Trishna: "Papa I can't see her crying like this please do something papa..."
Papa: "Trishna please don't cry, if Madhu sees you she will be more emotionally affected. We all have to be strong in front of her to make her stronger."
Nurse: "Mr. Malik room number 302 is allotted for Miss Madhubala Malik and you all can wait there and after some test she will be moved to the room."
An hour later Madhu was brought into the room and changed from stretcher to bed. After seeing her family tears were rolling from her cheeks. She was so weak that her face was pale and unable to move her body freely and can't even talk louder.
Padmini caressed Madhu's face and said "Madhu please don't cry. Nothing will happen to you we all are there for you."
She murmured "No muma I know I have lung cancer stage III I will die in 1 or 2 week. I am really scared of dying. I am going to leave you all. I am going to miss you all."
Just then Nurse Roma entered and asked Malik, Padmini and Trishna to be out for some time as Madhu needs some rest. She injected Madhu and consoled her and asked her to sleep.
Madhu: I don't want to sleep Nurse. If I sleep I will die in sleep itself. Roma left the room without a word with tears on her eyes.
Next day morning Roma was doing Madhus routine checkup, a handsome doctor entered the room greeting Roma. "Hi Roma how are you?" Roma was not able to reply just blinked. This energetic sound was different for Madhu because usually whoever comes to her room will stay quiet and cry.
Rishab: "Hi Madhubala Malik I am doctor Rishab kundra I am here to cheer you up. I heard you always cry and not cooperating for treatment."
She replied with a mild smile.
Rishab: "Okay before starting my treatment I want to tell you that I will call you Madhu and you can call me Rishab." Madhu nodded yes with little smile on her face. "Good Madhu when you smile you look like a fairy. Roma said you always cry and don't know how to smile." Rishab turning towards Roma," See Roma I made her smile on my first visit. "
Madhu: "You are lying doctor I am not looking like fairy. See... because of chemotherapy treatment I lost my hair and body weight."
Rishab: "But still you are a fairy for me Madhu."
Rishab coughed and...
Roma said "Dr.Rishab after talking to all patients your throat is sore please take some rest. "
Rishab nodded and said "Yes Madhu today this is enough."
He gave a flying kiss and left the room. He was there only for 10 minutes but after long time she felt relaxed.
The day was very peaceful for her even though her parents and sister was there; she was internally searching for doctor Rishab. At night while Roma was giving her Night dosage medicine she softly asked Roma if Dr Rishab can come for night visit. Roma and Trishna smiled. Trishna asked Roma to check whether doctor Rishab is free. After 10 minutes Rishab came and sat beside her. Seeing her sister smile Trishna immediately left the room.
Madhu: "Doctor you look tired. Did I disturb you and thanks for coming in your busy schedule."
Rishab: "First Madhu I want you to call me Rishab and not doctor. If you call doctor I will not come. "
Madhu: "No Rishab please don't stop coming. I feel better if you are near me."
Rishab: "Yes even I feel better if I am near you. I don't know Madhu something is pulling me to you." Madhu smiled.
Madhu: "Okay Rishab tell me about you."
Rishab:" Madhu I have a throat problem I can't talk for long so you tell me I will listen."
Even though Madhu was not able to talk she spoke softly and shared about her family. Tears started rolling from her cheeks. Rishab wiped her tears.
Rishab:" Madhu everyone is going to die one day. But destiny fixes the date of the death. We have to be strong so that our dear one will not suffer. You promise me you won't cry hereafter."
Before Madhu could reply there was a sound from the door...
Roma: "time over doctor Rishab its time for Madhu to sleep. Can you come and visit her tomorrow morning?" called Roma from the door.
Madhu: "Rishab this nurse is controlling you too much."
Rishab smiled and gave Madhu a flying kiss and said good night and left the room. Time passed like this for 5 days. Rishab used to come in the morning and night to talk with her. As doctors said Madhu condition was getting worse day by day but Madhu was strong enough to face her deat
Madhu: "Hi Rishab nice to see you early in the morning. Madhu held his hand with a smile and starred at him for some time. Rishab how do you know I want to see you so early? Rishab... I feel that today will be my last..."
Rishab: "Madhu please stop saying that" Rishab cut her off before she completes her sentence.
Madhu: "Rishab thanks for giving me this five precious days. Rishab you have to take care of yourself, day by day you are becoming very weak. See now you are not able to talk also. Why can't you go and check good doctor instead of taking self-medicine. I have a doubt whether you are really a doctor."
Rishab smiled and kissed Madhu's forehead and said "Madhu Today or in future, I will always be with you and never leave you."
Rishab left the room with wet eyes. As pulse was going down Madhu was taken to ICU. She was breathing very hard but she tried to open her eyes to see her Rishab for one last time. When she was taken in the stretcher she passed another stretcher where the doctor was covering Rishab face. All her good moments came in front of her. Now she understood the last word of Rishab to her. She closed her eyes. I Love you Rishab.
Flashback 4 Hours before from Rishab POV
Not only you Madhu even I am feeling I am going to die today. Today is my operation for throat cancer. I was diagnosed very late and I am in final stage. When I saw you crying for first time I felt very pity. To cheer you up I came to meet you as doctor, but really the point is I came there to cheer myself. The time I spent with you is very precious for me. I started loving you. This love will not stop here it will continue even after our death. I love you Madhu.
My other Story - Unrequited Love
