CHAPTER 4
Guddan entered the hospital and the memories of the incident that happened few days ago were flashing infront of her eyes. It was like it's again happening in front of her and she is unable to control it. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to relax herself. She moved further to her cabin and received warm welcome and wishes on her way by the hospital staff.
She opened the door of her cabin only to find someone sitting on the chair present opposite to hers. She couldn't see the person as the chair's back was facing her.
"Good Morning, Dr. Guddan."
She very well recognised the voice and without hesitating she settled herself on her chair.
Guddan: Good morning, Dr. Kabir!
She greeted him warmly.
Kabir: Congratulations for your wedding. It was really the exact replica of your dream wedding.
Guddan: Shuru ho gaye tum.
Kabir: Abhi maine kuchh kaha hi nahi. Waise I know, your husband is so romantic isiliye Dr. Guddan aaj pehli baar hospital ke liye late huyi hai.
Guddan: Stop speaking Rubbish!
Kabir: Tumhe to bas Akshat ki baatein achhi lagti hai. Mai baat karun to rubbish! How was your wedding night?? Kya gift diya usne tumhe?
Guddan: Aur kya hi de sakte hai wo? Ilzaam, beizzati, zillat, nafrat.
Kabir: Koi baat nahi lekin ye batao ki tumne use return gift diya ya nahi.
She looked at him questioning through her eyes.
Kabir: Nahi diya na tumne. I knew it! Isiliye maine hi unke liye gift ka intezaam kar diya hai. (Handing her a file) Antara Di ke reports. Ye lo aur ja kar us Akshat Jindal ke muh par phenk dena. How dare he, to blame you for your own sister's death??
She took the file and opened it with shivering hands. A mere look on the printed papers made the way for tears out from her eyes.
Kabir: I know Guddan ki tum kaisa feel kar rahi ho but Akshat ko sach batana zaroori hai. He has the right to know ki Di ki death ka asli reason kya hai.
Guddan: Mai unhe sach nahi bata sakti.
Kabir: Lekin kyun Guddan?? Tum Akshat ko sach nahi bata kar apni zindagi barbaad kar rahi ho. Aur mai tumhe aise nahi dekh sakta.
Guddan: Mujhe meri zindagi ki koi parwaah nahi hai. I don't care Akshat mere saath kaise behave kare ya wo mere baare me kya soche lekin mai unhe sach nahi bata sakti. And moreover, maine Di se bhi promise kiya tha ki mai Akshat ko kabhi sach nahi bataungi.
Kabir: Hell with the promise!!
He stood up with a jolt banging on the table.
Kabir: Give me a damn reason other than that promise!!
Guddan: Stop it Kabir! There is nothing else other than that promise.
Kabir: Just for a damn promise tum apni life barbaad karogi. Agar Di ko pata hota ki unke is ek promise ke wajah se unki apni behen ki zindagi barbaad ho jayegi to wo kabhi tumse ye promise nahi leti.
Guddan: I don't care about anything. Just nothing!!
Kabir: Lekin mai jaanta hun ki tum aisa kyun kar rahi ho.
She looked into his eyes trying to understand what he is thinking.
Kabir: Just because you love him.
She averted her gaze from him and drank a whole glass of water in a go.
Kabir: Ab nazrein kyun chura rahi ho. Sach kaha na maine. That's the only reason. Right?
She ignored him and started studying the patient's files present on her desk. He placed back the files and held her arms.
Kabir: Answer me!! Is that the reason?? Yes or No???
Guddan: Yes!!
Being irritated with his questions she yelled on him. But when she realized what she said she quickly composed herself and denied her own words.
Guddan: No, aisa kuchh nahi hai.
Kabir: Tum aur mai donon sach achhe se jaante hai. Tumhare alaawa agar ye baat koi aur jaanta hai ki tum Akshat se pyaar karti ho wo sirf mai hun. Aur jab Antara Di ko ye baat pata chali tab wo Akshat ko tumhare liye chhod kar chali gayi.
Guddan: Wo baat bohot purani hai. I have already cleared everything.
Kabir: I don't care. Just tell me is that the reason or not?
Guddan: Yes....(he looked at her narrowing his eyes) but not the only reason. It's one of the reasons.
Kabir: You stupid girl! Tum ab tak us Akshat ke pyaar me paagal ho. Wo pehle Antara Di ka husband tha lekin ab jab usne tumse shaadi ki phir bhi wo tumhe bhaav tak nahi deta. And cherry on the top, now he blames you for Antara Di's death. Nafrat karta hai wo tumse lekin phir bhi tum...
Just hell with that man!!
Guddan (pointing her finger towards him): Kabir!! He is my husband!! And don't you dare to speak about him in this way.
Kabir: Wo husband jo tumhe apni hi pehli patni ka kaatil samajhta hai. Wo husband jisne tumse badla lene ke liye shaadi ki hai. Wo husband jo tumse bina kisi reason ke nafrat karta hai.
Guddan: Reason hai! Aur wo reason maine unhe diya hai. Kyunki mai Di ko nahi bacha paayi.
Kabir: You are literally out of your mind! Tum bhagwaan nahi ho, Doctor ho. Insaan ki zindagi aur maut bhagwan ke haath me hoti hai. Doctors sirf koshish kar sakte hai. Aur jo koshish tumne ki thi usme tumhe kaamyaabi bhi mili thi lekin unki death kisi aur reason se huyi. It was destined. Why don't you understand a silly thing?
Guddan: I don't want to speak anymore about that accident.
Kabir: Why???
Guddan: Because you aren't understanding me and misunderstanding Akshat.
Kabir: Tum phir use beech me laa rahi ho. Baat ham donon kar rahe hai.
Guddan: Kyun nahi samajh rahe ho tum Kabir??? Jis tarah din raat Akshat mujhe Di ki maut ka zimmedar bata rahe hai usi tarah wo bhi us accident ke zimmedar khud ko samajh rahe hai. Jitna guilty wo mujhe feel kara rahe hai, utna hi guilty wo khud bhi feel kar rahe hai. Wo toot chuke hai aur mai sach bata kar unhe aur takleef nahi de sakti chahe uske liye mujhe hi zindagi bhar takleef kyun na uthani pade, to mai karungi. Wo mujhse nafrat kare to mai bardaasht kar lungi lekin mai unko aise toota hua nahi dekh sakti chahe uske liye mujhe khud ko Di ka khooni hi kyun na prove karna pade.
Kabir (holding her arms): Guddan, try to understand! Antara Di never wanted this for you......
The door knob clicked open only to make them froze on their spot as they see the most unexpected person standing there.
Guddan (whispered): Akshat!!!
Anger was clearly reflecting through his eyes. He saw Kabir holding her hands and the tears that were flowing through both their eyes. As Kabir, sees him looking at them, he leaves her hands and wipes his tears maintaining distance between them. She turns around wiping her tears and her gaze fell on Antara's file which was left open on the desk. She immediately closed it and kept it along with the other patients files so that he couldn't doubt on that.
Guddan: How may I help you?
Akshat: I want my wife's reports which are with you, Dr. Guddan.
Her eyes were wide open and she looked at Kabir who was equally shocked.
Kabir: I think I must leave.
Guddan looked at Kabir with pleading eyes. He understood her concern and picked all the files present on the desk and left the cabin.
Akshat: I asked for something, Dr. Guddan!
Guddan: Just a minute!
She went to the cupboard where all the files of her patients were placed and started looking for the file.
Akshat (in his mind): Ab mai bhi dekhunga ki tum sach kaise chupaogi.
He gets into the flashback how he decided to collect the reports to know the actual reason behind Antara's death.
Flashback,
While Guddan was asking for her bag, she mentioned being late to the hospital and then his mind clicked that only the hospital could help him know the truth. He was called to collect the death certificate and to complete the other formalities regarding Antara's death. As soon as Guddan left for the hospital, he too drove to the hospital.
Akshat: Excuse me!
Receptionist: Yes sir, How may I help you?
Akshat: I need to collect my wife's reports.
Receptionist: Patient's name please.
Akshat: Mrs. Antara Jindal.
Receptionist: Sorry sir but there's no patient named such here.
Akshat: You must be mistaken. Could you please check again? She met with an accident few days back.
Receptionist: Oh, yes sir. Your late wife, Mrs. Antara Jindal. Actually, we keep the records of the live and dead patients separately so, we couldn't find it in the first attempt.
Akshat: It's Ok. Could you please tell me where could I collect her reports?
Receptionist: Her case was handled by Dr. Guddan and her team. So, the reports and the other related documents would be probably with her.
Akshat: Is there any other way I could get it without the knowledge of Dr. Guddan?
Receptionist: No sir, it isn't possible.
Akshat: Ok, I will just go to her.
Receptionist: Wait sir. First, let me check if she is here.
Akshat: I know she is here. Please let me in.
Receptionist: Just a minute, sir! Yeah, she checked in few minutes before. I will just inform her about your arrival.
She picked the phone to call but he denied her.
Akshat: No need, I will directly go to her cabin.
Receptionist: Ok. You can go to her cabin, 2nd floor, right from the......
She was saying the instructions but he left without even listening to her. He knew her cabin very well because he has visited her many times during the hospital hours alone or sometimes with Antara.
Flashback ends.
She placed the file infront of him. He hesitantly opened the file. The first document was the death certificate. He immediately turned it and looked for the other documents. It was only the bills he paid for the surgery and the other were accident related injury reports.
Dr. Guddan: Please sign on this!
She passed a form which tells that he has collected all the reports from the hospital and in case if anything is missing the hospital isn't responsible for that.
Akshat: Pehle, saare reports to de do.
Guddan: Aur kya chahiye aapko? Jitne the sab de diye hai maine.
Akshat: Jhoot mat bolo aur reports do mujhe. Kuchh tests karaye the na tumne Antara ke, uske reports kahan hai? Wo chahiye mujhe.
Guddan: Mere paas aur koi reports nahi hai. Jo the wo maine aap ko de diye hai. Is form par sign kariye, ye file lijiye aur chale jaaiye yahaan se.
Akshat: Don't test my patience! I know reports tumhare paas hi hai. Kab tak sach chhupaogi, Guddan? I am already fed up with this drama day by day! Mujhe bas reports chahiye aur jab tak tum reports nahi dogi mai yahaan se nahi jaaunga.
Guddan (in a loud voice): Mr. Jindal, please leave. I have nothing to help you with. Please leave!!
The nurse comes in listening to her voice.
Sr. Mahi: Dr. Guddan, your patients are waiting.
Guddan: Sister, please help him out and make him sign the form. Please send the patients in.
(To Akshat): Aapko mujh par bharosa nahi hai na, koi baat nahi. Jaa kar hospital authorities se baat kar lijiye aur pooch lijiye ki maine aapko sahi reports diye hai ya nahi. Kya maine aapko poore documents provide kiye hai ya nahi.
He left her cabin with the file.
She was taking him to the reception but she spotted Dr. Kabir moving towards Guddan's cabin. She asked him to go and she will join him later.
Sr. Mahi: Dr. Kabir! Dr. Guddan is attending patients. You can't meet her now.
Kabir: Ok. Tum ye files use de dena aur bata dena ki Antara Di ka file mere paas hi hai.
Sr. Mahi: Ok, anything else.
Kabir: When will the appointments end.
Sr. Mahi: If no new patients, then till afternoon.
Kabir: Ok. Where is Akshat? Did something happened?
Sr. Mahi: They both were yelling on each other. Ham unhe sach kyun nahi bata dete?
Kabir: Tum kuchh mat karo. Guddan ko hi use sach batana chahiye. Till then, I will handle kyunki I know wo sach pata kiye yahaan se nahi jayega. Ham paanch logon ke alaawa ye sach kisi ko nahi pata chalna chahiye.
Sr. Mahi: Ok, I must leave. He should be waiting for me.
_________________________________
While Akshat goes to the receptionist to ask the details.
Receptionist: Yes sir!
Akshat: Is this all which I will get?
He asked her passing the file which Guddan gave to him.
Receptionist: Yes sir. Please sign this form, accepting that you have taken all the records.
Akshat: I need some more medical reports.
Receptionist: Sir, this is all which the hospital provides.
Akshat: Treatment ke waqt uske kuchh tests huye the, I need that reports.
Receptionist: Wo to aapke family ke paas hi honge. Tests ke baad do copies reports ke prepare hote hai. Ek doctor ke paas hota hai aur doosra unke family ko usi waqt de diya jaata hai.
Akshat: Lekin mere paas koi reports nahi hai.
Receptionist: Aapke paas nahi to kisi aur family member ke paas ho sakta hai.
Akshat: Is it possible ki donon copies Dr. Guddan ke paas ho?
Receptionist: Ho sakta hai kyunki wo unki behen bhi hai. She can keep both the copies legally and the hospital will not be responsible for it.
Akshat: Lekin usne mujhe diya hi nahi.
Receptionist: We aren't concerned. It's your personal matter.
Akshat: Ok!
He signed the form and left taking the file.
Sr. Mahi: Where is Mr. Jindal?
Receptionist: He left taking the file.
Sr. Mahi: Ok, thanks!
He didn't left the hospital but instead went to the pathology lab to try knowing the truth. As he wasn't one of the staff member he wasn't allowed inside. He was waiting for someone to come out so that he could ask them. While Sr. Mahi called Dr. Kabir to inform about Akshat.
Sr. Mahi: Hello, Dr. Kabir?
Dr. Kabir: Yes!
Sr. Mahi: Mr. Jindal chale gaye.
Dr. Kabir: Wo gaye nahi hai, lab aaye hai. Mai abhi wahin tha. Miss Kavya ko unka kaam yaad dilane aaya tha. Aur waapas jate waqt maine Akshat ko lab ke bahaar dekha.
Sr. Mahi: To unhe sach pata chal jayega?
Dr. Kabir: Lab se to kuchh nahi pata chalega. Mai abhi CCTV room ja raha hun, jab use wahan se kuchh nahi milega, wo pakka last try karne CCTV room hi jayega.
Sr. Mahi: Ok Dr. If you need any help, I am a call away. I need to assist Dr. Guddan.
Dr. Kabir: Ok thanks.
As Akshat was waiting for someone, he spotted Ms. Kavya, who was the supervisor of the lab and all the tests of Antara were done under her supervision. Even the reports were prepared by herself.
Akshat: Excuse me!
Kavya: Yes!
Akshat: I am Akshat Jindal. Kuchh dinon pehle aapne meri wife, Antara ke tests karaye the. Actually, I need her reports. So, if you have a copy of them, could you please give me.
Kavya: Can I se the slip please?
Akshat: Sorry, I don't have it.
Kavya: The Doctor's name who suggested the tests?
Akshat: Dr. Guddan!
Kavya: Oh, yeah! Dr. Guddan's patient Antara, I remember. Lekin unke saare reports to maine Dr. Guddan ko usi din de diye the. We don't have any copy.
Akshat: Reports me kya aaye the aapko wo to yaad hoga. Kuchh bhi. Any little thing?
Kavya: Har roz hazaaron tests hote hai. Kis kis ka report yaad rakhenge. I am sorry. I can't help you.
Akshat: Lekin kuchh to....
Kavya: Sorry, I need to go.
Akshat: Dammit!!
He punches the wall on his side in anger.
She left from there and calls Kabir.
Kavya: Dr. Kabir, kaam ho gaya.
Kabir: Well done. Thanks for the help!
Kavya: It's Ok, anything for Dr. Guddan.
Left with no other option, he went to the CCTV room for the footage.
No other person other than the staff related to the room was allowed but Akshat knew Arjun very well because he has visited here for many times for Guddan and has helped in time of need.
Akshat: Arjun, kya tum mujhe 4 din pehle ki CCTV footage dikha sakte ho?
Arjun: I know tum ye kyun pooch rahe ho but sorry to say jis room me Antara thi us room ka CCTV camera kharaab tha.
Akshat: Are you kidding me?? Sach sach batao, ye sab Guddan ne tumse kehne ke liye kaha hai na.
Arjun: Tum galat samajh rahe ho. Aisa kuchh bhi nahi hai. Us room ka CCTV sach me kharaab tha isiliye we don't have any recordings. I am sorry but I can't help you.
He left the hospital in anger as he didn't get anything even after trying each and every possible way to reach the truth.
Kabir: Thanks yaar Arjun.
Arjun: Maine apni behen Dr. Guddan ke liye kiya hai. Uske liye Thanks ki zaroorat nahi hai.
Kabir: Thik hai mai baad me baat karta hun, mujhe kaam hai.
Arjun: Ok.
_________________________________
Soon it was afternoon and Guddan was free with all the patients. Kabir came to her cabin and made her stand and was about to take her with him but she stopped.
Guddan: Kya kar rahe ho. Aise kahaan le ja rahe ho?
Kabir: Chalo, kuchh kaam hai mujhe tumse. Bahaar jana hai.
Guddan: Aise jaaungi bahaar? Ruko!
She took off her coat and arranged her purse and took that with her.
Guddan: Jaana kahaan hai? Aur permission li tumne?
Kabir: Sab ho gaya hai, bas chalo.
Guddan: Kahaan bolo to sahi?
Kabir: Arey yaar, lunch par jaa rahe hai. Isme bhi problem hai tumhe?
Guddan: Lunch canteen me bhi kar sakte hai na.
Kabir: nahi, mujhe bahar hi lunch karna hai.
_________________________________
They reach the restaurant and Kabir goes to park the car while Guddan was on her way to enter the restaurant and she collided with someone on the way.
Guddan: Aniket bhaiya, aap?
Aniket: Guddan, tum? Yahaan kya kar rahi ho? Ek minute, kahin Akshat ne hi tumhe yahaan nahi bulaya hai?
Guddan: Akshat?? Wo yahaan aane wale hai?
Aniket: Ha isiliye to mai yahaan aaya hun, lekin kya hua??
Guddan: Kuchh nahi. Mai chalti hun. Aap please unhe mat bataiye ki mai yahaan aayi thi. Mai aapko baad me call karke sab kuchh bataungi.
Aniket: Lekin wo to aa gaya hai. Tumhare peeche hi hai. Yehi aane wala hai.
Guddan: Mai chalti hun.
She ran away from there and asked Kabir to leave from there.
Akshat: Mujhe aise kyun laga ki Guddan yahaan hai..
Aniket: Maine tujhse pehle hi kaha tha ki tu Guddan se pyaar karta hai bekaar me Antara bhabhi ke peeche pada hua tha. Jahaan dekho wahaan Guddan hi dikhti hai tujhe.
Akshat: Chup karega tu, ya lunch me mere haath se kuchh khaana hai.
Aniket: Kya yaar tu bhi. Andar chal, bohot bhook lagi hai.
Kabir and Guddan reach another restaurant and settled themselves for lunch.
Kabir: To shuru ho jaao!
Guddan: Abhi khana nahi aaya hai.
Kabir: Mai wo nahi keh raha hai. Shuru karo apni kahaani batana.
Guddan: Kya kahaani?
Kabir: Tumhari zindagi ki kahani. Tumhari aur Akshat ki kahaani. I want to know everything today. Aur tum yahaan se tab tak nahi jaaogi jab tak tum mujhe sab bata nahi deti.
Guddan: Lekin Kabir....
Kabir: Lekin, wekin, kintu, parantu, no ifs and buts. Bas shuru karo.
Guddan: Okay fine! It all started 10 years back when I was 15 and he was 18.......
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