Part 4:
Hospital:
Consultation Room:
Room has two beds separated by white partition. After X-ray Sakshi laid on bed to rest as her hand ached and swelling is visible. She closed her eyes feeling every ounce of pain. Constables were standing out. Jailer left to meet doctor regarding reports.
**
As Shanti entered with Aarav, nurse took minimum details and directed them to consultation room. She rested Aarav on bed.
"Mein doctor ko inform karti hoon. Aap yaha rahiye." Nurse instructed and left from there. Shanti sat beside Aarav.
***
ETF office:
"Kya socha rahe ho?!" Sameer questioned sipping his coffee.
"Aarav ke bare mein socha raha tha." Arjun replied tricking his pen.
"Abhi sirf ek he din hua hai. U said u will not meet him for a week." Sameer said placing his cup on table.
"Pata hai. But Aarav bahot sensitive hai. Humesha dara dara rehta hai. Usse mere zaroorat hai aur mein. Pata nahi kaise hoga?" Arjun stare into blues.
"Arjun, tu itna tension kyun le raha hai? Ek baar.. unka naam kya hai.. ha.. Shantiji.. shantiji ko call kar ke baat kar." Sameer suggested. Arjun gave a nod.
***
Phone Conversation of Shanti and Arjun:
Shanti answered buzzing phone. She moved out of room as her phone failed to hold a single pole of signal in consultaton room.
"Hello." Arjun repeated.
"Ji. Abhi sunayi de rahi hai." Shantiji stated.
"Woh mujhe Aarav ke bare mein poochna tha." He said.
"Aarav ko tezz bhukar hai. Hum hospital mein hai." She said.
"What?! Kaunsa hospital?!" Arjun jumped on his feet. Arjun excused himself, explaining Sameer the ongoing situation and need for immediate visit to hospital. He left from there.
***
Consultation Room:
Sakshi stare at ceiling immersing into pain. She remembered Nidhi enquiring about her son. None in this world except her family know that she is mother of a five year old boy. To keep him safe she disappeared from his life.
She prayed for his safety. She always wondered, will he ever remember her. Will her prison sentence of 20 years wipe her from the world? Questions which she silenced, raised their voice. Secrets laid in silence took a breath in her thoughts. She sliced her soul living lie of life in three walls of barred jail. Only memory she loved to live is Aarav.
"Aarav." She closed her eyes whispering his name. A lone tear travelled corner of her eye wetting pillow.
"Mamma" She opened her eyes hearing most beautiful relation she is staying away from. Is that him? There is no one around. She heard shrunken shivering voice again, "Mamma... Mamma.." She recognized voice. Is that Aarav? Or is she hallucinating?!
There is no one around. "Pagal matt bano Sakshi." She explained herself. His whispers grew loud. Sakshi couldn't stop herself. She got down bed. She held curtain parting room into two halves. She thought for a moment wether to intrude someone's privacy or to stay on her bed. That voice dragged her soul towards it. Neither distances nor years can loosen the knot of birth.
Before she could slide curtain aside she heard Shanti, "Aap?!"
"Bacha aapka hai?! Woh aapko bula raha tha." Sakshi informed.
"Shukriya. Mein dekhlungi." Shanti said.
Sakshi reached bed holding her aching hand. She laid back placing her hand carefully beside her and crushed heart inside her.
***
Hospital:
Doctor plastered Sakshi's nuckles instructing her not to strain for couple of weeks. He prescribed medicines directing her for a check up after a week. Sakshi got discharged. She stepped down bed guarded by two constables. As jailer completed all the formalities they walked out of the room when Arjun rushed in.
He went straight to Aarav's bed where a nurse and doctor are treating him. Shanti is standing beside them observing ongoing treatment.
"Aarav!!" He walked towards them. Shanti nodded giving him way to stand beside Aarav.
Doctor injected medicine, "Bahot tezz bhukar hai. Bacha bhi bahot dara hua hai. Medicine diya hai. Observation mein rakhna padega. Kal subha tak temperature kum hona chahiye. Nahi toh dimaag pe asar pad sakta hai. Admit him." He said and left from there.
"Dara hua?!" Arjun and Shanti wondered.
***
Open Jail:
Sakshi found her cell empty. She looked around but there is no sign of Nidhi. Sakshi peeped out. "Nidhi kaha hai?!" She enquired guard standing out.
"Woh chali gayi." She said.
Sakshi laid back. She felt unaturally sleepy after year because of powerful medicine intake. As she closed her eyes hospital reminisces found place in her dreams.
***
Hospital: 2AM:
"Tum abhi tak hospital mein ho?!" Sameer enquired.
"Ha. Aarav ka tabiyat bahot kharab hai." Arjun answered with plastering his phone between his ear and shouder. He checked medicines standing at medicing counter. Paid bill and walked from.
"Woh mein yeh batane ke liye call kiya ki, blackmailer milgaya hai. Humne Nidhi ko ghar bejdiya. Aisha and Chotu dropped her home." Sameer informed.
"Good. Mein usse kisi criminal ke saath rakhna nahi chahta ta. Pata nahi, kaisi aurat hogi woh." He said walking through corridor.
"Tu pareshan hoga, isi liye call kar diya. U talk to Nidhi." Sameer said.
"Ha. Teekhe. Mein baad kar leta hoon. Abhi kaam hai. Bye." Arjun disconnected call.
**
As Arjun entered he saw Shanti worried speaking in phone. Arjun walked to her, "Shantiji. Kya sab teekh hai?."
"Orphanage mein problem hai. Sujata akele sare bachon ko nahi sambhal sakti. 2 din pehle he humne 3 infants ko adopt Kiya hai. Sujata ko pareshani ho rahi hai sabko sambal ne mein." At the age of 40, working 247 and taking care of kids is not an easy job.
"Aap Orphanage jayiye. Mein Aarav ka dyaan rakhunga." Arjun said. After her incessant denials, Arjun's convincing power completed task. Shanti left to orphanage saying she will return tomorrow in early hours.
***
Open Jail:
Sakshi opened her eyes with swear beads, immersing into thunders and lightings of sky, "Aarav!!" She struggled to get up with broken nuckles and one hand support.
Noise of cloudburst worried her. Dream she had shivered her, "Mann bahot gabra raha hai baghwaan. Aarav teekh hai na?!" She looked up, "Please Aarav ka dyaan rakhiye. Mere pass uss ke liye dua ke alawa kuch nahi hai. Meri dua mein itna taakat ladijiye ki woh har muskil ko paar kardey. Har haalat mein teekh rahe." She took a deep breath, "Agar meri lagayi hua pauda iss tufaan ke saamne dhate rahega, mein samjhungi ki mera bacha teekh hai." A lone drop roll down her cheek.
***
Wind is strong. Storm is rough. Pots fell fown from plank. Thin stems broke, leaves parted. There is one little plant holding strong. Fighting hard. Pourdown wearing away soil of the plant. Roots are losing grip. Plant bent with strong wind to one side when a plastic cloth hanging down tree flew on plant protecting it from harsh monsoon.
***
Hospital:
As Arjun stepped out of washroom he rushed to Aarav who is struggling to breath. He rubbed his back. He informed nurse on duty and doctor. Doctor checked him and ordered for a oxygen cylinder mask. After injecting another ml of medicine, Aarav was covered with oxygen mask to stablize breathing process.
"Aarav teekh toh hai?!" Arjun enquired.
"He is fine. Anxiety ki wajah se usko breathing mein problem ho raha tha. Jaise mein ne kaha, bacha bahot dara hua hai, bhukar bhi usi wajah se hai." Doctor said. "Aap in ke pappa ho?!" Doctor enquired.
"Nahi doctor. Yeh.. mein.." He thought for a moment. He is niether father nor father figure. He is not his elder brother. No blood relation. Wierd friendship and an unknown connection.
"Aap iska guardian ho?!." Doctor further enquired.
"Ji. Mein iska guardian hoon." He answered stumbling out of thoughts.
"Take care of him. Bache ko shaant rakhiye. Yeh kisi sadme mein hai. Bahot dara hua. Aapko pata hoga. Isse pyaar aur degbaal ki zaroorat hai." Doctor said and left from there.
Arjun sat beside him holding his hand, "Tumhare saath kya hua hai Aarav? Itna kyun dare hue ho? Kis se? Kiski wajah se?"
***
Thanks for reading. Please do like and comment.
Edited by VindhyaMounika - 8 years ago
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