Ishq-e-Watan

Chapter 113- Discomfort

CHAPTER 113

DISCOMFORT

Sanju wasn't sure where she was. Actually, she was mostly sure it was some sort of medical place, considering the familiar, low beeping. But she wasn't sure where. Her eyes seemed to have been glued shut, and she tried to force them apart to no avail.

She wasn't sure if she had drifted off again or merely zoned out, but the next time when she tried to unpeel her eyelids, they took significantly less effort. She flinched, but the light was already barely there, and it took her only a few seconds to adjust. Her gaze swung around. Not a dispensary. The white walls seemed to squeeze her in, and it seemed to be a private room, not merely a bed. A hospital.

Her gaze paused on the figure sitting, a laptop on his lap. Ashish. His face was marred with a frown that seemed to be uncharacteristic of his normal 'Labrador' look. She must have made some noise, because his gaze lifted to hers, and he kept his laptop aside, quickly moving closer. "Ma'am", he said. "Aap theek ho? Dard toh nahi ho raha? Should I call a doctor?" He pressed the call button anyway.

"Paani", she croaked out, and he helped her sit up.

The next hour passed almost too fast, the doctor checking her up. There was some nerve damage, but her fingers moved, and the doctor had relaxed seeing it, assuring her that it would take some time but she would be all good. The nurse had changed her bandages too, and by the time, the formalities were done, she was almost asleep again.

The next time she woke up, Ashish was still there, and filled her in on Imam and his men fleeing from the base. Her blood pressure had shot up in anger, and she was sedated back to sleep.

The third time, Ashish wasn't there, and she pressed the call button, asking for her phone. Her parents, she wasn't sure were informed, but she was sure Siddharth would be. So, she called Faizi. The man picked up in three rings, his voice cheerful. But Sanju knew him well. He was stressed.

"Hum Siddharth se bhi baat karwaate hain tumhaari", he said, after they had talked about her health for a few minutes. "Woh bahut pareshaan ho raha tha."

She hummed, and just under a minute later, she heard his voice talking to Faizi. "Sanju", he breathed out, and she relaxed, smiling slightly. "Tum theek ho? Inhone mujhe bola tumhe shoulder mein goli lagi hai? Zyaada nerve damage toh nahi hai? They told me it was a muscle injury, not a bone one. Is that correct? And zyaada dard ho raha hai kya? Painkillers par ho, na, tum? The surgery went smoothly, na? What did the doctor say? Tum kuchh bol kyun nahi rahi ho? You know what, give me Ashish's number. Let me talk to him. Woh-"

"Chirkut", she cut him off affectionately, chuckling. "Tu chup karega, tab hi toh hum bolenge. Hum theek hain. Abhi toh dard bhi naa ho raho hogo. Aur thodi nerves mein dikkat hogo, par doctor ne kaho hai sab theek ho jaayego thode mahine mein."

He let out a big breath, and she could imagine him collapsing on the chair or bed in relief. She smiled. "Meri jaan nikal gayi thi, pata hai?"

"Siddharth... tumhe pato hai humaara kaam aisa hoto hogo. Tumhaara bhi hoga. Itni si baat par itna mat chintit ho."

He was quiet for a second. "Chintit is stressed, right?" She chuckled, humming. "I know it's part of your work, Sanju. But... I think I am more stressed because tum mujhse itna door ho. Of course, stress toh tab bhi hota jab saamne hoti, par tab main kam se kam tumhaara dhyaan rakh sakta hoon, tumhe dekh sakta hoon."

She almost blushed. "Faizi Sir kamre mein hogo abhi bhi?"

Sid scoffed. "Main kya bol raha hoon, aur tumhe PDA se dikkat hai bas. Nahi hain woh, chale gaye."