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‘Whatever it is you’re thinking of doing. Just don’t.’
That ruled out a whole slew of things. Running away. Crying helplessly. Letting the darkness rule her. Lucas’s hand closed around hers and she stayed put.
All the same, it felt as if everything was crumbling around her. The applause that the auditorium had given her. All the work she’d done in the last five years.
The lights went down and his grip tightened. Dr Nair began to speak, and Thea took a deep breath. She could do this.
In between the panic, the presentation was fascinating. It made sense of much that she had learned, working in Bangladesh, clarifying the issues and suggesting a way forward. Dr Nair walked to his seat amidst a clamour of applause, managing to shoot her another disapproving look on the way.
The open questions part of the session got under way and Thea shrank into her seat, hoping that none of the questions would be directed at her. The first was in response to Dr Nair’s closing comments, asking about the role of foreign aid in his work.
That prompted a long spiel about working together for common aims, educating each other… Thea concentrated on continuing to breathe. At the very last, just when she thought that she was doing a pretty good job of it, Dr Nair smoothly slid the knife in.
‘Dr Coleman spoke about working with diverse communities in an urban setting. I would be interested on what she has to say about foreign aid workers respecting local cultures.’
The microphone was being passed towards her, like a cup of poison, moving inexorably closer. She heard Lucas spit out a curse and he reached across her to take the microphone.
She gave him an imploring look, aware that whatever she said to him was likely to be broadcast across the auditorium, and Lucas gave that bright, melting smile that always accompanied his picking up a challenge.
‘I’d also be interested in what Dr Nair has to say about the balance between respecting culture and respecting the law…’
Enough. Before she could stop herself, Thea was on her feet, taking the microphone from him. Lucas had succeeded in what he was trying to do, deflecting the interest of the audience away from her and back onto Dr Nair. Ayesha’s voice was being lost. Her own voice was being lost.
‘I think that Dr West and Dr Nair are both missing the point. Of course it’s imperative for us to respect both culture and the law, but as doctors we have a responsibility to everyone who comes to us for help. We must never lose sight of that fact either.’
She could feel the warmth of Lucas’s grin next to her. A murmur of agreement went around the audience and she saw the woman in the green sari nodding. She took a deep breath and sat down again.
The conversation darted from one delegate to another, from one point of concern to the next. And slowly the feeling crept up on Thea. She wasn’t finished yet.
* * *
Lucas was planning on hurrying her away as soon as the session was finished, but it seemed that Thea had other ideas. Before he could stop her she was out of her seat, walking towards where Dr Nair was standing, and all he could do was follow as closely as he could. As Thea approached him, Dr Nair gave her an irritated look.
She ignored that and held out her hand, her fingers trembling. ‘Dr Nair, I know that we disagree, and I respect your opinion. I would like to shake your hand.’
‘I think not.’ Dr Nair turned his back on her.
Lucas took her firmly by the arm to walk her away in as dignified a manner as possible. She jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow.
‘What the papers said about me, Dr Nair, wasn’t true. I only meant to help Ayesha.’
Dr Nair turned. ‘I stand by what I said then, Dr Coleman. You deserved everything that you got.’
Thea paled suddenly, backing away from him, and Lucas silently cursed the man. ‘Come away, Thea. Now.’ He bent to whisper the words in her ear but he was too late. A woman in a green sari had been standing nearby, listening quietly.
‘I will shake your hand.’ She extended her hand to Thea. ‘And that of Dr West.’
The woman seemed to know him. Lucas tried to recall whether they’d been introduced in the course of the last few days.
‘I am Dr Patel. I have been looking forward to meeting you.’
Lucas had been looking forward to this moment for some time, but had never thought it would come quite so soon or in quite this way. ‘Dr Patel? It’s a pleasure to see you here. I didn’t expect you to come all this way in person.’
‘I visit Mumbai from time to time. I had a trip scheduled and when your solicitor told me that you would be here, I decided to deliver the letter myself, rather than send it by courier.’
‘Lucas? What’s going on?’
He grinned. ‘Dr Patel’s the director of one of the largest TB clinics in Bangladesh.’
