Into the Life of Hadji 2 Part 3



	The next day, Jonny became conscious and was told everything that

happened.  He was devastated by the loss of his baby (which was a boy),

which was further compounded by the health of his family.  He was informed

that Hadji was conscious, which was a small relief to him.  Jonny went

into Hadji's room, and saw him in an almost catatonic state. 

	"Hadji?" asked Jonny. 

	No response. 

	"Hadji?" 

	Hadji slowly turned his head and looked up at Jonny.  Jonny was

shocked at the empty, hollow look in Hadji's eyes.  It was like another

person-- a stranger-- was in bed before him.  Jonny pulled up a chair. 

	"Hadji..." said Jonny, breaking into tears.  "I'm so sorry about

your mother..." 

	"It is ok." whispered Hadji.  "Your baby..." 

	"It was a boy." cried Jonny. 

	"I am so sorry, my friend." 

	"How is Miana?" asked Jonny. 

	"She is critical.  Her pregnancy is at risk.  And Jessie?" 

	"She's critical, as is Race." 

	"How is Dr. Quest?" 

	"He's sleeping, but he's ok." 

	Hadji nodded. 

	"Well, Hadj-- looks like it's just the two of us.  This is what

you saw, isn't it?" 

	"Yes, it is." 

	"Mr. Quest?" said a nurse as she came into the room.  "Your father

is awake." 

	"Gotta go, Hadj.  I'll be back." 

	Jonny followed the nurse to Benton's room. 

	Hadji sat up and looked around, and climbed out of bed.  With

great stealth, Hadji managed to sneak into the intensive care unit.  He

looked in on Miana, and saw that she didn't even look like herself, as her

head was bandaged, and she had all sorts of tubes and monitors hooked to

her.  He looked into the next cubicle, and saw Jessie was in similar

condition.  Jessie and Miana were both comatose, as was Race, whom Hadji

saw in yet another cubicle.  Hadji went back up to his floor, and heard

Jonny's voice .  He went into the room from which he heard the voice, and

found Jonny there with Benton, who was wide awake. Benton looked up at

Hadji. 

	"Hadji, I'm so sorry..." 

	"That is ok, Dr. Quest.  But now I am concerned about..." 

	"How is she?" 

	"She, Race, and Jessie are unchanged.  I saw them in ICU." 

	Days passed, and Jonny, Hadji, and Benton spent their many empty

hours together passing the time and trying to keep their minds occupied. 

	"Dr. Quest?" said a nurse as she came into the room. 

	"Yes?" 

	"Your friend, Mr. Bannon, is conscious." 

	"Will he be alright?" 

	"Yes.  His condition has been upgraded to stable, and he will be

moved in here with you, if you'd like." 

	"Definately, nurse.  I could use the company.  Nurse?" 

	"Yes?" 

	"Has he been told?" 

	"No." 

	"Let us inform him." 

	"Yes, Dr. Quest." 

	Race was moved into Benton's room.  He was no longer on a

respirator, and he only had an IV and a couple of monitors hooked to him. 

	"Good to see you, Benton, boys.  Where are the girls?" 

	"They are critical, Race.  Jessie lost the baby." 

	Race's face fell. 

	"My god... Ponchita..." 

	"That's not all.  Hadji's mother passed." 

	"Hadji..." 

	"It is ok, Race." 

	Race nodded. 

	Dr. Chandra entered the room. 

	"Hadji, you and Mr. Quest are free to go, as is the young child. 

Dr. Quest, you and Mr. Bannon will be here a while longer.  Hadji, is

there some place you would like us to contact?" 

	"Yes.  Sukinder at Bangalore Palace.  Inform him of my mother's

passing, and have him come get us and prepare our chambers." 

	"Hadji, should we..." 

	"We have to go somewhere, Jonny.  Plus lingering here will do our

wives no good.  They would want us to go on with our responsibilities."

said Hadji stoically.  "I am going to get dressed." 

	Hadji left the room. 

	"Dad..." 

	"Hadji's right, son.  Besides, we'll be here." 

	"Not just that-- Hadji's mood..." 

	"You have to consider his losses, Jonny.  This may be his way of

coping.  Besides, he has a kingdom to run now." 

	Jonny and Hadji got dressed and packed their few belongings, and

Sukinder picked them up.  Jonny and Hadji wondered around the huge, empty

palace.  The palace had an eerie silence to it as Neela and the rest of

the Quest family were not there.  Just then, Sukinder came in and told

Hadji he had a call.  Hadji took it, and then came back to Jonny. 

	"Sukinder, we need a ride to the hospital." 

	Hadji looked at Jonny. 

	"Jessie is awake, and is being moved from ICU.  She knows about

her loss." 

	Jonny was happy and sad at the same time. 

	

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	"Jonny!" cried Jessie. 

	Jonny embraced her. 

	"The baby..." she weeped. 

	"That's not all, Jess." 

	"What?" 

	"Hadji lost his mother, and Miana is still critical." 

	"My god... and his predictions..." she sniffed. 

	Tears ran down Jessie's face. 

	"So much death..." she whispered as whe touched her empty belly. 

	"He's not taking it well.  Jessie, our loss has been hard on is,

but we have to be strong.  If Hadji loses Miana, we may lose more than our

child.  We may lose Hadji." 

	"Benny!" 

	"Benny's fine.  He's at the palace with Sukinder." 

	"Thank God." she sniffed, wiping the tears from her eyes. 

	A week passed, and all had been released, except for Miana, who

was still comatose.  Hadji was relieved that everyone else was alright,

but he was not doing well himself.  Miana's condition was wearing him

down.  Even though the family was at the palace,

 the eerie silence remained.  Everyone was worried, as Hadji had turned

into a total stoic, giving the impression of being cold and oblivious to

everything around him.  He assumed his role as Sultan, and was doing his

duties with great care and devotion, but he all but ignored his family. 

	The family was gathered in the dining hall, but Hadji was not

present. 

	"We may have to leave soon." commented Benton. 

	"We can't leave them!" exclaimed Jessie. 

	"Hadji doesn't want us." explained Benton. 

	"But Miana!  Hadji hasn't even been to the hospital to see her!"

cried Jessie.  "We can't abandon her!" 

	"Then maybe we should move into town.  It is obvious that Hadji

will have to face his pain alone." 

	Everyone nodded in agreement. 

	"Are we going to tell him?" asked Jonny. 

	"No.  We'll let Sukinder know though, in case Hadji needs us." 

	Just them, a young, elaborately dressed Indian girl entered the

room. 

	"Oh, excuse me!  I seem to be lost.  I am looking for the Sultan." 

	Jonny's eyes narrowed. 

	"What business do you have with him?" asked Jonny suspiciously. 

	"He sent for me and a number of other ladies a few days ago. 

Today is my day to see him." 

	A servant entered the room and showed the young girl out. 

	"You don't think..." started Jessie. 

	"He's building a harem!" screamed Jonny.  "That son of a...

nevermind.  I wouldn't disrespect Neela that way." 

	Jonny stormed out of the room. 

	"Jonny!  Where are you going?" screamed Jessie. 

	Jonny stormed into the throne room where Hadji was being waited

upon by a number of scantily dressed women. 

	"What in God's name are you doing?!!!" screamed Jonny, who went

directly up to the throne and lifted Hadji up by his fancy golden collar. 

	"Let me go, Jonny." said Hadji cooly. 

	"Answer my question." Jonny hissed.  "Your wife is in a coma,

carrying your child.  What would your mother say?" 

	"LEAVE MY MOTHER OUT OF THIS!" 

	"Whoever would have thought that the deep-minded, pure-hearted

yogin Hadji Singh would become a womanizing, wife-cheating gigolo?" 

	With that, Jonny walked out. 

	What the family did not know was that Hadji could never bring

himself to cheat on Miana, but he was not going to say anything to anyone,

especially after Jonny's outburst. 

	Jonny came back into the dining hall. 

	"Let's get out of here." hissed Jonny.  "In fact, let's go home." 

	"But Miana..." 

	"Miana's not our concern, Jess.  Hadji is a stranger to us, and as

far as I'm concerned, no longer part of this family.  We'll let the

hospital know where they can reach us.  If Miana comes out of it, she

won't want to stay here with him.  In the meantime, let's get out of

here." 

	Everyone looked at Benton.

	"I agree with Jonny.  Let's go home."