Goodbye, My Love

Chapter 3

Kairav saw that Manish and Swarna had brought along Aarohi, who looked extremely weak and was crying too. Aarohi's presence was a stark reminder of the double loss they were facing today – the uncertainty of Akshara's life and the pain of losing Neil. His heart broke at the sight of Aarohi, her face pale and tear-stained, her body trembling with grief. Without a word, she stumbled forward and wrapped her arms around him, seeking warmth and comfort in the midst of their shared sorrow.

Together, they stood in the hospital corridor, their hearts heavy with fear and uncertainty, but united in their love for Akshara. And as they cried together, their tears mingling with the silent prayers that filled the air, they knew that no matter what happened next, they would face it together – as a family, bound by love and hope.

...........

Kairav, his voice choked with emotion, whispered to Aarohi, "You shouldn't have come here, Aarohi. You need to take care of yourself."

But Aarohi shook her head, tears streaming down her face as she replied, "Main kaise na aati, Bhaiya? Meri behan itni critical halat mein hai. Haan mai hoon, stupid aur hateful, par woh meri behan hai. Main usse khona nahi chahti. Main already apne pati ko kho chuki hoon, aur ab apni behan ko nahi kho sakti. Mujhe afsos hai ke maine Akshu ko Neil ki maut ke liye dosh diya. Shayad jaise maine usse Mumma aur Neil ki maut ke liye dosh diya, waise hi main aaj uski is halat ki zimmedar hoon."

Tears welled up in Kairav's eyes as he listened to Aarohi's heartfelt confession. He reached out and embraced her tightly, knowing that no words could alleviate the pain they both felt.

Kairav gently reassured Aarohi, "Tumhari koi galti nahi hai, Aarohi. Aao, baitho yahan. Tum bhi abhi apna khayal rakho, especially tum pregnant ho aur tumhe bhi bohot takleef ho rahi hogi. Neil ki maut ke jhatka ka bhi toh tumhare upar bada asar hua hai."

He helped Aarohi sit down on one of the waiting chairs, his heart heavy with sympathy for her. He knew that losing her husband on the same day she learned about Akshara's critical condition must have taken a toll on her too.

Turning to his badi maa and bade papa, Kairav offered words of comfort, his voice trembling with emotion. "Badi maa, bade papa, Mujhe yakeen hai ki Akshu theek hogi. Woh bohot himmatwali hai. Hum sab milkar uski sehat ke liye prathna karenge."

Just then, the doctor approached them with a consent form for Akshara's surgery. Kairav's hands trembled as he looked at the form, his heart heavy with fear and uncertainty. He glanced around and saw that everyone was frozen with fear, unable to bring themselves to sign the form.

Fear gripped the room as they all stared at the document, each of them feeling the weight of the decision that needed to be made. Their minds were clouded with worry for Akshara, making it difficult to think clearly.

Suddenly, a hand reached out and took the pen, ready to sign the form. Kairav's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked up and saw that it was Abhimanyu.

Anger boiled inside Kairav as he watched Abhimanyu, his jaw clenched with frustration. How dare he show up now, after everything he had put Akshara through? The nerve of him to act like he cared!

Kairav's hands balled into fists at his sides as he struggled to contain his rage. With a surge of anger, Kairav snatched the paper from Abhimanyu's hand, his voice trembling with suppressed fury. "Get lost, Abhimanyu," he spat, his eyes flashing with resentment. "We don't need you here. My family is more than capable of taking care of Akshara."

Abhimanyu's face fell, his eyes pleading as he begged, "Please, Kairav, let me stay. I need to be near Akshu. I need to make things right."

But Kairav's anger flared up, his frustration boiling over. "You think you can just waltz in here and play the caring husband after what you've done?" he seethed, his voice laced with bitterness. "You have no right to be here. You lost that privilege when you walked out on her."

The peon, sensing the escalating tension, hurriedly intervened, his voice stern as he warned, "Gentlemen, please. This is a hospital. You need to maintain the decorum."

Reluctantly, Kairav let the peon guide Abhimanyu away, his heart heavy with conflicting emotions. He turned back to the consent form, his hands trembling as he held the pen.

With a heavy heart, Kairav signed the document, his mind clouded with fear and uncertainty. He turned to the doctor, his eyes pleading as he begged, "Please, doctor, do whatever it takes to save my sister."

Tears welled up in his eyes as he watched the doctor rush off to prepare for the surgery. In that moment, all Kairav could do was pray – pray for his sister's survival, pray for her strength, and pray for a miracle that would bring her back to them.

Minutes felt like hours as the family waited in the sterile, cold hallway. The tension was palpable, each second adding to their mounting anxiety. They huddled together, trying to draw some semblance of comfort from each other’s presence.

Kairav’s heart ached as he thought about the weight of the responsibility he had just shouldered, signing the consent for Akshara's surgery. His mind raced with memories of their childhood, of Akshara’s laughter, her unwavering support, and her strength.

Just then, a nurse approached them, breaking the heavy silence that hung in the air. She delivered the news that Akshara had regained consciousness and was asking for her mother. A heavy silence fell over the family once again. The mention of "mumma" pierced their hearts like a dagger, reminding them of the painful truth – both Naira and Sirat were no longer alive. The family exchanged sorrowful glances, the grief of past losses mingling with their current fears for Akshara.

Abhimanyu, who had been standing in a corner, hidden from everyone's view, stepped forward at the nurse's words. "I will go see her," he announced quietly, his voice tinged with determination.

But before he could take another step, Manish's voice cut through the air like a whip. "No, you cannot go," he declared, his eyes flashing with anger.

Abhimanyu bristled at the objection, his own frustration bubbling to the surface. "You cannot stop me, Bade papa," he retorted, his voice edged with defiance. "I am Akshu's husband. I have every right to be with her."

Aarohi stepped forward, her eyes blazing with fury as she confronted Abhimanyu. "You seem to have forgotten, Abhimanyu, that you are no longer her husband," she stated firmly, her voice cutting like ice. "You divorced her. You are no longer a part of her family."

She reminded him of the hospital rules, emphasizing that only family members were allowed to meet patients. "You should know this, Abhimanyu," she added, her tone scathing. "After all, you are a doctor yourself."

Abhimanyu's face fell, his shame evident as he hung his head in defeat. Tears welled up in his eyes as he realized the depth of his mistake, the pain he had caused Akshara and her family.

With a heavy heart, he turned away, his shoulders slumped with remorse. In that moment, he felt the weight of his actions bearing down on him like a crushing burden. He knew that he had lost more than just his marriage – he had lost the trust, the love, and the very essence of the woman who had once been his everything. The realization hit him like a tidal wave, leaving him gasping for air as the enormity of his mistakes came crashing down.

He had driven away the woman who had stood by him through thick and thin, who had loved him unconditionally. The image of Akshara's pained eyes, the hurt etched on her face, haunted him. Each step he took felt like a walk through a storm, every memory of their time together a reminder of what he had destroyed.

His mind replayed the last moments they had shared – her voice, trembling yet strong, as she spoke words of finality. She had all but begged him to reconsider. He realized that in his anger and grief, he had been a fool of the highest order, severing the bond that had once been unbreakable. It wasn't just the end of their relationship; it was the end of the dream they had built together. He realized that in his anger and grief, he had severed the bond that had once been unbreakable.

The noise of the bustling corridor faded into a distant hum. The reality of his actions left a hollow ache in his chest, and he wondered if he would ever be able to make amends for the pain he had caused. The regret was a constant gnawing at his soul, a reminder that sometimes, once you let go, there is no going back.