Mumbai
India.
1ST March 1999
3:00 am.
The hospital corridor lit by a lone lamp was deserted except for the solitary figure that walked through it. The guard guarding her door had dozed off. Thunder shook the skies as heavy rain poured steadily. Her steps faltered as she walked down the stairs. Her hand limply slid against the railing as she made her way down. Reaching the back door, she walked out. The rain was coming down in heavy torrents, soaking her light gown. She had always liked the rain'once a long time ago'she winced and brushed the memory aside. The cold was numbing as she walked through the lawn, the grass tickling her feet but nothing registered to her. Numbly she caressed her flat stomach. She couldn't feel the reassuring bump that was always there to comfort her that the mark of his love was inside her. Her baby always used to kick her at this time of hour, making its presence known' forcing her to make her way down to the kitchens and have a bite of an apple or anything sweet in the refrigerator' she had always hated gulab jamuns but her baby used to love them'but it wasn't now. She feverishly clutched her stomach trying to feel but nothing. Blood rushed in her ears as the full force of the words hit her, making her fall on the wet grass. " I am sorry Mrs. Juneja but we couldn't save your child. You were losing too much blood. We didn't have any choice. I am terribly sorry". " Doctor 'my'my baby"' the doctor was looking at her with pity' her eyes had lost the twinkle they had whenever she visited her for her regular check ups. " What? My baby is all right' she's right here. I know" Heer said confused that why was everyone looking at her with sympathy. " Mrs. Juneja". " No! You are lying! Nothings happened to her! She was just fine! I am telling you!" she cried hysterically. " My husband will talk to you! I know he's here and he'll talk to our lawyer! Daddy where's Prem?" she asked looking at her father. " PREM!" she screamed as the nurses tried to hold her. " He's not here sweetheart. I tried to contact him in every way possible but I couldn't reach him' I " but she didn't hear the rest of it as her mind went blank and felt a stabbing pain on her left arm.
" PREM!!!" Heer screamed in the dark night. " We lost our baby' Prem I lost our baby". Heavy sobs shook her body as she cried out his name. " Why didn't you come?"
" Prem!!! Prem please come back", she choked as bile constricted her throat' tears running down her face mixing with rain. " Please come back! I need you! I love you!" She cried, her face bent in defeat as her hands clutched her stomach. She had never felt so alone in her entire life. Prem's love made her complete, made her Heer Juneja but he was not here. When she needed him the most he was not there for her. Didn't he love her? Did he ever love her? Questions ran through her mind as she yet again looked up the skies crying out his name in agony. " Prem! Ajao prem! Aajao'! She managed as her voice broke but not like her heart, which had broken into a million pieces on loosing her child. " She looked at her hands which prem had once held.
Guards rushed out to her, taking hold of her making her stand up. " Ma'am you are not supposed to be here. You should be in your room!". " no let go off me!" She screamed trying to fight them off. " Prem" she screamed yet again as they pulled her towards the hospital. She was loosing consciousness now. Paramedics hurried outside with a stretcher as they lifted her limp body onto it, rushing inside. " Mr. Mann wouldn't like this at all", the doctor on duty thought anxiously as he followed.
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Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
