He sat on the bench, holding his head in his hand. Tears flowed down his eyes which he dint bother to wipe. Why was all of this happening?
After convincing Malini to come with him to the café, he had mustered the courage to tell her the truth. He dint want to marry her, keeping her in the dark. He knew that'd be like betraying her.
Look at his fate now - he had to do the same thing! He had to keep her in the dark for her own wellbeing.
"She's really weak mentally. Any thing that can shock or surprise her or give her stress should be kept away from her. She collapsed due to shock but she's stable now. One more such attack and it might not be really good for her health" the doctor's words rang in his head.
The love of his life was lying unconscious inside and he could do nothing. He sighed deeply and painfully swallowed as he realised he'd have to hide the truth from her. When he's hiding it from her itself, what's the point of telling others?
He felt scared for a moment. What if his family forced him to leave Malini since he was already married to Imlie?
No! He shook his head. That wasn't a possibility. His family would understand, wouldn't they?
He had no answer to that question so he decided he wouldn't tell the truth. He'd bear that burden on his chest than telling the truth and destroying lives. If only he realised just how much he was actually destroying her life by doing so!
"Sir, can you please fill this form and make the payment" a nurse's voice brought him out of his thoughts. He nodded and took the form. He filled it and reached for his wallet but did not find it! Where was it? That's when he remembered he had left it back at home. He sighed irritatedly. He couldn't go leaving Malini all alone here but he needed his money as well.
He took out his phone and dialled the house landline since he knew most of them wouldn't answer their phones, being busy in getting the arrangements done.
"Hello" he heard when the phone was picked up after 3 rings. He fisted his hands, anger bubbling within him at her voice. If she hadn't come into their lives, this wouldn't have been the situation today.
"Babusaheb?" she called out
"How do you know it's me? Koi bhi hosakta hain. Landline pe naam thodi dikhte hain" he asked unable to stop himself, completely forgetting the anger he felt just a moment back.
(It can be anybody. You can't see names on the landline can you)
"I just know" she almost whispered and then hurriedly said
"What have you called for Babusaheb?"
Aditya sighed. He had to tell her. She was the only one he could tell.
"Bring my purse. It's on the cabinet in my room. Take it and come to Sanjog hospital right away"
"Hospital? Are you okay? What happened? Did you fall off your bike? Why do you even ride it when you can't drive properly? Where are you hurt? Should I tell the family? Wait, Malini Didi was with you right. Is she okay? Hey Sita Maiyya, did you drop her?" Imlie said it all in one breath.
"Hogaya? Ab hamari baat sunogi? Bullet train bhi itne speed se nahi chalti! Inme se kuch bhi nahi hua meri Maa! And just do as I say! Bring it to the hospital! And don't tell anybody!"
(Done? Will you listen to me now? Bullet train is also not this fast! None among these have happened meri Maa!)
"O-okay Babusaheb" she said and rushed to get the wallet. She reached the threshold of the room she couldn't cross so she bent and managed to take the walled from atop the cabinet and left. But just as she moved towards the door, she realised she dint actually know where Sanjog hospital was!
"Arey Imlie, where are you going?"
"Umm Kaki, Babusaheb has forgotten his purse. He had called at the landline. I picked it up since all of you were busy. His friend has been admitted to the hospital so he can't come himself to get it and hence told me to bring it. Can you tell me where the hospital is?"
"Oh is it? Don't worry, I'll send Suresh. He's our driver. He'll take you to the hospital. I hope whoever it is, he'll get well soon" Aparna said and went to call Suresh. She heaved a sigh of relief and left behind her.
___________________________________________
Malini woke up to a splitting headache and a certain heaviness in her head. All she could remember was she was in the house with Aditya asking her to come with him to the café after which she couldn't recall anything except darkness.
"Mun, how are you feeling now?" he asked as he rushed towards her, worried to see her holding her head.
"Aditya? What happened Aditya? We were at your house right? How did I reach here? I can't remember anything after"
Aditya sighed in relief. He thanked God she did not remember what he told because if she did, it'd have been so difficult to convince her, without telling the truth, why he had said all of that!
"No nothing much Mun. You just fainted when we reached the café so I brought you to the hospital. The doctor said you need a lot of rest and should avoid taking stress"
"Hmm"
"Shall I get you something?"
"No, just stay here"
"Hmm okay, I'm right here"
Silence prevailed for sometime till both heard the door click open, making them look at who it was at the door.
"Imlie" Malini whispered with a smile, warmth in her tone which made Aditya look towards her immediately. What the hell? Why were everyone being so warm and tender to her? He then looked at Imlie. Is she some enchantress by any chance? First his mother and now Mun?
"How are you now Malini Didi? What happened? Did Babusaheb drop you off his bike apart from falling himself?" she asked at which Malini giggled and Aditya glared at her.
"No no. He dint do anything such. I just fainted....."
"Because you haven't had food since morning?"
"How did you know?"
"I just do" she said and walked towards them. Handing the wallet to him, she wished Malini a speedy recovery and moved from there, all the while his eyes not leaving her.
Love,
Pratyusha
YOU ARE READING
Lakeerein - Ties That Bind Us
Fanfic------ Can Be Read As General Fiction ------ One night. One event. Lives of two people altered completely. When Aditya Kumar Tripathi, Chief Executive Reporter at Bhaskar times stepped into Pagdandiya and met Imlie, he did not know how his life woul...
