It has been two days since Vayu's operation. My parents left for home the next day while Uncle had to leave because of some urgent meeting in his office. Navi and Aunty were staying here with Vayu.
Though I suggested them to stay with me in my room, but they said I myself spent most of my time with Vayu here in the hospital. And ofcourse, there was no lie in it. I just go to my room to take a bath and then return back to the hospital everyday.
We decided to postpone the engagement until Vayu recovered completely. I resumed my college in the daytime with postings in different wards and in the evening I directly came back to the hospital.
I examined Vayu's everyday reports and I must say he was so good at it. The sedatives proved to be the best decision we made. He still frowns sometime in the night but they were just seldom.
3 DAYS LATER
I rushed to the hospital after completing my posting schedules and directly ran into Vayu's room. My steps came to halt as I saw Uncle sitting beside him. He came back yesterday after addressing everything in Bangalore.
I had sent Aunty and Navi to my room so that they could get some rest. Though I suggested the same to Uncle but he denied saying someone needed to stay here with Vayu.
"Reya!" Uncle called as I made my way towards him.
"Ji uncle! Aapko kuch chahiye? Main dinner leke aayi hu.." I said but he cut me in between.
"Idhar betho!" He patted the seat beside him and I obediently took a seat.
He kept his hand on my head as he caressed and said, "You must be tired! Get some rest, beta!"
I looked at him before shifting my gaze to Vayu. "Tired of loving him? NEVER!" I muttered under my breath but Uncle heard my words and smiled.
"He's a lucky man!" He gestured towards Vayu.
"Papa!" I whispered and looked at him softly. His smile grew as he nodded. "Aap ab mere room chale jaiye, subah se yahan hai. Thak jayenge ese!"
"Aur tum jo pichle 6 dino se nahi ek bhi ghanta nahi soyi ho? Tum nahi thakti?" I heard Aunty's voice making me turn around.
"Himani? Kya keh rahi ho tum?" Uncle stood up making his way towards her.
"Ji! Aapki pyaar daughter in law, subah se sham tak college or postings karti hai, aur phir poori raat aap ke laadle bete ke paas rehti hai! Or to or hume ghar bhej deti hai sone ke liye."
I flinched my eyes and bit my lower lip. She was right. I haven't slept in the last six days. Sleep seemed to have lost its home in my eyes. Every night I sit beside Vayu and watch him sleeping peacefully. I keep a check on his heart beats, pulse rates and breathing.
"Reya? Beta ye sab?" Uncle came towards me and settled beside me while Aunty and Navi followed him.
"Phir se nahi khona chahti hoon, Vayu ko!" I whispered as tears left my eyes. Aunty strode towards me and held my chin wiping my tears.
"Kuch nahi hoga isse, dekh kese aaram se soo raha hai or meri beti ko pareshan kar diya hai iss ladke ne!" Navi and Uncle chuckled at her words and I smiled.
I looked at Aunty and bit my lower lip before I said, "Maa, isse mat batana mein soyi nahi itne dino se!"
Everyone raised their brows in question and I sighed before continuing, "Varna uthte hi ladne lagega mujhse!"
"Agar apna dhyan nahi rakhogi tab to main bhi daantungi." Aunty said and I made a pout towards her.
"Chalo tum or Navi ghar jao, main or Himani hain yahan!" Uncle suggested but I was not ready to leave Vayu. I requested them and was convinced that tomorrow would be his last dose of sedation so it was just one more day.
Luckily they agreed and I stayed there with Navi while Maa and Papa went to the room.
ONE DAY LATER
Maa and Papa went to a nearby temple while Navi was busy with a phone call. I was sitting beside Vayu who had his last dose of sedation yesterday and now I could feel his movements as his senses started to get back.
"Vayu, you know yesterday in the gynae yard, a lady came and asked me if I can help her to get pregnant! Oh god? It was so embarrassing! I mean I'm just 24, how can I help her with pregnancy?"
My words were entering his ears and his senses were coming back slowly. I continued ranting, "Itna hectic schedule ho gaya hai na, kamar dard karne lagi hai by god. Ab to lagta hai robot ki tarah life ho gayi hai, utho college jao, OPD sambhalo and all this on repeat."
My eyes were fixed on the monitor and my breath was getting heavy with each second as his pulse was getting back to normal.
My head felt heavy as my senses started to get back. I tried to move my hands and legs but failed as they were not completely movable. I tried to remember everything but there was no clue in my mind.
The last thing I remember was I fell in a gorge trying to save Akshat, and then darkness surrounded me before I lost my senses.
I slowly opened my eyes but before I could see the world around me, I heard a sweet familiar voice.
"Vayu, kabhi kabhi to lagta hai mbbs chod deni chahiye. Khoon choos leti hai insaan ka."
That's my Sunflower's voice. But what's she doing here in Dehradun? What about her college?
I instantly closed my eyes and didn't make any movement so that she could not stop her talking. I was so uneasy and restless because I wanted to see my baby but right now, her ranting is the most important thing in my life.
I kept listening to her for almost ten minutes and I giggled in my mind a lot of times. I was so eager to hug her and kiss her until she became all breathless.
"You know, I almost slipped on the floor yesterday. I was running late to the class and my ankle twisted and I was about to but then my classmate caught me!" I heard her another rant.
She slipped? Ye ladki kabhi dhang se nahi chal sakti! But wait, which classmate? Was he a boy?
"Thanks to him, otherwise I would have been laying on the hospital bed. He's such a sweet guy.."
Him! Sweet! Thanks?
I instantly opened my eyes in jealousy and looked around to find Reya standing just in front of me with her hands folded across her chest.
"Him...Ouch!" I tried to sit but my back hurt. I laid down on the bed again and frowned my brows at her.
"Hii Kashyap!" She said while her lips curled into a thin line.
I turned my face in another direction in jealousy. How could she say something like this in front of me?
Khudka boyfriend hospital mein pada hai or madam dusre ladko ki tareef kar rahi hai.
"Say hi to that 'sweet guy' of yours!" I whispered as I closed my eyes again. A soft chuckle entered my ears, making me open my eyes.
I looked at Reya and said, "What? Why are you laughing?"
"Just look at you, jealousy is clear on your face Kashyap!" She answered and laughed louder.
"Oh, c'mon I'm not jealous!" I replied clenching my jaw.
"Rehne de, sab pata hai mujhe. Pichle 15 minute se meri baate sun raha hai, or natak kar raha hai jese kuch sunai nahi dera." She spoke as she settled beside me.
I sighed and chuckled but in the next second I looked at her in an annoying way. "Who was he?" I asked, my voice dripping in jealousy.
She laughed again and grinned before speaking, "He's no one. Tujhe uthane ke liye majak mein bola tha, and I was so sure isse to pakka tu aankhe khol lega! And see!"
"Nice way to wake me up!" I sighed.
"Where's mummy?" I asked her because I knew she was here with me. But now I couldn't see her anywhere.
"Your parents have gone to the temple. Thodi der mein aane wale hai!"
I nodded in response as I relaxed myself.
"Where am I, Sunflower?" I looked around the room.
"Delhi!" She whispered as she leaned forward and kissed my forehead.
"I'm glad you're fine." She continued while caressing my forehead. My gaze shifted to my body and confusion surrounded me because I knew I was injured badly. But now, I don't feel any pain.
Though there was some stiffness in my body but it was bearable.
"Do you remember anything, Vayu?" She asked me as she cupped my cheeks.
I shook my head in a negative response. She sighed before she started, "You fell into a gorge when you tried to rescue Akshat!"
Yes, I remember this!
"I failed, Sunflower!" I whispered because I knew I couldn't save him. Guilt washed over me like a rainfall.
"You didn't!" she said, kissing my temples.
I gazed upon her in confusion as she continued, "You rescued him and he's alive." she smiled in the last. "You saved him, Vayu!"
"What happened after that?"
"You lost consciousness after that incident and you were severely injured. You were admitted in the city hospital in Dehradun initially but due to heavy blood loss, they referred you here."
She took a pause before continuing, "The best doctors treated you as commanded by Major Bhat. Your operation was successful but.." her voice dropped down a decibel.
"But..?" I asked.
"But they said it would take six months for you to completely recover."
Her words were not able to set in my brain. Six months? Has it been six months here? Because I can feel my injuries are better now. No! It can't be possible.
"I'm not getting anything, Sunflower!" I said in a low voice.
"Major Bhat wasn't ready for a six month long recovery period. And so the doctors gave you sedatives, that kept you unconscious for a week and hastened your recovery."
I listened to her quietly and tried to get things into my brain. Before I could say anything, I heard my mother's voice as she entered the room, my father following her.
"Vasu!" She ran directly to me and started peppering sweet kisses on my face. "Mera bacha!" She cooed me as tears fell down her eyes.
"What's up soldier?" My father said with a smile. I chucked at his words and replied, "All in front of you, Papa!"
"Oh my god! Bhai you're awake!" An annoying voice entered my ears and I gritted my teeth.
"Ye yahan kya kar rahi hai?" Those words left my mouth on seeing my sister.
My mother softly smacked my shoulder, "Behen hai teri!" Everyone chuckled while I adored everyone's smiling faces.
My injuries felt even better after witnessing the happy faces of my family. I didn't know much about whatever happened in the past one week but at last I made it and my family is happy. That's all I ever want.
My chains of thought broke when the doctor entered the room. "Hello, Mr. Kashyap!" He greeted me as he approached.
I smiled at him while he examined me, checked my pulse and injuries. "I must say, your recovery rate is pretty good!"
After examining me for a few more minutes he prescribed some medicines and said, "We're discharging you tomorrow morning, but you need to visit the hospital every fourth day."
"Can't we take him to Bangalore?" My father queried. "Mr. Kashyap, he's still on medication and needs timely checkups to recover at the earliest. And I won't suggest travelling during this crucial time."
"But we don't have..." Mummy tried to say but Reya spoke in between.
"We can shift him to my house! It's just 20 minutes away from here!" She suggested.
"But beta, we can't bother you..." Papa said.
"So you're bothering your daughter haan?" She asked folding her arms.
"Esa nahi hai beta, hum hotel book kar lenge!" Mummy spoke up.
"Maa, mere hote hue aap hotel mein rahenge? And what about his food? He can't eat outside. I don't know, you are going to stay at my place. End of discussion!" she declared while I was enjoying everything like a small kid.
"She's right Mrs. Kashyap! We need to give him home made food and if he stays at Reya's then she can keep a check on his health regularly. In that case, he needs to visit the doctor once a week only." The doctor concluded and left after suggesting some exercises for me.
Vayu has been shifted to my house and right now he's sleeping after taking his medicines. I was cleaning the kitchen as it has been days since I'd cleaned everything.
"Reya!" I heard Aunty's voice and I turned around as she entered the kitchen. "Ji!" I replied with a smile.
"Tum ab rest karo! Yeh sab main kar lungi!" She said as she took cloth from my hand.
"Maa..main.." I tried to speak but she cut me off!
"Daant khaani hai tumhe bhi? Chalo chup chap jaake sojaao!" she narrowed her eyes while I made a pout before sighing and making my way towards the room.
I was expecting Vayu to be asleep but when I entered the room, I saw him sitting while his eyes roamed around the room.
"You woke up!" I said as I approached him.
"Your phone rang, Sunflower!" He told me as I settled beside him.
"Shit! I'm sorry the call disturbed you! Btw who was it?" I asked as I grabbed my phone from the side table.
"Navi! They've landed in Bangalore." I hummed as I kept the phone back and turned towards him.
"How're you feeling now?" I asked as I touched his forehead from the back side of my hand.
"Absolutely fine!" He smiled as he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards him. I almost fell over him but instantly pulled myself back due to his injuries.
"Vayu, you'll get hurt this way!" I said in a concerning voice.
"You can't hurt me, Sunflower!" He said as he pulled me again towards himself. He snaked his hand around my waist and pulled me, closing the distance between us.
His head rested over my shoulder as he relaxed, his back resting against the headboard. "I'm finally home!" He muttered in a low voice.
I pulled my legs up and got comfortable around him while intermingling our fingers together. "I missed this so much!" I whispered, making him tighten his hold across my waist.
I started feeling drowsy in his embrace. The last thing I heard before I went into deep slumber was his soft voice, as he said, "You know when I fell in the gorge, my mind was occupied with nothing but you! I prayed to God that if my last breaths are approaching, let me die in the arms of my Sunflower."
Write a comment ...