A Private Consultation

A Short Story by C Phillip based on The Life & Exploits of Princess Amodini

Veerata readjusted the golden circlet on his head while he squatted on a floor mat in a private consulting room at Satvikshila Medical University.

His constant fidgeting left loose dark curls from his top knot swaying around his temples. Hands back on his knees, he drummed his fingers, and awaited the temporary physician. In his finest silk garments, golden headgear and pearl ornaments befitting the great general of the Satayu empire, he felt rather out of place amid the plain wood furnishings and white-washed walls. 

The open window to his left allowed him a good view of the university lawn, where students shuffled back and forth between the various buildings. Parrots screeched high up in the mango and black plum trees lining the pathways. The scent of fresh fruit floated on a balmy summer breeze. 

In the far corner, the university hospital hummed with activity. When a familiar plump and petite figure emerged from the entrance, his heart soared. 

Satya.

The young maiden sprinted down the stone steps of the hospital and hastened across the lawn, carrying an overfull basket of school books and a large cloth-bound ledger. Did she spend her lunch hour at the library again? On his last visit, he’d overheard her professor cautioning her against skipping meals. 

A few students called after her; she merely nodded and sped past. Her thick, copper-coloured braid danced on her right shoulder as she moved. Dressed in the saffron-coloured student uniform and beaded accessories, she reminded him of the first time they’d met, more than a month ago. 

He’d endured a battle wound for years and almost succumbed to it one fateful night. Even Vidyuta, his personal physician and best friend, could do nothing. Had Satya not healed the wound back then, would he be alive today? Possibly not. 

She reached the porch outside the consulting room and disappeared from view. He resisted the urge to jump to his feet. Instead, he tucked his messy curls behind his ears.

Footsteps echoed in the corridor. The door swung open. She stood in the frame, somewhat out of breath. Their eyes met, her cheeks coloured, and Veerata beamed. His heartbeat blocked out all other sounds, except her voice. 

“Pranam, Senapati,” she greeted him, bowing low. “I’m very sorry to have kept you waiting.”

“Slow down, Satya. I’ve not waited long.” He didn’t want to admit he’d arrived too early. He would gladly wait for hours to see her.

Taking a deep breath, Satya walked over to the low desk opposite Veerata. She placed the ledger on top, deposited her basket to one side, and settled down on the straw floor mat. 

Try as he might, he couldn’t take his eyes off her slightly parted pink lips, heaving bosom, and moist forehead until she looked up and almost caught him in the act. Quickly, he looked out the window again to cool his head. He gulped. It was proving to be a rather hot summer day. 

“Emergency patient?” he asked.

“How did you know?”

“I saw the staff carrying someone on a stretcher.”

“Of course you did.” She exhaled, a tiny smile easing her features.

His head snapped back to her. How he longed to see that smile again! 

She continued. “All senior students were called for the diagnosis. Well, he didn’t need surgery, but…”

He must’ve stared too hard. She trailed off mid-sentence and turned to the basket. Removing a quill and an ink bottle, she opened the ledger and skimmed through it.

“So, your last visit was two days ago. You said you still felt mild pain and discomfort in your left leg. How are you feeling now?”

“Much the same,” he replied in a daze.

Her eyebrows knitted. “Strange. I was sure the last decoction would’ve helped.” She flipped through more pages. “Are you sleeping better now?”

He rubbed his chin, thinking back on the past month. “Better than I used to,” he admitted. “The pain comes and goes. Mainly when I’m riding or training. Often, it wakes me up in the middle of the night.”

“Same complaint,” she noted, tapping a page. “So, the muscle remains weak. Your wound healed completely. Even the scar is gone. But the pain returns with exertion.” 

In silence, she examined her notes, unaware of the joy he felt from the worry in her tone. Did all her patients hear it, too? The recurring pain in his leg had become the perfect excuse for a private consultation. Being the emperor’s cousin, he could not meet a female medical student in any other capacity. 

During the past fortnight, they’d met seven times in this room. Each time, she could have refused and sent him back home, especially when her stern professor voiced his disapproval. But she showed up for all the appointments and welcomed him with considerable respect. Perhaps she enjoyed his company as much as he enjoyed hers? 

If she did, she never showed it. Did she even notice the pains he took to dress himself? Her strong-willed nature was both infuriating and thrilling. He ached to hold her close. If only he could figure out her feelings towards him, starting with the enigmatic stare she gave him now as she looked up again. He’d seen it a few times before. Her intelligent, deep brown eyes searched his for hidden answers. Bold, yet hesitant. Hopeful, yet uncertain. Bashful, yet sincere. It felt as though she guarded a mutual secret and wanted some reassurance he wouldn’t judge her. At a loss, he smiled, and her face brightened. 

She held out her hand over the top of the desk. “May I see your wrist, please?”

He complied, his heart pounding. Her fingers slid over the base of his thumb, down to the middle of his wrist, sending a spark through his entire body. His eyes shot up. This had not happened before! Did she make a mistake?

She cleared her throat and averted her gaze, focussing on his pulse. Her other hand clenched into a tight fist on top of the desk while her left knee bobbed restlessly on the mat. Savouring her reaction, a triumphant smile pulled at his lips. 

Dare he hope she felt the spark, too?

While she continued her assessment, his eyes roved over her extended arm, a light suntan deepening the rose-coloured complexion there.

“Do you like swimming?” he asked. 

She dropped his wrist. “Pardon?”

“Your skin gets browner every time I see you.”

“Oh yes, I like to swim in the river sometimes.” Avoiding his gaze again, she dipped the quill in ink and scribbled on a new page. “I’ll prepare the same medication for now. Perhaps we’ll see more signs of improvement on your next visit. I’ll also speak to my professor. Not sure why the pain persists.” 

As she wrote, her thick braid almost slid down her shoulder. Deftly, she caught it and flung it behind her back. A tiny drop of ink flew from the wet nib and spattered onto her chin. She continued writing, oblivious to the stain next to her bottom lip. 

He leaned over the desk, mischief in his mind. “Perhaps your diagnosis is lacking.”

She paused but wouldn’t look up. Her fingers fidgeted with the quill. “Perhaps you’re right. Why don’t you seek an appointment with my professor? Or we could wait for Doctor Vidyuta to return.”

“Are you saying you don’t want me to visit you anymore?”

She bit her lower lip. “Only if you’re unsatisfied with the treatment.”

Another new reaction? Her words didn’t match at all. 

He tapped a finger to his chin. “Ink,” he said, “on your face.”

Her eyes widened in understanding. She rubbed her cheek with the loose end of her upper garment, missing the incongruous mark. 

Emboldened, his hand reached for her chin. “May I?”

She leaned back at first, then nodded and arched her head towards him. Gently, his thumb brushed over her bottom lip and wiped off the stain from the corner of her mouth. Her entire face reddened. 

He held up his hand, staring at the ink smudge on his thumb. What was the matter with him today? He’d never let temptation get the better of him before. What must she think of him now? Touching her lips as though she already belonged to him. 

So soft…

While his mind fought a losing battle, his traitorous heart leapt with glee. He balled the hand with the ink smudge into a fist and struck his chest hard. 

Satya jumped. “Senapati, are you alright?”

“I’m fine!” He rubbed his chest, grinning through the pain. “Vidyuta already wrote to you, didn’t he? He’s stuck in the capital for a while. You’ll have to continue as my temporary physician for now.”

The blush had vanished. Relief of a different sort washed over her features. “Very well. I’ll write to Doctor Vidyuta to confirm my diagnosis. That’ll be all for today. I’ll send a fresh decoction over to your home by tomorrow morning.”

Just as she closed the ledger, his hand reached for hers. When she tried to pull away, he let go, revealing a tiny pearl glistening on her knuckles. 

“This is for you.”

She shook her head. “I keep telling you. There’s no charge.”

“It’s a gift.” His fingers coiled under hers, pulling her hand to his lips. He waited for her to protest, ready to let go at any moment. 

To his delight, she stared back in silence. He became deeply aware of the faint crease in the middle of her forehead, the subtle quiver of her lips, and the rapid rise and fall of her chest. Without warning, he blew softly, nudging the tiny pearl into motion. 

She gasped. As the pearl rolled down her arm, the suntan dissipated from her skin. Before it dropped to the floor, she caught it in her free hand. Fascinated, she drew her fingers from his grasp and compared both arms side by side. 

“It’s called a glow pearl,” he explained. “It contains a skin brightening spell. Many women in the capital city use it to get rid of their suntan. It’s single use only, though.”

Her eyes shone with gratitude. “There’s really no need.”

“Tell me, Satya,” he asked, “does heartache cause affliction?”

She blinked, opened her mouth to speak, and closed it again.

“A friend of mine says it does,” he teased. “He suffers pain and sleeplessness because the woman he loves remains blind to his devotion.”

Expressionless, she stared back, not giving in to his taunt.

“Never mind, you don’t need to answer that.” He stood up and walked towards the door. “See you in two days for my next appointment.”

He had already reached the open door when she spoke. 

“Maybe she’s grateful but doesn’t love him.”

He looked back at her. The enigmatic stare returned. What did she want from him?

“Gratitude can give birth to love,” he suggested. 

“Will that satisfy your friend? A relationship cannot survive on gratitude alone, unless it’s between a kind master and a loyal servant.”

Veerata laughed. “How perceptive of you! Then again, I believe he would happily be her loyal servant for life if he had the chance.” 

Relishing her confused look, he left the room with a light step.

END

A Private Consultation is a flash fiction with main characters, Satya and Veerata, from the Princess Amodini series, historical fantasy romance based in a parallel universe of Ancient India. First Published in Summer Simmer Anthology. Also available in Fated to Love, Book Two of The Life & Exploits of Princess Amodini.

Copyright © C Phillip 2023. All Rights Reserved.