WIFE : BOUGHT AND PAID FOR

SHOT 33

BACK TO PRESENT!

Aryamann's POV!

The sound of a gurney being moved through the corridor pulled me out of the memories. We had been sitting like that for quite a while, Bhumi tightly held in my embrace. When was the last time I had her in arms like this? The night before she left. I had slept, content, with her in my arms, and that was the last time I had a peaceful sleep. The nights after that were cold and lonely, with only a glimpse of happy memories lingering around me.

"I am sorry," Bhumi said awkwardly and pulled out of my hold.

"That's alright," I said with a soft smile.

"I should have told you already. I just– I am sorry," she said.

"Stop apologising, Bhumi. I understand," I said and waited for her to tell me what was wrong with Sam.

"Sammy. He is very ill. Oh God!! He is so little for this," she said with a desperate cry.

I held her hands in between mine and looked into her eyes.

"We will not let anything happen to him, Bhumi," I told her.

"It's his blood. Leukaemia, the doctor said," she said, and all blood drained from my face.

"What?" I croaked out.

"How did I not notice?" She cried out in pain.

"It's not your fault, darling. What did the doctor say? Tell me," I asked, quickly composing myself.

I need to stay strong for Bhumi. I need to stay strong for my family, I reminded myself.

"He said a bone marrow transplant can help. It is his only hope," Bhumi said.

"Then we will go for it," I said.

"Sammy has a rare blood group. Mine doesn't match with his. The doctor said yours might match. And I told him that you will do it. You will?" She asked.

"Of course I will, Bhumi. He is my son. My blood," I told her fiercely.

She smiled through her tears.

"Is it so hard to believe that I would do for him what you will do, without a second thought?" I asked painfully.

"I am sorry. I didn't mean it like that. I don't even know what I am thinking," Bhumi said.

"We will get him back, Bhumi," I told her.

"You need to be tested before the transplant. They need to be sure," Bhumi told me, relaying what the doctors had informed her.

"We will do it right away, darling."

"He will be fine. He will be fine," Bhumi chanted to herself.

"I will go and talk to the doctor. Be strong, Bhumi. He is your son. He will be a fighter, like you," I told her and pressed a feather-light kiss on her forehead before going to meet the doctor.

Bhumi's POV!

Good god! What would I even have done if I hadn't met Aryamann yesterday?

Is it some kind of destiny? Bringing him here right at the moment we need him? Whatever it is, I am extremely thankful for his presence. Without him, I would have fallen apart. He had stood like a pillar right beside me ever since we heard about Sammy's illness.

Last night, Aryamann had pulled some strings, and the compatibility test was done immediately. It was a match!

"The appointment is at nine. They said it wouldn't take much time," Aryamann said as he took a seat next to me.