Chapter 8 - Mr. Husband's Demand of Hospital Visit

|Innaya|

I stepped outside of college gate with Siya beside me while I filled her about what happened in Mr. Roy's cabin.

"So," Siya dragged out the word while arching her right eyebrow upwards.

"So what Siya, I am not sure about this. However, I will be in Mumbai at that time but I do not think I should go on with it," I answered her thinking she asked about my opinion while roaming my eyes on the papers Sir handed to me, "It will be like taking credit of something I haven't done. It's his hard work," I finished feeling bad.

"I was not talking about the conference you Idiot," Siya smacked lightly on my hand.

"What the -

I rubbed the place while glaring at her.

"Shut up Innaya. There is nothing to think about, Sir asked you because Verma Sir, who happened to be the co-author of Roy Sir's paper are going abroad for another conference at the same timeline and as he is your guide for the project so he must have put forward your name to Roy Sir. Technically as Roy Sir said, it will be a good opportunity for you," Siya informed, in a serious tone.

'Could Verma Sir suggest my name? Agreed he is my project guide but recommending my name?'

"But-

Siya again cut my words unaffected of my glare, "No, you aren't taking undue credit for something. You will be working on it after the exam. Chill, why don't we do one thing? You go home discuss with your husband and then decide."

"Hmm--

Seriously? You had to interrupt me again.

"Now before you divert the topic to something else as you did before, by that 'so' I meant to ask you about your husband." Rolling her eyes Siya told me her main question

"What about Eshan," I asked confused.

Stopping abruptly Siya stood in front of me with hands on her hips glaring at me, she gritted, "YOU, are you planning on keeping your husband secret as the other information you kept from me?"

"What the-

I thought we were past that secret thing.

"When am I meeting him?" She asked again bringing my attention back to the point.

"Oh," I sighed once registering her demand.

"Oh," Siya rolled her eyes dramatically.

"Eshan?" The familiar figure of Eshan in black Armani standing against his White Mercedes door caught my attention.

What a striking contrast.

"Yes Eshan, your Eshan."

"Siya, shut up," I hissed lowly at her while dragging her towards his way.

"What are you doing here?" I asked as we reached near him.

Wasn't he supposed to be at home?

"Hello Tesoro," Eshan whispered his greetings in my ear. Wrapping his arm around my shoulders Eshan pulled me towards himself

His deep husky voice caused some fluttering in my heart, while the warmth of HIM provided the comfort of home.

"Huh?" Dazed I looked at his face as he squeezed my shoulder lightly, when I didn't answer.

"I said hello sweetheart. I came to pick my wife," Eshan answered, giving his that beautiful smile while taking off shades from his eyes.

"Hello Sir, I'm Siya Raghav Innu's best friend." Siya interrupted again introducing herself as I was too lost to say anything.

"Call me Eshan Siya, nice to meet you." Eshan turned towards her greeting her still holding me.

"Shall we go sweetheart?" Turning his head into my direction, Eshan asked lovingly staring in my eyes.

I nodded still affected by his closeness unable to form any words.

Saying our goodbyes to Siya, we sat in the car.

Once settled inside Eshan turned towards me.

"How was your day, Sweetheart?"

What was with him and endearment?

"Good and yours?" I answered while keeping my bag in the back seat.

"How would it be without my beautiful wife... boring?" I whipped my head so fast, forgetting that my body was turned backward, resulting in the collision of my head with something.

"Ouch!"

" Careful!"

We both uttered at the same time.

I rubbed my forehead thankful that the impact was not too strong.

I noticed he had brought his palm in between his seat, and me as he moved little backward before my head could hit, forcefully on it.

"Thanks!" I muttered in low voice.

'Why I have to embarrass myself?' However, it would not have happened, if he had not said something like that in the first place.

"When you had TT's shot?" This time carefully I turned towards him as he asked the question unexpectedly.

"TT?" I questioned puzzled.

"Tetanus munchkin." He answered shaking his head lightly.

"Tetanus? Munchkin?"

What the? Did he really think I don't know what TT is? Now once again new endearment.

"Yes." He nodded his head upside down as if he really got across his point.

"I have had the shot, so I don't need one and it's just small cut it's not like I have cut my whole hand." I huffed angrily folding my hands on my chest and turned my attention to the road.

"Pazza, ragazza stupida. Parla spazzatura. oh Dio aiutami a non rimproverarla. cosa devo fare con questa ragazza?"(Mad, stupid girl. Talk rubbish. Oh, god helps me not to scold her. What shall I do with this girl?)

He muttered something too fast in his favourite language.

Maybe on noticing my frown, he switched back to English, with darkened eyes he spoke as if warning, "Don't you talk like that-

Annoyed with his language I pointed my finger in his direction to put my point, gritting the word so he would understand, "YOU don't talk like that. Just because I don't know the language doesn't mean you can say whatever you please and insult me."

"Insult you?" Astonished he asked, turning the car to left.

"Haha... Haha... Insult.... Haha... God."

"Il mio adorabile gattino, sei così carino."(My adorable kitten, you are so cute.)

First, he laughed at me and then he dared to use that Italian or French or whatever language again.

"Will you please, shut up?" Frustrated I asked.

"I can never insult you and will not allow even you to insult my sweet adorable wife." Boring his dark eyes into mine, he stated seriously.

His eyes delivered the message straight to my heart, causing little happiness to it, so it decided to beat loudly in acknowledgement.

"Back to the main point, when you had TT shot, tell me the truth or-

"Did you just threaten me?" I asked while narrowing my eyes at him.

"Oh... No, my dear I just warned you. You tell me or I'll call Granny." He winked at me.

Granny. Great now he knows how to get to my answer.

"Fine, when I was nine." Defeated I answer refusing to dwell on the memory of why I had it in the first place.

"Seems like, you need one now," Eshan stated as if we were talking about some chocolates.

"What the-

Seems like 'what the' is the line of the day.

"No, what the Sweetheart, we are going to the doctor and having TT," Eshan said interrupting me.

"Eshan, for you kind information TT is given when one is hurt by rusted metal," I informed him why people would go for TT.

"No, my dear, Tetanus is given when your skin breaks and anyway after 15 one should get TT even if it has been taken already. You can ask the doctor."

"Oh no..." I started only to cut by him again.

What was with people cutting my sentences today? First Siya then Roy Sir and now Eshan. God!

"Oh yes and see we are here." Eshan parked the car.

"I am not coming," I answered stubbornly.

"Either you come by yourself or I don't mind carrying you," opening door of my side Eshan said gesturing towards his arms.

"You wouldn't," my eyes widened on the own.

"Try me," he answered simply shrugging his shoulders in response.

"Fine!" Stomping my foot like a child I followed him into the clinic, which appeared homely given credit to the beautiful garden.

*

"Hello, doctor uncle." Eshan greeted an elderly man who appeared to be in his sixties, once we entered inside the doctor's cabin after taking an appointment.

We were the only patients! But then the board where 6-9 pm in evening appointment time had cleared that doubt

At one corner of the room, I could see the bed for checking the patients separated by curtains. The room had light blue walls with the table in middle with two wooden cushioned chairs on the opposite side of doctor's. The doctor with big round glasses, who was bald, sat wearing a stethoscope around his neck in what I supposed was swirling chair that had his white coat draped from the backside.

"Eshan, come inside my boy," the surprised doctor's face broke into a smile.

'Seems like my husband is well aware of people here in Bangalore too.'

"How are you- oh who is this young beautiful woman with you," he asked as his gaze fell on me.

"I'm fine uncle and this is my wife Innaya," Eshan answered, pushing my reluctant self towards the chair, with his arm around my shoulders.

"Hello, Sir!" I smiled not wanting to be rude. He did nothing to me; all credit goes to my husband.

"Call me uncle, Innaya." The doctor said dismissing any formality.

Eshan and doctor uncle chatted for a while, from what I gathered, the doctor uncle was a friend of Eshan's father.

"So what brings you here Eshan," Uncle asked as their catching up on past came to an end.

"We are here for TT shot for Innaya uncle. Her last shot was the 12-years ago," Eshan answered glancing in my direction with that sweet smile I was hating.

"He is just being paranoid Uncle. It's just a small cut." I tried making the doctor understand how stupid my husband was being.

"Actually he is right Innaya. It's better to have a shot after 16." The doctor agreed with Eshan.

"But it's not from any rusted metal." I still protested. Being doctor, he should be aware of that small thing.

"Rusted metal is not the only case. When your skin tears then Tetanus is taken as a preventive measure from bacterial infections." Uncle explained.

Before I could protest anymore, he pressed the bell and moments later a woman around my Mom's age entered wearing a nurse uniform.

"Mrs. Sophie, Tetanus for Innaya." Uncle instructed the nurse whom he addressed Mrs. Sophie.

"Please follow me, Ma'am." She nodded at doctor then looking at me gestured towards the door.

"Hang on, wait. Sorry sir- I mean uncle I can't have an injection I get fever afterward," I hurriedly stated.

'How on the earth I am supposed to say, I HATE INJECTIONS. Scratch that I FEARED them.'

"When was the last time you had an injection?" Uncle said giving me a look that screamed he knew what was wrong.

"It's been a long." I answered looking down. I am a bad liar.

"No problem, I will write down some medicines."

"But-

"Go." This time Eshan said motioning his head towards the door.

"Fine, lead the way." Knowing they wouldn't falter from their decision I got up.

Why me?

*

"This way ma'am-" Mrs. Sophie led me through the corridor, in a room that had 'Procedure room's written in bold.

I entered after her and a strong smell of floor cleaning disinfectant liquid had me cover my nose with the back of my hand. The room had two beds, each covered with white clean sheets and pillow. The counter at the other end filled with so many medicines and other equipment.

As I sat down at the very edge of bed feeling utterly helpless, I heard Mrs. Sophie's voice from the counter, "Please lie down."

"Lie down? Don't you, give it in the arm?" I questioned eyeing that syringe in her hand with wide eyes.

"We do, but it's better in hips." She answered concentrating on filling that syringe.

"No, it's fine in the arm." It is better that way.

"Lower down your jeans ma'am we give TT in hips," she ordered coming towards me with that injection with that long needle.

'That is it, now there is no escaping from this dreading moment.'

I closed my eyes in fright, my heart beating loudly I could hear it in my ears. I wet my suddenly dry lips with the tip of my tongue, trying to swallow down the sudden nervousness.

I jumped slightly as I felt hand touched my shoulder. I waited for that cold needle to touch my skin but when nothing came, I opened my right eye slightly to see what was taking so long.

Instead of glass-covered poker face of nurse, those dark captivating eyes stared back at me with assurance.