A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 51

        And that wouldn’t do for Martha, who was always hoping to be swept off her feet by a tall, dark and handsome man like the hero of her novel. Like John D’ Costa! He was a gale-storm that had blown her senses away.  Seemingly hard to get, yet approachable, distant yet likable, arrogant yet lovable!  She loved everything about him; a stranger whom she had met just three months ago, but with whom she looked forward to spending her lifetime!  She hadn’t known until she’d fallen in love with John, just what love meant.  Now she understood fully.

        True love called for a soul-mate and John was just that!  She felt as though she had been waiting for Mr. Right all her life and he had just arrived on the scene to be rudely pushed away by circumstances!  How wrong could that be?  He was her suitor and she’d see that he got her hand in the end, just like Sara and Juan were to be united after all their trials and tribulations.  But life wasn’t a novel.  It was all fact and zero fiction.  While she could control the lives of her characters, she couldn’t control hers, which was in the hands of providence.  Right then providence had a name.  Norman. Would she be able to stand up to him and weather the storm, come what may?  Or would she be tossed about like a speck on the wild sea of her life.

        Besides, would any of her suitors, Norman or John be capable of handling her psychological distress and if so, for how long?

        The King of Regina had wanted to test the patience of the suitors for his darling daughter’s hand in marriage.  Now she felt as if she would be testing the patience of her suitors.  It would be interesting to wait and watch the outcome, that is, if her sanity remained intact in the long run!  She shivered at the morbid thoughts about her future and then realized that she really didn’t have any control over her own destiny.  She decided to call up Dr. Hussey the next day and fix up an appointment.  This time, she’d go all alone to meet him.  Then she almost cried as she realized that she didn’t have his number!  As it was close to midnight, she chose to sleep rather than worry about things beyond her control.  She still had tomorrow!

        The next day, as soon as all her chores were over, she called up ‘Inquiry’ and got Dr. Hussey’s number.  Just seeing that innocuous number on that equally innocuous chit of paper gave her infinite strength!  She almost felt as if her fate was in her hands!  Then she booked an appointment for later that day, in the afternoon.  She called the office and asked for a leave of absence from the snooty secretary and hung up without waiting for a reply. 

             She’d decided to lie to Norman if he did call her and try to find out the reason for her absence.  “I’m dusting the house” she’d say.  She knew that he wouldn’t press her any more, fearing her ‘frail mental condition’.  She giggled and felt like a little school girl bunking school with a cooked-up excuse.  She’d never done that when she was little, hence now as a grown-up she’d do it and have fun!

              Feeling carefree and supremely relaxed, she drove her car to Dr. Hussey’s clinic. She had enjoyed the solitary long drive. She decided that henceforth she’d not depend on anyone else to accompany her to the clinic. She was capable of doing it on her own. It would also give her privacy. She wanted to get rid of the horrible feeling that her life was fast becoming an open book, ready for everyone to peep into, discuss and take decisions on her life. She resolved to regain control of her awry life and her future too! She didn’t want to be bulldozed into doing anything that she didn't want to!    

              As soon as she went into Dr. Hussey’s cabin and saw the tiny but distinguished Doctor sitting calmly in his seat, she felt better. He rose to greet her warmly and said, “Hope you are better than before Madam. Feel free to discuss with me, whatever troubles you.” She laughed and replied “Doctor, I’d feel better if you called me Martha and dropped the formality.” “If you say so,” he shrugged, returning her smile. Martha sat down on the by then familiar couch and started saying “Yesterday, I had a fainting spell.”

             She quickly explained the earlier day’s episode as succinctly as she could. Even she was taken aback by the clarity with which she could recollect that disturbing episode. Then she told him, “Doctor, I cannot bear to be separated from my colleague John. I know that it is imperative in the current circumstances, but I resent Norman’s high-handedness even if he means good. I am having a tough time reconciling myself with this forced isolation.”

             When she saw the Doctor’s shrewd eyes on her face, she squirmed. He surely knew how to read people’s thoughts. After all he was a ‘shrink’. She felt herself blushing against her will. “Why, may I ask, do you resent being separated from John? Any special reason?” She kept mum. “If you don’t answer me, I’ll have to draw my own conclusions, Martha and they could be wrong! Hence it would be better if you are frank with me. I assure you that it will be kept confidential. I know that you want privacy to voice your fears, therefore chose to come all by yourself here.” Martha knew that she was cornered by that ‘fox’.

              “Well then, Doctor, I think that I may have fallen in love with John.” The Doctor gaped at her just for a moment, recovered and grinned. “Ah” he said. She knew that he was thinking about Norman right then. Wasn’t he Martha’s fiancée?” He just said, “That’s your personal matter, Martha. But I can see why you can’t stand being isolated from his very presence. Besides, a heart grows fonder in a beloved’s absence. So maybe you are getting more agitated and frustrated now. But you do realize that his presence brings on your fainting spells too! It wouldn’t do if you love him and faint at the very sight of him! I hope you are getting my point.”

               “That’s exactly why I am here today, Doctor. I’m at my wits’ end. How do I solve this conundrum? Only you can help me.

To be continued.... 

The copyright of this novel is with Mrs. Priya Ramesh Swaminathan.