Vignette 31. Dil ke Rishte - Last Part Updated - Page 11 - Page 6

Beautiful shot. Loving the head strong Payal

This is devastating for the whole family. Poor Akash and Payal...

Beautiful, so-so-beautiful; one great chapter this one! Lets take this story to its logical finish. Thank you for a great update.

Very beautifully written. Loved the nuances in each relationship. The strong underlying respect between Payal and Arnav truly deserved an entire story and you have brought it out fantastically

Hi Aparna.. what a beautiful display of emotions and relationships...superb like all your other stories...Loved it so much...

Part -4

Another fabulous chapter by you , As I had said earlier you have shown the relation between Arnav and Payal, and how in a critical situation he was alone without kushi and how he showed his maturity in taking decisions regarding her health which was of prime importance.

So also Mami should get an award for being the best mother in law in such circumstances ,not to forget Payal who in spite of being in pain was the best patient ever ready to agree to all that Arnav told her and bravely went into the operation theatre.

Eagerly waiting for the next part.

Love the emotional bond they all share

Loved the update. Strong payal in front of Akash but showed her fear to her brother, lovely bonding of the sister brother duo.

Thank you for the pm.

Very well written series !! Thank you !

Dear All…

Thank you for all the kind comments you guys left for me... they made my day! Exploring Arnav's relationships with the rest of the family members is a favourite activity of mine... I believe he is one of the most-layered character I have had the pleasure to reflect upon...

Without much ado, presenting the next part in the series…

Dil ke rishte.. Part 5

An hour after Payal was taken in, Akash’s car screeched to a halt, with him leaping out at a run, closely followed by NK. All but collapsing at Arnav’s side, Akash sobbed out his worry, only to be soothed and consoled by his steady-as-a-rock brother and his now-calm mother. Shortly, Arnav’s phone rang again, signling the arrival of Khushi and the others, who reached tagged by Dhruv’s car, who had stopped enroute at the office to pick Manohar as well.

Leaving Akash with Mami and NK, Arnav rushed out to meet Khushi, wrapping her in a bearhug, letting out all the strain of the past few hours, finally drawing strength from her presence.

“Jiji kaisi hai, Arnavji,” Khushi asked, hugging him back, understanding his need for her closeness. Straightening after a final squeeze, he looked at her and the others’ concerned faces, Dhruv and Di fairly shaking in their anxiety. The gentle, steady, loving, Payal was one of the pillars of the family, he realized, one who held everyone together in the middle of any and all upheavals with her quiet strength and calming presence. When she fell ill, the family was finding it difficult to cope with it.

Leading everyone in, he once again took over the difficult task of updating everone of the reasons for the surgery, with Nani and Khushi being the most distraught. Much to his pride and disbelief, it was Anjali who handled everyone’s grief, reassuring them that Payal would come out strong from this experience, much as she herself had.

Crying outright at this new trial facing the family, Nani was first consoled by Dhruv, but calmed down a little only when hugged by Arnav himself, his no-nonsense reassurances working its usual wonders. If Arnav reassured them, without any emotional upheaval, the family usually took it as the last word.

But Khushi was another matter altogether. After the initial shock, a few tears had slowly coursed down her cheeks, as she looked at her husband consoling their Nani. Looking up sensing her gaze, he noted how silent she had gone, and relinquishing Nani to Anjali, made his way over to where she was sitting quietly next to Dhruv, his arm around her shoulders, even though it was he who was looking shaken, while his Bhabhi was sitting calm and quiet, looking up in between at the door of the operation theatre.

Gently turning her face to his, he asked, “Tum theek ho?”

Shaking her head vehemently, she hugged him tight, and sobbed, “Hum theek nahi hain. Lekin hum apne aap ko sambhaal lenge, aapki zaroorat sabse zyada Jiijaji ko hai, Arnavji. Aap unke paas jaayiye.”

“I’m blessed in the women in my life. Be it my wife, or sisters or mothers and grandmothers, they are formidable pillars of love, strength, courage and resilience.” Arnav thought, as he hugged her back tightly before standing up and moving over to stand behind Akash, a steady hand kept on his shoulder, grounding his brother by that reassuring touch. Manorama was too sitting quietly besides her husband, his hand around her shoulders.

Almost everyone wrapped around Akash, they passed the remaining time as a solid family unit, with Pooja too coming in at a run, having left ARH after seeing to the meetings Akash and NK had been unable to finish. With all that Payal and Akash had helped her through, she was closest to them in the family and NK had his hands full in calming her down, grief-stricken that she was at Payal’s illness. Arnav and Anjali were trying their best to keep everyone from over-thinking and sliding into grief, Arnav shooting intermittent worried glances at his uncharacteristically silent wife.

The minutes and hours moved along slowly, too slowly. Arnav moved towards his wife, after giving Akash one last rub on his shoulder. Sitting on her other side, he took her hand in his. The slow shudder that went through her the only indicator of how distraught she was, Khushi looked at him, her gaze vulnerable. Nodding at Dhruv, Arnav gathered her close, gently resting his chin on top of her head, as she burrowed close to him, as was her habit when she was trying to escape from the world.

Thus passed the waiting game, with Dhruv and Anjali taking over the job of sitting next to Akash, holding him close as he tried valiantly to keep his distress at bay. Looking at his Di, he whispered, “I just want to see her once, Di. I need to see her myself and make sure she is okay.”

“Payal bhabhi hum sab se strong hai Bhai, aap dekh lena, woh hum sab ko daantenge, khaamakhaa pareshaan hone ke liye,” Dhruv smiled, his lips wobbling.

Snorting, Anjali replied, “Payalji aur daantna?”

That’s when NK, who was sitting with his arms around a silent Manorama, quipped, “Di, aap Payal bhabhi ko underestimate mat keejiye! She’s a dormant ASR!”

Looking up from where he was absorbed in his wife, Arnav asked, “What?!”

“Yes, Nannav! You didn’t see her on the day of your bachelors party! Kaise Akash Bhai ko kaan pakadke le gayi thi! I think she keeps quiet kyunki tum ho already iss family me, sabko daantne ke liye!”

It was in the middle of a ripple of laughter that ran through the worried family that the doctor came out smiling, much to everyone’s relief, reassuring everyone that Payal had had the best possible outcome, with no lasting damage or side effects from her ordeal. Standing aside as he saw her being wheeled out, still unconscious, with Akash and Khushi rushing with her on either sides of the stretcher, he looked on at his sister-in-law, no, his sister, who had somehow along the way, become the touchstone of his family. Remembering Anjali’s long ago words, Arnav murmured, “Tumne saabit kar diya, Payal, ki dil ke rishte hi sabse bade hote hain.”

Seeing the entire family squeezed into the post-operative ward, the Doctor stared at Arnav, before shaking his head at the resignation he saw there. Having dealt with the Raizadas before, he let it go, knowing how futile it would be to reason with them. After briefing them that Payal can be discharged within a couple of days, he left them to it.

“Okay, that’s it, everyone out.”

Starting at Arnav’s brisk tone, everyone looked up at him in askance. “Payal ko abhi hosh aane me thodi der toh lag hi jaayegi. And I think we should let Akash and Payal have some time alone. Aap sab mere sath ghar chaliye, everyone has been under a lot of strain today.”

Holding up a hand a his wife’s protest, Arnav continued, “Khushi, hum sab obviously wapis aayenge, fresh hoke. Let Payal and Akash spend some time alone.”

Cupping her cheek, he said softly, “Mai leke aaunga tumhe wapis, jaldi, theek hai?”

Nodding at Akash’s grateful look, Arnav and Dhruv herded out everyone, promising to be back in a couple of hours.

*****************************

Akash sat quietly, next to Payal’s bed, looking unblinkingly at his wife. Noticing how small she looked, his breath hitched, as he thought again how central to his life she was, how much like the very air he breathed her steady, calm and loving presence was, and how much she meant to the entire family.

His mind replaying the scenes since he first met her to their wedding, the entire confusion and angst during those testing times fairly overshadowing their own special days, and Payal holding up like a rock, trying to navigate her sister’s pain as well as her new sasural with grace and patience. The years since then had cemented her position as an anchor amidst all turbulence, her calm presence often an antidote and a compliment to Khushi’s effervescence. The incredible patience she had shown that had thawed even his own judgemental mother, who had broken down wailing at Payal’s pain today; her constant support to every person in the family, her unique bond with his Bhai, whose silences were easily understood and handled by her; her championing of Khushi and her multitude of madcap plans, and above all, the bottomless kindness in her heart that now benefited the women of Abhilasha. But, first and foremost, she was his very life, and seeing her vulnerable was becoming more than what he could handle.

He stood up slowly, pulling the chair closer, and maneuvering so that he could sit with his head laid over the mattress, as close as he could get to her, holding her hand to his face, as he waited for her to wake up. He must have dozed off, that he woke up to the familiar feeling of Payal’s hand in his hair. Smiling, he looked up, to find her still asleep, and looked around, confused, only to see his brother standing next to him, pulling back his hand.

“Bhai?”

“Haan, mai sab ko ghar chodke wapis aa gaya, just in case you need any help here. Payal will wake up soon, Akash, don’t worry. I’ll be outside if you need anything.”

Arnav had turned away, when his brother grabbed his hand from behind and leapt up, to pull him into a bear-hug. “Thanks, Bhai, for everything, for staying with Payal every second, for… just thanks.”

Hugging him back tight, Arnav stroked his hair again, loving the soft-spoken, calm, smiling young man, who had been his shadow and constant supporter all through his life, a role that was now shared by the girl lying unconscious. Thanking the powers that be for the family that they were blessed with, he was about to say something when he noticed Payal’s eyes flickering, and quickly motioned for Akash to go to her, before standing back, allowing the couple their privacy.

At her soft moan, Akash took her hand gently and said, “Sshh… main hoon yahan…”

“Akash?” Payal eyes blinked open, her mouth curving into a happy smile, “Kab se baithe ho yahan?”

“Bus tumhari surgery shuru hone par hi pohonch paya mai, I’m so sorry, Payal!”

“Sorry kyu bol rahe ho?”, she asked, catching hold of his hand, “Appendix rupture notice deke thodi hoti hai! Aap bhi naa… Maaji aur Arnavji the na, aapko bura lagne ki koi zaroorat nahi hai.””

Smiling at that, Akash sobered up again, “ Aur Payal, woh jo doosri complication jo huyi…”

“Akash, issme bhi humare koi control nahi tha naa…”, her voice trembling slightly, but her face calm, she pressed his hands together, “Ye humari baari nahi thi, shayad, aur Bhagvan ne ye hi theek samjha hoga. Aap dukhi mat hoyiye, Arnavji ne hume samjhaya tha ki bachcha bana hi nahi tha… ye sunke hume bhi shanti mili ki humne apne bachche ko….”

Her voice trailed off, ending in a tearful gurgle, prompting Akash to gather her up in a careful hug, the pair washing away their grief at a baby that wasn’t, in their silent tears, grateful yet that they hadn’t lost a baby.

Stepping out quietly, Arnav took his phone to call his wife, and tell her that it was okay to bring the rest of the family for a visit, Akash and Payal would be fine.

Replaying , in his head, the conversation they had had at home, Arnav smiled softly.

Hugging him tight as soon as they reached their room, Khushi had sobbed, “Ye kya hua, Arnavji, humare Jiji aur Jijaji le sath? Unka bachcha….”

“Sshh… Khushi. Koi bachcha nahi tha. It was just a medical condition jo Payal ke liye khatarnak ho sakta tha, aur sahi time par ilaaj de paye doctor.”

“Kya?!”, at her incredulous exclamation, he had explained for the fourth time that day what had actually happened and how her Appendicitis had become a blessing in disguise, that they had been able to treat it immediately.

This had prompted her offering a million thanks to Devi Maiyya, the sparkle back in her eyes, before she gave him a hug and a kiss and left the room at a run, to go explain everything to Naniji aur Mamiji.

“Hello, Arnavji?”

“Haan Khushi, Dhruv ko bolo ki sab ko le aaye, Payl ko hosh aa gayi.”

“Tera lakh lakh shukar hai Devi Maiyya! Arnavji, Jiji kaisi hai?”

“Dono theek hai, Khushi. Humare Bhai aur Behen, dono theek hai. Tum bas aajao.”

Keeping the phone down, Arnav walked back, eager to check on his brother and sister. Aakhir, khoon ke rishton se kam nahi hote dil ke rishte… Payal was his sister as much as Akash his brother.

Author’s Note

Hope you guys liked this one… let me know what you think!

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