The call had come in that there was a fire at the campsite. They will be bringing all casualties to the Birla hospital. The doctors and nurses of the emergency ward were on standby to receive all the casualties as the ambulances brought them in. The hospital was buzzing with the news that their beloved Dr. Abhimanyu Birla was injured. The worry in the air was palpable. Dr. Anand Birla, Dr. Mahima Birla, and their MD Harsh Birla were already at the ambulance bay waiting for their beloved son. Finally, the first ambulance arrived, the ward boys opened the doors to a sight that will have the halls of Birla hospital buzzing for years.
“STRETCHER AND OXYGEN! NOW!” Dr. Abhimanyu Birla roared as the doors to the ambulance opened. The scion of Birla Hospital was fine physically. Abhimanyu had a few minor burns, nothing a little bit of dressing and antiseptic could not cure, but his eyes were haunted with fear and agony. “She inhaled too much smoke…the beam fell…it should have been me…she fainted…her breathing is erratic…there are burns and she is not opening her eyes,” Abhimanyu said in broken sentences to his Uncle and Aunt.
As Akshara was transferred to the stretcher, Abhimanyu held onto her hand as if his life depended on it. When the attending doctor asked Abhimanyu to let go of her hand Abhimanyu became all ice in anger, “How dare you tell me to let go of my Akshu’s hand, I am a doctor too, or did you forget?” There was no way in hell or high water he was going to let go of her hand. As they rolled the stretcher inside Abhimanyu shouted orders, “I want an ICU cleared for her, prepare for intubation if necessary, and get ready for a chest x-ray to assess the damage, attach a probe to do pulse oximetry right now, I want to know how much oxygen is in her bloodstream and you Akshu, open your goddamn eyes!”
As they reached the door to the ICU Dr. Anand stopped his nephew, “I will take it from here Abhimanyu. You are in no condition to take care of her as a doctor.”
Abhimanyu started to argue, but Mahima stopped him, “Right now, she needs a doctorand you at this moment are nothing more than a man who loves her, are you really willing to risk her life just because of your pride?”
His Aunt’s question stopped him, “She loves me too you know,” He said looking straight into Mahima’s eyes, “My life is now in your and Uncle’s hands, there will be no Abhimanyu without her.”
As the doors to the ICU closed Abhi sat on the floor right next to the door of the ICU. He had not what real fear meant until he saw Akshara pushing him out of the way of the falling beam. This was the woman who claimed to not love him yet is willing to die for him. She had fainted in his arms and at that moment his heart stopped beating for a second. He was not sure that he would be able to live in a world in which Akshara did not exist. As the hours passed he saw that Neil and Aarohi make their way into the waiting room. The Goenka’s arrived soon after. Abhi did not move from his spot. He was well aware of the stares he was getting from the hospital staff, her family, and his father; he did not care about anyone. Akshu mattered the most. Everyone else he will deal with when the time comes. Today’s incident reminded him that life was too short to fight with his Akshu. She may not say that she loves him but actions speak louder than words. He needs to fight for her, not with her. Once she was all better, he was going on a warpath for his love, even if it meant fighting Akshara for her. As he saw the Goenkas doing their usual drama through a worried haze he promised himself that come what may he is going to marry the girl who is fighting for her life on the other side of this wall.
Then a family entered the waiting room and the air sizzled. He did not recognize these faces but it looked like they were very close to the Goenka’s. Even his father straightened a little and introduced himself to the man. The man shook hands and made this way straight to Kairav, who hugged him as his life depended on him. They had a small conversation and then both looked at him. Along with Kairav, he made his way towards him. Abhimanyu did not even acknowledge the man.
“So, this is the boy who declared his love for my Akshara in front of everyone, fought for her, and did not give up on her, and yet the Goenka’s did nothing about it?” The man asked and Kairav nodded.
“Akshu has said in front of his entire family that she does not love him,” Akhilesh Geonka replied, “What do you really want us to do?”
“You will not see the truth even if it was dancing in front of you where my Askhu is concerned. The only person you see is Aarohi, so please Chachu, you just let it be,” the man turned to Kairav and asked the question that would change Abhimanyu’s life forever, “She can lie to everyone for the sake of her family, even to him,” the man nodded towards him, “But she will not lie to you Kairav, so tell me the truth, Does Akshu love Dr. Abhimanyu Birla?”
Abhimanyu finally stood up from his spot, holding his breath he waited for Kairav’s answer.
“Yes, Naksh Maamu, She loves him a lot,” Kairav said.
Naksh nodded and turned towards Abhimanyu, “I am Naksh Singhania, Kairav and Akshara’s Maternal uncle.” Naksh extended his hand and as Abhimanyu shook his hand he said, “Welcome to the family young man. I approved you for my Akshu the minute I heard that you took a stand for her in front of everyone.”
Before Abhimanyu could process what was happening around him the door to the ICU opened and his Aunt and Uncle got out, “She is awake and out of danger.” Anand told Kairav. “We will keep her here under observation to monitor her oxygen levels for two days and then you can take her home with you.”
“She will come home with us to the Singhania Mansion,” a woman said and held Naksh hand, “Sorry Papa,” she said to Manish Goenka, “But someone has to put Akshara first.”
“Keerthi are you saying that we don’t care for Akshara?” Manish Goenka asked his daughter offended by her accusation.
“You all favor Arohi simply because she is more vocal and expect Akshu to adjust so the peace at your home is maintained. It was Akshara who was sent away, not Arohi.” Keerthi replied.
“Can you all please stop it?”Kairav yelled, “Akshara is awake we should go see her, not stand here and fight.” and that is when Kairav realized that Abhimanyu was missing, “Where is Abhimanyu?” he asked and as he stepped to open the door to ICU he found it locked.
“Ab jab Abhimanyu jaanta hai ki Akshara ki haan hai woh kisi aur ki naa nahi sunega,” Mahima said to the room, knowing her nephew he won’t even let her own family see her if he deemed it was not good for Akshara.
Abhimanyu slipped inside the ICU as soon as his Aunt and Uncle came out and locked the door. His Akshu was awake and she loved him and just like that, all was okay in the world again. His heart broke a little when he saw her lying down hospital bed so weak.
“Abhi?” Akshara called out sensing him in her hoarse voice. “Are you okay Abhi?”
He went up to her and sat on the side of her bed, taking her hand in his he said, “ I am more than okay my Methidana, how are you?”
All Akshara could see was that no one had tended to his wounds so she did not pay attention to what he said to her, “Why has no one treated your wounds yet? What if they get an infection?” Akshara choked on her words while speaking so Abhi patted her on the back, “Why are you smiling like an idiot? What is the point of owning a hospital when you can’t even find one doctor or nurse to do your dressing?”
“I was waiting for my Gharelu Doctor to wake up to make me a Methidaana ointment,” Abhi said mischievously.
Akshara hit him on his good arm, “It’s not funny Abhi, call a nurse or a doctor right now. They will do your dressing in front of my eyes.”
Seeing her bossing him around and worried about him swelled his heart with love and then all his fears of him almost losing her came flooding back to him. “Don’t you ever do that me to again Akshu, I will not survive without you!” Abhimanyu declared and pulled her gently into a hug just to calm his thundering heart. “You are my lifeline, the axis to my world.” He broke the hug but held her very close to him and looking straight into her said, “You will never ever again put your life in danger like that, do you understand?”
“But you were in danger Abhi, how could I not come to save you?” Akshu stopped herself before she said something she should not, “Why are you not calling for a doctor to do your dressing?”
“There will be no one coming into this room until I am done with you but first I need to check your vitals.” And as Abhi checked her pulse and oxygen levels he said, “Methidana, you know I heard a very interesting rumor today,”
“What? That you have lost all common sense not dressing your burns,” Akshara replied drinking the sight of him in front of her.
“No, Kairav tells me that you apparently love me a lot,” Abhimanyu said. “I don’t care what you say to me now or however much you deny your love for me, I am not backing out my Methidana. I am yours and you are mine. No one can stop me now neither you nor your family.” Abhimanyu checked her eyes and adjusted her oxygen levels as he settled back into the bed. “I will now go get my dressing done.” he informed her, “Your family is waiting outside for you, I will send them in. Do not over-stress yourself with them. I will be back after I get my dressing done.”
As Abhimanyu was about to unlock the door he turned and told his life, “Rest my love, you will need it. I will be declaring war for your love now.” And with that promise he opened the door to find the first doctor to get his dressing done.
This came out from the frustration from this week's episodes. I did not proofread it so apologies in advance.
Comments and chappals are welcome
Love,
Blues!
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