Arya was about to leave for work when her phone began buzzing. It was Sameer.
“Now what could the guy want?” she thought to herself before picking up the phone.
“Hello, Arya. Sameer here. I need you to meet me at the hospital.”
Arya did not believe him at first, “Nice try, honey. Haven’t you annoyed me enough today already?”
“I am serious,” Sameer pleaded in a sincere tone. “I was waiting at the bus stop when the pain in my back became unbearable. Karan offered to take me to the hospital but I told him not to skip work.”
Arya’s face turned grave, “Is everything alright?”
Sameer faithlessly assured her, “Yes, yes; everything’s alright.”
Arya was not the kind of person to fall for any false assurances, “Sameer, if everything is alright then why are you going to the hospital?”
“I am just feeling a bit of a pain.”
“What kind of a pain?”
“I don’t know. I told you, it’s paining around my back.”
“You’re going to the hospital for a back pain?”
“It’s more than what I can bear now.”
“What? How long have you been bearing this pain?”
“For some time.”
“And why did you never tell me about it?”
“I thought it was just a minor ache and it will go away.”
“Very well, doctor. So smart of you, as always.”
Sameer pleaded again, “Arya, please just come to the hospital. I will explain to you everything. I need you here. You know how afraid I am of doctors.”
Arya suppressed her fury, “Yes, I know that very well.”
“I have taken the day off from work. You might also have to take an off today. I am really sorry.”
Again, Arya suppressed her fury, “Yes, I know that too.”
Sameer now had two problems to tackle. A back pain and a fuming wife, “Arya, don’t be mad at me. Just come here please.”
Without any further delay, Arya rushed to the hospital. She knew something was wrong. Sameer would never take a day off from work for something trivial. Arya was worried. A drop of sweat glistened on her forehead.
Frank Solanki 