Link to Paart - https://www.indiaforums.com/forum/418?pn=2
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Part 8
Hope there are no cricket bats this time... I have updated in one day as promised !!! :-)
Karthik ran to catch his survivor from falling down "No... No... "He shouted. " Why did you have to come in?"
Naman was not done yet. In the moment where everyone where distracted, he pointed the gun again at Naira.
Before he could fire, somebody else shot Naman twice, one on the leg and the next one on the shoulder, making him drop his gun
Police came in from behind, pulled up Naman" We knew this would happen, that is why I had stationed additional police here without telling you. We are taking him to the hospital for treatment from where he shall be produced in the court again. We let him escape once, he can't escape again. This is attempt to murder again. The punishment shall be graver and he may get life imprisonment. "
"Ambulance is on the way, it will be here in two minutes. Rush to the hospital and be thankful for the one who saved your life" The inspector informed and carried Naman in another ambulance who was still vowing to take revenge
Karthik took his saviour onto his lap and called out "PAPA?"
Manish Goenka smiled in his pain "Karthik beta, nothing happened to you na? Naira, Keerthi, you both are fine na?
Naira and Keerthi knelt down behind Karthik who was in tears.
"Papa, Nothing shall happen to you. Please keep talking Papa, we need you Papa" Naira started sobbing while Keerthi who had already broken down could not open her mouth to speak anything
"Why did you come in between, why did you save me" Karthik cried hugging his father's head.
"Beta, I care for you. I cannot see you die. Karthik, I am sorry, I am sorry . I want to say it before I die .Maybe this is my redemption for whatever wrong I have done to you." Manish said with gasps, stroking Karthik's cheeks with his blood stained hands and slipped into unconsciousness.
"Papa no Papa, don't close your eyes" Karthik shouted "Where is the ambulance??" he screamed frantically?
"Karthik, come we shall take him by car. We cannot wait for an ambulance anymore" Naksh said.
"Keerthi you and Karthik come. Others please stay at home" Naksh told
"No" Naira shouted "I shall also come, please"
"Naira, in the situation you are in..." Naksh started but stopped " OK, it's a waste of time arguing with you. We don't have time. Come, he told"
Karthik and Naksh carried Manish to the car. Naksh took up with driving the car with Naira by his side while Keerthi and Karthik sat behind. Karthik was continuously muttering "Papa, Papa, please speak to me"
Manish was rushed into the hospital straight to the operation theatre, where the doctors did the basic first aid.
"We need blood. AB -ve blood group. It is a rare group. We shall sent word to our blood bank but we might lose time in that in saving him. The bullet is very close to the heart and we need to operate right away. Does anyone else of you have the same group, being his family?
"Doctor, I have, please I shall give blood. Please save him, he is my father" Karthik spoke up and went with the doctor right away.
After a good half an hour, Karthik came back. He looked pale and weak with blood taken from his body, more because of the mental trauma he had been through
"We are starting the surgery right now. It may take three to four hours for us" The doctor told and rushed to the OT.
Karthik was now weeping. Keerthi hugged him and said "Nothing shall happen Karthik, Nothing shall happen. He shall be back, just see"
"Keerthi, if anything happens to him, I am responsible, I shall never be able to carry that guilt for my life" Karthik sobbed into Keerthi's shoulder.
Naira leaned on Naksh's shoulder, deciding to give Karthik , his own personal space.
The minutes seemed like hours. Karthik got up and went to the small temple inside the hospital
"Kyon Krishnaji, what is the happiness you get by taking people away from me? You took my mom when I was little, you separated my sister away from me , and now my father. Yes I was away from him, I was angry with him, In fact I hated him, but in this condition, I cannot hide my love. He is my father, nothing can change that and I have affection towards him, nothing can change that either. Please Krishnaji, please save my father' Karthik cried in front of his God, while Naira and Keerthi stood by his side.
It was almost 7 in the morning now. The surgery was still going on
"Di, I want to ask you something. Should we not inform his wife about this? Naira asked.
"Naira, now is not the time for that. Let the surgery get over"
Another anxious hour passed. Neither Karthik, nor Keerthi had had anything; Naira was forced to drink some juice at least, given her health condition.
The red bulb of the OT was finally switched off and the doctor came out "The operation was a success. We were able to remove the bullet, without causing damage to his heart. He is out of danger; however the next 24 hours shall be critical."
Karthik looked still, his tear stained face choking up with relief. "Thank you doctor" he said with folded hands.
"It is thanks to you sir. Yesterday the blood was not available at the blood bank. Had you not given blood, his life would not have been saved
It was Keerthi's turn to break down now. She had acted strong enough for the past few hours and could not bear anymore. Without realising who it was, she fell on Naksh's shoulder and began to weep.
Naksh though he felt awkward felt he should support the situation and held her hand and said "Everything shall be OK Keerthi, everything shall be OK"
Manish was wheeled out of the OT and to the special individual ward. Karthik went with him inside the ward and said "I shall be with him, till he wakes up. I want to see him when he wakes up. Please give me some private time. He said
Naira, Keerthi and Naksh respecting his decision, sat outside the ward.
After 5 hours
Karthik had almost dozed off by his father's side and was awakened by a small movement of Manish's hand
"Papa? He whispered.
Manish smiled weakly" Say it again? What did you call me? Manish asked, a tear from his eye
Karthik took his hand and the word barely being able to come out of his mouth due to the choked emotion" Papa? He said once again
Manish ran his hand on Karthik's head "Karthik, my son, after how many years am I hearing this from you?
" I am sorry Papa, I am sorry, sorry, sorry" was all that Karthik could say
"No Karthik, I am sorry." Manish told
"Papa, doesn't talk Papa, Doctor has told you should not strain yourself."
"No please allow me to speak. I want to talk to you beta. Please don't stop me
"Papa, do you want me to call her" Karthik asked
"No, not her. I don't want to see her face again in my life. Karthik, please allow me to tel you everything"
"Ok Papa, please talk. But..."
"Karthik, listen to me. I have divorced her. Yesterday morning" Manish told as Karthik looked shocked
"What?" he asked " Divorce?"
"I was cheated beta, She has cheated me all my married life with her. I never realised it as my love for her was blind and I thought she loved me purely also. But she has never loved me Karthik" Manish said, with no emotion in his voice
"I knew it Papa, I knew it all along, from childhood"
Manish: I did not know it Karthik, Like a fool I gave her words more value than my children. Like a fool I believed all her stories about you and Keerthi and punished you along with her. Like a fool I put you both in different hostels and deprived you of the love and affection you needed.
Karthik: Papa, you are getting emotional. We shall talk about this later
Manish( catching Karthik's hand): No listen to me please. I realised this and found about her fake love around 3.5 years back. Just around the time of your marriage. I realised it when she had forged all official and property documents and taken it in her name without me knowing. I started a battle then with her without telling anyone
Then I understood. Without power and money, I did not mean anything to her. She started ignoring me; sometimes made sure I don't eat and fell sick. I still had to office because she did not want anyone to doubt her. However I did not have any authority. I signed where she asked to, did what she told me to do, because she threatened me she will cause harm to you and Keerthi if I did not listen to her
Karthik: But papa, you were silent for all this time
Manish: Yes, I was silent for all this time because she was harming only me. But three months back, I could not take it and I slapped her in office in front of everybody. That was the cue to the divorce battle.
She made it look like a domestic abuse and pressurised the court to believe that I abused her. All evidences were against me. The office CCTV camera acted as a proof that I had slapped her. We had multiple court sessions and finally we were divorced officially yesterday morning
Karthik: But I saw you, yesterday..
Manish: Yes, I saw you seeing me, I was returning from the court when that small incident happened. I was praying to all gods that you would come to me. But I knew you would not Cos I don't deserve your love.
Karthik: Papa, don't say like that. I was angry on you, but I have always thought about you at least once a day. My ego did not allow me to accept it..Naira and Keerthi asked me so many times to come and talk to you. But I didn't. I am a bad son.
Manish: No I was bad. I have done so much bad to my children that I don't deserve to live. Please kill me now.. Please Please.. Manish shouted as he began hyperventilating
Karthik ran out of the room and shouted " Doctor!!!".
The doctor's crew ran inside and pushed an agitated Karthik out.
Karthik stood still outside the door watching the doctors treat his father. He felt numb. He has gone through a lot in the past few days, varied emotions, anger, fear, grief, love, pain. Naira came and stood beside him, took his hand and said " Papa will come back Karthik"
Awaiting your comments... This story should be wrapped up in another 1 or 2 parts I think.
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