Calling Out For You aka The Indian Bride

desk. Checked the sky to see if anything was happening. At about 2 p.m. he saw a blue crack. Soon afterwards the sun broke through with twinkling rays. Gunder took this as a sign. The rays were for Poona. In his mind he saw her all the time even as he assumed that she saw him, meeting her gaze in rapid glimpses. Then he could not see her any more. So he had to find something to do with himself – such as fetch the post. Look through the paper. Another hour and a half, he thought, and then I'll be on my way. But why not now? There will be less traffic if I go now. He folded the newspaper carefully and got swiftly to his feet. Left a window ajar and was just about to get the keys from the hook on the wall when the telephone rang. Ominously. No doubt someone from work. They never could manage on their own. That was why he was irritated when he answered. It was a woman's voice, not a voice he knew, but he heard the words clearly down the phone. The Central Hospital. Marie Jomann Dahl, was she a relative of his? Gunder's breath caught in his throat.

'Yes, my sister. What's happened?'

'A road accident,' the woman replied.

He looked at the clock, confused. What had she got up to now?

'Is it serious?' he said.

'I have only been asked to contact the nearest relatives,' she said, avoiding his question. 'Are you able to come to the hospital?'

'Of course,' Gunder said. 'I'll leave right away. I should be there in half an hour.'

He felt a nasty tightening in his chest. Not that he thought it was something life-threatening, she didn't drive fast enough to seriously hurt herself, but he had to go and meet Poona. Of course he would still make it, Marie would understand that it was important. He grabbed the keys and ran from the house. Drove without concentrating towards the town, checking his watch every few minutes. He imagined an arm in plaster and perhaps some stitches. There goes the venison you promised, he thought. There could be something wrong with her car and she might need a lift home. And she had told him to drive safely! He breathed through his nose to calm himself. Made his way to the hospital. Searched frantically for a parking space.

'Tenth floor. Neurology,' said the woman in reception.

'Neurology?' he said, short of breath again. And went into the lift. Stood in it with his heart pounding. Poona's on the plane, he thought, she knows I am coming to get her. This won't take long. A sense of guilt consumed him; that bloody Karsten who was never there when you needed him! He started to sweat. The lift stopped. A doctor was waiting outside.

'Jomann?'

'Yes! How is she?'

The doctor was finding this difficult. Gunder could see that instantly.

'At the moment we're not exactly sure,' he said. The words came in cautious fragments.

Gunder was amazed. Surely they knew what her condition was?

'I'm afraid she has been seriously injured,' he went on and looked at Gunder sadly. 'She has suffered severe head injuries. For the present she's in a coma.'

Gunder leaned heavily against a wall.

'We've put her on a respirator. One lung is perforated. We're hoping she'll regain consciousness in the course of the evening and then we'll know a bit more. In addition she has several fractures-'

'Several fractures?' Gunder felt dizzy. At the same time he looked at his watch.

'What can I do?' he said desperately.

The doctor had no means of knowing Gunder's dilemma. He shook his head slowly. 'It would be best for your sister if you could sit by her bed. And talk to her. Even though she may not hear you. We will of course provide you with a bed for the night should you wish it.'

Gunder thought, I can't stay here. Poona is going to be waiting. He felt torn. But there was only one of him and he couldn't divide himself in two. He stopped because the doctor had stopped.

'Her chest has been crushed. All of her ribs are broken. One knee is badly damaged too. If we get her back on her feet again, I'm afraid that that knee will not work perfectly again.'

If we get her back on her feet? I feel sick, Gunder thought. His breakfast churned in his stomach. A wide door opened into a small room. He saw something dark against the white pillow, but couldn't see how that could really be his sister, Marie. He stood in front of the bed, shaking.

'We have to find Karsten,' he stuttered. 'Her husband. He's in Hamburg.'

'I'm glad we were able to get hold of you,' the doctor said. He helped Gunder into a chair. Marie was white, almost blue below the eyes. A tube was taped in place across her mouth. He heard a slow, hissing sound from the respirator. It sounded like a giant heavily asleep.

'What we are most concerned about,' the doctor said, clearing his throat, 'is the trauma to her head. We won't know the extent of it until she regains consciousness.'

What did he mean? Was she no longer herself? Would she wake up and have forgotten who he was? Forgotten how to talk, or laugh, or that two and two made four? Might she open her eyes and look at him not knowing who she even was herself? Gunder felt himself tumbling into a deep pit. But he clung to the thought of Poona. Her face appeared at the edge of this cavernous darkness, smiling.

He kept looking at his watch. Marie was tiny in the bed and her round face had lost all its contours. He had to let someone in on his secret about Poona. Someone he trusted, who would not laugh or make him doubt. Someone who was willing to do him a favour.

'Marie!' he whispered.

No response. Did she hear him?

'It's me. Gunder. I'm sitting by your bed.'

He looked at the doctor despondently. His eyes brimming with tears.

'Everything is going to be fine,' he said. 'Poona and I are going to take care of you.'

It helped to say her name out loud. He wasn't, after all, alone.

The clock was ticking. He could not leave Marie – what would she think? What would the doctors think if he popped his head round the ward sister's door and said, 'I'll be off now. I have to pick someone up at the airport.' He tried to organise his thoughts, but they refused to let themselves be organised. Would he at last have found a wife, but at the same time lose a sister? He buried his face in his hands in despair. The doctor came over and stood close to him.

'I'm going now. Call… if there's anything.'

Gunder rubbed his eyes hard. Who could he depend upon? He did not have close friends. Had never wanted any. Or had not managed to make any, he was no longer sure which. Time passed. The respirator tormented him with its hissing sound, he was almost tempted to switch it off to avoid having to listen to it. It interfered with his own breathing and made him breathless. Eventually he let go of Marie's hand and got up abruptly. Went into the corridor and found a payphone.

Gunder never took minicabs himself, but he knew the number by heart. It was on Kalle's Mercedes in black numbers. He answered at the second ring.

'Kalle. It's Gunder Jomann. I'm at the Central Hospital. My sister has been in a car crash!'

At first there was only silence at the other end. He could hear Kalle's breathing.

'That's dreadful,' he said with feeling at last. 'Is there anything I can do?'

'Yes!' Gunder said. 'It so happens that I'm expecting a visitor from abroad. From India.'

Not a word from Kalle, who knew about Gunder's journey to India and was beginning to realise the implication.

'She's arriving at Gardermoen from Frankfurt at 6 p.m. and is expecting me to meet her. But there is no way I can leave Marie. She's in a coma,' he whispered.

'Oh? I see.' Kalle's voice was barely audible.

'Would you collect her for me?'

'Me?' Kalle said.

'You have to drive to the airport and find her! With your taxi, you can surely park at the main entrance. Charge whatever you have to. But you need to leave right away if you're to make it. When she comes out of the arrivals hall and doesn't see me, she'll probably go to the information desk. She's Indian,' he repeated. 'She has long dark hair, which is plaited. A bit younger than me. And if you don't see her you have to get them to page her. Her name is