II
Doctor Ahuja washed her face and reached for the towel. She had returned from a night shift at the hospital. When she looked up Usha, her college going daughter, appeared in the mirror.
“Dulichand is at the back door. He looks worried and has asked for you” Usha announced.
“And…” something stopped Usha midsentence.
“And what?”
“Rohit wet his bed this morning and refused to attend school.”
“Wonder what has happened now?” the Doctor ignored Rohit and the tea getting cold on the dining table and went to the back door followed by Usha.
“Please come and see what has happened” Dulichand pleaded, his dark smooth skin glistening with sweat.
“Get my stethoscope and the thermometer” the doctor asked Usha who complied quickly. The three walked briskly to the jhuggi.
“I had gone to Shahdara last evening to see my cousin who is unwell and stayed over. I called your home from there and Rohit informed Imarti. I returned a short while ago. When she did not awaken even after I made tea for both of us I knew something was wrong” Dulichand spoke just before the Doctor entered the jhuggi.
In the lugubrious chamber the Doctor uncovered Imarti, checked her pulse and eyes and felt her chest with the stethoscope.
“Usha, call for the hospital ambulance immediately. She is breathing but unconscious and must be taken to the emergency immediately.”
After Usha left, she turned to the pale faced Dulichand.
“Is your wife in the habit of sleeping nude?”
“No Doctor Saab, never.” The Doctor caught a whiff of alcohol in the gentle monsoon breeze.
She fixed Dulichand with a brief piercing gaze and returned home.
The hospital ambulance arrived and took the husband and wife to the emergency. The Doctor had already called her colleague in charge of the day emergency do do the needful.
Usha raised her eyebrows after she had made a fresh cup of tea for her mother.
“I think she was either raped or seriously molested by a violent man. I saw faint marks on her throat and she was nude waist down” the Doctor replied visualizing the woman’s petticoat which had been pulled up over her abdomen.
“What will happen now?” the daughter asked.
“Most probably a medico-legal case. Who knows what the police will do? You know, they usually do not take the violation a lower class woman seriously. Hope they don’t implicate Dulichand in the case.”
“What if they do?”
“Let us wait and see. The truth will be revealed when Imarti regains consciousness.” The tired Doctor avoided a discussion with the argumentative young lady.
“Must rest. You take care of Rohit” she spoke and retired to her bedroom.
