She said this when what she had thought the night before rose in front of her eyes—how she had entered her room to put up her bandage and how one man had entered. It was a few minutes later when she was caught walking out of a hotel crying.

It is with this in mind that her eyes filled once again. This was when Dr. Swati entered into the ward. Eeshani caught her footsteps and turned about and stood up. She rushed to her and told her, Oh, is anything wrong?

When will my mother have her operation, my dear doctor? She'll be fine soon, right? She will not need to stay here very many days?

Calm down, Eeshani, calm down. Swati touched her shoulder and said in a soothing tone. Very soon your mother will be all right. The finest surgeon in India is coming tomorrow; he will be the surgeon himself. His operations have a 99 percent success rate. So don't fret; your mother will come round in due time.

With these words, Eeshani was relieved. She put her hand on the hand of Dr. Swati, and wept.

Doctor, make him tell my mother to get better. There is no other person in this world I have, except her. Father, beg him to save her somehow.

Dr. Swati smiled softly. Personally, I will introduce you to him, Eeshani. You see, you can talk to him yourself, okay?

Eeshani nodded glisteningly. "Thank you so much, doctor. You have had so much to do with me and my mother. I do not know what I should have done without you.

Dr. Swati smiled and gave her a pat on the shoulder. "No need to thank me, Eeshani. Why, just take good care of your mother. By this she gave her a pat and walked out of the ward.

Meanwhile, Vikrant was sitting in the lobby of the hotel, slowly drifting on his cigarette, sitting on a couch. Vyansh stood beside him. The hotel staff, particularly those of the female sex, were standing before them with their heads kept down.

Vyansh received a slight nod from Vikrant. Knowing the sign, Vyansh turned to the employees and told the woman manager,

Get the whole female staff and inspect them.

The employees made rather puzzled expressions. None of them would guess what sort of checking was to occur. All had been hurriedly summoned, not only the day-shift workers but even the night-shift workers.

The female manager waved them to follow her, and all of the women silently walked behind her. On their way, one of them told the manager,

What sort of checking is this, aunty? Did something get stolen?"

"Nothing has been stolen," said the manager in reply. Sir only has to find somebody. He thinks it may be one of you that the girl he is looking for is.

The staff was shocked by this. Another woman asked,

"Who is he looking for? And what has that to do with us? We barely even go near him!"

Before she got to say so, there was another lady who said,

But what sort of checking is this? And how shall he know even whether any of us is that girl?

The accent of the manager became harsh. "Enough questions. Just do as you're told."