Part-9: Calm before storm

Part-9: Calm before storm

Shivu woke up, but he didn't open his eyes yet. He wasn't even worn out, he was just so disappointed in himself that he didn't want to see anything. He sensed his current environment. Not only that, but he figured that he must be in a hospital. Abhir's Papa must have brought him here.

"Great! The seizures came back after all." He thought. It has been only four months since he stopped taking his medications. His doctors stopped it, and he went through without any seizure episodes for two whole years. Guess, now they have to go for surgery.

Father's last gift to him, PTE i:e, Post-traumatic Epilepsy.  He should be happy that he survived the impossible situation, but having this condition, where he is at the mercy of others,  is scary.

Dr Mahima Birla did suggest going to France for the surgery.  Maybe he should consider it. The risk was high but, Shivu remembered the constant state of helplessness he felt whenever this happened. The only problem was, Dr. Mahima Birla... Taking her help would mean accepting his defeat. Acknowledging her as his grandmother. Forgiving her for her crimes. No... he cannot do that.

Shivu opened his eyes as he was just so done thinking about it.

He was in a hospital alright... It was a small hospital... But it was neat. He sat up on the bed.  He looked around.

"What the...." And the childhood habit of not swearing in the hospital kicked in and stopped Shivu from uttering the next word.

On the visitor's bench, three people were sound asleep. Abhinav was in the middle, the little girl was sleeping on his lap, and Abhir was sleeping on his father's right shoulder. The father was holding the two kids while sleeping.  It looked like a nice Kodak moment... you know... a nice family moment that looked sweet. Shivu would have wanted to take a picture if it was not for the awful T-shirt Abhinav was wearing.

It was a DBZ Goku Black v/s Goku Blue t-shirt, for Christ's sake!

Who gave him that... why did they do that? People like Abhinavji should stay away from that kind of T-shirt. It was just plain awful.  It looked too horrible on him. As a die-hard DBZ fan, Shivu was hurt by this display.  

"God!! Out of all the T-shirts out there in the world." Shivu murmured.

Abhinav stirred from his sleep.

"Shivuji.. you are awake... one moment.."

Abhinav slowly lifted the girl's head and rested it on a bag. He then took a dry towel and made a makeshift pillow for Abhir to rest on.

"Are you alright?"

He came closer and felt Shivu's forehead, "The temperature is down... Thank god for that."

"Shivu..."

"Excuse me?"

"Call me Shivu... Shivuji sounds weird to me."

Abhinav smiled.

"Ok, Shivu, I'll call the doctor to check on you." And He left Shivu to fetch the doctor.

Dr. Chinchole came with Abhinav.

"How are you? Young man?"

"Fine."

"Good...Your fever is considerably down...That is a good sign." He said as he checked Shivu's temperature with an infrared thermometer.

"So... when did you stop the medication?"

"I think it has been some months."

"Your brother said that you did not have any episodes for 2 years."

"Yep."

"Well, you know the drill. You will inform about this to your doctor. I will give you my diagnosis report so that you can give it to your doctor. That is all I can do as I am not an expert in Neurology. "

"Is Shivu in any danger?" Abhinav asked.

"Presently, he is not...In the future, He may have to go through surgery or he may have to continue his medication. Well, that is an expert's call on it. But there is no problem for him right now. He just needs to have a healthy breakfast and then he can leave."

"Thank you, doctor," Abhinav said.

"Thank you, doctor." Shivu also thanked him.

"Umm... Abhinavji... " It felt totally weird calling him that. Usually, He was Abhir's Papa. But it would be weird to call him that now, wouldn't it? Abhinav looked at him with a simple smile,  " Can you help me get out the bed... I need to go to the washroom."

"Of course... Hold my hand."

Shivu held Abhinav's hand and got off the bed. They walked towards the washroom.

Dr Chinchole turned to leave. He saw the little girl was uncomfortable with the 'bag' pillow. She moved and shuffled in her sleep making the bag fall. She then crawled toward her brother's lap. After some more shuffling, she slept peacefully.  He smiled. He then sighed as he remembered his grandchildren. He left while thinking about taking a trip to Mumbai.

After returning from the washroom, Abhinav excused himself to bring breakfast. Shivu looked at the visitor's bench. Abhir was holding the kid in his subconscious state. Just like a protective brother.  He smirked.

Shiva's mind started to wander. Abhir may not forgive his father now... but Shivu knew... It will not be that long, before, Abhir will want to be with his father. Their bonds will restore. Abhir will be happy. He may even escape the Birla Hellhole one day. Roohi is also halfway there. Yash uncle treats her like a daughter.  Only he will remain. He will be left behind. Well, then it's just good. Let everyone leave. Then no one he loves will get hurt, when he will burn Birla down. That is the only goal in his life... the destruction of Birlas. Burn it to ashes.

"Shivu?"

Shivu was disturbed from his reverie. He saw that awful T-shirt again. "This man!" He thought.

Abhinav came back with many food items. "I bought breakfast... some sandwiches and juice."

Shivu nodded.

"Which juice would you like to drink?"

"Do you have pineapple?"

Abhinav nodded and gave him a juice glass. Shivu drank it in silence.  He saw Abhinav smiling at Abhir and the little girl.

"Why are you smiling?"

"Shivu... I am just happy seeing my kids together... I guess." Abhinav shrugged.

Shivu took another sip.

"You say you love him... but what you did to him was cruel... You left him alone."

Abhinav looked at Shivu. "I know... I can't imagine what must have gone through his little heart when he heard about my accident... No matter what I do.."

"I am not talking about that," Shivu interjected.

"I am talking about the time when you left him in Udaipur. You left him and went back to Kasauli."

"Shivu... Abhir's parents separated and then wanted to get back together. Aksharaji and Bhaiji loved each other. What was I supposed to do?"

"Gee... I wonder what you could have done?" Shivu started sarcastically.

"Maybe... not giving up on the child who loved you for 6 years would have been a start."

"I never gave up on Nikkiji," Abhinav said seriously.

"Yeah... Then what was that? Was it throwing him away or deserting him? Whatever you say, it doesn't matter... You heard what Abhir said. He felt abandoned. He wanted to be with you. But you gave more importance to Chacha Chachi's love than his happiness."

"Nikkiji was just 6 years old. He needed his mother more than anyone else. And his mother was a dear friend to me. I didn't want her to push herself into a relationship where she have to force herself every day. She and Bhaiji loved each other and could never forget each other."

Shivu scoffed. Abhinav diplomatically ignored him.

"It was difficult for her when she realized she still loved Bhaiji. She wanted to commit herself to our built relationship, but she knew that some relationships should be natural instead of forced. I felt guilty when I understood her pain, as her friend I should have been able to understand it sooner. Akshara wouldn't be a good mother if she had to lock her heart, and I wanted the best for Nikkiji. His mother should be happy so he can have a positive upbringing. I grew up in an orphanage, so I understand the significance of a loving and warm environment during a child's formative years. Only when parents are genuinely happy can they provide such an environment for their children?"

Shivu thought, "So this guy didn't know what happened in Birla House." He saw Abhir shuffling.

"Ignorance is not innocence, but sin." Shivu quoted a line he heard long back ago. God! They really made you by heart useless stuff in school.

"Why did you say that?" Abhinav understood the quote but not the context of it.

Shivu was about to answer when he saw Abhir's hand move. He opened and closed his right fist. The signal they used in school when a teacher was near the vicinity while they were selling their 'stuff'. Clearly, a signal to not continue. That jerk was awake, pretending to be asleep while all this soggy talk.

"Shivu," Abhinav looked at the direction Shivu was staring at. Nikkiji and Meethiji were still sleeping.

"That T-shirt"

Instead of abruptly ending the conversation, he could focus on the annoying t-shirt.

"Do you even know which series it is?"

Abhinav appeared perplexed by the abrupt shift in conversation. "I don't see any cartoons," he stated.

"Anime is not cartoon. God! When will this prejudice end? See Anime is much more than a cartoon...  "

Shivu ranted about anime, including his disappointment with Dragon Ball Super. Abhinav listened patiently, offering sandwiches and cut-up apples. Abhinav thought Shivu was a cute kid and that Abhir was blessed with nice siblings.

Abhinav's phone rang and he answered.

"Hello, Papaji... Wait, I can't hear you... Let me go outside."

As soon as Abinav left, Shivu looked at Abhir.

"Gosh! You can rant about DBZ even now." Abhir said with a smirk.

"Shut it you, AOT nerd... when did you wake up?"

"I guess... around the time he brought the breakfast.."

Abhir tenderly caressed the adorable little girl nestled comfortably on his lap, her raven hair flowing down her back in great lengths. Shivu and Abhir sat in silence for a while.

"I am sorry, Shivu." Abhir finally said breaking the silence.

"I know."

There was silence. Then, Abhir started talking again.

"Shivu, why didn't you say anything?"

"What do you mean? You mean, I should have told you how I saw my dad pull the trigger in front of me? or, that I see his floating corpse in my nightmares? " Shivu said with a sad smile.

"So no one knew about that?"

"Nope... Mr Norman squeezed it out of me in one of our sessions."

Abhir smiled, Ted Norman was a persistent person. Abhir, at least, knew that perfectly.

"Why did you stop me from talking about Birla House?" Shivu asked.

There was a moment of silence as Abhir gently ran his fingers through Anchal's hair. Her dark, silky locks cascaded between his fingers. Her skin had a slight tan, but her face was fair... Here was a girl who happened to be the daughter of his father. This made her his sister, right? She was the same age as Naira and already called him 'Abhir Bhaiyya'. He didn't hate her, but he wondered if he would act the same way toward her as he did with Naira. Naira and Anchal were different. He couldn't help but feel hurt and alienated when he saw her. She got to call him Papa, and her father would never leave her. It wasn't her fault, but she was part of a world that was different from his own. She wasn't a Birla, and she resembled her father without even trying. He knew he could never be like him no matter how hard he tried. He was sure that his father would reject him again if he knew the current state of things. All these thoughts made him feel crazy for even hoping that everything would be normal.

"That is a conversation that I want to have with him myself. I want to tell him what I felt and what I went through. And more importantly, how much I changed.  I also want to hear his story. Clearly, he has also changed."

"What do you mean?"

"I observed that his left arm lacks flexibility, and his toenails appear crushed. Additionally, his face bears several scars. Most notably, he has developed a grasp of the English language. He easily comprehended your Robert Browning quote but was unsure about its meaning. "

"What was he doing all these 9 years? I want to hear that."

Abhir said looking at Shivu with resolute eyes.

Shivu let out a sigh before turning his gaze toward the window. He couldn't help but notice the stark difference between him and Abhir. If it were him in Abhir's shoes, he wouldn't have blindly trusted the so-called elders. Instead, he would have hired an investigation agency or even sought assistance from Sanju...

"Nikkiji... You are also awake? I brought you also some sandwiches."

Abhinav said as he entered after some time.

Abhir did not want to wake Anchal, so he refused.

"Her hair is long..." Abhir murmured only for Abhinav to listen.

"Yes, she has her mother's hair."

As Abhir looked up, he saw Abhinav's smile and felt a sense of comfort. However, it was odd to hear Abhinav speak about a woman whom Abhir had never met in such an affectionate tone. Papa had a loving family and seemed to cherish them deeply. This left Abhir wondering where he fits in. To take his mind off things, he again turned his attention to the little girl on his lap.

"She is like a midget."

"Nikkiji... she is only 5 years old."

"Well, I was not this small when I was her age..."

"You were though..."

"No, I was taller than this."

"I don't think so... You were so small that I had to make you stand on the chair to make you get ready. Remember?"

"No... I reached half your height back then... And I definitely was not this thin.."

Abhir smiled. He was somewhat fat back then.  Talking to Papa was not that difficult. But Abhir couldn't properly open up. It was as if a big wall is in front of him.

"Yeah... she never eats vegetables... It is another thing with carrots though...she loves eating carrots because..."

"Her favourite animal is a rabbit and rabbits eat carrots" Abhir finished the sentence. Abhinav looked surprised. Abhir blushed.

"Well, last time in the hotel, she told me that she liked rabbits... so I kinda assumed."

Abhinav grinned, and Abhir let out a sigh upon seeing his father's genuine smile. Abhir couldn't help but feel like there was a wall between him and his father. Was he the only one who felt this way? It didn't seem fair because even his father didn't know everything. As he glanced over at Shivu, who was busy typing, he wondered if he was messaging Krish or Sam, or maybe one of his market analysts.

 Abhir was awake when his father told Shivu the reason for his departure, which Abhir found to be quite pathetic. He still hasn't forgiven him for it. Meanwhile, Anchal was sleeping and holding onto Abhir's right hand. The atmosphere felt innocent and pure, almost suffocatingly so. However, Abhir didn't feel good anymore, though his father was unaware of this.

"Seriously, I can't take this for long... I don't know... I don't want to avoid you anymore. Let's talk. I will listen to you and you will listen to me. This talk may not be any solution, but I still want you to  hear me out."

"Yes, Nikkiji."

"That may be our last talk."

After a short pause, Abhinav remained quiet but eventually gave a nod. He had a solemn expression on his face.

"But not now, I am too tired."

"Whenever you want, Nikkiji."

"Can I come to your house today evening"

"Yes, of course, Nikkiji."

Abhir glanced over at Shivu, who greeted him with a reassuring smile. Despite his jumbled nerves, Abhir knew he couldn't put off what needed to be said any longer. It felt like his stomach was tied in knots, and he was as anxious as if he were about to run headlong into a speeding train. But he knew he had to proceed. There was no more time for delay.

****

After enduring consecutive flights, Arohi was in dire need of a rejuvenating shower. Upon stepping out, she felt refreshed and invigorated.

Roohi was sleeping in her room, while Arohi and Yash were in the room that Yash had reserved.

"Here's your Jasmine tea, madam," Yash said as he approached from behind and handed her favorite drink.

Arohi walked over to the window, despite the hotel not being very impressive. However, the view that greeted her was stunning. The mountains were bathed in a soft tangerine hue from the rising sun, and the amber orb peeked out from behind the fluffy white clouds. As she sipped her tea, the aroma calmed her nerves and the warmth of the drink spread throughout her body.

"Where's your tea, sir?" asked the woman.

Yash chuckled, "That poison is only for you. I prefer a real drink in the morning." He then took out his jar of coffee premix and began mixing two sachets into hot water.

"That's not healthy," she sang.

"I don't care," he replied with a smile, stirring his coffee.

As she sipped her tea and gazed upon the mountains, her thoughts drifted. Roohi was doing fine, despite a minor leg sprain. However, she couldn't help but wonder why she had been summoned. The mention of Abhinav Sharma only added to her confusion. Was it related to his death? Or was it a ploy to discuss the cancellation of their Dubai trip? Perhaps Yash had heard something from Dr. Pyne? Lost in thought, she absently touched her belly.

"A penny for your thoughts?"

Arohi was unaware of Yash's approach as he snaked his hands around her waist. He rested his head on her shoulder and gently nudged her with his nose. Arohi placed the tea on the window sill and warmly embraced Yash in return. She leaned into him, feeling the comforting warmth of his body against her back.

"I love this smell of orange," he whispered, his breath warm on her left ear. He hugged her tightly, leaning on her for support. Arohi took his right hand and kissed it, savoring the moment of peace. This feeling of belonging was something she cherished above all else. After a month of busy schedules, they were finally able to meet in person.

As a member of a research team at LSTHM, she had to work every other weekend in addition to her regular hospital duties. However, she accepted this responsibility because it allowed her to spend time with Roohi once every two months. The research was a collaboration between AIIMS and LSTHM, and constantly traveling between London and Delhi was exhausting. Nonetheless, being able to see Roohi made it all worthwhile.

Yash has been occupied with a major three-way merger involving a Japanese Conglomerate, a European company, and an Indian distribution network for the past one and a half years. The merger has required extensive negotiations and government approvals and is now in its final stages. Yash has been extremely busy over the past few months due to this. Recently, Yash went to Delhi to finalize the terms and conditions of the last 2-3 sanctions.

"I missed you, Yash" she whispered.

"Me too"

Yash's nose started to trace a path from her shoulder down to her neck, causing her to gradually tilt her head in order to allow him better access. Yash moved toward his favorite spot. There was a mole below her left ear. He loved it. He placed a small peck on that place. Arohi slightly squirmed, just like he knew she would. She was ticklish in that area. The smell of orange was surrounding his nose. He then started kissing her neck.

After some time, Arohi gasped as she felt him bite her.

"Wait!"

Yash paused and remained in the embrace, not letting go.

"Let's talk about why you called me here. I just can't handle the suspense. You know that right?"

Yash smiled and playfully nodded while bending over Arohi's shoulder. He rubbed his nose up and down, causing her to wriggle in his arms as it tickled her.

"Yash!!"

"Ok... Ok..."

Yash left her and walked over to the sofa. He took a sip of his coffee and let out a contented sigh...

"Irish cream coffee is the best... I tell you... "

He turned to Arohi by the window and asked, "Why are you standing there? Come sit beside me with your brewed venom." He patted the spot next to him.

As Arohi sat beside him, he asked, "Do you remember Abhinav Sharma?"

"Yes, you mentioned him to me last night. Is this about his will? Did he leave one behind?"

"No, he's not dead."

Arohi blinked in confusion and looked at Yash.

"What?"

Yash shrugged.

After a brief silence, Arohi raised a concern, "Are you certain it was him? It could have been someone who resembled him."

"No, it was him. He recognized everyone and even called Abhir 'Nikkiji'," replied Yash.

Arohi was taken aback, "But that's impossible. We had him declared de..."

Arohi gasped in the middle of her sentence.

Yash gave her a knowing look as Arohi realized what had happened. She took a moment to gather her thoughts and asked, "Who could have done this? And why?"

"Perhaps Abhimanyu or Akshara?" suggested Yash.

"No, that's not possible. They wouldn't do something like this," responded Arohi.

The two continued to discuss the matter, but Arohi couldn't pinpoint anyone who would have forged Abhinav's death. The thought of why someone would go to such lengths to fake his death gave her a headache. She considered Parth Bhai, but he didn't know Abhinav and wasn't invested in their lives. She tried to remember, but all she could remember was that, during that time, Parth Bhai was busy with his divorce from Shefali Bhabhi. It didn't go through at that time. It was after a year they divorced.  She was busy at that time with Roohi's physiotherapy sessions. Was it around the same time Harsh uncle was diagnosed? Arohi massaged her head, remembering all these things from 9 years ago was so difficult.

"Oh my goodness! It's already 8:30," exclaimed Yash, checking his watch. Arohi yawned in response. "Arohi, you should get some rest. I'll go freshen up and grab some breakfast."

"Alone?"

"I don't think Roohi should push herself too hard. Why don't you both rest and enjoy some brunch later? And don't worry, I've already made friends with a kid here."

Arohi chuckled as she walked towards the bed. She knew Yash's favorite pastime was surprising strangers and building friendships through shock. "Oh, you mean you forced him to listen to your stories," she teased.

Yash gathered his papers and folders and packed them into his bag. He let out a sigh, knowing he had to be in Delhi for the B&K merger meeting in two days. He hoped he would be able to sort out the chaos before the meeting.

After approximately an hour, he made his way to Roohi's room and spotted the child he had encountered the day before hanging around outside her door.

"Hi Krish"

"Oh no... Not you."

'Wow!! His face clearly says I am unwanted.' Yash smiled as he saw the teen's scowl.

"I was about to have breakfast.. would you like to join me?"

"Nope... I was here to invite my friends' sister for breakfast." Yash noticed the boy's face redden when he uttered particularly 3 words.

"Wait, You are Roohi's friend?" Yash connecting the dots.

"No, she is not my... time break... how do you know Roohi."

"Well, she is my daughter..."

"S**t... You are my father-in-law?"

At that exact moment, Roohi opened the door.

To be continued