A/N: Hey there, guys! :D :D
I've spoken a lot now. Not keeping y'all any longer,
In the hospital, she begged the doctor again and again to opt for it once while the doctor kept denying it throughout.
"Mrs. Vaghela we have told it to you that it is just a risk!"
"Life is the other name for risk!" retorted back Ishaani heatedly. The doctor gave her an aggrieved look.
"It will be highly painful for him, Mrs. Vaghela," said the doctor, his patience now finally running out.
"He can bear any pain for his love," insisted again, while the doctor now gave her a keen look.
"I will again say that don't put his doom upon him before time and leave him to live his rest of life like the way he is living!" said the doctor, trying to sound reasonable. Ishaani shook her head.
"No he will live a long, long life with his love! Love never loses!"
The doctor dejectedly asked her to talk to her husband, when he heard her saying, "You must be ready for operation then, because he will never refuse."
In the hospital room, she was crying, holding the hand of a person who was lying on the bed. Trying to console the lady in front of him, finding no way for the same, tears finally started to roll down his cheeks. That was the time when Ishani wiped her own tears and looked towards Ranveer.
He was not the same, not ever before, not at all.
Dark circles were around his eyes, getting darker until it had a shade hardly distinguishable from coal. He was pale, as though someone has sucked all the blood from his body, his lips blue and white as though he was lying on ice. But he was not cold; his touch was warm, as warm as forever. He was thin; barely visible to the naked eye even though he was there for a fortnight, surviving on the same ventilator.
He'd been diagnosed with a rare blood disease that caused an unusual flow of blood in his blood vessels and there was no effective solution to his condition except for a surgery that had barely a 5% chance of success. Ishani, however, was optimistic that Ranveer would be able to pull through it like all the difficulties that he's faced prior to this. She sat beside him and stroked his hair slowly.
She said reluctantly, sniffing alongside. "I... I'm so sorry... I... I made you cry."
"No it's... It's not you it's me who made you cry, because of whom you are crying... crying for how long," he said guiltily, forcing out the last part of his broken sentence.
Ishani, who was still crying, wiped her tears again and tried to say something but before she could, Ranveer spoke slowly, "I know that I'm the reason for your pain but... but... I co... could not help it, Ishani..."
His sentence trailed off as he finally broke down completely and started to cry heavily, folding his hands in front of Ishani along with bowing his head, asking for forgiveness.
"You can help it, Ranveer", said Ishani determinedly, while Ranveer lifted his head up. Confusion was evident upon his face. He tried to say something but was only able to say, "What?" which was a whisper more than a question. Ishani, in turn, let him know that she had talked to doctors about operating him.
Ranveer's expressions were enough for Ishani to understand that he wanted to know doctor's reply.
"They think it to be a risk", she said hesitantly, but continued, "But you know I made him agree, because I have belief on my love, that it won't lose ever."
A dead smile left his feeble features.
After a few minutes' silence, she asked him about his decision. "I have full faith in your, do as you wish," he said, while tears along with a short but happy smile left her eyes. She got up to leave, suddenly turning back to look at him.
"They say that it'll be highly painful for you", she said hesitantly again, a sad smile along with a tear left his lips.
"It's not new for me," he replied back, the pain evident in his voice.
Tears left his eyes. Ranveer thought to himself, "If I can do anything for her, for my love in these dying moments, then there is no need for second thought at all. More than her it'll be satisfying for me, because I could not give her any happiness in life, so let me do it in my dying moment atleast."
In the operating theatre, everyone were ready in their places - the doctors with their paraphernalia, Ranveer with oxygen mask, and all the other type of necessary monitors. Ishani stood beside Ranveer, holding his hand with her utmost of courage so that the feeling of pain might reduce with her presence.
The lights were switched on.
The doctors begin their work with their fullest of concentration. With their first touch, a shriek left Ranveer's lips, breaking the restriction of oxygen mask. Tears left Ishani's eyes as she pleaded the doctor to do it slowly so that Ranveer would not feel so much pain.
"We had told you, Mrs. Vaghela, that it'll be painful, because we have to do it without anesthesia."
Before Ishani could say anything Ranveer breathed out hoarsely to the doctor. "Carry on..."
His grip on Ishani's hand got tighter as he now gasped laboriously in pain.
"Nothing will happen to you... Just keep in mind that your love is with you... Love never loses," she said as she cried seeing him in pain.
It was difficult for him to keep his eyes open; he was trying his best but wasn't able to. Ishani tensed up seeing his eyes droop now. She pleaded with the doctor to keep his BP above 100/60, because below that meant that him losing his consciousness.
"What are you saying?" exclaimed the doctor in shock. "His BP is already below 50!"
This was not less than a shock for her. A tear come smile left her lips as she realized painfully that he was doing all this for her. She asked the doctor how much longer it would it. The doctor replied that it would almost take five minutes.
Ishani kept her other hand on Ranveer's own one and assured him that it was just five more minutes of pain when he had already borne so much.
"5 minutes more... 5 minutes... 5 minutes for me please!"
-x-
5 years later:
Amba was calling Ranveer's name again and again, searching for him when she got Mala in the way. She asked her about the same to which Mala shook her head, trying to remember where he might. Finally after a few minutes, she replied uncertainly that he might be in his room.
She asked Amba whether she wanted her to call him for her. Amba refused instantly, moving towards the stairs.
"She can search for her boy by herself, no need for you to do that," said Amba slowly. Mala moved away.
Amba reached their room and knocked the door, to which she heard Ishani saying, "The door is already open... Come inside."
Amba entered the room with a small smile on her feeble and somewhat tired features. She looked at Ishani who was standing in front of mirror, taking a last glance at herself after being ready. She had been wearing an off white saree with golden pallu looking as gorgeous as ever, even in simplicity. She had given no touch of makeup to herself except eye liner and lip gloss. However, she looked somewhat weary.
Amba spoke, her voice slightly curious. "How do you come to know every time whenever I knock at the door?"
Ishani replied in the same tone.
"And how do you forget every time not to knock the door of your daughter? Does a mother ever need permission?"
Amba and Ishani both gave each other a small smile. There was a pin drop silence for a few moments. Finally, Ishani tried to break the ice and asked softly,
"Did... did you want anything, Maa?" Amba who was lost somewhere came to reality.
"Ah, no I just came to see Ranveer," she said softly.
Ishani's features suddenly turned grave but she became normal so instantly that Amba had not even felt the change. Ishani then managed to reply, "He's with Baba I think. He's mostly there. Should I call him?"
Amba shook her head suggesting that she herself would do it. She turned to leave, but suddenly came back and cupped Ishani's face in her hands.
"Take care of yourself as well, dikra. Look at yourself. You are becoming weaker day by day," said Amba, the care evident in her voice. Ishani nodded her head, a loving smile on her face. Amba was about to leave where she found a little boy of about 5 years in the door.
Amba came near the boy and sat down on her knees, giving the tightest hug to the boy that she could. The boy, in response, kissed both the cheeks of the old lady, and finally spoke "I love you, Dadi Maa," which made the old lady shiver at once.
Ishani, seeing this, came near him and said in a slightly stern voice. "How many times do I have to tell you too call her Maa rather than Dadi Maa?"
The boy got annoyed and spoke irritably. "All of my friends call their grandma as Dadi Maa, then why should I call her only Maa?" Ishani was up to say something where Amba got up and asked Ishani not to say anything to him.
"Let him call me whatever he wants, for me his happiness is more important."
She left the place after ruffling his hair and kissing them both goodbye.
After leaving, Ishani came nearer to the boy and said, "Look how you made her cry in a while? Can't you do anything for her happiness?"
Her tone was not angry. She couldn't be angry with him; never. The boy who was listening calmly spoke, "I simply asked why I should call her Maa."
Ishani spoke instantly, "Because she feels happy, that's it."
The boy countered instantly.
"And you feel happy when I call you Ishani", Ishani looked at him blankly. "Is it so?" he continued, his tone now determined.
Ishani just nodded as she did not know how to respond to that. The boy said without wasting another second.
"Then why do both of you cry when I call you with the same name you people feel happy being called with?"
Ishani was shocked with his sudden behavior, but she thought it necessary to answer him. She replied with tears in her eyes.
"Because it reminds us of someone."
The boy again spoke as to say the thing which Ishani was unable to say.
"Of Papa's."
His this short sentence was no less than a shock for Ishani. She looked at him wide-eyed, the boy getting her point simply narrated.
"Grandpa, oops... Baba told me,"
Ishani who was getting things a bit now asked again, her voice slightly cold this time.
"Then why are you asking for things you already know?"
"No, I'm not asking for the same," answered the boy simply. Taking a deep breath, he ploughed on. "Okay, I want to know why you named me after him. Who suggested it? I mean Baba says he does not know, if Maa knew it she'd surely have told it to Baba as well. The only remaining person is you, and if you yourself named me this then you at least once called me with my name but you never did... So what does it mean? It means Papa asked you for this... I want to know his last talk with you because everyone else knows before that, the conversation of both you is still a mystery for me..."
Ishani who was now losing her control caught hold of the nearby furniture for support. She looked at the boy before moving towards the window and staring at the sky. And from there she went to another world.
-x-
Ranveer was gasping in pain, Ishani was sitting near him, holding his hand tightly. She was assuring Ranveer that nothing would happen to him. She kept urging him to keep his eyes open. She finally said.
Ranveer asked her slowly, "Are you sure?"
Ishani who was not getting him, simply nodded her head. Ranveer at once looked at the digital wall clock, which showed the time as 5:33. He again looked at Ishani, who was looking towards his previous gaze, a silent sigh along with a tear leaving his lips.
Ishani turned towards him and assured him again, "You...You just don't worry, 5 minutes only mean 5 minutes... The doctor will only take five minutes..."
Ranveer shook his head in disappointment and said with pain. "I'm not asking about the doctor's time, I'm asking about your requirement... For me the things matter only are said by you, Ishani."
"Yeah you are right... I know you are doing all this for me, you are bearing all this for your love Ranveer... I know," Ishani instantly spoke.
Ranveer now making his way said, "So you admit that I'm doing this for my love..." Ishani nodded, whereas Ranveer now continued, "So what can you do for your love?"
Ishani who was still not getting him, said without any second thought, "I know people say it often but I really mean it Ranveer that I can die for my love..." She was cut short by Ranveer.
"No... No your love demands you to live," he gasped again with pain, and Ishani assured him.
"Yes of course Ranveer, I... I'll live with my love with you, Ranveer..." She was again cut short by already gasping Ranveer,
"No... not with me Ishani... not with me, you have to live without..." This time it was Ishani who cut him short.
"What the hell are you saying, how many times I've to tell you that love never-"
"I know Ishani, I know that love never losses but sometimes destiny wins the game..."
Ishani pulled her hands out of Ranveer's grasp. He, at once felt the pain at its extreme, calling her name out while gasping. He tried to catch hold of her hand once again.
"Ishh... Ishhh... Ishani please try to understand me plea...", now his voice was clearly stammering, Ishani said crying heavingly,
"No I don't want to understand anything... You are not going anywhere, do you get that?" Her tone was authoritative this time.
Ranveer said a bit calming her, but his own breath not stable, "Who said that I'm going anywhere, I'm here with you and will remain forever," he pointed towards her heart, then continued, "I'll always remain by your side Ishani, to safeguard you, to guide you... and so far as my physical presence is concerned I'll be there in the form of this little Ranveer," now pointing towards her belly which was swollen.
Ishani instantly caught hold of it with one hand, the other still in Ranveer's. She now tried to catch hold of words, she had many things but was unable to say any. She finally spoke.
"What...what I did..." one of her hand in air now then suddenly on her lips, Ranveer tried to calm her down. "No... nev...never think of that, that you made me die... no, infact you made me die with pride rather than cowardice... Yes Ishani, and my wish to die in your arms is getting fulfilled, what will be a happier thing for anyone above this... an... and don't worry about Maa and Baba, I... told them already... And believe me Ishani... the one who is in your womb will definitely be like me, in his presence no one will feel my absence... Trust me..."
Ishani threw herself on Ranveer's hand not getting what to do, where Ranveer saw the clock which was now showing 5:38 , he smiled to himself then looked on Ishani's head, he gasped for the last time but harder than ever before, lights got off, indicating that the operation had now ended.
Ishani lifted her head up, tears now stopped. She looked at the sight before her eyes as the doctor closed Ranveer's eyes with his hands. Ishani now understood the whole thing instantly and turned to see the clock. This was the time of revelation when she started to get each and every word of Ranveer, finally making sense of the five minutes she had asked for.
-x-
A stream of years was flowing on Ishani's face. She wiped her tears and turned to see her almost 5 years old son, only to see that he wasn't there. She came out of the room worried and was looking for him on each room when she heard some sound coming from study room. She went near the room, where the door was half open. She stood there where the sight in front of her was what she herself was unable to interpret.
She saw little Ranveer holding the photo of his father, sitting with his back towards door, he was talking to his father.
"Baba told me everything about you, how you lived whole of your life for others, where people were used to call you a servant... But you know what, you were a savior all the time, and now everyone accepts this fact... I'm sorry Papa, I made Maa and your Ishani cry, but that I did because it was needed. You see, your Ishani never cried, how her pain will decreased unless she does not cry?"
"Baba told me how you did the same thing of providing the other relief through any means... Now onwards I'll do the same... I got to know that Maa had not lived with you in your childhood, now she will definitely live that, with me... with your shadow... Now onwards, no one will feel your absence... I promise you... But you have to keep my one secret with you that I'm going to miss you a lot..."
His conversation was not coming to end, but it was too much to bear for Ishani. She retraced her steps back to her room and started to cry heavily, resting her back with one of the pillars. She then saw towards the ceiling and spoke soulfully.
"You were right, Ranveer, you were right... You know what, he has not only taken your name, but your soul as well. He is the same... you were right - you are with me, and you will always be with me, Ranveer..."
Constructive criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for any typos! :D :D
Fan Fictions
Kabhi Neem Neem Kabhi Shahad Shahad
