Ek Duje Ke Vaaste

10

He was sitting near Nanaji with Ramnath. Nanaji was numb like Shravan. They both knew what her presence means to their lives. Nanaji's pain was even more deep as he had already lost his daughter and son-in-law, he couldn't lose his granddaughter that too the most loved one.

Ramnath got a call that he had to attend so he went out.

"Iss ghar ki reed ki haddi hai Suman."
Nanaji said making Shravan look at him.

"Uske mata pita na hone ke bawjood itna saahas hai meri bacchi mein. Sabko aise sambhal leti hai jaise bayein haath ka khel ho. Haatho mein jadu hai uske. Aur mann ganga jitna pavitra. Tujhe pata hai jab se tu gaya hai, roz uss chess ki usne safai ki hai jo tu beech mein hi chhod gaya tha. Tere baare mein kuch pata chalta tha toh aise batati thi jaise diwali ho, itna khush hoti thi. Mera dhyaan rakhne mein mere bete se aage nikal gayi. Itni baatein karti rahti thi, bak bak bak bak, aur ab dekho...."
Saying this he broke down in front of an equally broken down guy.

They both consoled each other, gave each other strength. Nanaji wanted to visit her but Shravan asked him to rest and he will take care of everything. He believed Shravan.

After a while, Shravan went back to the hospital while Ramnath went to his house.

Nanaji's words about how he mattered to her were ringing in his ears.
Operation was done and she was being put under observation wherein nobody was allowed.
He sent Pushkar, Preeti and Mamaji home to take some rest and come as he was there.
He came and stood in front of the mirrored cage she was put in.

"I can't see you like this Sumo, you mean everything to me. Tumhe mujhe satane mein bahut maza aata hai na lekin ab bahut ho gaya, dekho main ho gaya hoon pareshan, please ab mat satao. Main tumhare bina nahi reh sakta, main bahut bahut pyaar karta hoon tumse Sumo, bahut pyaar karta hoon, hamesha se karta hoon. Tum meri poori zindagi ho Sumo, please please mujhe meri zindagi lauta do please."
He broke down again while saying.
He went to pray and kept praying all night.
Sitting on the nearby chair, he didn't know when sleep engulfed him.

In the morning, Mamaji, Pushkar, Preeti and Nanaji came as they saw him sleeping.

Nanaji asked Pushkar to sent Shravan home as he would've been so tired.
He woke Shravan up but he sternly refused to go home or even eat anything.

After a while, doctors came and reported that patient's vitals are gaining stability and the situation has improved but till the time she gets consciousness, nothing can be said with accuracy.

Some relieve was there in the tensed environment.

Everyone asked Shravan to go get freshen up. He reluctantly agreed when Nanaji asked to drop him home and get ready there only.

He came and had tea. After that he went to Sumo's room to freshen up.

He was first time seeing her bathroom after coming from London. The fragrance reminded him of her and he just took a sigh, took support of back wall and closed his eyes remembering about their childhood.

▪︎▪︎▪︎
Flashback to Childhood ~

Sumo had fallen from bicycle as she was riding it so fast.

"Itni tez chalayegi toh giregi hi"

"Tu chup kar chashmish, kitna dard ho raha hai mujhe aaah..."

"Itni si toh chhot hai, itne mein hi dard ho raha hai? Haha girls I tell you"
He said while carefully caressing her hand and blowing in between.

"Accha, itni si chhot, theek hai! Tu jaa! Jab mera koi bada accident ho jayega na aur main bed par aankhein band karke padi rahungi tab tujhe meri value pata chalegi"