Chapter 9
Hours later, in another ICU thousands of miles from Mumbai, a mysterious man slept while his doctor checked his vital signs. For moths he had been unconscious, never once opening his eyes or muttering a single syllable. The nurses all gave him the best of care; though they often argued over whose turn it was. This man was incredibly handsome and even the married females couldn't stop drooling.
A muffled gurgling came from the bed, causing Dr. Rano Singhania to stop her note taking. A sign of life! Rushing to the bed, Rano gently removed the tube from her gasping patient. Tall and thin, Dr. Singhania was known for her looks, mind and her compassion. But this patient had by far stolen her heart and concern.
As the tube was removed from his throat, the man began to cough. Rano finished removing the tube and helped him lean on his side. "Calm down, it's over. Just take deep breaths."
He stopped coughing, rolling onto his back. Big brown eyes met her dark ones and he smiled. "I knew you'd make it," his hoarse voice whispered.
Rano looked at him confused, but tried not to show it. "Do you know where you are?"
He looked around and nodded. It didn't take a genius to know he was in a hospital. And doctors were supposed to be the smart ones!
"Do you know your name?"
He pondered that for a moment, but nothing came to mind. "No."
She sighed. Wonderful. He was awake and hadn't a clue who he was.
"But I know I'm a businessman…and I know you…my love."
Her eyes met his, unblinkingly. His love? Wow, this man was delusional as well as an amnesiac! How come she ended up with all the weird cases? "I'm Dr. Rano Singhania."
He shook his head and touched his heart, brown eyes slowly fluttering closed. "My love…my one true love."
Rano sighed. "Who are you and who are you thinking of?" she asked, heading for the door. "Rest well, stranger. Until tomorrow." She left.
In his bed, the mystery man fell back asleep, a smile on his face. Softly he whispered, "I love you…both of you."
And somewhere in Mumbai, Bani's head was just reading against her pillow as the words fluttered in through the window. "I love you too," she replied before falling asleep and dreaming of him again.
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Bani walked into the hospital, the receiving blanket in her arms ready to take Krishna home. She was smiling, but in her heart there was an unbearable pain. Sure, she was thrilled her little boy would finally come home, but she was reminded that she was bringing him home alone. Well, of course not alone…
"Bani! Wait up," Yukti jogged around the corner, trying to catch up to her long legged friend. "Jeeze woman. I would hate to try keeping up when you're rushing," she rolled her eyes.
Bani rolled her eyes and sighed, the smile on her face faltering.
"Smile more, it increases your face value," Yukti sighed.
"You stole that from a movie!"
"Yea, but it usually works. Come on, Bani. Your son is coming home today. My little nephew, which by the way I cannot thank you enough for. Can't you at least try to be a little happier? Jai would want it that way."
"You know what, neither one of us have a clue what my husband would want. The man is dead. His son is going to grow up and not know anything but his mother's and grandmother's memories of a great man! Krishna deserves a father…his father!"
Yukti sighed. "I know, Bani, and I'm sorry that he won't know his father. Jai was a great guy and Krishna is totally missing out, you're right. But I can't bring him back and neither can you. So getting all depressed and making your son, who can sense your feelings, get sick again isn't going to make things better either."
"Why the hell do you have to be so smart?" Bani asked, crossing her arms.
"Because it was my job to come down here, live on earth and piss you off," Yukti smiled and stopped in front of the NICU. "Now can we go get my Krishna without the attitude, huh?"
Bani shook her head and chuckled. "Yea. Come on," she tugged her friend into the room and they were met by a very cheery nurse. Vidya had Krishna all ready to go and helped Bani put him in the receiving blanket and then said goodbye to her favorite NICU baby.
Bani picked up his little hand and waved to Vidya. "Keep in touch, Vidya, we'll be happy to see you anytime."
"Thanks, Bani, I'll be sure to stop in and check up on him," she waved back as they headed down the hall. They got to the car and gently buckled the baby into his car seat. Bani kissed his head before climbing in the car right next to him, seeing Yukti nearly break her spine in attempt to watch Krishna every move.
"Yukti, he'll be there when we get home. Relax before you hurt yourself.
Yukti laughed. "I'm just excited! I love babies!"
Bani laughed and shook her head. "I couldn't tell," Yukti rolled her eyes as they headed home. When they arrived she removed her son from the back seat and slowly brought him to the door. "This is our house." she took him inside. At the door, Mausi and everyone else were ready to welcome the new baby home. She carried him around the house, telling him about each and every room as if he cared. Finally, they settled in the living room, Bani refusing to put her son in his crib. The baby coming home brought so much happiness and joy into the house. Everyone was ecstatic to hold him. Being the youngest, Anu got to hold him first. The boys were going to protest, they decided not to as it was after so long they were seeing Anu smile and be happy about something.
Yukti was simply ecstatic, constantly looking over at the baby in her friend's arms. "Oh gosh, he's so cute," she giggled, making silly faces at Krishna. Bani laughed. Of course almost no one had been in the NICU to see Krishna but her and when they did visit, none asked to hold him. She took Yukti's enthusiasm as a hint that her friend wanted to hold the baby.
"Yukti, would you like to hold Krishna?"
"For real?"
"Yea," she laughed. "For real."
"Please!"
Bani shook her head; Yukti was like an over active child. Carefully, she placed the tiny baby in her friend's arms and watched as Krishna made himself comfortable. Yukti's eyes were focused on only him. "Hello, Little Man. I'm Yukti, most people call me Yuks. They think I'm insane and they're probably right, but we are all so happy your home."
Bani smiled at her friend. "Thanks Yukti."
"For what?" she looked at Bani. "I didn't do anything."
"Sure you did. You've been the best friend I could have. You were at my side whenever I needed you and I couldn't have asked for more. Thanks."
"Aww shucks, you're welcome," she kissed the baby's head. "Anything for my soon to be little devil."
Bani laughed. "Thanks."
"Oh, for you too. Bani, you're a great gal. A pain sometimes, but great all the same. I'd do anything for you because you're like the sister I never had."
"Thanks Yukti, oddly enough I could say the same."
Yukti smiled. "Well now that that's settled, what do you say to a riveting afternoon of daadi's movie extravaganza?" she asked Bani, Krishna and everyone else who was present in the room.
No one seemed too pleased beside Yukti and Daadi herself.
She pouted. "Fine, fine…we'll sit and talk instead," she giggled and they settled down to talk.
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The man lay in his bed, looking around the room. For some reason he couldn't seem to place his name, even though he knew it. It was sort of like having a word in mind but when you try to use it you just can't find it. He sighed. He also knew there was a woman in his life and he could almost see her, but still couldn't get the name to form. It was driving him mad.
He noticed the beautiful doctor in the room and smiled. She looked like the woman he loved, but something inside told him she wasn't the woman. He didn't know how to react to those feelings, so he just didn't do anything at all. "So are you going to tell me where I am?"
Rano spun to face him. "You're in Goa."
"Goa? I don't live in Goa."
She laughed. "I figured that much, you definitely don't sound like someone who lives here," she smiled. "Few people found you at the beach and brought you back here. I guess you were vacationing down here."
"Me too," he smiled. "I don't feel like I belong in this place."
"You're don't, that I can promise. But, since you can't remember who you are and you're fully able to be released, we have a slight problem."
He sighed. "I don't know where I belong. I know it's not here."
She nodded. "Any dreams of a place you know?"
"Yea, Mt. Abu.
"Mt. Abu" Rano whispered. That place brought back so many memories for her. She was brought back to reality when she heard Jai's voice.
"But it's not a lot of help seeing as how I can't even remember my name."
She smirked. "Yea, I figured that myself. Well, if you'd like I have a spare room that you're more than welcome to use."
"I'd like that," he nodded.
"Let me get your release papers," she left the room.
He smiled. Why did he have this nagging feeling that he belonged somewhere else? And why did that feeling tell him the answers were in Mt. Abu?
To be continued…
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Thank you all so much for the comments. College has started today so the updates may not be as regular as they used to be. Especially this semester because I have all tought accounting courses, so please do accept my apologise. Will try my best to update as much as I can.
Hope you all enjoyed the chapter. Looking forward to your comments.
Anam
Shiv Shakti
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