Chapter 32: A realisation
Not proof read.
5 days later
'Di I want to go home.'
'You're being discharged in a few moments Mannu, don't worry.'
'No Di, I want to go home, America.'
'No,' his voice was definite.
'Maanvi, you're so sick. You can't go, not now,' Jeevika explained.
'I'd rather die than-'
'Shut. Up.' His fingers were on her lips immediately.
She pushed them away, 'I would rather die than live with him.'
Virat's heart sank, burned, ached, pained. She hated him, she really did. 'Maanvi,' he wiped away the strands of her from her face, resting his palm against her cheek. 'Maanvi please... '
'Don't touch me, don't touch me,' she warned.
'It's only me,' he whispered.
'No it's not. It's a murderer,' her voice had no expression to it, completely blunt.
His fingers fell from her cheek. Why didn't she understand what she meant to him? 'Maanvi I lov-'
'The formalities have been completed. Maanvi can be taken home now,' the nurse interrupted, walking through the door. 'Make sure you take care of her, she'll need it,' she said, looking at Virat.
'I know,' Virat replied, 'I will.' Maanvi looked away. Virat didn't care. He didn't care how hard it would be to make her realise how much he loved her. This was a matter of Maanvi, and he would do anything for her. The hardest part was that anything began with something, and the something he had to do was difficult but it was right. He got up off of the bed on which Maanvi was lying, pushed the hospital door open and went to find Priya.
'Maa, has Priya gone?'
'She's just about to leave, she's over there Virat.' Virat turned to look at Priya.
'Priya!' he called, just as she began to leave the hospital.
'Hey baby,' she exclaimed, heading in for a hug. 'How good is it that there are no hurdles in our relationship anymore? There's no baby and no more Maanvi!'
Virat stopped her. 'Priya, listen to me. I have to tell you something.' Virat took a deep breath. 'I can't do this anymore.'
'What?'
'Me and you. Priya, I don't love you. I'm sorry. I know this is horrible. I know I am horrible, but the last thing I want is a false and forced relationship developing between the two of us. You've been a great friend, and I thank you for that but I can't take this further. I don't love you, I can't love you.'
'It's Maanvi, isn't it? It was Maanvi all along.'
'Priya, trust me. If I knew earlier I wouldn't have dragged this relationship on so long. I didn't realise myself. I know it's hard to believe, but I really am sorry. I'm hoping you take this as a better late than never, and realise how much I regret the pain I have caused. If I can do anything to help you please let me know, it will help in making me feel better,' Virat explained, meaning every word.
'There is something you can do, Virat.'
'What? Tell me, Priya,' he encouraged.
'Kill Maanvi.'
'Priya! Don't you even dare! She's my wi-'
'She isn't saying anything wrong Virat. You've killed the child, you may as well kill me too,' Maanvi's voice came from behind him. She was all set to go, the family was beside her.
'Maanvi we need to get you home,' was all Virat could manage.
'Maybe you don't Virat, maybe instead you need to get me to heaven so I won't have to live in front of a murderer like you. Maybe you just need to realise that it's time you understand the difference between right and wrong,' Maanvi sternly responded.
Virat didn't reply. He simply looked down. He knew what to say, he just didn't want to. 'Maanvi, let's go,' he took her hand, she let go immediately.
'Chalo Di,' she took Jeevika's hand and left the hospital, leaving Virat empty handed. One by one, everyone left leaving Vanshikaa the only one with Virat.
'Virat, I'm proud of you beta,' she told him.
'Maa, maine theek kiya na maa?' he cried, helplessly.
'Bilkul theek kiya. Bilkul theek kiya,' she assured. And with this they both left the hospital.
***
It was night by the time they were home. An eerie silence echoed in the Vadhera house...anxiety, fear, love, misery, craving and loss all tossed into one. Virat watched as each second of time ticked by. 9.37pm...after much consideration and reconsideration and re-re-consideration, this was the time Virat had decided to go to Maanvi to give her medicine and try to convince her to let him sleep with her.
She was on the bed when he came in. She looked sick, yet ever so beautiful. 'Maanvi?' he whispered gently. 'Maanvi?' a little louder. She sat up, wiped her tired eyes that couldn't get any sleep without him. 'Davaayi,' he handed over the medicine to her.
'Di, di!' she called. Jeevika came in a few seconds later.
'Ha Mannu, kya hua?'
Maanvi took the medicine from Virat's hand. 'Yeh dava, kaunsi hai?'
Jeevika read off the description on the back. 'Wahi jo doctor ne diya tha, kyun?'
'Nahi, bass check kar rahi thi,' Maanvi explained.
'Virat ne diya hai tho theek hi hoga na Maanvi,' Jeevika replied.
'Koi guarantee nahi hai Di. Jo insaan apne khud ke bacha ko maar saktha hai usske liye main kya cheese hoon?'
'Mannu. Ayssi bathe kyu kar rahi hai tu? Ab chal apni ye bakwaas band kar aur chup chaap so jao Virat ke paas.'
'Virat ke paas?!' Maanvi cried.
'Mainney kaha na bakwaas band kar. Achi tharha patha hai mujhe ki tujhe usske bina neend nahi aathi. Ab chup chaap se so,' Jeevika tried to tuck Maanvi in.
'Di mein isske paas nahi songi,' Maanvi complained.
'Tujhey apni didi kassam,' Jeevika challenged.
'Di aap kyu karthi ho assey? Mujhe nahi mann hai,' Maanvi said pulling the pillow over her face and rolling over.
'Bhabhi, let it be. I'll leave,' Virat said, getting off the bed. Maanvi looked up at him with bewildered eyes' she couldn't believe he'd volunteered to leave.
'Virat par Mannu soygi kaisse?' Jeevika asked.
'Usskey davaya mein zada neend aane ki side effects hai bhabhi,' he explained. And without even looking back at her once, Virat left the room. An upset Jeevika, exited too leaving Maanvi by herself. Maanvi too her medicines and curled up on the bed. She didn't know when the tears began to fall ' she didn't realise when the pain of losing her daughter took over. How could she ease her pain...what was she to do?
Virat sat on the ground, head resting against the bed. Maanvi would be able to get to sleep, she had her medicines, but what was he going to do? How would sleep come for him? All he could think was that he had killed his child, what was he to do? How did he make her hate him any less? 'I'm sorry Maanvi' I'm so sorry.' It hurt him so much, it killed him. How was he to live the rest of his life with a burden like this on his shoulders?
In the late hours of the night Virat decided to go to Maanvi's room to check on her. Would she have fallen asleep yet? Virat cautiously opened the door of her room...she was asleep. He turned around to leave, but he visualised the expression he had just seen on her face. It was then when he realised that something was wrong, very wrong. He turned back to see her. Her entire body was tensed...she was curled up on the bed, sweat covering her face. 'Maanvi?' he called, concern ringing in his voice. He immediately was beside her. 'Maanvi?' He lay down next to her and took her in his arms. She instantaneously took a tight hold of his shirt. Her body was so cold, so tense. He rubbed her back ever so gently. 'Shhh, I'm here, I'm here.' She was having a nightmare, he could just tell. He stroked away the hair resting on her face and lovingly kissed her forehead. 'I've got you.' Slowly, her body relaxed against his. 'I love you,' he whispered, his voice tender and meaningful. 'I love you Maanvi.'
Edited by .Kriti. - 12 years ago
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