An Inevitable Fate?

The room was filled with dead silence. Rachel didn't know what to do or how to behave. She just stood there awkwardly.

The silence was broken by Eric's phone's ringing. Eric, who was in the middle of the changing, emerged from the closet wearing only trousers. He frowned seeing an unknown number.

"Hello?"

"Dr. Stein?"

"Yes?"

"This is Dr. Melan speaking from People's hospital. Dr. Christopher recommended you to us for this operation. We have an emergency. The patient has got a heart-attack twice and he is in critical condition. Do you think you can make it to our hospital?"

He instantly turned towards Rachel and saw her confused look. He was a doctor, he chose this path and, he didn't have an option.

"Yes, send me the patient details. I am on my way."

He ended the call and went back to the closet. He returned in his formals as he reached for his mobile.

All this time, Rachel stood there looking at his movements, in a daze. Was he leaving? Was he leaving her alone on their wedding night?

"I am sorry. I got a call and it's an emergency. I need to attend."

"Oh," She suppressed her hard feelings.

"You can sleep here. I will return soon."

"Sure. You do your job." She smiled, with tears in her eyes.

'Why am I crying?'

"You remember what I said earlier?"

He asked with an expressionless face. Rachel wrinkled her face, trying to recall. And, it wasn't that difficult as he had not spoken much. She remembered.

'I don't like an ugly looking panda. Give my... wife back.'

This was what he had said earlier when she was crying nonstop.

Rachel blushed and smiled to assure him.

He nodded. After some hesitation, he held her face and kissed her forehead gently. And, he left.

The room was once again filled with silence. She took a deep breath and headed towards her bedroom. He wasn't there and she didn't have any reason to be in his room.

She lay on her bed thinking about the whole wedding day. Remembering that he had kissed on her cheek and also, back in the room, on her forehead, she felt disappointed.

Any girl would have felt a secure and a warm feeling when her man kisses her on her forehead. But, Rachel knew what it meant to her. To him.

It was nothing.

She knew Eric for the past 10 years and she knew better, that the kiss didn't mean anything to him as he had done the same thing ever since he met her.

It was just a friendly gesture.

This hurt her even more.

Tears kept coming out and she no longer tried to stop them.

_

At the hospital.

Rachel felt a warm hand rubbing against her eyes. Most probably like wiping away the tears. She wanted to open her eyes but she couldn't. She felt as if her eyelids were glued.

'Was Eric back from the hospital?' She wondered.

With a lot of difficulties, she opened her eyes and the blurry image came into her sight.

"Dad?"

A bitter smile. She was dreaming. Again!

"Rachel? Rachel! Dear, you are awake! Are you okay? Are you in pain? Wait, of course, you will be in pain. I will call the doctor right away."

He got up as soon as he finished speaking. Rachel grabbed his sleeves to stop him.

"Dad, I'm fine. What happened?" She held her head. There was an IV attached to her hand.

"You met with an accident and fell unconscious on the road. Someone who saw you called an ambulance and informed us. Thank god, Rachel, nothing serious happened."

She tried to get up but couldn't as her back was aching.

"Don't. You have been sleeping for two days." He went and called the doctor.

The doctor did the check-up and said that everything was fine.

"She needs rest for a few days and she will be back to normal. Her head was not injured during the accident. So, there's nothing to worry about."

Finally, Colin breathed a sigh of relief.

"Mom?"

"I sent her home to freshen up. She was here all night. She was too worried to leave you alone. Now, if she hears you are awake, she would be-"

"Dad,"

"Jumping around the house. Even Jane-"

"Dad, it wasn't an accident!" Rachel interrupted him.

"What did you say?"

"It wasn't an accident. I guess? I wasn't crossing the road to get knocked out from the car. The car came rushing towards me."

For a second, no one spoke.

"You must have mistaken, dear," Colin spoke with a visible frown.

"I know it's hard to believe, but, I felt it, Dad."

"Okay, okay. Dad will look into it. You take rest."

He made her sleep and went out of the ward. He had a complicated look on his face.

'Is it just her feeling or is it ... him?'

His expression changed from worry to furious.