A Suitor for the Princess - Chapter 62

         She hummed a ditty as she drove her car on the wide and wind-blown road with gorgeous scenery surrounding her. This was bliss, she thought, enamored by the visual delight of profusely flowering trees, colorful bougainvilleas of every conceivable shade covering the walls of villas by the roadside, a blue, cloudless sky and a cool breeze that promised her a new life at the end of this journey. 

         She thought about John and herself. She imagined themselves as a normal, happily married couple, bickering and making-up, having kids and raising them together and growing old together comfortably. She was very, very happy. Life was looking up for her. The Doctor had told her that she could meet John in his presence, after she completed her novel. Thus he could determine whether the characters in her novel still held her in their hold or had freed her of their shackles! That was a very reasonable suggestion, she thought pleased with the way the Doctor was handling the situation. He was surely the best psychiatrist in town. Who else would go out of his way to ensure the well-being of his client? He hadn’t even billed her as yet!

          When she reached his apartment complex and parked her car, she got her heavy suitcase and purse and lugged it to the lobby. She took the elevator to the floor where his apartment was situated, walked crisply to his neighbor’s apartment and rang the bell. As if on cue, the door opened immediately and the eager and nosy neighbor gave her the keys. “Oh, have you come for a longer stay this time?” she remarked. As a defiant retort arose in her throat, Martha checked herself and said as coolly as she could, “Yes. Thank you.”

         Seeing that Martha wasn’t about to divulge any information about her stay at the Doctor’s apartment, she just watched her from top to toe and back to the top. Martha knew that this was a deliberate ploy to undermine her self-confidence; hence she gave her the brightest of her smiles and smartly walked the few steps to the Doctor’s apartment. She could feel that pesky lady’s eyes on her back long after she had closed the door.

        She lugged her suitcase to the guest-room where she had stayed earlier and came back to the living-room. She called the Doctor. “Doctor, this is Martha. I have reached your apartment. May I make coffee for myself and have something to eat from your refrigerator, if you don’t mind?” “Please stop being so formal, Martha. Feel at home and help yourself to anything that you want. Take rest for a while and then start writing. You’ll feel better then. Happy writing! See you in the evening.” As he disconnected the call, she felt warmth spreading in her veins. He was so kind and considerate!

         She did exactly as he said. She got cheese and bread from the kitchen, made some coffee and relaxed on the couch in the living room. She watched some television show featuring a rock-band and enjoyed the diversion. It had been ages since she had watched television. Then she walked around the huge apartment aimlessly, admiring the objects de’ art, beautiful original prints on the walls and the exquisite furniture. When she came to the balcony, she was amazed at the view from there. She could see far into the distance.

         Fishing boats bobbed on the placid waters of the bay, white clouds scudded lazily across a clear blue sky, the road that wound to the beach was covered with small shacks and people going about their chores; and lastly the unending waves gently lapped the shore. She shivered as it gave her a sensuous feeling, like a lover kissing his beloved, gently with unending yearning! Immediately she remembered John and blushed, happy that she was alone. Yes, solitude was indeed bliss. She could be herself. She was happy that the Doctor was not around, constantly analyzing her actions and expressions with those piercing, hawk-like, bright eyes. She decided to be alert when he was around.

          Feeling slightly drowsy with the exertion of driving the car, now washing over her; she decided to take a small nap. She wore a gown sensibly, just in case she overslept and had to open the door for the Doctor! Then she fell on to the bed and was soon fast asleep. She awoke when her cell-phone rang. “Martha, it is me,” said Dr. Hussey. “I’m sorry if I disturbed you, but I just wanted to check on your well-being. I will be home by around 7.30 p.m. Then we’ll go for dinner. Will that be fine?” “Sure Doctor. Thanks a lot for all the trouble that you are taking to make my stay comfortable!”

          She glanced at the bedside alarm clock. It was 4 p.m. She was refreshed and raring to go. She could write continuously for 3 hours without a care in the world. No chores and no interruptions. A dream for a writer! Sara, Juan, here I come, she declared loudly to the walls and unpacked her suitcase, got the folder and located the sheet on which she had last written. The date was one that was three months ago. She’d have to read a little of the last chapter to get a hang of the story or rather where it was headed to and then continue writing, she decided. She started reading…..

To be continued..... 

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