Accident Prone

...Saturday...

Surprisingly, last three days it was not raining.

Today, the clouds are allowing the sun to occasionally make its appearance. Every time the amount of light increased because sunshine found the gap to break through, Liz would smile.

'The weather is perfect for outdoor activities', Liz mused. The idea of horse riding was more appealing by the minute. She didn't ride a horse in years.

Liz arrived at the 'Equestrian Trials' horse riding club and was met with Dr. Kaviraj in the lounge at the entry.

"Come, my family is at the table…", Dr. Kaviraj ushered Liz toward the restaurant inside.

The 'Equestrian Trails' is a high end club which caters to many needs of members who can afford a hefty membership price. Besides stables and a restaurant, there is a gym, indoor swimming pool and a luxurious spa. Many members have their horses living in these stables, but there are those who enjoy riding horses owned by the club.

Liz had to register as a guest of a member before using any of the facilities. She smiled at the detailed guest application form while crying internally at the thought that this will cause another flood of spam calls and emails offering her discounts in an effort to make her return to the club.

Liz met Dr. Kaviraj's husband, a high-level manager in a local software company, and their two nineteen-year-old sons: Vihaan, Vivaan (they are twins). Liz was happy to see that Dr. Kaviraj's family members are getting along well. They were all smiles and that made her comfortable in their company immediately.

Both Vihaan and Vivaan are first year medical students, and they are interested to hear how Liz became a neurosurgeon at only 27 years old. Usually people don't accomplish that until they are in their thirties.

"I didn't skip grades…", Liz explained. "During high school I attended number of courses online which allowed me to gather credits for the University, and also, I was taking two-in-one. Completing courses and taking exams for two years in the duration of one. You get that as an option if your GPA is high enough…"

The boys' eyes sparkled. They would love to graduate early and make their parents proud. Kaviraj parents raised them with a strong emphasis on the importance of education.

They were full of questions! Liz didn't mind answering them. She felt a bit like a mentor herself.

Four people passed by their table, and Liz would not pay attention if they didn't stop.

She looked up and met with Quentin's smile.

"Nice to meet you here, Elizabeth!", his hand was around the waist of one young woman, who looked at him with hearts in her eyes.

"Hi…", Liz waved briefly and glanced behind Quentin. "Hi, Max.", she took the initiative to greet her neighbor.

"Hi…", Max mumbled and walked out through the side door. His female companion was one step behind him, chatting something.

Elizabeth sighed while thinking how Max and Quentin need to have girls with them so that they can spend time together in public without attracting attention.

Liz wondered, did Max avoid her? It certainly looked that way. Is it because Quentin is with him? She took a mental note to tell Max (when the right opportunity presents itself) that she is OK with him and Quentin as a couple, and she will not judge them.

…

Few minutes ago…

Max, Quentin and their two female companions finished their meal.

"Are we all still in the mood for riding?", Quentin asked.

The two girls giggled while saying in unison a cheerful 'yes', and Max smiled in response.

"Isn't that your neighbor?", Quentin asked Max when they stood up.

Max's sight landed on Liz who is sitting between two young men. Three of them seem to be having a good time. He frowned. Aren't those two… young for her? Max told himself that he should not be concerned with what Liz does or with whom she is doing it. Somehow, he didn't want Liz to see him with this woman (Claudia) by his side.

"Let's go this way…", Max gestured toward the exit in the back, but Quentin was already walking toward the door which is in the direction of the table where Liz is seated. Max had no choice than to follow after Quentin, Claudia was right behind Max.

Max thought that maybe he can walk behind Quentin and Liz will not notice him.

Max fumed. Why did Quentin stop here? And he greeted her? So much for staying invisible… He needs to get out of here, fast. He tugged back of Quentin's shirt to tell him to start moving! Ah! Liz greeted him! He mumbled a 'hi' back to Liz and rushed toward the door.

"What's up with you?", Quentin asked Max when they stepped outside.

"How do you know Liz?", Max asked in return when he realized that Quentin called Liz by her name, and he even knew that she is his neighbor. He was in a state of panic and didn't notice that right away.

"We met last night… What is with that reaction?", Quentin didn't miss that something is off with Max. "Don't tell me that your almost-girlfriend is getting to you?"

Max told Quentin about a fake-girlfriend who pacified his parents without even meeting them, and that she is his neighbor, Elizabeth.

"Girlfriend?", Claudia asked. In her opinion, if anyone is Max's girlfriend, that is her... even though Max didn't want to talk about it when she brought up the topic.

Max ignored Claudia and responded to Quentin. "I don't know what you are talking about. Let's go and pick some horses…" At this point, Max regretted telling Quentin that Liz was his fake girlfriend. Actually, she still is because he didn't tell his family that they 'broke up'.

…

In the restaurant, Dr. Kaviraj's family and Liz stood up and made their way toward stables.

"My husband owns a horse here.", Dr. Kaviraj told Liz. "Can you believe that he won it in a game of poker? I was so mad at him. He went to a guys' night out, and it's one thing to win some money, but he came back with a document that proved he owns a horse! I asked him how is that considered a win if he needs to pay fees to house and feed the animal, not to mention the vet. But when we came to see the horse, we all fell in love with it…", Dr. Kaviraj sighed helplessly.

Dr. Kaviraj, her sons and Liz went to pick horses that the club offers for riding. Mr. Kaviraj went to greet his horse.

Liz didn't want to change into riding clothes the club is offering. She is wearing jeans and a comfortable t-shirt covered with a thin cardigan. And the idea of wearing clothes someone else wore before is… uncomfortable.

Because she skipped the dressing room, Liz checked the map of trails available and hopped on her horse. She can get few extra minutes of riding until they come out. She picked the trail already.

Liz heard a shrill scream from nearby and when she looked that way, she saw two riders… one's horse was whinnying while standing on its hind legs, throwing it's rider to the ground on the side of the trail. They are not nearby, but everything is quiet so the sounds from there were heard clearly.

Liz rushed her horse into a gallop. There is a person who fell off a horse, and she is the doctor!

The shrill screams were coming from the woman who was on the horse. Why is she making so much noise?

By the time Liz reached the couple, the still-screaming woman was standing on the ground while tugging man's hand, like she is trying to pull him away from something.

Liz leaped off her horse and pushed the woman away. "He fell off a horse. It's a common knowledge not to move a person who might have a spine injury."

By this time, Liz realized that there is a snake next to man's legs. She swiftly grabbed snake's head and flung the creature away in the nearby bushes.

"Stop screaming!", Liz turned to the super-annoying woman. "If you want to help, go to the clubhouse and call an ambulance!"

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It worked. She stopped making noise. The woman pouted at Liz, went on her horse and rode it toward the clubhouse.

Only then Liz looked at her patient… "Max…"

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