When you say Nothing at All

Chapter 40

"What are you talking about Didi?"

"Khushi, do you know where was my appointment today?"

"No"

"At the cancer clinic"

"What?"

Khushi's heart started beating faster and Arnav also looked at Anjali wanting to know more.

"Khushi, I have stage 4 lung cancer"

"Didi? No, tell me you are joking"

"Khushi, no one wants to joke about their death"

"No no, this can't happen. We will take you to the best doctors in the world Didi. Can we please Arnav?"

"Khushi, we will. Anjali, I will call one of my friends at Johns Hopkins, we can get the visas sorted soon"

"No Arnav, there is no use. I don't want to spend the last three months of my life in a hospital bed. I want to enjoy everything"

"Three months? Didi, what the hell are you talking about?"

"Khushi, you know how busy I was ever since Ahaan is born. It's like Ahaan didn't exist for Shyam. He never bothered about Ahaan's future or finding a proper job. That's why I wanted our studio to work because that was my only hope"

"Didi?"

"So I kept ignoring all the symptoms and continued to work as hard as I can to be the breadwinner for our family"

"Why didn't you share these with me?"

"What can I say, Khushi? That the man I fell in love with, the man for whom I felt my parents is useless? End of the day he was my husband and I didn't want him to be humiliated in front of others"

"But your health was draining and you never told me?"

"Khushi, I am a mother, I mother never takes a break. A mother only rests when she is in the coffin. It doesn't matter how old her kids are"

"Except ours"

"Khushi, who did you think helped us when we were in Pune? Who did you think send all those nutrients for you and me when we were pregnant? Who did you think gave money for me to invest in the business?"

"Mama?"

"Yes, Khushi. Dad was so adamant about not talking to either of us that he thought we both embarrassed our family. But ma is mom, she used to send all those and kept tabs on us behind dad's back"

"But Didi?"

"She badly wanted to come and see you when you had the accident but dad didn't let her"

"And all this while I thought she hated me"

"She never hated you, Khushi. She was mad and upset about what you did. But a mother can never hate her kids. That's why I want you two to adopt Ahaan. I don't want him to be just your nephew when I am gone, I want him to be your own kid and there is no one else in this world who can love like you do Khushi"

"But Didi, there must be something we can do. How about we go for a second option? Or Johns Hopkins as Aranv suggested?"

"There is no use Khushi. My doctor emailed one of his friends over there and he said the same thing. It's too late to do something"

Khushi jumped and hugged Anjali and both started carrying. Khushi wanted her son to be with her but not at her sister's expense. She wanted Ahaan, Arnav and herself to be a family but with Anjali on the side. Khushi couldn't imagine a life without Anjali. She was always there for her when she needed her. But the very first time when Anjali needs help, it's too late.