Maanvi had been rushed to the hospital as her health had taken a turn for the worst. Viren and Virat had accompanied the paramedics and were waiting outside the room as the doctors tried to help her. Together they stood waiting for any news, Viren tried to comfort and give strength to Virat. They both felt powerless; there was nothing they could do but leave everything in hands of someone else.
Viren needed to leave, he couldn't stay there any longer, he instructed Virat to stay by Maanvi's side as he needed to head back. As Viren was leaving, both brothers embraced' a hug that should have last a few seconds lingered on. Viren told his brother to be strong and not to lose hope. Wiping his tears back, Virat composed himself and prayed to the heavens for a miracle.
As Viren entered the house, he found Jeevika sitting in the same position she was when they left with Maanvi, an hour ago. She was sitting on the floor staring at the pool of blood. Unable to move, Viren walked up and sat on the floor in front of her. He put his hands of her face, and tried to talk to her, however she was in a state of shock. Unable to think, see or even feel. He tried to snapping her out of it, telling her Maanvi would be fine, but all she did was stare at the pool that seemed to be spreading. He couldn't see his wife in such a state. He slowly tries to get her to stand by holding her by the shoulders and lifting her up. He reassured her that he would not let anything happen; finally, he got her to stand, when she collapsed in his arms.
For the last few months, all Jeevika had focused on was Maanvi. Her marriage and everything else was irrelevant in her eyes. As time was passing, she gradually realised that she has shut everyone out. Maanvi's illness had consumed her life and she in essence was alone. It had suddenly dawned on her, of the reality of losing Maanvi.
She had turned into someone unrecognisable in the eyes of others. She shut herself off and created her own little world. As she had stared at the blood, she saw her sister's life vanishing before her eyes. The person she tried to protect for all these months was fading away and for the first time Jeevika was losing hope.
In the hospital, Maanvi's health was slowly deteriorating. She was unconscious, and was on a large dose of morphine for her pain. The doctors were transfusing blood and saline due to the amount of blood she lost. Virat patiently waited outside, looking in at the love of his life. She had endured so much in the last few months, multiple rounds of chemo, needle aspirations, and an enormous amount of physical pain. He could no longer see her suffering and disappearing before his very eyes. As he entered the room, Maanvi was slowly coming around. She was confused and weak and found it difficult to string a sentence together. She tried to talk, scanning around the room trying to find someone. Virat rushed to her side and asked her not to talk; he hated seeing her like this. Slowly he lifted her head up and fluffed her pillow, in his attempt to make her comfortable.
She looked more dazed than he had ever seen her before; he thought how could life be worth living, if this is what she had to suffer. Unaware of her surroundings, being hooked up to IVs and given so much pain medication that she was as high as a kite. Maanvi reached her hand out; Virat grabbed her hand tightly and kissed it lightly.
Slowly tears rolled down Virat's cheek, she was trying to say something, but nothing she said made any sense. She was incoherent, but it seemed as if she wanted to say something very important. He held her face and tried to get her focus on him, but she seemed to be in another universe. Virat tried to focus her attention; he couldn't help to feel powerless.
Her vision started to blur, she could not longer make out faces or objects around her. She felt extremely light headed as much as she tried to focus she was unable to control herself. Virat's voice was becoming an echo in the background.
"Maanvi, you listen to me. I know you can hear me. Look at me, please just look at me." As he desperately tried to keep her awake, her breathing began to become shallow, and she was slipping unconscious. Virat became frightened; he alarmed the nurses using her panic button.
"Maanvi! No! Look at me, stay awake- stay awake and breathe" The nurses and doctors rushed in and started to get to work. Virat was asked to step outside, but this time was not leaving, he was never leaving her side.
His eyes were full of tears he could hardly speak. He shut his eyes and held her hand close to him. He whispered "No, this isn't happening, not now. You're not leaving me; you're not leaving your Di. Listen to be Maanvi, just listen to me this once. You need to fight, fight as hard as you can please. Please just try to fight little harder, for me." His voice broke "I ... love you"
The machines and alarms were buzzing. The nurses rushed around the room, injecting Maanvi with drugs to try to get her back. The doctors were working as hard as they could, but Maanvi was slowly slipping away, yet, Virat just sat there, with his eyes closed clutching Maanvi's hand.
After some time the doctor tapped him on the shoulder. He could not let go of Maanvi's hand nor did he want to leave. However, the doctor wanted to speak to Virat away from Maanvi, even though she was unconscious and for the moment stable.
Virat slowly let go of Maanvi's hands and gave her a light kiss on the cheek. As he looked back, he couldn't help to wonder that he had almost lost her. The doctor informed Virat that Maanvi was in a critical condition, but she was currently stable. The drugs that she is currently on, will help her with her pain but as he knew her cancer had spread and that she has began showing signs of renal failure.
Things were becoming complicated and Virat was struggling to keep it together. The doctor informed him that because she was having trouble breathing, for that reason, she is receiving oxygen through a nasal tube. Her blood pressure had dropped dangerously low, and if they had not controlled it quickly, enough she could have arrested. Virat queried about the possibility of a kidney transplant - he thought that his Bhabhi would possibly be a match giving Maanvi more time. The doctor tried to discuss the options, however concluded that even though they could do a kidney transplant at this stage and with Maanvi's quality of life, it would be the equivalent of putting band-aid on a bullet wound.
The doctor left Virat, telling him that she may be running out of time, and to call her family. He sighed with frustration and leant against the door, peering in as Maanvi lay on the hospital bed. He couldn't look her, he turned away and hit is head against the wall. How did this happen? A few hours ago they were laughing and playing poker. Those moments felt as if they were a lifetime ago. As she lay on the bed fighting for her life, Virat slowly gathered himself and went back to her room. He sat on the chair beside and broke down. This was the first time he let himself go. Those tears and pain could no longer to housed.
Viren drove Jeevika to the hospital; she had not spoken a word since Maanvi was brought in. Silently she sat, thinking about all the moments she shared with Maanvi, from the good to the bad, from childhood to adulthood and to the pool of blood she witnessed today.
Viren decided to take her to see Maanvi, he guided her to Maanvi's room, where they saw Virat sitting by her side. With the help of Viren, she entered her room. She could not go near Maanvi, holding the edge of the wall as if to escape the nightmare. Viren tried to bring her forward but it was as if she was glued to that position.
Virat whispered in Viren's ear and they both stepped out leaving Maanvi and Jeevika alone. Virat took Viren to an empty room within hospital, confused to why he was brought here, Viren questioned him. Without finishing his question, Virat broke down in front of Viren. He explained what had happened and what state Maanvi was in, Virat could not get that image out of his head. Maanvi's inability to control her movements because of everything. Viren was shattered; he knew Maanvi was sick, but never to this extent. With everything that had happened, he still had hoped that Maanvi would beat this, but with this new information, he feared not only for Maanvi but for Jeevika as well.
He comforted his brother, and told him "All we can do is be there for her" Viren hugged his brother and wondered how he would break the news to Jeevika.
Coming up- The final part and a surprise.
I hope you all enjoyed this part, like I said it is depressing so I did give you fair warning. Any medical experts out there, you can pull a part the medical side of it, as I made it up and most likely don't have all my facts straight.
Part 7- page Eleven
