Posted:
PART 15:
Angad spent the night in the surgical ICU, keeping a keen eye on Prateek.
"Sister….yadi Prateek jaag jaaye, tho muhje bataa dena" he told the nurse as he settled down with his laptop to finish some work.
In a short while, a nurse informed him that Prateek was awake and throwing a fit…" sir….thodi morphine aur dein usse?" (morphine is used post operatively to help with pain and calm patients down)
"Nahin…let me see what is going on" Angad got up to go to Prateek's bed
He sat down on his bed and put his hand on his bandaged head…"beta….kya hua?…kahin dard ho raha hai…?" he asked affectionately
"NAHIN….MUJHE MAMA CHAHIYE….AUR NISHU PAPA…" he cried loudly. Angad lifted him and place him on his lap so his head and body could rest on his chest. The monitors connected to Prateek started beeping as Angad moved him…beep…beep.
A nurse ran to his bed.."OH…sir aap hain?….yeh monitor disconnect ho gaya hoga…." She tried to re connect the leads.
"Rehney do sister….I can feel his heartbeat and breathing…..he is alright…..don't connect the monitors….he doesn't need them…" Prateek's little heart was beating fast through Angad's shirt. Angad held him closely and calmed him with his gentle touch and soothing words. Prateek was barely sobbing now as he hugged Angad tightly and fell asleep. Angad also fell asleep as he held his son…..they both slept all night like babies….the sounds of the loud monitors and beeps in the ICU could not disturb them…..Angad had never felt this comfort before…prateek was not missing Kripa or his Nishu papa any more……
The nurses and ICU staff were puzzled and surprised, "hamare Dr khanna ko kya ho gaya hai….? Aisa tho unhey kisi patient ke saath nahin dekha…"
One of the nurses had recognized Kripa earlier. She used to work on the surgical floor a few years ago and still remembered the days when she had seen Angad and Kripa's love story blossom on the surgical floor, almost seven years ago. She smiled to herself as she understood what was going on, she had tears in her eyes……
Kripa was back at the hospital early in the morning. She found Prateek sitting up and talking to Angad.
"Achha, doctor uncle….aap basketball kheltey hain? Mere Nishu papa mere saath hamesha kheltey the…."
"Haan…zaroor…balki main apne school ki basketball team ka captain tha…"
"Aap mere saath khelengey basketball?"
"Bilkul…aap bas theek ho jaayo, in fact aap ke liye main basketball yahin le aaoonga…." He had an idea!
"Hello, Prateek" she came and gave him a hug. She was surprised to see an unshaven and sleepy looking Angad at the bedside, his hair all messy as if he had just gotten up.
"Angad…tum raat ko…..yahin the?"
"Haan…wo koyi emergency ho gayi thi ICU mein….I had to stay back…but don't worry, Prateek is fine." He lied and tried to re assure her about Prateek.
He got up and said, "kal…you and I will play a special basketball game" , he gave Prateek a high-five and mischievously looked at Kripa, "Kahin maa pe height chali gayi tho…basketball kaise khelegaa bechaara….baap pe gayi…tho achha hai" he winked and walked off. Kripa was stunned at his last comment and looked at him as he walked out of the ICU, "kya …matlab……" she could barely say.
Angad walked into his office to get his belongings. He saw an envelope addressed to him from the lab. "Itni jaldi aa gayi report…" he unsealed the report and was not surprised to see, "perfect DNA match between sample A and B": his heart always knew that, now his mind was convinced too!
He smiled, picked his bag and walked towards the elevator, whistling to himself. The staff riding with him were surprised as Dr Khanna was always "Dr serious" as they called him. "inhe kya hua hai" they all questioned.
As he was leaving the elevator, he saw Harshini walking towards her office.
"Harshini!" he ran after her, "I need to talk to you"
Harshini was surprised to see Angad, who was always Clean and well groomed, looking so shaggy…unshaven, uncombed hair.
"Bistar se seedhe hospital aaye ho?" Harshini laughed as she unlocked her office.
"Kuch aisa hi samjho….I need to talk to you NOW!"
"OK..OK andar tho chalo…."
"Harshini….tumney mujhey itney saal yeh kyon nahin bataaya ki mera ek beta hai…"
Harshini lowered her eyes, "tumhey kissney kaha…?"
"That is not important ki mujhe kaise pata chala…achcha yeh batao….Kripa 6 saal pehle Institute chhod ke kyon gayi thi…" he was holding her shoulders and shaking them.
"I can't say anything…I have been sworn into secrecy by Kripa….haan itna zaroor bata sakthi hoon ki it was not the reason we were all made to believe…you know kripa….there was no reason for her to resort to something that cheap to get good grades….I can't say anymore."
"That is enough for me….." said Angad as he turned around to leave
"Ek aur baat Angad…..Nishant bhaiyya aur Kripa ki shaadi ek samjhauta tha…for Prateek's sake….Kripa was very clear with him….I don't think she has ever loved or will ever love anyone else but you….Angad" she said as her voice cracked.
Angad came close to harshini, "Harshini, kripa is very lucky to have a friend like you……" he hugged her and wiped his tears.
"I think I am the lucky one…..Kripa jaisi ladki maine aaj tak nahin dekhi…..anyways…I have said enough…Kripa maar dale gi mujhe…." Harshini tried to smile through her tears.
"Main dekh loonga usse….kaise maarti hai tumhey…" Angad smiled back and left her office. He had not been this happy in years. "Kripa theek kehthi thi….jo hota hai…achha hota hai….yadi Prateek ke brain tumor nahin hota….tho main apney bete se kaise milta…Kripa sey phir kaise milta…??" he whistled all the way home.
Angad came home to find Mishti talking to someone, "Chintu…aur Monu…idhar aao….chalo homework karo.." she was talking to her imaginary kids. Angad felt sorry for her whenever he saw her like that. The first few years after their marriage, Angad would get upset with her imaginary behavior but now he had learnt to ignore it and take it in stride. He had accepted Mishti the way she was; it was his duty to take care of her and he would make sure he would do that till he lived. He had learnt never to mention the word, "kripa" in front of Mishti- the very mention of her name would often trigger a major psychotic relapse which could make Mishti very aggressive or even suicidal!
"Mishti, mere saath shopping chalogi….Chintu aur Monu le liye toys lekar aathey hain…"
"Angad tum!" she hugged him as he walked in, "haan chalo….main tayyar hoon"
"OK main shower lekar aata hoon, phir chalengey"
They drove to an electronic toy store. Angad purchased a video game console with some games. "Oh, basketball? Chintu tho football kheltaa hai…." Mishti protested when she saw the shopping cart.
"OK…aisa kartey hain, basketball aur football dono le lete hain…." Angad had learnt not to argue with her.
He decided to stay back with Mishti till lunchtime as he had no surgeries scheduled that morning. He made sure she ate properly and took her medicines before he left for the hospital. Angad had learnt to treat Mishti like his child, he tucked her in bed, kissed her forehead and left with the shopping bags.
AT THE HOSPITAL:
Prateek had been transferred back to the regular floor. Angad walked into his room and saw kripa trying to walk Prateek to the bathroom.
"Mama, mujhse nahin chalaa jaata….." Prateek started crying.
Angad put the bags down, "Kripa, abhi uske pairon mein kuch din weakness rahe gi….don't worry" he came forward and carried Prateek in his arms to the bathroom. He helped him go to the bathroom and cleaned up after him. Kripa was stunned to see how comfortable Prateek was with Angad.
Angad carried him back to his bed and said, "buddy, are you ready to play basketball?"
Prateek's eyes lit up as Angad set up the video game console in front of the TV.
"Angad…yeh sab kya hai..?"
"I always keep my promises kripa…." He soon realized that statement hurt Kripa's feelings as she tried to read his underlying message.
"sorry…mera matlab yeh nahin tha….I had promised Prateek, he will be able to play basketball….."
Angad sat down next to Prateek and gave him one game control and kept the other one in his hand. They both started playing and shooting basketballs, oblivious of the fact that Kripa stood there with her face to the window trying to control her tears.
Angad looked up and saw her reflection in the glass window, he felt sorry for what he had said.
A nurse came in and saw Angad playing with Prateek, "Dr khanna…aap tho bachchon ke saath bahut achcha khelte hain….aapke apne bachchey bhi nahin hain…..tab bhi…."
Kripa was shocked to hear the last statement as she still remembered their conversation from last night when Angad told her he had one son.
As the nurse left, angad said, "tumney mere bete kaa naam nahin pooncha tha kal…" He walked towards her as Prateek kept shooting baskets with his controller.
Kripa looked at him with a lot of questions.
"Haan…mujhe Prateek ke bare mein sab pataa hai…." Angad said
"Harshini?" Kripa got upset
"Nahin….ussney kuch nahin kaha…pehely mujhey shaq tha, phir kal raat ICU mein Prateek ke saath ek raat bitaaney ke baad yakeen ho gaya aur phir apne dimaag ki shanti ke liye…." He took the lab report out from his pocket and showed it to Kripa.
Kripa had nothing to say, she looked ashamed for keeping such a big secret from him.
"main nahin jaanta tumhaari kya majboori thi….par ab mujhe apney bachche ki zindagi se mat nikaalna jaise tumney mujhe….." he turned around to hide his tears and then walked off…..
…..to be continued…..
Angad spent the night in the surgical ICU, keeping a keen eye on Prateek.
"Sister….yadi Prateek jaag jaaye, tho muhje bataa dena" he told the nurse as he settled down with his laptop to finish some work.
In a short while, a nurse informed him that Prateek was awake and throwing a fit…" sir….thodi morphine aur dein usse?" (morphine is used post operatively to help with pain and calm patients down)
"Nahin…let me see what is going on" Angad got up to go to Prateek's bed
He sat down on his bed and put his hand on his bandaged head…"beta….kya hua?…kahin dard ho raha hai…?" he asked affectionately
"NAHIN….MUJHE MAMA CHAHIYE….AUR NISHU PAPA…" he cried loudly. Angad lifted him and place him on his lap so his head and body could rest on his chest. The monitors connected to Prateek started beeping as Angad moved him…beep…beep.
A nurse ran to his bed.."OH…sir aap hain?….yeh monitor disconnect ho gaya hoga…." She tried to re connect the leads.
"Rehney do sister….I can feel his heartbeat and breathing…..he is alright…..don't connect the monitors….he doesn't need them…" Prateek's little heart was beating fast through Angad's shirt. Angad held him closely and calmed him with his gentle touch and soothing words. Prateek was barely sobbing now as he hugged Angad tightly and fell asleep. Angad also fell asleep as he held his son…..they both slept all night like babies….the sounds of the loud monitors and beeps in the ICU could not disturb them…..Angad had never felt this comfort before…prateek was not missing Kripa or his Nishu papa any more……
The nurses and ICU staff were puzzled and surprised, "hamare Dr khanna ko kya ho gaya hai….? Aisa tho unhey kisi patient ke saath nahin dekha…"
One of the nurses had recognized Kripa earlier. She used to work on the surgical floor a few years ago and still remembered the days when she had seen Angad and Kripa's love story blossom on the surgical floor, almost seven years ago. She smiled to herself as she understood what was going on, she had tears in her eyes……
Kripa was back at the hospital early in the morning. She found Prateek sitting up and talking to Angad.
"Achha, doctor uncle….aap basketball kheltey hain? Mere Nishu papa mere saath hamesha kheltey the…."
"Haan…zaroor…balki main apne school ki basketball team ka captain tha…"
"Aap mere saath khelengey basketball?"
"Bilkul…aap bas theek ho jaayo, in fact aap ke liye main basketball yahin le aaoonga…." He had an idea!
"Hello, Prateek" she came and gave him a hug. She was surprised to see an unshaven and sleepy looking Angad at the bedside, his hair all messy as if he had just gotten up.
"Angad…tum raat ko…..yahin the?"
"Haan…wo koyi emergency ho gayi thi ICU mein….I had to stay back…but don't worry, Prateek is fine." He lied and tried to re assure her about Prateek.
He got up and said, "kal…you and I will play a special basketball game" , he gave Prateek a high-five and mischievously looked at Kripa, "Kahin maa pe height chali gayi tho…basketball kaise khelegaa bechaara….baap pe gayi…tho achha hai" he winked and walked off. Kripa was stunned at his last comment and looked at him as he walked out of the ICU, "kya …matlab……" she could barely say.
Angad walked into his office to get his belongings. He saw an envelope addressed to him from the lab. "Itni jaldi aa gayi report…" he unsealed the report and was not surprised to see, "perfect DNA match between sample A and B": his heart always knew that, now his mind was convinced too!
He smiled, picked his bag and walked towards the elevator, whistling to himself. The staff riding with him were surprised as Dr Khanna was always "Dr serious" as they called him. "inhe kya hua hai" they all questioned.
As he was leaving the elevator, he saw Harshini walking towards her office.
"Harshini!" he ran after her, "I need to talk to you"
Harshini was surprised to see Angad, who was always Clean and well groomed, looking so shaggy…unshaven, uncombed hair.
"Bistar se seedhe hospital aaye ho?" Harshini laughed as she unlocked her office.
"Kuch aisa hi samjho….I need to talk to you NOW!"
"OK..OK andar tho chalo…."
"Harshini….tumney mujhey itney saal yeh kyon nahin bataaya ki mera ek beta hai…"
Harshini lowered her eyes, "tumhey kissney kaha…?"
"That is not important ki mujhe kaise pata chala…achcha yeh batao….Kripa 6 saal pehle Institute chhod ke kyon gayi thi…" he was holding her shoulders and shaking them.
"I can't say anything…I have been sworn into secrecy by Kripa….haan itna zaroor bata sakthi hoon ki it was not the reason we were all made to believe…you know kripa….there was no reason for her to resort to something that cheap to get good grades….I can't say anymore."
"That is enough for me….." said Angad as he turned around to leave
"Ek aur baat Angad…..Nishant bhaiyya aur Kripa ki shaadi ek samjhauta tha…for Prateek's sake….Kripa was very clear with him….I don't think she has ever loved or will ever love anyone else but you….Angad" she said as her voice cracked.
Angad came close to harshini, "Harshini, kripa is very lucky to have a friend like you……" he hugged her and wiped his tears.
"I think I am the lucky one…..Kripa jaisi ladki maine aaj tak nahin dekhi…..anyways…I have said enough…Kripa maar dale gi mujhe…." Harshini tried to smile through her tears.
"Main dekh loonga usse….kaise maarti hai tumhey…" Angad smiled back and left her office. He had not been this happy in years. "Kripa theek kehthi thi….jo hota hai…achha hota hai….yadi Prateek ke brain tumor nahin hota….tho main apney bete se kaise milta…Kripa sey phir kaise milta…??" he whistled all the way home.
Angad came home to find Mishti talking to someone, "Chintu…aur Monu…idhar aao….chalo homework karo.." she was talking to her imaginary kids. Angad felt sorry for her whenever he saw her like that. The first few years after their marriage, Angad would get upset with her imaginary behavior but now he had learnt to ignore it and take it in stride. He had accepted Mishti the way she was; it was his duty to take care of her and he would make sure he would do that till he lived. He had learnt never to mention the word, "kripa" in front of Mishti- the very mention of her name would often trigger a major psychotic relapse which could make Mishti very aggressive or even suicidal!
"Mishti, mere saath shopping chalogi….Chintu aur Monu le liye toys lekar aathey hain…"
"Angad tum!" she hugged him as he walked in, "haan chalo….main tayyar hoon"
"OK main shower lekar aata hoon, phir chalengey"
They drove to an electronic toy store. Angad purchased a video game console with some games. "Oh, basketball? Chintu tho football kheltaa hai…." Mishti protested when she saw the shopping cart.
"OK…aisa kartey hain, basketball aur football dono le lete hain…." Angad had learnt not to argue with her.
He decided to stay back with Mishti till lunchtime as he had no surgeries scheduled that morning. He made sure she ate properly and took her medicines before he left for the hospital. Angad had learnt to treat Mishti like his child, he tucked her in bed, kissed her forehead and left with the shopping bags.
AT THE HOSPITAL:
Prateek had been transferred back to the regular floor. Angad walked into his room and saw kripa trying to walk Prateek to the bathroom.
"Mama, mujhse nahin chalaa jaata….." Prateek started crying.
Angad put the bags down, "Kripa, abhi uske pairon mein kuch din weakness rahe gi….don't worry" he came forward and carried Prateek in his arms to the bathroom. He helped him go to the bathroom and cleaned up after him. Kripa was stunned to see how comfortable Prateek was with Angad.
Angad carried him back to his bed and said, "buddy, are you ready to play basketball?"
Prateek's eyes lit up as Angad set up the video game console in front of the TV.
"Angad…yeh sab kya hai..?"
"I always keep my promises kripa…." He soon realized that statement hurt Kripa's feelings as she tried to read his underlying message.
"sorry…mera matlab yeh nahin tha….I had promised Prateek, he will be able to play basketball….."
Angad sat down next to Prateek and gave him one game control and kept the other one in his hand. They both started playing and shooting basketballs, oblivious of the fact that Kripa stood there with her face to the window trying to control her tears.
Angad looked up and saw her reflection in the glass window, he felt sorry for what he had said.
A nurse came in and saw Angad playing with Prateek, "Dr khanna…aap tho bachchon ke saath bahut achcha khelte hain….aapke apne bachchey bhi nahin hain…..tab bhi…."
Kripa was shocked to hear the last statement as she still remembered their conversation from last night when Angad told her he had one son.
As the nurse left, angad said, "tumney mere bete kaa naam nahin pooncha tha kal…" He walked towards her as Prateek kept shooting baskets with his controller.
Kripa looked at him with a lot of questions.
"Haan…mujhe Prateek ke bare mein sab pataa hai…." Angad said
"Harshini?" Kripa got upset
"Nahin….ussney kuch nahin kaha…pehely mujhey shaq tha, phir kal raat ICU mein Prateek ke saath ek raat bitaaney ke baad yakeen ho gaya aur phir apne dimaag ki shanti ke liye…." He took the lab report out from his pocket and showed it to Kripa.
Kripa had nothing to say, she looked ashamed for keeping such a big secret from him.
"main nahin jaanta tumhaari kya majboori thi….par ab mujhe apney bachche ki zindagi se mat nikaalna jaise tumney mujhe….." he turned around to hide his tears and then walked off…..
…..to be continued…..
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
