Understanding Khushi (Chapter 50)

Chapter 50

8am

Arnav was awake; he had taken bath and got ready. Had his breakfast and medicines and was pacing outside ICU. He had a word with Akash and di on phone and assured them.

Dr.Sifiana had visited twice from morning checking on Khushi.

Arnav: Doctor, how is she, when is she going to gain conscious?

Doctor: We expect her to gain conscious anytime now. Just keep patience all we be well. She is responding well.

10am

The entire family had arrived. The atmosphere was morose. Only Khushi’s waking up could difuse the thick fog of tension that had gathered over the family. Each face was tense. Some were constantly in prayers, praying hard.

Poorav was too restless. His continuous to and fro movements were evident.

Anjali too was irritated and panicking.Her pregnancy harmones too were also not helping. Poorvi was absolutely silent. Seeing both of them like that Arnav too was getting restless. He went towards di and pulled her closer and sat with her. Sitting together both calmed down.

12 pm

Khushi had still not gained conscious. The doctors too were a bit worried but it was not unusual in patients. Each patient responds differently.

Arnav was at peak of mental breakdown. He was hesterical. He was worried rather feared. He was silent but his eyes clearly showed his restlessness and vunerability. 

Anjali too had joined the praying brigade of nani and buajee along with mami.

Poorvi and Poorav were sitting silently holding hands gaining strength from the closeness.

NK and Akash were all trying to console Payal, who seemed to have gone all quite and the tears were not stopping.

Arnav silently walked out into the corrider and looked to the sky as if looking for his mother and thought “please mama, make her wake up. I am losing my calm.She is my life; I can not breathe without her. Please save your son. Please.”

After a few moments his feet on its own walked towards the small church in the compound. He bent there and said.

Arnav: I don’t know how to say this but please wake her up devi maiya. Please.

Soon Arnav was back outside the ICU.

1.20pm

The nurse informed the doctor about the small moments made by Khushi. She had squirmed and even hissed. Her fingers were into small movements.

Soon Doctor Dominic and Sifiana were examining her.

Outside the ICU all were eagerly waiting for the doctors to come out and as soon as they came out, all eyes were on them focussed and ears waiting.

Doctor: Khushi has shown some movements and her limbs are in movement. That is a good sign, she will gain conscious in probably half and hour and so.

As soon as she does that we can check her and then we will shift her to a normal ward. May be all of you can meet her in the evening.

Everyone was overjoyed. A relief spread across their faces.

Half an hour later, Khushi opened her eyes gradualy. Though her focus was groggy and while she was still coming in and out of conscious, the doctors checked her out and declared her the operation to be successful.

Doctor: Congratulations, Khushi has gained conscious.She is still groggy but all her senses are fine and she is responding. Arnav you can go and see her. The rest of the family can only meet her when she is shifted out of the ICU in the evening.

All saw Khushi from the ICU window and left for home, leaving Arnav and NK at the hospital.

Arnav was so happy, a smile adorned his face. He entered the ICU and saw Khushi, she has eyes closed. He approached towards and sat next to her and carefully pulled her hand into both his hands. As soon as his hand gripped Khushi’s palm, she opened her eyes and looked at him. They both stared at each other. Arnav not breaking the trance moved closer to her face and kissed her on forehead. She closed her eyes in relief and a tear escaped her eyes and Arnav wiped it immediately nodding a “NO” to her.

A while later Khushi gestured Arnav to come close, the tubes attached to her nose made her difficult to speak louder and her throat was also dry. Arnav lowered himself near to her.

Khushi: (almost in wisper) What did you think? I will leave you so easily. I am not leaving you. Get that clear in you head. And now tell me her name.

Arnav had a small smile adorning his face; he too leaned forward and whispered looking into her eyes.

Arnav: You think you are very smart. I just planted this silly thought into this brain of yours, so that you get jealous and don’t ever think of leaving me. I am a business man and know how to get my way.

Khushi’s mouth opened and closed like a fish.

Khushi: haw. You lied to me. Then why did you agree to get married then?

Who were you planning to get married to?

Arnav: you. Remember our pending Church wedding.

Khushi did not saying anything and soon her eyes drooped and she slept.Arnav was happy with the progress. He was content. A small talk with her had washed away all his tension. And all his fears had vanished. He knew and had full confidence that life with Khushi is going to be rollercoster and exciting and he will love it. And he was ready for it.

Next day

Late at around 5 in the evening, Khushi again gained conscious. She was better now. The anesthesia had not completely worned out.

No one from the family except Arnav had been allowed to see her. All were eager for her to be shifted into her room, so that they could have a glimpse of her.

At 6pm

Khushi was still sleeping when she was shifted back to her ward.The doctors informed that she was still under the affect of anesthesia which was normal and it takes 18 to 20 hours for it to wear off completely.

6.30

The entire Raizada brigade and buajee were waiting for her to open her eyes, then she finally opened them and as on cue everyone nearly cheered. Arnav was sitting on to her right and he was the first to whom she acknowleged. Nani was the first one to approach her.She caressed her forehead and she closed her eyes absorbing the warmth.

Nani: jeeti rahiye bitiya (god bless you my child). Now see you will recover soon.

Khushi wanted to reply but her throat was dry and hurting because of tubes.

Arnav: you don’t need to say anything. For once let others speak.

Buajee: (she also caressed her forehead) my titiliya( my butterfly) and removed her nazaar (indian tradition of removing evil eyes)

Payal just blinked at her and silently both the sisters exchanged smile.

Anjali: Take rest and recover soon because I guess there is one more laadgoverner coming to keep you on toes. You need to recover fast before that.

Khushi smiled the brightest and exchanged a glance with her laadgoverner.

NK: ok ok guys,Khushiji you take rest and please for god sake never pull this stunt again. Pata hai kitna saare logon ke assoon dhone padhe (how many peoples tears I had to wash)

Akash: NK bhai, pochne padhe(wipe tears not wash)

NK: ek hi baat hai. You were of no use. Good for nothing. You could not even console Payal bhabhi alone.

Akash: (Looked towards Arnav) Bhai…….

Arnav: Akash everyone is not a clown like him and besides I could not leave him with my business responsibilities, there i can only trust you. So let him enjoy his Bandar status (“monkey status”)

All laughed while NK frowned.

Soon all left for home leaving only Arnav at hospital as Arnav was adamant on staying with her.

8pm

Khushi was not allowed anything to eat; she was being injected with glucose.

But she insisted that Arnav ate before her eyes, not trusting him a bit with his food habbits. She called a nurse and told her in her still weak voice.

Arnav could not hear what she was telling but allowed her to continue but kept an eagle eye on her face;gauging each expression.

Khushi: Please can you bring his food order here itself. I don’t trust him with his habbit of escaping meals.

Nurse: (smiled at her request) yes.yes. Sure. I will ask the cafeteria to send it here.

Khushi: A mix veg salad with seswan sauce; white sauce pasta and two slices of garlic bread with cheesy dip.

Nurse: ok. I will order it.

The nurse moved out giving a smiling look towards Arnav.

Arnav came closer at sat in chair next to her and caressed her face.

Arnav: What did you tell her jaan? Why was she smiling?

Khushi: she was just wondering that……………………….

Arnav: what..?

Khushi: that I got such a careless her husband, who does not take care of his food even when his wife is so unwell.

Arnav: What the….. Khushi?

Who said that?

I did not miss a single meal. I ate. I did not even skip my medicine.

Khushi: Accha……..What did you eat last night tell me…….

Arnav: I ate a double brown bread vegetable sandwich and had coffee.

Khushi: I knew you would go with the minimal. Never mind today you are going to eat before my eyes.

Arnav: don’t worry Khushi, I will go and have dinner in cafeteria after you sleep. I promise. I don’t want you to look at me while you are not allowed to eat.

Khushi: No. You are going to eat in front of my eyes and I have already ordered your food and do you think I will feel hungry seeing you eat?

Arnav: No, yes. I mean……………………….

Khushi: Please Arnavji, I feel content seeing you eat, so just for my peace sit here and please eat.

Arnav had no option than to listen to her. He just peppered a few butterfly kisses on her mouth. Soon there was a knock on the door; the boy from cafeteria was there with the food order.     

Arnav rolled his head indicating him to keep the food and go. And before Khushi could say anything he said “I am going.”

Khushi just smiled.  

Arnav ate his dinner silently, he saw Khushi watching him with a smile on her face. By the time he had finished and pulled out his medicine and threw a glance towards Khushi to show her that he had his medicine, he found her to be asleep. He smiled.

He came and sat next to her, he caressed her hair lovingly and held her hand in his, and peppering small kisses every now and then.

9pm

The doctor and nurse came to check on Khushi. The doctor pronounced her current progress to be good and left. The nurse checked her drip and everything. And while she was cleaning the food plates she looked towards and said “ASR, you are a very lucky man indeed. You fight with her,but she loves you a lot.”

Arnav chuckled at her comment and said “I know, but the fact is we love these small fights. They keep up the spice in life. And I guess divert her pain and tension too. And I love her too much, she is my life.”