Part 5B
And I love you so,
The people ask me how,
How I've lived till now
I tell them I don't know
I guess they understand
How lonely life has been
But life began again
The day you took my hand
And yes I know how lonely life can be
Shadows follow me
The night won't set me free
But I don't let the evening get me down
Now that you're around me
- from the song And I love you so by Elvis Presley
Three months later
Mumbai
The ambulance sped along the near empty midnight roads, the siren wailing full throttle, as it made its way towards the Childcare Institute.
Nachiket sat inside, by the limp body of his son, glancing at his wristwatch every few seconds, willing the ambulance to fly to it's destination. Nishant's sudden collapse has puzzled them all, as the kid had been recovering pretty steadily all this while.
Ragini was in the car following the ambulance, along with her Mother. He had not wanted her to be in the ambulance, despite her protestations.
Nachiket sighed, as he looked at his watch once again. Realising that they had another fifteen-twenty minutes to reach the Hospital, Nachiket frowned. He knew how important every second was, which would actually determine how well Nishant responded to the treatment.
...
Ragini dialled Dr Pandit's cellphone number once again, as she tried to wipe her tears with the back of her hand.
After the third call, Dr Pandit responded
'Ragini, I have reached the Hospital just now. Where are you all?'
As Ragini briefed him about their location, Dr Pandit walked into the Hospital, barking orders to make suitable arrangements.
...
Sometime later
Ragini and Nachiket sat stone-facedly in front of Dr Pandit, in his cabin, as he tried to explain the need to conduct some tests to investigate the reason behind Nishant collapse, and that for that he needed the child to be in the ICU. A sense of deja vu assailed Ragini, as she could feel her world crumbling around her once again. She had partly zoned out of the discussion, when she felt Nachiket's hands on hers, infusing warmth into her nearly chilled hands, squeezing her palms in the process and holding them in his, as Dr Pandit took them through a probable treatment process.
Ragini felt cold - she knew that she was shivering internally. She couldn't thank Nachiket enough as his hand went around her shoulder, pulling her closer to his warmth, as they peered in through the small glass door leading to the ICU. They could see their son lying there, hooked up to different monitors, as the nurse inside flitted around with some prescription medicines and a syringe or two.
Ragini turned around and briskly walked away. She couldn't take the heartbreak anymore, as she turned round corners, climbed down stairs, passed the corridor, she found herself in the small pantry, overlooking the patio garden. She cursed her ill luck as she sank down in one of the many sterile blue plastic chairs, hiding her face in her palms. She wept bitterly as her recent past flooded through her mind.
The day Dr Pandit had informed them that they could take Nishant home - that was nearly about three months back.
Both Nachiket and she had been so elated and relieved at the news. Nachiket had bear hugged her in front of Dr Pandit, earning both of them a friendly grunt from the aged Doctor. Ragini had blushed when Dr Pandit had advised her later to consider building a proper home for themselves, now that Nachiket was in India. She had known Dr Pandit for years now, and Ragini knew that he meant well.
The real dilemma had arisen the next day when Nachiket had offered to accompany Nishant and Ragini home. And Ragini had realised then that she was yet to reveal a big truth to Nachiket.
'Umm, Nachiket ...' Ragini started, when they were all alone in the parking lot of the Hospital. 'I think I need to tell you something.'
Nachiket had realised then that there was more to the situation than what met the eyes. He waited patiently, his hands tucked in his trouser pockets. He had noticed Ragini fidgeting all through the day, her forehead scrunched in concentration and desperation. He knew he had to be patient.
Sighing deeply, Ragini had continued as she looked down at her hands,
'Nachiket, we do not stay in the flat at Vile Parle anymore."
'Why?' Nachiket had asked bewildered, as his palms balled in frustration and anger, his voice steely cold. He hadn't expected this from Ragini, after all this while.
Ragini had turned around and walked towards him. On reaching him, she had looked up into his eyes and stated
'We needed the money. My salary was never enough to cover up for everything. Nani's Alzheimer's treatment, keeping the house running, and everything. And then, Nishant's treatment. I had to rent the flat out.'
'For how long? Where?' Nachiket had asked, his voice becoming heavier with every passing minute.
'We stay in a local chawl. We moved in there about 8 months back. You know Nachiket, the neighbours are good there, the location is good, everything is in our favour. Only it's smaller than the previous apartment, I don't know how to accommodate ...' Ragini had said simply.
Nachiket growled in response, his arms now crossed defensively across his chest.
'Accommodate ... me? Nishi?'
An extra step and the gap closed between them. Ragini held her ground, her eyes swimming in tears, but not missing the vein pulsating maddeningly by the side of his neck, a sure-shot indication that he was angry. Exceedingly angry.
The mention of her daughter had flummoxed her further. All these days Nachiket had carefully skirted around the issue; and Ragini had been waiting for the correct time to broach the topic.
However, she knew that she had committed a grievous mistake by not informing him. She had wanted to tell him the truth the second time they met, but one or the other thing had always come up, stopping her.
As she had gazed at him, he had asked
'When were you planning to tell me all these, Ragini? Or don't you kiss and tell?'
Ragini had flinched, almost visibly. She had rarely seen him this angry - even during their separation, he had been cool, calm and composed.
The white heat radiating out from him had scathed her. After a while, he had turned around and left. And staring at his receding back, Ragini had felt her heart break. She had desperately searched for something that she could tell him, to soothe his aching heart - to make him realise that she needed him, and that she couldn't allow him to go away, once again.
Regaining her senses, she had followed him inside the Hospital, only to find him not there. Dejected, she had sunk down in the blue plastic chair outside Nishant's cabin, her head in her hands, when he had made an appearance.
'Nachiket ... I am ... ' she had stuttered.
He had then sat down beside her and taken her hands in his.
'You are a really a hard headed woman, Ragini. And totally clueless, aren't you? I am not having any more of this nonsense. We are going to my place, Ragini. The flat in Juhu is spacious enough for all of us. Even Mom and Sunny Tai could come along. The Hospital is also nearby. I don't care how helpful your neighbours are ... '
'But how can I? You are mad at me?' Ragini had whispered.
Nachiket had tenderly wiped away a lone tear stuck on her eyelash,
'Of course, Ragini. I am mad at you. I want to strangle you for keeping this from me. But, I know that we will find a way. And we will all be together. Please, let this happen.'
Ragini could only shake her head as he had pulled her back into his arms.
...
End of Part 5B
Edited by poetic - 10 years ago
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