Originally posted by: Sunn_shine
Hello again Amazing People đ¤
So here is Chapter 4 of this story.. this is the second last chapter of this story, just one more to go.. Makes me sadđ
Ankie urf WaqtZaya urf Jahanpanah I can't thank you enough for all your help and pyari Cassi for pyara prompt.
So without much ado.. Ch-4 of Epiphany ⌠Thank you so very much in advance to all the readers for your support, motivation and encouragement.
Chapter 4
Next Morning, 8am
Masi entered the room and saw Prerna sleeping on the floor, leaning against the glass. Masi went down on her knees to wake her up.
"Prerna, tum yaha neeche kyu so rhi ho.. aao udhar couch pr baitho." Masi helped her and made her sit on the couch.
"You look tired. Chalo beta humne ye breakfast mangaya hai.. thoda kuch kha lo" said Masi, while Chandu arranged food he got from home on the table.
"Nahi Masi, mujhe bhook nahi hai bikul" said Prerna staring at her husband tied to all the tubes and machines to stay alive. She looked at him like she would lose him, if her attention was diverted even for a second.
"Hum jante hain Prerna, tumhe bhook nahi hai, pr thoda sa kha lo. Bhaut kuch sambhal rahi ho tum ek sath. Kya tum chahti ho tum bhi beemar ho jaao.. socho kaise hoga sab.." Masi tried to convince her to have something else she'd fall sick too.
Prerna understood what Masi was trying to say. "Theek hai Masi, but abhi ke lie bas chai hi le leti hu, zyada mujhse nahi khaya jayega. Apne khaya?" she asked in a low voice.
"Chandu chai... Humne socha tumhare sath hi kha lenge" Masi said giving her the cup of tea.
They both had whatever little food they could in complete silence. Just then Masi noticed tears rolling down Prerna's cheeks, who constantly looked at Rishabh without blinking her eyes, while having her chai. Masi instantly got up from her place and sat next to her.
"Prerna, beta kya hua.. Tum ro rhi ho achanak?" Masi's words only made it worse for Prerna who could no more control her feelings and cried insanely. Masi took away cup from Prerna's trembling hands and kept it aside; Prerna hugged her tightly and cried her heart out. Masi said nothing but allowed her to vent her grief out and kept patting her back, giving her all the time in the world that she needed. Breaking the hug, Masi lowered her head into her lap and caressed her hair waiting for her to stop crying or say something.
After a while Prerna spoke, still sobbing "Masi Mr. bajaj, theek ho jayenge na.. Mujhe Mr. Bajaj chahie Masi.. Sirf Mr. Bajaj the business man.. Mr. Bajaj mere mentor.., apke bete, Tanvi ke cousin, ya Kukki ke dad Ya Mr. Mehra ke boss ki Tarah nhi.. Mujhe Rishabh chahie⌠mere Rishabh ki Tarah. Unhone bina kahe meri har baat ka khayal rakha hai, tab bhi jab maine unhe apne life se itna rudely alag kr dia tha, bina ye soche ki unhe kaisa laga hoga, acha ya bura maine poochna bhi zaroori nahi samjha tha Masi.. Unhone tab bhi mere lie apni feelings ko side kr dia aur aaj bhii meri hi wajah see..... mujhe protect krne ke lie... wo yaha.. is haal meinâŚ." she felt a lump in her throat making it difficult to speak any further.
"Masi, is baar main unke lie wo sab karna chahti hu jo wo deserve karte hai.. Unhe khone ke dar ne mujhe samja dia hai ki wo kitne important hain mere life mein..main ek aur mauka chahti hu to tell him what he means to me, jo maine aaj tak nahi kaha.. He has been silently anchoring my life, bina kuch bhi expect kie.. Main sirf unke sath rehna nahi balki JEENA chahti hu.... wo har chees krna chahti hu unhe pasand hai⌠Jo hume pasand.. Main unhe wo family dena chahti hu jo hai pr fir bhi nahi hai.. He doesn't deserve to be here like this not for me, not for anyone. I found him after losing him 3 years ago.. I can't lose him again Masii.. I can't.. Masi please boliye na, that he will fine.. please.. Masi please .. please" she kept repeating the word please for she didn't know for how long.
Masi had tears in eyes seeing both Prerna and Rishabh going through their worst, all she could do was tap Prerna's head. She closed her eyes and prayed for everything to be better soon. Whole day went by watching doctors visiting Rishabh's room every now and then and Prerna looked at him silently.
Hospital, 6.30PM
Tired and exhausted Mr. Mehra had joined them late evening. "Mam, I have completed all the legal formalities with police. Vishnu is sent for 15 days police custody post which charge sheet will be submitted for final sentencing. And I assure you he will get the harshest punishment as per the law" he informed both Prerna and Masi.
"Any update on Sir? What are the doctors saying?" he asked looking concerned now.
"No Mr. Mehra, not yet. He is still unconscious; Bas yahi kaha they are monitoring him closely and kal subah tak shayad kuch keh payenge. Filhal under observation hai" said Masi, still tapping Prerna's head in her lap. She hadn't spoken a word since morning.
"Mr. Mehra, you have done a lot for us and Bajajs will always be obliged. I think ab aap ko bhi ghar jana chahie aur thoda rest kijie. Doctors jaise hi kuch update dete hain we will share with you" said Masi thanking Mehra for all that he had them in the past two days.
"Thank you Mam, but I am good. Yaha kabhi bhi zaroorat pad sakti hai. I will be out in the general visiting area, koi bhi zaroorat hai to please call me. And Prerna Mam ka khayal rakhie, she has been through a lot in the past 2 days, I have no idea how she has been able to hold herself till now" said Mehra, looking at Prerna who looked lifeless like any other furniture in the room and left.
A couple of hours after Mr. Mehra left Prerna received a call from Tanvi. Masi picked up the call and asked Prerna to take it urgently, as it was about Kukki.
"Kukkii please wait baby I am calling Prerna Ma.." Prerna heard Tanvi on the other side.
"Tanvi.. hello.. kya hua.. Kukki theek hai na.. are you okay.. Hello?" Prerna asked concerned now hearing commotion on the other end.
"Hello.. Prerna⌠I am sorry but please come home. Please..... Kukkiii.." said Tanvi and disconnected the call leaving Prerna puzzled and worried.
"Masi, Tanvi ne urgently ghar bulaya hai.. pata nhi Kukki ka naam le rhi thi aur jaldi ghar aane ko kaha.. aap yaha rukiye, main jake aati hu" she looked at Rishabh and left from there.
Bajaj Mansion, 9.30PM
"Tanvi.. Kukki.. Tanvi.. Chandu Tanvi aur Kukki kaha hain?" Prerna asked as soon as she entered her house after 2 nights. Chandu directed her to Kukki's room.
Prerna opened the door and saw all her games, toys on the floor. Her bed was completely messed up. Tanvi sat on the floor trying to control Kukki who was truly out of her control now.
"KukkiâŚ" Prerna called her name and little Kukki ran up to her mother and hugged her legs crying uncontrollably.
She sat her knees and hugged frantically crying Kukki "Kukkii.. baby.. What's wrong.. aap ro kyu rahe ho beta.. shhh.." Prerna tried to calm her down and looked at Tanvi with questioning eyes asking what was wrong with Kukki.
Tanvi got up from the floor and said "Main dinner lene gai thi Kukki ke lie. 5 min ke baad wapas aayi to Kukki ne poora room destroy kr dia and TV pr news channel on tha.. they were running news on Rishabh's accident. Tabse tumhara naam leke ye sab.. I am so sorry Prerna I had no idea... mujhe zara bhi idea hota main Kukki ko akela nahi chhodti.. I am really sorry" Tanvi looked at Prerna with a guilt ridden face as Kukki kept crying in her mother's arms.
"Its okay Tanvi, don't be sorry. You had no idea.. Rather I am so thankful you took such good care of her. I am sorry for Kukki's behaviour.. Dar gai hai Kukki sab sunke.. I am here now, please go and take some rest" Prerna assured her that she understood.
"Tanvi Khana khaya tumne?" asked Prerna
"Not yet" said Tanvi
"Go eat something.. Bina khaye nahi sona please.. and don't worry about Kukki.. okay." said Prerna appreciating Tanvi's help.
"I will. Thanks. Aur haan main Kukki aur tumhare lie khana garam krwa ke bhijwati hu Chandu se.. usne bhi dinner nhi kia haii" said Tanvi caressing Kukki's back who still sobbed in her mother's arms and left.
"Kukki.. baby... stop crying, Mama is here now.. ye kya haal bana diya hai aapne room ka..haan" Prerna made her sit on the bed, making some place for herself amongst the mess, Kukki had created in her room.
Kukki pointed towards the TV screen and said "PAPA"
Prerna hugged her again and made her sit on her lap "I know.. I know beta.. Papa ko chot lag gai hai.. Papa abhi hospital mein aur bahut sare doctors hain wahan.. wo unko ekdam se theek kr denge.. Jab apko khelte hue chot lag jati hai to kaise doctors aapko medicines se theek kr dete hai waise hi papa ko bhi kr denge..Mamma Papa ke pass se hi aayi hai abhi..Aap to Papa-Mamma ke strong girl ho na islie ab rona band kro.. aapko chot lagti hai to Papa-Mamma rote hain kya? Nahi na.. so you also stop crying now" Prerna tried to explain the 6 year old who got scared after she heard the news on the TV when she was all alone. Chandu entered the room with food and left the tray on the bed.
"Chalo ab jaldi se Mamma ki angel apna food finish karke so jayegi.. right?" Prerna began to feed her daughter. After a while Kukki held her hand and asked Prerna to eat with her. Prerna knew if she didn't then Kukki won't eat either, so she just followed her daughter's orders.
âMamma.. Papa ko bahut chot lagi hai na.. maine suna TV par.. Unko bahut pain ho rha hai?â asked Kukki who lied on the bed in her motherâs arms after dinner.
âChot toh lagi hai beta but doctors ne bhaut sare pain killers and injections deke sab pain bhaga dia hai.. So Papa ko pain nhi feel ho rha abhi..â Prerna answered her little girl, wiping tears rolled down her cheek, but Kukki couldnât see her crying.
"Bhaut sare injections.." asked Kukki, wondering why so many when all she needs is one if she gets injured.
"Papa ki injury Kukki ke injury se badi hai na islie bhaut sare.. aur Papa big bhi haina" Prerna explained to her daughter with a little tickle.
âChalo Mamma apko story sunati hai, okay aur fir aap so jaaoâ Prerna told her a story to divert her mind and put her to sleep. Prerna was tired herself and slept embracing her daughter.
Next Morning 6.30 am
Prerna went to her empty room early in the morning to take a quick shower and change before she left for the hospital. Her room was eerily quiet this morning. She was ready in next 15 mins and almost went out of the room, when she noticed a bouquet of withered flowers and a sealed envelope next to it with her name on it. She very well knew this handwriting with the most beautifully curved letter in calligraphy style, it was HIS handwriting. She picked up the letter and opened it. It read-
Mrs. Bajaj
Congratulations! you did it again.
This calls for a celebration tonight.
Proud of you!
Rishabh Bajaj
Chandu walked in with a cup of tea for her. She asked Chandu, when was the bouquet delivered.
"Mama jab aap us raat ko hospital ke lie gaye the uske kuch der baad ye deliver hua tha. Iske sath ek cake bhi tha, jo fridge mein hai" Said Chandu and left.
She couldn't believe how much she had always underestimated him. He was always several steps ahead of everyone. She thought she could hide about the project she closed, from him.. but was proven wrong again. That's when her phone rang. It was Masi's call. She asked Prerna to come to hospital as doctors wanted to see her. She left Kukki with Tanvi and rushed right after the call.
HOSPITAL, 8am
âGood Morning Doctor; how is he?â Prerna rushed into doctorâs cabin.
âMrs. Bajaj.. come. Have a seatâ said the doctor and she took a seat next to Mehra who was already present in the cabin.
âAs I was telling Mr. Mehra, we have seen some improvements in your husband. His body is responding well to the treatment, internal bleeding and swelling has subsided to a certain extent since yesterday. He has been under an induced coma after surgery and then because of intubation tube to keep him away from feeling the pain. We are planning to remove the tracheal tube by afternoon, to see if his lungs function well without the intubation and put him back on oxygen mask. If everything goes well, by late night we will try and gradually get him off the induced coma and see if he regains his consciousnessâ doctor shared the current status and their next plan of action with both of them.
âMrs. Bajaj. You look pale.. Please breathe.. Itâs good news. If everything goes as planned, we will have you meet him tomorrow morning. Please donât worry, we are doing our bestâ he tried to make her feel better and not lose hope.
âThank you Doctor.. Thank you very much!â Prerna thanked him with a smile and her eyes glistened with fresh tears threatening to fall off anytime.
She spent the entire day in the visitorâs lounge; Mehra was also there. Prerna had sent Masi home because she spent the whole night in the hospital. As scheduled, by afternoon doctors got Rishabh off the ventilator and the oxygen mask was back on his face; closely monitoring him for a while, doctors nodded with a smile from inside the room, indicating things were going good so far. Prerna folded her hands close to her heart, thanking God and the doctors and felt alive again in a long time. She just waited for them to reduce his drugs to wake him up but she was worried about the amount of pain Rishabh would feel once he regained his senses.
Prerna was trying to take her phone out of her handbag when the envelope she found in her room next to the bouquet earlier this morning fell on the floor. It caught Mehra's attention too.
He picked it up and gave it a glance. Giving it back to Prerna he asked "Maam ye envelope ab deliver hua?"
"Nahi the night of the accident, but mujhe aaj subah hi mila" she said.
Mehra took a deep breath and said "agar main kahu is envelop ne ek tareeke se us raat mujhe us attack se save kia to galat nahi hoga"
Prerna looked at the envelope and then at Mr. Mehra, not really able to make a sense of what he just said.
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