‘You’re lucky really,’ said Dr. Wazir Ahmed. ‘Though the injury was minor, it was still critical. Luckily, he was brought in time, and soon he’ll be fine.’
‘Doctor,’ said Sandhya, taking Dr. Wazir Ahmed’s hand, ‘we would forever be indebted to you.’
‘Thank you,’ said the doctor graciously, ‘but we only did our duty.’
‘Can we shift him to the Gaganmahal Nursing Home, near their home?’ enquired Ranga Reddy.
‘You can take him there tomorrow,’ said the good doctor.
‘You know I need Roopa,’ said Sandhya to Ranga Reddy. ‘Please ask Sathyam to take care of Saroja.’
‘Don’t worry about all that,’ said Ranga Reddy.
‘Don’t fail to seek Sathyam’s ex post facto sanction for my absence,’ said Roopa to Ranga Reddy, as an afterthought.
After his system had shed the anesthetic effect towards eleven that night, Raja Rao regained his consciousness. Seeing both his women, on either side, he involuntarily stretched his hands towards them. It seemed to them that it was as though to bring about a rapprochement between them. Even as they warmed them with their tears, he felt gratified as both of them showered kisses on his hands.
‘Don’t you forgive us,’ he muttered to Sandhya, at length, having savored them for long in silence.
‘What for is the forgiveness?’ Sandhya smiled.
‘You are an angel,’ he pressed her hand feebly.
‘How dare you slight her?’ smiled Sandhya.
‘Oh God, I’ve got to be on guard or what!’ he said in jest. ‘Haven’t I asked for it?’
‘Don’t worry, as a loyal wife,’ said Sandhya to him, as she took Roopa’s hand, ‘I’ll stand guard at the ante-room.’
‘How cute, but won’t we drag you in, for more of our fulfillment,’ he said in all happiness. ‘But why do you keep mum, Roopa?’
‘Oh, I’m benumbed with joy,’ said Roopa.
‘What about your guilt then?’ he smiled.
‘It all got dissolved,’ said Roopa fondling Sandhya’s hand, ‘in our tears of joy.’
‘How I love her romanticism,’ he said, turning to Sandhya, ‘as well as her ardency.’
‘Don’t I know, myself being her first lover,’ smiled Sandhya, and whispered. ‘She had me, much before you held my hand.’
‘Oh, I thought I needed to goad you into it,’ he pulled them towards himself. ‘How lovely there is no need for rehearsals.’
‘Sure you would find it thrilling,’ whispered Sandhya into his ears.
‘Hope, it’s not a ringside view,’ he smiled.
‘Won’t your virility,’ said Roopa coyly, ‘drive you into our arenas?’
‘I’m all eager,’ said Sandhya mirthfully, ‘for our orgies.’