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A long one shot!(Read Till End)
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OS - || When Destiny Ties ! ||
Tears rolled down her cheeks as she stared at the door, her hands clutched tightly on to her dress. Helpless she stood there her heart beating slowly.
He rushed in through the door with his brothers on his trail. His voice shook as he enquired details and ran through the corridor, and stopped only when he spotted a familiar face.
"Gauri! he exclaimed, his breathing hard as he saw her broken state. The moment she heard her name being called out she ran to him and hugged him.Bhaiya! she wailed in his arms.
"Are you okay? A second's pause followed as he looked around,.. Anika ...where is she? his heart skipped beats as he spoke, and an ambiguous fear gripping him hard.
She simply pointed at the ICU. He stared at the door shocked and his eyes wide. His brothers who stood a little distance away were shocked as well. At once they were by his side, holding him by the arm.
Omkara gently held on to his brother's back who stepped backwards in shock. He almost hit the wall.
"Nothing will happen to her Om! he spoke in a heavy voice not taking his eyes off the door that read ICU. Nothing!
Gauri pressed her forehead against the wall and began to cry her heart out. Rudra at once got to Gauri's side with tears brimming down his own eyes.
"Bhabhi will be fine! Omkara whispered holding Shivaay.
Rudra nodded. "But yeh sab kaise?
Silent streams rolled down Gauri's eyes as flashbacks ran before her eyes. As she feebly narrated what had happened in broken sentences and stammering phrases.
****
"Bhaujaai, humein nahi chaiye! chirped Gauri cheerfully, dragging Anika away from the shop.
"Arey Gauri, main keh rahi hoon naa, tum pe bahut acha lage gaa, chalo toh! replied Anika pulling her in the other direction.
"Acha theek hai aap, chaliye hum, wo fruits khareed ke aate hain!
"Theek hai jaldi aana! said Anika, making way to the shop across the road.
A while later Anika stood across the road waiting for Gauri, she had already bought the dress for Gauri that they had a debate on, but Gauri had still not returned. Anika walked a little ahead and turned onto the main road. There she found Gauri distributing candies to the unprivileged kids. She smiled looking at her. She was a sweet little angel. She stood there in admiration. Gauri noticed Anika waiting for her and quickly waving at the kids she made her way to where Anika was standing, turning back occasionally as the kids called out to her, saying a bye.
The next moment there was a scream and a few seconds later another.
A speeding car had been spotted by Anika that Gauri hadn't made note of. Anika had quickly rushed to Gauri, to drag her back to the other side, when her leg had twisted causing her to be the victim of the accident while Gauri had been pushed away on to the road's end. Gauri had been badly bruised; she winced and got up only to see Anika in a pool of blood. She screamed out to her, crawling to her sister-in-law.
She had quickly made a call to Omkara as they were in the ambulance.
****
A nurse walked out and at once the people outside the room crowded her. "How is Anika? asked Shivaay. "Can I see her, I m sure she will be fine.
It tore Omkara to see his brother's shocked state. He looked anything but normal on the outside but Omkara saw beyond. He saw that helpless kid holding on to anything, any thought of hope, for support.
"She has lost a lot of blood.
"Take mine! suggested Rudra coming forward, restlessly.
"No, Ma'am has given her blood test, the reports would be here any minute. Minutes later an intern came up to her giving her a file.
"She will be fine right? asked Gauri, in despair.
"Matched, please come this way,. She asked Gauri to come along to donate her blood.
"Nurse, you can take mine instead offered Omkara, noticing Gauri's shock, tiredness and wounds.
"Sir, it's a O negative type! The match is scarce.
Gauri silently followed. Omkara looked at Rudra asking him to be by Shivaay and took the trail of his wife.
Once Gauri's wounds were dressed she was taken to another room, while Omkara waited anxiously praying for everything to turn out fine.
***
Gauri sat aimlessly looking at the ICU door. She had been sitting that way since ever. The bulb still glowed, and her gaze remained fixed. She was numb. She could give all her blood, all she prayed for was Anika to be fine.
The sobs were stifled at first as he attempted to hide his grief, then overcome by a powerful wave of his emotions, he broke down entirely. All his defences washed away in those salty tears. He broke down bitterly while his brothers' held on to him. Just like the heartbeats to a heart.
"Bhaiya, Bhaabhi is going to be angry seeing you like this! Please don't cry. Pleaded Rudra, wiping his own tears.
While Omkara sat like a rock, he knew he had to be strong, but he was breaking on the inside. He wondered how Shivaay did it every time. He would always be the strong brick, for the family during the worst storms. Now, that brick was the one falling apart and with it shook the entire house! Omkara looked at Gauri, he feared what he saw. She was sinking, sinking in guilt. He then looked at his brother, he was drowning in misery. He then looked at Rudra, he was helplessly slipping of the edge. Finally his eyes rested at the board on the door that read ICU.
Anika wasn't just Shivaay's wife, NO! She was their family as well. She was Gauri's sister which she never had. Not just Rudra's partner-in-crime but also his mother-like-figure. If Shivaay was his superman, Anika was his superwoman.
To him, she was his Best Friend! He was marvelled at the way she understood him when even Shivaay and Gauri failed. He remembered that day when he had first called her Bhaabhi and not by her name. She was Prinku's angel and the woman who gave liveliness to their home. Oh, how incomplete without her would be their home! He rubbed off the tear that warned to fall off his eye's edge.
He rubbed Shivaay's back and hugged him, more to find his own courage than to sooth his crying brother.
***
"She is fine, but asleep due to the anaesthesia. Family can see her. the nurse informed and left. A wave of relief wiped off the misery on the faces of the troubled family. Shivaay smiled amidst tears while Rudra wiping his tears sprang up on his feet. Omkara closed his eyes momentarily, oh his heart felt so relieved and light.
"I will be back, I don't want Bhaabhi to call me cry baby as well " as he disappeared leaving his brothers smiling. After all it was only Anika who would never address him as cry-baby. Not just that she was always on Rudra's side when team ShivKara were out to pull their baby brother's leg.
Shivaay and Omkara entered the room to find Anika sleeping peacefully with bandages over her hands and head. Shivaay analysed her carefully, she had been terribly hurt. But she was a fighter. He perched on the stool beside her bed while Omkara stood behind him smiling as though in his own way thanking God. He turned behind to see where Gauri was, she wasn't in the room at all!
Gauri had caught a glimpse of Anika's face and had ran down to the prayer room of the hospital, to thank the Almighty for his mercy. But she din't have the courage to go back and stand before Anika. No. She felt terrible. She was the reason why Anika had to undergo so much pain. She had simply walked to the rear side of the hospital and was now walking down the staircase, that was meant to be the fire exit. With each step she took down, tears fell off her eyes. Would she ever be able to meet the family's eyes. Her dam broke and she dragged herself against the wall and sat on the step, crying bitterly.
Flashes of her childhood ran before his eyes. Her elder sister, her Dido as she called her fondly, had helped her escape a bitter childhood, only to subject herself to probably the worse. She still remembered that day, it tormented her. She and her sister had been put into an orphanage too early. She dint even know whether her parents even existed. She was too little that time to even understand things. Her sister was the one who would always be by her side. All she knew was her Dido! Things were pretty okay and the two had settled to the life at an orphanage where the two had found their own fairy-tale world in each other. Until the day the old sweet nun had passed away and the new lady who replaced her had turned not just their but every child's world upside down at the orphanage. The treatment met out to all of them was harsh. She would cry hugging her Dido for hours, and her Dido would always tell her that it would all be better than before soon. Dido had decided to run away with her Chutki from the orphanage, not able to anymore tolerate the ill treatment met out to her sister or herself.
They had been chased by the new lady Hitler and her workmen. Finally they had taken her away from her sister back to the orphanage and had left her sister behind. Her Dido had known they were about to give her to a family, and separate them forever. That was the other urgent reason for her to flee with her sister. But the officials had known the elder to be a clever little girl and had left her behind roaming on the streets of nowhere near some random temple. They took the little sister back and handed her over to the new family as soon as they could.
That way Gauri had found love and family but never knew of her sister after that. She wondered at times what they did too her, but never asked anyone about it fearing they would do something really bad to her. Initially she never was happy, but with time things changed. She grew fond of her family who did everything to keep her happy, who taught her to pray, who gave her a life just like Dido would say. She started believing that perhaps this was Destiny's plan. She wondered whether her sister had also found a family just like she had. But, all she had to live by was her memories, and a little hope in her heart that one day Destiny would cross their paths again! There was never a day, when she hadn't prayed to Shankarji to take care of her Dido wherever she was.
Today, she found the past repeating itself. She had always treated her Anika Bhaujaai as her sister sometimes taking it as Destiny's compensation for what it had snatched from her. Today, Destiny was playing cruel doing what she had done with her before. She din't now why but the pain was much the same perhaps deeper and worse this time.
There was a hand on her shoulder and startled she turned back.
"Gauri! his voice shook seeing her state.
She cried and hugged him, unable to say anything. He hugged her back gently rubbing her back.
"Omkara Ji..! her voice pitched only to end up in sobs again.
"Everything is fine Gauri! Anika Bhaabhi is okay. How can she not be? After all, our prayers are always with her. Come see her. He said holding her hand.
She nodded in a no. She was scared. What if something happened if she went close to her? She slowly put her inhibitions into words.
"Gauri, don't you trust Shankarji? He would never do anything wrong. Come! he spoke gently.
Gauri sniffed and cried nodding in a reluctant no. How would she face Anika, Shivaay, Rudra and others. She was the reason of their terrible pain!
"If you don't come now it will be more painful to them. They are worried for you as well Gauri! he explained.
She nodded and walked back with him.
The next morning as she stood beside Omkara at the room's door, she looked at Omkara,as though asking him if it was right. He nodded in affirmatively. She thought once again, before stepping in, as she pushed open the door, only to find Shivaay holding her hand and encouraging her to walk in.
With shining eyes Gauri looked at Shivaay. Not once but many times he had been there for her like an elder brother. She had been sceptic about meeting his eye after the incident; she knew what Anika meant to him. She was scared he might be angry at her, mad at her, holding her responsible for what had happened. He was far from that! Here he was completely understanding, caring and what not. He was an elder brother in true sense, maybe just like Dido would have been if she was by her right now. She looked at him apologetically, he nodded in a no gently kissing her forehead. Omkara smiled gently. Oh, how blessed he was to have such a beautiful family.
She shifted her gaze to where Anika was. She was making faces at Rudra. A smile crept up Gauri's face as immense peace filled her heart at that sight.
***
Rudra clapped as Anika finally finished drinking the soup, after placing the bowl aside.
"That's like a good girl. exclaimed Shivaay, walking up to her and wiping her lips gently. Anika smiled at her husband's sweet gesture. The entire family had been treating her like a baby ever since.
She smiled wider on spotting Gauri. She had been waiting to see her ever since.
"Gauri she whispered, at once Gauri was sitting by her. Anika quickly wrapped her hands around her and gently kissed her forehead. You are okay? Anika spoke as tears made way to her eyes. Gauri nodded tears streaming down her cheeks. Anika quickly wiped her tears, while Gauri wiped hers.
"I m sorry! Gauri sobbed and spoke in a mere whisper looking down.
"Ek chaped padega!Anika spoke pulling her closer.
The brothers looked at each other's moist eyes. Because they knew what the bond meant. What was surprising was the two women din't have the link they had, blood!
There was a knock and nurse entered. She smiled as she saw Gauri hugging Anika. "Ma'am injection. She informed.
Anika looked grumpily. Three hours back they had put one! "I'm fine! Shivaay rubbed his temples in exasperation, time for another scene. Anika had created a big scene during the previous injection. He had to literally stare down at her with his kanji eyes and hold her arms so that the nurse could do her job. He was going to her side when he stopped as he heard out Gauri.
"Bhaujaai Gauri helped Anika extend her arm to the nurse, indicating thenurse.
She held Anika's other hand, and spoke. "Aap naa iss duniya ki sabse best insaan hai!
Anika-"Enough, haan.
Before Anika could complete, the nurse announced the job was done. The three brother smiled in amazement, while anika herself looked shocked. O bete ki... When did you ? she asked the nurse analysing her hand.
The nurse smiled, "When you were speaking to your sister! I must say you both are very lucky to have each other.
Anika smiled and so did Gauri.
"They aren't sisters! But it doesn't look like right? Even when I first saw them together I said that! Rudra informed the friendly young nurse.
Anika looked aside, as Chutki came back to her mind. Gauri quickly wiped the lone tear that escaped her eyes.
"Oh! I guess I was mistaken with the reports. The nurse smiled apologetically.
"Reports? Rudra asked, trying to extend the conversation with the young lady. Om and Shivaay exchanged knowing glances.
"Umm the blood reports! the nurse replied glancing at the documents in her hand.
While Omkara and Shivaay joined the two women, Rudra walked with the nurse till the door.
"Wait! the nurse exclaimed as she came forward, carefully looking at the reports in hand. "Their DNA is a match!
Omkara looked confused, maybe it's a misprint. "Gauri doesn't have any siblings.
Anika looked baffled as Shivaay and looked at the nurse.
"Maybe! the nurse looked baffled.
Anika spoke up, "what match?
The nurse replied, "Uhh..Ma'am gave blood for you, and the reports also flash a DNA match.
Anika looked at Gauri, she had given her blood! She din't know that. "Is she okay? Anika enquired about Gauri.
"I'm fine! Gauri finally came out of her thoughts. Could it be that Anika was her Dido? But, she knew nothing about Anika's past.
She stared at Anika, helpless. Anika looked back at her, could Gauri be her Chutki? But Om had just said Gauri din't have any siblings. The nurse turned to leave, highly confused. Gauri kept looking at Anika.
"Okay now you rest! said Shivaay, breaking the awkward silence. Gauri smiled at him and got up to leave, but Anika still hel her hand, she turned and soo her eyes grew wide, as she hear a name after years.
"Chutki!
Anika stared at her without blinking, hoping she was her sister. But, Gauri simply stared at her. A second after Anika had started losing her new found hope, Gauri whispered.
"Dido!
The brothers looked on in silence.
The two broke down crying calling each other's name. Gauri hugged her as though her life depended on her.
"Where were you! I looked for you everywhere! Have been looking for you ever since. Anika spoke between her tears.
Gauri sobbed, "Dido!
"Shhh Anika calmed her for a minute feeling that her five year old sister was in her arms.
The brothers had never witnessed something like that. With tears in eyes holding on to each other the three witnessed the most heart wrenching scene. They were sure they couldn't survive without each other, while these two had lived almost their entire life so far being separated.
The nurse who had also witnessed the scene smiled in tears, quickly going out and making a call.
"Hello, Maa, "The nurse narrated to her mother the spectacle she had just witnessed. The mother had tears in her eyes, as her daughter narrated the scene to her. "The burden I have been living with of separating to sisters, maybe shall never leave me, but I still pray not for my forgiveness but to let those two meet. I hope those two where ever they are also meet just like that!
That was the last sentence that the nurse's mother spoke to her. For, she passed away that same day. Destiny always has its own ways. It seems harsh at times and the most wonderful at others.
But, When Destiny Ties No Power Can Separate.
But, When Destiny Ties No Power Can Separate.
***
Teri Kismat Da Likheya Tere Se Koi Cheen Nahi Sakta,
Jo Tera Hai Who Tera Hoke Rahega!
Jo Tera Hai Who Tera Hoke Rahega!
(A shaayri I had read somewhere, where even I don't remember, but came out of nowhere into my head after writing the end of this story.)
***
Dedicated To All My Di(s) (as I fondly call them) and my beloved Chiraiyas who call me Di out here!
***
Would love to read your thoughts, views and feedback on this story!
Anupamaa
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