Part 32 - Trial by fire
Khushi felt a band tighten around her middle as she cried helplessly with Arnav's head in her lap, his hand still closed tightly over hers. Lavanya and NK quickly ran over when they heard Khushi's crying. NK was shocked. He had not realized that Arnav had been shot considering that Nanav had been wearing a maroon sweatshirt. He quickly removed the shirt and saw that Arnav had been shot in two places - One between his right shoulder blades and the other around his left arms.
"Dont worry Khushi ji. Nannav will be okay. He is very strong you see...dont worry. Just take care that you do not stress yourself."
Lavanya was also comforting Khushi who again felt a tightness that now started to hurt and she moaned out in pain, clutching her middle. "The babies cant arrive now. I have to be strong for Arnavji. But it hurts, my entire abdomen hurts, feels tight and weird.", she bit out. La was now worried. She had never had to deal with babies and she had no idea what was going on with Khushi. She vacillated between calling Anjali di and Payal. Anjali Di would have to be told about Arnav and would freak out. Pregnant Payal would freak out about her own sister.
La then quickly decided to call her partner-in-crime and fun - Manorama maami. She cautioned Maami from blurting out anything in Payal's hearing, and quickly filled her in about Khushi's status. Maami retrieved the name and number of Khushi's doctor and provided it to La while hinting to Akash to drive faster.
NK, in the meanwhile, talked to Karan and ran out to usher in the additional folks from Treadstone. Shyam was taken care of by the police who simultaneously arrived. Arnav was quickly loaded into a waiting SUV. Nothing would keep Khushi from Arnav and La and NK finally, quickly decided to keep the two together considering that Khushi needed to get to the hospital too.
***
"Akash bitwa, Kya tum yeh address pe pehle jaa sakte ho?", asked Maamiji providing Akash an address. Akash recognized this as the hospital address. Maamaji who was slow on the uptake blurted out, "par woh tho hamaare hospital ka address hai...wahaan kyon jaana hai?". Paayal had by now guessed something was wrong from Maamiji's elaborate twists, nakhras and actions."Kya hua sasuma...Sab theek tho hai. Kya hua...hospital kyon jaa rahe hai...", Payal asked anxiously.
"Payal bitiya...kuch naahi hai", maamiji denied. Then thought better of it - She was not going to be able to contain this latest information - Better to share it in a calm and controlled manner. And that is what she did, holding on to Payal's hand to calm her down. Akash and Mamaji were worried but could not show it out of concern for Payal and Maamiji.
"Kuch nahi hoga. Sab theek rahega - Abhi abhi tho Maiyya ke aashirwaad leke aa rahe hai. Arnav bitwa bhi theek ho jaayega. Khushi kaa abhi woh false pains honge. Yaad hai Manno, Akash bitwa ke aane se pehle, hum kitne baar hospital gaye, yeh soch kar ke bitwa aane wala hai. Main tho hospital pe ghar basaane ka soch raha tha.", Maamaji attempted to lighten the stressful atmosphere. (Nothing will happen. Everything will be alright. We are just getting back after taking the blessings of Devi Maiyya. Arnav will become okay. Khushi must be having false pains. Remember, Manno, before Akash came how often we ended up in the hospital thinking that our baby was coming. I used to think I should set up our home in the hospital.)
No one laughed except for Payal who smiled politely.
***
At the hospital, Khushi was quickly led into a triage room for monitoring heartbeats of the twins and to time her contractions. Arnav was taken into surgery. The doctors instructed NK to arrange for blood from other blood banks as Arnav had a rare O+ blood group. Lavanya was on the phone with Akash and Karan giving them updates of what was going on. Karan jumped in to share that his was the same blood group as Arnav's and he could donate. Anjali looked at him gratefully. She was feeling a rage and a hatred for Shyam who had done this to her Chotey. In a smaller measure, she felt the same feeling for herself for having chosen such a husband and having been blind to his evilness for so long.
"Dont!", said Karan.
"What?", Anjali asked.
"Dont berate yourself for whatever that b***** did. You are not responsible for his actions. It was not just you who was cheated. It was Arnav and all your family members as well - Nobody caught on to him.", Karan responded stealing a quick glance at Anjali.
Anjali was surprised how Karan had read her mind exactly. She looked at him perplexed. It was like their minds were connected. "No ..what am I thinking. We are not connected" thought Anjali. "If so, how does he understand me so well ..Even before I realize it myself.", asked Anjali's heart. "This is not the time to be thinking of me and Karan when Chotey and Khushi are both in the hospital in part because of me. Me and Karan...? There should be no conjunction between us... There is nothing, nothing!", Anjali's warring mind declared.
Naaniji had just woken up and heard Karan's last words to Anjali and seen Anjali's reaction. She smiled ..It looked like Anjali was having a war within herself.
"Kya hua Anjali bitiya, kyon pareshan ho?", Naaniji asked. Anjali turned around - Her tears had dried...But the loving question from her grandmother elicited a fresh round. She haltingly told her about what had happened. Naaniji was shocked. She pinched herself to make sure she was not in some bad dream. When would the troubles facing her family end? Nothing could happen to Arnav bitwa...He was the anchor of the family. Naaniji could not even think of losing her grandson...It was just unacceptable and inconceivable.
***
The Obgyn examined Khushi and pronounced that the babies need to stay in the womb longer. 7 weeks early did not give them a good chance of survival and health. She gave Khushi a dose of an anti-anxiety drug along with medication to slow down and stop labor. Khushi slept a disturbed sleep - Her nightmares chasing her and causing her to move around and try to wake up.
***
"Khushi, my love. Rest, sleep. You need to stay calm and stress free to give our babies a fighting chance for survival. You need to keep them in there longer so that they are healthy when they enter this world. I know you love me a lot and your love will keep me safe. I intend to be around for our kids, our grandkids. I know you now feel what I felt when I almost lost you after the kidnapping. But my love, I am okay ...I am here right with you, right?!", Arnav said, rubbing Khushi's free arm, smoothing her hair and wiping the sweat off her brow.
Khushi opened her eyes and saw Arnav leaning over her to kiss her. "what..What the...Kya main sapne mein hoon? Arnavji ...Aap kaise...".
"Khushi, what happened? Are you okay? Are you in pain still? Do you need some water?", Lavanya leaned forward from her perch on Khushi's side.
Khushi shook her head. Partly to clear it, partly to say No in response to Lavanya's question. She looked around the room, her eyes searching for Arnav who had just kissed her. She smiled and told Lavanya, "Arnav ji yahaan they...Unhone kahaa ki woh mere saath hai, hamesha."
Lavanya stared at her in worry and consternation. She was alone in the room with Khushi.
***
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Friends, sorry about the delayed post. Hope you like this short edition. Please do comment and hit Like.
Edited by vishkhush - 13 years ago
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
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