Part 77

The doctors' worst fear came true. She had internal injuries and had a brain hemorrhage. Khushi could not understand all the medical terminology but understood the gravity of the situation. She held papaji's hand tightly and said "Devi mayya will protect her! Have faith!" He just looked at her, blankly. Raj called up and wished to talk to the doctors. Then he said hoarsly. "Khushi, I am coming.. take care.. be with dad..!"  Khushi nodded.

Arnav called in two hours. He was on the airport and was checking in. "Khushi... I will be there... " he said assuringly. Hours had passed there... was no improvement in her condition; but she had gained consciousness. Doctors had decided to operate to suck out the clots. They could easily stop the external bleeding. Khushi held papaji's hand all the time not letting him alone even for a second. She had never seen him so devastated. She realized how much he loved his wife. He was enduring outside sitting on the chair as much as she did in the ICU. He was resolutely sending back his tears. He had asked her not to call anyone from the office. He didn't want a crowd here at this point of time. She obeyed. She had called up his office and asked them to cancel all his appointments for the week saying he was busy with urgent matters to attend. She was desperately waiting for Arnav. The butler had accompanied them to the hospital and he was running around to complete the formalities.

Arnav boarded the plane. He remembered Khushi's plight when her babuji had an attack. He was desperate to be with her. He wished he boarded a supersonic plane. He landed and hired a taxi. He called up Khushi to know the exact location. Khushi gave him the directions and turning to papaji said "Papaji, Arnav ji is coming!" she joined her hands to pray devi mayya. Papaji had hidden his face in his hands. He had not uttered a single word to Khushi from the moment they entered the hospital. She had never seen this side of papaji. She always thought him to be a solid rock but never realized his vulnerable softer side.

"Khushi!" Arnav was standing right in front of her. She looked up and in a leap swung her arms around his neck. He patted her and removed her hands. He looked at Papaji sitting next to her looking all lost. He sat on the other side of papaji and held his hand. Papaji looked at him hopelessly and looked away fearing his tears would roll down without his permission.

Arnav sat there without a word holding his hand. Doctors came out. Arnav gestured papaji not to leave his place and moved forward towards the doctors. "Hello! I am Arnav Singh Raizada.. I am..." He looked at Papaji and said "his son in law!"

"Ok." One of the doctors said. "Please come with us!" He followed.
"We got what was feared. She has hemorrhage. But the good news is, its not spread. We can suck it out with minimum efforts. Surgery is unavoidable. You may have to sign the papers."

"Ok." Arnav said. "Look Mr. Arnav, we have summoned the best doctors for this. We know who he is and we will take all the possible care!" said one of the doctors. Arnav nodded. He completed all the formalities and took Papaji's signatures wherever required.

He asked Khushi to get coffee for all. Khushi went to coffee shop.

"Papaji!" Arnav held his hand. Papaji looked up at him. Tears rolled down without permission. Arnav put his arms around him. Papaji lost his control. Arnav held him tight for a while and said "Don't worry! Everything will be alright." He could not say more with his chocked throat and lost breath. He took out papaji's spectacles and wiped his eyes. Papaji took a deep breath and tried to calm himself down. "Thank you puttar!" he whispered. Arnav saw Khushi coming with the coffee. He gave one to papaji. Papaji had a faint smile. He was little relieved that Arnav was there with him.

They saw Shondeep walking in.  Papaji looked at him surprised... "He came from Mumbai...!" Arnav informed.  "I called him here...!" he added further.  Smile of relief appeared on Papaji's face.  Khushi looked at Arnav. 

"Khushi, you go home. We are staying here . Papaji will wait till the doctors take further decision and I will send him home too! We will handle it here!" he said authoritatively. Shondeep nodded.  Papaji gaped at him.

"No!" he said "I am not going anywhere!."

"Let me handle this, papaji! Let us wait for the doctors' decision and then we will decide" He said taking charge of the situation. "Khushi, I told you to go!" he said sternly. Khushi went with the butler. Arnav stood there looking at her back for a while and came back to papaji.

He dialed Raj's number and said in deep voice. "Raj, yes I am here. Shondeep is here too.  We are waiting for doctor's decision. I will inform you. Do you want to talk to papaji?" papaji shook his head in denial but Arnav thrust the phone in his hand and said "Talk to him papaji, he will feel better!"

"Raj beta!" Papaji could speak no more. "Dad! I am coming. I have booked the ticket, I will leave in a couple of hours. Dad,  Don't worry dad, everything will be alright." He spoke in a heavy tone and Papaji thrust back the phone in Arnav's hand.

Arnav talked to raj reassuring him that he will take care of everything. Shondeep and Arnav sat beside papaji holding his hand. 

He was amazed to see the magnitude of papaji's love towards his wife. He had seen a softer and human side of this formidable personality. He realized papaji would die if anything happened to mummiji. He had a knot in his stomach and a stab in his heart. He kept looking at papaji who was praying Wahe Guru! Inadvertently his hands joined in prayer with papaji.

Arnav and Shondeep waited with bated breath. Doctors came out and said there was no substitute for surgery and they had booked the OT. The doctors from Mumbai would arrive anytime and the surgery would take place. "Anyone with B+ ve group? asked the doctor. We may require the blood. Arnav got up and said.

"I am B+ ve, I can donate blood" doctor said, "That's great! We have sent the requisition to the blood bank but its always better to be ready! You will have to fill the declaration form. Any ailments?" asked the doctor causally.

"I am a juvenile Diabetic but never on insulin injection. I work out regularly. I keep my sugar level always under control, I have never received a bovine insulin and I donate blood regularly"! He knew all the pertinent questions by heart. Doctor looked at his confidence and said. "That is great! Please come with me for the spot test and be ready if required!"

"Yes" Said Arnav looking at papaji. "Papaji, I am going with him. Will come back soon!" he looked at Shondeep who gave a nod. He left with the doctor. Papaji kept gaping at the direction where Arnav went.

*** *** **
Things moved very fast. The operation was successful. Raj had arrived. Mummiji was recovering and was shifted to the VIP private room. Arnav was amazed at the number of people visited the hospital for mummiji, and their love towards the couple; right from the heads of the companies to the office boys, neighbors to relatives. Khushi kept shunting between Home and Hospital. Arnav was in the hospital most of the time with Raj and they both worked from the hospital. Shondeep took care of Papaji's work at office. Arnav and Khushi sent papaji and Raj home in the nights and stayed with mummiji.

They never left mummiji alone.

Papaji was back to normal. He would resume his hectic schedule once mummiji was home. Raj was permitted to go back. The doctors were happy with her health. She came home and everyone breathed a sigh of relief.

This despair made Arnav and Khushi realize their feelings towards each other. They had seen the eternal love between papaji and mummiji. Arnav realized that he cannot live without his Khushi. He realized his own vulnerability. He understood how evanescent life is. "I cannot let it go out of my hands! I cannot let pass this moment! I have to tell her everything. I must!" he thought. "I already have wasted a lot of time. I cannot be evasive now!" He thought resolutely.

They were sitting in the hall the day mummiji was discharged from the hospital. Papaji looked relaxed. Raj had already left. Khushi was in Mummiji's room.
"Arnav puttar! I will not thank you but Thanks you for everything. You already have wasted a lot of your working time. You may have to go back. Its more than a week. I know your brother was not there. I think you should go back! She is alright now and we will manage!" said papaji putting his hand on Arnav's shoulder.

"Yes papaji. I am thinking of leaving in a couple of days once things settle down here" he waited for some time and then said
"um.. papaji, I want to talk to Khushi!" papaji raised his eyebrows. "um.. about.. everything. About my past!" papaji had a hard look at him and then said gravely "Go ahead!"

"umm .. I don't know how she will react! But I can't wait any longer. I have to tell her!" He said looking at papaji for support.

"Yes, go ahead and tell her!" Papaji said gripping his shoulder.

"Should I tell her now?" he asked trying to run away from the problem
"Yes!" said papaji looking at him and trying to stop him from running away.
"umm.. papaji,.. I mean.. I cannot... I mean .. will you be there when I tell her?" Arnav asked looking at papaji hopefully.

"Yes!" said papaji getting up and calling out for Khushi.

"Khushi, get us some coffee and come to study room, we will be there!" ordered papaji looking at Arnav.

'Arnav puttar, you go the study and I will be there in a moment" He said entering mummiji's room. Arnav obeyed.

He waited there with bated breath pacing the study. Khushi came in with the tray asked "where is papaji?" looking confused.

"He .. he will be here in a moment!" Arnav looking away in nervousness.
"Ok. I am here!" came in papaji closing the door behind him. He took his favorite place behind his study table and took a sip of hot strong coffee. He looked at Arnav.. He still was in dual mind. Papaji understood, he had to start it.
"Ok. Khushi, puttar, Arnav needs to tell you something. Sit down both of you! Khushi, think twice before you react!" Papaji created the atmosphere. Arnav looked at Khushi gauging her.

She looked at him and asked "The same long story, which I wouldn't want to hear?" Arnav nodded.

"well! As I said, I like long stories and I am waiting for you to start!" She looked straight into his eyes.

"Its.. its about my past.." Arnav started off..

"Past? What past? Why do yo..." Khushi started off with the very first statement Arnav made.
"Khushi.. I forbid you from interrupting him. Listen to him. He is taking us to his childhood!" Papaji reprimanded Khushi. She gazed at Arnav. He opened his mouth to take them in to his past.