My Redemption- AkshAnSS (Part 7 Pg18 Updtd 15 Dec) *COMPLETED* - Page 4

Part 3

The next day as Akshat opened his eyes, his brain could finally register his surroundings. It did feel a bit dizzy but he was up for good. As he tried to sit up, a stinging pain shot through his abdomen causing a wince to escape from between his lips, which alerted the nurse and she rushed to his aid. Once seated, nurse hurried out to inform the doctor and AJ's family, while AJ pressed his head hard trying to recollect how he had gotten here. And soon, hazy images started pouring in ranging from his family getting kidnapped to him being thrashed in the head from behind. Rest was quite a blur probably because he was hit on the head.

As the gate opened, AJ looked up to see his mother staring at him teary eyed. How long was he out?

Dadi rushed to her lalla and hugging him, cried to her heart's content while AJ smiled and consoled her. As he wiped his mother's tears, AJ looked at his family with a relieved look on their faces.

"Kishore, aaj date kya hai? AJ enquired.

"13 papa.. Kishore replied and AJ realized that he had been out for almost 4 days.

"Thank god ki aap theek hai.. Vardaan sighed in relief and hugged AJ. The other two sons also joined and AJ patted their backs in assurance.

"Main doctor se discharge ki baat kar leta hu.. Kishore spoke to which AJ nodded and Kishore and Vardaan left.

"AJ, hum sab aapko swasth dekh kar bahot khush hai.. Durga spoke on behalf of her juniors too, in response to which AJ nodded in acknowledgement.

As an uninvited sneeze sneaked up AJ's nose, he suppressed his sneeze by bringing his palms to his nose. As he removed them, AJ looked at his right hand and suddenly some blurry flashes poured in front of his eyes. Closing his eyes, he tried to connect the dots together.

A soft hand held his hand and tears traced his knuckles followed by a feathery light touch. As a hazy figure started appearing, slender fingers traced his cheeks in affection and a sharp voice reached his ears. AJ ko hosh aa gaya...

AJ opened his eyes troubled. Guddan.

He looked around the room but failed to find the subject of his confusion.

"Guddan kahan hai? He asked to no one in particular.

Turning to his mother for answer, his mother refused to look him in the eyes while she fumbled for words.

Why was his mother behaving weirdly. Was Guddan Ok?!

As he was about to voice his concern out, Durga beat him to it. "Vo apne ghar gayi hai... Durga lied without batting an eyelash. Saru and Lakshmi looked at Durga stumped. How gracefully she had lied!!

AJ continued to scrutinize Durga, who looked away unable to take his prying eyes.

Ho hi nhi sakta. He was here in hospital battling for his life. She should be here, by his side. AJ refused to believe the outright lie spoken to his face. She was there by his side when he had briefly floated into consciousness, a day ago. He could finally remember her teary face, that relieved smile and how horrible she had looked. He could still feel the desperation in the fleeting kiss at the back of his hand and the care in that calming touch of her fingers.

But AJ didn't cross question Durga. Maybe Guddan will come later. And so AJ waited. Everytime, the door creaked open, he would look up expecting to see her face but only disappointment greeted him. Guddan didn't come even once...' AJ thought, almost forlorn.

On the other side, Guddan was at the Krishna temple thanking Lord Krishna for sparing his life. The minute she had received news of him waking up for good, a never ending stream of tears filled with relief had left her eyes. He was Ok. He was alive. Bhagwan ne uske vishwaas ka maan rakh liya tha. Uska sindoor, uska suhaag salamat hai.

"Aap soch rahe honge na AJ ki kesi thankless ladki hai, dekhne bhi nhi aayi... Guddan whispered, "Dil ne bahot kaha ki ek baar, bas ek baar aapko dekh loon par dimaag ne dil ki ek naa suni. Dil se liya har faisla aap par bhari hi pada hai toh aaj maine apne nadaan dil ko chup hi kara diya aur samjha diya ki aapke aage kuch nhi..kuch bhi nhi..

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As Kishore helped AJ into his room, his eyes widened. Removing his arm off Kishore's shoulders, AJ looked around the room in disbelief. He had turned to his bahus questioningly but their stumped faces had cemented his doubts.

It was all Guddan. His entire room was beaming like a lighthouse and all sort of bouquets were sprawled across his room. She was here! She knew he was coming back! She knew it all!

Kuch toh hai jo mujhe nhi pata', AJ thought and turned his attention to the his eldest daughter-in-law.

"Guddan kahan hai!? AJ asked in a voice that left no room for lies.

Durga remained mum. AJ looked at others for his answer but everyone downcast their eyes.

Why were they not replying? Where is Guddan?!

"Mere sawaal ka jawab dijiyee!!Kahan hai aap teeno ki saas aur meri patni? Where is she?! He spoke menacingly.

"Ye kya bolenge lalla, main batati hu.. Dadi stepped forward as AJ looked at her confused.

And thus she narrated the entire incident of how she was blamed for his situation and how she was pushed out of the hospital.

"Aakhiri baar vo jab aai thi, tab tujhe halka sa hosh aaya tha...uske baad se vo kahan hai, mujhe nhi pata.. Dadi completed.

AJ turned to his children, furious. But he understood it. Shayad uss situation mein uska bhi yahi reaction hota.

Picking his phone, he dialled Guddan. And as soon as he heard the first ring, she picked up the phone.

"Guddan, kahan ho tum?Bachpana mat dikhao aur ghar aa jao.. AJ spoke instantly.

On the other side, Guddan smiled leaning against the pillar. He was back in his angry mode. His anger felt like music right now.

"Chup kyu ho? Aise toh itni bakwas karti hi, ab kuch nhi bologi...He asked, getting frustrated.

Guddan bit back a sob. She had just remembered the horrible condition he was in. "Uthe nhi aur daantna chalu, vocal cords ko aaram toh de do! Guddan chipped in.

"Bakwas band karo aur ye batao ki kahan ho?! AJ cut in and he could hear Guddan chuckling.

" Hum toh aapke aas paas hi hain, Guddan replied making AJ confused.

"Paheliyan bujha rahi ho! Aas paas ka kya matlab hai? AJ enquired getting annoyed and as he took a step in the direction of door, a sharp pain shot through his head and he almost lost his balance before Vardaan and Rahul caught him.

"AJ, are you Ok? Kya aap theek hain? Abhi abhi hospital se aaye ho, thoda dhyaan rakhiye na... Guddan started fretting as his wince had reached her ears.

As Kishore helped AJ sit on bed, AJ replied to Guddan. "Sahi kaha tumne, Abhi abhi hospital se aaya hu aur dekh bhaal ki zaroorat hai mujhe. Toh chup chap ghar aa jao aur apni biwi hone ki duty puri karo...aur tumhe toh pata hi hai, mujhe na sunne ki aadat nhi hai!

Guddan's heart bloomed in happiness. This was what she was waiting for. She had caused him pain so she was going to be the one to help him sail through it. She was not going to act stubborn because he needed her and that's all that matters.

"Agar aapko meri itni yaad aa rhi hai toh main aa... Akshat knew that she was going to say yes when Durga's voice cut in.

"Vo galtiyon ki dukaan aapka dhyaan nhi rakh paegi isliye humne hospital se aapke liye ek nurse assign karwa li hai...

*Beep* *Beep*

"Hello Guddan...hello... Akshat tried to get through but the call had been disconnected. He tried again and again but he couldn't get through to her. Shit! He almost had her but Durga bahu..

"Ye kya badtameezi hai, Durga bahu!! AJ roared, furious, slamming the phone on the bed.

"Maaf kijiyega AJ lekin Jiji galat nhi hai, agar Guddan wapas nhi gyi hoti toh aapke saath aisa kuch hota hi nhi.. Saru spoke in Durga's defence but a glare from AJ shut her up.

As AJ dialled Bhushan, he asked him about Guddan and finally got to know that she never accompanied her father home and had stayed in hospital premises. And even though, she had called him today, to inform about AJ's well being, she had refused to divulge her location.

"AJ, iss ghar ke decisions aap lete hain but agar Guddan wapas ghar main aayi toh hum teeno yahan nhi rahenge... Durga spoke, as Laxmi and Saru backed her up.

And announcing their decision, they left as their spouses followed after them and AJ looked on troubled.

How the hell was he to get Guddan home?!