Hello hello, to my dear Prerish fans:
I have always been a background participant. I love reading Prerish stories, the potential their love story has. Well, the lockdown has brought out interests in me, I never knew I possessed.
SO this is it. My imaginings of a story post lockdown.
I have a thread of an idea, that I will try to culminate effectively. I hope I do justice to it.
Part 1 - I have lost her!
ICU
The ominous beep in the ICU went on, while the doctor and nurses bustled around. They were used to the sound; their focus was on the patient, who was a young lady, of around thirty. She was rushed in with several bruises and the most severe, a head injury. The doctor read her name, “Mrs Prerna Sharma Bajaj.”
Outside the ICU,an anxious group of people waited for news, as their inner thoughts tormented them. Mr Bajaj looked furious, “How did I let her go ahead with this ridiculous plan? She has become so crazed in her desire for revenge that she has stopped thinking rationally. I should’ve known better. I am supposedly her mentor. Now what? If anything happens to her, I..”
Veena Sharma wept silently, “Have I lost my daughter all over again? She doesn’t deserve this, Ma Durga. All she ever wanted in the past 8 years was revenge for her daughter.She wanted some answers. As a mother, don’t you understand her? ”
Anurag basu stood at the far end of the corridor. He felt nothing. This was a consequence of his actions, eight years ago.. Not only did he lose Prerna, literally and figuratively, he also lost his daughter. Did he even have the right to worry for Prerna? Didn’t matter. He was worried sick though. His mother and Komolika,Moloy Basu rushed in. Time for the mask, he sighed.
Mohini glared at the window, where the nemesis of her family stood, ramrod straight, the slight twitch in his jaw indicating his state of mind. She turned to her son, “ Why are you here?? That woman has destroyed you, each time she has entered your life.”
Anurag turned to her, “ She fell from the lift on our construction site, while she was inspecting the building, in her capacity as an investor. I had to bring her to the hospital.” Komolika watched the whole interaction silently, her mind ticking away. This was not the time to get into arguments, she thought to herself.
Mr Bajaj, “ Yes,I would like to know what transpired at the site, Mr Basu. My wife is never safe around you. If anything happens to her, you can forget your precious dream project, and every other dream you or your vulgar family has ever dreamt of.”
The doctor stepped out at that moment, Mr Bajaj and Veena rushed to him. “ The surgery was successful. She had a clot in her brain,which we have taken care of. Now we need to pray and wait for her to regain consciousness. Only then, will we know the impact of her head injury.”
Veena took a step back, almost collapsing; Mr Bajaj supported her and made her sit. He could not bear the thought of anything happening to Prerna. He sank into the seat next to Veena, clutching his head in his hands.
4 hours later
The nurse came out, “ Mrs Bajaj is conscious. She wants to meet Anurag.” She turned to her husband, “Anurag?” Mr Bajaj felt a heavy stone sit in his heart as he nodded his head and indicated Anurag.
Anurag stepped in, much against the protests by Mohini.
Prerna looked at him and smiled, “ Where’s our baby?Where’s Sneha? I was in some kind of accident right? Look at our luck, this had to happen just before our official marriage. “
Anurag looked stunned! The door opened and Mr Bajaj walked in. Prerna looked at him with shock and surprise, “ Mr Bajaj! Is it really you? Anurag, you told me about an accident?”
Mr Bajaj looked confused but went along “ That ...was a rumour, Prerna. We are all doing very well. Are you okay?”
Prerna looked happy, “ I am. Thank God you are all fine. All’s well that ends well. Where’s my baby Kukki? Does she still need her stuffed toys around her to sleep? I have to introduce her to Sneha”
Komolika slunk in, “Anurag, you did’nt tell her about Sneha yet?
Prerna looked at her, “Sonalika, what are you talking about?”
Anurag and Mr Bajaj tried to indicate something but Komolika went on viciously , “I am so sorry. You lost your baby in the accident.”
Prerna’s face changed to absolute horror and she started wailing, in grief. The doctor rushed in and asked everyone to leave.
Outside, there was total chaos. The silent restraint was broken. Mr Bajaj turned to Anurag in anger, “ How dare your wife even talk to Prerna? Haven’t you guys done enough damage? I don’t want her anywhere near this hospital.”
Mohini pounced on him , “ Who are you to talk to my daughter in law? Take your wife and go back to whatever corner you’ve crawled out from,.”
The doctor came out. “We’ve sedated her. Please let’s handle this maturely. I want to understand, what is she talking about, she wasn’t pregnant when she was brought in. Let’s sit together and discuss her situation.”
Mr Bajaj explained the situation clearly, with Anurag adding inputs.
The doctor heard them out and said, “From what I hear, it looks like the head injury has taken Mrs Bajaj back by 8 years. She has lost any memory of what has transpired in the last 8 years. It is a case of trauma amnesia.”
Mr Bajaj stood up and started pacing slowly. While ANurag sat still, trying to process what the doctor had just said. Veena,Moloy,Mohini and Komolika were quiet.
The doctor continued, “ It could be temporary amnesia,but because of her injury, we have to be extremely careful with her. I suggest that you go along with her for a few days, take her back eight years ago.”
Mr Bajaj asked the doctor, “ Isn’t there any other way? Can we not treat her here in the hospital?
Anurag stood up, “ This is not at all possible. Our lives have changed. I am married to Komolika.”
Mohini took off, “ I really don’t care what happens to her. I will not allow her to step into my house.”
Moloy looked around and said firmly, “ Prerna will come home. We will provide all the help required to help her recover. It’s decided. Komolika, I am sure you can put up with this old man’s request for a while.”
Komolika looked at him, quite sure he was being sarcastic, “Of course, we can definitely do a good deed especially for Prerna,why ever not.”
Mr Bajaj looked unsure, he felt a hand on his shoulder, it was Veena. She told him, “I know this is difficult, but if we want Prerna back safe and sound, let’s do as the doctor says.”
Mr Bajaj’s face took on a look of determination, “Doctor, we will try this out. Thank you. As for the Basu family, let me tell you, in your complacency, you forget that the house, one part of it, is still owned by Prerna. She has every right to stay in that house. With that right, I am going to add another condition.”
Mohini who already seething at this sudden turn of events spat out, “ Now what?”
M Bajaj who had by then arranged his features into his famous smirk, replied, “ My daughter Kukki will stay with her. We can tell Prerna,she is interning to be a doctor and needs to earn extra pocket money. I do not trust you people. Kukki will be my eyes and ears in Basu Bari.”
Anurag looked around at his family, “I am okay with it. Well, that’s that then.”
Mr Bajaj thought to himself, “ Yes, that’s that.We are back to square one. Why do I feel that I have lost her?”
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah
