FF: With a Difference (Updated Part 10 on Pg 17) - Page 4

Siddhi was lying on the bed with half open eyes. The doctor was examining

her while all the other family members were standing by the bedside. Kunal

kept looking at Siddhi. On seeing Kunal standing at the door Seema

started moving towards him. They were distracted by the doctor.

Doctor: You are perfectly fine now Mrs. Chopra. But because of absolutely no

movement for months you may face problems while walking or while doing any

other sort of physical activity.

Raj: Then..

Doctor: Don't worry. It's just a matter of time. A little physiotherapy will get

her through. (Now again turning towards Siddhi). But I must admit that all the

credit for your recovery goes to your family, specially to your husband. He was

really particular about your treatment.

Kunal was ecstatic that Siddhi was now alright, still a bit worried about her

and was also embarrassed at what the doctor just said. As was his nature,

he did not like everybody's sudden attention. All eyes including Siddhi's turned

towards Kunal who had now lowered his gaze.

The doctor gave some general instructions to Siddhi and got up to leave the

room. Kunal followed him outside the room.

Doctor: Mr. Chopra bring Mrs. Chopra along with you tomorrow to the

hospital. We need to get some tests done and also I will give her the required

prescription. Rest there is no need to worry.

Kunal nodded. The doctor left with a handshake.

Kunal turned and paced towards his room. He desperately wanted to see

Siddhi. On the way he was disrupted by Seema.

Seema: Aap kahan the bhaiya? Kitni baar aapko phone kia tha maine!

Kunal: Haan woh mera case...

Seema did not let him complete and was too excited to inform him about

morning's events.

Seema: Subah aapke jaate hi humein Siddhi ke kamre se zor se kuchh tootne

ki awaaz aayi thi. Jaise hi hum andar dekhne gaye toh humne dekha ki

Siddhi ka haath lagkar table par rakha hua jug neeche gir gaya tha. Iske

baad wo dheere-dheere apni aankhein kholne lagi. Tab humne doctor ko

bulaya aur aapko bhi kitni baar phone kiye. Par aap hain ki ek bhi phone hi

nahi uthaya aapne. (After a small pause ) Ab aap yahan par kya khade

hain? Jaiye jaakar mil lijiye Siddhi se. Aapki wajah se hi toh woh theek ho payi

hai.

Kunal went towards his room but stopped at the door. Veena was sitting next

to Siddhi and talking to her. Siddhi just kept on listening as she did not have any power to speak up. Her eyes too were riveted at kunal. Seema observed this and managed to bring Veena out of their room so that Siddhi

and Kunal could be left alone for sometime.

Kunal took small steps towards Siddhi all the while looking at her. Siddhi

was also looking at him. The small distance felt like miles to him. But he was

in no hurry. Siddhi was there in front of him, now in her senses. He went near

her and sat on the chair beside her.

Siddhi was still trying to make sense out of everything. She didn't know

what was happening. The last thing she remembered was going to court to

defend Kunal's case although she was wreathing in immense pain. And now

she was here in her room. The only thing she could make out at the moment

was that she had been away for quite sometime to who knows where. Just

minutes ago the family was surrounding her as if they had seen her after

months. The doctor was talking about something she could not relate to.

At the present moment, Kunal was looking at her, with immense care and

concern in his eyes. The same care she had witnessed when he met her

after she had been kidnapped, the same affection she had read in his eyes

in the hospital after she had survived the bullet shot... All she could manage

at the moment was to use all her might to say, "Ku... Kunal".

Her feeble voice could have easily been unheard if it was not Kunal himself

who was listening. Her voice, though so low, was music to his ears, something

he had been yearning to hear for the last 193 days. Kunal took her hand and

gently pressed it between his hands. He had so much to say. He was angry

with her because she was herself responsible for her state as she went to the

court on the day of the hearing despite being shot. He wanted to tell her how

much he missed her, her taunts and their small fights they had on almost

every petty issue. Most desperately, he wanted to tell her how much he

loved her. But he was choked with his own emotions which now started welling

up in his eyes in the form of tears. The tears which spoke of his anguish,

his loneliness, his happiness, his care and his love for Siddhi. None of them

was able to speak for several minutes. They just kept looking into each-other's eyes talking volumes through their eyes itself.

Soon after, Ishani and Anokhi returned from school and came running to

Siddhi as soon as they learned that she was now alright. Kunal and

Siddhi were distracted on seeing them entering the room followed by Seema.

Ishani & Anokhi: Chachi aapko kya ho gaya tha? Aapko pata hai humne

aapko kitna miss kia. Ab aap theek ho gaye ho na toh aaj raat ko hum

aapse hi story sunengein.

Seema: Haan, sun lena. Par abhi chalo yahan se. Chachi ko rest karne do.

Kunal left the room along with the kids whereas Seema stayed back in the

room with Siddhi.

Kunal felt extremely light that day. He played with Ishani & Anokhi in the

evening and had a hearty meal after days that night. At the same time,

he took extreme care of Siddhi's diet, medicines and rest. He went to his

room at night and saw that Siddhi had been already sleeping. He took out his

diary from the drawer with utmost care not to make even the slightest noise

and took his seat on the chair beside the bed. "Strange", he thought, smiling

at sleeping Siddhi, "earlier I wanted her to wake up but today I don't want

anybody or anything to disturb her rest..."

To be continued...

This time I gave a longer update as promised. I hope you liked it😃