“Ok. Ok. Relax. I am sending an ambulance…”
“No! It’s not that bad. Pain in arm came to front but now it’s gone. I just feel tired…”
“I am out of the house. Ten minutes. Ok? Ten minutes, Nilay. Have cold water. Relax. Sit in that same position.”
“Yes.”
“Talk to me…”
“Get me cold water,” he told Kedar. “And don’t let anyone know outside.”
Kedar was frozen.
“Go!” Nilay barked.
“Don’t yell!” Ritu yelled at him.
“Sorry.”
Kedar stopped at the door and stared at him.
“Not you!” Nilay sighed. And he scurried off.
“Any nausea? Any feeling that you can’t take a full breath?” She asked calmly.
“No… breath… I think it’s panic.”
“Ok, lean back, loosen anything tight around your chest or stomach. Put one hand flat on your chest and breathe in through your nose for four counts, exhale for six. I’m staying with you.”
He did as she asked, and felt a full breath on his next inhale.
“Yes, yes, full breath,” he chuckled in victory. “It’s panic. Maybe it’s not an attack. Maybe it’s just panic… hmm?”
“Hmm.”
“You don’t think so?”
“I will know when I see you.”
He relaxed. His breathing evened out. The heat on his face cooled. His eyes began to shut as sleep pulled him in.
“Nilay?” Ritu’s voice. Her palm patting his jaw. “Nilay?”
Her palm on his chest. Her fingers wrapped around his wrist. Her eyes in his. He snapped his eyes open, stretched as they were by her fingers. He gasped, opening his mouth as she placed something under his tongue.
“Don’t swallow, keep it there.”
“Am I fine?” He managed.
“We are going to the hospital.”
“No! Not from the main door. Workday is in full swing!”
“Do I look like I care?” She rose to her feet. Her arm came under his and his other arm was hauled by Kedar. Nilay pushed down with all his might, which wasn’t much at this point as they managed to haul him to his feet in one fell swoop.
“Ritu, no! I am not walking out like this! Let me balance on my feet and then I will go but I swear if you force me to go like this I will…”
“Enough!”
