New FF: Escape Last Part Page 49 - Page 11

Chapter Eleven

Gopi laughed and got out of her car. Kamya really was crazy and her craziness seemed to have multiplied since her shaadi had been fixed. She knew she was late getting home and Sanjeev was probably already waiting for her. She still had to prepare dinner and made sure he took his medicine on time. She walked through the door and noticed Sanjeev with Rahul in the living room. They both greeted her and laughed at all the packages in her hand.

"You know Kamya really is crazy when it comes to shopping. What did she make you buy?" Rahul walked over and grabbed the bags from Gopi and placed them on the table. Gopi laughed at his comment. She could remember a time when those two would always be like fighting like cats and dogs, and how slowly over time they had grown to be really good friends. They wouldn't ever admit that out loud, but Gopi knew better.

"Gopi beta, Rahul has to go to the US tonight on business. He needs to finalize plans with the company over there and make sure that the building goes up without any delays. He's going to be gone for a couple of weeks if not longer so I might need you to come and help me in the office." Gopi nodded and told him she would help in any way she can. "Another thing I have set up a meeting with MI for our hotel project tonight for dinner and I was hoping that you would be able to join us. They would really like to meet the girl that helped them obtain the contract."

"I'm really sorry Baba, but Kamya is coming over tonight and we have to decorate the house for the engagement tomorrow. I still am sad that you are going to miss is Rahul, but we have a lot of work to do." Sanjeev said it was fine as the engagement had completely slipped his mind and apologized to his daughter. A knock on the door disrupted their thoughts and Gopi went to answer it. Kamya had arrived and took Sanjeev's blessing.

"Uncleji I haven't seen you in so long. Thank you so much to agreeing to let me have my engagement and shaadi here. It really does mean a lot to me and Papa also told me to say thank you on his behalf."

"Beta, you are family. No need for thank you. Gopi beta I must be off otherwise Rahul and I will be late for the dinner meeting. Please eat on time and don't do too much work. Call some of the servants and have them help you girls out. Now Kamya beta I don't want you going home so late so you should just sleep here tonight. Don't wait up for me girls as I have to drop Rahul off at the airport after the meeting." Gopi immediately agreed and told Kamya the same. Gopi and Kamya immediately got to work. The filled the living room with flowers, and by the time they were done Sanjeev was home from his meeting. He looked around his living room in awe. The girls had really outdone themselves. The place looked beautiful. He went into his room and immediately fell asleep. Something he eaten wasn't sitting right and he was not feeling well. He decided that he should go and visit the doctor first thing in the morning before Gopi got worried. She really was excited about the engagement tomorrow and he didn't want to ruin it for her.

Gopi woke up bright and early the next morning. She went outside and looked around for signs of her Baba. He was nowhere to be seen. 'That's odd Baba is always up early. I wonder what's wrong.' She walked over to his room and knocked and she got no answer. She pushed the door open and noticed him on floor and screamed. Kamya ran into the room and saw the scene in front of her. She immediately grabbed the phone and called an ambulance.

"Baba wake up what's wrong?" Gopi couldn't stop her tears from falling. If she lost him she would die. He was all she had left in this world. She could still hear his faint breathing and knew he was deteriorating. Everything around her was fuzzy. She was suddenly being pulled away from Sanjeev by two arms and she lunged into Kamya. Kamya held onto Gopi while the paramedics checked on Sanjeev. They put him onto a stretcher and took him into the ambulance. Kamya looked over at Gopi and told her not to worry and that everything was going to be okay.

"Come on Gopi I'll take you to the hospital." Gopi looked over at Kamya with tears in her eyes and the sudden decorations brought her back from her daze.

"No Kamya. I will have the driver take me. This is a really important day for you and everything is planned. The guests should be arriving soon so you stay here and get ready for your engagement. I will call you and let you know tonight about the news. Don't worry please Kamya." Kamya didn't want to agree with Gopi but she knew Gopi would never forgive herself if Kamya didn't listen so she nodded her head yes. Gopi ran out the door and into the ambulance. She grabbed Sanjeev's hand and prayed. 'Please Kanaji let Baba be okay. Please spare him. He is all I have left in this world.' Gopi didn't remember when they arrived at the hospital and when they took him in. She paced the waiting room floor anticipating the news. She kept pacing and praying. She couldn't stop her tears. What would she do without Sanjeev.

"Are you Ms. Gopi Shah?" An older gentleman approached Gopi. Gopi nodded her head and listened intently on her father's condition. "Gopi, it seems that Sanjeev had a diabetic attack and his blood sugar has dropped significantly. Did he eat anything abnormal yesterday?"

"I don't know. He went out for dinner so I'm not sure what he ate."

"Well we have him stabilized now, but we will have to keep him here overnight for observations. Even after he is released you must make sure he sticks to his diet, takes his medicine on time, and doesn't over exert himself. Another attack could be life-threatening for him, especially so soon after this one. I recommend complete bed rest for at least four days. Even after that he should not be working as it will just stress him out. You can go and see him now. He is awake and asking for you." Gopi nodded her head and ran to Sanjeev. She hugged Sanjeev tightly and cried.

"I'm okay Gopi beta. Please stop crying." Gopi looked over at him.

"I told you not to eat sweets. I was so scared Baba. Please don't ever scare me like this again do you understand. And from now on no more work for you. You are retiring and that's final. I will help Rahul with the work in the office. Together we will be able to handle it." Sanjeev nodded at her daughter and laughed.

"Gopi beta I already had the lawyer finalize the papers yesterday. From today onwards you are now the CEO of Shah Industries. You will run the company, and I will rest. I have waited for this day for years. I know Shah Industries is in good hands." Gopi smiled and her father's sweet gesture and told him to go to bed. He needed his rest and she had to go and call Kamya and see how her engagement went. She knew Kamya was probably waiting by the phone for news about Sanjeev. She had already called 8 times and so had her parents Malini and Vijay. She called up Kamya and waited for someone to answer. Kamya picked up the phone right away when she noticed the caller.

"Gopi, I've been trying to call you all day. How's Sanjeev uncle and how are you? I'm coming over to the hospital right now. Do you need anything?"

"Kamya everything is okay. Baba is fine now and they are keeping here overnight for observations so I'm going to stay with him. We will be back first thing in the morning. I'm so relieved and you just had one of the happiest moments in your life. Enjoy it and I promise if anything changes I will call you." Kamya sighed in relief and told Gopi that they had all gone back home and had already cleaned up Shah Mansion. Gopi went back to Sanjeev's room and noticed he was fast asleep. She smiled at him before going onto the sofa and falling asleep herself.

Gopi woke up the next morning and noticed Sanjeev was already up and reading the morning newspaper. "Jai Shri Krishna Baba how are you feeling today?"

"Jai Shri Krishna Gopi Beta, I feel absolutely wonderful. I'm really glad to be going home and away from this hospital." At that cue the nurse came in for Sanjeev's last check-up. She handed Gopi Sanjeev's prescription and the discharge papers and told her Sanjeev's health was better than yesterday. She helped Sanjeev up and together they walked out of the hospital and went back home. Upon reaching Shah Mansion Gopi put Sanjeev right back to bed.

"Gopi beta there is work to be done at the office. There is a meeting with MI today regarding the hotel project and you must go as Rahul is in the US. Don't worry about me. Raghu Kaka is here to take care of all my needs." Gopi was hesitant, but she knew that the responsibility of Shah Industries now rested on her shoulders at least until Rahul came back. She instructed Raghu Kaka not to let Sanjeev eat anything that isn't on the diet chart and to give him his medicine on time. She also instructed him to make sure Sanjeev did not get out of bed.

"Okay Baba I am leaving for the office now. Please listen to everything I have said and I will call you regularly to check up on you." With a last glance over at Sanjeev Gopi went towards Shah Industries. She walked into the office and Radha immediately came up to Gopi and gave her a big hug

"Meri pyari si Pari." She smiled at her nickname. She hadn't heard it for a while and liked that Radha had started calling her that again. "How are you holding up and how is Sanjeev sir."

"Baba is fine now but he has to take complete rest so he won't be in the office for quite a while. I am doing well now that I know Baba is going to be fine." Radha handed her the file for the hotel construction project and told her the meeting was in an hour. Gopi went towards Sanjeev's office and noticed that his name was no longer on the door. The door read Gopi Shah, CEO. 'So Baba has already taken all the measures for his retirement. She smiled and walked into the office. She had a lot of material to review before the meeting and she didn't have very much time. She got right to work. She didn't want to let her Baba down because she knew how much this company and her being a major part of it meant to Sanjeev. She reviewed each and every detail in the files. She was so engrossed in the material that she lost track of time. Radha walked into the office, "Pari the clients are waiting for you in the conference room. Do you need to me to get anything for you before you start?" Gopi shook her head and walked towards the conference room with all the files in her hand. She opened the door to the room and got the biggest shock of her life.