Part 9

“Hello?” Khushi stopped the vehicle aside and picked up her phone.

“Hello, Khushi?” someone asked.  “Yes?” she said confused.

“Khushi, Avi here!” he said seriously.  “Avi? Actually I was about to call you...!” She started off brightly.

“Listen to me, Khushi...!” he cut her off.  She listened her hard and turned her vehicle.  She was in the hospital in Dr. Avinash’s cabin.

“Khushi, we need to admit him for a couple of days...!” he concluded gravely, explaining to her that the infection had spread and his lever is swollen.  Khushi was on the verge of breaking down.  

“Khushi, we are all here! Anita, my wife had a day duty here.  Don’t worry, she will take care!” Avinash assured her.  She nodded miserably.  Avinash felt sad for her.  He had never seen Khushi so let down.  “Come on, bahatii naak! You are a fighter..!” he had got up and had placed his hand on her back.  She hid her face in her palms.  He waited for her to recollect herself.

“Yeah.  Ok!” she said getting up.  He held her by her shoulders.  “Khushi, don’t worry! We are here! We will take care and Payal will stay here with your babuji...!” he had to do the planning looking at Khushi’s condition.  She nodded and turned.

“Avinash..? I mean.. what will be the expenses?” she had to ask to make arrangements.  Avinash looked at her. “Don’t worry about that right now! I will recommend for free treatment... let us see what best can be done!” he said and Khushi hugged him.  “Thank you!” she said gratefully and he patted on her head.

“Now go home and wait for me! I will come with the ambulance and take him..!” he said pushing her a bit and she broke into a run out of the hospital.  

“Jiji..!” Khushi stopped seeing Sham and Buwaji discussing.  “Aray, Nandkishore..! Come here! We are discussing your wedding....!” Buwaji oblivious to Khushi’s problems said excitedly.  Sham too got up smiling broadly at her.  Finally, they were getting married

“what is this, Buwaji? Don’t you have any other thing to discuss? Can’t you see, babuji’s condition?” Khushi flared up disgusted.  “He will have to be admitted again.  His condition is not good!” she yelled going into Babuji’s room.  Sham and Buwaji followed.

“That’s what I was telling Buwaji!” Sham justified.  

“I don’t want to discuss about it now, Sham ji! I am not going ahead with marriage until he gets better!” she declared to his and Buwaji’s horror.  He came back to his senses immediately and nodded agreeably.  Buwaji’s mouth fell open.  

“Khusii... you know the reason....!” Buwaji barked clearly furious about her decision.

“Yes, I know!” Khushi yelled back.  “I don’t want to talk about it now! I am taking him to the hospital..!” she said looking away in realization.  Buwaji gaped at her.  “Wh..What happened?” she asked aghast.

“Nothing has happened yet..but he had complications..!” she said holding her babuji’s hand.  Sham looked away hiding his smirk.  

“This is all expected... Tumhaari grahdasha chal rahi hain Khushi...! Kuch theek nahi hoga!” Buwaji blurted.  

“This is not the time to discuss this!” Payal jumped into the discussion.

“Khushi.. I have packed his clothes and his files and medicine box..!” Payal showed Khushi the preparations she had done.  Khushi gaped at her in disbelief.  “Avi had called!” Payal said in a low tone and Khushi sighed.  They both busied themselves in preparation to shift babuji to the hospital and they heard the ambulance.  Avinash came in with the support staff to carry Babuji on the stretcher. 

Sham offered to accompany.  Avinash looked at Payal.  She didn’t react.

“Haan Haan! You go with him! Buwaji said gratefully overwhelmed by Sham’s good gesture. 

“Sham was all set to accompany Babuji...” Avinash bent over and asked... “Uncle... We are going to the hospital, some tests need to be repeated.  Is it ok? Are you ready?” Babuji blinked once and Avinash smiled broadly.

“Great! Ok then... what are we waiting for? Let’s go!” the Para- medics took over and Babuji was shifted to the Ambulance and was taken to the hospital with Avinash and Sham in the ambulance and Khushi and Payal on her scooter.

******   ******   ******

“How do you feel babuji?” she asked coming near his bed.  Sham was sitting on Babuji’s bed and Babuji was gasping.  Babuji blinked twice and Khushi winced.

“Not well? Wait I will call the Doctor!” she went in search of Avinash.  Sham still was sitting on Babuji’s bed not moving an inch.  

“Avi..!” Khushi called out frantically opening Avi’s cabin door to find Anita there.

“Umm.. Where is Doctor Avinash?” she asked in panic.  “He ...!” Anita looked confused.  Khushi turned to leave.

“No! Stop! I am Anita... Avi’s wife!” Anita introduced herself.  Khushi turned.  “Oh! I am Khushi.  He..He... umm..we were in same school...!” Khushi didn’t know how to introduce herself.

“Oh! Khushi...! What happened?” Anita asked with concern.

“Woh.. Babuji is not well..!” Khushi said with tearful eyes.  “I..Don’t know ! Something has happened to him.  He is gasping..!” She said sobbing and Anita got up at once.

“Come.. Let s see!” she strode towards Babuji’s room and Khushi paced to catch up.  When they reached the room, Babuji was gasping for breath and Anita took charge.  She issued instructions to transfer him to ICU immediately.  

Khushi looked around to see Sham nowhere in the scene.  She didn’t know what to do.  Payal went with Anita to the ICU and Khushi waited with bated breath.  Avinash came in.  Anita had called him up.  

“Avinash!” Khushi broke down.  He tried to console Khushi that everything will be alright.  “Khushi.. pray god!” he said looking at Khushi’s condition.  She knelt on the floor.   He pulled her up.

“Khushi... Don’t worry! Anita is there with him!” Khushi nodded.  Anita came out and spoke to Avi in some alien language.  He nodded.  “Khushi.. he is stable now! Don’t worry! Only thing is he needs more care so we are keeping him in ICU and no one is allowed there!” he said soothingly and Anita came closer.  Khushi looked at both of them trembling, joining her hands in gratitude.  Anita hugged her.  “Don’t worry! Everything will be alright!” she said consoling Khushi.  Khushi nodded without a word.  “Thank you!” she said looking up at Anita.  Payal came out of ICU and Khushi went to her.  Anita and Avinash had some conversation about Khushi’s babuji and Anita approached the sisters.

“Payal, Khushi.. come! I am going to have my lunch.  You two come with me! I need to talk to you!” said Anita and Avinash went away without a word.  Khushi and Payal followed Anita. Babuji was critical and Avinash and his team were making their best efforts.  Anita gave the sisters clear idea of what was wrong with Shashi ji, babuji.  Payal and Khushi broke into tears, but Anita gave them hope saying, Avinash would do his best  Khushi and Payal had full faith in Avinash.  

“Khushi, you go home.  I will be here with babuji.  Go to Mandir first...!” Payal took charge and Khushi came out of the Hospital completely dejected and hopeless.  She badly needed to talk to her Devi Mayya, but knew that the Mandir would be closed.  She couldn’t stop herself from going to Mandir to find that there was some grand pooja and it wasn’t closed.  She knelt down before her Devi Mayya and prayed for her Babuji’s protection.  She couldn’t stop her tears and the Mandir was the only place where should could pour her heart out before her Devi Mayya.  So did she.  She sat there joining her hands, closing her eyes, praying her Devi Mayya for a long time, tears rolling down her cheeks.  She felt hopeless and miserable.  Nothing was working right for her.  She thought it was her bad omen that her babuji was not well.  She blamed herself for a long time and decided to go away from the house as early as possible. 

“Aray, Raani Sahebaa...!” she heard a familiar voice and looked up with a jerk.