Raat Akeli Hai | 𝒂𝒏𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒋

XXXVII. generational talent

And yet again the second half is in complete english :)

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anupamaa :

The silence was overwhelming.

I sat, staring at the door, eyes glassy with tears and a heart, pacing mildly.
The fever refused to leave.

Things had not been too smooth after the belt episode.
He had curled up in my arms, and lost consciousness.
I had assumed he would wake up soon after, he did not.
I had dragged him to the bed, laid him, removed his shirt and applied ointment.
He had groaned and reacted to my touch, still not completely conscious.

And the next morning, came the fever.
I had no choice but to call up Sumedh.
He was the only person I could trust with such an issue.
He immediately sent a private jet to the Ahmedabad airport.

Now, I sat in the room that had been assigned to Mister Shah,
He lay on the bed, breathing steadily, the fever still high.
The doctors had come around and informed us that it is probably because of the injury. Although they also mentioned, maybe it was psychological.
He probably did not want to live.

The saline was up, because he couldn't eat or drink.

Baa had looked at me with deep suspicion but no one had asked me any questions.
I had told Sumedh about everything first. He had asked me to keep the "belt" part hidden from the family, and I had listened.

I sat on the bed beside him, my hand on his, firmly holding him.

He should have heard before losing consciousness.
I thought icily.
I turned back to look at him.

"Anu..", He whispered.
That was the only word he had whispered in these 3 days.
"Yehi hu..", I whispered back as I laid down beside him.
I had not been able to leave him alone, even for a moment.
Guilt coursed through me, after all, it was my hands that had caused those marks on his back.

I edged closer, I could hear him breathe in the silence of the night.
"Mujhe.. maaf kar do...", He whispered.
I shut my eyes, inhaling deeply.
I placed an arm around his body, even under the affect of paracetamol his body seemed to be on fire.

"Khudke saath aisa mat kijiye...", I whispered, unaware if he could hear.
There was silence.

I immediately sat up, placing my head on his chest.
His heart paced slowly.
I inhaled a breath of relief.

The door opened, but I could not sit up.
My head firmly on his chest, hearing his heart pace.

"Kya halat bana di hai tumne mere bete ki..", This was Baa's voice.
Her voice was cold.
I did not have the energy or will to reply.

I had greater fears.
The fear of losing a man I loved to fate.
I clutched onto his shirt, straining to hear his heart pace.

"Kya chahti kya ho tum? Pehle tumhari wajah se mera beta hospital tak pohoch gaya.. ab yeh halat hai..", She said as she placed the bowl of water on the desk, beside the bed with a cloth.

"Jaan hi le logi-"

"Bas!", I sat up finally.
A strange emotion took over me.
Something I did not recognise myself.
Baa stared at me, taken aback.