chap 18- Strength
It hurts, thats the first sensation Imlie felt as she opened her eyes. The beeping sound of the monitor, the dripping on IV it was too much stimulation for her.
She started recalling the incident, her breathing erractic the monitor started beeping rapidly, a nurse ran in and checked her vitals.
Soon doctor followed, they injected her with muscle relaxant and pain killer injection. Nurse told her to breathe, slowly she catched up with rhythemic breathing.
"I will call your husband"she said with care. Imlie nodded. She needs Aru right now she needs to be comforted.
While she waited for her husband, police came in for statement. THey asked her to tell them appearance of the man.
A sketch guy accompnied them , he drew and showed it to her. She nodded"Thats him, i don't him but"her voice was hoarsed.
When the nurse came again, "Can i get a mirror, i want to look at myself..please" she was trying to be strong.
SHe already saw her hand, most of it unrecognizble as if the skin was never there. She was scared to look at chest and her face that was the most personal space for her.
Nurse handed her the mirror and left to give her the privacy or maybe grieve of what she had lost.
She slowly picked the mirror, first towards her chest she pulled the neckline for gown a bit down, she gasped tears spilled.
She went to her face finally , on her right cheek there was big blot she let out a muffled scream. She had put her hand in the mouth so nobody hear her scream.
All of sudden she did not want Aru to see her anymore, or did he already see her like this?? No, no she panicked.
She called the nurse, "Please can you bring my clothes when i was bought in please'Nurse simply nodded. She came back with ziploc bag that had her clothes.
She removed the dupatta and hid her right side of the face. The door opened,her eyes were downward she saw his shoes entered slowly.
She covered her face as if the dupatta wasnt enough- She sobbed "Am sorry Aru,I am not same Imlie anymore. I will understand if you don't want to look at this.
My body is scarred for life Aru" She sobbed loudly. "I would understand if you want to leave me too"she shook her head.
He came and sat next to her on bed really close. He tried to remove her hand, "NO"she stubbornly refused.
"Imlie!" his voice scared her so she removed her hands. He eyes were red, his beard had grown so was his hair..How long was she out?
He looked disheavled physically but mentally too his eyes speaks volume.
"You are still my Imlie, nothing can change that" He removed her dupatta "You don't need to hide, I am with you."He took her hand and kissed it.
He kissed her cheeks, the burned one as well. The slowly traced his finger on the chest. "All this is mine" that all was needed for Imlie to crumble.
She hugged him , she cried her heart out. He just caressed her hair and kissed her head while she let out her torments.
"You gave me strength that i needed" Imlie said. "If you are there i can fight anything. I want the culprits behind bars. I gave the sketch of the man who threw acid at me Aru"
She said in whisper. Aru simply nodded as if he expected that. Aryan did not want to break it to her. Ved had hired the a history cheater. Aryan still had to take care of that man and he know exactly where to get the skecth from.
He will tell her the truth once she recovers he cannot risk anything right now. He will surrender himself,but first Imlie and only Imlie.
He had gotten time off for 6 months , it was all because of his work he had put all these years for the team. His boss immediately approved it plus he had already trained new recruits.
"You know some scars will be there but we can do skin graft surgery once you are ready." Imlie nodded "I am ready for it just anxious. About the money , you can take from my savings" she said innocently.
"Shut up. I will get you food , you cant have anything spicy or masaledaar ok? Its going to be bland food so prepare" he smiled.
She made a baby face "No"
"Oh yes " Aryan was glad Imlie was handling herself really well right now. He went to the hospital cafeteria.
Imlie was getting the strength from him only. After few minutes ,Dad came "Beta" Imlie hugged him while he stood, She clung to him like a small child .
"Sab thik hojayega bache, You are very brave girl and strong too! Rote nai" He wiped her tears.
He sat on the chair nearby and started conversation about the happening at the office to distract her. "Ah also Ved resign so the workload is much more" he shook his head but still smiled.
"Ha beta, tum aur Aryan mere saath rahoge i know i threw him out but i am not allowing you to stay alone anymore.
Aryan is away for months sometimes i know he is going to be there 6 months with you but still from now onwards we stay together."
Imlie felt so lucky to have most loving people in her life. She hugged herself when Aryan came in with the food.
"Hi Dad" they hugged after he set the food for her.
"Beta aaj tum imlie ko khilaoge" Dad ordered Aryan to which he nodded.
"I am going to leave you guys alone. Beta, ghar aana idhar se sidha"He smiled and left.
"Chalo" he put the napkin around her neck.
"Ew it smells weird"
He showed her the eyes, to which Imlie rolled her eyes.
"Ek sawal puchu"he asked mischievouly.
"Yes"
"What part of the body dies last?" Imlie burrowed her eyebrows
"Are its joke, aaj hi suna so i thought since you are so smart i should test you"
"I dont know" she scratched her head.He put the soup filled spoon in her mouth.
"Pupils" stated Aryan
"Why?"
"Because it dilates(die lates) Get it. " Imlie frowned and then started laughing slowly , and she laughed more then suddenly she started crying . He loved her so much, he was unfazed by her appearance.
Imlie couldn't believe how she got this lucky. "Hey it wasn't that bad of joke" his eyes wide.
Imlie smiled "No i was crying because i see how much you love me" She cupped his cheeks and kissed even though she was still conscious of her appeared , she took the step to kiss him, it was reward by more deeper kiss in return.
"Don't think kissing me means you can avoid this food. I want this all finished" Imlie nodded she will do anything for this man. Jaan hai to jaahan hai khethein haina? He was his jaan
