FF: Adrift Completed Feb 3rd 2014 - Page 16

Padmini was crashing. Doctors were trying frantically to revive her heartbeat. Not far away from her bed, Madhu, RK and Bittuji stood and watched helplessly, a prayer on their lips. Tears streamed down their eyes, and without realizing, Madhu held on to RK tight, relying on his arms to stay standing. A few minutes later, the doctors managed to get some heart rhythm, and RK and Bittuji relaxed just a trifle. Madhu, however was still distraught and turned her face away, burying herself and her pain in RK's chest. For the first time in several minutes, RK realised how close he was to Madhu - his Madhu - and for a few moments all he could get himself to do was to close his eyes and savor the sensation of holding Madhu in his arms. His grip tightened, his breath became heavier and a warmth ran through his body. He had never imagined he could feel this again...and then the truth hit home, bringing a fresh wave of tears. He opened his eyes and looked down at Madhu, nestled in his arms. Madhu's shawl had slipped and with the side profile clearly visible, RK saw the scar on her face.

"Madhu..."he said softly, partly shocked but mostly in pain, as he gently caressed Madhu's scar with his left hand.

The shock of RK's touch on her face jolted Madhu, and she immediately took a step back, freeing herself from RK's arms. She looked up to face RK, whose eyes were the color of blood, but for the first time in her life, the reason wasn't anger, just pain. RK touched Madhu's scar, making her grimace, but it seemed to hurt RK more than her. RK threw a questioning glance at Bittuji, whose silent nod made RK turn pale and his body shiver. Madhu, now recovered, took several steps back to put some distance between her and RK and willed her anger to come back.

"We have stabilized your mother for now, but her condition has gone from bad to worse. We will start another protocol in half an hour to make another attempt at treating her underlying condition, but it is going to be risky," the doctor addressed RK.

"I understand doctor, and I trust your judgment. Please save her...I really need you to save her." RK's voice cracked.

"Ok. But you would have to read and sign some new consent forms detailing the risks."

"She will do that, doctor" RK said, pointing at Madhu "She is her daughter, and nobody loves her in the world more than she does. Only she has the rights to make the decision. I was only fulfilling her responsibilities in her absence, but now she is here, and she is not going anywhere until her mother is fine..." Madhu stared at RK. He had said the last sentence with a lot of confidence and attitude, like the RK Madhu had always known. It angered Madhu, RK ordering her around like that, but for the moment, she stayed quiet. It was not as if she was going to leave her mother's side right now, even to quash RK's huge ego.

The doctor gave a slighly puzzled glance at both Madhu and RK before nodding, "Ok. As you wish. Now I would request you to wait outside so we can prepare. Nurse will bring the papers."

RK, Madhu and Bittuji walked outside. Madhu slumped at the chair in the hallway outside, most of her thoughts with her mother. She half expected RK to come yelling at her with questions, but he left her alone, until the nurse came with the papers. He stood silently by her side as she listened to the nurse and read the papers. As she held the pen to sign, her hand shivered. Was she writing a death sentence for her mother? Then, she felt Rk's hand holding her arm gently, steadying her, as she completed the signatures. She was a little angry, but mostly she was grateful for that gesture from him, even though she was never going to admit it. Before she could say anything to him though, he withdrew and walked away, giving Madhu her space. She glanced sideways and saw him sitting quietly several feet away, looking more lost and distraught than she had ever seen him.

Almost an hour later, Bittuji came to her and asked her to come to the lounge. There was no point sitting in the hallway and he wanted Madhu to eat something and get her strength back. She resisted, but he convinced her. It was only a few feet away, and any news about Padminiji would reach them instantly. As Madhu walked with Bittuji, she glanced again at RK, who was still sitting in the same position, seemingly not joining them.

"If he blames you for lying to him, tell him it was my decision." Madhu softly told Bittuji, a few minutes later, in the private lounge.

"He didn't. He only thanked me for saving your life." Bittuji replied.

Madhu looked at Bittuji questioningly.

"He didn't ask much. He just asked if I had found you in time, and I told him I was a few minutes late, but perhaps just in time. Then he thanked me profusely for saving you and for being there for you when he failed you. That's all. I think...I think he understands."

Madhu thought silently about what Bittuji had said, then replied

"Thanks Bittuji...for everything you have done for me. As for RK, I don't believe he can ever understand and I don't care what he thinks or says. But now that I don't have to hide from him, I want to stay here till Ma gets well..."

Bittuji started to say something, then stopped and nodded.

"One more thing, do you know where is Trishna? I should...I should meet her."

"She is on her way to the hospital. I spoke with her 20 minutes back. I will send her in here. You rest here for some time, and eat some more. I will be outside. And don't worry. Padminiji shall be alright."

As Bittuji left, Madhu's thoughts shifted to RK and to his words earlier in the day. He was the same, same RK - her husband and the man she had loved, added something within her, but she ignored the voice - but he was also different, somehow. He looked weaker and his face was pale. But he still had the same attitude, the same overconfidence, the same arrogance and ego! But his eyes...there was pain unlike anything she had ever seen. And guilt. Was it possible he still loved her? Was it true, like Bittuji had said, that he had repented and become a better person? No, that couldn't be possible. RK was Right Kameena, that's all he could ever be. He stopped loving her long ago...and didn't he sleep with that girl Ria...and God knows who else..

Madhu's thoughts were interrupted as Trishna entered the room. "M..Madhu.."

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Outside, RK still sat in the hallway, pensive, his elbows on his knees and his hands on his head. Bittuji came and sat next to him and asked him again to eat something, but RK nodded his head in refusal. After a few minutes of silence, RK asked, softly, almost whispering..

"That scar on her face...I gave her that, right?"

Bittuji looked startled at RK's choice of words. But he didn't react, just responded emotionlessly

"Madhu was injured quite badly from her fall. Somehow, by God's grace, she survived, but had multiple injuries that took a while to heal. But for the scar, she refused any treatment. I even took her to a plastic surgeon in Delhi, but she refused. She said she wanted to remember..."

RK closed her eyes, tightly, as if not seeing would also somehow lead to not hearing. A few tears streamed down his cheeks.

"Tell her I am sorry she had to see me today..." RK said, and stood up, walking to the other end of the hallway and staring out of the window.

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It was at 6 in the evening that they finally heard some news. The new treatment protocol had been kicked off successfully, and Padmini was stable for now. A smile broke on Madhu's face, who was holding Trishna's hands tight, and RK couldn't help but stare at it. The doctors wanted to keep Padmini in ICCU for another 2 days at least, but for now she was sedated, so they advised everyone to go home for the night. Both Madhu and RK refused, almost simultaneously, but eventually they were convinced by the doctor.

Trishna turned to Madhu, "Madhu, I can't tell you how happy I am that ma is doing better, and that you are here, alive, with us. But now that she's out of danger, I think I must go. I postponed for the last few days, but if I go to the shoot even now...it is a lot of money, and we need the money for ma. So I think I will leave...I wouldn't if it wasn't so important..."

"Don't go Trish. I will take care of the treatment." RK interrupted

"You stay away. I told you before and I am telling you again. Do not show your face here. We don't want your charity. Yes, you shifted Ma here in time last time and that saved her, which is why I tolerated you coming here to see her. But don't you..."Trishna was angry. She knew Bittuji had been supporting Padmini's treatment, but what she did not know that a small chunk of that money had come from Madhu and most of the rest from RK - neither of whom wanted Trishna to know the real source of the money.

"It's fine, Trish. You go. I am here." Madhu spoke up.

"Here're the home keys. The shoot is in Pune, so I will not be coming home for 2-3 days, but if anything changes here, just call me - I will leave everything and be there as soon as possible."

Madhu nodded, "Ok. Now you go and take care. And don't worry about Ma. I am here."

Trishna hugged Madhu and left. A few minutes later, they all stepped outside the hospital and Bittuji led Madhu in the car. RK was sitting in the front with the driver, not saying a word.

Half an hour later, the car came to a stop. To her surprise, instead of dropping her at the chawl, they were at RK mansion.

"Chalo Madhu.."RK's faint voice reached her ears, and Madhu saw him holding the door open for her.