FF - Our Undying Love Part 15 on Page 56 - Page 34

"Avani, you didn't do good by committing this blunder.", Jalal gritted as a sudden anger gushed up while he occupied his seat in the car.

Morning, 6 am

"Doctor, how is she doing? She's doing better now, right?", a helpless friend asked in despair while Bakshi looked on concernedly. The last few hours had been a complete desolation; mentally tiring, for both Jodha's friend and Bakshi.

"Don't worry. It will take some time for her to get fine but everything will be well with time.", Bakshi assured Kritika.

"You take some rest. You can go to the hospital canteen if you wish. You've been crying whole night.", Bakshi advised the emotionally drained friend while Kritika clearly refused.

"No I'll be here. I'll go later if I feel like. But thanks.", Kritika calmly replied with a faint smile.

"Ok. I'll see you in sometime.", with that, Bakshi headed straight to her cabin.

"Sure. You too take some rest", Kritika looked at her with glossy thankful eyes. Bakshi had been doing more than her profession demanded.

---xxx---

"Good morning Bhaijaan.", Bakshi greeted Jalal who was reclining on couch, blankly staring in oblivion.

"Huh? Morning Bakshi.", Jalal replied in a somewhat lost tone.

"How is she doing now Bakshi?", Jalal asked almost instantly as if he'd been meaning to ask the same from ages.

"She's doing fine bhaijaan. She'll be awake in few hours.", Bakshi replied in a nonchalant voice.

"What? She's fine? She'll be conscious in few hours?", instantly coming out of his reverie, Jalal asked looking at Bakshi, with his eyes widening in strange delight.

"Haan bhaijaan. Avani is all fine. She'll be conscious soon. But why are you so surprised?", Bakshi asked amazed.

"Oh.",the delight almost dying down, Jalal gasped. "No I meant Jodha. How is she doing?"

Optimistically taken aback by her brother's concern towards Jodha, Bakshi replied in calm manner "As I said earlier, she's still critical bhaijaan. But a bit better than before as medicines are doing their job."

Ignoring the critical part and focussing on the bit better' part, a faint smile ornamented his face. Right now, any fine development regarding her was more than sufficient to him.

"But tell me bhaijaan, why did you stop me last night? Why didn't you let me ask Kritika about Jodha's family?", Bakshi asked intriguingly.

"I got to know that she doesn't live with her family from her friend. That's why I stopped you. It would be totally discomforting to indulge in that matter given the current situation, right Bakshi?", Jalal looked at Bakshi with hopeful eyes and the latter though taken aback, looked at him understandingly. "You're just amazing Bhaijaan", she said aloud in her mind, admiring her brother for the wonderful person that he was.

"Bhaijaan, can I ask you something?", closing in towards Jalal and occupying a seat beside him, Bakshi asked.

"Ofcourse Bakshi, go ahead"

"I do realise that she's my patient and that I am a bit mad at Avani for her dangerous carelessness, but I see an altogether different concern in your eyes regarding Jodha. Do you know her already?", Bakshi asked maintaining a clear voice.

Astonished by her query, Jalal just kept looking at her without a word. "Did my concern become so profound that it showed up in my eyes? And why is this deep worry for her?", the same question which had been troubling him from long, resurfaced all over again.

"Mmm.. Nothing like that Bakshi. Stop overthinking. I am just concerned because she's in this condition somewhere because of us. I mean Avani. So it's our responsibility that we take care of her.", suppressing his fury against Avani, he made a straight face to say that. Before coming into action of any sort, he wanted to talk to Avani once.

"Okay.", Bakshi smiled back.

---xxx---

Hospital Canteen, 9 am

Both Bakshi and Kritika took their seats on a side table while sipping on the steamy tea.

"Hey, relax now Kritika. Jodha will be all well.", Bakshi smiled at her.

"Yeah, she will have to be.", Kritika replied. "By the way, thank you so much Dr.Bakshi for taking so much care for Jodha. I do understand that whole your night was disturbed."

"No. Don't say that. I am doc and it's my prime duty to be by my patients' sides.", Bakshi smiled again.

Just then, Kritika's phone buzzed and she received the call.

"Oh my god Kriti.. Just read your message. What the heck! Where are you and Jo?", the other side of the phone echoed.

"Relax Siya. I'll tell you everything. I left that note so that you don't get mad at us after not finding us in the home.", Kritika tried to calm down her friend. She had just left a note to her sleeping pal that she's going out as it's urgent and related to Jodha but she need not worry.

"What relax. Tell me now where are you and Jo?", the angry pal reprimanded.

"Come to City hospital", the words which she had been so far avoiding, finally came out. And no wonder, Siya was left shaken with those words. Whenever the word Hospital' comes in picture and it's related to your friends and closed ones, it leaves a deep feeling of fear and uneasiness.

11 am

"Bhaijaan, I think you should freshen up and head for your important office work. You've been restless whole last night. You rest now and then you can resume your work. I'll manage things at hospital.", stepping out of the car, Bakshi advised Jalal.

"Rest? When she's struggling hard there?", again that unknown voice resonated in his head.

"It's YOU who needs the rest Bakshi. You've been on your toes since long. Go freshen up and rest. And make it to hospital when you are better."

"Hmm ok.. and what about you? You're resuming work I hope."

"I have cancelled all the meetings today. They aren't important ones. So I'll be at hospital till the situation lightens up.", Jalal faintly smiled.

Bakshi didn't argue with her brother as she knew how unbending and firm he was with his words and decisions.

12 pm

Back to hospital after freshening up and some moments of rest, Bakshi resumed to her work while Jalal worked on his laptop from Bakshi's cabin.

A few minutes later, Jalal's focus broke as he heard a knock on the door.

"Bhaijaan, Avani is awake.", Bakshi said panting.

Jalal's eyes widened a bit and a mixed feeling of relief and fury gushed through his veins.

"Can I meet her Bakshi?", Jalal asked candidly.

"Sure Bhaijaan. She's way better than before. And you can meet her. By the way, Have you told about her to Ammi?", Bakshi asked. Avani's parents were family friends and were away from the country for some work, so neither Jalal nor Bakshi disturbed them. And they hadn't informed Hamida, their mother, either of the sad happening.

"Not yet. Anyways, let me just go and meet her.", Jalal got up in a flick and left.

---xxx---

Taking a seat on the chair beside Avani, he gaped at her intently, while her fuzzy eyes remained fixed at his moving form. A faint smile enlightened her face as she embraced herself in his comforting presence.

"Hi Jalal", she spoke lowly but to her disappointment, no reply came from the other end. He just kept looking in her eyes. Few seconds of silence prevailed.

"I know I know you're upset and very disappointed with me.", she confessed and tried to get up but Jalal's plain voice resonated before she could accomplish her task. "Don't get up. You aren't well"

She reclined back and smiled at him. "Why will I be upset at you?", Jalal asked feigning amazement.

"Because of what I've done", she said. Jalal was instantly shocked at her words. "Is she really confessing her deed? And is she ashamed of it?"

"..to myself", she completed soon.

"Oh. So that is it.", his dismay only deepened.

Seeing a little painful frown on her face as the injury on her forehead pained, his heart twirled in a strange mixed feeling. It hurt him to see his friend in this sore state. "If that injury pains you so much, can you imagine what Jodha is going through right now?", he mentally scoffed. "She's not even in a state to realise what has happened to her!!"

"What are you thinking Jalal?", Avani's voice reached his ears. "I am sorry I couldn't keep up my promise. And I know it pains you to see me like this", she said gloomily.

For some strange reason, her words only seem to pierce his composure. "Why did you do this Avani? Why? I proudly called you my friend till a day back but now I am anything but proud. Why did you stoop so low?", he protested mentally.

"Are you so badly upset that you won't even talk to me?", Avani complained.

"I am not upset. I am just way too stunned to comprehend the weird reality!", he spoke with tinges of hurt and sarcasm.

"What do you mean Jalal? I am sorry na. I know that by now, Bakshi would have told you about my health status. I am very ashamed at myself Jalal.", she spoke with her eyes lowered.

"I didn't know you were such a double-faced woman. You never let me know that about you. If it wasn't for Jodha, honestly I would have still believed you by not caring to investigate and this facet of yours would have remained sealed.", he painfully cringed in his mind.

"I am ashamed that I drank and drove and broke your trust. Anyways, let's just not talk about it anymore. I am just glad you're here with me", she faintly smiled, trying to brush off the topic.

"Why were you drunk Avani? You were at ease when I left.. Then why did you drink and on top of it, drove as well? Were you upset at... her??", he asked raising his brow.

With Jalal's questions and her' mention, Avani could feel her heart skip a beat. After all, she was peacefully resting here because she had punished her offender. Till now she didn't think about her, but now that Jalal mentioned about her, she pondered upon what state Jodha might be in. Anyways, the supposed state of hers only delighted Avani.

"I am not getting a single bit Jalal? Whom are you talking about? And I am confessing my mistake na. I agree I committed a blunder by drinking and driving. And I am sorry. Now will you just forgive this friend of yours?", she innocently held her ears and looked into his eyes with guilt.

"I will never ever forgive you for what you have done to Jodha. And for our friendship's sake, stop this damned facade. This bloody double-facedness of yours!!!", his composure being shattered with her fake innocence, he screeched still maintaining a low but sharp tone, enough to send chills in the spine of the listener.

Even before Avani could comprehend what she had just heard, another set of words were shot. "I honestly don't know what to do with you. For me, I won't ever forgive you. I never knew you'll stoop so low as to damage her so bad. Just because she won?", he paused realising that his temper was rising unbelievably.

"We are not friends anymore!", with that, he got up, as the sudden rush of fury menaced through his veins.

"What? Don't..say..that..Jalal", slowly reeling from the shock of her life, she managed to voice out that much. Jalal was her dearest friend. No matter what mistake she made, Jalal always forgave her. But if he decided to break the friendship forever, it's going to be a near death for her. "No way Jalal.. Don't say that", her heart screamed.

"And for the legal punishment, it's in hands of Jodha and the police; if Jodha wakes up that is. Thanks to you she's struggling hard with her life.", his eyes almost reddened with immense rage, he looked away from Avani in case he did something he'd later regret.

"Jal...", Avani tried to speak but his raised hand in air stopped her from speaking further. "Spare me from the facade", he cringed angrily and rushed out of the room.

"Jalaaal..", Avani cried behind.

That was it. 2K length 😉 😆 Please leave your valuable comments. 😊 Next update on next Sunday. 😛