FF: Unloved (Complete) - Page 73

The jeep hadn't even come to a complete stop. As soon as it pulled up to the BSD General Ward, Parvati scooted over Mala and jumped out of the moving vehicle. She stumbled as she landed on the concrete pavement, but balanced herself. Without waiting for Mala and Dilsher to stop the car, she ran into the ward. There weren't many people there, just a few nurses and patient's family members walking down the halls. A few officers were pacing around, trying to find out information about their fellow mates. Parvati reached the main desk, breathless. The receptionist looked at her, waiting to know the reason for her being there.

"I need to know where Rudra Pratap Ranawat is," Paro breathed.

Before the receptionist could reply, a familiar male voice came from behind her, "Mrs. Ranawat?"

Parvati turned and found a BSD officer looking at her curiously. The tall, innocent-looking man looked as though he had been in a fight. His uniform was covered in dirt and his arm was marked with scratches. He held his cap in his hand, clutching in with a death grip. His nameplate read Singh'. Immediately, she realized that the man in front of her was Officer Amandeep Singh, the one she had talked to on the phone.

Parvati rushed up to him and asked, "Where is he?"

"Ma'am, he's in the Operating Theatre," Amandeep replied. "The doctors won't let anyone in to see him."

"What happened?"

"Sir was shot in the line of duty. The bullet went through his chest and apparently nicked a major artery. They're trying to stop the bleeding. However, Sir has already lost lot of blood before he was brought here. The doctors can't say anything for certain right now."

"Where is the Operating Theatre?"

"They won't let you in to see-."

"Officer Amandeep Singh! Where is the Operating Theatre!"

Amandeep gulped. She is definitely Officer Rudra's wife. He pointed to his right, "Down that hall. Take the last left and it's at the very end of the hall. You'll see a red light on top of the-."

Parvati didn't wait for him to finish. She dashed passed him and went down the hall. Soon, she came face-to-face with the operating room. She stared at the white double doors, knowing in her heart that Rudra was just behind them. Her eyes went to the red light that was on just above the doors. They were still operating inside. As long as that light was on, she would not be allowed in, and as long as she was not allowed in she wouldn't know what her husband's condition was. Parvati stood in front of that door like a statue, waiting for someone to come out and tell her something, fearing that if she moved something terrible would happen.

She stared at the door, not once tearing her gaze from it. Even when Dilsher and Mala reached her location, she didn't move. Parvati didn't even flinch when Mala put a hand on her shoulder. She heard her say that they hadn't received any news on Rudra. Dilsher had gone to find out the specific details, leaving the two women to wait for someone to come out of the Operating Theatre. Mala sat down on one of the chairs by the room with her head leaned back against the wall. She couldn't believe that all of this was happening. She glanced at Parvati, who hadn't moved from her spot in front of the doors since she had arrived. Rudra had to be okay. Who knew what would happen to Parvati if something happened to him.

After ten minutes of silence, Parvati spoke softly, "He's going to be okay, maa-sa."

Mala, who had closed her eyes to pray, opened them and looked at Parvati. She stood up and went to the young woman, thinking that she was just hearing things. But as she reached Paro, Mala found her fighting back tears. It tore her heart to see her this way. The lack of knowledge of what was happening to Rudra was eating away at her. This person who Mala was standing by wasn't her daughter-in-law, but a lifeless shadow of the woman who once was Parvati.

Without looking at her maa-sa, Paro repeated herself, "He's going to be okay. He needs to be okay."

"Par-."

"He has to be okay. If I lose him, then I will have nothing left to live for. I-I need him like a body needs a soul."

Parvati felt like a fool for not realizing it sooner. Rudra was always there, despite everything. He was her friend, her supporter, her protecter. He had done everything in his power to make her move forward from Varun. And with his help, Parvati was finally able to. Fate had continuously done what It could to try and bring her and Rudra together. And now, because of him, her fears and doubts were finally gone. She was finally able to live...with Rudra. How could she not have understood how she felt about him? Why was it that, when she was on the verge of losing him, she realized what Rudra meant to her?

Mala's heart went out to Parvati. Never once had she heard her vocalize her feelings towards Rudra. She knew she loved her son just based on her actions. The care and concern she saw each and every day was enough to show her. Even the look in Paro's eyes revealed the feelings she kept inside. But to hear Parvati declare it, and to this extent? She had never fathomed such an idea. Mala felt herself choke back her sobs. She realized that if Rudra died today, so would Parvati. They needed each other. They couldn't live without each other. Life without the other was meaningless. As she raised her head to fight back her tears, Mala continued to hear Parvati repeatedly whisper one sentence like a mantra.

"He needs to be okay."

~

In his half-conscious state, Rudra could hear everything that was going on around him. The bright light above him was more blinding than the sun. He could see the silhouette of figures around him, but he couldn't make them out. The black figures hovered over him as he lay on some flat bed. Rudra didn't know where he was or who these people were. The last thing he remembered was slipping into unconsciousness after being shot. The pain, however, wasn't as bad as it was earlier. Maybe shock had gotten to him. He felt a shot of pain as pressure was applied to his wound. He heard unfamiliar voices from the unknown people.

"Get some more gauze," someone ordered.

"We need to stop the bleeding," another voice said.

"He's going to need a blood transfusion."

Rudra felt an oxygen mask being placed over his mouth to help him breath. He

tried to focus, but felt himself slipping out of consciousness once again. He struggled to keep his eyes open. He found it difficult to breathe. With his eyes half-open, Rudra stared at the bright light above him. Was this it? Was he dying? Was this how it was going to end? He slowly blinked. He gasped for breath, but felt another surge of pain. Knowing that if he did so again he would feel as if he was being stabbed, Rudra took smaller breaths. He felt his strength leaving him with each small breath he took. Was this really it? His breathing weakened, and as he very slowly opened and closed his eyes...memories of Paro flashed before him.

"

He sighed, "You know we're friends, right?"

"Umm yes?"

"Is that an answer or a question?"

"An answer?"

He blinked.

"An answer."

"

Rudra took a small step forward and said, "I care about you, Paro."

Parvati looked at him, frozen in silence.

"Don't worry. No one will say anything bad about you ever again. Not while I am around."

"

"Paro, no!" he shouted.

Parvati turned around, "Goodbye, Rudra."

"No! Stop!"

She began walking away.

"Paro, stop!"

She didn't listen.

"I love you, Paro!"

"

"I thank you for finding me worthy enough to tell your past to. But it doesn't change how I feel about you. I still love you, and I will always love you. That will never change. If I have to prove it to you then I will...everyday for the rest of my life."

"What do you mean? How?"

Rudra took a deep breath before he cupped her face in both of his hands, "I will marry you."

"

Without moving to look at him, she spoke, "Rudra."

"Hmm?" he said.

"Will you marry me?"

"

Parvati shook her head and looked at him, "You still don't understand."

"What are you talking about, woman?!"

"I want you to come and celebrate Holi with me, Rudra!"

There was a moment of silence as his eyes widened, "...What?"

Parvati looked at him hopefully, "I want to celebrate Holi...with you..."

"

"Thank you, Rudra," she said in a barely audible whisper. "Not just for today, but for being in my life everyday. I don't know what I did to deserve you."

"

Parvati didn't say anything, but her eyes questioned him, asking how he got in.

He stroked her cheek softly, "No one can keep me away from you, Paro."

She leaned into his hand.

"

Parvati handed him the other edge of the dupatta, but before he could go back Rudra held her hand.

In a low, husky whisper, he asked, "How many times will you send me away?"

Parvati barely managed to whisper an answer as she stared into his hopeful eyes, "Just... one last time."

"

When Paro was thoroughly drenched, Rudra dropped the hose to the ground. He loosened his grip enough for her to turn his in hold so she was now facing him. She stopped laughing as she caught her breath.

"Now we're even," Rudra said as he flicked her nose.

Paro grinned.

"

Parvati sighed deeply before unconsciously holding onto his kurta. Rudra frowned as she moved her head around, trying to find a comfortable position. He extended his arm out, and she rested her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his arm around her, not once breaking her slumber. Rudra carefully moved a strand of her hair from her face before sighing and closing his eyes, allowing the peace he felt when holding Paro consume him once more.

"

They say that when a person is dying, their life flashes before their eyes. Every memory of Paro went through his mind as Rudra slowly felt the life drain out of him. Her happiness, her sadness, her anger, her laughter. He saw it all. To him, she was his life. As his eyes began to close, Rudra used the little strength he had left to utter the one word that was etched in his heart.

"...Paro..."

~

The sound of alarms beeping caught their attention. It was coming from the Operating Theatre. Parvati held onto Mala as they scooted to the side. Nurses and doctors began running in and out of the room. It was like a stampede. As the doors swung open, Parvati could hear nurses shouting and machines beeping. However, it was the words of the BSD head doctor that shook Paro to the core.

"I can't feel a pulse!" the doctor shouted. "His heart rate is dropping!"

In that moment, nothing else mattered. Not the doctors. Not their orders. Nothing. In an instant, Parvati moved away from Mala and rushed into the Operating Theatre. The scene before her stopped her heart altogether. Blood. There was so much blood. Towels soaked in the red liquid laid on the floor. The gauzes they were using to dab the blood oozing out of Rudra's chest were piled on the table with the equipment. Rudra's body was on the table, surrounded by doctors and nurses trying to get the bleeding to stop and his heartbeat to regulated. The oxygen mask was on his face. Parvati could see the blood on his bare chest and the hole the bullet had left. She could hear the doctors shouting that his pulse was dropping quickly. Rudra was dying.

The doctors and nurses had noticed the woman in the red sari enter the room. Seeing the woman's gaze locked on the patient, two male nurses went to her and tried to order her out. The scene was traumatizing for anyone, and this woman, who obviously had some attachment to the man on the table, did not need to see this.

"Ma'am," one of the male nurses said. "You can't be in here. You need to leave."

But Parvati paid no heed to either of them. Her attention was solely on the man laying on there operating table, fighting for his life. At that moment, all other voices and sounds drowned out. It was only a mesh of sounds, the beeping of the pulse monitor was the only other prominent sound in the entire room. As she took a step forward, the two nurses each grabbed one of her arms and pulled her back. However, she kept fighting to move forward, to Rudra. She had to get to him, to make sure he didn't leave her.

"Rudra!" Parvati shouted as the nurses continued to pull her back. "Rudra I know you can hear me!"

Rudra didn't respond. The pulse and heart monitor beeped. Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Get her out of here!" the head doctor ordered as he pumped Rudra's chest. "Come on, officer. Stay with us!"

Parvati continued to yell as the nurses tried pulling her back again, "Rudra! You can't do this! You can't give me happiness and be taken away from me! You can't die! If you die, I die!"

Beep...Beeep...Beeep..

A female nurse spoke, "His pulse is dropping. 43...41...40..."

"You promised to never leave me! You are all I have left!" Parvati yelled.

"Come on, officer! Stay with us."

Beep...beeep...beep...

"11...10...7..."

"Please, I need you!"

"5...4...3..."

"I love you, Rudra!"

Beeep...

Silence filled the entire room. Parvati stopped fighting as she caught sight of the single white line on the heart monitor, indicating no pulse or heartbeat. Rudra had flatlined. The nurses released her as they no longer felt her struggling. Parvati stared at her husband's dead body on the table. She felt like she was going to be sick. How could this have happened? She had just lost the one she loved? That too when she realized just how she felt about him? What was the point of all of this? What was the point of Rudra coming into her life and loving her if he was only going to taken from her? No, this wasn't happening. This couldn't be happening.

Parvati slowly stepped towards Rudra. The doctors didn't stop her, but watched her cautiously. She walked in a daze, her eyes never left the bloody body. She stood next to the table, staring at it. Carefully, as if not to hurt him, she took Rudra's hand in hers. It was barely warm, but it was enough to remind Parvati of all the times she was close to him and basked in his warmth. How she wished she could do it just one more time...

"Rudra," she said softly as she sniffled. Tears streamed down her face. "I love you. Please...I'm begging you...don't leave me...Please..."

She closed her eyes and sobbed, covering her mouth with her free hand. Parvati felt herself dying. It had only been thirty seconds since he flatlined, but it felt like hours had passed. Why did this happen? Why? How could she lose-.

...Beep...

Parvati froze. Her cries stopped. What was that?

...Beep...Beep...

She looked around at the doctors, who rushed forward and looked at the monitors and Rudra's body. Their eyes widened in disbelief as they stared at the monitors. Parvati's eyes went back and forth from them to Rudra to the monitors. Her heart raced as she heard the female nurse speak.

"He's got a pulse!" she said loudly.

Parvati felt her heart pound in her chest as she looked at her husband, "Rudra..."

It was as if her calling his name was a trigger. The second his name left her lips, Rudra's chest heaved, taking in a huge amount of air to fill his lungs. She felt his hand barely clasp onto hers, as if telling her that he knew she was there. Seeing this the doctors immediately took action. The head doctor began pumping on Rudra's chest, while a nurses was shouting orders to stabilize him. In all this commotion, Parvati was pushed away from Rudra. Her hand slipped out of his, her fingers just barely sliding out his hold. However, she didn't care. She smiled as tears flowed freely from her eyes. His pulse was rising and his heartbeat was regulating, but the doctors needed to stop the bleeding. Parvati was taken out of the Operating Theatre by the two male nurses. She was practically tackled by Mala and Dilsher, who fearfully looked at her, wondering what had happened in there. Parvati said nothing, but gave them a simple nod, letting them know that it would be fine. She was right. It wasn't long before the head doctor came out and gave them the news the trio had been dying to hear. Rudra was alive. He was going to be okay.

**********

Yes! He's alive! She confessed her feelings! *squeals* Let me know what you think by leaving your comments and feedback below!

Next update: Rudra gains consciousness.

Thanks for reading!