A Reluctant Guardian angel 2

Nia was shocked. Where did the little girl come from? She stared back at the driver in disbelief. But she was too troubled with the matter of operation and Yougal Lucas' signature to dwell on that matter. Around eight thirty in the evening the nurse informed that the patient had regained consciousness and wanted to see her. Nia was alarmed at the idea of meeting grandma.

She knew that grandma blamed herself for the misfortune that befell on Nia's family. 'But did grandma recognize me in that fraction of the time?' She wanted to be certain, and asked the nurse Dr Nihar Bordoloi had sent, "Are you sure she wants to see me? It must be the child she is talking about." Nia pointed to the little angel in her arms.

The nurse looked a bit uncertain at Nia's words, "The doctor told me the patient had asked for you. Let me go and confirm it." The nurse went back.

Her phone rang at that moment as if to provide some relief. It was Rhianna. Nia sat on a chair in the corridor. Her arms felt numb from holding the child. As soon as she received the call Rhianna came down on her with thunder and lightning.

"Nia, I can't believe that you ditched me at the Mall. You even switched off your phone. Are you really my friend?" Rhi carried on without any interruption from this side.

Nia welcomed that devastating storm and torrent rather than going to meet the patient. She was worried that grandma's condition might aggravate if she had an emotional breakdown on seeing Nia. Rhianna's call reminded her of Nicholas, Yougal Lucas' best friend.

Rhianna was livid with anger as she thought that her friend had sneaked away, leaving her with Mark Adam. From her grumbling Nia learned that the girl tried calling her several times. Then went to the art cafe with Mark trailing behind her, where she discovered that Nia was missing from even there.

Nia remembered switching the phone off after she had hidden behind the car. She switched it on after grandma was admitted to the hospital. She felt a little sorry for her friend but was too occupied with her present predicament to explain things to the other girl.

"I'm sorry Rhi, I'm stuck in something." Nia noticed the nurse coming to her way again, so she made some lame excuses to Rhianna and quickly hung up the call. Rhianna could be dealt with later on. The nurse came to where she was sitting on the chair in the corridor and told her that the patient was asking for Nirvana.

"Are you Nirvana? The patient is asking for you."

She first went to Dr Bairagi with the nurse on her heels, and requested him to call Nicholas which he promptly did. Dr Bairagi, Nicholas, Yougal, they were all friends. She already learned that Yougal Lucas was his friend.

Initially she was thrilled to learn about the friendship from the doctor as she thought she would be able to leave. But neither Yana agreed to stay with the doctor nor he could look after her due to his work. Nia requested the doctor not to mention anything about her to Nicholas.

"I don't want to be the highlight and want to leave as soon as possible." She offered as an explanation when he looked at her sharply for the unusual request. "His fiancee is my friend, that's how I know him." Nia added, to extirpate whatever suspicion Dr Bairagi had due to the request.

She did not want Nicholas to know because she did not want Yougal Lucas to know that it was she who had helped to bring grandma to the hospital. Nia sighed in relief that soon the paper works would be done and prayed that everything would go smoothly for grandma.

So grandma had recognized her in that small amount of time before she lost consciousness. Now she could not avoid meeting her. But she still worried about the sick woman. Yana was sleeping on her lap. She lifted up the child in her arms and followed the nurse to the special ICU room. Dr Bairagi went with her to have another look at the old lady.

Nia entered the room with a wildly throbbing heart. She saw grandma staring at the door with expectant eyes. Confused at what to say she stopped just inside, near the door, but her eyes never left those of the woman's who was lying in the bed. 'She looked frail, more worn out. Doesn't that grandson see this? He must be blind.' Anger surged up inside her.

The doctor who walked ahead of her, stopped too and gazed at her with curiosity. Initially he thought Yougal's grandma wanted to thank her saviour for her kindness. But he now noticed the eagerness in the old woman's eyes and the hesitation of the beautiful lady. 'Do they know each other?' He wondered.

"Come near me, child."

The weak woman whispered, the barely audible words somehow reached Nia's ear. She hurriedly reached the bed and held grandma's hand, lying limp in the bed with a cannula inserted for IV drips. With her other hand she was holding Yana, sleeping peacefully with her face buried in the crook of Nia's neck.

"Grandma." She uttered softly.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, my love." Two streams of tears escaped from the corners of the eyes as grandma hoarsely whispered.

"Grandma, please. There's nothing for you to apologize. Please, you need to be strong. Look at Yana, she loves you. I love you too." Nia said sincerely.