Page 57 of Driven By Desire
“Ambulance is on its way.” Ashen faced, Chirag crouched next to them while Adi went to silence the hysterical maid and get her out of the way. “What can we do?”
“No one move her.” Holding himself together with an iron control he’d hoped to never have to draw on again, Krish kept his eyes trained on Pooja. “Her breathing is fine which is a good sign. Someone get me something to keep her warm.”
The snapped order had Max running towards the house. Grateful for the chance to be doing something useful, she ran into the bedroom she’d just shared with Krish. Tossing the tangled sheets and scattered clothes to one side, she looked desperately around the room for something useful. Finally grabbing the comforter from the bed, she ran back out and handed it to Chirag who gently covered Pooja.
Desperate, soundless prayers escaped her as she saw that Pooja hadn’t moved an inch. Ruthlessly blinking back the tears that stung her eyes, she clasped shaky hands and went to stand behind Krish who was talking to Pooja in a low, fervent whisper that broke her heart. The sound of sirens split the air to her everlasting gratitude.
Time sped up with the arrival of the paramedics and before she knew it, Pooja was loaded into the ambulance. Maintaining his death grip on Pooja’s hand, Krish climbed in after her while flinging some rapid fire instructions at Chirag. When Chirag broke away to head for the garage, she leaned in closer to touch Krish on his arm.
“We’ll be following right behind.” Krish didn’t turn to look at her or indicate by even a twitch of a muscle that he’d heard her promise.
“Krish?” The door swung shut cutting off anything else she might have tried to say. Scared and confused, she ran for the garage where Chirag was already starting the car.
---***---
The bright lights and controlled chaos of the hospital had Max blinking out of her stupor. Following Chirag and Adi through the swinging doors of emergency, she scanned the ward until she found Krish talking to a doctor. Behind them, a still unconscious Pooja was being examined by any entire team of medical professionals. Moving closer, Max reached out and touched one small foot.
Unable to push words out past the emotion clogging her throat, she searched the inert form for any sign of movement. Finding none, she continued to stroke Pooja’s foot, her entire body one fervent, desperate plea.
“They’re going to x-ray her now. We’ve been asked to wait outside.” Dimly aware of Chirag gently unclenching her fingers from around Pooja’s foot, she let him lead her out into the crowded corridor beyond. Minutes later, Pooja’s stretcher waswheeled out with Krish following on its heels. They were past them and into the diagnostics center in the blink of an eye.
Sitting down on the floor in a corner, Max heard Chirag’s quiet murmur as he comforted Adi who had tears running down his face. Giving the brothers their privacy, she kept her eyes glued on the doors Krish had disappeared through.
When close to half an hour passed without any sign of him or Pooja, she pushed herself off the floor. “I’m going to get us all some coffee.”
A tired nod was all she got from Chirag. She searched the entire floor before finding a dinky looking coffee machine. Filling two cups, she trekked back and handed them to Chirag and Adi.
“Any news yet?”
“They’ve shifted her back to the ward. We’re waiting for reports now. Bhai is in there with her.”
“I’ll go in and check on them. See if he needs anything.”
“The guard said only one attender is allowed inside.” Patting the bench he was sitting on, he gestured to her to sit down. “They aren’t letting any of us in.”
“Can I go in for a second to see him?”
She needed to see him. This was his worst nightmare come true. She needed to be with him. He hated hospitals so much and to see Pooja in one must be bringing back horrifying memories of his parent’s accident. Wishing desperately that God would grant them all a do-over of this night, she blinked back hot tears. If something happened to Pooja- She couldn’t even finish the thought.
“No, they’re not going to allow anyone. They’re being pretty strict about it. He’ll come out when he can.” Her pinched, white face had him adding gently. “Sit, Max. It doesn’t help anyone if you keel over.”
Worry, fear and fatigue came together in a noxious mixture that had her wanting to throw up. Swallowing the bile that rose in her throat, she ignored Chirag’s instruction, squared her shoulders and marched over to the doors leading to emergency. Breezing past the startled guard, she stormed past the nurse’s station before anyone could stop her.
Coming to an abrupt halt beside Krish, she looked down at his bent head. She followed his gaze to the pale, frail figure lying in the bed. An IV line ran from the back of one hand to the bottle hanging from a stand. A white bandage covered a shaved part of her scalp. A shaky sob escaped Max as she took in the weak, helpless child in the hospital gown.
Moving to rest her hand on Krish’s shoulder, she froze when he stiffened and leaned slightly away from her. The miniscule movement had the first ember of fear spark inside her. Pulling her hand back, she concentrated on keeping her voice calm and even as she asked, “Can I get you some coffee?”
Not looking up, he shook his head in the negative. Clearing her throat, she was about to ask him what the doctor had said when a formidable nurse made her way over.
“Only one attender is allowed per patient.”
Smiling conciliatorily, Max cleared her throat. “If you could just give me a minute-“
“You should go.” The brusque words came from the man who was refusing to meet her eyes. The man who held her heart.
The nurse folded her beefy arms and eyed Max with a smug grin that had her grinding her teeth. Leaning over to press a gentle kiss to Pooja’s forehead, she walked out with the nurse dogging her footsteps. Bewildered and upset, she shoved through the doors, walked over and plopped herself down beside Chirag.
“Coffee?” Holding his half full cup up to her, he gave her a small smile.
