The Ailing Heart

Chapter 9

"Is this Miss Dashwood speaking ?" The person on the other side says.

"Yes I am". I say, my voice clearly showing my lack of interest.

"Ma'am I'm sorry to inform you that you're father was in an accident and is now in a critical condition. He is in the  St. Lewis Hospital". He says with a sorry voice.

"What?" Is the only thing I can manage to say as my phone falls on the floor.

I grab my car keys and rush down the stairs straight into my car. I drive recklessly not bothering about anything or anyone in my way.

I jumped I don't know how many traffic signals. And finally the board of the St. Lewis Hospital comes into view.

I park,more like leave my car at the first vacant place I find and rush into the hospital.

I push through the river of bodies to reach the reception.

"Where is Mr. Dashwood?" I ask at the reception to which she doesn't reply. For being the short tempered person I am, not getting a reply pisses me more than anything.

"I asked you where is Mr. Dashwood ? Are you deaf  or something ? Want me to put some sense into you?" I yell, forgetting all my etiquettes.

"I'm sorry ma'am he is undergoing treatment now. You'll have to wait in the hallway upstairs.

I run upstairs, stumbling here and there a few times. I finally find the hallway where the woman, who was with Dad is sitting.
I walk up to the seating area and take a seat far away from her. I don't even want to acknowledge her existence.

All I can do now is to wait for any but if news I get about Dad. While I'm trying to catch my breathe, that women comes and seats herself next to me. My blood just starts boiling under my skin.

"Listen Nidhi, I'm not here to interfere in your personal life. All I want you to know is that your Dad loves you a lot. And there's nothing between us like you're supposing. I'm just a good friend of your Dad. Nidhi your Dad is worried about your deteriorating relationship with him." She says putting her hand on my shoulder to which I don't even react.

"Nidhi, your father and I met today only because he wanted to discuss about the growing distance between you an your father. Nidhi he loves you and your mother more than his life. He is broken after your mother's death. He doesn't show it dear, but he's shattered. You are the only reason for his living. I won't say anything any further. But just know he loves you more than anything." She says as she walks out the hallway.

I realise how wrong I was in judging my own father. I was really rude to him when he was all sweet and loving. And now here I sit alone in the lifeless hallway of this hospital where my Dad is undergoing treatment.

I sit with my head in my in my hands unable to bear everything that's going around me.

I always held my Dad responsible for Mom's death, forgetting that he has the same loss that I bear with myself.
I didn't acknowledge the fact that I could lose him just as easily as I lost mom. Dad is the only family I'm left with and I didn't value him enough.

"You must be Miss Dashwood ?" A manly voice calls over.

"Yes". I reply hastily wiping off my face.

"Ma'am you have some relation with Mr. Dashwood ?" He asks and because of his white coat I know that he is the doctor. He's jut seems too young to be experienced.

"Yes I'm his daughter". I state.

He tells me that Dad is still in a critical state and will be kept under observation for 48 more hours. And says that I can see him once they shift him into the ICU.

I thank him as he walks out of the hallway. He also tells me to get some medicines from the pharmacy as he hands me the names.

I walk up to the pharmacy and get all the medicines. I hand all the medicines to the nurse and she walks in with them.

I seat myself in the waiting area while people keep moving in and out of the ICU. My patience is now being tested. I can't wait any any longer before I can see Dad.

I walk up to the door which contains a small glass fitting allowing me to see in. There he lays lifeless, with tubes and pipes fitted to him. His head wrapped in a white bandage, his hand in a cast.  I can't bare to look at him anymore.

I just hope all this passes by quick and Dad gets fine super quick.