EMBRACING REALITY

CHAPTER 25 EMBRACING REALITY

Chapter 25

Sidharth fell asleep on the way back to Bombay.. Shehnaaz was in the hospital, still unconscious..
The family tried calling Sidharth but his phone was switched off.. The reason why Sidharth’s phone was switched off was, his phone’s battery was dead and hence it had turned off..
Adith dropped Kaushal home and then headed towards the Bandra Apartment.. “Bhai, Uth jao.. Ghar pahochne wale hai hum..” said Adith, waking Sidharth up before reaching home..
“Haa bhai..” said Sidharth, rubbing his eyes and grabbing his phone.. “Ye phone band kaise ho gaya?” said Sidharth.. Adith handed him his own phone..
“Pata nai bhai, lo Mera phone use kar lo.. Director ne hamare bina bole statement de diya hai aapke favour me..” said Adith, showing him what the director said on his phone..
Sidharth thanked God, “Thank you, Bhagwan ji.. Thanks to you also, mere bhai.. Hamesha mere sath Rehne ke liye..” said Sidharth..
He was about to call Shehnaaz but he looked around and saw they had almost reached home.. “Abhi raat ke 3 bje hai.. Soi hogi meri baby.. Nai karta call.. Adith, Bhai, tu saman dekh lena.. Mujhe Shehnaaz ke pass jana hai..” said Sidharth as they reached home.. Adith agreed and Sidharth walked out of the car and headed towards the lift..
Sidharth was happy to be back.. He wanted to see his baby, his family.. He had the keys and since it was late he didn’t want to disturb anyone.. He unlocked the door and walked in to see Kamla Tai sitting on the couch with her hands joined together..
“Tai, kya hua? Sab thik hai? Aap jaag rahe ho is Waqt?” asked Sidharth.. Tai opened her eyes and tears rolled down her eyes.. “Wo Shehnaaz, behosh ho gayi.. Sab usko leke hospital gaye hai.. Pata nai kya hua hai.. Roh rahi thi bhot.. Aapka Naam le rahi thi.. Aap jao waha uske pass..” said Tai..
Sidharth was shocked.. He never thought something like this could happen.. Tai continued. “Aapko sab phone karne ki koshish kar rahe the.. Shayad aapke location me network nai tha.. Isliye shayad Shehnaaz pareshan hui.. Mujhe nai pata kya hua hai.. Sab pareshan hai.. Aap jaldi se jao hospital..” said Tai..
Sidharth had frozen in his position.. He didn’t know what to do.. Adith came home with Sidharth’s bag and saw Tai.. He asked her what happened and she repeated her words..
Adith saw Sidharth.. He came close to him.. “Bhai, ye time aise baithne ka nai hai.. Utho… chalo.. Mai leke chalta hu hospital Bhabi ke pass..” said Adith, pulling Sidharth’s arm and taking him to the car..
Adith started driving and Sidharth broke down.. “Kya ho gaya hai meri Shehnaaz ko.. Kyu aise hospital leke gaye usko.. Mai nai jana chahta tha.. Aur ye Akash ke wajah se jo ek din badh gaya tha.. Shayad Sana pareshan ho rahi hogi.. Mai late kaise ho gaya.. Mai thik hu ya nai.. Ye sab meri wajah se hua hai..” said Sidharth..
“Bhai, shant ho jao.. Pehle dekhte hai waha Jake.. Aap apne aap ko blame mat karo..” said Adith and drove to the hospital where Shehnaaz was..
It was late at night so there wasn’t much traffic.. Sidharth got down and headed towards the reception.. He filled the receptionist with one question again and again..
“Shehnaaaz.. Shehnaaz Shukla.. Kaha hai wo? Kaunse room me hai? Please batao mujhe jaldi..” said Sidharth..
The receptionist was scrolling through her register and Sidharth wasn’t being patient at all.. Adith had accompanied him after parking the car.. “Bhai, shant ho jao.. Register me dekh ke bata rahi hai.. Aap shant raho bas..” said Adith, rubbing Sidharth’s back..
“Sir, room number 13, go straight and then turn right.. The fourth door is the 13th..” said the receptionist and Sidharth headed towards it..
As he took the turn, he saw his Mom, Shehnaaz’s Mom, Baaz and Rajbir sitting on the couch.. “Maa, kya hua? Is Shehnaaz alright?” asked Sidharth and the four people turned towards him..
“Sidharth, shant ho ja.. Tu thik hai?” asked Mom.. Sidharth didn’t know what to say.. He walked towards the door number 13 and saw his baby asleep on the hospital bed.. She was in deep sleep.. He saw the saline which were attached to her nerves..
He held her free hand and pressed his lips on it.. “Mera Bacha..” He cooed and looked at her face.. He could see the dried tears.. He couldn’t wait for her to get up and tell him what bothered her so much..
He left her hand and pressed his lips on her forehead.. “Mai abhi aaya, Meri Jaan..” cooed Sidharth and walked out of the room and questioned Mom, “Kya hua Shehnaaz ko?” He asked..
“Sidharth, bache.. Wo tere Co star ke jhagde wala video viral ho gaya tha.. Wo pareshan ho gayi.. Kya hua tha tu bata..” Mom questioned him back..
Sidharth ran his fingers in his hair.. “Oh, man.. Aakhir usne kisi bhi tareeke se meri Jaan ko tension me daal hi diya.. Maa, aap tension mat lo.. Wo matter kuch nahi tha.. Wo jaisa dikh raha hai, waisa kuch hua nai.. Aap mujhe Shehnaaz ka batao.. Kis cheez ka saline chadha rahe usko? Weakness aayi kya? Khana khai thi wo?” asked Sidharth..
“Wo tujhe leke pareshan ho gayi.. Tera phone bhi do din se lag nahi raha tha.. Roh, roh ke bura haal bana di thi.. Ham sab ne koshish kiye, zyada khila nai paaye usko.. Wo rote hue hi behosh ho gayi.. Hospital leke aaye toh uska BP low ho gaya tha.. Sugar bhi suddenly drop kar gayi toh thoda glucose chadha rahe hai.. Lekin, wo thik hai.. Blood liye hai.. Subhe tests aaenge.. Abhi aadhi raat kuch nai hoga.. Wo bhi soi hai.. Pura din pareshan thi.. Bas yehi soch rahi thi ki uske Sidharth ke peeche sab kyu pade hote hai.. Bache, you need to be strong..” said Mom..
“Haa Maa.. Wo director ko sach pata hai. Usne statement de diya hai mere favour me.. Ab tension wali koi Baat nai hai.. Bas Shehnaaz thik ho jaye..” said Sidharth.. He continued, “Acha suno, aap sab ghar Jaake araam karo.. Mai yaha ruka hu.. Aise bhi subhe tak kuch hoga nai.. Surbhi, thank you so much.. Tum bhi ghar jao.. Kal tumhari zarurat rahegi.. Mai hu Shehnaaz ke sath..” said Sidharth and everyone agreed..
“Bhai, mai ruku kya?” Baaz asked, worried for his sister.. “Nai Chote.. Mummy Rajbir Bombay me naye hai.. Tu unke sath reh.. Ghar me kisi bhi cheez ki zarurat hogi toh tu sambhal sakta hai.. Teri behen sherni hai.. Tu fikar mat kar.. Aur mai hu na..” said Sidharth and hugged Baaz..
He then rushed towards Shehnaaz’s room again and held her hand.. He caressed her hair and pressed his lips on her forehead.. “Bas tu aankhe khol de.. Mujhse Baat kar..” said Sidharth..
Shehnaaz was asleep because of the medicines.. Sidharth fell asleep on the couch.. He woke up when he heard his name being called by none other than his sweetheart.. “Sidhaaartthh!’ cooed Shehnaaz..
“Baby, Uth gayi.. Mai abhi aaya..” said Sidharth and got up from the couch, headed towards her bed and sat on the chair..
He held her hand, “Kaisi hai meri Jaan.. Koi itna tension leta hai kya.. Mai thik hu na darling..” said Sidharth..
Shehnaaz’s eyes had welled up, “Tu Aa Gaya Putthu.. Sachi sab tere peeche kyu pade hai.. Kyu chor nai dete tujhe chain se jeene ke liye.. Har baar tujhe explanation dene ke liye bolti hu toh tu mana kar deta hai.. Aise me log tujhe hi galat samajhenge..” said Shehnaaz..
“Meri Jaan, abhi tu hospital me hai.. Ye sab baato me dhyan mat de.. You need to get well soon and that’s what should matter right now.. Mai abhi doctor ko bulata hu..” said Sidharth..
Shehnaaz wasn’t ready to leave his hand.. “Shehnaaz, meri jaan.. Sab thik hai.. Director ne mere favour me statement de diya hai.. Tu fikar mat kar.. Aur mai bas ek minute me aaya.. Please hath chor de..” said Sidharth.. Shehnaaz looked at him with wide eyes, “Sachi. Sab thik hai? Tere bare me galat nai bol rahe log?” asked Shehnaaz..
“Haa meri Jaan..” said Sidharth and Shehnaaz left his hand.. Sidharth called the doctor, it was early in the morning.. The doctor had examined her and she asked about Shehnaaz’s menstrual cycle..
“Ma’am it was due three days before but she hasn’t got it yet…” said Sidharth.. The doctor did a few more check ups and suggested them, “If she doesn’t get her period for two more days, you get her pregnancy test done.. For now, she’s doing good.. Jo regular medicines chal rahi hai for her iron and hemoglobin wo chalne do.. Thank you..” said the doctor and left.. Sidharth didn’t know how to react.. “Pregnant.? My baby!” cooed Sidharth and hugged her.. What next? TBC!