My Best Friend's Husband

PROLOGUE 2

He gazed at his wife's pale body from outside the hospital door. She had tubes sticking in and out her from nearly every visible part of the body. He wanted to step into the room, hold her hand and tell her he loved her. But he could not find the courage to step in the room.

It seemed like the hospital was closing in on him. He barely stopped the tears from falling as he suddenly turned back to escape.

"Woah there son! Are you alright?"

He looked up to see his mother standing in a pale yellow saree with his 3 year old son Ayaan in her lap. Seeing Ayaan brought fresh tears to his eyes. How will they both survive without Shreya. She was the bane of their existence.

"Dada? Dada? You crying.. Dadi(Grandmother)... Dadi see Dada is crying." Nakul quickly wiped his eyes and took Ayaan in his arms.

"No son. I am just happy to see you. I missed you so much." And he did. Shreya would not like that he kept his son away from him two night in a row. When she wakes up he would make it up to her. All three of them would go on a long vacation. She would be so happy. She always kept complaining about his lack of time for them. Yes. That would indeed make her very happy.

He turned to his mom. " Yes. I am alright Ma. I was just going to cafeteria for a cup of coffee."

"Oh alright then. I would not keep you. I and Aayan are just going to sit by Shreya's side. Come when you are ready." She gave him a knowing look.

He knew he could not hide anything from his mom. He was not able to lie when he broke their windowpane while playing cricket when he was six or when he first bought Shreya home and she asked if anything was going on between them. He told her that they were just best friends. But his mother knew. He could still recall the twinkle in her eyes when he finally announced the engagement.

Those were the days and now these are the days.

If only he was there to stop her from going out in the rain. He should have been there to protest her driving the car in the thunderstorm. It was all his fault. His wife was coming to surprise him on his birthday which he forgot because he was busy.

Thank God Aayan was not with her in the car. He would not be able to handle seeing both of them in ICU. God forbid if anything happened to her or Aayan. Technically speaking she was still in critical stage. But she will recover. She will have to recover.

With renewed determination he walked back in the hospital. As he neared her room he saw his mother running towards him with a solemn expression.

He panicked.

God please let my Shreya be alright. I will never make her angry at me again.

"Shreya woke up Nakul." His mother's words washed him with relief and took his anxiety away with it. He smiled and thanked God for this miracle. But then when he looked at his mom, she looked grim.

"Why are you ...? You just told me she woke up. This is good news. Why are you...? Tell me now." His voice rose with each word. But he couldn't help himself. A sense of foreboding settled upon him.

"She is asking for you Nakul. You should hurry. She does not have much time.... The doctor said she could die any..." He left his sobbing mother in the hallway and ran to Shreya. This could not happen. God would not punish him for his sins by taking the most precious thing from him. He would not allow it.

"Nakul.. is that you?" He looked up at the sound of his wife's voice. He hadn't realised he was standing at the doorway of her room.

She looked ghastly. Her voice was weak, barely audible. He ran to her.

"Yes my love. It's me....... Look what I did to you. I am sorry. I am so sorry. " He took her hands in his and sobbed uncontrollably. The dam burst free. All the frustration and anxiety of past two days rushed back.

"Sshhh.. It's alright darling." He felt her soft brush of hands in his hair. It brought a fresh wave of tears. He never thought he would be able to feel her hands in his hair, She always said she loved his hair. They were nothing extraordinary just plain black. But she always told him that they were silky soft. Almost like a pillow cover and they smelt wonderful. Her favourite pastime was brushing her cheeks against his hair whenever she could reach it. And he made it very difficult. Oh how he missed those fun times.

"Please don't leave me. I will never make you angry, I will never leave you alone again. I love you so much. Please just don't leave me. Please." The words just kept pouring out of him.

When he didn't hear a reply he panicked and looked up. Her eyes were closed and she looked almost serene. " Please God. No. No."

Then she opened her hazel eyes and it was the most beautiful sight in the world. But they were sad. Why were they sad.

" It's time darling. I have to go. But before I go promise me something so that I can go in peace."

His heart almost broke at her words. " Anything love. Just ask me anything."

" Promise me.." A series of cough overtook her and he pushed some water through her parched lips.

"Promise me that you will live again. Promise me you will love again. Promise me you will not withdraw from Aayan. He will need you. You will have to become both her mother and father."

He knew what she was saying was true. She knew him more than he knew himself. That was one of the reasons he loved her so much. She loved him for what he was. She loved the imperfect him.

" Shreya..I..."

"Promise me Nakul. Do you not want me to die in peace. " For a frail women her voice was exceptionally strong.

A faint smile hovered on his lips. She was his Shreya. Oh god how much he loved her.

" I promise. I love you so much. I love you.... Darling? Darling???..... Doctor......" He shouted and kept shouting.

Doctor rushed in the room and checked her. He knew the answer before the doctor said the words.

He stumbled out of the room ,the pain blindingly strong.

The faint sound of his mom's voice calling for him got lost in the chaos of his mind. He didn't see the red eyes and tear steaked face of his son as they looked back and forth from his mother's lifeless body to his Dad's broken face.

As Nakul fought to breathe he kept thinking how in the world would he keep his promise when all he could feel now was his heart breaking.

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I almost cried while writing this part. But worry not the story will be happy from here. Vote and comment to let me know you love this story. They will motivate me to keep going.

Bon Reading

Shikha Td

xoxo