Recap (Chapter- 16)-
In the opening program, after Ishana's dance on the bollywood song "Des Rangeela" from movie Fanaa as all of Om's sculptures & paintings were about India. Ishana changes into a beautiful classy gown & Om gets attracted towards her. They dance on English soothing romantic music. Meanwhile, Sir J plans to launch an attack on Oberois again. This time he aims to kill Dadi. ShivIka car ride full of awkwardness. Shivaay explains why the dress he gifted Anika is special to him. ShivHil 1st meeting. Shivaay stays back at Anika's place as he gets a sprain in his hands & very tired. Sahil treats Shivaay's foot sprain in desi style.
Chapter- 17
Dadi's Room, 6:48 am
As Dadi stirred on her bed, her phone buzzed.
"Hello", Dadi answered.
"Mrs. Kalyani Oberoi?", a male voice queried.
"Bol rahi hun", Dadi replied.
"Main Meditation Camp se bol raha hun. Aaj subah 7:30 baje se ek special meditation programme hai. Aap yahan regularly aati hain isiliye aapko inform kar raha hun. Aap time se pahunch jaaiyega. Ye meditation programme sirf aaj hi hoga aur 2.5 hrs tak chalega. Hum sirf dedicated members ko hi inform kar rehe hain", the caller informed.
"Thank you puttarji...main time se pahunch jaaungi", Dadi said before keeping away the phone.
She got up to get ready.
-----*------*-----
Rudra's Room, 6:56 am
"Rudra...puttar uth...", Dadi called her youngest grandson for the millionth time.
"Mmm...mmm...Dadi...sone do na...", Rudra rolled to the other side of his bed.
"Puttar...driver nhi hai aur Shivaay kal raat ko ghar nhi lauta...upar se Om v ghar pe nhi hai...aur mujhe 7:30 baje tak meditation camp pahunchna hai...tu mujhe le chal...uth Rudra...", Dadi shook his arm to wake him up.
Finally, Rudra sat up rubbing his sleepy eyes.
"Aap neeche chalo main 10 min mein aata hun..."
-----*-------*-----
Meditation Camp, 7:28 am
Rudra pulled the car near the huge entry gate of the meditation camp.
"Pahunch gaye...Aap yahan ruko main car park karke aata hun...", Rudra said still feeling exhausted due to incompletion of his deep slumber.
"Jaldi aana", Dadi uttered while stepping out of the car.
She watched Rudra drove away towards the large parking area & smiled a little.
All this was watched by a person. He was wearing brown shades. His hair was neatly combed. He was tapping his foot impatiently on the accelerator. When he saw Rudra was out of sight & Dadi still standing on the road waiting, he started his car. He knew what to do. The two guards standing on the entry gate were Sir J's men, so he knew that his way is clear & no one will catch him & Oberoi's old lady can be killed easily. The two guards nodded at the driver giving him the signal. And in a split second, everything turned upside down for the Oberois. Rudra was walking back towards the gate when he saw a speeding car hit his Dadi hard & sped off with a speed of thunder. He shrieked at the top of his voice, "NAHI...Oye!!! Ruk..." But, the car sped so fast that Rudra's running couldn't help him memorise the number of the car. The only thing he managed to spot about the number was it was a local car with number starting with MH' & it was an XUV500. Rudra couldn't think straight as he saw his Dadi lying on a pool of blood. He hugged her motionless body & cried loudly, "DADI..."
------*-------*------
Anika's Home, 8:02 am
Anika drew the curtains of the window to flood the bedroom with light. She stared contently at the sleeping figures of Shivaay & Sahil. Giving a soft smile, she walked up to them to wake them up. Just then Shivaay's phone rang. It was Rudra's call.
Anika watched how Shivaay jumped up on the bed & snatched the phone from the side table. She understood that Shivaay's brothers don't call him The Great Wall of Shivaay' for nothing.
The eldest Obro is always on his guard. His sleep is hardly ever deep. A small sound wakes him up easily. She watched how Shivaay's expressions changed from sleepy to alert and then to shock, lastly, the phone fell down from Shivaay's hand.
She saw Shivaay threw off the blanket & literally ran out of the house. She didn't even get time to call him back. She picked up his phone & heard Rudra speaking, "Lilavati Hospital, Bhaiya...jaldi aao ...mujhe bahut darr lag raha hai...Dadi ko main yahin laya hun...sunn rehe ho aap...Bhaiya"
Now, it was Anika's turn to have the shock of her life. She fell down on the bed as tears sprouted out of her sad eyes. The very few lines of Rudra & Shivaay's expressions made it clear to her that something terrible had happened with Dadi. The moments she spent with Dadi flashed infront of her eyes like a movie. Dadi's smiling face dissolving in darkness made her heart skip many beats & hot tears rained down steadily. She scribbled a note about her whereabouts for Sahil, and then dashed out of her home to catch an auto to the hospital.
------*-------*------
Lilavati Hospital, 8:30 am
"Rudra...", Shivaay's broken voice echoed through the hospital as he searched for his brother while running through the corridors.
He spotted Rudra infront of the ICU. The youngest Obro was sobbing bitterly hugging Saumya. Shivaay stood there watching his little brother weeping & blabbering something about Dadi & Saumya was trying her best to comfort him. Shivaay could see that Saumya was failing to hold back the tears. She has lost her brother recently & hence knows the exact feelings of Rudra. Shivaay stood there listening to RuMya's convo.
"Please rona band karo Rudra...sab thik ho jaayega...bade bhaiya aa rehe hain na...dekhna wo sab thik kar denge...Dadi ko kuch nhi hone denge wo...Dadi zarur thik ho jaayengi...", Saumya's soothing voice was not enough to stop Rudra's tears.
He tightened his grip around Saumya's waist & buried his head deeper into her belly. Rudra was sitting while Saumya was standing beside him. She was caressing his head with her right hand while her left hand was wrapped aound his shoulders.
"Saumya...tum thik kehe rahi ho...? Dadi ko pakka kuch nhi hoga na? Bhaiya sab sahi kar denge na...pakka?", Rudra spoke up after 3 min.
Saumya made him look up at her & said, "Bade bhaiya sab kar sakte hain...dekhna...unke aate hi sab sahi ho jaayega...tum unhe Superman kehete ho na...toh apne Superman par bharosa rakho..."
Rudra placed his head back on her belly to cry some more & Saumya continued, "Accha thik hai...I promise...jab tak Dadi thik nhi ho jaati main iss hospital k baju mein jo Ganapati temple hai wahin baithi rahungi aur Bappa se pray karungi ki Dadi ko jald se jald thik kar de...Bappa sab thik kar denge, Rudra..."
Rudra looked up again, only this time he has stopped crying. Saumya's words, her devotion towards Dadi & her faith in God gave Rudra some strength. He managed a watery sort of smile & nodded.
Saumya freed herself & went off to stick by what she said. She looked determined to keep the promise she just made to Rudra.
Like Rudra, Shivaay too, was touched by Saumya's words. When Saumya passed by her, he muttered a silent thanks through his eyes & Saumya simply nodded with teary eyes.
Rudra spotted Shivaay & hugged him. The youngest Obro started to sob bitterly on his Superman's shoulder. Shivaay, on the other hand, was finding it terribly difficult to put up a strong face. He knew that he couldn't breakdown because right now, he has to support the whole family.
.
.
The whole Oberoi family landed up on the hospital within the next 5 min. The whole family was down with sorrow. They went through the same pain when they lost Navita...and now it was Dadi. The family couldn't take anymore. They felt so sad that even the stone-hearted Tej, the motor-mouth Pinky, the alcoholic Janhvi and the so-called dharma-karam karne wala' Shakti, all were crying while hugging each other. Shivaay had to stand there taking in the whole sight of his family breaking down due to grief & anguish. He, The Great Wall of Shivaay' was falling apart as well, but there was no one who could hold him strong. He missed Om, but decided against teeling him about the accident. He had already called up the police to accelerate the pace of their investigation.
.
.
The doctor appeared out of the ICU door & Shivaay rushed to him.
"Meri Dadi kaisi hain, Doctor?", Shivaay's voice faltered.
"Mr. Shivaay...aapki Dadi ka bahut khoon behe gaya hai...agar unhe hospital laane mein thodi aur der hui hoti toh she would have----anyways, ukna internal bleeding humne kisi tarah roka hai par since she has lost a lot of blood, so unhe abhi k abhi khoon chadhana hoga...", Dr. Karmarkar informed.
"Haan toh der kis baat ki hai...!!!", Tej joined them.
"Mr. Oberoi...aapki maa ka blood group itna rare hai ki right now we don't have that blood in our blood bank...so aap logon ko jald se jald koi doner ka intezaam karna hoga...", the doctor put in.
"Maa ka blood group toh O-ve hai...aur humare family mein sirf Navi hi thi jiska blood group Maa se milta tha...aise mein hum kya karenge, Shivaay??? Ab hum kya hoga???", Shakti feared the worst while weeping.
Shivaay banged his fist on the wall. He was losing his power to think straight. Where would he go looking for a doner with O-ve blood group...!!
"Please aap kuch kijiye, doctor...please", Shivaay begged in his trembling tone.
His mind kept on repeating, "Stay strong...you shouldn't fall apart...Stay strong..."
Dr. Karmarkar looked sadly towards Shivaay's falling figure & said, "Dekhiye Mr. Shivaay...hum puri koshish kar rehe hain...par O-ve blood group ka itna jaldi mil paana bahut mushkil hai...almost impossible...mujhe laga tha aapke family mein se koi na koi toh hoga same blood group ka...par I was mistaken...Hume jo karna hai jaldi karna hoga...we don't have much time left."
"Kuch kar, Shivaay...please kuch kar...kaise v humari maa ko bacha le...apni Dadi ko bach le, Shivaay", Tej & Shakti mourned.
"Sirf tu hi kuch kar sakta hai, Shivaay...sirf tu...", JanKy howled together.
The doctor walked away talking to a nurse & Shivaay fell on the floor on his knees. TejVi & ShaNky hugged each other & sobbed loudly. Rudra fell down beside Shivaay, weeping his heart out. But, finally, ShivRu stood up & decided to look for the blood group.
Rudra felt the hospital in search of O-ve blood group, while Shivaay madly ran here & there inside the hospital campus, asking everyone about their blood groups.
He was walking aimlessly when he bumped into someone & they fell down with Shivaay on top. Shivaay didn't move at all, the mental pressure he was feeling since morning made him so exhausted that he didn't realise how much he needed to sit down & take a small break. The person below him placed her hands gently on his shoulder to make him move. Shivaay found that he had fallen over Anika. As the duo stood up, Shivaay gave in to his emotional side & embraced Anika. He wailed in her arms. Anika couldn't suppress her tears either. They tightened their hold on each other & cried.
"Unn sabko mujh par itna bharosa hai ki main sab thik kar dunga...par main haar raha hun, Anika...I am losing ...Rudra-Saumya...Meri puri family...sabko yaqeen hai ki sirf main hi bacha sakta hun Dadi ko...unn sabko lagta hai ki main hi kuch kar sakta hun...par main kya karun...kuch samajh nhi aa raha...main toot gaya hun, Anika...bas bikharne ki deri hai...", Shivaay lamented & his tears stained her baby-pink dupatta.
"Aapko tootna nhi hai, Shivaay...aapki puri family ko aapki zarurat hai...Dadi ko aapki zarurat hai...aap yun toot jaayenge toh Oberoi family ko sambhalega kaun...main aapko bikharne nhi dungi, Shivaay...maine Dadi se wada kiya tha ki chahe jo ho jaaye, main hamesha aapki dhaal bankar khadi rahungi...aapko tootne nhi dungi main...kisi v keemat par nhi...", Anika consoled him by rubbing her right hand on his back & caressing his cheek with her left.
Anika wiped away her tears as well his. She supported Shivaay to stand up, but Shivaay was so broken that he didn't lossened the hug.
"Om se kaha tha maine ki main yahan sab sambhal lunga...par mere hote hue v Dadi k saath ye sab ho gaya...Om ko main kya jawab dunga, Anika?? Kaash main kal ghar laut gaya hota...Aaj mujhe Di ki bahut zyada yaad aa rahi hai...kaash wo yahan hoti...hum sab mein sirf usi ka blood group Dadi se match karta tha...par Di toh hai hi nhi...I failed everyone...main ek accha bhai nhi bann paya, Anika...aur naa hi ek accha pota...Main apne Di ko kho chuka hun...par ab agar Dadi v chali gayi toh main marr jaaunga, Anika...main marr---"
Shivaay couldn't say more because Anika covered his mouth with her palm.
"Aap marne ki baat bilkul nhi karenge...koi nhi marega...Dadi ko jeena hi hoga...aapke liye...OmRu k liye...hum sab k liye...Himmat matt haariye, Shivaay...hume Dadi ko kaise v bachana hai...aur kisne kaha aap ek acche bhai nhi ho, ek acche pote nhi ho...!!! Aap se zyada accha bhai aur pota duniya mein koi aur nhi hai...Hume hausla banaye rakhna hai, Shivaay..."
Anika supported Shivaay to stand up. She let Shivaay hug her again, while she caressed his head lovingly.
"Doctor ne kya kaha hai mujhe bataiye...hua kya hai...puri baat bataiye...aur sabse pehele thoda shaant ho jaaiye...", she made him sit down on the nearby bench.
Shivaay stopped crying as Anika wiped away his last tears, and narrated everything that the doctor said.
"Aap Rudra ko wapas bula lijiye...aur doner dhundne ki zarurat nhi...mere rehete Dadi ko kuch nhi hoga...", with this Anika stood up & raced to the ICU followed closely by Shivaay.
The whole Oberoi family looked at Anika as she approached the doctor.
"Mera blood group O-ve hai, doctor...aap please mera blood le lijiye aur Dadi ko thik kar dijiye...please", Anika said with a determined look.
Shivaay stood like a statue on hearing Anika's words. The whole Oberoi family stood up from their seats as well. Every one of them looked up towards the sky to thank God for sending Anika to their lives.
"Aaj main meri Di ka hreen chukka paaungi...ek din jab mujhe zarurat thi tab Di k khoon k kaaran main zinda bach paayi thi...aaj mere khoon se main Dadi ki jaan bachaungi...", Anika thought to herself as she went away with the doctor.
.
.
Rudra was consoling his mother and Pinky was leaning on Rudra's shoulders. Tej & Shakti tried to make each other feel better. Shivaay was pacing up & down the corridor. While the Oberois waited impatiently, the doctor came out.
"Good news everyone, Mrs. Kalyani Oberoi abhi danger se bahar hain...", Dr. Karmarkar beamed.
ShivRu were beside the doctor in a flash while all the others stood up with brightened face. Everyone was reliefed that the clouds of sorrow are drifting away slowly.
"Aur Anika...Anika kaisi hai, doctor?", Shivaay openly showed his concern.
"Anikaji thodi weak hain...unhone humse kaha ki Dadi ko bachane k liye wo apne khoon ka aakhri boond tak de dene ko taiyaar hain...such a sweet & adorable girl...bahut pyaar karti hain wo aapke Dadi se...", the doctor smiled broadly.
Everyone heaved a sigh of relief. Shivaay thumped down on the seat & was soon joined by Rudra. No one was crying anymore. With Anika's strong determination & the experienced doctor working, Dadi was safe & sound. Rudra leaned his head on Shivaay's shoulder & Shivaay, in turn, placed his head over Rudra's.
"Anika Di wakai humari angel hain...Unki wajah se aaj Dadi thik hain...Anika Di ne har baar ki tarah iss baar v humare parivaar ko bacha liya...main aise hi thodi na unhe Supergirl' bolta hun...jaadu janti hain Anika Di...Bhaiya, ab hum sab relax kar sakte hain...Dadi jald hi puri tarah thik ho jaayengi...", Rudra's tone was calm.
The two Obros sat in the same posture for a few minutes & then Rudra stood up saying, "Main Saumya ko batakar aata hun ki bhagwan ne uski sunn li hai...Dadi ab danger se bahar hain..."
Shivaay didn't respond all this time. He was lost in his own thoughts. He felt like the ground below him had vanished. He sat on the bench like a statue while reliving an old memory...
(Flashback)
Shivaay's Room, 9:30 pm
"Tujhe bina sab kuch jaane Anika se aise baat nhi karni chahiye thi...", Om said in a stern voice.
"Om please...main abhi uske baare mein baat karne k mood mein nhi hun", Shivaay was frustrated.
"Tujhe teri galatiyan dekhne ka mann nhi ye mujhe acchi tarah pata hai...par iss baar tu galat tha, Shivaay...", Om lashed out.
"Listen...main ache se jaanta hun ki ye middle-lower class log kaisi soch rakhte hain...how so ever anyone may twist it, but these people are bloody gold diggers...unke har kaam k peechhe unka ek hi aim hota hai...aur wo hai paisa...", Shivaay rasped.
"Oh really!! Mujhe toh yaqeen nhi ho raha ki sab kuch jaankar v tu ye sab bol raha hai...!!! Meri ek baat yaad rakhna, Shivaay...wo ladki koi maamuli ladki nhi hai...aur koi gold-digger toh wo bilkul nhi hai...par haan, uska dil bahut bada hai...she is golden hearted...agar kabhi humari family musibat mein hui toh mujhe pura bharosa hai ki Anika apni jaan pe khel jaayegi humari help karne k liye...mark my words...", Om blurted.
Shivaay didn't respond, for somewhere deep down, he too shared the same thoughts, but his beliefs on family-lineage and bloodlines were stopping him from accepting the honesty & good-nature of Anika.
Om continued when Shivaay didn't spoke up for a few seconds, "Dekh Shivaay...chaahe tu maan ya na maan, par ye ek kadwi sachchai hai ki jab insaan k jaan pe bann aati hai, jab koi insaan jo humare dil k kareeb ho uski jaan jaa rahi hoti hai, tab tere ye khoon-khandaan-paisa, ye sab kuch kaam nhi aata...money, family-lineage & bloodlines won't help when anyone's life is at stake...only people with strong hearts to love will stand beside you...khandaani log bure waqt mein saath de na de, jo humse sach mein pyaar karte hain, jinhe humari sach mein fikra hoti hai, jinhe humari parwah hoti hai, jinhe humare hone na hone se farq padta hai, sirf wo log hi saath khade milenge tujhe tere bure waqt mein...ye uncha khandaan aur naam koi kaam nhi aayega...jinka dil bada hota hai, aur jinme pyaar karne ki himaat aur takat dono hoti hai, sirf wo log hi saath nibhate hain...I really wish ki tujhe ye baat ek na ek din samajh aaye..."
Om patted Shivaay's shoulder twice before exiting his room. Shivaay was left thinking.
(Flashback ends...)
Shivaay didn't notice when two fat tear-drops have escaped his eyelids while he was remembering Om's words. He had actually learnt the truth of Om's words in the hard way, but still his mind is trying its best to rebel & maintain the beliefs it holds. Shivaay got the feeling that slowly, but steadily, he had fallen in love with Anika. But, his mind won't just accept that fact this easily. His heart battled against his mind & as their war grew intense, he scolded his mind with a "Shut up" & stormed off to meet the doctor.
------*---------*-----
Ganapati Temple beside the hospital, 6:50 pm
The temple bells were making a lot of noise as the sandhya-aarti was going on. Rudra panted a little infront of the entrance. He spotted Saumya, in the front, singing ganapati bhajan. He joined his palms to do namaskaar as he stood beside Saumya whose eyes were closed.
After the aarti, RuMya took Bappa's Prasad for everyone & strolled towards the hospital.
"Saumya...thank you so much...", Rudra was visibly grateful.
"Kisliye!!?', Saumya asked.
"Tumne Dadi k liye itna pray kiya...subah se kuch nhi khaayi...pura time mandir mein Dadi k liye pray karti rahi...mujhe hausla diya tumne...inn sabke liye thanks...", Rudra smiled.
"Thanks bolkar mujhe paraya matt karo, Rudra...Dadi sirf tumhari Dadi thodi na hai...meri v Dadi hain...main v unse bahut pyaar karti hun...aur tumhara hausla kaise nhi badhati main...bhul gaye, mere bhaiya k waqt tum mujhe sambhale the...mujhe sahara diya tumne...mujhe himmat di...mera saath diya...toh main tumhare bure waqt mein tumhe chhodkar chali jaaungi aisa ho sakta hai kya...hum dono pakke dost hain...ek dusre ka saath toh nibhayenge hi...", Saumya was cool & composed.
"Tum v Anika Di ki tarah ek angel ho...wahan Anika Di ne blood dekar Dadi ko bachaye aur yahan tumhari prayers ne Anika Di ko time se humare pass pahuncha diya...aur ab Dadi jald hi puri tarah se thik ho jaayengi...", Rudra side-hugged Saumya.
"Haan...you are absolutely right...Dadi jald se jald thik ho jaayengi...", Saumya beamed warmly at him while turning a slight shade of pink from the sudden affection of Rudra.
-------*-------*-------
Lilavati Hospital, 9:49 pm
"Anika Di...ab aapko kaisa lag raha hai?", Rudra asked.
He was sitting at the edge of Anika's bed. Anika & Dadi were in the same room. Dadi was stable, but yet to regain her consciousness. Anika was resting, but she was awake.
"Main thik hun, Rudra...Sahil...Sahil akela hai ghar pe...", Anika's voice sounded restless.
"Aap tension matt lo...Bhaiya ne Saumya ko do ghante pehele hi aapke ghar drop kar diya tha...aaj raat wo Sahil k pass hi rukegi...baki sab v ghar jaa chuke hain...bas bhaiya aur main hospital mein ruke hain...aaj puri raat hum yahin rehenge...", Rudra stated.
Anika sighed deeply.
"Aap humari savior ho Didi...aap nhi hoti toh na jaane aaj kya ho gaya hota...aapne hume bikharne se bacha liya...Dadi ko bachakar aapne hum teen bhaiyon ko bachaya hai...", Rudra has fresh tears in his eyes.
Anika wiped his tears with her shaky fingers & spoke with unsteady voice, "Dadi ko toh hum sabke liye thik hona hi hai, Rudra...hum sabki dhadkan jo hain Dadi...aur matt rona tum...ab sab thik hai...Hum sab milkar Dadi ko puri tarah se swasth karenge..."
Rudra nodded & then AniRu looked at Dadi & smiled together...
Shivaay witnessed all these from outside the door. He too smiled watching AniRu & Dadi.
Just then, Dadi slowly gained consciousness & Shivaay rushed to call Dr. Karmarkar.
-----*---------*-----
Hotel Savoy, Florence, Italy, 4:15 pm
"Congratulations Om...aaj ka auction super se v upar tha...ekdum jhakass", Ishana grinned.
"Right you are...jab ye patriotic sculptures aur paintings banaya tha maine, tab socha nhi tha ki desh k bahar Indian tradition ko respect karne wale itne saare Indians aur foreigners ko mere art mein itni dilchaspi hogi...aaj ka auction was really a huge hit...", Om has a bright smile on his face.
"Mr. Bedi was really delighted at the response...unhone tumhare honour mein ye programme arrange karke tumhe bahut respect diya hai...I am so happy for you...", Ishana chirped.
"So basically, humara Italy aana successful raha...", Om said gleefully.
"Absolutely...accha...ab jaldi se ready hokar shopping pe chalte hain...mujhe sabke farmaayishon ki list jo puri karni hai...", Ishana laughed a little.
Om nodded & within the next 20 min, the duo went out to do shopping as per the list given by the Oberoi ladies.
.
.
.
"Atlast, list khatam...shopping complete", Ishana cheered.
"Thank God...inn saare saamaan ka weight uthate uthate main bahut thak chuka hun...ab hotel chalte hain...baad mein kamre mein kuch order karke dinner karenge...", Om sounded tired.
"Jaise aap thik samjhe, Omkaraji", Ishana chuckled.
"Don't call me that, Ishana...'Omakaraji' sunkar aisa lagta hai jaise main 70's-80's mein achanak se pahunch gaya hun...", Om groaned.
Ishana giggled & put out her tongue to tease Om while chanting Omkaraji...Omkaraji' in a repeated manner.
Om ran behind Ishana as she smacked his hand playfully & got away.
After running for a few minutes, he stopped & panted, "Main thak chukka hun, Ishana...I can't run more...aur waise v...saare k saare bags tumne mere haath mein de diye...I can't carry them anymore."
Ishana stopped & turned back. She giggled & uttered, "Tum hi baar baar bol rehe the ki Main help karunga...mujhe bags de do...tum kyun itne heavy bags uthaogi'...toh maine de diya...ab sambhalo...don't blame me..."
"Toh ye mere help karne ki sazaa hai!!! Kamaal karti ho tum...matlab gazab hi ho bas...", Om gave up.
-----*------*-----
Hotel Savoy, 6:10 pm
Om was standing on the balcony when Ishana joined him.
"Tumne ghar pe call kiya tha?", she queried.
"Nah...meri kal raat ko aakhri baar Rudra se baat hui thi...aaj subah se time hi nhi mila...", Om responded.
"Main toh bhul hi gayi thi aaj subah call karna...meri kal raat ko JIji se baat hui thi...I must call her right away", Ishana uttered.
"Ya...mujhe v ek baar Shivaay ko call kar lena chahiye...", Om took out his phone from the pocket & just then the phone rang.
Ishana who was about to go inside to collect her phone stopped mid-way as Om received the call.
"Haan Shivaay, bol...wahan sab thik?"
"Meri baat dhyaan se sunn, Om...aaj subah se yahan bahut kuch ho chuka hai...tujhe main subah hi call karta lekin phir socha ki tu itna dur hai...sab kuch sunega toh bahut pareshaan v hoga aur har chiz chhodkar ghar lautna chahega, isiliye situation k---"
Om cut Shivaay mid-sentence with his panic-stricken voice, "Baat kya hai, Shivaay?? Teri baaton se mujhe darr lag raha hai...hua kya hai?? Rudra, Dadi, Mom...sab thik hain na??"
"Rudra aur Badi Maa bilkul thik hain...par Dadi aur Anika---", Shivaay couldn't complete as Om interjected, "Dadi...Anika...kya hua Dadi aur Anika ko...Shivaay, bol na...kya hua hai??"
Om's reaction & his petrified voice made Ishana tremble in fear, she felt herself going paranoid. She jerked Om & with a fearful tone spoke up, "Kya hua hai Jiji ko??? Jiji thik toh hain na?? Aur Dadi...unhe kya hua??"
Ishana's frightened voice was so loud that Shivaay heard it from the other side.
"Om, shaant ho jaa aur Ishana ko v shaant hone bol...& let me speak...phone ko speaker pe de taki Ishana v sunn sake...abhi sab thik hai...situation is under control...(Shivaay described all the happenings)"
"Dadi ko hosh aa gaya?", Om inquired.
"Haan...Dadi is fine...doctors ne dher saari dawai di hain...aur parso dadi ko discharge karenge par unhe strict bed-rest mein rehena hai...haalaki, Dr. Karmarkar Dadi ko discharge karna nhi chahte the, par maine unse wada kiya hai ki hum sab milkar unka pura khayal rakhenge isiliye wo Dadi discharge karne k liye raazi hue...", Shivaay explained.
"Aur Jiji...meri Jiji kaisi hai, Bhaiya??", Ishana was still sad & afraid.
"Anika weak hai par thik hai...aaj uske hi wajah se Dadi zinda hain...Wo time se pahunchkar khoon nhi deti toh kya hota wo main sochna v nhi chahta...", Shivaay sighed.
"Waise toh humara return flight kal dopeher ki thi, par main abhi kaise v karke kal subah ki flight ki tickets arrange karta hun taki hum jitni jaldi ho sake utni jaldi wahan pahunch sake...", Om stated.
"Haan ye hi sahi rehega, please aap aisa hi kariye. Om", Ishana agreed.
"You don't have to rush back...par mujhe pata hai, Om, ki tu tab tak shaanti se saans nhi le paayega jab tak yahan hume support karne k liye nhi pahunchta...isiliye main tujhe rokunga nhi...wapas aa jaa mere bhai...jitni jaldi ho sake...", Shivaay's voice cracked.
"I am sorry, bhai...jab tumlogon ko meri itni zarurat thi tabhi main yahan apne auction mein busy tha...I couldn't stand beside you & share your fear & sorrow...I am really sorry", Om's tone was shattered & he was already in the verge of tears.
Ishana rubbed his back & gave him a back hug to console him.
She, cupped his cheeks & looking deep into his eyes, said, "Om...please don't break down...let's be strong...aaj subah se itna kuch ho gaya aur sab kuch ka saamna Bhaiya aur JIji ne himmat se kiya...khud toh strong rehe hi aur saath mein baakiyon ko v sahara diya...ab humari baari...ab hum dono milkar Jiji aur Bhaiya ka saath denge...unki zinmedaari baatenge...We will take care of Dadi & bring her back to her former self very soon..."
Om silently nodded as he wrapped his arms around Ishana's petite waist.
------*-------*-----
Lilavati Hospital, 11 pm
"Abhi tumhe kaisa feel ho raha hai...thik ho na tum??", Shivaay asked Anika for the 20th time.
"Aap thik hain na??", Anika questioned.
"Haan...main toh thik hun...", Shivaay answered.
"Lag toh nhi raha ki aap thik hain...", Anika narrowed her eyes.
"Kyun!!?", Shivaay asked puzzled.
"Tabse rattu tote ki tarah Thik ho na tum' - Thik ho na tum' rate jaa rehe hain...peechle 10 min mein 20 baar puchh chuke honge...baar baar puchhne se mera jawab badal jaayega kya!!", Anika gave her quirky expressions.
Shivaay didn't respond for a few seconds, and then finally gave a short laugh. Anika found this very surprising & irritating. She took the glass of water from the table beside her & threw it on Shivaay's face. Instead of getting furious, Shivaay started laughing more & more.
Anika was shocked at his reaction & questioned, "Aapko hasi aa rahi hai!!! Mujhe toh laga aap gussa ho jaayenge..."
Shivaay forced himself to stop laughing & said, "Rattu Tota...!! What sort of a language is that, Anika...aur tumne phirse mujh par paani phenk diya!!! You truly are impossible...tumhare jaisi dusri koi hogi nhi...ya yun kahun toh sahi hoga ki tumhare jaisi koi ho v nhi sakti...but again, this just proves...meri Paanika is back..."
Anika raised her brows at the last remark...she put her index finger inside her ear & acted as if to clean it...
"Kya kaha aapne!!! Aapki Paanika!!!", Anika cross-checked.
It dawned upon Shivaay that he had said that out loud. He cleared his throat & diverted the subject by bringing out a tiffin box.
"Ye lo...kuch khaa lo...subah se kuch khaayi nhi ho tum...Mom ne tumhare liye bheja hai...apne haathon se banakar"
Anika took the hint that he won't speak about that remark & kept quite. She was finding it very difficult these days to figure out Shivaay's feelings for her. She herself was getting more & more attached to him. She couldn't stand the sight of a shattered Shivaay. It pained her immensely on seeing him tormented & crying. Their feelings were growing stronger for each other day by day. Anika was sitting in her train of thoughts when she felt some salty liquid on her lips. She witnessed a shocking sight. Shivaay was trying to feed her with a spoon.
"Aise kya dekh rahi ho?? Lo khaao lo...", he uttered.
"Main khud khaa lungi...laaiye dijiye mujhe...", Anika wanted to take the spoon from him.
But Shivaay will be Shivaay...He didn't let go, instead spoke in a strict tone, "Agar main tumhare liye kuch kar raha hun toh mujhe karne do...hamesha zidd matt kiya karo...main tumhe khana khila dunga toh kya khane ka taste bigad jaayega?? Chup-chap muh kholo aur khaa lo..."
Anika blushed a little while staring at the caring Shivaay who kept on feeding her the healthy soup.
------*-------*------
Bindi
Udne Ki Aasha
Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi 2
