Mafia's Girl

Part 67

Sidharth's P.O.V. 

Shehnaaz was wheeled into the Operation Theater and the red light came on. This was the starting point of our building tension as everyone waited outside, praying and looking back and forth at the light above the door. I couldn't bring myself to sit down comfortably and stood for hours. Silently, I kept praying and begging God to do some kind of miracle and heal Shehnaaz, once and for all. Daksh came to me with a tray of tea and water. "Sir, would you like something?" He asked. I shook my head. He went on to everyone else and convinced them to have something for Shehnaaz's sake. At last, he came back to me with a bottle of water and said, "Sir, please, have this. I know that you want to keep up your fast but if you fall weak, who will take care of Shehnaaz? Please, have it, for her sake." I looked at him with a frown understanding that his words made sense. I took the water and drank a little bit and handed it back to him. He smiled at me and patted my shoulder before taking a seat. A few hours passed by and everyone held their same spot in the waiting area. No one came out of the room so we had no idea what was actually going on inside. Morning dawned and still no news came from inside. Daksh came to me with a suit of clothes and told me to change since I was still in my wedding outfit. Despite I initially objecting, I agreed and went into an empty bathroom stall and changed into the shirt and pants only. I wasn't concerned of how I am looking so I didn't do much and just passed my fingers through my hair and washed my face. I went back out and saw everyone gone except for Daksh. Walking up to him, confused, I asked, "Where is everyone?" He turned around and looked at me with a small frown. "I sent everyone home to change and come back. From last night, no one ate anything or changed. Everyone is simply waiting for the surgery to be over," he said. 

I nodded at him doing the right thing and patted his shoulder. After standing an entire night, I finally took a seat and sighed heavily. "I still can't comprehend how fast everything turned around. Yesterday at this same time, everyone were so happy and today..." I said and allowed my words to die out. "Sir, you haven't eaten anything. I made a small fruit salad and brought it. Please, have it. Your body needs energy to stand through this. If you fall weak, no one will take care of Shehnaaz. You need to stay strong to fulfil your duty towards her," he said. I took the small bowl from him and ate the fruits with a heavy heart. We waited, silently, for another hour and a half and then Shehnaaz's parents and sisters returned. "How is she? Any news?" Her mother asked, coming to us. "No, ma'am, we haven't heard anything as yet," Daksh said. "How long will this take again? Every passing moment is beginning to get more and more deeadful," she said, sitting down with tears in her eyes. Unable to see her pain anymore, I went and sat next to her. Side hugging her, I said, "Don't worry. My Shehnaaz will come out of this strong. What not has she endured so far in her young life? She will surely come out of this also." She rested her head on my chest and wept. After a few more hours of waiting, the light came off and the doctor came out. Everyone rushed to surround him and bombarded him with questions about Shehnaaz. I, however, stood at the back and looked directly at him, silently. Suddenly, my heart raced as I looked at the seriousness on his face. My brain feared the worst but my heart wanted to keep hope. Until I don't hear anything from him myself, this paining confusion was going to stay the same. He walked through everyone and stood in front of me. My heart sank as I felt weak, unable to control the turmoil brewing inside me. 

He smiled, surprising me and patting my shoulder, he said, "Congratulations! Your wife is out of danger." It took a few moments to comprehend his words before there was an outburst of cheers and celebrations as everyone rejoiced Shehnaaz's safety. My eyes welled up as I finally took a breath of relief and dropped my heavy shoulders. Unlike everyone else, I didn't say anything but held the doctor's hand, thanking him with tears in my eyes. I fell on my knees as tears dropped from my eyes as I looked up at him and clasped my palms. "Thank you so much, doctor. I will forever be indebted to you. No matter what I do, I will never be able to repay you. You haven't just saved my wife's life. You saved my life too," I said. He smiled at me, making me stand up as he said, "It was my duty. We have to keep her under observation for the next twenty-four hours and also, I told you this already that she will have a lengthy stay in the hospital." "I understand doctor. It's alright with me," I said as I wiped away my tears. "We will shift her into I.C.U. and then only one of you will be able to remain with her," he said. I nodded and looked at him walking away. Daksh came to me with his smile finally back and tears glistening in his eyes as he said, "Didn't I tell you, sir? Our Shehnaaz is a fighter. She's back!" I nodded and embraced him tightly. Later, everyone left and I remained with Shehnaaz in the I.C.U. room. Holding her hand, I looked at her with her eyes closed as half of her face were underneath the oxygen mask and her head was wrapped with a bandage. "You scared the hell out of me. I am with you to fulfil my promise now. When you open your eyes, you will see me," I said and kissed her hand. I caressed her forehead lightly as I looked at her endlessly. The long hours apart from her during the surgery felt like an eternity each. Now that she was back in front of me, I didn't want her out of my sight for even a single second.