The secret wish

Part 9

Anya felt ashamed at that moment. In all those years, she had never quite understood Shaan. She always lived in an illusion that she did. And the only thing she had known in Shaan was his smile. But like before, she never understood the reason behind it.

Anya wanted to hug Shaan tightly and apologize to him. But for now, it didn't feel like a right option. The right thing to do now was meeting Dr. Vivek.

"Shall we go?"

Asked Shaan rubbing off the tears off his face and from his eyes. Anya nodded with a smile on her face. Shaan smiled and accelerated his car towards the hospital.

As always Vivek's room was beautifully adorned with his certificates and the white enamel paint magnified it. But today Vivek sat on his chair ashamed of the certificates that were hanging on the wall.

"Mrs. Verma, I am sorry, that as a doctor I failed my duty. I have been schooled to... hmmm... to save and heal people. But I..." He didn't look up, he couldn't bring himself to look into Anya's eyes. "I deliberately made your child do a thing that had the potential to take her life... And it did..."

He was stumbling across his own speech even when he was told to be a great speaker when he was in his college days. But nonetheless, he wanted to finish his apology. And his next words came in a stern voice.

"I am really sorry."

"You need not be." Said Anya and Vivek felt a jolt of shock when he heard those words from Anya's mouth. He was actually anticipating that she would barge into the room crying for losing her only daughter, but the outcome was completely different than what he had thought. He looked up at Anya and she stayed still and continued

"Why do men always think that women don't understand the deep great things they do?" And she looked at Shaan who forwarded his hand. She smiled and made her hand fall into his. She looked strong and determined, but she thought looking onto his smile and  his glittering blue eyes.

But Sorry, Shaan. In reality I did not understand you until the last moment. Sorry for being such a wimp, when you were the one who was taking it all.

"Vivek!" Said Shaan looking directly into the doc's eyes "Thank you! You know what? Noah lived. In those few moments, even when she was suffocating, she lived. All she wanted to do was to fly and when she did, she lived! And it was all because of a bold step that you took."

Vivek almost forgot the first principle that he had learned in his medical school. He didn't want to, but his eyes got wet and he started to cry. No matter how much he had tried to get away from her, he had gotten more and more attached to Noah. He had loved every moment that he spoke with her. At last, he was one of the reason why the girl had left her parents. But now, hearing Shaan's words, Vivek felt the joy he could never explain.

I didn't save that little girl! Then why am I feeling this happy? Maybe because she did not suffocate in our hospital bed which she hated the most. Noah lived in her flight and she took her last of her breaths happily!

Vivek came out of his thoughts when Shaan called out his name and said

"And what was the matter you said you wanted to discuss about Noah?"

"Ohhhh... Wait a moment!" Said Vivek suddenly remembering the promise that he had made with Noah. He opened the drawer of the table behind which he was seated. He took out a pink envelope and he smiled as he handed it over to Anya.

"It's a letter from Noah! She had said to give it to you on her birthday, but... hmmm... Anyways I had made a promise that I wouldn't open it and she had said this letter is specifically for both of you... So... do read it and..." He pressed his chair back and got up from his seat. His round belly now in the observation of the couple.

"Take your time and read it. I hope there aren't any secrets your little one has disclosed in it." Saying this Vivek left the room.

Anya couldn't exactly name the emotions that she was going through. She was overwhelmed when she heard that her daughter had written a letter addressing herself and Shaan and sad that her daughter was no more with them. She couldn't quite tell whether the tears she was shedding was due to joy or dismay.

When Anya opened the envelope and unfolded the crisp white paper, she looked at Shaan who was as dumbstruck as her. She frowned

"Did Vivek had a peek into the letter?"

That was impossible as the letter seemed untouched and unfolded and Anya was the one who had taken off the adhesive of the envelope. The heading of the letter was written with a calligraphic style that Noah had strived to learn for two years. but at last, she was perfect at it and had portrayed her talent by writing the letter. The heading read

My secret wish!