"What's the matter, brother? What did Pooja say?" Sukhi asked seeing Bandu tensed after he finished talking over the phone.

"Ravi has not reached home as yet,"

"He must have had another appointment," Sukhi was quick to state the obvious.

"In that case, he should have at least intimated them to expect him late. His phone too is switched off, which I am sure is because it has been discharged,"

"Let's go in and talk about it," Sukhi said leading Bandu into the house and closing the door behind them. In the living room, Bandu plumped down on the chair and stretched his legs.

He glanced at the clock, now ticking away to midnight. He assured Pooja to track Ravi but had no idea whatsoever where to begin his search, as he was not acquainted with any of Ravi's friends or relatives at Bali. He only mentioned about meeting the doctor tomorrow regarding Pooja's surgery.

Then an idea struck him and he thought that it was the first place to start.

"I better go and check at the garage where he paid for Miss Sakhi's car to be repaired," he said straightening himself on the chair.

"Bandu, wait, it would be closed at this hour," Sukhi reminded him.

"Yes, you are right," Bandu accepting with a defeated tone, "What do I do now? Where do I look for him?" he muttered, running a hand through his hair and leaned back into the chair. He had never seen a more responsible person like Ravi and hence doubts haggard his mind. Pooja was his world and he would surely not want her to worry about him. Going to the police was the only option now, Bandu thought.

For the first time now since he moved here, he longed for his friend Partho's help and advice. His phone beeped and with hope, he fumbled in his pocket to retrieve it but frowned seeing an unknown number flash on it.

"Hello," he said into the receiver.

"Hello" a female voice greeted him back, "Is this Mr. Bandu Raghav?"

"Yes, Bandu here. How may I help you?"

"I am calling from the MMR hospital in Bali regarding a patient brought in here unconscious, this evening in an accident case. The patient has regained consciousness and has asked us to contact you. He gives his name as Ravi Rajput," she informed Bandu.

"Oh my god, Ravi!...what happened to him? Is he alright?" Bandu shot hurried questions at the lady on the other side.

"He had been in an accident and brought here unconscious. He has got a fractured arm and has stitches on his head too. But he is awake now and has requested you to come,"

"Yes, yes, I will be there in some time madam,"

After an 'ok' was reciprocated the line went dead and Bandu turned to Sukhi, who was waiting to be updated on the conversation.

"Ravi met with an accident and is admitted to the MMR hospital in Bali. I need to go there now," he informed her and hastened to the door.

"Wait, brother, eat something first as you might need to stay there overnight," she suggested as an afterthought.

"That's right, Sukhi," Bandu who was half way to the door stopped to think at her words and as a reminder as to how hungry he was, his stomach came up with a growl, "Keep the food on the table. I will be to the washroom first," he said as he changed his direction.

He could now discern the need for a motored vehicle rather than a cycle, where speed was of the utmost need of the hour. Given with his human ability and the empty road, he managed to cover the distance to the hospital in 45 minutes, all sweating, out of breath and wobbling legs. But it was a need of the hour.

At the reception, the exhausted Bandu was directed to the ward on the first floor. He almost gagged on the disinfectant, but continued on his way up.

Locating Ravi in the dimly lit room was a task, which he finally accomplished. He was horrified at the impact of the accident, looking down at the bruised and bandaged man on the bed.

He settled down on the empty chair beside the bed, not wanting to interrupt the sleeping man. He must have sat there for half an hour, thinking about how Ravi must have met with the accident when a sister came to change the drip bottle. Disturbed, Ravi groaned and opened his eyes and first noticed the sister.

"What time is it?" He asked the sister.

"It's 2.30 am,"

"Oh! my head hurts," he whimpered as he turned his head sideways.

"You will feel better in some time, medicine has been injected into the drip for that," she informed and then departed after disposing off the empty bottle in the waste bin.

Ravi then noticed Bandu's presence on the chair.

"Bandu, you are here...ahhh!," he exclaimed.

"Don't get worked up, lie still," Bandu urged and Ravi laid back again. Bandu brought his chair closer to the bed and leaned forward to talk to him.

"How did you end up here in the hospital? I was frightened for you when I received a call from home that you had not reached home. I did not know where to start looking for you,"

"Bandu I am not happy to be here, but before I explain to you what happened, put Pooja's mind at ease. Tell her I am staying with a friend of mine and I had lost my phone so could not inform her and that to expect me tomorrow,"

"Ok, I better move out into the corridor to make the call," Bandu said before leaving the room.

Returning after five minutes he seated himself back in the chair.

"Well, I have assured her that you are fine," Bandu said.

"Thanks, Bandu,"

"Now tell me how all this happened,"

"What is there to tell, someone just backstabbed me,"

"You mean someone hurt you deliberately...?"

"I leave from the garage after paying and instructing them. Ten minutes into the journey I get a call. I slow down to retrieve the phone but saw that the caller was unknown, so I stop my bike to the side of the road, to attend the call. I say 'hello' and receive laughter from the other end. First I thought that a child is playing a prank, but later realize that it was the voice of a grown-up person. I issue a series of unmentionables, but the laughter continued and then all of a sudden I find myself flung in the air and fall on the ground hitting my head and arm. After that, I woke up at the hospital,"

"This is definitely done on purpose. Have the police been notified?"

"I don't know. They wouldn't admit me until the police are informed about the accident. I would like to thank the good Samaritans who brought me here,"

"This is all so strange; I wonder who wants to hurt you. Thank god you are safe,"

The medicines were reeling Ravi under sedation and he set off a series of helpless yawns.

"Bandu, why don't you go home? I will be ok now,"

"No, I will wait until I have had a word with the doctor. You go to sleep; I will take care of myself. It is now few hours away from daybreak," Bandu said knowing well that Ravi was in no state to argue and watched as his friend involuntarily shut his eyes.

After a brief glance across the room, Bandu strolled out into the corridor, where he spotted a resting room for the relatives of the sick. On entering he observed beds lined along one side of the wall, but they were all occupied. The chairs were also taken up, and then he noticed that several people had made a bed for themselves on the ground. Not thinking twice, he too did the same and at once went to sleep.