Part II
Jalal heaved a sigh of relief standing at the corner of the room, while the doctor checked on Jo’s vitals..Fairly content with her numbers, and after having given Jo strict follow ups to not get stressed about any single thing, he moved back to Jalal standing at the far end of the room, “She is a tough one…doing okay…for now…we’ll have to keep her in strict observation for another few days…Make sure, she is relaxed”…jalal gave a mild nod and shook doctor’s hand in gratitude. The doc left and Jalal returned back to Jo’s side..Jo gave a weak smile, and asked,
Jo : How are Abdul and Ruks??
Jalal: He is still unconscious..badly hurt..Ruks is wounded, but not that bad..Though, in no state to talk..
There were infinite questions that Jalal wanted to ask, about how Jo found them? Why wasn’t she picking up his calls? How did she figured out the leak? Where was she, when Abdul had gone looking for her?? Why did Ruks got into accident with Abdul??
Even more important, there were infinite apologies he had to make first, about how he didn’t know, what happened to her ten years back?? How he didn’t believe in his own love? Didn’t pursue her? Didn’t look for her, when she was in such a dire state? Instead, blamed her for having left, for having caused him the heartache??How selfish, and self obsessed he had been, only thinking about his grief, never giving a thought about what she might be going through??
But, first things first, there was no way Jalal would ever talk anything that might stress Jo out…She was not in any state to talk about painful past…All the more, the guilt in his heart was so immense that there was no way Jalal could dare to breach the topic..He might not be able to even look in her eyes..
So he did what he could..Kept holding Jo’s hand, and stayed quiet…The defeaning silence and the guilt on Jalal’s face was so unnerving that Jo couldn’t take it anymore..She broke the silence,
Jo: How long have I been unconscious??Is Shibani here??
Jalal (whispered inaudibly): Three days..and I just sent her home..She looked..
Jo (gave a meek smile): pathetic??
Jalal (turned grave): Yeah, so pathetic, so scared that I’d to comfort her..(but suddenly his face turned dark) Though I wish, I could have made her realize the extent of pain that she brought on…
Before Jalal could complete the sentence, Jo gave a warning squeeze to his palm, that was in hers, and interrupted him,
Jo: There is nothing for anyone to make her realize…she has been living that horrible day, over and over since past ten years…
Jalal gave a startled look to Jo…
Jo: I recollected the memory…I remember what happened…It was a misfortune, could have happened to anyone…She was a teen, just like us…however rash she could be, I know she would have never meant any harm…She suffered that dreadful loss too..And while I had her, she had no one…
Jalal (agitated): Lets not talk about it..You’re in no condition to talk about such things..
Jo (nudging Jalal’s palm): It is painful, but relieving too…now that I know everything..I don’t feel hollow anymore…
Jalal’s face contorted, he looked back at Jo, “For once in your life..just once…Can you think about yourself…How wrong it was for you..How wrong it was that you had to endure it without a single fault of yours?? I do not even have any right to blame your sister..I’m equally at fault as her..I should have looked for you, come after you…But what I did instead, believed in all the crap, sulked and broke myself down…made a total waste of myself, while blaming you for all these years…
Jo wished she could squeeze Jalal’s mouth shut…The least she wanted to ever listen was him wallowing in self disdain…She pulled him again..But Jalal didn’t move..Having no strength to pull him physically, Jo gave a pleading look, “please”..Jalal gave in, and Jo shifted, accomodating him right next to her..A sudden urge to press her inevitably close…to make sure that she was safe…she was real… flashed through Jalal..But the idea of causing her even mild discomfort was enough to restrain him..
However, Jo shifted as close as she could..keeping her head underneath Jalal’s chin, she spoke again,“Don’t you ever say that again..Nothing hurts more.. than to see the people you love, in pain..I’m sure you know that too..Your memory, despite in bits in pieces was the only thing that kept me going…If I didn’t have you to chase I would have succumbed long back…drowned, with nothing to hold onto..I’m here..right next to you..Only because you pulled me off from that abyss…”
Jalal still couldn’t say a word, his heart hammering against his chest..he kept listening to Jo…He could listen to Jo all his life, just like this, safe, sound in his arms..The worth that seeps in you, when you know you’re loved and deeply cherished always swats the darkness of unworthiness away..The determination takes root, that no matter what you would give all you have, from this moment on…That’s exactly what happened with Jalal…The pang of guilt lessened and unintentionally he adjusted Jo even closer in his arms…yet stayed silent…
Jo smiled, realizing the unsaid response, she continued further, still settled underneath his chin..”And I can be selfish..If a dreaded day comes, when I forget what we have or had…remind me…will you??…stick around…like forever..”
Jo sneaked a look at Jalal, who looked back at Jo…
Jalal: Really?? Is that all you can come up with..That’s what you call being selfish..??
Jo: It is selfish, but I cant help it..The thought of not being with you is dreadful..
Jalal: What a fool? That’s a favor you would be doing me, instead..Don’t tell me you don’t know this already..”
Jo smiled weakly and pressed a small chaste kiss to Jalal’s lip. Overwhelmed with emotions a red tint spread from his neck to ears. All flushed and warm, Jalal stared back into Jo’s smiling gaze, and spoke, “I love you Jo, I always have, and I always will…You’re the only thing that keeps my heart beating..You know this? Do you?”..
Jo nodded, and jalal continued, “And I promise, I would cease to exist before I let you go ever”…Jalal pressed a light and lingering kiss on Jo’s forehead, “Thankyou, for coming back,,Thankyou for having me…” Jo snuggled back into the crook of Jalal’s neck, and jalal instantly felt her warm smile pressed against his skin..He sighed in relief, “Go back to sleep Jo..Rest for now”..
After a few minutes, Jo’s breathing evened out..She had fallen asleep…Jalal stayed awake, but the exhaustion had followed the moment he had felt relieved..He couldn’t keep his orbs opened…He closed his eyes and slipped into sleep effortlessly…Somehow, the mild soft sound and feel of Jo’s heart beating against his, gave him the needed strength…It was the first time in those past three dreadful days that he felt a glimmer of hope…A hope that all…all of them would pull through this chaos..
(The morning that followed)
It was 7:30 am in the morning..Shibani was heading to Jo’s room. She barely slept the previous night, but Adi felt relieved that atleast she ate..That too only because she cooked for Adi and packed the food to be carried to hospital for Jalal and Mirza…Nevertheless she looked a little rested..She was in such a rush that Adi halted her steps,
Adi: Hey slow down a bit..don’t bump into people around..
Shibani: I’m heading to Jo’s room..Do you mind finding her doctor..Should we go and talk to him about how things are with Jo..??
Adi pressed Shibani’s shoulder in a reassuring way, “We talked to him yesternight and Jalal would already have stayed there with Jo all this time…everything must be okay, or else he would have informed us…let us go to Jo and wait there..okay? Stop worrying to death..will you?”
Shibani nodded in a “yes”, and moved ahead along with Adi. The moment she opened the door to Jo’s room, she was welcomed with an unexpected sight..
Jo was sleeping on jalal’s arm, cocooned underneath his chin. She was still holding jalal’s collar in a vice grip, while Jalal had his other arm, thrown over Jo’s waist…Before Shibani’s and adi’s mind could process over the scene afront..Jalal felt the noise. Someone had entered the room..
Given how sleep deprieved he was since the past three days, he opened his eyes reluctantly and it took him a whole minute to figure out that it was Adi and Shibani standing at the door..A sudden realization that he was on Jo’s bed, and she was still asleep, nestled in him, he jolted up, mildly embarassed..Before he could utter any word, a whine of annoyance came from sleeping Jo…she pulled Jalal’s collar back as to bring his missing warmth, right next to her, again..
Shibani’s jaw dropped, she broke into a wide smile and gasped, “Is she?? Is she really?? Awake”..Jalal looked helplessly at the duo, while still entangled with Jo…But, for once in his life, he would forever be thankful to Adi who saved him further embarassment. Adi pressed Shibani’s mouth shut, dragging her out of the room, while mouthing Jalal, “You take your time bro”….
Shibani squeaked in joy, once outside the room, “You saw that right? She moved? She actually moved..she is awake..right?? Adi smiled in relief, “Looks like”.. Shibani pulled Adi in a hug, and Adi reciprocated pulling her off the ground…Just then, the doctor came on his routine morning visit, “Oh Ms. Shekhawat! Did you meet Ms. Heer, she awoke early morning”..
Shibani was too overwhelmed to respond, but Adi shook the doctors hand in gratitude and spoke,
Adi: How is she doing doctor? Is everything really okay?
Doctor: Okay for now..She is doing better that I had expected..But we still need to keep her in observation for another few days…The recovery looks good though..
Adi nodded gleefully and all Shibani could utter was “Thankyou”…
Inside the room, Jalal was trying to wake up Jo, who had refused to let go of him..
Jalal: Jo?? Jo?? Ur sister is here…Jo?
Jo (squinting her eyes open): Mm?
Jalal: Shibani and Adi are outside the room..I’m not complaining but it would be better if we continue this while we don’t have any audiences..
Jo realised that she was still holdin jalal in her grip..Embarassed, she instantly released him…
Flushed, she looked at Jalal apologetically…Jalal couldn’t contain the glint of mischief, “What?? You were pretty bold last night, when you dragged me in your bed..”
Jo: Ewww!!…Don’t you dare tell anyone…
Jalal gave a carefree chuckle, “I don’t have to..They already saw you threatening my virtue”…
Jo (bewildered): No, They didn’t..
Jalal (whispered): Sure they did..
Jo gave a disapproving pout, and Jalal laughed, pressing a kiss to her lips parting with a smack, “I’m going to see Abdul..I’ll be back..Take care, okay?” Jo nodded with an embarassed smile..
When Jalal came out of the room, the doctor was still talking to Adi and Shibani…Jalal again shook the doctor’s hand with all the gratitude..
Doctor: Oh Mr. Jalal. I was on my way to check up on Ms. Heer..Is she doing okay?
Jalal gave a nod, “She slept well..Please go ahead..” The doctor moved in to check up on Heer, and Jalal turned to Shibani, “ She looks fine..She is waiting for you”…Shibani gave a bright tear-stricken smile and Adi rubbed the back of her hand, reassuringly…
To be continued....
Pushpa Impossible
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