Posted:
hey guys, Dil here. As you guys know that Meena can't continue the story that she had begun to write due to some responsibilities. But I have volunteered to take up the task and continue it as it appealed to me. Hence, I will be writing from here on out. Hopefully you all will enjoy. Am continuing from where Meena left off...
Part 1
Part 1
Beep, beep, beep...nurse call Dr Robinson please hurry up...put the oxygen mask on her...get the xyz drugs immediatley...ordered Dr Deepa Mehta...frustrated, panicked Dr Mehta tried again to take the baby out using the especial medical spoons to take the baby's head out...
The beep continued and within seconds the entire labour suit was full of Dr's and nurses...5 Dr's at once stood around the only one lady who was fighting for her life...different Dr's did different tasks...Dr Mehta mangaed to succefully take out the baby using the spoon and her hands...finally the baby cry out loud enough that the entire labour ward heard...the nurse immediatley took the baby from Dr Mehta...As the baby came out of his mother womd next followed was the pool of red blood...the blood came in a way as if Tsunami of blood erupted...Dr Mehta was in red pool of blood...but she didnt care or flinched a bit...still confidence she took hold of bunch of cotton wool and tried to stop the blood until Dr Robinson took over her...
The Dr's and nurses got busy tried everything to bring back the patient alive, to make her BP stable, to make her pulse normal and to make her breathing gentle...the nurses took the crying baby, quickly cleaning him with towel, cutting his umbilical cord...and covering him with another clean towel then handing him to Dr Walia who stood near the door like a statu, not even flinching a bit, he stood there lifeless, he lookd as pale as cream...with his entire body as cold as ice...physically he was there but mentally he wasnt there...he witnessed everything that happened but couldnt dare to speak a word, it looked as if his mouth was ziped...he couldnt bare seeing his beloved wife Ananya in that state...he died thousand deaths seeing her in that state...he couldnt even saw her a bit as there hundrads of nurses, Dr's were around her...he wanted to scream and say some thing but he couldnt...he couldnt open his mouth...
Mr Walia please hold your baby...nurse said
looking at the young lady infront of him...he new he heard her but couldnt make sense of the words she said...the nurse coxed him again pleas sir...with trumbling hands he took the baby who was crying non stop in his shaking arms...not even once glancing at him...as his eyes were fixed on the Dr's infront of him...
Dr robinson: get 2000 ml saline...add xyz drugs...give to her now...hurry up will you said the old Dr to his coleagues...then again trying to stop the bleeding that was caming out non stop...felling frustrated with everything and the loud crying of the baby...he ordered the nurse...get him and the baby out of here...Now...
the nurse run to Dr walia...please she pleaded him...please you cant stay here ...please leave...on the other hand jai didnt heard a single word she said...the nurse pushed him out of the room and shut the door at his face...
TBC...
He watches with misty eyes at the burning flames crackling against the wooden log, glazing bright with warmth that his hollow form could not feel, his insides having turned ice cold and dark. For long moments he makes no movement to take it from the outstretched hand that wordlessly urges him to take it. That is until he feels a sudden force place it into his cold hand from his lack of response. The flames blaze wildily before him as he looks to it with foreign eyes. An unexpected push from behind causes him to take a step forward and remove his gaze away from the burning log in his hands. Unwillingly, his eyes land on the piled, stack of sticks upholding a bundled body, waiting for it's fate...
I'm sorry Dr. Walia...
A lump grows inside of his throat as those chilling words come back to haunt him; those same very words that shook up his world. The wailing of a child behind him disrupts into his dazed state of mind. Reality begins to sweep inside of him, making him aware of his surroundings finally---breaking him free from his unconcious state. His eyes travel around him, taking in the crowd of people surrounded around, dressed head to toe in plain white--- a taunting white. The child's wailing grows louder.
He finally takes note to the dark atmosphere lingering around him, sobs and silent tears, the sound of sniffles and soft words of grief. The crackling of the fire builds, deafening his ears to the sounds...
She lost a lot of blood... We tried, but...
"Beta..." a gentle, yet barely audible voice beckons for his attention. He does not turn, knowing fully aware who it is, and becomes stiff. "You must..." she persists through shaking sobs. After moments of continued silence, her white hand comes forth and places it ontop of his, tightening his grip onto the stick firmly. And before he knew it, together they lower the blazing log onto the pyre and watch the wrath of the harsh flames consume the lifeless body, covered protectively in a white linen cloth. His eyes bore into the flames, containing a certain burning of his own in them.
I'm sorry, ... we could not save your wife...
The crackling of the flames become too much for him to bare and he averts his pained gaze, looking above the pyre only to meet directly into a pair of honey brown eyes, filled with unshed tears. For a short moment their eyes remain connected, before she looks down and slowly walks away...
He painfully shuts his eyes and remains rooted to his spot till the simmering of the flames signals to him that there is nothing more for him to wait... He too walks away.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Three Months Later
She places the phone back down onto its receiver in a dejected manner and releases a sigh. Her friends have called again, wondering whether she has time to go out and join them to their outings. She politely refused, making up excuses in the process, and gently cut off on their persistences. She knew they were getting the hint that they were wasting their time on her as their calls were beginning to grow less frequent than before; now they ask simply out of politness. But she could care less.
She slumps down on the matress beside her and contemplates on how drastically her world has changed. Where had the energetic, bubbly girl gone that couldn't bear sitting still or staying locked up at home, always outdoors and enjoying the day to the fullest? She could hardly recognize herself anymore. Someone else had replaced her. Now all she did was sit at home, locked up, and remaining still with an emptiness creeping inside of her. Her once colorful world had suddenly become full with darkness, blinding and trapping her with no where to go. She couldn't see the light no matter how hard she tried. Darkness surrounded her all around.
Her gaze rises only to land on the picture frame resting on the table top of the nightstand nearby. Tears dwell quickly in her honey brown eyes as her heart wrenches from the image before her... Her sister looking goregous as always, with her modern styled hair let loose, eyes shining bright, cheeks rosy red, and smiling with so much glee as she always did. Her arms are wrapped firmly around her, embracing her warmly, and resting her head along side hers. Their younger sister, Rano, had snapped the picture of them during the Winter on one of Ananya Di's visits back home.. Ananya loved taking pictures, wanting to keep memories alive, and made tons of scrap books in her spare time. Though she, herself, always grumbled before the camera, hating her sister's love for it, but went along with it for her passion of the hobby.
Ananya was the oldest out of the Dixit girls; being senior to her by seven years and their younger sister, Rano, eleven. She was also the most beautiful, graceful, and charasmatic out of them. Ananya was every parent's dream come true. A daughter who would give honor and respect. Not that Rano and herself were any less. In fact, the Dixits were well known for their charming looks; good height, sharp features, beautiful hair... But Ananya somehow always stood out the most----perhaps due to her bubbling personality that attracted everyone to her like honey.. She was full of such innocence that it touched people's hearts. Also since she was the oldest, she seemed to draw more attention, often overshadowing her and her younger sister.
Yes, she envied her sister with a passion, wanting to be like her in every possible, secretly idolizing and adoring her. But never in a negative way. She didn't mind the attention her sister received, in fact, she was in awe with her herself. Ananya was a warm person that no one could find to dislike. She was always full with so much love and spreading it about as much as she could. She knew her sister loved her with all her heart, often spoiling her and Rano to bits, causing their parents to frown with disapproval.
Despite the age difference, she always found herself closet to Ananya, finding a mentor, best friend, and mother in her all in one. She shared her darkest secrets, her dreams, and crushes only with her. Ananya always had the right things to say in return and withheld the trust she kept in her by loyaly keeping the things to herself. Her sister never let her down in any regards, nor hurt her or anyone else for the matter... Then why did God have to be so cruel and take her away? Snatch her away from her loved ones, leaving them lost and devestated?
A sudden irritated crying coming from behind her startles her out of oblivion and brings her to reality. She wipes away her anguished tears and runs to the small crib in the center of the room finding the baby looking restless and agitated by something. Without another second of thought, she gathers him into her arms, holding him close against her bosom, and rocks him gently back and forth---trying to lull him back to his disrupted sleep. She hums softly while drying the remainder of her tears and shushes him in between.
"Mera chota sa munna... kyon rowrahi ho tum? Mausi hai, haina? Aab mera baby sonjao... Sonjao..." However, the small child gazes up at her with wide, unblinking eyes---showing no indication of drowsiness lingering in them. She heaves a sigh, knowing very well that he is wide awake now. Perhaps he wants his feeding. She leaves with him from the bedroom and to the kitchen to make him his formula...
On the way there she encounters the rest of her family, sitting quietly in the living room. Her mother, as usual, looks glum with no spark in her always expressive eyes. She has been a living corpse since the past months, dying secretly inside by each passing day. Her father's face remains grave, lines creasing on his forehead, seeming in tension all the time. Rano, sweet little Rano, has gone quiet and remains lost in her own world. They say that family comes together during times of grief, growing stronger and closer than ever before. But here the exact opposite has happened. She does not even remember the last time she had exchanged a proper amount of words with any members of her family. They remain distant from one another, grieving in their individual ways.
The crying from the baby is what breaks them all out of their brooding moods and draw their attention onto her standing there, watching them with careful eyes. Her father is the first to speak, clearing his throat roughly...
"So my grandson is awake," he states in a raspy voice, sounding as if has spoken after so long, and attempts a small smile but failing miserably. She nods her head. "Ji." Her father glances at her mother, who gazes at nothing in particular with blank eyes, before returning his attention back onto her.
"Bani, come, sit," he beckons for her to oblige. "... But he needs his formula...," she manages to murmur in protest. "... Rano will make it. You come." As if on cue, Rano looks up on being acknowledged and silently proceeds over to the kitchen. Bani's slow steps fill the thick silence presiding around as she cautiously approaches them and sits to herself in the lone furniture chair, holding the baby close. The silence streches till Nishikant sits down himself, across from Bani and the baby, and folds his hands together.
Nishikant: ... Krishna Ji was just on the phone...
Bani perks up on hearing this. No news from the Walia house had reached them since the day of the funeral. They lost contact with the exception of Krishna Walia, Ananya's mother-in-law, calling now and then with huge gaps in between, mostly wishing to hear about the baby and nothing else. Bani licks her dry lips.
Bani: And? ... Jiju ki koi pata? (asking hopefully)
Nishikant: (growing grim) He is still out of town for some medical conference... perhaps a couple of days more.
Bani: But... he is still going to come... right?
Nishikant: I am not sure...
Her hopes are dashed in a blink of an eye and a sudden rush of anger overcomes her. She jumps out of her seat and stares accusingly at her father.
Bani: (excitedly) What do you mean, Papa? How can you be unsure? ... For how long will we keep waiting for him to come? ... What kind of father is he? Dumping his newborn child here with us while he goes on with his life? I have never seen such a selfish man before in my life... (huffs)
Her father stands up from his seat as well, towering over her height...
Nishikant: (voice growing firm) Now Bani, do not get excited my child... You perfectly well know it is not like that... It is not as if your Jiju is there enjoying himself... He is still in mourning over our Ananya... It will take time... Understand...
Bani: (ignoring his reasoning) Papa, it has been more than three months now since Ananya Di's---- (not bringing herself to say it, avoiding it)... He cannot just leave his child here expecting us to handle and raise him while he is burden free... Yash is his responsibility... He is his son.
Nishikant: And is Yash nothing to us? Am I not his grandfather? Your mother his grandmother? You and Rano his mausis?
Bani averts her gaze away from her father's demanding eyes, blinking away her forming tears. She calms down her previous hyper state.
Bani: I am not saying that... Of course Yash is our own... he is everything to us now... But that still does not cover up the fact that Jiju has responsibilities towards his son... the very son who he hasn't even taken the chance to look at ... (ends bitterly)
Nishikant calms down himself, stepping away from his stand, not wishing to indulge himself into an argument with his daughter. Not make her see reason when even he himself knows that whatever she is saying is right. But what are they to do? How are they to handle a situation which isn't even in their hands to begin with?
He slumps back down onto the couch with a defeated look worn on his grave face.
Nishikant: What do you wish for me to do, beta? How do I make you see reason when I myself am helpless in this matter... Your Jiju is not cooperating... He is drowning himself into his work and still grieving silently to himself... keeping away from others... What can I do when he isn't willing to see anyone?
Bani looks down as Yash fiddles with her golden necklace tied securely around her neck, a necklace that she never took off since the day she got it. Ananya Di had gifted it to her with a wide smile on her ninteenth birthday six months ago, telling her that she specially had it made for her baby sister. The tears flow from her eyes without her wanting to as she feels any last sign of hope fading away... He is staying away as well, keeping to himself and disclosing himself from those who care...
In a chocked voice Bani hastily informs her father to tell Rano to bring the formula to her room as she will feed Yash there...wishing to be alone for some time.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
He sits directly in front the TV with captivated eyes, watching the moving images flashing before him with bursts of life that his hollow self did not seem to possess. His hand reaches out to touch the face of someone particular, her eyes blazing bright and glowing face smiling away... Her tinkling laughter rings about and echoes within his ears, a tug in his heart causes his fingers to caress the screen as if he were touching her himself, feeling her smooth fair skin after so long...
"Jai, Jai, No! No, Jaaaiii!!!" she screams as water splashes onto her, soaking her from head to toe, and his rumbling laughter mocking her seconds later. "I am going to kill you, Jai Walia!" she announces loudly with determination, her eyes gleaming hard... Suddenly the clip ends abruptly and the video turns into a static gray, it's noise overfilling everything else...
He clunks his forehead against the television screen and shuts his eyes tight, his insides wrenching from despair... Hot tears escape from his closed eyes, falling fast and hard from his pale cheeks... He has lost her...having slipped from his hands... She is gone, never to be back...
The tears grow and the feel of arising sobs overtake him, but he witholds them. Instead he takes a swig from his drink laying on the floor beside him, downing the beverage all in one go, and throws it against the hard, cold marble floor---watching the shards of glass scatter about.
I'm sorry, but we couldn't save her...
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
So, how was it? Should I continue? And do not worry, it will get better, trust me. Just setting up the story. Please do leave comments, they really mean a lot.
Chapter 3 on PG 2
Chapter 4 on PG 4
Chapter 5 A on PG 6
Chapter 5 B on PG 8
Chapter 6 on PG 13
Chapter 7 A on PG 14
Chapter 7 B on PG 17
Chapter 8 on PG 19
Chapter 9 on PG 22
Chapter 10 on PG 24
Chapter 11 A on PG 25
Chapter 11 B on PG 27
Chapter 12 on PG 29
Chapter 13 on PG 32
Chapter 14 A on PG 35
Chapter 14 B on PG 37
Chapter 15 on PG 40
Chapter 16 on PG 45
Chapter 17 on PG 50
Chapter 18 on PG 54
Chapter 19 A on PG 59
Chapter 19 B on PG 65
Chapter 20 A on PG 67
Chapter 20 B on PG 68
Chapter 21 A on PG 71
Chapter 21 B on PG 76
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