Chapter 20

Ishita Chatterjee

@Miku

Chapter 19

Two more days passed and it was the night before Khushi's final operation.

It was raining outside , and not only was it raining , but thunderstorm was a constant company. Khushi was lying on her bed facing the glass window , looking at the dark rainy night. There was a time when she used to get frightened with this lightening and thunders , but tonight , tonight she didn't knew why , but they were not affecting her anymore, probably it was because , she was witnessing the last rain of her life , or was it the knowledge that there was something far bigger and worse waiting for her.

She turned her head the other side and looked at the pulled down curtain . She smiled once thinking that finally tomorrow evening Aakash will be released and he can go back home , to his new world, and lead a normal peaceful life, and perhaps can even start a love life with Dr. Payal, yes she has seen the spark between them. She smiled thinking what a co-incidence , both of them fell for their doctors.

She for once looked at the digital watch and saw it was half past 11 . She wanted to meet Arnav , see him , one last time , on her last night. But looked like he was busy with upcoming preparations . So, she looked at the dark room once again , and then closed her eyes to get her last dream sleep.

He opened the last drawer of his table and took out the box. He traced the design with his thumb. Today he was going to open it, open it after 2 whole years. He stared at the box for 5 mins , still thinking but he knew very well what he wanted, so he very slowly and with extreme care unlocked the box and opened the cover. He could feel her. He sighed for once and looked at the two things that were kept safely inside the box. He picked up the framed photo and looked into her eyes. He missed her so much. His eyes almost get welled up with tears , but not a single one rolled down.

He kept looking at that beautiful picture photo , her beautiful eyes , her beautiful smile. He knew opening this box , seeing this picture was going to haunt him for really long , but tonight he knew he had to do it. He kept the photo beside his Di's and smiled at how much they looked alike. Then he looked at the box again and slowly took out the other content and put it inside his pocket. He closing the box , slowly stood up and looking at his cabin for once last time , left the room.

After few minutes , he was standing there , infront of the closed door of room no. 333

He slowly opened the door and looked at the dark room. The room was dark , but a small night lamp was glowing right beside her bed. He didn't knew why , but he stopped at the door only. He slowly leaned at the door frame and folded his arms near his chest and stood there fixed looking at her, sleeping.
He wanted to stand there like that life long and wanted to see her, see her beautiful angel like face. He wanted the time to stop. But wishes , all wishes never come true and stopping time , its never possible. He looked at the red digits on the digital clock and it showed 00:03 . The day has finally begun . The day that he never wanted to come , because he himself was not sure what was going to happen.

He then slowly left his position and slowly started walking towards her bed. One step at a time. He looked at her face , and wondered how within this small span of time his life has changed so much. How she has become such an important part of his life . He didn't knew how and when she became so close to him. He didn't knew how he again started living .

He reached beside her bed and sat down on the bed , beside her. He kept on staring at her face in that dim light. She was really an angel. How perfect she is , but still why is that God so unfair with her. He smiled seeing her sleep so peacefully. Seeing her like this , he knew that he wanted to see her like this every night, but...

He saw this lock of her hair , covering her half part of the eye , guarding his vision, so he slowly and with full care removed the hair from her face and slowly tugged it beside her ear , trying not to wake her.

He put his hand on her forehead and slowly soothed the lines formed there and she slowly as if realizing his touch opened her eyes and looked at him. As soon as, she saw him , his face , a smile lit up his face and said

"Arnav tum???"

And Arnav smiled seeing her smile and nodded his head.

He lowered his voice and said

"Sorry thoda late hogaya aane mein..."

"Koi baat nahi mujhe laga sayad tum busy hoge."

"Tumse milne ke liye mai kabhi busy nahi hota hoon Khushi."and she blushed and nodded her head.

He looked at her and then said

"Tumhare liye kuch laya hoon..."

"Mere liye ?? Kya ???" she asked surprised

"1 min."

And saying this he put his hand inside his pocket and pulled out a red piece of cloth. She looked at it and then at him. He saw her confusion , and slowly unwrapped the cloth. Khushi saw two golden heavily designed bangles , and instantly looked at him. Seeing the question in her eyes he said

"Yeh mere ..." and taking a deep breathe and with a heavy voice said

"Yeh mere Mom ke kangan hai..."

She didn't miss that change in his tone , but still keeping it aside , with excitement asked

"Really ??? Bahut sundaar hai"

"Ya... I know.. " and saying this he took her right hand in his and looking at her hand started

"Mom chahti thi ki..."

And then looking at her face , said

"Mom chahti thi ki... yeh mai aapne wife ko pehnayu..."

And saying this he delicately slid the bangle into her hand. He was pleased to see that it was a perfect fit.

Khushi looked at him and couldn't believe what he was doing and saying. His last sentence took her with a blow. She couldn't feel the bangle , the texture , the weight , the metal , but she could see it , and could see how beautifully it was shining in her hand. He took her other hand too and slid the other pair in her left hand.

She was about to say something when she heard a wardboy's voice
"Dr. Arnav aapko Dr. Payal dhundh rahi hai... maine unko aapke cabin mein baithne bola hai..."

Arnav still looking at Khushi nodded his head and said

"Tum jao... mai aata hoon..." and the wardboy left.

He took a deep breathe and bend down and planted a kiss on her forehead, and lingering there for a while slowly touched his forehead with hers for once , and then got up. He took her both hands in his once , and kissed them and said

"Mai chalta hoon Khushi.. kal 1 baje tumhara operation hai... Will see you then.. Bye.."

And saying this he turned . She wanted to hold his hand , wanted to stop him, but she couldn't , her hands didn't allow her. And he started walking towards the door and before closing the door , he turned for once , saw her face , flashed a painful smile and then closed the door.

Khushi closed her eyes and few drops of tears rolled down from the sides.

Arnav kept his head on the wall beside and stood beside the door. He closed his eyes and tried to stop the tears from coming out , but two drops escaped . He slowly wiped them , and composing his face , taking two deep breathes , walked back towards his chamber.

She took few short breathes and then turning her face towards Aakash's bed started calling him

"Aakash ? Aakash ?"

First her voice sounded rough and chocked but then she managed

"Aakash ??"

After 3-4 mins , he removed the curtain and switching on the light said

"Haan Khushi kya hogaya .. you ok ???"

"Mera ek kaam karoge please..." and he nodded.

Next morning Khushi woke up with the sunrays falling directly on her face. The thunder , lightening , rain were over , and the sun was shining through the clouds. She yawned and opened her eyes and to check whether yesterday night was a dream she instantly looked at her hands and saw the beautiful bangles resting on her wrists. She checked the room and found that her parents have still not arrived, but Dr. Payal was etering the cabin and she instantly called

"Dr. Payal ??"

"Yes Khushi.." Payal said walking towards her

"Dr. Payal please will you somehow cover my hands."

"But why ??"

"Pls jaldi..."

"Ok ! Ok! Wait..." and saying this she pulled the sleeves of her dress down , covering her wrists and saw the bangles and asked

"Wow Khushi ... they are beautiful .. tumhari Aamma ne di ???"
Khushi blushed and remembering the last night said

"Nahi... Arnav ne.."

"Dr. Arnav ne ??? Wow... that means tumlog bahut serious ho.. wohooo congrats." And Khushi blushed a deep shade of red.

Payal covered her hands and then talking a bit with Aakash left.

Around 12:30 Dr. Payal came back with two nurses and wardboys along with a wheelchair. She was shifted to the chair , and her amma almost broke into tears, she smiled a brave smile ad consoled her and her asked her bauji to take care of her. Aakash came and wished her luck and told her that she will get ok and she nodded and Aakash put a folded page in her shirt pocket and then she was rolled towards OT.

The wardboys were about to roll her in , when Arnav walked towards her chair and bending near her side , as if to check the wheelchair whisphered in her ears

"I love you... my beautiful wife.."

And he was about to stand up when she smiled and whishpered

"Mere pocket mein tumhare liye kuch hai..."

He looked at her and she nodded and he slowly slid his hand inside her pocket and brought out the folded paper and out it inside his apron's pocket. And Khushi was rolled inside.

After half an hour Arnav , followed by 2 of his foreign collegues , and four nurses entered the OT, and at 1:15 , the red light of the OT blinked to life.

The operation continued and after completing three fourth part , his collegues left and he continued with the last part.

As soon as the operation ended and he asked the nurse to switch off the red light, something strange happened and Khushi's heart rate started falling slowly , he instantly ordered the nurse to bring in the shock machine , and put on the oxygen mask, but her heart rate kept on decreasing. He put on the oxygen mask and started pumping her heart. He pumped twice , but nothing changed and the green waves started getting small and as if automatically images started flashing in his mind. His hands started shaking and getting cold and as if in a trance , she started moving back, and old rapid flashbacks started haunting him , and he continued walking back , till he reached one corner of that room , and his legs gave up and he sat down on a tool. He closed his eyes and that's when he heard the high pitched

"Beep " sound and he heard the nurses shouting and running , calling him , but he didn't knew why , he couldn't move even a single part of his body , he sat there totally still , blank ,hearing that

"Beep."

PLEASE LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS. AND FOR ALL READER.. JUST 1 MORE PART LEFT.. SO FINALLY ITS ENDING TOO.

Miku2014-06-29 23:17:11