Part 142: Dev's haunting mind
Dev waited for the peon to get another chair for him. Dr. Shankar was getting settled, and was peeking at the computer monitor checking again on something seriously. Dev sat down as he got his chair , next to sushma.
Sushma looked at both sides and smiled saying: are you people are locking me up and then looking at Dr. Shanker's face: see I am so special, they are sitting on both sides of me as if I may run away.
Dr Shankar tried to give a smile as response.
Sushma: Dr. ji now say something, I have things to do after getting home,more than anything babuji is alone at home
Dev: sudev is there
Sushma gave a glare, and then sat quiet in front of them.
Dr. Shankar: Sushma ji, can you please tell me when you had that surgery?
Dev looked at sushma thinking what surgery!
As if listening to his doubt, Sushma: what surgery?
Dr. Shankar: I mean, hysterectomy
Sushma: what is that?
Dr. Shankar: I mean, when did they remove your uterus?
Sushma very cool manner: oh that... back, long back
Shankar: do you know the reason?
Sushma thought for a second and then looked at Rohini once and then as if recollecting it: they found so many unwanted stuff inside, growing unnecessarily, and which was giving me trouble , so when the Dr. said that is the reason for all that discomfort and best option is to take it away, I immediately said to take it away as I was unable to bear that pain anymore.
Dr. Shankar: you said it in very simple way, but any similar occurance after that?
Sushma: nope, now can we go
Dr.Shankar: why so hurry Sushma ji, I didn't say anything yet
Sushma: babuji is alone , so
Rohini: he is all fine, you sit quiet Sushma
Dr. Shanker looking at Dev's face: ok, let me tell you, I was suspecting a different diagnosis, but it looks like it is something else
Dev impatiently: what is it Dr.
Dr. Shankar: the blood test that we took to check her thyroid glad function was abnormal, so only we proceeded with that CT scan and , in short her thyroid gland is enlarged
Dev: what is meant by that?
Dr. Shankar: to confirm it we need to do a biopsy. It won't take much time, we can do it now itself, if you agree with it.
Dev looked at Sushma, after listening to Dr. Shanker's notes, Dev went out to talk with Suchi. Time ticked by...
Dev was driving the car back, silently.
Sushma: what is this? ROhini atleast you talk something na. actually the sharpner was pointed at my neck space, not at you guys.
Rohini: sushma, for few minutes, can you please keep quiet
Suchma: ha, I will keep quiet, but telling you both , don't say so many things to my babuji, you people are sitting as if I am a very sick person, who is going to die any time soon, ye, don't you dare,... I will be around you guys only. And Dev, telling you frankly, I am totally fine, you don't need to wait for that biopsy or whatever result they said., ok..., I know it well. I am just fine. And no more discussion with your mom, I know she is a doctor, but you all are making me feel that I am sick. See he is telling it is enlarged, I don't have any issue with talking, no coughing, no pain, then , just simply he said something , don't even give your ears to him anymore ok. They will find one or the other reason to get us in, suddenly she coughed hard
Rohini: see I told you. Don't worry, we are not going to say anything to babuji, ok. What is this Sushma?.
Sushma: ha, you better.
But the scratchy throat did not allow her to continue, she sat quiet, looking to the front road.
As they reached home, Dev found anxious dadaji at the front door near the arch.
He followed Sushma silently
Sushma: babuji, I told you,... these people..., but nobody listens to me. See the Dr. himself told that I am fine, no medications or anything. it was just that time matter and what drama you all made .
Without looking at her babuji's face, she went in saying: let me check in the kitchen.
Dev: Buva, you go and take rest, Rohini maaji said they are coming in the evening.
Yeshpal did not ask anything further, and let his daughter go in. As she disappeared from their site, he looked at Dev's face and as if reading his potha's face;
Dadaji: will it be fine?
Dev swallowing that weight in: ha dadaji
Yeshpal with a smile walked out
Dev turning back: where are you going?
Yeshpal with a smile: not anywhere beta, just a small walk in our angan.
Walking out from his sight Yeshpal thought to self: where can I go, you have chained me with your love and care, let it be for few days, but it is making both of us weaker. We are losing ourselves and getting more depend on you. At least at the end of my journey we were able to feel your love, your caring, what else we need beta, we are not expecting anything from this life anymore, all our dreams faded that day when your dadi left us, when your dad left us. Whatever we got after that is a blessing, just blessing, and now, what can I say, seeing you around us like this, leaving your family behind, just near us to make sure we are fine; I am going weak, sot hat i can see you near like this all the time.
He continued his small steps in that silent atmosphere, while Dev went in.
Dev was taking his watch off, when Sushma came in
Dev paused for a moment and looked at his buva
Sushma in her deep voice: I know the reason for your silence Dev. You asked me once about my past and I told you 'there is nothing special about it, I was always like this and will be like this'...Yes I am not at all worried about the result or anything, I learned to live with it beta, nothing can block my way of life, because I passed all that test very early in my life. I had very few dreams and my Radhika filled all those for me, and now what I dream is, ...I just want to see her living happily with her prince, that is it, nothing else. So after babuji's check up, I want you to go to Delhi and be with Radhika and Ruhi. Because seeing you two separate .. gives me pain than anything else. I can take care of babuji, he will listen to me. Don't worry about us, we will be totally fine , ok. You are very young and you have a life in front of you, don't waste it on thinking about us, we both will be fine. Ok.
Dev just stood unable to give any reply.
Sushma coming near , stroked on his hair and said: you gave this few days for us, what else we need beta, as Radhika said you are really a prince, you can easily stole the heart of others with your character, just like a prince. I know I slapped on your cheek once, I am sorry beta, I didn't mean to hurt you, but I couldn't help it at that time because I know how much Radhika longed for you, so only. If possible forgive me beta. Lifting herself on her toe, she placed a loving kiss over his forehead. Then standing back on her feet, she smiled looking at him.
Dev taking everything in, stood there and met her sparkling drops inside those shiny eyes, and watched her walking out from his room with a smile on her lips.
Dev sat back in his bed. Bringing his open hands in front of his face, he rubbed it over his face, and then sliding it down, it remained under his cheek folded together. Everything was blank in front of him, he doesn't know what to say, what to do, nor he doesn't know how to act.
Dev got up from his bed after few minutes, and then walked in his room to and fro, he was feeling all suffocated. He took the cell in his hand, but then put it back in his pocket 'what to tell her?'
Dev came out from his room and walked down , he met dadaji out in the varanda.
Dev: dadaji I will be back soon,
Dadaji: where are you going
Dev: just for a walk out
Dadaji: next time , I will also come with you, ok
Dev with a smile: ji
He walked out, still not understanding from where he was able to bring that smile on his face. Is he learning how to face it just like his dadaji, just like that driver, when destiny come with a block in front of them, trying to mask it with a smile. No, how can I be like that, I need to find a way out too, I cannot take this burden and give that fake smile, I can hide it from others, but to myself!, I cannot do it. I cannot run away from it, I need to face it. But how?. Like that driver, who found his way out, his hurriness to reach the destination, to make sure his family is safe and secure, ... now I am in his shoes, i cannot leave them all alone and go... when the Dr. is suspecting somehting bad, buva is thinking about radhika, me, my life, she didn't even mentioned dad's name anywhere, she is just telling they will be fine, and wants to see us happy. ... how can she do that? maybe she did, all these years... . all are same.. dadaji, that driver, buva, why i feel they all are different? but then how dad is different form all of them? why you left this beautiful place dad?... wish I get an answer for it. Whom can I ask, who can tell me all about it...
He was not knowing how long he walked in this thought, the splashing sound of the chandenpur river brought him back to reality. Looking around, he sat near the bank. He just looked into those flowing water blindly, and slowly slowly her image started appearing in front of his eyes in that clear water. His lips mumbled "Radhika"
He remembered that moment, where he met her sitting near the bank, keeping her feet playing in those flowing water. Few times she was so serious, she was talking so different as if the nature can hear her, this nature respond to her...
... Slowly he lifted the hem of his jeans and dipped his feet in it. He felt the coldness, he slowly started lifting that water up with his feet, he tried to hold it as much as possible, and watched as it rolled down back into its place. The moment started lightening his heart, he continued his action unknowingly, he saw the small fishies, swimming around. Trying to get near his feet, he smiled, he went in a different world for few minutes.
At the same time back in Delhi.
Radhika was in her room, thinking what Suchi was telling about Sushma, and she knew why he didn't call her , he might be feeling heavy, wish I was near him. I am glad mom went along with them. She called Rohini and talked to her and Rohini told how silent Dev was after hearing everything.
Downstairs Smmay & Lechu was playing with Ruhi, enjoying her smile and her drumming feet , laying on that musical spread. Suchi was busy in kitchen...
Radhika held the cell phone in her hand very tight, and then after taking a deep breath, she dialed his number
Dev who was playing in water , kept the phone near his ear after pressing that green button without even looking at the caller id. Before he could say hello he heard
"Muwaaa"
And then the line got cut.
Dev with a surprise, paused for a second, and then beaming himself he called out: Radhika!!!!
He checked back on his phone, which went silent, but he again kept it near his ears and called out: Radhikaaa
Few minutes passed and he realized that she cut the phone . With a smile he dialed again, but she didn't pick the phone.
Dev: oh so you are playing with me now. He tried few times, but failed
"Ok, let me see, I know you are doing it intentionally, let me try the landline, I am sure now you won't have any other choice, than picking that phone before any one catch it, you know me well, won't give you that hide space any more, here you go Radhika'
He dialed the land line , hearing it Radhika came out form her room, and looked at the ringing machine and with a smile she said "at least that made you to call me' she looked around and found the space won't be a good choice to bring him back to normal, she thought again "let it finish ringing , I will call you back on your cell and we will talk'
But her eyes widened seeing Lechu nearing the ringing machine. Radhika's heart stopped for a moment.
***************************************************** thank you for reading my post. happy Janmashtami to all. yes, next is Dev, Lechu, Sammy, surender, and finally our radhika.. a 'muwaaa' fun scene , as my time permits...
Part 144
Devika
Edited by Devika. - 14 years ago
CID
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
