Chapter 27 Battles and Scars

The girl was unconscious, as Dr. Suresh promptly helped Awnirudh to get her inside the car. Vandita sat behind, letting the girl rest her head on her lap, while the two men sat in front. Awnirudh drove in quietude.

"Take a right turn Barrister Roychowdhury, straight." Dr. Suresh gestured his hand guiding Awnirudh with the path, and Awnirudh followed.

"So, you are sure, the girl will be treated properly in the camp?" Vandita was caressing the girl's hair, as her sudden raised voice made Suresh adjust the rear view mirror towards her.

"Probably, not as properly as you were treated by our kind Barrister here, but she'll live." Suresh sniggered.

Both Awnirudh and Vandita were visibly annoyed at these direct sardonic remarks, but both preferred to be quiet, keeping the priorities in mind. Suresh was a local doctor, familiar with the norms and ways of the local medical system. His help would really be indispensable.

According to Suresh, he and his fellow team of doctors run a local medical camp a little away from the main town, where they treat poor women and children abandoned by their families. The camp runs from the charity money that the local aristocrats such as Kshitija's family donate. Suresh hailed from a lower middle class Brahmin family from Chittagong. He had completed his degree from the Medical college in Mumbai. Although, he wanted to pursue his studies further, but couldn't due to monetary restraints. Later, he was posted in Dehradun where he had made good acquaintances with Ranger Sinha and his family. About, two years ago, on Kshitija's 18th birthday, Ranger Sinha had officially announced his engagement with his daughter, entitling him to half of his estate shares.

Suresh never liked Kshitija much, mostly her attitude and way of life. But her beauty had always attracted him otherwise. It was a compromised relationship, as of all things, it was her superficiality that had repulsed him the most. But the match was too good for him to refuse.

It was a thirty minute drive, as they finally reached the medical camp site. Dr. Suresh had cradled the unconscious girl in his arms, carrying her inside the camp. Awnirudh and Vandita followed.

It was not a spacious one, the camp. A simple 3 room house with modest dorm beds and a tin sheet for a roof. Three women, dressed in simple white sarees were working around, tending to the patients. Suresh had laid the girl on an empty bed as one of the women immediately started to dress her wounds.

"She will live, Barrister Roy Chowdhury." Suresh looked up to face Awnirudh and sighed. "The problem would be after she lives." 

"I'll take care of it. Just make sure she recovers. And yes the expenses." Awnirudh took out his wallet and handed Suresh a bunch of notes.

He thanked Awnirudh and assured about the treatment of the girl.

Vandita was inside the room with the girl when the men spoke, and when she came out, distress was clearly written all over her face. She looked at Awnirudh and spoke in a low strained voice.

"Barrister Babu, we need to do something for them."

And before Awnirudh could respond, Suresh intervened.

"Your Barrister Babu is already doing something my dear Madam, starting with marrying this poor girl. "He chuckled hard looking at Vandita while his fingers pointed towards the unconscious girl lying in the room.

Awnirudh sighed deeply, as his hand automatically reached out to hold Vandita's.

"Dr. Suresh, I appreciate your efforts. But may I know the reason why you abhor me so much?" Awnirudh questioned calmly.

"Abhor... You?... My my... You are everything opposite to abhorrence my dear sir. It's just that your kind repulses me." Suresh chuckled reflexively.

"My kind?"

"Yes... The rich landlord who can buy anything they want kind, to be precise." He looked at Vandita in disgust and chewed his words, "even love!"

...............

Vandita was silent the entire way back to the Banglow. She was clearly vexed at the way Suresh had spoken to Awnirudh, but what crossed her more was Awnirudh's silence.

It was in the evening that Awnirudh finally got to see Vandita standing by the railing of their Banglow. The worn out sun was about to set and the last rays painted a strange melancholy on Vandita's beautiful silhouette.

Awnirudh came closer. He held her by her shoulders and turned her around to face him. He lifted her chin up as he spoke.

"Vandita, are you alright?" Awnirudh finally broke the silence of the melancholic evening, and asked her lovingly.

"Why didn't you say anything?" Vandita blurted out, her words came out from the hurt she bore in her heart.

"Say what?" He asked politely.

"He clearly insulted you, without a reason. Why did you let him, Barrister Babu?" Her eyes had teared up recalling Suresh's cruel words.

Awnirudh smiled however. He took a deep breath and kissed Vandita's forehead. His next words were calm and gentle.

"Suresh is not a bad person Vandita. It's just that his ideologies are different. I'm guessing he had a difficult childhood which has resulted in him growing a deep resentment towards all those whom he calls 'previledged'."

"But you should have at least..." Vandita objected, and Awnirudh bore his eyes deep in her glistening orbs.

"Tigress, I have taught you that this world is a battlefield, and that you always need to be prepared." He paused,

"But you need to choose your battles carefully. Not all are worth fighting you know."

He put his arms around her waist and pulled her closer. Vandita wiggled in his embrace to free herself but Awnirudh had already bent down to reach her lips. He planted a soft kiss on her lips and whispered,

"For example, this battle is not worth fighting tigress."

He gripped her even tighter , his left hand snaking her waist as his right hand moved behind her neck. And before she could reply, she felt the sweet warm taste of his lips overwhelming her senses, stealing all her judgement of rationality. She closed her eyes and gave in, her hands had automatically moved to up, clasping his neck for support. Awnirudh had smiled in their kiss.

The sun had set, painting the western sky in a darker shade of orange. Awnirudh and Vandita stayed still, unwary of the whole world, as their tongues danced in the rhythm of untamed passion.

"Your room, or mine?" Awnirudh had winked at her naughtily, and Vandita had pushed him away, her cheeks red in shame.

"Ishh... Shameless."

She had murmured, looking away coyly, and in response Awnirudh had burst out into a hearty fit of laughter... pure, unblemished, happy.