Madhuri shared a brief smile with the visibly pregnant woman sitting across from her. The woman's husband, seated next to her, would often whisper in her ear, causing her to blush and giggle. But their moment of marital bliss was interrupted by the man's phone ringing, and he excused himself from his wife, apologizing for the interruption. Madhuri couldn't help but give a wry chuckle at the idyllic image of their relationship. She had lost count of how many times her own husband had abandoned her side without explanation, whether it was due to work or some other indulgence she knew nothing about.

Madhuri released a defeated breath through her parched and cracked lips. Her angry husband had shown his disappointment at the early start of her menstrual cycle, leading to their lack of physical intimacy. His irritation had also manifested during breakfast as he criticized and analyzed every aspect of her cooking, claiming it was barely edible.

The thought had crossed her mind to dare him to cook for once, a sly smirk on her lips as she imagined his impeccable cooking skills crumbling before her. But the fear of provoking him held her tongue in check, knowing all too well the consequences of pushing too far. This was not the first time she had censored herself, and Madhuri was certain it would not be the last, trapped in a cycle of walking on eggshells around her volatile partner.

"Madhuri Shukla!" The receptionist's voice snapped her back to reality.

Jaya headed towards the gynecologist's office, with Madhuri trailing behind her and adjusting her dupatta. "Good morning!" greeted Dr. Vartika, her lips stretched in a warm and friendly smile.

Jaya took the lead as Madhuri shut the door behind her. "See, madam, my daughter-in-law always has some or the other complaint. Write some medications and cure her, please."

Dr. Vartika's gaze flickered to Madhuri, her patient's awkward stance and tense shoulders revealing her unease. Madhuri's eyes remained fixed on the floor, her head bowed in shame, causing a pang of empathy to stir in the doctor's chest

"No worries. I will make sure Madhuri feels at ease soon. Why don't you take a seat here, Madhuri?" she asked, pointing at the stool meant for the patient.

Madhuri nodded and made her way there. "So, what brings you to do the hospital today, Madhuri?" she asked, maintaining eye contact with the embarrassed woman, and speaking with a gentle tone.

"This pair onya."

Jaya looked puzzled after listening to Madhuri's words. "Huh? Can you please repeat that for me, Madhuri?" asked Vartika.

Madhuri had tried to find the scientific term for the pain she experienced during sex, hoping it would help her keep up the lie she had told Jaya and Sameer. She saw an opportunity to research the term while hanging clothes to dry in the morning, but she struggled with the pronunciation. Unfortunately, Jaya caught her using her phone before she could listen to the correct pronunciation and scolded her, taking away her phone as punishment.

"Despair unia."

Vartika caught on, realizing Madhuri was trying to explain without being explicit to avoid her mother-in-law's questioning. She nodded her head in understanding. "Why don't we proceed to the examination? Behind the curtain. Shall we?"

Madhuri leapt up, taking the chance to escape from her mother-in-law's watchful eye. She flashed a nervous smile towards her, hoping to ease the tension. "Maaji, please stay seated," Vartika urged.

Once they were hidden behind the curtain, Madhuri finally relaxed and let out a deep breath.

"So, dyspareunia? Where did you learn about that?" Vartika asked as she helped Madhuri onto the examination table.

Madhuri squirmed and tugged at her dupatta. "Google. I told her I got those days early."

Vartika hummed in agreement and checked Madhuri's vital signs. "Ah, your accelerated heart rate makes sense now. Do you have any other symptoms? Any discharge or odor? And for how long has this been going on?"

Madhuri avoided looking at the doctor. Vartika gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "It's alright, Madhuri. You can tell me. I won't judge you, and it's important for me to know if you're experiencing any of these symptoms so I can properly diagnose your condition."

Madhuri inhaled sharply and nodded. "From a month almost. Sometimes. Greenish liquid and the smell near rivers. Like that of..."

"Fishes. It was a fishy smell, wasn't it?" asked Vartika.

Madhuri looked astonished at Vartika's suggestion. "Yes. Yes. It was. Is it something serious? Am I going to be barren?"

She spoke with a tremble in her voice, betraying her worry and fear. "Let's not jump to conclusions just yet. I'll take a sample and send it to the lab for testing. We should have the results by tomorrow, so I can confirm the diagnosis then. Are you comfortable with giving a sample now, Madhuri?" Her eyes watered and blurred the image of the kind woman in Madhuri's mind.

"Don't worry, Madhuri, everything will be alright," Vartika reassured her, handing her tissues from the nearby table. "It's been a long time since someone showed concern about whether I would be okay with their actions," she chuckled, gratefully accepting the tissues to wipe away her tears. "I apologize, ma'am, you may take the sample now."

Madhuri's words hit Vartika like a punch to the gut. Despite years of experience, it still pained her to hear the raw and heartbreaking confessions of her patients. But she pushed down her emotions and replied, "It's no problem, Madhuri."

Vartika stepped out of the room, giving Madhuri privacy to disrobe her lower half. She immediately connected with the nursing station through the intercom, needing to quickly transfer the sample to the laboratory for testing. The strong stench of fish that assaulted her nostrils only confirmed Vartika's initial diagnosis, sending a wave of dread coursing through her body.

"How many years of marriage again?"

"Almost two years," said Madhuri. "Ready, madam."

Following the unspoken signal, Vartika approached the woman lying on the bed. "This may cause some discomfort, but I'll do my best to make it as painless as I can. Just try to bear with me," she reassured her patient.

For a second time, tears gathered in the corners of the woman's eyes, and Vartika knew it was another sensitive spot for her. She felt sympathy towards her, but with her mother-in-law present in the same room and her role as a doctor limiting her actions, there was little she could offer besides her expertise in medicine.

"Done! I will wait for you outside!" said Vartika, sealing the swab inside the container and pasting the label bearing the patient's name.

The diagnosis would break her apart, and Vartika knew. "Are you married, doctor?" asked Jaya, bringing her out of her reverie.

Jaya's question perplexed her, and the scowl on her face only added to her discomfort. "Yes, it has been eleven years."

"Why don't you dress like a typical married woman? Your dress ends just below the knees and there are no signs of your marital status. You're setting a bad example for the women who come to your hospital."

Vartika's nostrils flared, and she raised her eyebrow at the older woman. "Perhaps in the future, it would be wise to inquire about the doctor's dressing style before their qualifications. If that is an issue for you, feel free to wait outside. And Madhuri, please bring your husband with you tomorrow for the results."

Madhuri had just finished getting ready and returned to the cabin, only to turn bright red at her mother-in-law's words. She gave an apologetic smile to the doctor before quickly guiding Jaya out of the room, hoping to diffuse the tension.

Vartika sank into her chair, letting out an exasperated sigh at the situation.

She picked her phone from the desk and pressed a speed-dial number.

"Hello! No, Di! I will not do the homework, no matter how busy you are!"

"That's not why I called, okay? No need to rub salt on my wounds. I needed your legal advice!" said Vartika, tapping her foot against the ground.

"Legal advice? My goodness! What have you got yourself into?" asked the voice on the other side.

Vartika let out an exasperated breath and rolled her eyes. "I just need to know if there's a way to prevent a patient's family from hearing their diagnosis. Can I legally keep them out of the room when I reveal the news?"

"Hey, I'm a criminal lawyer, not a medical one. But as far as I know, it's ultimately up to the patient. Unless they specifically request for their family not to be present, we assume that they are okay with them being there." The question hung in the air as he pressed on, "What happened this time?"

"Don't you dare tell next time that Advocate Arjun Malhotra knows everything and can win any case then! I just had a patient. I don't think her party should listen to the diagnosis. Poor woman! She doesn't really have much of a choice!" she said, playing with the paperweight.

Arjun's voice softened as he spoke, "You know how I feel about that last sentence?"

Vartika responded firmly, "That there is always a choice, right?" She paused, then continued with conviction. "But you also know my stance on this. Sometimes beliefs and morals can cloud our judgment and limit our options. And sometimes, those around us may hide the true choices available. What may seem like a choice, may actually not be one at all."