Adhura Alviida 2

wish upon a star

"Dekhiye Mr. Hooda, as you know we said Aadhya's treatment is past chemotherapy, we need to move quicker with her. The only option left is a bone marrow transplant."

Aditya and Zoya looked at each other as if they could communicate through their minds. As they remained seated in the doctor's office opposite his desk, Aditya reached over and placed his hand over Zoya's, using his thumb to rub it gently, reassuring her that it would be okay. He had no time to break down and think about himself now. Right now his only focus was safeguarding his family.

"And how does that work, Doctor?" Aditya asked in confusion.

"Well, there needs to be a donor match and then through surgery the bone marrow will be transplanted into Aadhya, helping her to build immunity and ultimately breaking down the cancer. But the issue is there needs to be a donor match. The best donor match is usually a sibling and since Aadhya doesn't have any, you two are next in line. But there's only a forty percent chance that a child will match with one of his parents and it's usually a better chance with the mother." The doctor said looking directly at Zoya.

She quickly straightened herself on the seat as she jolted up and looked at the doctor. "So when can we begin testing? I'm ready right away." She said quickly, unwilling to waste a moment of time in treating her little one.

"Immediately. I know you're more likely to be the match, but I'd highly suggest you both get your blood tested so that we can determine if either of your bone marrows match hers." The doctor said as he guided them both to another room for testing.

______

"Am-ammi" Aadhya groaned softly as the light of the hospital's room hit her eyes as she slowly opened them. She saw her mother sitting next to her and felt her hand brushing over her forehead softly as there was a pounding pain in her head. As her vision became clearer, she saw her mother's eyes filled tears and she saw her father standing above her mother, also looking at her. She felt extremely overwhelmed. Her father and her never really interacted much. But she felt his and her mother's gaze looking down on her intensely.

"How are you feeling, baby?" Zoya said running a hand through her hair gently.

"Ammi. My head hurts." She said, placing a hand on her bandaged forehead slowly, her body felt overwhelmed and weak.

"Aadhya..." her eyes shot up as her father said her name so calmly, in the most harmless tone she'd ever heard.

She gulped as she looked as him, as he held her hand and looked at her with such tender eyes. She hadn't seen that expression on his face ever. Let alone any expression, but even in her disheveled state, she still noticed his tenderness. 

The nurse came in, disturbing the family moment as she proceeded to change Aadhya's bandages. Zoya and Aditya moved back, noticing the need for her care. But also they both felt equally miserable. It was heart wrenching to see Aadhya in such a condition. The way the needles and the IV was attached to her body made them shiver in discomfort. After the bandaging was done, they both stepped outside, noticing that Aadhya had drifted off the sleep again because of her weakness. Zoya sat down as she rested her head in her palms as her hair fell around her hands, blocking her expression.

"Zoya." Aditya placed a hand on her shoulders half-heartedly.

He was still extremely unsure of where their relationship stood, but he couldn't bear seeing Zoya in such agonizing pain. Aadhya's condition left him and her in tatters. He didn't know what to say or do. But most of all, he realized how selfish he had been. Aditya had been so consumed in his own personal matters and making sure that his illness never became an issue for Aadhya in the last four years that he distanced himself completely from her. He suffered tremendously from the guilt of allowing Zoya to be in a comatose state for eight years and not fulfilling his duties as a father for the first four years of Aadhya's birth. Heck! It wasn't like he did much for her when he brought her to Mumbai either. They remained so distant. He loved her, but he failed to express it in a normal way. Aditya always saw himself as a hands-on father. But when his schizophrenia came to light, he felt no other option was apt except for recusing himself from her in order to not hurt her too. Only he knows how he suffered those delusional moments when Pooja would taunt him in his mind, asking him to hurt Aadhya or telling him that he wasn't good enough, sometimes it wouldn't be a visual of her, just simply a voice in his ear reminding him of his daily hell every day. He couldn't risk dragging his little child down that path with him. He would bear anything, but not something hurting his Aadhya.