Yesterday…….. They had all attended the press conference, with Dipika presiding… She gave a full account of Anna Kartoos case and how Aryan had been shot, the arrest of Kamaar… What exactly did Kamaar want was not sure with themselves as they had to yet go to the police station………..
By the time the press conference was over it had become two in the afternoon……….
They decided to go straight to the police station, but again Cathy had insisted them to have lunch……. It was the day before night around 8'O clock when they had had their dinner………
Everyone agreed, because they needed their stamina….. To be truthful they were ravenous after the non-stop excitement…….
Then Dipika, Neha, Ajay and Shotgun had gone to the police station to complete all the formalities…… Boxer was left behind to guard Aryan……….
And that was where they had received the shocking news……
Kamaar had already been interrogated by the Inspector for why he had done the murder attempt on Aryan……..?????
The Inspector said that he had been posted in Nasik by Anna Kartoos to take away Aryan Khanna if he happened to pass that way…… It seems this Kamaar knew nothing about the fatal death of Anna,as usually Anna Kartoos only contacted the under dogs, when needed only………..
The Inspector had also stalled mentioning the fact to Kamaar that Anna Kartoos, a women was no more……….
On asking how he knew Aryan was in the hospital, Kamaar had said that he was hiding in the temple of the hospital, when he had seen Dipika Gosh there talking to the temple's priest and he had followed her to get to Aryan………..
This news fell as a blow for Dipika……!!!!!!!!! She couldn't digest the fact that she had unknowingly led the killer to Aryan…….. She blamed herself for all that happened to him………
By the time they had returned to the hospital it was night 7'O clock….. No one had spoken a single word and the others avoided even glance towards Dipika……. She had been like a zombie from the time she had heard the news….. Neha had to guide her from the station to the jeep and back to the hospital……….
At the hospital Dipika had for long disappeared into the ICU….. No one disturbed her….. But they all knew it was not her fault….. Just a co-incidence……. They had no regrets against her………..
Next Day Morning……… Everyone had assembled back in Cathy's private room, the previous night……..
Everyone was seated at the same place as yesterday, lying down their heads, but not sleeping…..
Dipika: (to one in particular) Hume chalna chahiye………
Neha who had been resting her head against the sofa's back, eyes closed, lifted her head and looked at Dipika………….. Since their visit to the police station yesterday, for the first time Dipika had opened her mouth…………….
As if on cue the door opened and Cathy entered….. Behind two wardboys entered, each carrying a tray covered and Cathy herself was carrying a thermos……..
Neha smiled, Cathy was very much like Dipika…… She did take care of their food promptly……….
Cathy: (smiling) Good Morning everybody…………
All of them smiled at Cathy's wish….. Dipika was silent……..
Cathy sensed tension in her and decided not to prod it……..
Cathy: (placing the thermos on the dining table, said to the wardboys) Yahaan rakh do….. Aur us patient ko discharge karne ka intezaam kar do…..
The wardboys nodded and retreated………
Cathy turned towards them and smiled again………….
Cathy: (sighing a mock frustration said) Pata tha, pata tha mujhe ki raat bhar tum log sooge nahi……… (Shaking her head) Aap logon ke office me naa twenty-four hours medical supervisor hona chahiye… To see to that, you take your food properly, sleep properly and rest….. (Everyone else had also smiled at this suggestion) Lekin aap logon ka kaam bhi aisa hai……..
She was by now seated by Dipika's side……….
Dipika: (apparently not heard what Cathy said, because her expression hadn't changed) Hume chalna chahiye……
Cathy looked at her and smiled again……
Cathy: (lifting her hands up mockingly said) Fine….. No one is stopping you, but first breakfast…… I am strict about timely meals you see (she said looking at Neha, Neha smiled)
Dipika didn't react…….. Cathy looked at Dipika and then at Neha……. She was about to open her mouth to say something when Neha interrupted knowingly……..
Neha: I'll serve……
Cathy nodded…….
Cathy: (smiled) Please, be my guest…
Neha started to serve them a breakfast of parathas and its combination……. She laid out plates and passed it to Ajay, Shotgun and Boxer…… She also laid out a plate for Dipika and brought it to her…….
Dipika shook her head….. Neha sat down beside her…….
Neha: (taking her hands and forcing the plate in her hands) Mam aapko khaanaa hi padegaa….. (Dipika started to refuse again, but Neha interrupted) Mam, please…… Khaa lijiye…. You have to………
Dipika looked at Neha and saw her determined face and reluctantly took the plate…. She started to eat it slowly……
Neha went back to the table and started on her breakfast…….
By nine they had all finished their breakfast, followed by a hot cup of coffee and were ready to depart…….
Outside the hospital…… Only on seeing the ambulance did Dipika realize something……….
Dipika: (to no one in particular) Oh…. Bhool hi gayi….. Vo wardboy Magan aur us hospital ka ambulance…….
Boxer: (who was coming behind, hearing what Dipika said, answered) Vo Magan mujhe subah mila thaa….. Vo apna hospital wapas chala gaya hai……. Usne kaha ki uske ek driver dost ambulance chalane walaa hai…….
Dipika: Oh….. (Relieved) Thank God…… (Then thinking something) Cathy tum mere liye kuch kar sakti ho.... I am asking you favor upon favor…..
Cathy: (taking Dipika's hand) Come on Deeps…. Main to tumhare liye kuch bhi karne ko taiyaar hoon…. Humari friendship itni kamzor nahi hai ki, jo hum ek doosre ke liye jo kar rahein hain, use favor ka naam do……
Dipika: (smiling) Us Magan ko tumhare hospital me kaam de sakti ho…. As it is you must be short of one wardboy now, beacuse of us……. (She joked)
Cathy: (Laughed) Bas… Itna hi…. I thought you were going to ask something more bigger….. And you were right….. I do need a wardboy….. Aaj hi use ek appointment order bhej deti hoon uske hospital…….
Dipika thanked her……….
By the ambulance…….. Aryan was already at the ambulance's back…. Boxer had decided to travel with the ambulance….. Cathy had arranged for a wardboy to accompany them in case of emergency………….
Dipika: (to Cathy) Thank you Cathy……..
Cathy: Tsk tsk…… Come on yaar… Aryan is actually healing much better, so no need to worry. Maine apne father-in-law ko phone kar diyaa hai. He's an expert in coma cases. Maine unhe case details bata di hai and he'll be waiting for you when you reach the hospital……. And yeah (handing over to Dipika a folder) Ye Aryan ki case sheet hai….. Operation details, Prescriptions, scan reports sab…. Give this folder to my father-in-law. Medicines ko maine wardboy ko de di hai…. He'll take care………
Dipika: (once again) Thanks again Cathy….. (Before Cathy could protest) Hum chalte hain… Take care…..
Cathy hugging Dipika said…..
Cathy: (Joking) Ek doctor se hi care karne ko keh rahi ho…… (Looking back at Dipika) You take care…. Aryan will be all (atressing on 'all') right…… His condition is improving very much….
Dipika nodded and got into the back of the jeep…..
Cathy hugged Neha and shook hands with Ajay, Boxer and Shotgun……
Everyone thanked her and got into the jeep……..
Ajay driving, Shotgun in the front passenger seat and Neha beside Dipika…… Boxer got into the ambulance's front passenger seat………
Cathy gave some last minute instruction to the driver of the ambulance and the wardboy and they soon left Nasik behind………..
When they had reached Mumbai' Apollo Care Center, The Hospital…. As said, Cathy's father-in-law was there waiting for them at the entrance…..
He took care of all the arrangements…… He had said that he would have to keep Aryan under observation for twenty-fours, only after which he could decide on the course of treatment…………
On the way Dipika had called up the commissioner of their arrival….. The Commissioner had promised security for Aryan at the hospital……..
Sure enough when they reached the hospital, they had found constables waiting for them.....
Dipika had insisted that the others, Ajay, Boxer, Shotgun and Neha go to their houses, to refresh themselves…... Reluctantly everyone left promising to be back soon……..
Just as her trails of thought ended Neha found herself at the entrance of the canteen of the hospital…….
It was a separate building by the side of the hospital, but had a short cut through the hospital's ground floor……….
Neha scanned the canteen tables and saw Dipika seated at a far table of the canteen facing the hospital's garden……
Dipika had a table for herself and was looking out into the garden…….
Neha came to the table and sat down opposite to Dipika……..
She followed Dipika's gaze and looked out…………
It was a beautiful scenic garden…. It had green French grass spread over, bordered with neatly trimmed and shaped bushes……. Many colorful flowers decorated the beauty…… The center of the garden had a huge fountain, which was spilling sparkling water……..
It was nearing sunset, with the sun casting its beautiful evening rays on the fountain waters……. ⭐️
It was a beauty unimaginable……………. If anyone saw the place from outside, they surely would have mistaken the hospital for a five star hotel……..
Neha turned back to Dipika……… Her eyes were glistened…….. Neha thought it was time she had a talk with her….. This could not go on….
Neha: Ma…. Dipika…….
Dipika slowly turned to look at Neha…… A tear flowed down her cheek……. 😭 . She didn't take effort to wipe it………
Neha: (continuing) Jo hua useeke bare me soch rahi hain naa…?????? 😕
Dipika: (her voice not really heard) Neha, I feel responsible……….
Neha: (squeezing Dipika's hand which rested on the table) But that's not true….. Aap kisssi bhi tarah zimedaar nahi hain
Neha did mean it……. She said this very truthfully…… Those people were the type who would not hesistate to go to any extent……..
Hospital Canteen....... Neha: Dipika, please….. Why don't you think it this way…. Unhe pata chala, aap ki wajah se to isiliye aaj Aryan zindaa hai. Coma me hai (pausing) lekin zinda to hai. We atleast have hopes now. Warna the doctor had given Aryan only hours. 😭
Dipika just looked on as Neha spoke…… This may have been true, still……. 😕
Dipika: I……
Neha: (interrupting) Chodiye naa please. Aap doshi nahi hain. Hum sabko maloom hai ki jo kuch bhi hua isme aapne jaan bhoojh ke to kuch nahi kiyaa. And I am sure Aryan would too accept this view.
Dipika nodded and was glad that none of the others tought her responsible for what had happened………
Neha: (smiling said) Aapne kuch nahi khaayaa hoga….. I'll get you something…….
Dipika started to reject but Neha was already gone……. She came back with a plate of sandwhich and tea…… Well sweetened, it allows you to recover from shock and depression……..
Dipika: (as Neha placed them in front of her) Tumne kuch nahi liyaa?
Neha: (nodding) I'll get myself a juice…….
She went back, got herself a juice and seated herself…….
Dipika started on her sandwhich….. She and Neha were chatting about nothing in particular…..
Just as Dipika started on her tea…… Neha saw Ajay and Boxer entering the canteen…. Seeing them they made their way towards them…….
Dipika looked up and smiled at them, which they too reciprocated and Dipika was glad for that. She didn't feel guilty anymore.
😊
Hospital Canteen…… Ajay: Humne decide kiya hai, ki every night main yaa Boxer hospital me rahenge…. Aaj raat ko to hum dono hi yahaan rahenge…… Aap dono ghar jaake aaraam kar lo…….
Neha started to protest when Boxer interrupted…….
Boxer: (lifting his hands silencing her) Yahaan rehke bhi aap log kuch nahi karne waale….
Neha and Dipika pondered over it…. They knew nothing could be done even if they were there……
Dipika: (finally accepting, nodding) Haan Boxer ye theek rahegaa……..
Neha too nodded her agreement….
Dipika and Neha left together for their homes…… Ajay, Boxer saw them till the gate and went back into the hospital………
Neha lifted her head…… Saw the time and drew in a breath……. It was nearing 10 'O clock….. My God……. At this time if she was here and that…. That……. That….. ghoosat found out…. Not she was afraid of him, not Neha… It's just that he would get a reason to taunt her…….
Already he was making every effort of trying to find fault with Special Squad team's work…… One or the other he taunts them, that too without a reason…. They just had to grin and bear…………
Neha's mood changed and she hurriedly got up……. She cautiously came outside Dipika's cabin and saw Aryan's seat was empty…. Heaved a sigh of relief….. Then her eyes fell on Dipika who was deep in thought…… Neha knew what she was thinking…... 😕
At present everyone of the team was and always are thinking about the only person they missed a lot……….. Aryan…….. 😭
Neha turned to go to her table, when she had the shock of her life…….. 😡 She became so angry that it took all her strength to control herself……
Dipika's orders…… under no circumstances were the team going to misbehave, which would give them chance for that…. That…. That…. Oh she always ran out of names to call that guy……. She should score the hindi website and get names to call him……….
Nowadays she had started to use a lot of names to call that guy and she felt he deserved it, eventhough Dipika didn't approve of it…….
Neha stomped to her place…… Laid a forcefull but restraining hand on those shoulders……..