Ram's POV
"No...No..." I frantically shake her," Open your eyes."
This can't be happening. She can't leave me.
"Please, open your eyes..." I pull her closer in my arms.
Blood is dripping down from her head, her eyes are closed and she is not...breathing.
"Baby, please... please come back to me," I choke, feeling a lump in my throat.
Her face starts to get blurry and I blink rapidly to clear my vision.
"PRIYA WAKE UP!" I cry in agony.
Seeing her limp body in my arms, I feel like somebody has ripped my heart. My throat is constricting and it is almost becoming impossible for me to breath.
My hands and clothes are covered in her blood. People are yelling at me something, but I am not able to respond to any of them. My focus is on the motionless girl in my arms.
"I love you, baby!" I gently caress her face with one hand," I love you so much. Don't leave me," I choke on my words as tears fall from my eyes.
These words come out of my mouth like it is the most natural thing to say. At that moment clarity hits me and I know it with all my heart, I can give up anything for this girl...nothing in the world matters to me other than her. Without the shadow of a doubt, I love her.
"Ram," Neha pulls my arm firmly," Let them help her... " Her voice shaky.
I let her pull me away from her, soon paramedics surround her. Neha stands beside me completely shaken, her face pale as a ghost and she is still holding my arm.
Never once my eyes leave Priya's face, this is the face which I want to see all my life.
Please don't leave me... punish me however you want, but just come back to me.
"I have got her pulse," the doctor, who was trying to revive her heart, yells.
As soon as these words register my mind, I fall on my knees as my whole body shakes with sobs. Tears fall freely from my eyes. I have never cried in front of anyone, but now I don't care who is watching me, where I am.
I cried because I hurt her... I cried because I wasn't able to give her the love which she deserved... I cried because I wasn't able to keep her safe... I cried because I was afraid that I had lost her... I cried because I couldn't bear the thought of life without her... I cried because I realize how much she meant to me and how much I love her...
I look up to see, Sudhirji silently watching everything his face calm and composed, like he is holding back himself. But his eyes are swirling with emotions, vulnerability clearly visible in them. He closes his eyes momentarily and sighs in relief as he looks towards the sky.
Soon paramedics start to move her into the ambulance. I fervently rub my face and get on my feet, and follow them. Not wanting to leave her side, even for a moment. As I am about to get into the ambulance, one of the guys stops me.
"Let him go with her," Officer Ved says from behind me," He is her husband," he claps my back and gives me a small nod.
"Param?" I ask clenching my jaws tightly, as sudden anger bursts inside.
He is the one responsible for her this condition.
Ved's face hardens hearing his name.
"He is taken care of," he informs in a hard tone.
"Please get inside, we have to move her quickly to the hospital," the doctor says. Without wasting a time, I get inside and hold her hand in mine, as we make our way to the hospital.
Her hand seems so small as compared to mine, but it fits so perfectly. I lightly stroke my thumb against the back of her hand. There is always something special about holding her hand, even when I held her hands for the first time it startled me, as I couldn't ignore the warmth it carried. Even now when her hand is cold, but still holding it, my heart fills with warmth.
I never plan to leave her hand ever again.
My eyes shift to her wrist and instantly my body goes tense seeing the condition of her wrist. The skin around them is peeled and it is bleeding, my heart clenches just by thinking about the pain she must have gone through. Tears filled my eyes again, as I look at her face, oxygen mask is placed on her mouth, which is covering the half of her face. Her skin looks pale, due to the blood loss.
There is one thing which is shaking me from inside and I don't even want to think about it. What if he did something with her...touched her?
Will that changes anything?
No, because no matter what my love for her won't change. I will always stand by her side. Whatever comes we will face it together, she is not going to be alone ever again.
I am snapped back from my thoughts when I feel somebody taking her hand from mine. Instinctively, my grip tightens and I glare at the person.
"I have to clean her wound and put a bandage on it," the doctor gently informs me, not even looking slightest offended by my behavior.
"I am so sorry," I apologize to her, as I let her do her work.
"It is ok," she gives me sympathetic smile and cleans her wrist," I understand."
"These are severe rope burns," she says, when she notices my gaze fixed of her wrist," she must have struggled to free herself against the tight hold."
Guilt and pain flood my heart, I was not able to protect her.
"She will be fine?" I quietly ask her. As I watch Priya, her chest lightly rising and falling.
"We can hope," she looks at me giving me a sympathetic look, "From initial examination, it is obvious she has broken ribs and head injury, but we don't know about the internal injuries. So, it is too early to say anything," she informs me.
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Mom, Dad, Shipraji, Vikram everyone already present at the hospital when we reached there. As soon as Shipraji sees Priya she starts crying. Priya is quickly moved for the tests and examination. Leaving all of us outside, waiting for the doctor to inform about her condition.
"You, okay?" Vikram comes and sits next to me.
I nod and look around the waiting area. Shipraji is silently crying on sudhirji shoulder, who is wearing a blank expression. Dad and Mom sitting in the corner with a worried look on their faces.
I don't know how I am feeling, there is still restlessness existing inside me. I couldn't shake off the image of her lifeless body in my arms. Everything happened in the blink of an eye, the crash sound, Neha's scream, Priya falling from the third floor on the car... then on to the floor.
She just died in front of me, if they were not fast enough to revive her heart I would have lost her forever.
Clenching my eyes shut I put my face in my hands as I try to erase the horrible scenes from my mind, that will certainly give me nightmares.
"I had almost lost her," I put my hands forward, as I watch my hands imagining her still body in them," She was lying dead in my arms," my eyes immediately fill with tears.
"I love her and can't live without her," my voice cracks, as I confess, "I need her to be okay. I can't lose her."
"She will be fine," Vikram says as he squeezes my shoulder reassuringly," Be ready to get your ass kicked because that girl will give you hell," he gives a tear-filled smile and tries to joke to lighten the mood.
The doctor enters the waiting area and soon we are all on our feet, waiting for him to give an update about Priya's condition.
"She is going through emergency surgery, right now," he notifies us.
"Emergency surgery?" I ask as panic rises in me," Why?"
I am so worried, I don't know what I will do if something happens to her.
"There is some internal bleeding. And as her chest took almost all the impact of her fall, four of her ribs are also broken, one of which has caused minor damage to her right lung. Due to her head injury, there are chances of brain swelling too," he briefs," We will keep on updating about her condition," he purses his lips and nods.
"Doctor, was she sexually abused?" sudhirji asks in an impassive tone, his face not giving away anything, but his eyes betraying his composed look.
"No, there is no sign of sexual abuse," he informs us," Most of her injuries are due to the fall," he reassures us and then left.
I release the breath, which I was holding since the time sudhirji has asked this question, after hearing this. I don't know what I would have done if he had taken advantage of her.
sudhirji composure finally cracks as he clenches his jaws trying to stop himself from crying as if his worst fear has turned out to be false.
"She will be fine," shipraji cries and hugs him.
"Yeah, she will be fine," he pulls back and wipes his eyes, "Our girl is a survivor. She will get through this."
The surgery is still going on and there is no update on her condition. It's been three hours since the surgery has started and as the time is passing the tension is increasing. I feel like I am a ticking time bomb and will explode any moment if I didn't get hold of any news about her.
Each moment is agonizing and torturous, and everybody is on edge. The sound of operation theater door opening causes us to snap our eyes towards the door in anticipation. Soon we rush towards the door as doctors appeared from the inside.
"Priya Sharma?" they look at us expectantly.
"I am her father," Sudhirji comes forward, his eyes filled with dread and worry.
"I am Dr. Bhatt and I am handling your daughter's case, and this is my fellow doctor," Dr.Bhatt nods at the doctor beside him," Dr.vyas."
"During the surgery, she crashed twice on the operation table, as her body went into shock. After the blood transfusion, we managed to stop the internal bleeding and treated other minor injuries too. Medication has been started to subdue her brain swelling, which thankfully showing results. However, as her vitals are not very strong," he looks at us, making sure we are understanding what he is saying, sighs," we are sorry to inform that even after everything we did, she slipped into the coma."
"Coma?" Sudhirji frowns and whispers in disbelief.
"There is more, due to the injury to her right lung, her breathing is also very weak and she is hardly able to breathe on her own. She is on the ventilator right now. Chances are not very bright, but we are trying our best," he grimly says," she will be moved into ICU as we have to keep her under observation for 48 hours. If everything goes well, then she will be shifted into the room," he sympathetically looks at us," But right now you can't meet her as she is in the recovery room."
"You said chances are not very bright, what do you mean by that? " Shipraji asks, her tone surprisingly calm," Chances of her waking up from the coma or not waking up at all?"
My heart stops at her question.
"Currently we are not in a position to tell you that, but we suggest not to keep your hopes very high," he sighs and answers. After giving us a sympathetic look they leave allowing us to deal with this news.
My heart squeezing painfully at the thought of losing her. I clench my eyes shut, as tears fill in my eyes. I hate that she has to go through all this pain. I will give anything at this moment to switch place with her. I bit my lip to stop myself from crying.
Someone gently places a hand on my shoulder, I open my eyes to see Shipraji looking at me. She looks like she has aged ten years in a few hours.
"Thank you for helping us to find our daughter," she looks down for a moment, then back at me," You can leave now, as there is no need for you to stay here anymore. Her family is here with her."
"I am staying right here," I shake my head," I can't leave her."
"Why can't you leave her now? When you were never there for her in the first place?" she questions.
Each word feels like a slap on my face. I gulp and look down not able to meet her eyes.
"She is important to me. I will not leave her," I look into her eyes, letting her know that I mean every word which I say," Not again, because I love her. I will not disappoint her again. I will make everything right."
"Don't you think it is too late now?" she purses her lips as tears fall from her eyes," My daughter is barely alive and now you say that you love her? It is too late, Ram, too late. She has given up, all this is too much for her."
"You wanted her out of your life, now she is," she takes a deep breath," Maybe she will be out of everyone's life," she chokes. My mouth completely goes dry by hearing this.
"I don't blame you for anything. Because it was our fault that we got her married to you," she wipes her tears, only for more tears stream down her cheeks," However, she paid for our mistake by being a part of loveless marriage. You should have hated us not her, she never deserved your hate."
She is right. Priya never deserved my cold behavior, but at that time I was too blind to see that.
"What do you think we were not aware of your lifestyle after the marriage? About your dating habits?" she accusingly questions me," We kept silence because we were too coward to accept that we have ruined our daughter's life with our own hands when we only wanted the best for her. And that silly girl used to think we believe that whatever you are doing is just for an act and pretended like there is nothing wrong."
"I am sorry," I quietly apologize as everything, she said, fills my heart with guilt and regret even more.
"Sudhir loves her the most, he trusted you with her," her lip quivers," What does she ever did to you that you hurt her? Why did you hurt her?" she grabs my collar and shakes me.
Not able to answer her, I just wrap my arms around her and as for the hundredth time today I break down into tears.
"She doesn't deserve any of this," she sobs, "You said you will make everything right? Please make everything right."
"Nothing will happen to her, "I don't know whether I am trying to reassure her or myself.
"I promise, as soon as she will wake up I will make everything right," I wipe her tears," You will not regret giving your daughter's hand to me."
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Nearly after two hours they moved Priya into the ICU and informed us that we can see her. Sudhirji quickly goes towards the room on which ICU is mentioned, we all following him behind. Each of my nerves is desperate to see her, as soon as they informed we can meet her. However, I am controlling myself as he and Shipraji deserve more than anyone in this room to see her first.
I just want to see her with my own eyes to make sure she is fine. I don't give a damn what doctors say because with all my heart I believe she will be fine. She has to be fine, she can't leave us.
Sudhirji comes out after five minutes. His face red and eyes brimming with tears. Dad goes and sits next to him on the benches outside the ICU.
"I can't see her like this," he shakes his head, his voice hoarse," I failed as a father."
"I have promised myself when she was born that I will protect her all her life," he puts his head in his hands, "I couldn't protect her... I have failed, ambarnath," he sighs.
"You are a good father who loves his daughter very much," Dad tries to console him," And I know Priya also loves you dearly and she will not like to see you blaming yourself."
When Shipraji comes outside she silently goes and sits with Sudhirji holding his hand. They both trying to draw strength from each other. I honestly can't comprehend the amount of pain they must be going through as they have loved her all her life and to see her in this state must be killing them. My own condition is not very far from them.
I stand in front of the door, as I try to muster up the courage to go inside the room. Finally, taking a deep breath I step inside the room and closes the door behind me.
When I turn to see her, my heart nearly stops as a fresh set of tears spring in my eyes. She looks so fragile and the bed looks like it is almost swallowing her. She looks so lifeless and defeated that it hurts my heart in a way that I never experienced before. Her skin so pale like almost all her blood has been drained from her body. I quietly reach up to her bed and take a chair beside it.
"Hey," I whisper while gently holding her hand. Instantly, I feel like everything is going to be fine and we are going to get through this.
"I am sorry," I lean forward, placing my elbows on the side of the bed," I am so sorry," I kiss her knuckles as I held her hand with both my hands.
"I know you hate me and you have every right to hate me," I bring her hand near my lips to place another kiss, "But please don't leave me. Prove everyone wrong and wake up."
"I have told you I don't give up on what is mine," I lightly caress her cheek with the back of my hand," You are mine and I will not give up on you or us. I love you and I am stupid not to realize it sooner, but now when I have realized, I will do everything to win you and your trust back."
"I will not let you give up," I swallow my emotions and shake my head," You are stronger and you have to fight for yourself, just like I am fighting for you. I believe in you."
"I have broken your trust, but please don't break mine," I bite my lip as my heart tearing up," Do not die! Are you listening to me? Do not die!" I croak out as tears slipped from my eyes.
"You have to live for yourself...for your parents...for your family," I close my eyes and take a deep breath trying to reign my emotions, "For me."
"Priya Kapoor, you will come back to me and this time I will not let you go away from me," I carefully remove a few strands of hair away from her face, not touching her bandage on the side of her forehead, "It nearly killed me to let you go once and I am not repeating that mistake again."
"If you want you can even beat me with the baseball bat which Neha has," I give her a small smile," but this time I am not going to let you go Mrs kapoor."
.............................................................................................................................
I groan and sit up, not realizing when I slept. I stretch my neck from side to side to release some of the stiffness.
"Chairs are not a very comfortable place to sleep," A hear someone says to me.
I blink my eyes to get rid of sleep, as I find a nurse standing beside the bed writing something on the clipboard.
"How is she?" I look down and couldn't stop myself from smiling when I notice I am still holding her hand.
"So far so good," she checks the monitors and notes down something on the clipboard.
"I assume you are her boyfriend?" she asks without looking at me, as she checks the medicines," Because her father was fuming in anger when he found out you are sleeping in here especially holding her hand," she laughs lightly.
"I am her husband, actually," I reply, as her eyebrows shoot up in a surprise hearing this," Things were not good between us and it was all my fault. So, their anger is justified," I sigh.
"But you have realized your mistake now, that is a good thing," she gives me a small encouraging smile," Today probably she will be shifted to the room. Chairs are little more comfortable there," she winks, then leaves.
"Good morning," I turn to Priya," Wake up soon, before your dad kills me," I stand up and place a light kiss on her forehead.
Any normal day, if I had done something like this I am sure, her eyes might have been slightly widened in surprise as a light blush would have been dusted across her cheeks. And if she had been suffering from a bad mood, then it could have been a completely different story. I would have to run to get some cover, as she might have definitely wanted to kill me with the nearest thing her hand could reach.
"It is surprising that there was never a dull day in my life since you agreed to live with me," I nod my head and give her a pointed look as if she can see me.
"I was a moron who took you for granted when I should have been grateful to you for being a part of my life and dealing with all of my shit," I take a deep breath and slowly exhale, trying to lift off some of the weight from my chest.
"I feel like because of me you are here," I bit my lip and look around the room, then fix my eyes on the machines on the right side of the bed," If I hadn't fucked up, then you wouldn't want to leave and none of this would have happened," I sigh.
"I can never forgive myself for being the reason for your pain," I swallow," From the day we were married I have been constantly hurting you, by my words or my behavior, but then also you tolerated everything without saying a word. If I can I would turn back in time and correct all my mistakes and give you all the love which you deserve," I gently caress her cheek.
"I love you," I say quietly to her," I wish I had said this sooner..." my heart drowning from regret.
"Don't take her away from me... if I lose her this time I don't think I can bear the pain," I close my eyes and pray to whoever is listening.
******************************************************************
"Ram," Shipraji calls me, I hang up the call and turn to her, "Are you staying here at the hospital? I will get it if you have work and you have to leave..." she trails off.
"I am not going anywhere. I am staying here with her," I reply to her as put my phone in my pocket, giving her full attention," Is everything alright? Do you need anything?" I ask as I notice her worried expression. Her worry is not because of Priya, as I have been with her all the time as they shifted her from the ICU to the room, and I have just stepped out of the room to answer the call.
"Aisha went in labor and I don't know what to do," she sighs looking torn between her two daughters," We want to be there for Aisha as she needs us, but so do Priya," she shakes her head.
"Don't worry, you go to Aisha," I reassure her," I am here with Priya. I will keep you updated."
Neha comes outside from the room and joins us.
"Thank you," she looks a bit relieved," I just checked on with her doctor. He said her brain swelling is going down, but other than that there is no improvement in her condition," pained expression crosses Shipraji's face.
"Doctor can go and suck horse's di-" Neha scowls but she is unable to finish her sentence as Shipraji cuts her off.
"Neha!" Shipraji scolds her looking horrified," Watch your language! If I heard any such language again, I will make you wash your mouth ten times with soap," she gives her a typical mom glare.
I try to hold back a laugh as I see Neha's scared expression.
"But-" Neha starts to protest.
"Twenty times!" Shipraji says still staring at her.
"Sorry, Aunty," Neha mumbles and scurries away from her.
"These girls are worst than boys," she says to herself as she rubs her temples," these three will drive me insane someday."
"You know I always wanted boys," she shakes her head and sighs," So sudhir had to deal with their obnoxious behavior. But here I got girls who can beat boys in their rowdy nature."
"Priya is the worst of them, as she is unpredictable," she tries to sound annoyed, but the small smile forming on her face gives her away, "She is not only smart-mouthed but she will also not hesitate to knock someone out if she is really mad."
"I am super aware of her temper. She is scary when she is furious," I smile, remembering how Juhi looked like she will piss any moment if Priya took any step further.
"I miss my snarky daughter," she chuckles and dabs the side of her eye with her thumb, "I should go and check on her before we head home," she gives me a tight-lipped smile and goes inside Priya's room.
"I miss my feisty wife," I whisper to myself, as pain washes over me as I don't know how long I have to wait to hear her voice again.
******************************************************************
When I enter the room, I hoped that she would look at me with her beautiful brown eyes. However, just like I have left her she is in her sleeping state.
I walk towards her and sit on the side of the bed, making sure not to pull any wire or tubes attached to her body.
"Did you enjoy getting your nails done?" I ask her, as my lips lift up in an amused smile when I notice her fingernails painted in a Red color.
Without any doubt, it is Neha's work. No wonder nurse was so annoyed with her.
"You know it is my favorite color," I gently lace my fingers with her as I study her nails, "But don't tell anyone, especially that friend of yours. Otherwise, she will destroy every RED color item you have," I chuckle.
"Your mom and dad are with your sister," I rub my thumb against the back of her hand as I shift my hold," she is going to have a baby."
"Soon you are going to be an aunt to a beautiful baby," I remember how much she was excited for Aisha's baby," I know you already love your this new niece or nephew, like you love your other two nephews."
She is one of those crazy aunts, who love their nephews and nieces to death and spoil them with everything they have.
"Open your eyes, baby," I plead her," Not for me or anyone, but for your nephews whom you adore with your heart and soul," I clench my jaws trying to control my feelings.
"Everyone loves you and misses you. They believe in you, just like I believe in you, that you will wake up...," I momentarily close my eyes and sigh," Don't let anyone down and get well soon. We all need you."
"I miss you... I miss you like crazy," I bite inside of my cheeks," I don't know when you have become the most important person in my life, but now I cannot imagine my life without you," my voice lightly wavers.
"I miss hearing your voice... I miss hearing your laugh...I miss seeing your smile..." I shake my head, as moisture forms in my eyes, "I just miss so damn much. Please wake up and let me tell you how much I love you," my voice chokes as I swallow hard.
