FF - Our Undying Love Part 15 on Page 56 - Page 38

"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.

Afternoon - around 3 pm

"I just can't believe this. What the heck!!", Bakshi hit her forehead with her palm as the disgusting reality smacked her being time and again. It's been an hour or two since she has come to know about Avani's evil deed but it's just so nauseating to come to terms with it. Bakshi could relate and feel more for Jodha as she herself was taking care of her and she had seen her almost lifeless form. So it was very painful to realise that Jodha was in that excruciating condition not only because of someone's cruel intentions but also, that someone was no other than a known close person.

"And Bakshi.. I really do not know what to do with her. She's our friend doesn't mean she won't get punished for what she has done. Had it been unintentional, I'd have reconsidered a bit. But it was all deliberate Bakshi.. It was all deliberate..", as Bakshi recalled Jalal's painful words full of anger, she again cringed in aversion.

Only after listening to the whole unfolding of events from her brother, was she able to join all the dots. She had tried to converse more with Jalal but he just left from there due to an uneasy internal suffocation that surged within him.

-x-x-x-

"Yeah Maan! It's her. It was all on purpose and I don't need to explain that to you right?", Jalal said in an all lost voice as he rested on his poolside lounge, trying to ease away the constant harassing restlessness.

"So... what do we do next?", few seconds later, a plain query echoed from other end, sounding more against the intentional crime than favouring the known friend.

"Seriously? You, the oh-so-unbending and tough cop, asking this?"

But before Jalal could even complete, Maan retorted back immediately.

"No Jalal. Not favouring Avani at all. Just want to discuss the stuff with you before actually plunging into action. But tell me one thing Jalal, I admit you and me as well, are really hurt after coming to know of Avani's deed, but why do I have this feeling that you're more than just angry or hurt? I mean.. I can feel something more than just anger... I mean..", gauging that both the pals were getting ached, Maan tried to lighten the mood, though his query remained as genuine as it could be.

"Hmm..", Jalal drew a deep breath before cutting the call with the last sentence to his friend "Stop mulling over something that's absolutely unnecessary and plunge into the much needed action as soon as possible." And the talk ended there.

Gazing over the silent serene bluish water, his eyes floating in oblivion, he wondered how the hell did his sister and crazy bunch of friends recognised this more-than-just concern emanating out of him for the injured lady, which he himself was probably unaware of. Well ok, maybe he did accept that he was concerned for her, but on how earth were his own people, his own friends, so easily able to read through his eyes and actions. Wow! He had to be extra careful from now on, he mused to himself.

-x-x-x-

"What the hell! What the bloody hell!", Waking up from the deep slumber and a few minutes of contemplation after it, Avani swore through her teeth as her pleas and cries were now replaced by pure anger. A pure disgust for the pain she had to go through just a few hours ago, seeped through her. She would bear anything, any pain or hurt in this hell of a world but Jalal's ignorance, worse, his indifference.

"Did that bitch survive or what? Did she conspire against me? Did she fill in Jalal's ears against me? God! I can't believe she actually survived my attack. And how can Jalal... ufff.. How can he take her side? Why the hell did he say all that aching stuff to me, just because .. just because of that bitch?"

She held her head with both her palms, trying to compose her exploding headache as her head throbbed with all thoughts of recent events. "Didn't he see how she slapped me? Did he not see how hurt I was? Hell, I am! No no no.. this is not happening", a hot lone tear streamed down her cheek as Jalal's words rang into her ears once again.

After Jalal had left the room, her legs had frozen. Infact, whole of her body and mind had frozen due to the immense agony that hit her. "We are not friends anymore." Nothing had ever hurt her so much. She couldn't even get up and run behind him to stop him or give any sort of explanation.

She just sat there, still reeling from all of it. She didn't realise when a nurse came and injected some medicine into her. She was just not interested in giving any heed to her. Did anything else really matter now? Now that her Jalal had broken the precious tie between them? Their friendship. She didn't realise when her body just numbed and fell back on the bed as her eyes slowly closed, the quick effect of her medicine.

"Neah. Not cool and not happening. He's just very upset at me. Infact, real angry at me. But I am sure he didn't mean what he said. He cares for me a lot. It must have hurt him too bad that I committed such a deed. But I'll make sure I make it back up to him. I am sorry Jalal. Please forgive me. I will never ever hurt you again. But don't shut me away from you.", she silently wept, a mixture of pain, anger, insecurity, hurt and remorse gushing through her.

"And I'll also make sure, that the person responsible for this bloody mess gets her share of prize too.", her eyes squinted into disgust and fury, resembling the ones of an insane devil. "But ofcourse, this time it'll all be backed up. No room for any mistake. You'll be given such a gift my dear dear enemy, of which everyone will remain unaware of forever.", she smiled to her heart's content. "No bloody mistake this time."

-x-x-x-

6pm, Hospital Canteen

"Our Jo is one strong woman we have ever met. She'll emerge through this with head held high. Haina?", the proud friend asked the other, with a layer of moistness in her eyes.

"Ofcourse she will! But don't forget, that more than strong, she's one stubborn creation of god. Hence the delay she's deliberately making.", Kritika laughed through light tears.

Siya, Kritika and Jodha were three inseparable besties for life. Stumbled into each other by destiny, they held onto each other till date with utmost care and the vibrant support they provided each other through thick and thin remained as pure as it could be. They loved each other and lived life to fullest together.

"That's true. But let me tell you one thing clearly. Let her take one more day to trouble us and I am gonna smack all her bones..huh!", Siya made a devil face while Kritika giggled in response. Oh they always managed to bring a smile on each other's face when low in life.

"Acha by the way.. have you..er.. given a thought about the hospital fees? I am sure it's gonna be a good sum.", a little tensed Kritika made her comment.

Siya looked at her understandingly with concern.

Nope, the discussion over fees never meant or implied that they talked of it as a burden. Be it now, or be it ever before, or be it in coming future- any amount of money spent of either of them always meant spending on the three as a whole. Together they earned for each other, together they paid for each other. Right now, the hospital bill was as much their own as it was Jodha's. Infact, it was just their's and not for their individual selves.

"We don't need to worry for it. Can't be larger than our savings. And even if it turns out, we'll manage. Just like always. Right?", Siya stretched her palm forward, only to be tightly yet gently, caressed by her smiling buddy.

Unaware of the presence of a third person, the duo supported each other through their eyes. The person marvelling at the silent peaceful moment, decided to not ruin it and left.

-x-x-x-

9:30 pm, Bakshi's cabin

"Bhaijaan, have you had your dinner? Your eyes look so tired.", making a face, she complained to her brother.

"And what if I ask you the same?", an instantly reply shot back as Jalal slowly reclined on the couch.

"I am not reckless like you. I know how to take of myself so that I can serve people. But I guess I know my answer, so you didn't have your dinner. Right?", with a voice very serious, she asked looking into her laptop.

"I really don't feel hungry Bakshi. And I am not acting here! So please spare me the looks.", he shot back with genuine words, typing away in his cell-phone.

He was awaiting another taunt from his sister but none came. Drawing his eyes away from his phone, he looked at Bakshi who was still engrossed in laptop. He focussed on her expressions, trying to gauge any seriousness or emergency in her work, but thankfully that wasn't the case.

"No more sweet words?", he asked in a playful tone but again he got the same reply. Silence.

"Bakshi"

"What?"

"I am asking you something. What happened now?"

"Nothing bhaijaan. You relax and do your work. I am doing mine.", her voice reflected sheer indifference.

Drawing a huge breath, he got up. "What will you have? I am going to get our dinner.", he looked into her eyes, which were busy in her work.

As the words made it to her, a sleek smile instantly erupted on her lips. Her eyes lifted up to meet his, and she quickly covered up the faint smile with a smirk. "Now you're talking!"

-----

Back with the parcel, Jalal arranged the dinner on the glass table near the couch and both brother and sister began to dine.

"How was your day bhaijaan? I mean .. after you left?", Bakshi decided to break the ice and try to free her beloved brother from the despair, which has been engulfing him from more than a day.

"It was okay.", he replied with a faint smile.

"You said you'll be at hospital with me. But you did the opposite. Why?", though knowing the reason somewhere, she intentionally asked.

"You know na Bakshi. I just couldn't stand her sight. How could she?", he didn't complete his words. The more he tried to forget Avani's facade, the more it came coming back.

"Forget her bhaijaan. Let's not ruin our mood now. I know we're pretty hurt and upset with her. But we have given ourselves much despair in the whole day than we deserve. Haven't we?", she asked with a soft voice.

"Right!", sensibility prevailing in, he brushed aside Avani's topic and turned to something he'd be more interested in talking about.

"So, tell me how is she' doing?", stressing on "she", he asked her so that she gets it correctly.

Gauging his not-so-hidden query, she perked up a smirk in return. "I will definitely tell you how "she" is doing, but before that I have to ask you something more important."

"What?", he instantaneously asked, falling in her trap. "You've just made a world record. I had been keeping a count until evening but I totally lost track of it by now. Tell me the exact number of times you've enquired about her health today and I will let you know her health status."

Devil of a sister!

An unknown tinge of embarrassment adorned his cheeks and temple for a flick of a second before he pushed it back with all his might. "Will you just shut up and answer me!"

"SHE is doing better. Infact much better than the morning", with a light smirk blended with a soft smile, Bakshi replied.

An instant elation beamed on his face. Yes he had been keeping a track of Jodha's wellness status even when he was away but getting to hear such a positive note right from his sister's mouth, live in front of him, was something he felt so great and wonderful about.

"You're an amazing doc Bakshi!", he earnestly said, looking into her eyes with utmost love and respect. He knew how much she had worked hard and taken care of her patient, and he also knew that she knew that the patient definitely meant something significant to him.

And truth be told, he long left that hesitation to put up different expressions in front of her. Of course, given the smart and clever sister of his, he couldn't manage it long. He knew she could easily read his mind, understand his unspoken words and worries. If anything, he was only thankful to her. Deep understanding from her for himself made him so proud of her.

"Bakshi.. I had a question.. rather a doubt actually."

"Go on", she was enjoying this light-hearted dinner with her brother. A much welcome relief after long tiring hours.

"How will she be managing without food? I mean do those medicines do the work of food as well? How is she deriving her energy to fight on from?", he knew he sounded stupid to even ask that, but this was something else speaking. Something on an altogether different level. Concern.

Bowled over by such concern and care of her brother for Jodha, Bakshi smiled softly. "Don't worry bhaijaan. I am telling you this for the final time. DON'T WORRY!" and her strengthening words put him to ease, once and for all. Well, atleast for the night.

"Ok, last one for tonight. Is there anyone by her side right now? I mean ofcourse she needs someone constantly right?", he asked worried.

"Yep. A nurse is always there in her ward. So stop worrying.", she relieved him.

"Okay then my sister dearest, I'll take your leave now. Make sure you wind up everything soonest and come home early. Ok?", he gave her a warm hug and left her cabin.

-x-x-x-

"Haven't got a glimpse of her the whole day. What if I just walk to her ward, watch her from outside and then leave?", he mused to himself, and before long, he found his feet doing their job with perfection.