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I know, I know. Dont hit me. Its been ages. The thing is, my mind was on vacation.. then I was on vacation.. In fact, I still am but I couldnt resist writing. This one has a tiny surprise for you all. Please tell me what you think of it. Im very nervous.
Part 5
Maanvi looked up at him, from where she was sitting, leaning against him. He was smiling slightly, staring at the sun as it just touched the horizon. He looked at peace, she finally decided. She sighed. She knew how he might be feeling, because she knew the same feeling too. The feeling when you finally get that sense of security, when the person you love with all your heart away from danger. When the person you love so much isn't fighting for life anymore. But she knew that wasn't true. That was far from the truth. She still had cancer. And she wasnt safe yet. She might die any minute. But then, anyone might die any minute. What kept her going was right there, next to her. Her support system. Her best friend. Her partner. She looked down at their entwined hands, her fragile one clasped losely in his big, firm one. Their arms were interlocked and she was leaning against him, and his back was resting against the concrete bench. The walk had been painful, not physical as much as mental. She could deal with not being able to walk, physically. What she couldn't deal with the fact was that she couldnt even stand on her own feet. She needed help. She could only walk a few steps before it was decided, by Virat, that she would be provided with a wheel chair. Maanvi being Maanvi, declined, but seeing as she was unable to walk compelled her to give in and she agreed to use the devil. She looked at it, next to the bench and sighed. She never thought she'd need that to move around.
"Kya hua?" Virat was still looking at the sun, and Maanvi briefly wondered what about the sun got him so fascinated.
"Kuch nahi. Main bas soch rahi thi, ki aaj main idhar hoon. Hospital ke garden mein. Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki main - " She couldnt continue, and she knew that she didnt need to. With Virat, words werent always necessary. He understood. She didnt know how. She even asked him once and his reply was, "Jaise tum mujhe har baar samajh jati ho." And he didnt need to say anything else. What was special about them was that, they were friends. There was absolutely no sort of attraction between them. It was pure love. Physical attraction was not how it started, and that made her proud. Of him, of them.
"Hota hain. Kya tumne kabhi socha tha ki tum apne didi ke devar par fida ho jaaogi?" He was teasing her, she knew, probably expecting her to say that she wasn't head over heels in love with him, but this time, she wasnt. It was time for honesty, because she knew this was the end. Whether a good end or a bad end, she wasnt sure. The doctor came to check her, when Virat was away and he'd changed all her medicines, and almost immediately she felt better, not much but better was better. Most of it was will power. But she was better. So, the doctor also reccommended a surgery. Bone marrow transplant. It was slightly risky but they said that mostly, she'd be fine. Freed from this disease. But Viren Jiju hadnt agreed at the time, and Jeevika Di didnt seem so keen either so they decided that they would consult a few other doctors.
"Socha toh kabhi nahi tha, lekin zindagi mein, kuch cheeze hume chauka dete hain, aur humara rishta unme se ek hain, aur yeh rishte, zindagi ke sabse khoobsurat cheeza hote hain." She could tell he was surprised at her response, but right now that was all she had because she was terrified. Terrified by the mere thought of surgery.
"Maanvi, tum theek toh ho? Jab main ghar gaya toh juch hua kya?"
"Uh, Virat, woh doctor mujhe dekhne aaye the. Unhone mere medicines badal diye, issliye main
itna better feel kar rahi hoon."
"Yeh toh achi baat hain. Isse tum itna ghabra kyun rahi ho?"
"Main dawaaiyan se nahi ghabra rahi, budhoo. Unhone kaha ki, mujhe surgery karwa leni chahiye. Bone marrow transplant."
Virat was quiet, and Maanvi didnt say anything either, giving him a few minutes to process the news. She knew that he would support her, tell her not to worry, all the while being terrified himself. She also knew that this surgery was risky, not only for her but also for the person who was donating the bone marrow. She smiled, as she remembered the time he got to know about her cancer. She wasnt prepared then, for everyone to know the bitter reality of her life, but it didnt matter what she thought. Everyone got to know.
Flashback
She couldnt comprehend what Virat was saying. The only words she understoon were 'accident' and 'bhabhi'. Her sister met with an accident. Her sister was fighting for her life. He sister was in danger. She stared in shock, not at anything in particular and absentmindedly noticed that Beeji was holding her shoulders and shaking her, screaming words at her that she didnt understand, and Madan chachu snatching the phone from her limp hand that pressed the phone to her ear.
No, her sister, her mother, her life would be fine. So what, if she met with an accident? She would be fine. She looked at Beeji, with a silent plea in her eyes, begging her to take her to her sister, and she nodded, immediately understanding what her grand daughter needed. Beeji caught her hand and dragged her, towards the door. To go to the hospital, maybe. As long as she got to her sister.
She was made to stand for a minute, at the entrance of the house before she was dragged once again and pushed into a car, she didnt know which. While sitting, she stared out the window. No, she wasnt thinking of all the times she spent with her sister. She wasnt thinking whether her sister would live. All she was thinking was how she could rid her sister of the pain she was in, and also praying to God that she wasnt too hurt.
They reached, quite soon. But they had to go to Chandigarh, how did they reach so soon? She didnt have the time to contemplate now. She opened the door of the car and bolted into the hospital, faster than she thought her legs could carry her, stopping briefly at the reception and uttering her sister's name.
"ICU number 4, floor 3." And she was off again, running to meet her sister. Just hoping that she was fine. Her heart was beating frantically, and a buzzing in her ears and she was sweating. She turned around into a corridor and saw her Jiju looking into a room through a small round glass window. She ran up to him and it took all of her effort not to push him away and look at her sister. She looked at his face, noticing the small bandage on his forehead but that was not what worried her. What worried her was the look on his face, one of absolute grief. There were tears in his eyes.
"Jiju?" She whispered. She couldnt turn towards the door and look at her sister lying on the bed helplessly, so she hoped to find some happiness or relief in her Jiju's face.
"Maanvi, Jeevika - Jeevika bahut serious hain. Usse tumhari khoon ki zaroorat hain. Please, meri Jeevika ko bacha lo." She almost said yes. Of course she would give her sister blood, but she remembered her disease. She was suffering from cancer. So how could she give her sister blood? Her blood was infected. Spoilt. The one thing that joined both of them was impure now.
She was always proud of their khoon ka rishta, but never did she realize that now, the very bond holding them together was weak. Irony at its best?
"Maanvi? Bolo! Mujhe pata hain ki tumhe injections se darr hain lekin - "
"Main apna khoon di ko nahi doongi." She couldnt believe she just spoke. Her voice was blank. Void of any sort of emotion. Just then Beeji and Madan Chachu came rushing and and she realized that even Virat was there, sitting on the chairs by the wall but he'd gotten up now and was looking at Maanvi in shock and even some dissappointment. Of course he would be disappointed. Anyone would be. She herself was disappointed. But what could she do? No, she couldnt give blood to her sister.
"Viren beta, kya kua? Jeevika kaisi hain?" Beeji asked, panting slightly.
"Beeji woh - Uska bahut khoon beh gaya hain aur usse Maanvi ke khoon ki zaroorat hain lekin dekho na Beeji - Maanvi Jeevika ko khoon dene se inkaar kar rahi hain. Samjhao na usse!" Maanvi looked at Viren. She could see the helplessness in his eyes. The pain, the grief written all over his face. She could feel it herself.
Maanvi turned her head slightly towards her grandmother and shook her head ever so slightly.
"Jiju, maine kaha na, main di ko khoon nahi doongi." she made sure her voice was firm. Her sister would be fine, she was sure. All she needed was some blood and they could get blood from a blood bank. She'd be fine.
"Maanvi, tumhe ho kya gaya hain? Kya tumhe pata bhi hain ki Jeevika tumhe kitna pyaar karti hain? Tumpe jaan chidakti hain! Aur tum uski jaan bachane ke liye usse thoda khoon nahi de sakti? Laalat hain tum par!" If the situation was any different, Maanvi wouldnt have let him go past the second word. Her relationship with her sister was unbreakable and no one should even dare to say a word against it but now, how could she? According to her Jiju, she was wrong. According to him, she was failing in her relationship. But if she said anything, they'd get to know about her cancer, which she wouldnt bear.
She wasnt able to look into his eyes so she looked down, feeling her own eyes burn slightly, as they welled up with tears.
"Bhai, chodo, hum doctor ko bol dete hain ki jald se jald blood bank se hi khoon mangwa de."
"Theek hain." And Viren walked away, to meet the doctor, Maanvi guessed.
"Maanvi, kya ho gaya hain tumhe? Tumhe pata hain na ki Bhabhi ki jaan khatre mein hain?" Virat's voice wasnt remrimanding. He was consoling her, instead.
She didnt reply but she turned towards the door and raised her eyes slightly to see her sister. Her heart sank and her eyes welled up once more. Jeevika forehead was covered with a bandage that was crimson red due to her blood. There was an oxygen mask on her face and she was completely still. She couldnt stop the tears now as they ran down her face, chasing one another. She took a deep breath to calm herself but it turned to a sob instead and soon enough, she was sobbing loudly. Strong hands prevented her from falling and pulled her backwards to sit on one of the chairs. She looked up at Virat, his eyes were filled with tears as well but he nodded at her and managed a half-smile. And before Maanvi could stop herself, she flung her arms around him and began sobbing into his shoulder, clutching on to him like he was all her life consisted of. He was stroking her head while she sobbed, whispering sweet nothings to her, telling her that everything will be fine.
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They were sitting in Virat's car. He was driving and Viren was sitting in the passenger seat. Beeji and Chachu had decided to stay at the hospital. Jeevika was out of danger now. They'd gotten blood quite easily and she would be home in another two-three days. Maanvi knew everything would be fine but the relief that she got, knowing that her sister was out of danger was one that she'd never felt before. Her sister was safe. But the storm hadn't passed as yet. Viren wasn't talking to Maanvi. He either glared at her or ingnored her altogether and that broke her heart. How could she tell him that she did it hor her sister's good? Virat didnt glare at her, in fact he was normal with her but she could see the disappointment in his eyes. And that pained her more than any glare he had to throw her way. They obviously thought that the reason she didnt give blood to her sister was her fear for needles and injections. They reached her house, in Hrishikesh. Virat told her that Jeevika Di and Viren Jiju were on their way to Chandigarh to meet Maanvi because they heard her fainting and Dabbu yelling her name over the phone, but then they met with an accident. They got out of the car and got into the house. Dabbo and Chachi were worried but Virat immediately assured them that Jeevika was perfectly fine.
Maanvi went in the kitchen to get water for Viren and Virat, thinking of her reson for not giving blood and saving her sister's life. But what could she say? She had nothing. She picked up the tray with the glasses and went to living room where they were seated and offered her Jiju water first, but he didnt take the glass. Instead her got up and stood by the window, staring outside. She was about the give water to Virat before going and talking to him when Viren spoke.
"Kyun?"
"Jiju?"
"Dekho Maanvi, main jaanta hoon ki tum apni Di se bahut pyaar karti ho. Aur uski jaan bachane ke liye toh door, agar woh ek baar tumse keh de ki usse tumhara khoon chahiye, toh tum usse de dogi. To phir tumne usse khoon dene se mana kyun kar diya?"
She didnt reply. What could she say? That she had cancer? That her blood had abnormalities?
"Maanvi, main jaanna chahta hoon. Ya toh tumhara pyaar jhootha hain, ya aisi koi cheeze hain jo tum hum sab se chupa rahi ho."
"Nahi Jiju, aisi koi - " Her voice was breaking. How could she explain to him that her love for her sister was pure?
"Tumhari tabiyat kharab thi na? Kya hua tha tumhe? Jeevika bahut pareshaan thi. Tum nahi bataati toh main Dabbo se poochle ta hoon. Dabbo?" Dabbo and Chachi were standing by to sofa, looking terrified and Dabbo was even trembling slightly, looking down.
But he didnt reply so Viren glared at Maanvi. She could see that he wasnt going to back down.
"Jiju, dekho, maine khoon nahi diya kyunki main apna khoon nahi dena chahti thi. Di toh theek hain na? Koi problem hi nahi hain." She couldnt help but to flinch after she finished talking, her voice sounded feeble even to herself.
"Maanvi. Ab mujhe gussa aa raha hain. Tumhe pata hain na, mujhe jhoot se sakt nafrat hain."
"Jiju - "
"Maanvi, mujhse jhoot mat bolo." His voice was raised and Maanvi realized that she was crying, she wiped her tears away quickly.
"Bhai chodo - " Virat came forward to help him partner.
"Virat. Main Maanvi se baat kar raha hoon. Beech main mat bolo." Viren held his hand up and looked at Maanvi pointedly.
"Jiju please. Di theek hain. Iss sab se kya matlab?"
Viren just glared in reply. why, oh, why couldnt he just back down?
"Maanvi main aakhri baar pooch raha hoon."
"Jiju main aapko batata hoon." Dabbo came forward and Maanvi whipped her head around to glare at him, silently warning him to keep quiet but he shook his head and came and stood beside Maanvi, taking her hand in his and squeezing her finger, with a determination that she never knew her brother possessed.
"Mujhe pata tha. Kuch toh baat hain jo tum log hum se chupa rahe ho. Dabbo tum batao. Jaldi."
"Par Jiju - " Maanvi desperately tried to stop him.
"Maanvi, acha hoga ki tum hi mujhe bata do."
"Jiju, Maanvi didi ko - "
"Dabbo chup kar. Jiju aisi koi baat nahi hain! Aap meri baat samajh kyun nahi rahe?" She was screaming now.
"MAANVI MUJHE JHOOT MAT BOLO!" Viren screamed even louder than Maanvi, and Maanvi couldnt stop crying now. She was on the verge of sobbing.
"KYUNKI MERA KHOON KHARAB HAIN! MAIN APNA KHOON DI KO DETI TOH UNHE BHI - "
"Unhe bhi kya Maanvi? Kya hua? Aur tumhara khoon kharab kyun hain?" Viren came closer to Maanvi and put his hands on her shoulders, his voice had gone from angry to soft and comforting. "Maanvi, batao mujhe."
She couldnt stop herself anymore. She hugged him tight and whispered the deadly words to him.
" Mujhe cancer hain Jiju. Main marne waali hoon."
Viren froze. She could feel his body tense and she regretted saying those words to him, almost as soon as she said it. She broke the hug to look at his face and she saw Virat standing there, just behind Viren, staring at Maanvi in horror. She pulled away from Viren and looked down, ashamed that she revealed the truth, and now, inevitably, even Jeevika would know the truth.
"Maanvi, tum jhooth bol rahi ho na? Aise nahi ho sakta. Nahi, tumhe galat fehmi hogi. Tumhe cancer nahi ho sakta." Maanvi looked up at Viren, he was shaking his head in denial, one had at the back of his neck.
"Jiju, meri chemotherapy shuru ho gayi hain." Maanvi smiled sadly as Viren, and Virat stared at her in shock.
"Maanvi, are you sure? Tumne kitne doctors ko consult kiya?"
"Jiju, pehle mujhe bhi yakeen nahi hua tha lekin yeh sach hain." She could see tears in his eyes. First Jeevika's accident and now this. She felt awful.
Maanvi looked at Virat, only to see him looking down. Was that a tear she saw falling down? She moved towards him and stood in front of him, trying to get a look at his face but he was looking down. She sighed and raised her hand, and put it lightly on his cheek. He froze and raised his head slowly and she saw his eyes. They were red and filled with tears. She cupped his cheek and carressed his cheek with her thumb, shaking her head with a small smile and teary eyes.
Flashback ends
Maanvi knew for a fact that Virat hadnt realized his love for her then, but the love she saw for herself in his eyes moved her to no extent. Thinking back now, she was so sure that he loved her even then. And the Maya he thought he loved was actually her, but she was also knew that she didnt love him then. She fell in love with him during her treatment, when she moved to Chandigarh, after continuous persistense from the Vadhera family. She looked at their entwined hands, then at him standing while she sat on the bench, and smiled. He smiled encouragingly at her and nodded his head. Maanvi sighed at applied some pressure on his hand, and put her other hand forward as well. He took her other hand and she used up all her effort and finally, stood up.
It felt good, she decided, to finally stretch her legs after a week. Only then, she realized that they were standing very close, their entwined hands beside them. She looked up at him and saw him looking down at her with an adorable smile that made her want to pinch his cheeks but she refrained, choosing to smile back instead.
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So, yes, this was Maanvi's POV. I hope i did her justice!
I hope you liked it! Please please please comment! And tell me whatever you think! Positive or negative! And sorry for the delay!
Special mention to ragz91 - Thank you so much for your PM. Im sorry I couldnt reply to the last one :( Was extremely busy but I really appreciate it! Your review is one I always look forward to! Hope you enjoy this one too!
And I dont think I can send out PMs this time, as I said, Im on vacation. But I'll try my best! Please comment!
Part 5
Maanvi looked up at him, from where she was sitting, leaning against him. He was smiling slightly, staring at the sun as it just touched the horizon. He looked at peace, she finally decided. She sighed. She knew how he might be feeling, because she knew the same feeling too. The feeling when you finally get that sense of security, when the person you love with all your heart away from danger. When the person you love so much isn't fighting for life anymore. But she knew that wasn't true. That was far from the truth. She still had cancer. And she wasnt safe yet. She might die any minute. But then, anyone might die any minute. What kept her going was right there, next to her. Her support system. Her best friend. Her partner. She looked down at their entwined hands, her fragile one clasped losely in his big, firm one. Their arms were interlocked and she was leaning against him, and his back was resting against the concrete bench. The walk had been painful, not physical as much as mental. She could deal with not being able to walk, physically. What she couldn't deal with the fact was that she couldnt even stand on her own feet. She needed help. She could only walk a few steps before it was decided, by Virat, that she would be provided with a wheel chair. Maanvi being Maanvi, declined, but seeing as she was unable to walk compelled her to give in and she agreed to use the devil. She looked at it, next to the bench and sighed. She never thought she'd need that to move around.
"Kya hua?" Virat was still looking at the sun, and Maanvi briefly wondered what about the sun got him so fascinated.
"Kuch nahi. Main bas soch rahi thi, ki aaj main idhar hoon. Hospital ke garden mein. Maine kabhi nahi socha tha ki main - " She couldnt continue, and she knew that she didnt need to. With Virat, words werent always necessary. He understood. She didnt know how. She even asked him once and his reply was, "Jaise tum mujhe har baar samajh jati ho." And he didnt need to say anything else. What was special about them was that, they were friends. There was absolutely no sort of attraction between them. It was pure love. Physical attraction was not how it started, and that made her proud. Of him, of them.
"Hota hain. Kya tumne kabhi socha tha ki tum apne didi ke devar par fida ho jaaogi?" He was teasing her, she knew, probably expecting her to say that she wasn't head over heels in love with him, but this time, she wasnt. It was time for honesty, because she knew this was the end. Whether a good end or a bad end, she wasnt sure. The doctor came to check her, when Virat was away and he'd changed all her medicines, and almost immediately she felt better, not much but better was better. Most of it was will power. But she was better. So, the doctor also reccommended a surgery. Bone marrow transplant. It was slightly risky but they said that mostly, she'd be fine. Freed from this disease. But Viren Jiju hadnt agreed at the time, and Jeevika Di didnt seem so keen either so they decided that they would consult a few other doctors.
"Socha toh kabhi nahi tha, lekin zindagi mein, kuch cheeze hume chauka dete hain, aur humara rishta unme se ek hain, aur yeh rishte, zindagi ke sabse khoobsurat cheeza hote hain." She could tell he was surprised at her response, but right now that was all she had because she was terrified. Terrified by the mere thought of surgery.
"Maanvi, tum theek toh ho? Jab main ghar gaya toh juch hua kya?"
"Uh, Virat, woh doctor mujhe dekhne aaye the. Unhone mere medicines badal diye, issliye main
itna better feel kar rahi hoon."
"Yeh toh achi baat hain. Isse tum itna ghabra kyun rahi ho?"
"Main dawaaiyan se nahi ghabra rahi, budhoo. Unhone kaha ki, mujhe surgery karwa leni chahiye. Bone marrow transplant."
Virat was quiet, and Maanvi didnt say anything either, giving him a few minutes to process the news. She knew that he would support her, tell her not to worry, all the while being terrified himself. She also knew that this surgery was risky, not only for her but also for the person who was donating the bone marrow. She smiled, as she remembered the time he got to know about her cancer. She wasnt prepared then, for everyone to know the bitter reality of her life, but it didnt matter what she thought. Everyone got to know.
Flashback
She couldnt comprehend what Virat was saying. The only words she understoon were 'accident' and 'bhabhi'. Her sister met with an accident. Her sister was fighting for her life. He sister was in danger. She stared in shock, not at anything in particular and absentmindedly noticed that Beeji was holding her shoulders and shaking her, screaming words at her that she didnt understand, and Madan chachu snatching the phone from her limp hand that pressed the phone to her ear.
No, her sister, her mother, her life would be fine. So what, if she met with an accident? She would be fine. She looked at Beeji, with a silent plea in her eyes, begging her to take her to her sister, and she nodded, immediately understanding what her grand daughter needed. Beeji caught her hand and dragged her, towards the door. To go to the hospital, maybe. As long as she got to her sister.
She was made to stand for a minute, at the entrance of the house before she was dragged once again and pushed into a car, she didnt know which. While sitting, she stared out the window. No, she wasnt thinking of all the times she spent with her sister. She wasnt thinking whether her sister would live. All she was thinking was how she could rid her sister of the pain she was in, and also praying to God that she wasnt too hurt.
They reached, quite soon. But they had to go to Chandigarh, how did they reach so soon? She didnt have the time to contemplate now. She opened the door of the car and bolted into the hospital, faster than she thought her legs could carry her, stopping briefly at the reception and uttering her sister's name.
"ICU number 4, floor 3." And she was off again, running to meet her sister. Just hoping that she was fine. Her heart was beating frantically, and a buzzing in her ears and she was sweating. She turned around into a corridor and saw her Jiju looking into a room through a small round glass window. She ran up to him and it took all of her effort not to push him away and look at her sister. She looked at his face, noticing the small bandage on his forehead but that was not what worried her. What worried her was the look on his face, one of absolute grief. There were tears in his eyes.
"Jiju?" She whispered. She couldnt turn towards the door and look at her sister lying on the bed helplessly, so she hoped to find some happiness or relief in her Jiju's face.
"Maanvi, Jeevika - Jeevika bahut serious hain. Usse tumhari khoon ki zaroorat hain. Please, meri Jeevika ko bacha lo." She almost said yes. Of course she would give her sister blood, but she remembered her disease. She was suffering from cancer. So how could she give her sister blood? Her blood was infected. Spoilt. The one thing that joined both of them was impure now.
She was always proud of their khoon ka rishta, but never did she realize that now, the very bond holding them together was weak. Irony at its best?
"Maanvi? Bolo! Mujhe pata hain ki tumhe injections se darr hain lekin - "
"Main apna khoon di ko nahi doongi." She couldnt believe she just spoke. Her voice was blank. Void of any sort of emotion. Just then Beeji and Madan Chachu came rushing and and she realized that even Virat was there, sitting on the chairs by the wall but he'd gotten up now and was looking at Maanvi in shock and even some dissappointment. Of course he would be disappointed. Anyone would be. She herself was disappointed. But what could she do? No, she couldnt give blood to her sister.
"Viren beta, kya kua? Jeevika kaisi hain?" Beeji asked, panting slightly.
"Beeji woh - Uska bahut khoon beh gaya hain aur usse Maanvi ke khoon ki zaroorat hain lekin dekho na Beeji - Maanvi Jeevika ko khoon dene se inkaar kar rahi hain. Samjhao na usse!" Maanvi looked at Viren. She could see the helplessness in his eyes. The pain, the grief written all over his face. She could feel it herself.
Maanvi turned her head slightly towards her grandmother and shook her head ever so slightly.
"Jiju, maine kaha na, main di ko khoon nahi doongi." she made sure her voice was firm. Her sister would be fine, she was sure. All she needed was some blood and they could get blood from a blood bank. She'd be fine.
"Maanvi, tumhe ho kya gaya hain? Kya tumhe pata bhi hain ki Jeevika tumhe kitna pyaar karti hain? Tumpe jaan chidakti hain! Aur tum uski jaan bachane ke liye usse thoda khoon nahi de sakti? Laalat hain tum par!" If the situation was any different, Maanvi wouldnt have let him go past the second word. Her relationship with her sister was unbreakable and no one should even dare to say a word against it but now, how could she? According to her Jiju, she was wrong. According to him, she was failing in her relationship. But if she said anything, they'd get to know about her cancer, which she wouldnt bear.
She wasnt able to look into his eyes so she looked down, feeling her own eyes burn slightly, as they welled up with tears.
"Bhai, chodo, hum doctor ko bol dete hain ki jald se jald blood bank se hi khoon mangwa de."
"Theek hain." And Viren walked away, to meet the doctor, Maanvi guessed.
"Maanvi, kya ho gaya hain tumhe? Tumhe pata hain na ki Bhabhi ki jaan khatre mein hain?" Virat's voice wasnt remrimanding. He was consoling her, instead.
She didnt reply but she turned towards the door and raised her eyes slightly to see her sister. Her heart sank and her eyes welled up once more. Jeevika forehead was covered with a bandage that was crimson red due to her blood. There was an oxygen mask on her face and she was completely still. She couldnt stop the tears now as they ran down her face, chasing one another. She took a deep breath to calm herself but it turned to a sob instead and soon enough, she was sobbing loudly. Strong hands prevented her from falling and pulled her backwards to sit on one of the chairs. She looked up at Virat, his eyes were filled with tears as well but he nodded at her and managed a half-smile. And before Maanvi could stop herself, she flung her arms around him and began sobbing into his shoulder, clutching on to him like he was all her life consisted of. He was stroking her head while she sobbed, whispering sweet nothings to her, telling her that everything will be fine.
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They were sitting in Virat's car. He was driving and Viren was sitting in the passenger seat. Beeji and Chachu had decided to stay at the hospital. Jeevika was out of danger now. They'd gotten blood quite easily and she would be home in another two-three days. Maanvi knew everything would be fine but the relief that she got, knowing that her sister was out of danger was one that she'd never felt before. Her sister was safe. But the storm hadn't passed as yet. Viren wasn't talking to Maanvi. He either glared at her or ingnored her altogether and that broke her heart. How could she tell him that she did it hor her sister's good? Virat didnt glare at her, in fact he was normal with her but she could see the disappointment in his eyes. And that pained her more than any glare he had to throw her way. They obviously thought that the reason she didnt give blood to her sister was her fear for needles and injections. They reached her house, in Hrishikesh. Virat told her that Jeevika Di and Viren Jiju were on their way to Chandigarh to meet Maanvi because they heard her fainting and Dabbu yelling her name over the phone, but then they met with an accident. They got out of the car and got into the house. Dabbo and Chachi were worried but Virat immediately assured them that Jeevika was perfectly fine.
Maanvi went in the kitchen to get water for Viren and Virat, thinking of her reson for not giving blood and saving her sister's life. But what could she say? She had nothing. She picked up the tray with the glasses and went to living room where they were seated and offered her Jiju water first, but he didnt take the glass. Instead her got up and stood by the window, staring outside. She was about the give water to Virat before going and talking to him when Viren spoke.
"Kyun?"
"Jiju?"
"Dekho Maanvi, main jaanta hoon ki tum apni Di se bahut pyaar karti ho. Aur uski jaan bachane ke liye toh door, agar woh ek baar tumse keh de ki usse tumhara khoon chahiye, toh tum usse de dogi. To phir tumne usse khoon dene se mana kyun kar diya?"
She didnt reply. What could she say? That she had cancer? That her blood had abnormalities?
"Maanvi, main jaanna chahta hoon. Ya toh tumhara pyaar jhootha hain, ya aisi koi cheeze hain jo tum hum sab se chupa rahi ho."
"Nahi Jiju, aisi koi - " Her voice was breaking. How could she explain to him that her love for her sister was pure?
"Tumhari tabiyat kharab thi na? Kya hua tha tumhe? Jeevika bahut pareshaan thi. Tum nahi bataati toh main Dabbo se poochle ta hoon. Dabbo?" Dabbo and Chachi were standing by to sofa, looking terrified and Dabbo was even trembling slightly, looking down.
But he didnt reply so Viren glared at Maanvi. She could see that he wasnt going to back down.
"Jiju, dekho, maine khoon nahi diya kyunki main apna khoon nahi dena chahti thi. Di toh theek hain na? Koi problem hi nahi hain." She couldnt help but to flinch after she finished talking, her voice sounded feeble even to herself.
"Maanvi. Ab mujhe gussa aa raha hain. Tumhe pata hain na, mujhe jhoot se sakt nafrat hain."
"Jiju - "
"Maanvi, mujhse jhoot mat bolo." His voice was raised and Maanvi realized that she was crying, she wiped her tears away quickly.
"Bhai chodo - " Virat came forward to help him partner.
"Virat. Main Maanvi se baat kar raha hoon. Beech main mat bolo." Viren held his hand up and looked at Maanvi pointedly.
"Jiju please. Di theek hain. Iss sab se kya matlab?"
Viren just glared in reply. why, oh, why couldnt he just back down?
"Maanvi main aakhri baar pooch raha hoon."
"Jiju main aapko batata hoon." Dabbo came forward and Maanvi whipped her head around to glare at him, silently warning him to keep quiet but he shook his head and came and stood beside Maanvi, taking her hand in his and squeezing her finger, with a determination that she never knew her brother possessed.
"Mujhe pata tha. Kuch toh baat hain jo tum log hum se chupa rahe ho. Dabbo tum batao. Jaldi."
"Par Jiju - " Maanvi desperately tried to stop him.
"Maanvi, acha hoga ki tum hi mujhe bata do."
"Jiju, Maanvi didi ko - "
"Dabbo chup kar. Jiju aisi koi baat nahi hain! Aap meri baat samajh kyun nahi rahe?" She was screaming now.
"MAANVI MUJHE JHOOT MAT BOLO!" Viren screamed even louder than Maanvi, and Maanvi couldnt stop crying now. She was on the verge of sobbing.
"KYUNKI MERA KHOON KHARAB HAIN! MAIN APNA KHOON DI KO DETI TOH UNHE BHI - "
"Unhe bhi kya Maanvi? Kya hua? Aur tumhara khoon kharab kyun hain?" Viren came closer to Maanvi and put his hands on her shoulders, his voice had gone from angry to soft and comforting. "Maanvi, batao mujhe."
She couldnt stop herself anymore. She hugged him tight and whispered the deadly words to him.
" Mujhe cancer hain Jiju. Main marne waali hoon."
Viren froze. She could feel his body tense and she regretted saying those words to him, almost as soon as she said it. She broke the hug to look at his face and she saw Virat standing there, just behind Viren, staring at Maanvi in horror. She pulled away from Viren and looked down, ashamed that she revealed the truth, and now, inevitably, even Jeevika would know the truth.
"Maanvi, tum jhooth bol rahi ho na? Aise nahi ho sakta. Nahi, tumhe galat fehmi hogi. Tumhe cancer nahi ho sakta." Maanvi looked up at Viren, he was shaking his head in denial, one had at the back of his neck.
"Jiju, meri chemotherapy shuru ho gayi hain." Maanvi smiled sadly as Viren, and Virat stared at her in shock.
"Maanvi, are you sure? Tumne kitne doctors ko consult kiya?"
"Jiju, pehle mujhe bhi yakeen nahi hua tha lekin yeh sach hain." She could see tears in his eyes. First Jeevika's accident and now this. She felt awful.
Maanvi looked at Virat, only to see him looking down. Was that a tear she saw falling down? She moved towards him and stood in front of him, trying to get a look at his face but he was looking down. She sighed and raised her hand, and put it lightly on his cheek. He froze and raised his head slowly and she saw his eyes. They were red and filled with tears. She cupped his cheek and carressed his cheek with her thumb, shaking her head with a small smile and teary eyes.
Flashback ends
Maanvi knew for a fact that Virat hadnt realized his love for her then, but the love she saw for herself in his eyes moved her to no extent. Thinking back now, she was so sure that he loved her even then. And the Maya he thought he loved was actually her, but she was also knew that she didnt love him then. She fell in love with him during her treatment, when she moved to Chandigarh, after continuous persistense from the Vadhera family. She looked at their entwined hands, then at him standing while she sat on the bench, and smiled. He smiled encouragingly at her and nodded his head. Maanvi sighed at applied some pressure on his hand, and put her other hand forward as well. He took her other hand and she used up all her effort and finally, stood up.
It felt good, she decided, to finally stretch her legs after a week. Only then, she realized that they were standing very close, their entwined hands beside them. She looked up at him and saw him looking down at her with an adorable smile that made her want to pinch his cheeks but she refrained, choosing to smile back instead.
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So, yes, this was Maanvi's POV. I hope i did her justice!
I hope you liked it! Please please please comment! And tell me whatever you think! Positive or negative! And sorry for the delay!
Special mention to ragz91 - Thank you so much for your PM. Im sorry I couldnt reply to the last one :( Was extremely busy but I really appreciate it! Your review is one I always look forward to! Hope you enjoy this one too!
And I dont think I can send out PMs this time, as I said, Im on vacation. But I'll try my best! Please comment!
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