Just a little something I came up with. Please let me know what you think.
This starts from when Keerti thanks Pallavi for helping her and walks away. Raghav and Amma are upset thinking Pallav ihelped Keerti and went against them. They both get upset with her and walk away.
Pallavi is left alone downstairs. She looked around and shivered slightly. She had neve rfelt this alone since her parents had died. Today, her Amma, who she considered a friend more than a mother had distanced herself from her and the one person she never thought would ever turn away, her husband, her love, her soulmate, had also walked away saying, ‘he was done with this’. What exactly did he mean by that? Surely he didn’t mean that he was done with them? They had been thru so much and were always together so why would he not believe that Keerti had tricked her. Pallavi started to walk towards the stairs to go to her room and felt slightly dizzy. She managed to get upstairs to her room and saw that Raghav was in the gym area having a drink. She walked to him and paused. She could see the pain in his eyes. He felt betrayed and hurt, but how could she make him understand that she didn’t do it intentionally.
She had gone to give the clothes and jewellery to Keerti. Keerti used their past friendship to trick her into thinking she had changed and was ready to meet the groom but she had to get something done at work and she would be right back. Pallavi hadn’t believed her but when she turned around, Keerti had knocked her on the back of the head with something, ran out and locked the door. Pallavi had lost consciousness for a few secs or maybe it was minutes and when she woke up she realized what had happened. She yelled out for someone to open the door and luckily one of the servants was cleaning the hallway and he opened the door. She had tried telling Raghav but he had rudely told her to leave as he was busy and Amma also seemed rushed and didn’t have time. She knew she should have tried harder but deep down she wanted to trust that Keerti wouldn’t betray her and would be back. Well she did come back but married to Sunny. Not just that, she made it seem like Pallavi had helped her with running away. Keerti had thanked her infront of Raghav and Amma making them think she was responsible for letting her out. The newlyweds had walked away smirking and especially Sunny had made eye contact with Pallavi and she knew it was Sunny who had told her to make it seem like Pallavi was involved. Sunny wanted revenge for the slap she had given him at her Sari Shop and she knew he was not done.
She stood there looking at Raghav feeling his pain. She cried along with him but didn’t have the words to console him. Raghav had sensed that she was standing there but he didn’t want to turn around as he knew that once he looked into her eyes he wouldn’t be able to resist her. He was angry but more so disappointed with her. Pallavi called out, “Raghav!”
Raghav didn’t answer, she walked up to him but before she could touch him, he moved away and said, “I know why you’re here, but right now I don’t want to talk to you.”
Pallavi once again pleaded with him, “please, you need to listen to me, I didn’t….”Raghav cut in before she could continue, “you know what, please for today atleast I need to be alone, I know I should have dealt with this differently but I knew what Keerti would do and that is why Amma and I decided to deal with this in our way. You haven’t been around so you haven’t seen how far all this has gone since you just got back yesterday. I have had to deal with Keerti’s issues, Business issues, Mandhar issues, all the while staying at Dhouse and serving them whole day as a cook and servant. Everything has taken a back seat. When we asked you to keep an eye on Keerti, we didn’t think you would be so naïve as to believe Keerti, you know how she got the divorce papers signed then why would you believe her? Today Ive failed in my responsibility in keeping Keerti safe and that too is due to the one person I love and trust the most, YOU!”
Pallavi now in tears said, “Please Raghav….” Once again before she could continue, the phone rang and Raghav answered while walking out the door. Pallavi looked at his retreating back and realized he was not even going to answer her. She went out of the room to check on Amma and noticed Amma talking to her husband’s picture, crying and saying that she had failed her job as a mother. She failed to keep Keerti safe. Amma looked up and saw Pallavi. She walked to the door and Pallavi thought that Amma was coming to talk to her and got happy but instead Amma closed the door on her. Pallavi stood there dejected and worn out.
She walked back to her room and passed by Keerti’s room. She noticed the light on and could hear them giggling and laughing. She knocked on the door. Keerti thinking it would be Amma comes to open and saw Pallavi. Pallavi looked at her angrily. “Wah, Keerti, tumne to aaj kamaal kardiya. Dosti ka vaasta de kar tum bagh gayi mujhe daka mar kar phir aakar bolti ho ke me tumhara saath diya…Waah Keerti, Waah, Dost hoto aisi jo apne dost ki shaadi aur uske parivaar ko ujardo. Aisi dosti toh zindagi me kisi ko nahi chahiye. You know how guilty I feel….. " Before she could continue, Sunny walked up and quite rudely said, “Pallavi Bhabhi if you could please excuse my wife, it’s our suhaag raat today, so I would like to spend time with her…so if u don’t mind, please leave. Thank you.” Saying this he pulled Keerti towards him. Pallavi could see that Keerti did look ashamed but was too blinded by Sunny to say or do anything.
Pallavi walked to her room and noticed the den light was on as she passed by. She changed and waited on the lounge chair for Raghav. She must have dozed off. Raghav finished up with Farhad and walked to his room. He looked around and noticed the bed empty. “where was Pallavi?” he thought. Then saw her on the couch sleeping with her head lying on the arm of the couch. He walked up to her and looked down at her sleeping form. He knew he was being harsh but he was too angry. He couldn’t turn back time and he couldn’t undo what was done. If only Pallavi had not let Keerti out. He knew Pallavi always did what she felt was right and would go against anyone regardless of who it was to do the right thing. He also knew that she was against his idea of locking up Keerti and forcing her to marry, which was why he knew deep down that she had gotten herself tricked and let Keerti out. He walked away balling his hands into fists. He couldn’t look at Pallavi and not think of the betrayal. He was too hurt. He went and changed into his night suit and got in bed. Just as he was about to turn off the light. He noticed Pallavi’s head rolling and was about to fall off the arm of the lounger. He jumped off the bed and ran to hold her head. He quickly picked her up and brought her to bed. He covered her with the blanket and leaned over to kiss her forehead when he realized he was still mad at her. He quickly got up and walked over to his side of the bed but before he got in, he felt something sticky on his fingers. He went to the washroom to wash his hands and noticed red colour. He must have rubbed Pallavi’s sindoor by mistake. He switched off the light and went to bed.
The next day when Raghav woke up, just as his usual habit,he reached over to greet Pallavi but found the bed empty. He sat up and looked over and around but Pallavi was nowhere to be seen. She must have gone down to make breakfast. He got ready for work and went downstairs. He saw Amma in the kitchen and wanted to ask where Pallavi was but he didn’t want Amma to get upset hearing Pallavi’s name so he sat down for breakfast. Naidu served them breakfast and when Amma left to get her medicines, Raghav asked Naidu where Pallavi was and Naidu replied, “I don’t know Anna, I think Pallavi Madam went to work.” Raghav nodded and didn’t say anything but was a little hurt that she hadn’t msged him to tell him but then he thought of how he hadn’t really been talking to her so he wouldn’t have answered her. She should have still msged atleast because regardless of all this, he still loved her. Farhad came just then and Raghav went off with him to get their day started.
Pallavi came to the shop and met with Krishna. They went about their day and in the evening closed shop and Pallavi looked outside the shop but did not see the car. So she called for an Auto. She felt hurt that Raghav hadn’t sent the car for her like he did every day as he must still be mad and she didn’t feel like being rejected if she msged and asked for a car. She got close by the house and got off the auto. She paid the driver and walked the few mins to RR mansion.
Raghav was out in the balcony and noticed Pallavi walking to the gate. He saw the auto drive off and realized she hadnt come by car which means the driver never went to pick her but the driver knew that he had to pick up Pallavi everyday so what happened today? He watched as Pallavi walked to the front door, looking worn out and tired. Her face looked weary and exhausted. He stepped away from the balcony as he noticed she was going to look up. He walked back to the room and lay down on the bed.
Pallavi walked in and noticed the house was empty. She walked to the kitchen to find something to eat but realized everything was tidied up and put away. She looked in the fridge but other than bread and butter there was no dinner. She took out a slice of bread and applied butter and sat down on the floor to eat.
Raghav waited for her upstairs but after a few mins decided to see what was taking her so long. He walked by the kitchen and saw her sitting on the floor eating a slice of bread. Why was she not warming up the leftover food and eating that? He thought. How would a slice of bread fill her up. He started to walk up to the kitchen when he noticed that she was sitting on the ground with her head resting on the side of the bottom cabinets and was falling asleep. Her head kept rolling off to the side. Raghav sped up and just as he was about to goin and pick her up, she finished her bread and stood up. Raghav hid by the side and watched as she trudged out of the kitchen and walked up the stairs. What had happened today? He wondered. She had never looked this tired and disoriented. He saw her enter the room and waited a few mins but before that he went to the kitchen to look and noticed that there really was no food left. How was that possible? He had specifically told Naidu to leave a plate of food for her to have when she got home, so where was it? He would have to speak to Naidu and the driver as well.
Raghav walked up to his room and noticed that Pallavi was already in bed but hadn’t changed her clothes. She was in her sari that she had worn during the day. She must have been exhausted. Raghav went and sat beside her. He cupped her face and as soon as he touched her, he felt a sense of calm like the fire within him had dissipated. He felt a sense of peace. He knew she was the calm to his storm and he also knew that touching her and looking into her eyes always evaporated his anger which is why he stayed away from her because he wanted to be angry, and mad and upset as he didn’t know what else to be. Every time that loser Sunny came in his way, he thought of Keerti and then thought of Pallavi’s betrayal.
Raghav looked at Pallavi and whispered, “I love you so much, why did you do that to me? Why did you not keep Keerti in the room? Why did you not let us know she had left? There was so much you could have done but you didn’t and even though you said you did, you didn’t try hard enough. I thought you were my pillar of strength that you would always be beside me but this time, you made me fail in my biggest responsibility ever, as a brother taking care of his sister and her happiness.” Raghav had tears in his eyes, he got up and walked away. He went to have a drink and thought back to everything that happened. He went over his day to see if he could have changed anything. He knew Pallavi had come to his den to tell him something important but he was so busy that he didn’t even acknowledge her…..wait…he even rudely told her he was busy and she should come later. He sat up and started thinking back to the number of times she came to interrupt him and he kept dismissing her. At one point she had raised her voice and said it was important but he had ignored her. Had she been trying to tell him about Keerti? Oh my goodness……..he hadn’t even been willing to listen. He also knew that she had tried to call him so he would answer but he had ignored her calls. Then before the grooms family had arrived she had pulled him over to tell him something but he had angrily asked her where Keerti was. She was about to tell him when the groom’s family arrived. Oh my goodness, what had he done? Was this all his fault?
Just then his Lungi wala Raghav pops in and looks at him nodding his head. Raghav looks at him quizzically and Lungi Raghav said, "yes, now you are thinking along the right direction." Raghav felt ashamed and said, "what have I done, I didnt want to take responsibility so i was blaming it on Pallavi." Lungi Wala Raghav just nodded his head and let Raghav continue his monologue.
"Farhad had reminded him numerous times during his meeting that Bhabhi was waiting for him but he had ignored him and continued with the meeting. He looked at Lungi Raghav and said, "me kal sabh kuch tihk kardega."
He walked back to his room and got in bed. He noticed Pallavi's blanket was off and he pulled it up and covered her. He kissed her on the cheek and said, “we will talk tomorrow, I promise, I love you my Saree Ka Dukaan. I know I have done wrong and I will make it up, I promise.” Saying that he fell asleep holding her hand.
The next day, he got up and once again Pallavi was gone. He started feeling the anxiety this time as he had so much to talk to her about. He got ready and went downstairs. Amma was already at the table. He looked around and before he could ask, Amma said, “tumhari biwi gayi kaam pe.” He nodded and said, “Amma, aap ko nahi lagta hum Pallavi pe bewaja naraaz hai? Maine socha uss din ke baare mei aur realize kiya ke woh mereko kitni baar aake kuch baatana chahti thi aur maine usse ignore kiya. Woh call bhi kiya mujhe aur Farhad ko lekin hum dono busy theh isliye ignore kiya.”
Amma just looked at him and didn’t say anything. Naidu came up just then and asked if they need anything. Raghav turned to him and asked, “Naidu, kal raat maine tumhe kahatha Pallavi maam ke liye khane ki plate banakar rakhna, tumne kyun nahi rakha? Naidu replied, “maine rakha tha lekin woh keerti maam aur sunny sir aye aur woh plate unho ne leli. Maine kaha ke woh Pallavi maam ke liye hai lekin woh dono hass kar chalegaye. Im sorry Anna.”
“koi baat nahin tum jao.” Raghav let him go and looked at Amma.
Amma still didn’t say anything. She also had been realizing that Pallavi was not at fault here. She had tried to tell her that day numerous times but Amma realized she too had brushed her off saying she was busy. Amma nodded at Raghav and said, “tum sahi bolrahe ho. Me Pallavi se baat karega shaam ko jab ghar ayegi.” Raghav nodded feeling so much lighter in his chest. The women in his life being at odds is not what he wanted. He smiled, got up and left for work. Farhad had pulled up the car when Raghav realized the car situation from the day before and walked up to the security guard asking for the driver. The driver came running and Raghav asked how come he didn’t go to pickup Pallavi maam yesterday as she came in auto. He replied that he was about to leave but Keerti Maam and Sunny Sir asked him to drive them to the club and wait for them so he went. He wasn’t sure what to do. Raghav was fuming because he knew what Sunny was doing. He was trying to act like he was the owner of the house and taking over with the servants and drivers. Raghav looked at the driver and said, “today you will listen to no one, at sharp 6 pm you need to be at Deshmukh Saree Emporium to pick up Pallavi Maam and if you’re not then I will fire you, Ardha Mainda?” The driver nodded and walked away. Raghav then got in the car and Farhad drove off.
In the evening once again, its past 6 pm and the driver hadn’t come. Pallavi felt dejected that it would be another day of Raghav and Amma not talking to her. There would be no dinner again. Her fun and happy household had been cursed. Now, no one ate together, no onet alked to her. The masti and laughter was completely erased from the house it seemed. Since the car was not gonna come, Pallavi decided to stay longer at work and complete a couple of the orders that were due soon. She started working on it and lost track of time. She didn’t even realize when she had dozed off. She slipped off the chair and landed on the floor but didn’t even realize it.
Raghav paced the front hall looking at the clock. It was now 8 pm and Pallavi was still not home. The driver was not around either and his phone was switched off. Raghav called Farhad and asked him to come ASAP. When Farhad got there, he told him to drive to DSE and speed up. On the way, Raghav kept looking around to see if he could find his car stalled somewhere maybe but no car and no Pallavi. He got to the sari shop and noticed the light on. Pallavi must have been working late again. He had told her not to as he wanted her home so they could have dinner together but I guess didnt see any reason to come home as he and Amma hadn’t made it very pleasant and happy for her the last couple of days. He walked in the shop as the door was open. This girl will be the death of him. How she trusts that no one will steal or come in and hurt her etc. He looked around and didn’t see her so he went back to her small workroom area and didn’t see her there either. He walked back out and called for her. Where was she? Maybe the washroom…he went to check and she wasn’t there either. He went back to her workroom to look again, thinking maybe she might have been behind all thosef abrics. He walked to the back of the store and while walking back to the door, noticed the chair was turned upside down. He went over and saw that Pallavi was lying down on the floor. His heart started racing and his breathing increased. He rushed over and knelt down reaching for her pulse. It felt weak. He called her name multiple times but she didn’t answer. He tapped her cheek and looked for some water to sprinkle on her face. He found her purse and knew she always carried a water bottle. He sprinkled some on her face but still no response. He called Farhad to get the car close to the shop. He quickly picked her up and ran outside. He put her in the backseat and sat with her. He yelled at Farhad to get them to the hospital. He placed Pallavi’s head on his lap. He kept checking her pulse. He was no doctor but her pulse felt very thready and weak. He yelled at Farhad to go faster. He was going into panic mode now. If anything happened to her, he would never forgive himself. She was his life. Without her life was meaningless. He felt miserable at the way he had treated her and he had a dinner planned this evening where he was gonna apologize for his behaviour and ask for forgiveness. He knew Amma was going todo the same as they had both talked this morning. He looked down at Pallavi and said, “meri saree ka dukaan, tumhe kuch nahin hoga, Ardha Mainda.” He then leaned over and placed his lips byher ears and whispered, I love you, please wake up. Mujhe chor kar mat jaa…me tumhare bina nahijee payega.” He was in tears now but they had reached the hospital by then. Raghav quickly got out and carried her into the hospital, yelling for a doctor and a gurney. He yelled out his name and right then he had 5 nurses and a doctor run to him. Sometimes his name was a curse but at times like these his name was a blessing. He briefed the doc on the details of how Pallavi was found. The doctor thanked him and walked towards the exam room. Raghav was pacing back and forth, his hands were shaking and his heartbeat was beating a mile a minute. He couldn’t calm himself down. He kept going back to the exam room and checking to see if the doctor had come out. Farhad had parked the car and come in now and tried to calm his Anna but he too knew that the only person who could calm him down was the person that Anna was restless about.
The doctor walked out and Raghav rushed over asking, “kya huwa, Pallavi teekh hai?” The doctor looked at him and asked, “has your wife had a fall of any kind somewhere in the house maybe, or work or maybe got hit by something?” Raghav shook his head, he actually had no idea as he hadn’t even talked to her for two days. He felt ashamed of himself. The doctor continued saying, “she has a bump on the back of her head and there is some swelling and possibly a concussion. We have to take her to do a CT scan and and MRI and then will let you know.” Saying that the doctor walked away. Raghav looked at Farhad and said wearily, “yeh maine kya kiya?” Farhad just put his hand around Anna’s shoulders and said, “Bhabhi ko kuch nahi hoga, she is strong…she will never leave you, remember she will come after you with a jadu and beat you up if you even think that she is leaving you.” Raghav smiled thru tears and remembered that scene when he had asked her to go to her home and be free and she had come after him with a broom saying she is not going away and how dare he kick her out. Just as he was about to reply, Amma walked in frantically looking for Raghav. “Amma,aap kya karraha he yaha?” he asked
“mera bahu hai yaha toh me kaha jaungi." she answered. Raghav just nodded and realized that they both needed to be here. Just then Keerti and Sunny walked in and Raghav’s blood boiled seeing Sunny but he calmed down as this was not the time or place. They were here for Pallavi and he wont cause any issues for them to be kicked out of the hospital. Raghav nodded at Farhad who walked over toSunny and said, “aap log please ghar jaiye, yaha tamasha khara mat kijiye.” Sunny looked at Keerti, smiled and turned to Raghav and said, “yeh public property hai, hum yaha reh sakte hai, tum hamara kuch nahi karr sakteho.” Amma looks at keerti with a disappointed look and shook her head dejectedly. Keerti looked at Amma and was about to say something but Amma put her hand up and said, “me kuch sunna nahi chahti.”
Keerti and Sunny walked to the water fountain and Sunny asked keerti, “waise how did you manage to trick Pallavi and lock her anyway?” Keerti replied, “I tricked her using our friendship and when she turned around to put the clothes on the chair, I hit her with my phone. She fell and I ran off and closed the door from outside. Just then Keerti heard her name being shouted. She turned around and felt a sting on her cheek. She looked at Amma angrily and said, “what is this? Me koi doodh piti bachi nahi hun, abh meri shaadi hogayi hai, aap aise mujhe kyun mara?” she asked. Amma had no words, she was so choked up and just looked at Keerti with tears in her eyes. Her daughter is the one that had hit her other daughter who was now going thru all sorts of tests to find out what was wrong. Amma knew Pallavi was not in the wrong and she also knew that getting upset with Pallavi was just an excuse as she didn’t want to admit she had failed as a mother. She had at first forced her son to marry Pallavi and now she would have forced her daughter to marry someone. Both of them would have rebelled but the difference was Raghav did it for her sake as he wanted them to be together and Keerti did it out of despite as she wanted to rebel against her as she didn’t value their relationship. Raghav thirsted for them to be together whereas Keerti didn’t care so much as she hadn’t endured life without her mom. Pallavi had changed Raghav for the better but Sunny had brought out the worst in Keerti. They had conspired with Mandhar againstPallavi and Raghav. The deeds they had done together, she couldn’t believe what she had heard her daughter do. She truly had failed as a mother! She walked away needed some fresh air.
Raghav noticed his Amma going out and wondered what happened. He followed her out and she stopped sensing him behind her. She turned around and hugged him. He too needed her support and hugged her back. They were all in this together. Raghav looked at Amma and lifted his eye brow questioning her as to what happened. She at first shook her head and then realized there was no need to hide from Raghav as he would find out anyway. She said, “Keerti is the one who hit Pallavion her head and knocked her out, then ran out and locked the door.” Raghav looked ready to explode. He fisted his hands by his side and there was fire in his heart. His brain was screaming to go and confront his sister but his heart was telling him to calm down for Pallavi. She needed him here, and he was not going toget kicked out but he would kick his sister and that loser husband of hers from here. Raghav called Farhad and told himw hat to do. When he went back in, those two were nowhere to be found.
When he went in, the doctor was out waiting for him. “Mr Rao, I have the results of your wife’s mri and CT scan. So, she was hit with a blunt but pointed edge at the base of her skull which has caused a slight fracture. She is lucky because even a mm extra and she would have had to have surgery if that was even an option. At the moment we will keep an eye on her here for a day or two. We will wrap her head with soft gauze and when she does go home, you have to make sure that area is not touched. Even when sleeping she has to sleep on her side, not the back of her head. She cannot make sudden movements as she will get dizzy and going up and down the stairs should be avoided unless someone can carry her as she could feel dizzy and disoriented and fall. Also no alcohol or any type of drugs, unless its her medication. I will prescribe some pills for anti nausea and pain but otherwise it will take about a week or so and she will start to feel normal again. The fracture will take awhile but if she takes it easy, it will heal. Please bring her back for a check up after a week and we will see if the fracture has started to heal. Any questions?”
“is she awake, can I see her please?” asked Raghav
“she is not awake yet but u can definitely see her, also remember, low voices and she might have a headache and look a little dazed so no sudden movements either, no flashing lights or sounds too. Everything will just make her feel worse.” The doctor answered
Raghav nodded and followed the doctor to Pallavi’s room. The doctor left and Raghav walked up to Pallavi. He stood beside her bed and reached for her hand. It was cold as an ice block. He gently rubbed it running his fingers along her veins trying to infuse some warmth in her hand. She had such tiny hands that his large hand could easily envelope her whole hand. He made sure not to dislocate the IV drip.
The door opened and Amma and Farhad walked in. Farhad motioned that he would wait outside but Raghav waved him in. Amma and Farhad stood by the foot of the bed, both emotionally looking at Pallavi lying lifelessly on the bed. Her tiny body looking so fragilea nd frail. Amma couldn’t take it anymore and quietly walked out. Farhad nodded at Raghav and went out.
Raghav pulled up a chair and sat next to Pallavi, holding her hand. At some point he had dozed off but woke up a couple of hours later and noticed that the nurses had draped a blanket over him and the IV drip had been changed. Pallavi was still asleep. He got up and used the restroom and walked around. He was getting restless. He had never seen Pallavi sit still for even a second. She was always on the go, either in the kitchen or cleaning something in the room, or the house, going to the market, or her shop, he had yet to see her sit in one area for even 5 mins other than eating and going to bed of course. Seeing her here now, lying so still, like a fragile doll. She was petite as it is but seeing her now in bed with her head bandaged and IV drip in her hand, an oxygen mask on her mouth pained him. He turned away when he felt hot tears gathering in his eyes. He heard some sounds and quickly walked to the bed. She tried saying something, but she had the oxygen in her mouth so she wasn’t able to say anything. She moved her fingers and reached for his hand. He quickly grabbed her hand and she curled her fingers around his. When he looked at her, she was asleep again. He sat down and felt slightly at ease. She had reached for him. His heart calmed down. He smiled and leaned over to kiss her hand. Despite everything he had done, she still reached for him. She still loved him. He was the biggest fool on the planet to even think that his Saree Ka Dukaan would ever do anything to intentionally hurt him. The nurse came in and Raghav told her what happened. She nodded and went away. Close to morning, Raghav felt a pull in his hand. He had dozed off so he lifted his head and noticed Pallavi awake. He stood up slowly so as not to make any sudden movements. She smiled at him. He smiled back. The nurse came in and gently removed the oxygen from the mouth. She brought with hers some medications to be taken after food. As soon as she left, Raghav asked, “Pallavi, tum theek ho?” She nodded but winced in pain realizing she shouldn’t have done that. Raghav winced too as he shouldn’t have asked. She held his hand and pointed at the food. He understood that she wanted food. He rolled the bed in upright position and proceeded to feed her. He realized she didn’t have much to eat, just plain toast with butter and black tea. How was she going to get better if they didn’t feed her well. Pallavi noticed him looking at the food oddly and understood what he was thinking. She slowly whispered, “yeh khana parega kyunki mera pet khali hai aur dawai ki wajai se yeh bland khana, khana padega kyunki me phir ulti nakaru.” He realized now why she was given this bland food. He nodded and broke off the bread and fed her. She had some black tea and her medications. Raghav had so much he wanted to say and talk to her about but he knew that he couldn’t do it herewith interruptions and while she was not well. Pallavi could sense the turmoil in him and she reached for his hand. She closed her eyes and opened them indicating that she understood what he wanted to say and that they would talk when she got home. Raghav felt peace at last. Just as he sat down, Amma walked in. She quietly walked up to Pallavi and cupped her cheek. She had tears in her eyes. Pallavi reached up and wiped the tears. She said, “meri amma par yeh ansoo bilkul tihk nahi lagrahe he…bahut uncool lagraheho aur aap toh sabse cool saas ho nah.” Amma smiled and said, “saas nahi, Maa.” Pallavi teared up and Amma wiped her tears and said, “aur meri cool beti par ansoo bilkul ache nahi lagrahe.” They both smiled. Amma felt at ease now too. She had so much to say but would wait till her Pallavi came home. The doctor walked in just then and asked Amma to step outside. Raghav was allowed to stay. The doctor did a routine head examination and said, we will keep her here for the day and by evening if she feels ok, we can send her but if not then she would have to stay overnight. Raghav nodded. The doctor left and Raghav sat with Pallavi holding her hand as she dozed off.
Amma meanwhile walked in the hallway and went to the birthing wing. She loved looking at newborn babies thru the windows. She couldn’t wait till she became a grandmother. As she was about to walk back to Pallavi’s room, she noticed Keerti coming out of the gynecologist’s office. She saw Sunny with her and he had his hand on her tummy. Amma turned around and hid behind the pillar. “was Keerti pregnant? Is that why she wanted to marry Sunny? Oh my goodness, this was even worse than she thought. How will they ever get rid of Sunny now?” Amma teared up and prayed for some strength to get through this difficult time. She knew that if Raghav found out, he would hit the roof but they couldn’t hide this any longer. She also knew that Sunny would use the baby to taunt Raghav and Pallavi and create more problems in their lives. They will have to team up and work togethert o get rid of this bad vibe named Sunny.
Amma walked back and peeked in Pallavi’s room and noticed Raghav had his head on her shoulder and they were both sleeping. She prayed to God to please keep them together, safe and happy always.
The rest of the day went by with Pallavi dozing on and off, and Raghav by her side, feeding her, telling her stories and talking about anything and everything except the serious matter at hand. They had time for that and for now Pallavi needed to get better. The nurse came by to check and see if they could discharge her but instead said they should keep her overnight. The night went much thes ame way as the night before.
NEXT DAY
Raghav woke up when the sun’s rays hit his face. He realized where he was. He had fallen asleep on the couch holding onto Pallavi’s hand. He went to freshen up and realized he was wearing the same clothes now for two days. He needed a shower. He came back in the room and the nurse was there changing Pallavi’s dressing. Raghav noticed the blood on the bandage and thought back to the day he had picked her up and put her on the bed and had noticed the red on his hands. Oh my God, that had been her blood!. He almost fell when he realized he had Pallavi’s blood on his hands and he had no idea. He had dismissed it as sindoor. He started sweating and feeling the air close in his neck. It was getting hard to breath. He started breathing heavy and wheezing and feeling disoriented. He heard voices in the background but one voice filtered thru….”Ghamandi Rao, breath in….breath out…..in…..out…..come on mera Ghamandi Pati….you can do it” He followed that voice that kept repeating the breathing mantra. He finally felt his heart beat slow down and he turned around and noticed Pallavi looking at him and she held out her hand. He took it and looked at her with such love and longing. He felt his eyes tearing up but she looked at him and shook her head, wincing slightly at the action. He reached for her head and kept it still. She said, “Im right here, Im not going anywhere.” He nodded as he was too choked up to say anything. The doctor walked in just then and announced that Pallavi was being discharged. He then looked at Raghav ands aid, “Mr Rao, you have to take care of your wife, please. Ive already told you what she can and cannot do so please follow that. I will see he rin one week.” He turned to Pallavi and said, “Mrs Rao, please take care of yourself. Do not exert yourself and try and rest as much as possible. Listen to your husband as I have already told him what you should not be doing. This was a serious situation and you are lucky that you weren’t hit too deep. The fracture will heal but only if you take care.”
Pallavi and Raghav both nodded. The doctor left and the nurse went to get the discharge papers ready. Raghav msged Farhad to bring the car and take care of the payment and also to make a donation to the hospital.
Pallavi started to get up when Raghav rushed to her, “sari ka dukaan, did you not hear the doctor? You are in my care so you need to listen to me. Now you have to get dressed and then I will carry you to the car.”
Pallavi just looked at him oddly and said, “Umm…I can dress myself, and you can get a wheelchair for me.”
Raghav smiled and said, “me hoon nah….me kardega sabh kuch.”
Pallavi blushed as she didn’t know how he would change her since they hadn’t had any intimate relations yet. She realized he wasn’t even thinking that and she wouldn’t say anything. Just then Amma came in with a bag and said, “Pallavi tum teehk ho?” Pallavi nodded slightly and Amma gave her the bag and said, “tumhare kapre hai isme.” Before Pallavi could ask Amma for help, Amma walked out of the room.
Pallavi looked at Raghav and he just innocently removed her clothes from the bag. Amma had packed a long dress as it would be easy for Pallavi to handle. Raghav got close to Pallavi as if to hug her but reached over to the back to undo the strings of the hospital gown. Pallavi’s heart raced and she looked up. Raghav looked at her and felt his pulse quicken. The nurse walked in just then and both of them jumped slightly looking embarrassed. The nurse went about her business, taking the cart over and packing the medications etc. Raghav realized she wont be helping so he took a deep breath and leaned over again. Pallavi closed her eyes and could feel Raghav’s fingers undoing the string. Her heartbeat was racing now but she breathed in and out to calm herself. Wow, her hormones were raging wild right now. Raghav was shaking as well, and realized his heart was racing. He calmed himself and kept saying in his mind, “Now is not the time, get your mind back on task.”
He handed the dress to Pallavi and closed his eyes so as not to embarrass her while she changed. He knew they were married and he had a right but since they hadn’t been intimate yet, he didn’t want Pallavi to feel self conscious. She touched his hand to let him know she was done. He helped her get off the bed and lifted her just as she was about to step down. She looked like she was about to argue but he shook his head and said, “not now, I can carry you, you don’t need a wheelchair, vaise there is a shortage of wheelchairs so someone else who doesn’t have a strong husband like me will need it for his wife.” Pallavi smiled and swatted him on his arm. Raghav smiled and carried her out to the car. Farhad was waiting and came over to open the door. He looked at Anna and smiled. His Anna looked tired but he was happy. He nodded at Pallavi and asked, “Bhabhi aap teekh ho?” She was about to nod when Raghav glared at her and instead she said, “haa me teekh hun.” Farhad thought, please God keep these two happy always. His Anna had been through a lot in his life, please don’t take away the one thing that keeps him happy, his wife. Without her Anna would be lifeless and would wither and die.
Raghav placed Pallavi in the back seat and went over to the other side and got in next to her. She looked at him puzzled thinking he would sit in the front next to Farhad. He shook his head and said, “my place is next to you. I am not leaving your side ever.”
Pallavi just smiled and reached for his hand. They held hands and by the time they got home, Pallavi had dozed off on Raghav’s shoulder. He carried her in and nodded at Amma when he passed her on his way up to his room. He placed her on the bed and made sure her head was sideways. He took off her shoes and covered her with the blanket. He turned off the bright lights and left just a small light on. He then looked at her and finally felt like he was home. The raging storm and the turmoil he felt had eased off now. He went and got his laptop and sat beside Pallavi while working on his designs. Tomorrow they would have some time to talk about everything and plan their next move.
(Im not a doctor or anything and the head injury scans, tests etc and the recovery process was totally made up by be so please don't think that was real.)
Will put up part 2 when I get around to it.
Thanks for reading and please do comment. I love reading the comments, whether good or bad or anything I can add or take away etc. Always fun to read peoples opinions.
Stay safe everyone.
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