PreRish OS : Fikar
Prompt : Humpty ji
Title credit : Humpty ji
Prerna is decking up, she sees Mr.Bajaj's reflection in the mirror, "does he look handsome"... she chides her inner voice
"Prerna" , he calls her, on the way out of their room .
"ji ..." she turns back making her lustrous hair flip over her shoulder ..., his heart skips a beat.. looking at her in that while Italian crepe saree with pearl necklace, big jhumkas, and that sindoor on her forehead ...his sindoor .. she looks so ... "beautiful" his inner voice comes to his aide whenever he is lost for words
"I am taking Kuki with me into the lawn, please come down when you are done ... ", he says ..
everything is surreal between them now, life never seemed so beautiful, their misunderstandings are cleared, each of them apologized , her for being careless, him for being rude, they are talking to each other, sharing things, they are mom and dad to his daughter.. things never looked more beautiful and he never experienced this happiness, comfort and contentment till date... but deep down in his heart he was anxious, something is pulling him down and he is scared, some unwarranted thoughts are weighing him down, that all this might shatter like a dream
"Ji " she smiles and goes back to what she was doing ..
The dad and his little princess walk into the lawn where the party is set up
Prerna, making sure of her look one last time, stumbles at the top of the stairs but steadies herself..and goes ahead... however 2 steps down, she falls and rolls over a series of wooden stairs...
"Prernaaaa".... Anurag and Nivi standing at the bottom of the stair screams and rushes to her ,,,, .. Anurag picks her up and puts her on the couch and calls for ambulance ...
Nivi storms out into the lawn ... and shouts about Prerna's fall ...
Bajaj storms in with Kuki in his arms.... followed by all the Basu and bajaj family members ...
he comes to a standstill.. he is numb , his heart is sinking on seeing his wife, not the mother of his child , but his wife... in blood, he stumbles... steps back .. Anupam supports him ...he gets hold of himself, blinking back those emotions in his eyes... he swiftly picks her up as the ambulance sound is approaching the premises. ...
Prerna is in the ambulance,, he is with her , he is trying to stop the bleeding off her head ... while his tears roll down the cheeks .. the man who has never shown his emotional and vulnerable side to anyone except his wife, is a broken and shattered man today ...
The menacing, ruthless, emotionless Rishab Bajaj is broken is in tears and despair and praying for her ... Anupam who is in the ambulance with Mr.Bajaj witness this side of him today .
Anurag, Nivedita, kuki , Maasi and Tanvi follow them in the car.
Prerna is rushed into the ICU, the team of doctors are ready .,. the nurses and doctors are running in and out with medical instruments and other related stuff..
A doctor comes and updates Bajaj that Mrs.Bajaj is critical and needs to be operated ASAP and asks him to sign the consent form ...and updates that the consent form is to make sure that the hospital is not liable for the death....
"Mr.Bajaj please leave me.. it's my duty to update you ... " requests the doc, whose collar is in his hands .. his eyes etched in anguish and despair ..
Anurag holds his shoulders and gestures him to sign the consent forums ....
he has singed innumerable multi billion deals... the man who signed without a blink, while taking risk in billions .. never contemplated ... but this signature.. his consent, her life .. his heart sinks imagining the worse..
while the doctor awaits...
"Mr.Bajaj please sign it...she will be fine .." says Anurag gently patting his shoulder .. Anurag has accepted this marriage when Prerna puts her foot down during one of their confrontation where Anurag asked her to leave Bajaj for speaking rude with her ..
he signs the form, Kuki runs and hugs him, he hugs her close to his heart , caressing her back , he squeezes his eyes shut .. letting the tears drop out of his pooled eyes..
Prerna is moved into the OT , the team of doctors about to go .. he pulls aside one top doctor
and in a soft voice asks "how is the baby ? my wife.. she is pregnant." with panic on his face ....
"Mr.Bajaj not to worry ... we have checked initially when we realized she is pregnant... the ultrasounds are good, baby is not impacted by the fall, she is hurt on the skull " the doctor updates in equally low voice ... Anurag who is curious asks Bajaj .. if all is ok, "hmmm ...yh" he nods and takes Kuki in his arms ...
The operation starts... Bajaj still standing with Kuki in his arms.... Maasi asks him to sit for a while, he refuses..... he gazes at the bright red bulb outside the OT ...
"aapko kaise pata ki Ganapathi bappa mere dost hai " he recollects her words... he walks towards the lobby, near the elevators .. Anupam and Anurag follow him,.. "please you stay back.. I want to be alone" he requests them ...
In the lobby he stands before the Ganesh murti , not knowing how to pray and what to pray as he hasn't done that ever in his life ... he stares at the murti..
Kuki gets off his hold, goes close to the murti joins her hands and prays ..with tears in her eyes... she uses sign language to convey her request and prayers to Ganpathi bappa ..
. he follows her ... kneels down ... "you are Prerna's friend right, please keep her safe.. I don't know how to pray , but please save her " he joins his hands like Kuki ..
After 4 hrs the OT light is turned off ... the doctors update him that the operation was successful however the next 24 hours are crucial ... until she comes out of anesthesia and and all her vitals are fine.. she will be in ICU ..
The family members pray for her quick recovery .. while he is in deep thoughts... and introspects if he ever deserved happiness.. the anxiousness he had earlier came true , everything looks like shattered dream to him at this moment ... he blames himself for her condition... he regrets for not waiting for her to get ready and come down with her...
When Prerna is moved into the ICU, Bajaj walks in , his heart sinks , his palms and feet are cold ... on seeing her lying unconscious amidst the heavy machinery, numerous cables drips attached to her , her head wrapped in what looked like bandage ..... he stumbles but gets hold of himself and slowly walks towards her.. holds her hand and squeezes tight... he looks at her face , that beautiful face which made his heart skip a beat, now his heart is sinking... his tears fall on her hand ...
he wants to take her in his arms and keep her close to his heart.....few minutes later , he is out of the ICU in a trance state..
Kuki is with Anurag, when Bajaj tells to go with maasi and tanvi, she refuses and hugs Anurag, Mr.Bajaj who is witnessing this requests "Mr.Basu can you please... " before he completes... "you please don't worry .. I will keep Kuki with me.... " assures Anurag
"We will take care of her " adds Nivedita.. Bajaj nods in gratitude ..
"Anurag.. thank you... " .. Mr.Bajaj is cut short ... "Please don't this is not the time for all that .." he gently pats on Bajaj's shoulders and leaves with kuki in his arms ...
He is waiting in the corridors outside the ICU recollects Kuki refusing to go to maasi and tanvi... and instead she goes to Anurag ..he recollects that Kuki has been aloof to Maasi and Tanvi ever since the day she was found in the store room... he decides to check the CCTV footage .,.. which he got it installed in the corridors and common areas of Basu Bari as he cannot trust or take risk with his daughter any longer... but his phone is left behind, at home...
He is peeping through the glass pane of the ICU doors, to check on her ... he is restless, he hopes, wishes and prays for her recovery ... pacing up and down the corridor .. Anupam offered to stay back for his company , but he refused anyone , he asked them to come in the morning ... he sits on the metal waiting chairs in the corridor.. his eyes shut... "doctor ... doctor" , the nurse's screams startle him ..
"inhe hosh aa raha hai,..." the nurse runs.... updating Bajaj on the way .. he stands there.. the doctors rush in .. few minutes later ... the doctor comes out and updates Mr.Bajaj that Mrs.Baja is out of anesthesia, her vitals are fine , though she needs to be under observation for 3 days and she needs to be tested for any concussions ..
A little later .. Bajaj is once again let into the ICU... he walks in, her heavy drowsy eyes meet his tear strained , anguished eyes... he walks to her side, she smiles faintly .. he smiles through tears. tears of relief and happiness. he takes her hand in his and squeezes it ... keeps it close to his heart, her hands can feel the resonance of his heartbeat, he caresses his hair, she assures she is fine , he blinks back and lets a faint smile.
Next morning, the family members are back to visit Prerna, Kuki comes with Anurag .. by now Prerna is shifted to the VIP room . On Bajaj's request Anurag got his phone which was left behind at home the previous night...
Kuki runs to her dad, he holds her in his arms and takes her to meet her mom in the room.. Prerna smiles looking at Kuki... Kuki smiles , Kuki bends down from his arms to kiss Prerna on cheeks .. Prerna tries to hug her... Bajaj looks away to hide his tears , of happiness..
Anurag dropped kuki in the morning and took her home at night as she was adamantly refusing and looking absolutely petrified and scared when she was asked to go to maasi.. the dad senses the fears of the little one.
He never left her side, he knows her medicines and diet by heart...he checks his phone his eyes are raging with bloodshot ... his furore could spur every thing to ashes.. ,.. he is heartbroken for trusting people who he believed are his own "Mr.Basu, can I ask you for a favor..." he requests him to keep Kuki either with him or drop her here but not to leave her alone.
3 days later Prerna is discharged, Bajaj is updated with all post op care procedures and the medications and diet for the next one week when she has a follow up .
He took off from work the following week, took care of her like she is his lifeline.
"yeh last bite ... " he tries to feed her... she throws tantrums and makes facess.. .. but makes sure she ate it on Kuki's pretext.
She refuses the bitter pills... but the dad and daughter divert her attention and make her take medicines .. 3 days later when everything seems to be positive, at night Prerna gets severe chills , she is shaking despite layers of comforters and heat blankets .,. ,. franatically,.he keeps rubbing her hands and feet, she has high temperature....he calls the doctor home ASAP..
the doctor and other family members arrive.. doctor gives her a dosage of injection to bring down the temperature. He asks Mr.Bajaj about her food and medicines ... the doctor asks if she took her pain medication ?
It strikes him... he forgot to give her the pain medication ... the doc says that these symptoms occur when there is a lapse in a dose of pain medication... he says she will be fine now and temperature will come down and says that he would check her in the morning.
He regrets and curses himself , for his negligence and carelessness... he sits next to her rubbing her feet and hands ... when the temperature came down and chills are gone, he sits by her side on the bed, leaning against the headboard, he caresses her hair ... gazes at her face...a lone tear of his regret, falls on her forehead ...
Next morning she wakes up from deep slumber to see him by her side and sleeping, by leaning against the headboard.... her heart goes out to him, she gazes his sleeping form, slowly moves away from him and makes sure he slept comfortably ...
she freshens up, he wakes up to see her walk out of the restroom, she looks fresh, he was sleeping, like a new dawn everything looks good,....
but last night flashes run through him... "aap teek ho ..... woh I am sorry ... woh meri wajah se kal....." his apology , regret and guilt come out at once ...she nods to negate... "I am fine.. please" she doesn't want him to apologize ... she can't see him in guilt state..
"I am sorry woh I shd have given you the pain medication on time... but .. I am sorry ... " his apologies are hurting her, his guilt is moving her, her eyes pool looking at him in this state... he made sure he fed her and gave her medicines without fail, nothing was more important to him than her ..she became her priority .. just as Kuki's mom or my wi...his inner thoughts try to analyze, which he shrugs off.
Ever since Prerna's discharge, he never let Kuki out of his sight, the only others he can trust his daughter with, in this situation are Mr.Basu and Nivedita . With his devoted care and Kuki's loving gestures and hugs and kisses, Prerna's recovery is faster than expected...
"Mr.Mehra, can you please come to Basu house at the earliest" , Rishab calls him to Basu Bari
Is the same person who 2 months back was the worst man in her life and now ,....he is the best dad in the world,.. but what he did and is doing for her .. what can it be termed ...is this just care .. concern ...his anguish and despair is not just out of concern... then what is it .. her thoughts are interrupted when Kuki storms in with flowers and her dad behind ...
A week later Prerna's bandage comes off, she is on medicines and still needs to be taken care of .... They come home from hospital, he calls Basus and Bajaj family members.. he expresses his gratitude to Basus for being with him through this dire times.. he thanks Anurag and Nivedita, specifically for the extra efforts they put in to take care of Kuki .. Anurag nods..
Bajaj hands over the transfer papers of his 50% share Basu Bari to the Basus ... they are surprised.. Prerna looks at him with pride.
Mr.Bajaj announces that they are moving out from here tonight, to his guest house, before that ..he calls the inspector to arrest maasi and Tanvi and plays the CCTV footage for the family members to see how Maasi and Tanvi plotted to kill Prerna .. Family members are shocked.. maasi screams and yells that he can't do this to them.. Prerna eyes are well up, Bajaj looks apologetic, guilty and gutted that he almost lost her due to him, his own people..
"Mr.Bajaj, please stay here for tonight, no need to go to guest house, you can move in to Bajaj house, your own home the next day as the papers will be ready by tomorrow " says Anurag requesting them to stay back, Bajaj looks at his wife, who approves with her eyes, Bajaj agrees ..
Next morning, after taking leave from Basus , they go back to their own home, Bajaj Mansion, the place meant to be for them, their abode.
"Mrs.Bajaj you are not supposed to enter the kitchen today, the lunch is on us " orders Mr.Bajaj .. Kuki gestures the same with her sign language,
Prerna eyes pop out, "par ,.Mr,Bajaj"
"No Ifs and buts Mrs.Bajaj, you have no entry into the kitchen " he orders her ...and Kuki repeats with her signs
Prerna shakes her head and leaves
An hour later...Prerna goes to check on the dad and daughter ... she freaks out at the scenario ..that kitchen looks like some major junkyard........all the dishes are out of the cabinets.. some on floor ,while others on the counter top with not an inch to spare... .. the flour. sugar .. nuts... vegetables lying everywhere... both dad and daughter look at the stern looking mom and smile sheepishly through their floured faces ... they simultaneously raise their shoulders and shrug ..Prerna doesn't know how to react ... she is furious, she is mad but then bursts out laughing ... and stretches her arms for her... Kuki runs into her arms... he too runs behind Kuki but abruptly stops himself, close to her , careful enough not to touch or fall on her... she is amused to see this playful side of his...
Prerna orders lunch while the dad and daughter go to freshen up .
Later in the evening, Kuki is water coloring, dad joins her ...while Prerna is there flipping through a magazine...they both fight over colors ....
Bajaj puts a pink color on Kuki's nose .. kuki laughs and she paints her dad with blue color on his cheeks.. he puts another dot of orange color on kuki's cheeks ..Prerna steals glances at them... while still in magazine ..
Kuki sheepishly smiles at dad to color her mom, dad doesn't agree, he is scared of her , but kuki encourages,.. she takes yellow color with her fingers and touches mom's nose ... "argh kuki " she is about to get up... "kuki beta yellow color is not suiting your mom... " even before Prerna could grasp or react he spreads pink color on her cheeks with his fingers... "Mr.Bajaj " she narrowed her brows... with her hands on either side of her waist...
Mr.Bajaj and Kuki decide to run... but Prerna swiftly splashes orange color on him.. "huh " he ,mock glares at her ... she shows her tongue and walks away with Kuki in tow to clean themselves up... while he stands there still, consumes it all ... soaking himself in these moments of life, assimilating the happiness he is experiencing all thanks to that one girl whom he married out of a deal ..... this is his life, he wished for time to stop right here...
The family dinner went by with happiness and laughter.. their first day Bajaj mansion is all of heartwarming moments, they sleep in their room with Kuki in between ...
The following morning, Kuki, who was sleeping in between her mom and dad wakes up and snuggles to them .. little later .. Prerna is cuddling him... who is trying to get himself out of the bed, fearing her long lectures of "no touching" Prerna opens her eyes to find herself close to him, his eyes on her .. as the awkwardness strikes.. she instantly pulls apart..
"woh I am sorryy .,,. " he mutters.... though it was her who cuddled to him , after all Mr.Bajaj is learning the arts of being the best husband ...where he read online that whoever is wrong, husband should always say sorry ... Prerna calls Kuki who was playing on the couch with her teddy.. she hops on to the bed.. and hugs and kisses her mom and dad, the laughter here resonates through house and is mixed with the early morning chirping of birds ... life never has been so pleasant and beautiful for them
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