Meant To Be

Kalank: Part 4

His hands brushed against hers as she was rushed to the emergency room. As soon as her cold fingers left his hold, he felt an emptiness engulf him all over. Again.

His shoulders slumped against the wall, and he sat down on the floor, closing his eyes tight, fresh beads of moisture pooling around his eyes.
"Uday, hausla rakho. Sab thik hoga", Randheer knelt down to him and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"Meri Vashma ko kuch ho gaya na to main bhi jee nahi paunga, Randheer", he choked on his words, not looking up.
"Vashma ko kuch nahi hoga. Aap vishwas rakhiye-"
"Kispe rakhu vishwas, Randheer sahab? Kispe? Uparwale pe? Jisne mujhe pehle 4 saalo tak meri Vashma se door rakha aur ab fir use mujhse door karna chahte hain?"
Uday shot out, his eyes were a tint of red, and his throat sore, his gaze immediately softening at some distant memory that was swept ashore and he chuckled to himself.
"Pata hai Randheer, bachpan mein na hum jab khelte the aur Vashma ko chot lag jati thi na... to wo chhoti-si chot ke liye bhi Baig chacha se patti lagwa aati thi aur itne nakhre dikhati thi, itne nakhre-", his voice broke off as the reality sunk in again, "-ab to wo kuch bol hi nahi rahi. Meri baat bhi nahi sun rahi. Main-", his voice was racked up with sobs as he nudged his head into the crook of his elbow.
Randheer patted his head softly, "Uday, humari Vashma na bahut bahadur hai. Use kuch nahi hoga. Chaliye, ab aap uthiye aur kapde badal lijiye."

Uday steadied up on his feet with his help, staring down at the stains of blood splayed across his jersey and nodded obediently as Randheer thrusted a clean shirt in his direction.

---

"Inka kaafi zyaada khoon beh chuka hai. Hosh aane ke liye to do din bhi lag sakte hain ya do mahine bhi. Hum kuch nahi keh sakte."

The doctor's words echoed in his ears and stung every organ of his being. Sitting on the stool beside her, her face had an impeccable serenity etched across her face while his heart seemed to have been going through a turmoil– the regret of not being there for her, the grief of being unable to hold her close when she was all alone and the lurking fear of losing her forever. Everything seemed to be eating him up.

Clasping her fingers in both his hands, he gently pressed his lips against her knuckles.
"Vashma, do din ho gaye hain aur kitna intezaar karwaegi yaar. Mujhse teri ye haalat nahi dekhi jati hai, tu samajhti kyun nahi hai? Ab bahut ho gaya tera natak. Tu jab tak uthegi nahi na, main yahi pe baitha rahunga. Intezaar karunga ki kabhi to meri Vashma ko mujhpe taras aaega aur wo aankhein kholegi. Mujhse kuch bolegi", his voice had complaints to make. He fell silent for a while, his body racked with hiccups and stifled cries. Something seemed to hit him and he immediately brushed his hands against his cheeks and sat up straight.
"Oye pata hai, aaj ke match mein na tera Uday jeet gaya. Humari team jeet gayi, Vashma! Tu jaldi se uth jaa na yaar, tujhe medal dikhana hai, tujhe medal pehnana hai. Tu jaldi se uth jaa bas!" He softly caressed her hair with his hand, holding hers in the other, and sat looking at her.
"Oye tu chup hoti hai na, to meri puri duniya khali-khali lagti hai yaar. Tu jaldi se thik ho jaa, sab sahi ho jaega."
The golden hue of the afternoon faded out as his eyes slowly drooped to a close from all the fatigue by the bed, her hand still tightly held in his, as her little finger wiggled slightly in his grasp.

---

"Baba!" A voice rung in the hallway outside the ward.
"Kabir", a hushed voice sounded right after.
The kid pushed open the door with all his might, to enter the ward, looking around, and immediately silencing himself at the sight of them.
"Kabir-", a worried Amrit tried to reach out to him to which the kid gestured her with his index finger pressed to his lips, "Shhh, Ammi aur Baba so rahe hain."
She smiled at his adorable concern though silence wasn't something he was very used to and curiosity taking the better of him, he spoke right after.
"Bua, ammi ke sar par kya hua hai?" He asked in a hushed voice, pointing towards the bandage on Vashma's head.
"Aapki ammi ko zara si chot aayi hai. Par wo jaldi se thik ho jaengi", Amrit assured the little worrier to which he tiptoed to Vashma.
Placing his palm on her forehead, he patted her head, softly pressing a kiss against her temple.
"Ammi jab aap bilkul thik ho jaengi, to hum saath mein gol gappe khane jaenge", and chuckled to himself at the thought, immediately cupping his hand over his mouth to stifle his laugh so as not to wake them up.
He pulled the stool from the other side and climbing onto the bed with much effort, he held Vashma's hand, just as Uday had and rested his head on the bed, mimicking his father on the other side.
Vashma's eyes remained shut as before, her lips parting in a way to speak, though no words spilled out of them.

| to be continued |

Alrighttt, how was it? Do drop your reviews, makes my day!
A part more to go, I guess? I cannot wait tho hehe.
ALSO, VASHMA UTH GAYI OKBYE! 😭

xoxo,
Aditi 🤍