English version
My dear dear readers! Thank you for patiently waiting for me to get back. Now that I've finally started on my one week vacation before my work starts again, and my back is better, I'm back to the wonderful world of Shantivan...
Thank you for all your kind words, "get-well soon" wishes and feedback...
Here comes the next part... And as a special repayment for your continuous love and support, I'll be posting an update on Thursday and Saturday as well... love ya!!
Please do let me know what you think...
Part 19
Pain...
Her body was aching all over, muscles she didn't know she had were pulled tight, every breath simply hurt...Fire...
Her face was on fire, every cell burning up, whatever was wound over her skin was pressing into the burn... ohh, how good it would've felt for a bit of cool air over her face...Noises...
Hushed voices murmuring around her, soft footsteps carefully making its way around her...And the smell
... a mix of medicine and disinfectant, and that unmistakable smell of human suffering...Pooja forced her eyes open, only to wince and shut it again at the sudden piercing light. Her eyes, kept away from light for days, could not take the assault of the clear white light of the tube in her ICU. Noticing the movement, the nurse on duty leaned close and seeing signs of wakefulness, quickly pressed the call-button for the orderly and instructed him to get the doctor.
Lost in the haze of semi-consciousness, Pooja tried to piece together what was happening around her. The bus... waiting by the roadside... the hotel... the faces of her attackers fading into darkness... and the red haze of pain that had shrouded her mind. Trying to get away from the images assaulting her, her forced her eyes open again, the blurry image of a man bending over her making her panic, sending her breath into erratic gasps.
Seeing the havoc her reaction was wreacking on her vital signs, the doctor backed off and rather than sedate her again, asked the nurse to send in Payal, hoping that the familiar face would help in calming her. Her fear subsiding as the stranger left her field of vision, Pooja closed her eyes again, trying hard to fight off the pain and focus on remembering what had happened to her. A cool hand on her forehead made her flutter her eyes open again. Looking up at the kind face smiling down at her warmly, she blinked, trying to remember where she had seen her before.
Smiling down at the battered face, trying to keep herself from weeping, Payal murmured, "Pooja, do you remember me? I'm Payal, Nandkishore's bhabi. We have met once, at the temple, in Delhi?"
Understanding dawning on her, Pooja's eyes widened, pleading with Payal frantically to tell her what had happened, where she was, unable to speak through her bandages. Correctly interpreting the fear in her eyes, Payal continued soothing her, "Shh... don't be scared. You're safe now, you're in a hospital. Do you remember what had happened, about you being attacked? But you're okay now, we're all here with you. Your father went home, he'll be back shortly. And your boss is also here, Nandkishore will be here soon too."
Relieved as she finally was able to find out where she was, Pooja nodded slightly, one half thankful to have a known face in front of her, but the other half of her mind confused as to why her boss and his sister-in-law where with her instead of her family. The medicines taking effect, she closed her eyes again, unaware that the doctor had returned and after checking on her, had smilingly reported the good news of her recovering health to Payal and Akash.
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Leaning against the wall, Akash dialled NK's number, and let him know of the improvement in Pooja's health, only to wince and hold the phone away from his ear at NK's exhuberant shout. Shaking his head, Akash laughed at his wife's look as she heard NK's voice floating out of his phone. "Haan, NK bhai. She's conscious. She's doing fine now. She's heavily sedated, so she's sleeping now. Don't rush."
The next call went to Delhi to update Arnav and Khushi, and he had barely finished the call and sat down next to Payal when a commotion at the end of the corridor drew his attention. Soon, the young couple were standing witness to a heartrending scene when Pooja's mother was brought in and informed of what had happened. Looking at the frail lady shuddering in her husband's arms, Payal could only be grateful that the news she was getting was that her daughter had been disfigured, not that she was dying.
"Masterji, our girl...", the hapless woman wailed, "What'll happen to her now? When will she be okay? Her face..."
And then, in a quiet voice, she voiced her biggest fear, "How will we get her treated? So much money..."
Walking forward, sending a reassuring smile at his wife, Akash came to a halt at their side. Pooja's father smiled at him tremulously and tried to introduce to his wife but the grief-stricken woman was lost in her own personal hell. With a quick nod at Diwakar Yadav for his permission, Akash put a gentle hand on her shoulder to get her attention and at her wondering look, took her hand in his. "Namaste, I'm Akash Singh Raizada hain. Pooja works in our company, under my cousin Nandkishore."
As the woman started crying again, he clasped her hand tightly and continued, "Aunty please don't worry. We're here since the day before yesterday, police had contacted us first. And we're seeing only improvement in Pooja's condition. The doctor has also said that she'll be fit and fine soon. And as our company's employee, her treatment is covered under her company health insurance. Wherever we have to go, Pooja's treatment will be taken care of by us. You only have to just be by Pooja's side."
NK, who was rushing in just then, stood mute witness to a woman, apparently his lakdi's mother weeping in gratitude in his cousin's arms, while her father stood with folded hands nearby, while his bhabi quietly wiped her brimming eyes. All sorts of terrible scenarios flipping through his sleep-deprived mind, he ran forward, his heart thundering.
Payal was the first one to spot NK's terrified face and went forward to meet him. "What's wrong, Nanheji? Why are you so worried?"
Grabbing her shoulders NK panted, "What happened here? Why is everyone crying? Is it Pooja? Is she okay? Answer me, Bhabi!"
Her face wreathed in a soft smile, she cupped his face, "Everything's fine, Nanheji. Don't worry. She's fine. Akash was just telling Pooja's mother that."
Watching her Dewar bend over sighing in relief, Payal turned around to smile at her husband and murmured, "She's fine..."
*********************
"Really, bitwa? Pooja's awake?", Naniji asked, a relieved smile blossoming on her face.
"Haan, Nani. She's awake now. Payal had even talked to her. And the doctor has said that we'll be able to bring her to Delhi soon, for her surgeries." Arnav replied, smiling over at his wife who was now held in a bone-crushing hug by hi sister.
"Hello-hi, bye-bye! Once NK babua's lakdi gets better, we'll have another wedding in this house! How naice!" Manorama clapped her hands loudly, making her younger son wince and then grin.
Looking at his brother, Dhruv asked, "When are you going, Bhaiyya, to bring her here? Do you need me to go this time?"
Before Arnav could reply, Khushi said, "Nahi, Dhruv. Nanheji will take care of it. Now that Pooja's parents are there, Jiji and Jeejaji will be coming back too. Nanheji will stay back to take care of the arrangements."
Smirking his trademark smirk, Arnav Singh Raizada thought, "My shrewd biwi, that's what you've told NK too. The idea's good, NK has a reason to stay back and impress his future in-laws!"
And just as she came up to his side, he leaned down to whisper in her ears, "I'm proud of you, Mrs. Khushi Kumari Gupta Singh Raizada!"
Udne Ki Aasha
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