Chapter 7
Gauri stood at the window watching the children playing in the garden. She smiled as she watched Viraag chase his older sister around. They were the only reason she was still here, pretending to happily live a life of misery. She silently wiped away an errant tear as she recalled the events of the past few days.
Since their almost kiss, whatever friendship Shiv and her had shared before seemed to have completely disappeared. Shiv stoically ignored her after the incident. He came down for breakfast after she left for work and he returned from office in the wee hours of the night, long after everyone in the house, including Gauri, had gone to sleep. Since the only relationship she valued anymore was the one she had with the children, she usually ended up spending her nights in their room.
The entire family had noticed the strain in their relationship, it wasn't easy for anyone. Vivan kept blaming himself, despite Gauri's constant reassurance that it had nothing to do with him.
"I shouldn't have changed you boudi. I should have realized that to Bhai you were perfect the way you were. I am so sorry boudi. I am so very sorry."
The children were affected as well. Not only did they rarely see their father nowadays but even their Choti ma, who was usually very playful with them, seemed more and more melancholy lately and hardly ever wanted to play with them.
Gauri looked out the window again and saw Aaliya wave to her. She waved back with smile thinking, "I have to try harder for them."
Suddenly a blood curdling scream pierced through Gauri's thoughts. A shaken Gauri tried to locate the source of it and realized that it had come from the garden, where the children were playing. She ran down the stairs, "What's wrong Palak? Who screamed? Where are the children? I thought you were keeping an eye on them, so where the hell are they?"
A weeping Palak replied breathlessly through her sobs, "Boudi…."
"What Palak?" an impatient Gauri demanded.
"Boudi…Aaliya was climbing that tree and…."
"And what Palak?" Gauri asked desperately, repressing the urge to shake an answer out of her now bawling sister-in-law.
"Boudi she fell on her head and now she won't wake up. She is bleeding…."
"Where is she?" Gauri asked already rushing towards the tree that her daughter might have fallen from.
"Vivan is checking on her over there."
Gauri looked over to see Vivan crouching over a motionless Aaliya. He was trying desperately to revive his niece through CPR but there was still no response. Gauri screamed out to Palak, "Call for an ambulance." Palak stayed rooted, staring at her bleeding niece, "Now Palak!" Gauri literally pushed her toward the house.
Gauri pushed Vivan away and pulled a still unconscious Aaliya into her arms. She held up her daughter's limp hand and tried to feel for a pulse, tears were streaming down her cheeks, "please God" she begged, "Please let there be a pulse." Gauri breathed a sigh of relief when she felt a faint but steady pulse. She looked over at Vivan, whose eyes were also watering by now and said, "We can't wait for the ambulance." Vivan nodded and picking up his niece in his arms, he ran towards the car, Gauri followed close behind.
As soon as they got to the hospital, Aaliya was rushed into the ER. Gauri followed her daughter and the doctors while Vivan stayed back to fill out all the paperwork. Gauri watched as the doctors hovered over her precious child. They stuck the little girl with various needles and tubes and whenever Gauri demanded to know what was going on, all they would say is that they are running tests and she has to be patient and allow them to do their job.
Time seemed to progress at a snail's pace. Vivan walked over to his frantic boudi and put a reassuring arm around her, "I just called Bhai, he will be here any minute. Please Boudi, I know there is no point in telling you to stop worrying because that will probably not happen but at least sit down and take a breath."
Gauri gave Vivan a fierce look and said, "This is not the time to be funny Vivan. What is taking them so long? What is wrong with them? What kind of doctors are they, they can't even tell me what's wrong with my daughter. Why won't she wake up?"
Vivan caught sight of his brother and waved him over. An anxious Shiv ran to their side and breathlessly asked, "What's going on?"
Gauri who had so far been oblivious to his presence, finally seemed to notice him. She rushed over to Shiv and grabbing him by the collar she begged, "Please Shiv…Please find out why they haven't fixed her yet?"
At that very moment a grim looking doctor came out of their daughter's room. Shiv and Gauri immediately went to him and began demanding answers. The doctor patiently sat them down and said, "Your daughter fell on her head and that can be pretty serious. We cannot know for sure how serious till she actually regains consciousness. We will only have a reason to worry if she does not wake up within the next 48 hours. I am afraid that till then there is nothing that can be done except pray."
"What the hell kind of doctor are you, how can you just give up and tell us to pray?"
"I am sorry Mrs. Kapoor, I know how hard this must be for you…"
"Hard? You have no idea! That's my daughter in there, my little girl. Please doctor, please you have to fix her." Gauri fell sobbing at the doctor's feet.
Shiv merely nodded at the doctor and stepped forward to help his sobbing wife up. Gauri shrugged off his hands and giving him an angry glare she said, "Don't touch me. Don't you dare touch me. This is your fault. You have no time for your family, for your children, so don't start pretending that you care now. Stay away from me." A weeping Gauri stormed away leaving a sad and broken Shiv behind.
i was busy but i couldnt stay away especially after all your lovely comments....so here is the next part....hope you enjoyed...let me know....
p.s. sum2005 did you like my whole tadpayoing of shiv? 😉
love always
desi 😃
Edited by desi_chikita - 18 years ago
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