It all started with 300 rupees Thread 3 Ch. 29 - Page 60

It all started with 300 Rupees 29

Part A

Our Aashna – she heard that. And it stayed with her, saved somewhere in her ears, in her mind, in her heart. Ever since they had met on that very night of the award function, they had talked a LOT. About lots of things.

He had said a lot, she had said a lot.

They had discussed many things, from their past to their present.

From all the complains to all the justifications.

From their journey of pain to love.

From their separation to their union.

The unspoken words.

The spoken words.

The horrible secret.

The wonderful reason.

The apologies.

The desires.

The dependency.

The independence.

His life.

Her life.

Their life.

Their new life.

Everything.

But those two words Our Aashna clarified lots of things….

All the void.

All the questions.

All the confusions.

All the doubts.

All the hesitations.

All the uncertainties.

ALL her fears were cleared with those mere words Our Aashna.

Those two words said more than anything he had ever said everything put together since they had met again.

Her mind continued repeating it – Our Aashna.

Her heart continued cherishing it – Our Aashna.

They stood there in the middle of that hallway. Not knowing who was supporting who. Not knowing who needed who more. Not knowing who was embracing who. Not knowing who was happier. Not knowing who forgave who. Not knowing who understood who more. Not knowing who loved the other more.

Not knowing anything beyond the fact that they were there, for each other, with each other.

Now and forever.

A promise well understood without being said. A promise well defined without being explained. A promise well received without being given.

A promise without verbal any explanation.

A promise that was well hidden behind those two words said by him was more than crystal clear to her.

He meant it when he said Our Aashna.

And she knew he meant it.

He felt her body tightened around him, far more than it already was……

The silence was finally broken by her voice "I love you."

He heard her voice, her soft voice, so gentle, so soothing…….

He gently unleashed his clasped arms around her, to see her face, to see his Khushi…..

And he did, her face looked tired, though clearly content….

Her eyes were red but filled with hope……

He cupped her face, kissed her forehead and replied "I love you too Khushi!"

She saw his face, her husband. The man she had always loved. The man she had loved regardless of everything he had done to her. The man who was a changed man now. For the good. The man who had stood firm to his each and every word. The man who had once again proved that he was the only man for her. The man who was only hers. For now and forever. Her man. Her husband.

She smiled. Maybe the first time since that morning. A genuine one.

And she crashed on his chest again, not crying, just trying to hold him again…….

To never let go……..

Ever……..

He embraced her back, caressed her hair and whispered "are you okay Khushi?"

She replied, still resting her head on his chest "are you okay?"

Surprised to hear that, he made his hold on her tighter, making her aware of his feelings when he answered "as long as you are with me, I am always okay."

She recalled his words "where else would I be…..!"

For that one moment she had forgotten about her daughter's pain. Her daughter's condition. Her daughter's room. The beep. The bandage. The blood. The accident.

All she remembered was that he was with her, and with her daughter, whole heartedly.

She had just started to imagine their lives together, herself, Aashna, and him when she was disturbed by a voice…..

"Khushi?"

Her eyes opened, so did her ears, hearing those irritating beeping sound again….

She moved back and turned to see the voice…..

It was Naina. "Khushi, the doctor is looking for you."

She didn't know for how long they were in that hallway talking, consoling, supporting each other but it seemed like forever.

Those minutes spend with her husband were so comforting that she had forgotten everything else.

The doctor, the damn nurse and also the reason why she was there.

And there she was again, brought back to reality by Naina's voice.

Before she panicked again hearing that the doctor was looking for her, she felt his firm grasp on her hand, giving her the strength that she needed at that very moment.

She turned to see him, he was there, as he had promised.

He said "come, let's go." And they both walked towards Aashna's room to talk to the doctor, not realizing who was dreading this conversation more.

She entered the room again, so did the knot in her stomach.

The doctor walked towards her and said "your daughter is responding pretty well, she should be stable by the morning. You shouldn't stress yourself. She should be fine."

She relaxed her tired body on his body, holding his left arm, without saying anything.

He thanked the doctor on her behalf, rather, their behalf.

He held her hand and brought her back on that couch and spoke "you should rest, the nurse brought food for you earlier. Did you eat?"

Before she could answer, Naina replied "no she didn't, just when the nurse brought the food I told her that you were outside and you know…….the rest……"

Before he ordered food for Khushi, he looked up to ask Naina and asked "did you eat anything?" Quite surprised by his question, she nodded 'no'.

He called and ordered dinner for everyone…..

He then noticed Khushi how she was staring at Aashna, or the wires, or the monitor, or that purple teddy bear, or something in that direction. He sat right next to her and said "she will be fine, the doctor did say she was responding well. Don't worry."

She didn't say anything. She just closed her eyes and leaned back to rest her head.

Part B Continues….

It all started with 300 Rupees 29

Part B

He got up and said "I will be right back." And he left the room leaving the three of them alone, or together.

The staff came with food for everyone. Khushi still stayed in the same position when she heard Naina's voice "Khushi, dinner is here, you should eat."

She opened her eyes, looked around and said "where is he?"

Naina replied "he said he will be right back…….he told you before he left…….he should be back soon…..."

"Oh", that's all she said and then she gave Naina her dinner plate and asked her to eat.

She started walking towards the door to find him when the door opened and he walked in, he saw her walk when he asked her in concerned voice "why are you walking around? I told you to sit down and relax, let's go eat dinner."

He held her hand and walked her to the couch again and asked her to eat.

She had her dinner without arguing about it. So did he.

He handed her glass of water with a pill and said "take this, the nurse had brought this for you when you had fainted, take it……." Hoping she wouldn't reject it…..

She took it without questioning it. He placed a pillow on the couch and laid her down and said "try to relax."

Either she was too tired, or she was too nervous, or just too satisfied, whatever that she was feeling at that moment, she just did what he told her to without arguing over it.

She had let him take over, her, this situation, everything.

And she closed her eyes with his image blurring away.

He watched her closely falling asleep, deeper by the passing second. He covered her with a spare blanket and saw her peaceful face.

He looked up to see Naina and said "you can go home and rest, I will be here, you must be tired too."

She asked him "did you give her a sleeping pill?"

Surprised to hear that, he turned to see sleeping Khushi and then back at Naina and confessed "yes."

She asked "why? Does she know?" He answered "no."

She asked again "why?" He answered "she needs to sleep, she is exhausted, physically and mentally. If I had told her, she would have refused. She needs to rest but don't worry, I will be right here……you can go home and rest as well."

She replied "that's fine, I am not tired, I can stay here…….if you don't mind."

He spoke "I don't mind you staying here but you should go home and rest. I will call you if something comes up."

She replied "okay, but please call me……for anything…….I don't think she will up before morning……please don't hesitate to call me. I……know…….call me for Aashna……."

He gave her reassuring look and said "I will, let me call the driver, he will drop you off."

"No, that's fine, I can manage." Replied Naina.

"No, I can't let you go alone, it's pretty late, just wait……"

Another few minutes, she picked up stuff and thanked him and she left the room.

It was just three of them in that nerve wrecking room. His wife, their daughter and him.

He walked towards Khushi, kneeled down to see her face, she was sleeping peacefully. He was glad she took the pill without arguing or questioning anything. He couldn't help but kiss her closed eyes, one by one……

He caressed her face, cleaning any remains of her tears and whispered "Khushi……"

More to himself than her…….

He took her hand and held it between his both hands, very tight and then let it go……..

He walked outside as fast as he could holding all the erupting feelings inside his mind, his body, his heart……..

His eyes……

Everything changed today.

It was one thing to console her for their loss. How was he going to convince himself? How was he going to explain him that whatever happened was fine? Whatever happened was in the past. Whatever happened was okay. How?

They lost their baby. Their baby.

He had a very profound and personal relation with the term 'loss' from an early age of his life.

From losing his parents at such young age, then losing his love of his life, his wife and now losing his baby.

No matter how much he wanted to fix the past, it was unfixable. How he wished if he had ignored that letter written by her…….

Life would have been different right now. They wouldn't have wasted these many years without each other. They would still have their baby.

He tried to control his emotion but it became almost impossible for him to fight his pain and it emerged out of his eyes, flowing liberally without his permission.

But he let it flow. All of it. He wanted to feel that pain, the pain she had gone through alone. The pain of their loss. The pain which could have been caused because of him. The pain that could have prevented if it wasn't for him. The pain which she holds herself responsible for. The pain which changed her so much. The pain that was his as well. The pain……..

A sound interrupted his remorse. He quickly wiped his face and turned to see what the sound was and he was surprised to see Naina.

She maintained that distance and replied "I had forgotten my phone here……..I just came back to get it……I am leaving now……."

He just nodded while still standing by the wall, leaning a bit…….

He had no idea when she came back, when she entered that room and if she saw him like that or not……

She turned around to leave……

But she stopped……..

Turned back around and walked towards him……..

She placed her hand on his shoulder, showing her support when she said "I am sorry for everything…….I am sure everything will fall into place now that you guys are together again……..she loves you a lot."

That's all she said and quietly left.

He watched her leave. Just like that. Though it was something very simple she told him, something he already knew, but suddenly it gave him strength.

He opened that door and walked in, not towards Khushi but towards Aashna.

He got close to her bed, she was quietly laying on that hospital bed, still hooked to enough wires.

He still couldn't see her face clearly. But he wanted to. He wanted to see that person who gave Khushi a reason to live. He wanted to see that child who gave Khushi her happiness back. He wanted to see that soul for whom Khushi was willingly ready to sacrifice her own happiness.

Part C Continues…….

It all started with 300 Rupees 29

Part C

He raised his arm to touch her tiny hands……

But he stopped himself……

Not because he didn't want to comfort that little angel in pain…….

But because he was afraid……..

Too afraid to touch something that fragile……..

He quietly stood there, just watching her……..

After standing there for long enough, he decided to walk back to the couch and sat down while watching Khushi slumber.

Even though both of them were sleeping, for different reasons, he still felt quite positive for tomorrow.

And he closed his eyes that contained hope and nothing else.

******

He was woken up by some sound, he quickly opened his eyes to see what was going on……

The doctor was already in the room with two nurses……

He got up and walked to the doctor and asked what's going on…..

The doctor replied "she is moving a bit, she should be up anytime soon, it has been five minutes already, hopefully she won't take that long……..if anything, she should have opened her eyes already……..but…..let's just wait and see for another few minutes……"

"Aashna" everyone heard that loud scream and all the heads turned to see the voice……

Without wasting a second, he ran to Khushi and held her panting self……

Before he could say anything, she asked "is she okay? What's going on? Is she fine?"

And without even waiting for his answer, she got off that couch and walked towards her bed, ignoring all the nurses and the doctor, she rubbed her daughter's hand and kissed it and said "Aashna, please wake up, please……"

Before the doctor could inform Khushi about her progress, she opened her eyes, slightly………

She quickly turned to see him, walked to him, fast, and hugged him tight and said "she is fine, my daughter is fine, our daughter is fine, she is up…….she is up…….."

He kissed her hair and replied "she had to be up, who can refuse you……"

They both walked to the bed, together……

The doctor took off her mask, finally……

And he saw her…….

She was an angel…….

An angel who helped Khushi in her life……

An angel who did what he was supposed to be doing…….

An angel who helped her recover from all her pain…….

She looked around with her tired eyes and he heard her voice for the first time "mamma……"

Khushi released his hand in an instant and walked towards her, cupped her face carefully and said "Aashna……."

He stood exactly where she left him…….

For her……..

And saw both of them……..

Khushi was a mother……….

His Khushi……..

She was actually a mother…….

To this little angel……..

Her Mamma…….

This was a divine moment for him……..

A feeling he couldn't get enough of……..

A feeling that he had never felt before………

A feeling that he had never imagined before……..

A feeling that was so new……

A feeling that was so wonderful……

A feeling that was so unexplainable……

A feeling that was his……..

A feeling that was for his family……..

A feeling that was theirs……..

A feeling that was above all…….

That feeling of unconditional love between a mother and her child……

Not united by blood……

Not united by womb……

Not united by any cord……

But

United by heart…….

United by humanity…….

United by love…….

Khushi and Aashna, his family……….

He had never seen something more divine, yet so real…….

To be continued…….

Readers: Before you tell me that this was a short update, let me clarify. I was planning on writing something else, something more, but to get to what I was actually planning on writing, I had to write this chapter, which was needed, according to me. I know I am updating this one after a long time and it's not as long as you guys were probably expecting, but I promise I will NOT take this long to update the next one since I myself am dying to write the next chapter.

PLUS – the next one will be Chapter 30 – so I promise I will write something BIG.

Now – please LIKE and write something for this short update. :)

Thanks

-KC