It was nearly dawn. RK was in the car, being driven home from the hospital. Two days ago, RK had rushed straight from the airport to the hospital where Padmini was. Seeing her worsening condition, he shifted her to Mumbai's best hospital despite Trishna's protests. He had been trying to do the same for many weeks, but Trishna wouldn't let hit near her mom, blaming him for the death of Madhu which had in turn led to Padmini's state. God knows, RK blamed himself more than Trishna could ever blame him. But now, he wasn't going to let his mother-in-law without doing everything he could to save her. He couldn't bring back Madhu, but if he could save her mother, maybe somewhere Madhu's soul would find some peace.
After the shift and a few anxious hours, Padmini's condition stabilized, but she was still in grave dangers. Doctors had given it 72 hours - if she made it through and started breathing normally again, she could survive, else...Nobody said anything of her waking through the coma though. RK hadn't left Padmini's side for the last several hours. Bittuji had been pushing him all day to go home and get some rest, but he refused. A few hours ago, he had dozed off on the chair. Nightmares quickly came - Madhu's face the last time he saw her, the sensation of falling off a cliff, and strangely, a pair of eyes he had seen only a couple days ago. He woke up startled, sweating, to find Bittuji by his side with some water. Suddenly, something struck him.
"Bittuji, where is Madhu's body?"
"Madhu's what?"
"Body...where did you put her to rest? Which cremation grounds?" RK's eyes had desperation in them. It was haunting him that he had never seen Madhu even after she died, did not say goodbye, just forgot about her. He wanted to make amends, maybe go where her final rites were performed and beg forgiveness from those dusts.
"Chief...I will tell you later..."Bittuji stammered "...don't stress. You look devastated. Look, why don't you go home for a few hours and rest. I will stay here, and Trishna will come back in a few hours too. You can come back in the afternoon. I will call back if something changes, but right now, we can do nothing but wait. Please go home for some time."
Somehow Bittuji had convinced him to get in the car. But now, half an hour later, RK realised he could not sleep anyway, despite being so tired. He couldn't leave Madhu's mother's side. He had left Madhu, and lost her. In some way, Padmini was the last living piece of Madhu he could hold onto. He asked his driver to make a U-turn to the hospital.
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RK was pacing towards the ICCU, where Padmini was, when he suddenly stopped outside her room. From the window, RK glanced at a demure, shawl-clad figure holding Padmini's hand and bending over her. He stopped instinctively, trying to get a better look. Who was it? Trishna? Someone from the chawl? There seemed to be noone else in the room, but from RK's angle he couldn't see more the face of the person. He started to move when suddenly the person turned and RK caught an eye glistening with tears. Those eyes! The shawl seemed to slip a little, even as RK watched paralyzed a faint slide profile of her face appear. RK didn't need to be told any more who she was. He was numb even as a variety of emotions exploded inside him.
Was...this...his..M..Madhu? Madhu was...alive?!
For several minutes, RK couldn't move, couldn't think, couldn't do anything. He stood rooted at the spot, not knowing what he was feeling. Happiness? Excitement? Relief? Anger? Confusion? Guilt? His gaze was broken as he saw Bittuji appear by Madhu's side, whispering something to her, apparently asking her to hurry up. A couple of minutes later, Madhu left Padmini's hand, gave her a hug and started to turn away. Bittuji, apparently stayed as a nurse seemed to have entered the room as well. RK's feet leapt towards the door on their own. If this was Madhu...
This was Madhu, RK knew, as he watched her walk hastily away from the door in the opposite direction. Her back was to him, and she was tightly covered in a shawl, yet RK knew without a doubt who this was. His heart felt like it was suddenly out of a deep freezer and thawed. Blood gushed to RK's feet, yet he couldn't really move. He didn't know what he was feeling, but the wave of emotion inside him felt close to how he imagined death would feel.
"What kind of a justice is this, Biwi?" He finally spoke up loud. Madhu was more than 30 feet away from him by now, but she heard. And she stopped instantly, gasping.
Anupamaa
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
