She sat with him for hours, stroking his hair. She didn't want to waste a single minute of this.
Jai arrived a couple of hours later, puffed out. He had been running.
"I parked so far away, couldn't find parking here – So I ran" he said bent over puffing. He then noticed Raj and straightened up, walking to the bed opposite Anna. He sat down on that side and remained silent.
"Guys, It'll be okay" Raj said barely audible. "You know, this is what I want"
"What?' Jai asked curiously
"I'm dying, I know I am – But I'm dying not because I'm sick, but because I took a knife for Anna, I couldn't be happier than this."
They both looked at him shocked. "You're dying because of me Raj" Anna said silently.
"No darling, I was dying anyway – now I get to die for a cause" He said smiling weakly.
Anna cried into his blankets, shaking through her tears.
"Raj, I want you to do something – I know you would do it any other time – and I know she would want you to"
"What?" Anna's heart sank, Raj sounded so weak.
Jai pulled out a small pot of something. He opened it to reveal Sindoor as red as the blood Anna had seen on Raj – her heart skipped a beat, some of it blew out in the wind from the air conditioner. He quickly closed it and looked at the both of them.
"You know what I'm asking now"
"Jai I can't"
"Anna, do you want him to?"
"Yes" She sobbed and started crying into her hands. She wanted it more than anything.
"Raj I know you're too noble to marry me and leave me – but make me happy one more time"
"Do it Raj"
"But Jai...." Raj started coughing; he coughed until he was out of breath. "You..."
"I'll look after her Raj – I know how much you love her too" Jai said silently. He then opened the pot and held it out to Raj. He took some of the red powder between two fingers and looked at it, rubbing it in-between his fingers.
"I can't, I love her, how can I do that and leave"
"Raj, remember My last two IOU's?" Anna said remembering the pieces of paper from a life time ago. "I'm using both of them now" She smiled painfully. "This wish is definitely worth two – please Raj, do it"
Raj laughed and starting coughing in pain. Those stupid papers, from a happier lifetime, he had give her his word and couldn't go back on it.
"Anna, I love you" He said a tear falling down his cheek. She couldn't bear looking at him, she couldn't even stop crying. But she went closer to him ready for him to take her. He slowly lifted himself up and smeared the sindoor between the parting of her hair, he kissed her forehead and lay back. "Now you have no more IOU's" He said smiling.
"I don't need anymore" Anna sobbed.
Jai smiled to himself, this is what he wanted – for them to be tied together somehow. He knew Anna wanted it as well as Raj – but Raj would never have taken initiative. Who would do that and then leave their wife? Raj's feelings were fair, but Jai knew Raj trusted him to take care of Anna. And he would, with his whole life.
"Jai, thankyou" Raj stuttered. "I'm tired guys" He said coughing.
Anna stroked his hair again. "Go to sleep my darling – we'll be here" She knew it would be the end. "I love you, we love you" She said tears falling down her cheeks, but she felt in control now. She would be strong somehow, for him.
She held his hand until he drifted off, and one straight heart breaking line appeared on his monitor. She lost all strength and collapsed into a crying fit. She could barely breathe, but felt strong hands holding her from behind – moving her outside the room as staff rushed in.
They were outside the room and Anna could barely breathe through her tears. Jai sat with her holding her. The doctor came out of Raj's room.
"Time of death, 5.55pm" He said and left.
"Jai, what about Aunty?" Anna said through a new stream of tears.
"I told her before I came, she will be on her way too, probably almost here" He said and sighed. He hugged Anna close and let her cry. He wanted to cry – but didn't want to scare Anna. The vermillion on her hair was rubbing off on his chest, as red and raw as her pain.
YOU ARE READING
Dancing with destiny
Romansa"No Anna will be my wife" Jai argued. They were playing a game they often played - houses and families. "How? I am the oldest and I get Anna" Raj pulled at her arm. Jai joined in and pulled from the other end. It was like tug-a-war and she was trapp...
