he not what you were talking about?"

"Yes, yes...his grandson..." she paused and remarked, "Ekveer! That is his name..."

Hearing the name, Maurya froze. They stared at each other in uncertainty and confusion. An inevitable force locking them in a gaze that was beyond comprehension. They were spellbound in a sphere in which their hearts and mind fought a battle within themselves to acknowledge a timeless truth. A minuscule part of the space that was racing against time; a tiny measure of the infinity that was their own to revel in. Like the conspiracies of the stars that cannot be overcome, an unremitting attraction crept upon them insidiously that could not be helped; as old and compelling as the allure between the Moon and the Earth that chased one another. Akin to the rise and fall of the waves in the ocean, their feelings surged and plunged, crashing back to reality with despair.

"Ekveer?" taking a grip on his overpowering senses, Maurya asked, his voice sounding rough.

"Yes, I felt I have heard the name before."

"Or knew the person before?" Maurya suggested and she pondered if she had known someone like that earlier. They sat in comfortable but wary silence, reflecting on the unaccustomed pull one had over the other. The feeling was new to them but not unrecognizable which baffled Maurya and Dharma.

"Shall we leave?" he asked. As she stood up, she lurched. Maurya lent his arms around her waist.

Dharma felt ridiculous, but the intimacy that she discerned in his eyes was not implausible.

Maurya, who was most often indifferent to everything in life, came alive at that moment with a plethora of emotions that stunned him with their fierceness.