Night Changes

CHAPTER 27

   Jassi and Juhi went in to meet their mum and we stood outside, waiting.

  After half an hour, they came out.

Jassi looked so delighted after so long, I wanted take a snap of him at that moment.

"My mum's conscious and she's talking to us," he smiled flashing his perfect white set of teeth.

Ah, how much I missed that smile.

"Ro, she was asking about you," Jassi smiled.

"Really? That's great but when can I meet her?"

"After some time, I guess. She has just woken up so she needs some time to settle down. The Doctor said he will allow next visitors in the afternoon only,"

"Good, I'll be there. But Jassi you should really get some rest, you might get ill if you don't,"

"I will, don't worry. But you should get some rest as well. After all,you were awake all night taking care of me. Go home now, please,"

"Yes, Ro. Jassi's right, go get some rest, we're here with Jassi," Juhika supported.

Rohit nodded and bid goodbye to everyone.

Juhika and her husband excused themselves and went to the canteen.

Jassi looked at me, "you haven't slept either,"

"Er..no, I have. A bit less, but I have,"

"Your eyes are bloodshot," Jassi examined my face.

"Er..I'll bring you some coffee," and I brought 2 coffees for both of us.

"There you go," I sat beside him and handed him the coffee.

"Thanks," He shot me a smile.

"It feels so good to see you happy again,"

He smiled and kept silent.

After a pause, he replied.

"I..I don't know what happens to me..my mum..she's always so sick- and then she gets these attacks after every few months. It feels like I will lose her now, and I just can't handle myself then," he sighed, "but she comes back again, and I feel life has given me a chance again," he smiled.

I put my hand on his shoulder.

"Life always tests us, Jassi. You just need to hold on, you know. My family's death still haunts me, but that couldn't stop me from going on,"

"Yeah, we gotta be strong," he smiled softly.

"Mr. Bumrah, could you please come here and convince your mum to eat? She is throwing a lot of tantrums," the nurse said.

"Like mother like son," I laughed and he shook his head, smiling.

He went inside and put my head on the seat, looking outside the window. The day was pretty bright, the people running around, ready for the day's hustle.

After a while, Jassi came out.

"Er..Aly? My mum...er..wants to meet you,"

"What? Really?" I smiled.

"Yeah, she says she won't eat otherwise," he scratched his head.

"Huh? Why? She doesn't even know me,"
"She..does, forget it, please come inside,"

I nodded and we went inside the cabin.

A woman in her sixties half sat on the bed, with machines all around her and a nurse standing with food on her hand. She had so much resemblance with Jassi- the same eyes, the same smile. Even if I didn't know, I would've recognised her from afar as Jassi's mum. The resemblance was uncanny.