Chapter 16: chapter 16

It was early morning. Sandhya woke up, struggled to rise but she did and showered. She decorated herself and was about to step forward. She didn’t have the energy but she couldn’t quit. She was quite a bit happy as Surya would be returning home that day. She was feeling dizzy as she walked down the stairs. Sombabu was watching her keenly and he was scared. Her health was completely destroyed and at the end, she slept on the floor even though she was shivering. Sombabu was scared and thought, “Oh god! What’s going to happen? No one’s at home either! Who should I tell this to?Yes, let me call Surya sir”. But there was no response from the other side.Ravi tried calling Surya multiple times but ended up in disappointment. Ravi’s heart was sensing something bad, “Why is Surya’s phone out of reach?”Surya was frustrated and it was almost two already. His mom was still in discussions with the villagers. He was extremely worried about Sandhya’s condition and was lost in thoughts, “Son, shall wes start?” Meenakshi’s voice disrupted his thoughts. He felt ecstatic, “Yes, mother! I was waiting for you the whole time.”She smiled back at him and was very well aware that they would reach home by 7 and Sandhya would be done with her ritual by that time. She purposely made him stay there. Surya ignited the car and thought to himself, “Sandhya, I will be there in five hours!” and raced the car. Meenaskhi  asked, “Son, what’s the need to drive this fast?”“I have important work to finish, mom,” he said, smiling.She eyed him doubtfully, “You do have work all the time but what if we meet with an accident? Drive slow, son.”Surya realized his mother’s words were true and drove the car carefully. It was almost 6 and Ravi was brutally fed up, “Why the hell is his phone off the whole time? He must be here by now! What if I call his home? Whatever happens, happens! Let me call his home,” he decided and dialed the number. The phone rang for quite a long time and there was no response from the other side. Ravi was wondering about the unresponsiveness and all of a sudden, Sombabu picked up the call, “Hello, who is this? Surya sir? Is this you?”“Uncle, it’s me, Ravi! No one’s at home? Surya isn’t home yet?”“No, sir!”“Did you try calling Surya?”Sombabu was worried. He was obliged not to open his mouth about the  matters of home but he couldn’t withstand Sandhya being in hell and blurted out “Ravi sir, Sandhya madam’s situation is worsening here,” continued, explaining the five day ritual to Ravi.Ravi was flabbergasted and his suspicions were true.“Sir, please come fast. I’m really scared.”“Don’t worry, uncle. I will be there in 10,” he said and started on his way. All through his way, “This was all Meenakshi’s plan. She was sure that Surya wouldn’t let Sandhya do the ritual if he were here and that’s the reason she dragged him to the village all of a sudden.” He was driving the car, tensed.Surya was joyful that he would reach home in five more minutes.Sandhya’s situation was worsening and she was still walking to offer Aarti to the Tulasi fort. She was fixated to finish the ritual and she was taking baby steps, praying for the Goddess Tulasi whole heartedly, “My dear Goddess, I have performed the ritual with pure thoughts and intentions. I, now, hereby, request you to save Surya and correct the flaw in his horoscope. Bless him with infinite years!” and she lit the Aarthi. Darkness creeped in her eyes and her legs were shivering.Surya and Ravi reached the bungalow at the same time. Ravi’s face lit up as soon as he looked at Surya’s car and vice-versa. Ravi parked the car outside while Surya got in. Meanwhile, Sombabu was waiting for them at the gate. Meenakshi exited from the car and asked Sombabu to unpack the luggage and she walked into the prayer room.Surya got down from the car and looked at Ravi, “Ravi, what’s up, dude?”Ravi was nervous and said, “Surya, the situation here is the worst. Sandhya is almost dying!”Surya’s heart slipped out of his mouth and was blank for a moment and Ravi continued, “Your mother made her do a ritual for five days and she has been fasting since then. Sombabu informed me that the situation had worsened and I rushed here.”Sombabu rushed to Surya, “Sir, Sandhya madam is at the Tulasi fort!”He was blank and their words couldn’t reach his mind. Ravi moved him and said, “Surya, we don’t have time. Let’s go!”Surya came into senses and rushed to Sandhya without wasting a second. He looked at Sandhya who was absolutely weak and was walking around the Tulasi fort, giving Aarthi. She dropped the plate in her hands and was about to fall on the ground.Surya rushed to her and held her in the blink of an eye, “Sandhya! Sandhya!” but she wasn’t responding. Surya held her and carried her to Ravi's car. Ravi started the car while Sombabu rushed in to tell Meenaskhi amma about the matter.Surya hopped into the back seat and held Sandhya. Ravi accelerated the car. Surya was scared and tried to wake her, “Sandhya, wake up! Wake up! I’m extremely sorry. I’m really scared, please wake up!”Her body seemed to be on fire and the golden ornaments were troubling her immensely. Surya’s heart was racing and Ravi halted the car at Vinay’s hospital, who was their friend. Ravi got down and screamed at the hospital staff to help them.Surya carried Sandhya and Dr. Vinay arrived at the scene. Dr. Vinay understood the scenario and arranged a stretcher for Sandhya and started the treatment immediately. Sandhya was taken into the ICU and Ravi forced Surya and tried to control him. Sombabu informed Meenakshi in the prayer room. She was worried and called Shashikala to convey the matter.Meenakshi went to the hospital. Shashikala conveyed the matter to Venkatesh. They informed the matter to Sandhya’s parents midway as it might be a problem if they blame them for anything that happens to Sandhya. Krishnarao and Shanthamma rushed to the hospital immediately.Everyone was still in the hospital. Surya was sitting in one of the corners. Meenakshi was worried and Shashikala was consoling her. Meanwhile, Krishnarao and Shanthamma reached the place and he started accusing Meenakshi, “What have you done?What mistake did my daughter commit? If something happens to my daughter, all of us will be dead!”Ravi interfered, “Uncle, everything will be okay! Sandhya will be okay. Please sit and relax.”Shanthamma felt like losing her mind and was dead silent. After an hour, Dr. Vinay exited the ICU and Surya rushed to him and everyone followed, “Vinay, how is she? She is okay, right?”“It’s okay, Surya. She is perfectly alright! She seemed to be fasting for a couple of days and that resulted in the drop of her glucose levels. She had a throat infection too. Her temperature is rising but I gave her an injection and everything will be alright. She is on saline and everything will be alright. She will be conscious after a while and you can visit her.”Surya gasped his breath and everyone sighed in relief. Vinay continued again, “Surya, come to my cabin,” and walked into his cabin. Surya and Ravi exchanged looks and walked to Vinay’s cabin. Krishnaro apologized to Meenakshi for his behavior. Ravi and Surya sat across Vinay as he checked a few reports. Surya was worried, “Vinay? Is everything alright?”Vinay looked right into his eyes and said, “Everything is fine except the state of your family.”Surya was confused and Vinay handovered him a bag. Surya could feel the weight of the bag as he held it, “What is this, Vinay?’ “It has the ornaments which were worn by your wife! You now realize how much she was carrying on her body.”Surya was surprised.“Surya, she was tortured in the name of a ritual. How can someone survive without eating for five straight days? How can your family not understand this simple logic? And how can you believe all of this? Please take care of this. Anyway, I have to go, I have an operation to attend to, okay?” he said and exited.Surya was lost. Ravi, who chose to remain silent till then, bursted, “What the hell is this ritual, Surya? It might have cost her life! Who the hell carries such weight on the body? This is all because of your mother. You wanted to torture Sandhya by making her your wife and giving her money! Someday, Sandhya will be dead because of you, mind it!”Surya screamed, “Ravi!” and slapped across his face. Ravi fumbled because of the hit. Surya was furious, “What the hell did you say? Sandhya will be dead because of me? If that were to happen I would be the first one to rot in hell!” screamed at him and left the room.Ravi realized that he slipped his tongue and apologized in his heart, “Surya, I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have caused you pain in this situation. I won’t trouble you anymore by staying here,” and he left.