Shlok almost ran out in his haste. "Bhai, what happened?" Varad looked very worried.
"Baba just called me. Sharma uncle (Sojal's father) has had a heart attack and he has been taken to the hospital. Baba asked both of us to leave immediately. They may need something."
The Agnihotris were long standing friends of the Sharmas. And both the brothers liked and respected Sojal's father immensely. Shlok asked his brother to wait and went in to inform Astha. Right on time Astha came out of the washroom with her plain cotton night dress and her loose hair. He was momentarily distracted seeing her freshly scrubbed face. But gathered himself quickly and explained the situation.
"I am going to bhai. Don't wait up."
"I will also come."
"No Astha. He is in the ICU. Better not to crowd around too much. And it is also late."
Astha agreed and stayed back while the men left to the hospital. On the way Varad spoke to the chief doctor and asked him to take special care. They parked the car and went directly to the ICU. Sojal and her mother were waiting outside the ICu. They were huddled close in misery.
Sojal looked up to see Varad and Shlok come. She didn't know what prompted her to do it, but the minute she saw Varad she ran up to him and hugged him completely. Varad was taken aback for a minute with the sobbing Sojal in his arms. He tentatively put his arms around her and held her from a circumspect distance. Varad felt very bad seeing Sojal in this plight. He always liked her good nature and kind smile. Her grief genuinely touched some frozen spot in his heart.
Shlok was astounded seeing all this in front of him. So Astha was right. The way Sojal reached for Varad instinctively suggested her feelings went way deeper than casual friendship. He figured that tiny package at home was very astute. Immediately an unwarranted thought sprang up in his mind. If she was right about this could she also be right about his Baba? He was ashamed for even thinking this and immediately brushed away the unpleasant thought.
Meanwhile Varad managed to pull Sojal away from him. He led her to the place where her mother was standing. He asked both of them to keep calm. "I have already spoken to the chief doctor aunty. Don't worry. They are taking utmost care and they are going to get him out of here soon. He will be okay."
Sojal's mother's eyes were wet with tears of gratitude at his comforting words. Sojal meanwhile subdued a little. She was a little hesitant to look at Varad. Her grief and the sudden shock had propelled her to act out of order with him. She hoped he considered it just that.
Varad held her hands and asked her to come with him. Sojal was surprised at Varad's action. Usually he dropped a hi and exchanged pleasantaries with her. Nothing more than that. Now he led her to a chair and asked Shlok to get two coffees for both of them. Shlok immediately left to the vending machine.
He made her sit and crouched down next to her. "Sojal, don't fret. First of all believe that your father is going to be well soon. If you lose hope who will comfort your mother Sojal? You should be very brave." He sounded soothing and his hands continued to hold hers.
Shlok came back to this scene. He gave the coffee to both of them and he sat next to Sojal's mother. Varad left Sojal's hands and went towards the billing section to pay any dues that were required. Sojal was once again hit by Varad's thoughtfulness. She fell more in love with him as if that was possible. Her heart was only filled with Varad. She had no place for anyone else.
When she saw him coming towards her, her eyes shuttered into blankness like every other time. But this time Varad saw her face and her eyes before she hid herself. He saw her longing and her love for him. He knew Astha had been saying the truth the other day when she asked him to consider Sojal's love. He had not even listened to Astha but today when he saw it with his own eyes, Varad couldn't ignore it anymore.
The cardiac specialist came out along with the chief doctor. They pronounced Sojal's father out of danger though he had to be in the hospital for another three days. The after care would then follow. Sojal's mother immediately went in to see her husband. Her prayers were answered.
Shlok and Varad looked on while Sojal waited for her turn. After they came out, Shlok and Varad took leave from the hospital. They brushed away the thanks from the women. "It is our duty aunty. Don't worry and if you need anything else just call one of us. We will be here immediately."
A bone weary Shlok entered the room. Astha was sleeping and he went to have a shower to get the smell of the hospital out. Hearing Shlok open the wardrobe Astha got up. She immediately sat up. "How is Sojal's father now Shlok? Is everything okay?" Astha sounded anxious and Shlok immediately updated her. He saw the time was three in the morning. Shlok was exhausted. He joined Astha in the bed and pulled the covers over both of them.
Astha snuggled up to him and held her head on his chest. He stroked her hair and kissed on top of her head. She looked up at him. "What are you thinking Shlok?" He brushed her nose with his. "I was thinking about us. About what would have happened had we not been interrupted." His husky voice sent shivers down her body.
Astha looked away in shyness. She had been in the threos of passion then but thinking about his love making, she felt tongue tied and shy.
"Cat got your tongue?" He teased her and gave a soft laugh.
"Shlok!" She protested.
He kissed her softly and told her "We will go somewhere for two or three days Astha. I am fed up of one thing or the other. After uncle comes out of the hospital lets go somewhere."
Astha agreed with a shy smile. She burrowed back into his chest and they slept with his arms entwined around hers.
Cricket
CID
50