Chapter 25

unicornwriter

@unicornwriter

CHAPTER 24 : A BUNDLE OF HAPPINESS

12 P.M. BANGLORE HOSPITAL

Pallavi kept glancing at her watch after every 5 minutes, she was supposed to be meeting him half an hour ago and he was late. Raghav parked his car in the parking zone area cursing the traffic for making hi late scared for the marathi curses he'll be getting today. It wasn't his fault that last night, all that happiness of watching her in his room having a decent conversation with him, making him a part of something in her life had stolen his sleep, hence making him wake up rather late than the designated time. The cherry on top of the falling cake was the investors that had taken upon themselves to grab more minutes from his sinking sand clock.

Pallavi looked at her watch for the millionth time when she finally got a glipse of the turtle , folding her hands infront of her chest, she welcomed him with fury but before she could lash out at him for being late, Raghav held his ears for an apology.

"Sorry" he mumbled.

"Poora din nahin hai hamare paas pata hai na." she taunted.

"Jaanta hai main Saree Ka dukaan lekin yeh tumhara Banglore main traffic bahut hai." he complained like a kid.

"Tumhaare Hyderabad se toh better hi hai." she handed him his NGO id card.

"Aye Saree Ka Dukaan mera shehar ka baare main no buraai. Waise tumko lagta hai yeh plan work karega?" Raghav asked eyeing the card.

"Han han tum bass jaisa kal samjhaya hai waisa karna baaki main sambhal lungi." Pallavi assured him as the two walked inside the building together.

"Main reception par puchta hai." Raghav nodded at her only for Pallavi to hold his hand as she stopped him pulling him towards the elevator.

"Koi zaroorat nahin hai. 5th floor hai. Uske papa ne almost poora floor block krwaya hua hai wing ka." Pallavi informed as they both stepped inside the elevator.

"Kaafi private." Raghav mocked.

"Ek lauti beti hai aur kya expect krte ho tum. Her dad is a politician. Aur tum hi toh kehte ho paisa aur power ho toh duniya jeb main hoti hai." Pallavi snorted never liking the way people used money and power for their own selfish reasons.

"Bada yaad rakhta hai tum mera baaton ko." Raghav teased.

"Ho gaya" Pallavi turned to him replying in a sarcastic tone, " Ab main plan par focus krein." 

"After you my lady." Raghav held onto the lift entrance for her as they both exited onto the floor.

Pallavi signaled Raghav to the wing where they could count about 6 guards guarding the corridor premises. Both of them walking to mark their territory, when they were stopped by one of them.

"Ma'am aap kidhar jaa rhe hai? Idhar jana allowed nahin hai." The guard informed them.

"Dekhiye main patient ko jaanti hoon , hum usse milne aaye hain." Pallavi replied when she saw a man and a women walking towards them.

"But ma'am-" the gaurd tried to deny only to be interrupated by the man.

"Kya hua?" the man asked.

"Sir yeh log Aastha ma'am se milna chahte hai. Keh rahe hai unhe jaante hain." the guard informed the man.

"Tum Aastha ko jaante ho? Lekin maine toh pehle tumhe kabhi nahin dekha." The women asked Pallavi.

"Aap Mr and Mrs Tripathi hai na? Aastha ke parents. Main Pallavi hoon." Pallavi introduced herself, "aur yeh hai Raghav-" she stopped when she felt Raghav's hand slide down her waist.

"Pallavi ka husband. Mera Pallavi aur aapka beti kaafi achche friends hai." he replied as Pallavi eyed him in shock, this wasn't the plan.

"Achcha? Kahan mile tum dono?" Mr Tripathi asked.

"Han . Aastha ne toh kabhi tumhare baare main bataya nahin." Mrs Tripathi added.

"Woh hum NGO main mile the . saath main kaam karte the." Pallavi played along.

" Pallavi? Lekin NGO ki list main tumhara naam toh maine dekha nahin." Mr Tripathi replied tensing Pallavi as she gave a look to Raghav.

"Woh Pallavi ne NGo ka kaam chhodh diya tha 4 mahina pehle aur hum Hyderabad shift ho gaye shayad isliye." Raghav swooped in.

"Waise Aastha ke accident ke baare main toh kisiko nahin pata. Tumhe kisne bataya?" Mr Tripathi bowled another yorker question at them.

"Woh -, woh maine abhi aap dono ko yahan dekha na . Aastha ne photo dikhai thi ek baar toh maine pehchaan liya. Nurse se pucha toh pata chala aapki beti admit hai." Pallavi covered up with a lie.

"Han beta woh 3 mahine pehle hi Aastha ka accident ho gaya tha. Coma main hai woh." Mrs Tripathi informed her.

" What? Doctor ne kya kaha? Kab tak theek ho jayegi woh?" Pallavi faked being shocked.

"Health main improvement toh hai lekin coma se kab bahar ayegi pata nahin. Waise tum bhi yahan kisi ko milne aai ho?" Mrs Tripathi asked. 

Damn this couple asked way too many questions. Shiva was always right about them, Pallavi thought.

Before she could come up with a lie she heard Raghav say,

"nahin nahin hum dono toh idhar Pallavi ko uska doctor ke paas dikhaane aaya tha woh left side of the wing main." Raghav replied pointing towards a sign board that shocked Pallavi to the core as it read, Gyanecologist. She looked at Raghav in confusion while he passed her a smile pulling her closer.

"We're gonna be parents soon. Toh bass ek regular check up ke liye aaye the when she saw you both." he added.

"oh wow congratulation." Mrs ripathi hugged Pallavi.

"Thank You but we hoped ki hum Aastha ko yeh news de paate. Pallavi kaafi maanta tha usko. actually wohi Pallavi ko samjhaya ki yeh baby hamara liye kitna happy ho sakta hai." Raghav smirked at Pallavi which she clearly recirpocated with a don't do it expression.

"Aastha ne samjhaya?" Mrs Tripathi was now intrigued.

"Han Pallavi bataya mereko ki woh toh kaafi darr gaya tha iss sudden news se lekin Aastha usko bahut help kara. We really owe it to her. Aaj hum usse milne ka plan bhi kar raha tha but unfortunately ab aisa nahin ho payega." Raghav putdown his emotional trump card signalling Pallavi to do the same.

"Aastha is very innocent and influencial." Mr Tripathi finally spoke up.

"Han agar woh nahin hoti toh shayad main yeh decision nahin le paati. I hope i could meet her and say thank you." Pallavi shed some fake tears.

"Sweetheart tum sad matt ho doctors ne mana kara hai na. Aastha ek din aroor uthega aur hamara baby ke saath enjoy bhi krega." raghav rubbed her shoulders winking at her.

Mr and Mrs Tripathi looked at themselves finally settling on a decision as they approved Pallavi and Raghav both to meet Aastha in her room but for only 10 mins. Pallavi was on cloud nine as she walked past them and closer to the door. As soon as she entered the room, her heart dropped to see the angel she's been listening stories of binded by various tubes, fighting to survive. Her hands shaked as she tried moving forward, Raghav was quick to hold her as she dialled the desired number.

Shiva was busy distributing clothes infront of the Ganesh Temple wishing for Aastha when his phone ringed with Pallavi's video call. 

"Kidhar chali gayi thi tu itni jaldi. Tujhe pata hai na aaj mandir aana tha." Shiva ranted as soon as he picked the call. Raghav stepped back giving them space as he guarded the door. Pallavi couldn't stop her tears from falling making Shiva worry.

"Tere liye ek gift hai." she rplied turning the camera so that Aastha was into view now. She could hear a gasp from the other side and she knew her best friend was at peace now. She tried being strong as she heard Shiva whisper sweet things to Aastha asking her to get up, then wishing her for her birthday, being angry at her for leaving him.

Raghav felt invasive but he kept a hand on Pallavi's shoulder informing her that they have to leave. Shiva bid his goodbye as Pallavi pecked Aastha's forehead asking her to recover soon for her Shiva exiting the ward with Raghav by her side.

Raghav handed a water bottle to Pallavi as they stood in the parking lot. Pallavi trying hard not to cry so raghav decided to change the subject.

"Waise tumko mereko Thank You bolna chahiye, itna help jo kara main." 

"Thank You? Tumhe? woh stunt jo tumne andar kiya uske liye? Oh hello Mr Rao aap off script gaye." and the fierce Pallavi was back.

"Saree Ka Dukaan, main na uss aadmi ko dekhte hi samajh gaya tha ki yeh tumhara woh NGO buddy wala story nahin manega isliye mereko improvise krna pada." Raghav took the bottle from her.

"Pregnant? seriously." Pallavi taunted.

"Main kya karta udhar wahi ek board tha warna tum kaise smjhata uss floor pr hone ka reason." Raghav crossed his arms.

"Han han tumhara bass chalta toh sonography bhi karwakr bachcha dikha dete." Pallavi mocked.

"Bachche." raghav corrected her.

"Kya?"

"Bachcha nahin Bachche Saree Ka Dukaan mereko twins chahiye. Daughters ho toh better." Raghav shrugged his shoulders opening the car door.

"Aur yeh kab decide hua?" Pallavi closed the door standing infront of him.
"Isme decide kya krna main toh hamesha se yahi chahta hai." Raghav replied back.

"Oh hello aur yeh tum mujhe kab batane wale the. Mr Rao yeh sab baate apni marzi se nahin hoti hai. Are hamare bachche ya bachcha whatever, baithkr baat kri jaati hai apni wishes dicuss krte hai couples aise mujhe chahiye thori hota hai." Pallavi spoke.

"Achcha bol toh aise raha hai jaise tum mereko bada bataya ki tumko kya chahiye. tum bhi toh discuss kr rha tha." Raghav trapped her between the car.

"Are tumne iss baare main socha tha toh tum pehle aakr bologe na main thori. haato waise bhi yeh baat couples ke beech hoti hai aur ab toh main tumhaari biwi hoon nahin." Pallavi removed his hands from the side and moved to sit on the passenger seat when he stopped her.

"Tum abhi bhi mera wife hai." Raghav spoke.

"Raghav mujhe dobara wahi same baat repeat nahin karni hai sach tum bhi jaante ho aur main-" Pallavi turned to face him when she felt the world stop at his words.

"Tum aaj bhi mera wife hai Pallavi. Hamara divorce nahin hua." Raghav finally admitted the truth.