Kaira SS: Saanson Se In Dhadakano Tak

Part 3: Patthar Si Dasha Meri, Kya Hai Ye Raza Teri

With the sirens blaring, the ambulance entered the hospital campus and stopped in front of the main gates. Two of the paramedics pulled the stretcher out of the ambulance while the third one was holding the drip. Two nurses (male) came rushing to the ambulance and helped the paramedics in taking the stretcher up to the emergency room where Kartik would be treated. The mask was still on his face and they continued with the CPR yet Kartik did not open his eyes. Soon he was taken into the emergency room where his wounds were checked once again. The paramedics gave a brief of his situation and left while the doctors started treating Kartik. They had removed his shirt already and connected various tubes to his body. Kartik's pulse was very low and they could not take him for CT scan and other tests till he was a little stable. They had somehow managed to get his BP under control with some injections and his pulse was meek but they got it to be quite stable. They were taking him out of the emergency room for the tests when Naira, Gayu, Akshara and Naitik arrived. They were all shocked to see Kartik in that state, he could hardly be recognized amidst the tubes, drips, and mask. Naira completely broke down on seeing him. While Naitik stopped one of the doctors and enquired about Kartik's condition, Akshara consoled both Gayu and Naira, saying that their friend will be better soon. The doctor informed them that his condition was critical and they had to go for a surgery immediately but before that, they had to complete a few other formalities at the reception. Akshara and Naitik rushed to the reception while Gayu and Naira cried holding each other.

Naira: (sobbing) ye sab meri wajah se hua hai. Kartik ne mujhe bachane ke liye bullet khud par le li. Woh itna stupid kaise ho sakta hai.

Gayu: (calming her down) Nahi Naira, ismein tumhari koi galti nhi hai, Kartik hai hi aise. Sabke baarein mein sochtein hai aur khudka koi dhyaan nhi rehta.

Naira: Use bas ek baar thik hone do, phir main khud use maar maar ke sidha kardungi.

Gayu: Thik hai, hum dono unhe sabak sikhayenge.

Naira: Kartik thik toh hojayega na Di

Gayu: Ofcourse Naira, unhe kuch nhi hoga, dekh lena tum.

Akshara and Naitik were there at the reception filling the form when they, for the first time, realised something important.

Naitik: Surname? Kartik ka surname toh hum mein se kisi ko nhi pata. Aur na hi uske Father ka naam.

Akshara: Aap manager se kyun nhi puchletein!

Naitik: Haan, ye sahi rahega.

Naitik calls Manager and asks about details from Kartik's files but nowhere had he mentioned the name of his parents. His surname was also not mentioned anywhere in the documents, however from the copy of his graduation degree and results of secondary and higher secondary examinations, they came to know his surname atleast, his full name was Kartik Goenka. But his family was nowhere mentioned. The manager assured Akshara and Naitik that he would find out about his family and inform them soon. The couple was astonished at once but his condition reminded them to care of him first and then focus on his family. They finished the formalities and rushed towards the emergency room. Kartik was being brought back from the tests and was directly taken to the OT.

Naira was dying every minute, praying to her Ganga maiyya not to let anything happen to her best friend, little did she know he was much more than a friend for her. Half an hour had already passed since Kartik was taken into the OT. But there was no update on his condition. After what seemed like ages did a nurse step out of the OT in a hurry. On asking, she explained that Kartik's vitals were not yet stable, and hence the doctors could not begin the surgery. They were struggling to bring him to a stable condition as they couldn't risk the bullet being inside his body for such a long time. The nurse rushed to the opposite direction, leaving a broken Naira behind. Gayu was in tears once again and both Naitik and Akshara tried to console her but the princess of our frog prince was not just crying. She was terrified by the thought of losing Kartik forever, she had never felt so helpless. All she could do at that moment was pray for him and that was what she did. Folding her hands and shutting her moist eyelids, she prayed, and begged the Lords not to let anything happen to his Kartik.

Naira: Ganga Maiyya aap toh kabhi kisi ache ke saath bura nhi hone deti hai na toh fir Kartik ke saath aisa kyun ho rha hai. Kyun aaj woh itni takleef mein hai. Ye sab meri galti hai, maine us par trust nhi kiya, maine use hurt kiya. Iski saza toh mujhe milni chahiye. Toh phir Kartik kyun aaj apni zindagi ke liye lad rha hai. Woh toh humesha sabke baarein mein sochta hai, sabki help krta hai, kabhi kisiko hurt nhi krta, toh phir aaj ye sab kyun ho rha hai. (Wiping her tears, she angrily continued her prayers) Naman Chachu aur mere kiye ki saza Kartik ko nhi milni chahiye. Apne pehle bhi mujhe mere dost aur mere parivar se dur krdiya tha, is baar aisa nhi hona chahiye, mere Kartik ko kuch nhi hone dijiyega Ganga Maiyya, kuch mat hone dijiyega.

Naira was all in tears, but she gathered herself, knowing that nothing could happen to Kartik because he so pure at heart and God never does anything wrong with good people, He only takes tests and she knew, her Kartik would pass the test and return back safe.

An hour had passed since Kartik was taken inside and they did not know if he was fine or not. Naitik had taken Gayu and Akshara to the cafeteria. Naira had requested Naitik to leave her there. Even Gayu didn't wanna go but Akshara insisted her to have something as she needs to be strong because Kartik would need prayers and if she gets unwell, how will she pray to the Lord for his well being. Gayu agreed but Naira didn't. Akshara could easily read the guilt on her face and they agreed to leave her alone outside the OT. Naira was standing alone now, staring at the OT doors, waiting for them to open so that she could know how her Mendak was. The same nurse once again rushed out of the OT and this time, instead of asking his condition, Naira requested her to be let inside once. The nurse explained that only the immediate family of the patient could be let in and the view inside would be tough to handle, it's not meant for a faint heart. But Naira kept on insisting to go inside. Agreeing to all her requests, the nurse took her inside after taking necessary measures. Naira entered the room attached to the OT that had a large glass screen giving the full view of the surgery. Naira was devastated seeing Kartik in that state. Electrodes stuck all around his upper body and his arms spread out on the operation table while the team of doctors were operating his wounds. He was surrounded by a large number of machines and a mask covering his face. Every part of her soul cried at that very moment seeing her best friend fighting for his life. The nurse informed Naira that Kartik's vitals were not stable yet but were good enough for the doctors to start the surgery. The blood loss was tremendous and the major complication in his case was his extremely faint pulse. One of the bullets that hit his chest was very very close to his heart but at the same time it was quite superficial. It was his good luck that it did not pierce it's way into his heart or else the chances of him surviving would be even more less. But the nurse informed Naira that the bullet that hit his abdomen had caused a lot of damage to the blood capillaries and that there was a great possibility of internal bleeding, which could make the case worse. Tears escaped her eyes as she heard the nurse and all she did was stare at his innocent face and chant the same thing in her heart over and over again, "tumhe kuch nhi hoga Kartik, tum bilkul thik hojaoge"

The surgery went on for another couple of hours and there was no improvement in his condition. Naira was sitting inside the room, stone-still while the three of them waited outside. They had requested the nurse to bring Naira outside but Naira denied. She just kept staring at her Kartik's face, requesting him to come back to her. After some time, another nurse came to Naira, and this time with a good news. She informed Naira that the surgery was almost done, they had successfully taken out the bullets and were closing in on him after which he will be shifted to the ICCU. The nurse asked her to move outside and take some rest for the time being but Naira was adamant. And that was when something terrible happened, Kartik started sinking. All that Naira could understand was that his condition suddenly worsened and the doctors were preparing for a shock. She saw one of the doctor putting the charged electrode on his chest and his body moving up and down but no response. She could hear loud beeps of the machines around him from across the glass and she was too frightened to think anything. Another attempt was made to revive his heart but it did not work.