
"Your wife is suffering from cancer Mr. Raizada"
He fell on the steel chair with a thud, as his hand went to cup his gaping mouth. He never felt so helpless ever before. His beloved wife.. his Khushi, is suffering from cancer and she didn't even inform him about this. His breaths became laboured as he started panting. His whole mind was clouded by all the possible negative thoughts which he didn't wanted to even think about. Tears filled his eyes as he got reminded of the scene that took place just an hour ago.
"Arnav" she breathed painfully, clutching her abdomen. She wriggled more and more as the pain increased.
"Khushi? Kya hua?" he asked getting up all of a sudden from his sleep. He held her forehead and caressed it lightly, panicking about her shrinking body.
"Doc-- Ahh" she gasped in immense agony, "Doctor Avasthi." "Jaldii!"
"Doctor Avasthi? What happened?"
"Quick Arnav.." she closed her eyes tightly, as tears escaped her numb eyes, "Please.."
"Okay.." he hastily got up and lifted her up in his strong arms, rushing out of his apartment into his car.
He buried his face in his palms, crying over his wife. Why didn't she inform him about her this deadly disease? He would have taken care of her. But he didn't knew anything.
The door to the I.C.U. opened as the doctor came out. Arnav got up from the chair and asked the doctor about Khushi's health.
"She's not in a good state Mr. Raizada" the doctor told him, making his heart sink more, "Though we've given her injections that will ease out her pain, but cancer is something in which we can't predict anything."
"I don't want to lose her.."
"I understand" the doctor nodded, "I suggest you to take her to Mumbai. We have great doctors there who have been specialised to treat cancer."
"Okay I'll take her to Mumbai today itself"
"Take care"
"Thank you so much."
The doctor was about to leave when Arnav asked him if he can meet Khushi. The doctor approved it and told him to wait till the time she was shifted to the normal ward. Arnav waited till the shift was over and after that ran inside the ward to meet his love.
*
Khushi hugged Arnav tightly, crying on his chest bitterly. Arnav caressed her head mumbling sweet nothings in her ear to calm her down.
"I'm sorry Arnav"
"Stop Khushi. You don't need to say sorry"
After all she didn't do it deliberately. She hid it from him because she didn't wanted him to be tensed. She hid it because she wouldn't be able to see him worried. She loved him, more than anyone in this world.
He kissed her on the forehead and instructed her to rest till the time he gets the discharge papers signed. Khushi shifted in her hospital bed, feeling the pain grow again. She breathed deeply. She had to be strong, if not for herself then for her husband, she had to be strong.
"Chalo Khushi. Lets go home," Arnav came inside the room and taking Khushi by her shoulders, he helped her get up.
Pal, do pal, ki hi kyun hai zindagi
Iss, pyar, ko hai sadiyaan kaafi nahi
Toh khuda se maang lun
Mohalat main ik nayi
Rehna hai bas yahaan
Ab door tujhse jaana nahi
*
She smelt some delicious smell, which made her wake up from her deep slumber. Her head rested on his shoulder, while they waited for the Mumbai traffic-jam to get clear. She yawned widely and sat up straight, rubbing her eyes.
"Where are we Arnav?" "Hotel nahi aaya?"
"No Khushi. We're struck in the traffic jam" he replied, "Are you hungry?"
She nodded her head cutely, as he smiled and pecked her on her lips, without letting the driver of the taxi notice it.
"Excuse me. If the jam would take some time.. can we eat something in the shop out there?" Arnav asked the driver, while he replied positively in his peculiar marathi accent.
Arnav told Khushi to wait in the car and keep the windows closed, till the time he gets some freshly made samosas from a nearby shop.
While their hunger subsided, the jam also got cleared and within fifteen minutes, they were at the reserved hotel.
*
The next day, Arnav got up first and shifted a little, to get his wife's hair off his face. Khushi too shifted but tightened her hold around his waist. She looked pale. May be due to the effect of medicines. He softly woke her up, informing her that they had an appointment with the doctor.
"I don't want to go Arnav"
"You have to Khushi"
"Its painful"
"It will get well soon" "I promise"
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai
Suhaana har dard hai
Jo tu mera humdard hai
*
"We'll be conducting some chemotherapies before the biopsy test. I will give you the schedule" the Doctor spoke to them after checking some noticeable symptoms of cancer in her.
"Doctor we just need to get over with it as soon as possible" Arnav spoke, holding Khushi by her shoulder.
"I understand Mr. Raizada. You should be thankful to god that she's not in a very serious state" he smiled and continued, "Just take care of what you eat and take proper rest. You'll be good in no time."
"Thanks Doctor" Khushi spoke softly.
"Don't eat anything oily today. We'll have the first chemotherapeutic session tomorrow" the doctor told Khushi.
Khushi nodded as they both of them left the hospital.
*
"Please Arnav. Please please please. Just for 10 minutes. I promise I'll not go too far.." Khushi pleaded in front of Arnav, requesting him to take her to the sea-side.
"Khushi. Understand baby. You'll catch cold. And tomorrow we again have to go to the doctor na.."
"Pleasee?"
"Okay. But for just 10 minutes"
"Promise!"
.
.
She played with the water, splashing a handful of it over her face. Every time the waves hit her feet, she jumped and giggled loudly. While she enjoyed playing with nature, he enjoyed admiring her.
He'll not let her go away from him.
Ever.
Teri muskurahatein hain taaqat meri
Mujhko inhi se ummeed mili
Chaahe kare koi sitam ye jahaan
Inme hi hai sadaa hifaazat meri
He walked towards her, as she stopped swinging. Taking her romantically in his arms, he kissed her deeply on her lips, transferring all his emotions through that one touch.
Zindagani badi khoobsurat hui
Jannat ab aur kya hogi kahin
"I love you Arnav"
"I love you more Khushi"
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