Chapter ?- Any objections?

'Three days?' Evan muttered in shock. 'The wedding is going to last for three days!'

Divya nodded her head to confirm the fact.

'It is a very long process, and each part has tremendous meaning and significance to the couple,' she informed quietly. 'It's not only two people being joined but rather two families.'

'Three days!' he exclaimed again, as if this was the only part of the discussion that he could comprehend.

Divya snorted with amusement and squeezed his hand. She didn't know why they were holding hands, but it was a great comfort to feel the presence of another person with her. Granted she would have preferred not to be in this situation at all, but she had to admit that Evan's company was doing a lot to keep her calm and rationale. He was even still able to make her laugh at a time when she shouldn't be able to smile at all.

'Yes, three days Evan,' she repeated. 'With weeks of fasting and prayer before hand.'

'Wait…wait…back up woman. FASTING?' the young CFO interjected with narrowed eyes. 'The only way I am going to get through a three day wedding is with food. I was hoping there would be a good spread at this thing,' he grumbled.

'Oh there will be!' she exclaimed excitedly as all women tended to get when talking about food and housekeeping. 'There will be allo, dhall, shatine, channa and nann. All sorts of birani…'

She paused as she saw the befuddled look on her companion's face. With a little sigh she translated. 'There will be potato, split pea soup, jack fruit, chick peas, flat bread and spicy rice.'

Evan's bushy eyebrows knitted together, 'Is there a reason why I am not hearing any meat dishes?'

She bit her lip to stop herself from laughing. 'No meat or alcohol will be served.'

One would think from the look on his face that she had just uttered a string of profanity.

'You're killing me here, Div' he mumbled, distractedly passing his hand over his stomach before snatching it away.

The PA looked at his actions but made no comment. There really was nothing she could do, and she desperately tried not to think about it. Since joining HankMEd , they had never lost a single patient. In her mind she would not let herself dwell on the possibility that there was a first time for everything.

'…and all the food will be curried,' she rattled on as if she had NOT noticed him cringing in pain.

Evan blinked his eyes rapidly to try to control the look on his face.

'Yeah?' he asked weakly as the room spun around him a bit.

He was not going to throw up, he told himself. One, he wasn't sure his stomach could handle even sitting up, and two, it would freak out Divya even more than she already was. The woman was holding it together a lot better than he would if the situation was reversed. He felt humbled by her strength and determination.

He always was.

He remembered the first time they had met. She had slapped the folders on the pool table without even saying hello and proceeded to outline her plans for HankMed with all the tact of steam roller. He wasn't kidding when he said he liked this girl. Although it was more the use of her word 'coinage' at the time that made his heart skip a beat. Now, months later, he had to admit that there was more to this girl than he first thought. She was like Hank; serious, focused, caring and dedicated. Evan had supreme confidence in himself but he knew enough to be grateful that she put up with a guy like him.

'Curry?' he said, attempting to jump start the conversation or at least get her talking while the room stopped spinning.

She needlessly smoothed the cover on the bed.

'Yes…and you should only have one type,' she cautioned him. 'Mixing curries can make you sick. Don't make me have to come down to doctor you. I will be barely able to walk in that bridal sari as it is.'

Evan squeezed gently on the tiny palm nestled in his. He was unsurprised by the look of anguish on her face as she talked about doctoring and her wedding all in one sentence. If she went through with the ceremony, it was hardly likely she would ever see or hold a stereoscope again. For one minute he saw a vision of her in the dark, all alone, fiercely hugging her medicine bag to her chest.

'Do you have that part where they ask if anyone objects?' he inquired in a soft voice.

The Indian beauty smiled sadly. 'You have objections?'

At this, Evan had to scowl. 'You know I do, Divya! I have objections to anything that makes you unhappy! And you should too! How can you do this to yourself?.'

The woman hurriedly grabbed a cup of water as Evan started to cough uncontrollably.

It took a while for him to quiet down but he did. The anxious PA mopped his brow with a wet sponge to try and calm him down.

'You make a great little brother,' she commented warmly trying to distract him from the pain. 'I wonder if Hank would rent you out to me? It's just me and my big sister.'

He smiled feebly as his stomach howled at the torture it had just been subjected to.

'Sure...and you can get a special HankMEd discount, seeing as you are an employee,' he added with a wink.

The woman grinned at him, secretly amazed at how strong Evan was. His stomach must hurt like hell, but he was still finding the strength inside him to push on. 'Really? You would do that? But I might make you braid my hair or do my nails or take you shoe shopping.'

Evan's eyelids fluttered as he struggled to stay awake. Chivalrously, he lifted her hand to kiss it. 'Once I am with you, I don't care what I am doing.'

Long after he had fallen asleep Divya continued to stare at her hand-amazed that not even in sleep had Evan let go.