Page 33 of One Hellish Passion

“We have assigned the best doctors' team to look after her, Mr. Malhotra. Please do not worry.”

Maya’s brain was unable to process the connection between him and her mother’s admission here. But she had no time to ponder on it. She looked at the pale figure of her mother, lying unconscious on the hospital bed, with a monitor beeping next to her, showing her vitals. She came forward and touched her mother’s face.

“Mom,” tears rolled down her cheek. She really had no clue that something like this would happen again to her mother while she had been out. Had she known it before, she would have canceled her trip to Hong Kong.

“Miss Bajaj,” the doctor tried to get her attention. “We want to know your mother’s medical history, and any earlier reports plus a list of what medication she is currently undergoing.”

Maya nodded.

“I will get it soon, Doctor.”

“Good.”

“How is she doing, Doctor? What sort of panic attack was it? What intensity?” she asked.

“Her heartbeat was sinking when your aunt got her here. If they had delayed for even a few more minutes, it would have been worse.”

Maya swallowed. She watched Ranveer Malhotra walking out of the private ward to pick up some calls. It was high time she knew what was he doing here. The doctor continued treating Garima with his team, and Maya came out to make a call to Pammi aunty to check where she was.

“Aunty, where are you? I am at the hospital.”

“Maya, I had come back to your home to collect your mother’s reports and medicine list. The doctor needs that for treating her.”

“Yes, he told me that too. Thanks, aunty.”

“Don't thank me. How is Garima now? Did the doctor say anything?”

“They are still observing her.”

Maya observed Ranveer Malhotra conversing with Aman Mathur, issuing him with instructions of some sort. She had rejected his purported proposal and prepared to leave Hong Kong to return home. Her actions had severely wounded his ego. He hadn't anticipated her defiance. Perhaps he believed he could manipulate her once more, but she refused to allow it. Suddenly, other thoughts raced through her mind. Did he tell her mother about the ramp walk? Was he the reason for her mother’s present condition.

Disconnecting Pammi’s phone call, she strode angrily towards Ranveer, who had just finished his talk, and Aman Mathur had left speedily away. The moment she reached him, she fisted the shirt he was wearing, angrily.

“How much more will you fall in your own eyes, Ranveer? What are you made of?” she scowled. “When I didn’t agree to your filthy demands, you stooped so low and targeted my mother? Don’t you have a pinch of humanity in you?”

Ranveer gritted his teeth.

“Leave my shirt,” he groaned in anger, but she didn’t obey him.

“Why? Are you bothered if people will hear me and know how stone-hearted you are? You only care about your reputation, don’t you? All others are like a piece of crap for you. You don’t care what they go through because of your silly actions.”

“Maya, I said leave my shirt,” he growled again and this time held her wrist to shrug her arms. She angrily pushed him away.

“Just get lost from here before I lose my mind,” she shouted. “I don’t want you anywhere near my mother or me. And if you don’t stop playing your dirty tricks with us, I would have to involve the higher authorities. One damn interview of me about what you proposed me to do, and it could create havoc in your life. All this power you have got surrounding because of money would crush down. And mind me, I am serious.”

Ranveer glared at her. For the first time, someone was trying to threaten him. Maya’s breath kept rising, but she felt good screaming at him.

“Maya,” Pammi reached there. Maya dragged her eyes away from Ranveer and tried to act calm. “Were you both fighting?” she asked. It was clear that Pammi didn’t hear their heated talks.

“I was just asking him to leave,” Maya looked angrily at Ranveer again.

“Why? Why should he leave? He is here to help us. If he hadn’t helped us at the right time, there were chances we would have lost Garima,” Pammi replied.

Maya looked surprised at her aunt.

“What?”

“Yes. We tried calling you last night when Garima got that panic attack, but your number wasn’t reachable. It’s then that I remembered Garima has your boyfriend’s number too, as he had called her yesterday. I immediately dialed Ranveer and told him about the situation. He arranged for the ambulance and even assisted us to complete all formalities at the hospital. You should thank him for his timely help.”

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