Ruchika stepped out of the house in total flurry, fearing whatever worst a young wife in such a situation could imagine. Where is Neetan? In what condition? All sorts of negative images rushed through her mind.

She did not want to ask the passersby. That would spread fear and rumours.

Then, as she turned round the corner near the Kali temple, she saw Neetan coming from a distance. She virtually ran to him, hugged him lightly and said in lachrymose tone, "Where did you go?"

He lifted up and showed the vessel in which she would bring milk from a nearby dairy every day.

"You seemed tired. You were sleeping with your head on the laptop. So, I thought I would go and bring milk today." He explained.

As the two walked back home, Ruchika kept looking at Neetan, but there seemed nothing unusual in his demeanour. When they reached home and Ruchika made tea that both of them drank sitting together in the balcony, she tried to figure out what had gone wrong the previous evening. But he seemed to remember nothing except their going somewhere in a car.

"Where did we go? I remember I was driving the car and you were sitting by my side." On a normal day, Ruchika would have taken this as a wanton teasing by a loving husband, but now it caused her anxiety.

"Can you take leave from office today and stay at home?" she implored. He tried to explain that he had just come to Chennai and needed to build up his image. But she somehow prevailed upon him to stay home.

During the day she did whatever she could to make him happy. Then, as he got busy watching Netflix, she slipped into a room and quietly spoke to her cousin Megha living in Lucknow.

"Do you remember uncle often talked of a big doctor in Chennai he knew? Do you have any idea of his name and phone number?"

"I'll have to check his diaries. After dad's death, my mother put them aside. Shall I let you know by tomorrow evening?"

"No dear, it is urgent. Please turn the house upside down, if necessary, but let me know."

"Why what happened. Is all well?" queried Megha, all concern.

"Nothing. Neetan's boss had a stroke today morning." Ruchika managed the situation.

After half an hour, the phone bell rang in Dr. Subramaniam's house. Ruchika told the entire incident. He said, "Bring him, but not as a patient, but as a guest. If it is a psychological problem, then we must not make him aware of it. Tell him it is my birthday. Bring a bouquet."

After a while Ruchika's phone rang again. It was doctor Subramaniam on the other end, "Don't bring a bouquet, bring a chocolate!" he said and laughed.

Dr Subramaniam's jovial and affectionate nature put heart into Ruchika. She told Neetan about his uncle who was doctor and who had a birthday for which they must go.

Dr Subramaniam lived in an old house in Miylapore where he said he had been born and had grown up. He told interesting stories and involved Neetan in conversation. Later, very cleverly, Dr Subramaniam's wife, Malathi, got Neetan interested in her musical instruments and singing and took him away to her music room. This gave Ruchika time to talk with Dr. Subramaniam.

The doctor said, "I don't see anything wrong with him, except that he has a sudden patch of amnesia yesterday. Is this significant or is it just a one-time chance event, I can't say. But I would suggest that you should keep your mind calm and just watch. Hopefully this will not occur again. It is possible that Neetan has been working too hard. I am giving some vitamins and minerals. Sometimes deficiencies can affect the nervous system."

Ruchika sat silent, as if she wanted the doctor to say something. She felt she would feel more assured if the doctor said there is some problem but he has the medicine for it. Having seen Neetan in that condition the previous evening and then being told that there was nothing wrong was more disturbing than being told that there is a problem but there is a solution.

Malathi and Neetan walked in, with Malathi saying, "Ruchi, you should bring your husband often. He is such a gentleman and so observant about things." Ruchika did not know what to say. She had always believed that she had been lucky in getting Neetan as her husband. She could not accept that Neetan might be suffering some health issue.

Days passed and Ruchika began to believe that Neetan's problem was only weakness created by deficiency of vitamins and minerals. She took care of giving him all the tablets given by Dr. Subramaniam, as if missing one tablet would bring back the problem of that day.

Life moved to complete normal until one day Neetan went to Mudita Mall to buy books. As he moved along the shelves of books, pulling them out, browsing through them and putting them back, he pulled out a set of books and across the gap thus created he saw the bright and beautiful face of Shubhangi. Both of them looked at each other for a few seconds, Neetan with eyes that sank deep into mesmerism and Shubhanghi with eyes that tended to explode with fear.

"Charu!" said Neetan with a voice full of emotion. Although he was not loud, yet in that silent hall his voice sounded like a shout. Shubhangi dropped on the shelf the books she had been seeing, and moved hurriedly. Neetan rushed after her, shouting, "Charu, don't go! They'll kill you!" The bookstall that had been so calm till a few moments ago became tense. Shubhangi ran out and Neetan ran behind her, shouting, "Charu, remain with me. They'll kill you! I must protect you from them!"