Ch- 14 "Anxious Hearts and Midnight Calls"

In the outskirts of Indore City stood a luxurious Mansion. Its inhabitants had just completed their dinner and were now engrossed in their own pursuits.

Mahadev Shekhawat, the patriarch of the family, and his wife, Shakti, found solace in each other's arms as they sat on the sofa, relishing the evening while engrossed in a soap opera.

However, the tranquility was shattered as a blaring siren pierced the air, jolting them from their reverie. Instinctively, they raced towards their son Swayam's room.

Their hearts sank as they entered Swayam's room, where they discovered him lying unconscious near his bed, desperately clutching the emergency button by his side.

Seeing him in such a state, memories of previous instances when Swayam had been unusually sound asleep flooded their minds. They began to suspect that he might have been unconscious even before they had lovingly tucked him into bed.

With a growing sense of urgency, they wasted no time and immediately dialed their personal doctor, imploring him to rush to their mansion without delay.

As the doctor sped toward their residence, Mahadev and Shakti weren't idle. They were determined to unravel the mystery behind their son's sudden loss of consciousness.

With worry etched on their faces, they began by checking Swayam's temperature, gently placing their palms on his forehead and comparing it to their own. They also examined him for signs of typhoid fever, searching for any telltale rash marked by small red dots. To their relief, they did not spot any such rash.

Having ruled out the possibility of typhoid fever, Mahadev and Shakti turned their attention to other potential ailments. They carefully inspected Swayam's nails and eyes for any signs of jaundice, finding no indications of the condition.

Just as they were preparing to delve deeper into their investigation of possible illnesses, the doctor arrived at Swayam's room. With a sense of relief, they watched as the doctor began his examination, hoping for answers to the mysterious circumstances surrounding their son's unconsciousness.

***

After a thorough examination, the doctor provided reassurance to Mahadev and Shakti, affectionately called Sati. He explained that Swayam was not suffering from any illness but rather was profoundly fatigued, in need of rest. The doctor speculated that Swayam's fainting episode might have been a result of his recent food intake, as his exhausted body struggled to manage the sudden influx of sustenance. Consequently, his body initiated a passive digestion and recovery process.

Attempting to alleviate their lingering concerns, the doctor added, "He should regain consciousness by tomorrow morning, so there's no need to worry. However, I strongly recommend that he takes at least two days of complete rest to ensure a full recovery." His words brought a sense of relief to Mahadev and Sati, who had been anxious about Swayam's health.

Observing Sati's persistent anxiety regarding their son's well-being, Dev clasped her hand firmly, offering her a reassuring gaze.

"Don't worry, honey. We should trust the doctor's words; he's a professional," Dev consoled her, although his own concerns lingered beneath the surface.

Sati, with unwavering determination, responded, "Honey, I do trust him. After all, he's been our family doctor for nearly ten years now. But I want to stay by Swayam's side until I witness him wake up with my own eyes." Her resolve shone brightly in her determined expression.

"Alright, we'll stay by his side for the rest of the night. And, Doc, it would be a good idea for you to sleep in the guestroom tonight, just in case there's an emergency," Dev suggested, his concern for Swayam echoing in his decision.

Observing their persistent unease, the doctor agreed to spend the night in the guestroom, ensuring he would be readily available should any urgent situation arise.

"Very well. Let me inform my wife about the situation so she won't worry," the doctor said, dialing his wife's number.

"Good thinking, Doc. We don't want to cause unnecessary worry," Sati added, finding some comfort in her husband's reassurance.

With a pang of concern for others who would be fretting if they didn't see her son the next day, Sati retrieved her phone and dialed a particular number.

Ring~

Before the second ring even completed, the call was answered, and a soft, hesitant voice filled the air.

"H-Hello, Aunty. G-Good Evening," stammered the voice.

"Hello, Mayra, and Good Evening to you too. I'm calling to let you know that Swayam won't be able to attend college tomorrow, so you shouldn't wait for him in the morning," Sati conveyed, understanding well the source of Mayra's nervousness during their conversation.

"What happened to him? Is he alright? Where is he now?" Mayra inquired, her anxiety for Swayam evident in her rapid questions.

"Calm down, dear. Everything is under control. Don't let your imagination run wild; take a deep breath," Sati replied, her voice adopting a soothing and motherly tone.

"But..."

"No 'buts.' Just understand that he's doing well, and there's no need for excessive worry," Sati reassured her firmly.

"O-Okay, Aunty," Mayra responded after a brief pause, her anxiety somewhat tempered by Sati's comforting words.

"Now, since I've already worried you a bit, I'm going to call Reena. So, good night, Mayra," Sati conveyed as she prepared to end the call. However, before she could do so, Reena's voice unexpectedly came through from Mayra's phone.

"A-Aunty, you don't have to call me. I've already heard everything," Reena stated from the other end of the call, her voice less timid when not in Swayam's presence.

"Oh, Reena is with you, Mayra? That's good to know. Since you've both heard everything, there's no need to worry excessively. And if you'd like, you're both welcome to visit him tomorrow when he wakes up," Sati warmly extended the invitation to her second future daughter-in-law.

Upon hearing Sati's words, two anxious voices erupted from the other end of the call, almost overlapping in their concern.

"What do you mean by 'wakes up'? What happened to him? Is he really alright?" Mayra and Reena fired off their questions in quick succession, their voices blending into an indistinguishable murmur of worry.

"Girls! Girls! Girls! Take a deep breath and calm down. There's no need for so many questions right now. If you want to know what happened to him, you should visit him tomorrow when he wakes up. It's not that I don't want to share, but the truth is, even we don't fully understand why he suddenly fainted. And before you suggest bringing in another doctor, our family doctor has already examined him and assured us that Swayam is just tired and needs some rest," Sati explained, feeling a sense of relief after confiding in her future daughter-in-laws.

After a brief pause, Reena's voice quivered as she asked, "C-Can we visit him right now?"

"I don't think you should do that just yet. We're taking care of him tonight, and it's unlikely he'll wake up before tomorrow morning. So, I suggest you wait to see him when he wakes up," Sati advised, feeling a hint of regret for causing them undue worry in her quest for relief.

"O-Okay, Aunty, we'll see him tomorrow early in the morning. Good night," Mayra and Reena both greeted before ending the call.

Sati couldn't help but smile, thinking, "Such good daughters-in-law. I'm not sure why Swayam hasn't made any moves toward them yet. Another mystery of his, huh?" With those thoughts in mind, she and Dev made space on the king-size bed around Swayam, slowly drifting off to sleep, their worries somewhat eased.

***