FF: Love, Cherish me ~~ Epilogue ~~ - Page 40

Note: This update is brought to you by Super Chickee and parts of it by her bestie Fabulous Dushturain.

The Aftermath

City Hospital:

The cold blue lights outside the ICU buzzed, highlighting the faces of the family gathered in stark contrast. The constant hum and beeping, and the rush of uniformed staff in and out of the closed doors added to the general pall that had set in over the gathering, punctuated only by the slight sobbing of someone.

It was all my fault, Thapki thought miserably, Yes, Ma deserved what I said to her but she doesn't deserve to die... I wanted to punish her, hurt her as she hurt my Bihaan but no one deserves to die as a punishment ...please, please Matarani don't take her life away...please get her well soon, otherwise Bihaan will never forgive me and I can not forgive myself , she prayed earnestly.

Thapki glanced once more at Bihaan, who was standing at the end of the corridor with Dhruv sir speaking to a surgeon. She noticed him wincing against the pain that his own injuries were causing him, and felt a rush of anger at his refusal to be treated first. How could he not think of himself? The amount of blood that he had lost ... the pain that he was obviously controlling in his rigid frame. My poor baby!

If truth be told Thapki was feeling ashamed to meet Bihaan's eyes. How could she lose her temper to such extent? But seeing her Bihaan at the receiving end of such violence, how could she remain quiet? Her heart argued with her mind. It had been too much for her to bear. She had not been able to control her anguish or her anger any more.

After everyone rushed Ma to hospital, Bauji, Dadima, Preity and Suman Bhabi, Ashwin and Sanjay Bhaiya each assured her from time to time that she must not blame herself at any cost regarding what happened. Ma was sick since long time and anything could have happened to her... not necessarily Thapki's fault. Even Dhruv Sir at one time gave her a brief nod of support. But Thapki knew it was not true, doctor had again and again asked them to keep Ma stress free, not to make her worried and today Thapki did just that... in fact she did more...

She looked at Bihaan again and sighed. She had to take matters in her own hand, considering her husband had no care about himself at all. With a sigh, Thapki pushed herself off the bench, where she sat holding Dadima's hand, and stalked across to nurse station she spied at the opposite end of the long corridor.

Marching up to the station, she requested the Nurse on duty for some first aid supplies. He would surely not refuse her assistance now would he? A surge of remorse rose within Thapki, and she turned to watch him across the corridor as he now leant against the wall, taking support to stand. He was not going to crumble, her stubborn yet loveable husband, she shook her head ruefully.

The nurse standing beside her with a first aid tray, brought Thapki out of her musings. "Chaliye, main dressing kar deti hoon," the nurse assured her warmly, already aware of the scene that Bihaan had created earlier when they had tried to clean him up. They walked past the family still huddled around one of the benches towards where Bihaan, now clearly barely conscious, was standing with Dhruv.

Walking up to them apprehensively, Thapki braced herself, for another round of arguments with him, and was surprised when he meekly let her lead him to another steel bench close by. She felt Dhruv sir, watch them intently for a few minutes, then walk off towards where the family was sitting.

Thapki sat, next to Bihaan, holding him close as the nurse cleaned his wounds as much as she could. His head injury would need stitches, she murmured anxiously to Thapki, while she bandaged the rest of the cuts and gashes that the brass diya had inflicted. "Ma?" Bihaan muttered under his breath and Thapki felt shabby, not wanting to antagonize him any further, "You h-have to let the nurse tend to your w-wounds, Bihaan," she said instead. "If you fall ill t-then how can you be of any h-help in looking after Ma." She said in a small voice.

As if comprehending her reasoning, he nodded slowly, letting the nurse and a male attendant walk him into a nearby room, to be properly stitched up and bandaged. Thapki followed them and sat beside him again as they started to work on him. Bihaan reached out and took her hand into his big one leaving their joined hands in Thapki's lap. A drop of tear fell into his hand from one of her eye and Bihaan sighed.

"Don't be sad Thapki nothing is your fault. Don't blame yourself and beat yourself about it..."

Thapki shook her head still crying silently, "No, it is e-entirely my f-fault, have I not sh-shouted at her---"

"If anyone really is to be blamed, that should be me Thapki...I made her angry...I said no to her for first time in my life..."

"Can you ever f-forgive me if anything h-happens to her? Do you h-hate me already?" Thapki said in a small voice.

"Nothing will happen to her, she will be all right in no time soon" Bihaan said quickly in a rush and then added, "--and I can never, ever hate you for anything...I love you remember?"

Thapki shook her head again still looking down at their joined hands, "I c-can't see you in pain B-Bihaan."

"I am not in any kind of pai-----OOOUUU" he finished in a wince when the nurse started to work on one of his sensitive cuts.

Thapki couldn't help but smile, "Yes I c-can see that, you are not in any k-kind of pain...you are the ultimate H-HE-MAN"

Bihaan looked at her and gave her a smile, his eyes still sad.

When they emerged from the room, the doctor who had attended to Vasu was emerging from the ICU. Thapki felt Bihaan stiffen against her. He had refused to let them administer a pain killer for fear of falling asleep. He leaned against Thapki urging her to get him to where the doctor now stood with the family.

Vasundhara, had suffered a stroke. At their shocked expressions, he explained that while most strokes were cause by blocked arteries and lack of flow of blood to the heart, hers seemed to be a Hemorrhagic stroke, caused because of uncontrolled high blood pressure or some sort of trauma. At the exchanged glances of the family, he turned questioningly towards Dhruv. "Yes, she was in a bit of a temper, doctor..." he said softly, "She had been screaming and ..." he looked towards where a bandaged and silent Bihaan stood with Thapki.

"I made her angry, doctor." Bihaan spoke up firmly. "She was having a breakdown because of me."

"Bihaan," Thapki looked at him tormented by his guilt. If anyone was responsible, it was her and she would not let Bihaan take any more troubles upon himself any more she decided.

The doctor was continuing his diagnosis and feedback to them. In cases of a Hemorrhagic stroke anything from the brain, speech, and sight could be affected, and they could only get a clear picture of the damage once the patient gained consciousness. At present she was stable and under observation, and none of them could go inside to see her. However complications could arise anytime and there would always be a risk for her to have a stroke again.

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City Hospital

Next day...

Though the doctors said everyone should leave as there was no point waiting outside the patient's room when the patient was lying unconscious and they would inform if any change in patient's condition occur at any moment, Bihaan stubbornly refused to go home and sat in the corridor outside Vasundhara's room all night long. And Thapki stayed with him while everyone went home.

It was almost noon next day when Vasundhara finally regained her consciousness. Bihaan ran to her side the moment she opened her eyes and hold her hand. Bauji and Dhruv ran to the other side of her bed. Dadima and everyone stood by Vasu's feet. And Thapki stood behind everyone because she was not sure how Ma would react seeing her.

"I am so sorry Ma, I promise I would never hurt you again" Bihaan vowed with tears in his eyes.

Vasu looked at him and smiled, "Pagal did you get scared?" she smiled at everyone "I won't leave you guys so soon, don't worry."

She again looked at Bihaan, "Nalayek fir sey marpeet ki tuney? Kab sudhrega? Bahut hero banta firta hain...kisney kiya aisa haal tera?Apna huliya dekha hain sheeshe mein?"

Bihaan and everyone stiffened. Bauji asked Ashwin to fetch the doctor and asked , "Vasundharaji, how are you feeling now?"

"I am fine... just a little weak" Vasu said and squinted her eyes as if trying to remember something, "I can't remember how I came to be here...I am sorry to worry you all like this..I am sure I will be fine and running again in no time"

Pin drop silence greeted that reply.

Vasu said again, "Thapki beta?? Is she not here?"

"I am here M-Ma" Thapki said timidly from where she was hiding behind everyone.

Vasu extended her hand towards her and asked her to come close. Thapki came and took her hand. Vasu smiled at her and then at Bihaan who was still holding her other hand.

"I went to the lawyers and got your annulment papers, children...I don't remember where I put them...I don't want you two to remain in your fake relationship anymore."

Everyone gasped in the room. Thapki looked at Bihaan. But Bihaan was only looking at his mother.

"Don't worry Ma, I will sign them the first possible chance I get. You just concentrate on getting better." Bihaan said without blinking.

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Chapter- 18 A Forever kind of Love

PS: Sorry for the problem I was having updating my FF. I was facing some issues with editing...I fixed it finally. Ignore this line if you don't know what I am talking about.

I want to say something else as well,