SS- Two tales- updated pg 48 18/1/14 - Page 4

Part 4

Viren paced up and down and carried on trying to get through to Maanvi, in all his frustration she wasn't picking up. He crashed down into a seat and all he could think about was Jeevika, and how they first met.

Four years ago:

It was the first day of university; the seminar hall was packed with newly graduated students, ready to start their postgraduate degree. One of the university employees was opening up the partitioning that ran through the room, as this lecture was for the entire cohort. There had to be 15 rows in each room with individual seats behind a bench. It was mid September, the weather was still summer like, Viren came wearing is striped Billabong shorts with a polo shirt. Removing his sunglasses, he sat down at the end of a row, in an open seat, roughly in the middle of the room. He places his headphones back in his ear and takes out a notepad, and pen, in that time a group of girls wanted to pass him to sit in the empty seats in the row. They left a seat gap between them. The room was almost packed now, there were about 20 open seats left, which were dotted throughout the room. Rushing in Jeevika scanned the room looking for any empty seat, she wandered up the aisle, when she noticed the one next to Viren. She excused herself so she could sit, however Viren simply moved up one seat. The lecturers were still setting up, they were never any good with technology. Viren removes his headphone and introduces himself to Jeevika.

"What did you do before?... I mean for your degree,"

"English and History in Nottingham, you?"

"Sport science, but here,"

Not before long, the lecturer had started, explaining the severity of the course and what it will entail. (Even though it was a long and hard year, they always made it sound worse) After an hour of them yammering on about professionalism, the lecture has finally finished. Jeevika picked up her bag and began putting her things away.

By the time Viren had put his things away, Jeevika has left. Dashing through the crowd, and down the stairs, he saw standing Jeevika outside the K building checking her phone.

"So, do you need a guide around campus?"

Viren took Jeevika to the Dolche Vita. That was the on campus cafe, the food and coffee there was 100 times better than the refectory. They sat on the decking, which looked out on the field and running track. The campus was actually quite small compared to her campus in Nottingham and it didn't take Viren long to show her round. After coffee, Viren walked Jeevika home as she lived a 15-minute walk from campus, they discussed their first-degree course, and how they ended up here. They even found out that they would be in many of the same classes and they even had a specialism subject in common. RE.

********

Viren was woken up out of his trance, as someone came up to him. He was covered in a bloody shirt, with an abrasion across his forehead. He continued to try Maanvi, it continued to vibrate on the counter, while Maanvi was across the room. He looked out into the darkness and thought about a particular night, in his life.

****

"Just leave me alone," Viren closed the door behind them as they entered her bedroom.

"Jeevika, I just wanted to see if you were alright," Viren walked towards her as she stepped to the side.

"I'm fine, actually ... What if I wasn't, would it matter. After all were not anything right. That's what you told, what her name. So if we are nothing then why have you followed me in her. Why didn't you leave with everyone else tonight?"

"Nothing? When? If you think we are nothing then why are you.."

"Me! This is my flat; you're the one doing what you want. Playing your juvenile games. Or maybe this is how mature you actually are,"

"Why do you think I am here," Jeevika couldn't answer, Viren came behind Jeevika and touched her down her side, she could feel the anguish and moved a part, "Why are we standing three feet away from each other, screaming at each other? Why do we even care what the other is doing? You yourself decided our fate, or do you not remember that night. Now you want to be annoyed for things I am doing. What gives you the right?" Jeevika inner mind started thinking, everything Viren said was true, she had decided not to start anything with him, three weeks ago, then why was she so anger. She looked down as Viren looked up at her, he placed both his hands round her face her began to kiss her, Jeevika didn't push him off but feed into it, rushing her hands through his hair. He brushed his hand down her back lifted her on the bed. She lay on the bed and he unravelled her tights before coming on top, where she ripped his shirt buttons open and threw it down.

**

Early the next day, Maanvi and Virat woke up with the freshest feeling. Everything seemed perfect, work was going well and their relationship had found its feet. As Virat popped into the shower, Maanvi picked up one of Virat's t-shirts again and get to get her phone from her purse. Its contents were spilt across his counter. She picked up her keys and cards, before looking at her phone. 37 missed calls. Immediately she put on a pair of trousers and left Virat's without leaving a note or message.

Rushing in, Maanvi inquired at the reception desk, with no information she started to panic, then she noticed Viren sitting in the waiting area. Maanvi bombarded him with a million questions, which he did couldn't answer. He stood there quietly as she continued to ask for those answers. She was completely distraught while Viren was simply broken.

Viren flashed backed to last night. He ran alongside the gurney that Jeevika had been brought in. As the paramedic and doctors carried went forward, Viren was stopped outside.

One nurse stepped out to speak to Viren, he questioned him about the night and if they had been drinking as they were aware of the amount of alcohol in Jeevika's system.

"Do you think I would get into a car, if I was drunk," outraged at the insinuation, Viren couldn't hold in his anger. He has seen Jeevika's body lay lifeless through the car window, he wouldn't have caused that.

Last night, while Jeevika and Viren were arguing in the car another car slammed into the back driver's side of the car at full speed. When Jeevika had asked Viren to stop the car, she had taken off her seatbelt. Due to the impact both Jeevika and Viren flew to the side. Viren called out for Jeevika tried to open his door but it was stuck. He tried pushing it with his shoulder suddenly it flung open. He fell out on the car and crawled towards Jeevika. He tried waking her up but he couldn't.

The doctors rushed her to surgery and from that point Viren did not know anything. A nurse approached Viren to inform him that Jeevika was being shifted and was now out of surgery. He informed them the door would soon come and see them.

Maanvi rushed to Jeevika's room. She stood at the edge of the room clutching onto the doorframe and looked at Jeevika laying on the bed. But it didn't look like Jeevika, not the one she knew. This Jeevika didn't have a tube going down her throat, she would wake up when Maanvi touched her, she head wasn't bandaged. She was never in a room that hummed and made faint noises into the distances. She wouldn't be attached to machines, checking every vital in her body. This wasn't Jeevika. This was someone else. Viren entered behind and released Maanvi from the doorframe. They guided each other to the bed.

Maanvi rested her head on Jeevika's bed, holding onto her hand. When the doctor came in. He collected the swirl chair from across the room and sat with Jeevika's chart in his hand.

"Her surgery was extensive but it was successful. She had many injuries and internal bleeding which we were able to handle and after much time, control. Can I ask how has her health been otherwise?"

Viren and Maanvi were confused over the doctors' question. They actually had more questions about her current state. Why did she have a tube helping her to breathe? When would she wake up?

Maanvi started to explain that Jeevika had been feeling unwell for some time, and that she had been losing quite a bit of weight recently. The doctor started to explain that due to Jeevika's injuries many blood tests and organ function tests were done. They found that, her kidney functions were not in the normal range and this was not due to the crash. It was an inherited disease. Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease. This is where many cysts have formed inside the kidney tracks and unfortunately it hasn't been diagnosed in time as in some people symptoms are very subtle. As in Jeevika's case. They have staged the kidney failure into stage four. This is where Jeevika will need daily dialysis and be put on the transplant list.

All this information was too much for Viren and Maanvi to take in. Last night they all had been enjoying themselves to now. How did everything changed? Every moment they spend with Jeevika flashed back to them. All those little things, those petty things that should have been let go. They found it strange how those things began insignificant now.

Dr Miles explained that he would go through all the options once Jeevika was awake. He checked her vitals and he and a nurse removed the tube as overall she was improving and it was time to do so. It wasn't long until Jeevika had woken up and had been given her prognoses.

Jeevika stayed in hospital for the next two weeks as she recovered from her surgery and miraculously she didn't have any complications from the accident. However, she did begin treatment.

*****

After visiting Jeevika, Maanvi headed back home, as she reached, Virat was waiting for her outside her door. She didn't want to deal with him, she hadn't spoken to him properly since that night. Virat entered anyway as she threw her keys into the side bowl.

Virat embraced her tightly, yet Maanvi didn't feel anything. He let go, she started to walk towards her room.

"Maanvi!" She stopped but was still facing away from him.

"Let me.."

"Do what Virat? Do what? What is there you can do? Can you change that night? Or was that a blessing in disguise, otherwise maybe Di would have never found out. Or neither would I? Di has to spend every day there, she will be discharged tomorrow but the following day she will be back. Until when? We get a call. Our lives are waiting for a phone call. I can't help my own sister as possess the same defective gene and one day I can end up the same. So what Virat, what do you want to do? Tell me it will be fine and work out. Comfort me?" Virat moves forward as Maanvi moves back with her hands out.

"I don't want comfort, I can't take that." She turned and left, leaving Virat standing in the doorway.

Part 5- page 8