An Imperfect Story ||✔️||

7

Shivaay: W…what?! Ai…aise nahi ho sakta. Aap… aap phirse check kijiye. Aisa nahi ho sakta, it’s can’t be!

Nurse: Mr Oberoi, please apne aap ko sambhaaliye. I know yeh maanna aasaan nahi hain likin yahi sach hain. Accident ki wajah se Mrs Oberoi ki body ko kaafi bada shock laga hain. Hum badi mushkil se unhe stabilise kar paayein hain likin poori koshish ke baawajood bhi hum unke bacche ko nahi bacha paaye. I’m really sorry for your loss.

Saying so, the nurse went way, leaving the shocked Oberois behind. Rudra and Priyanka were hugging each other, crying silently. Om, too, had tears rolling down his cheeks.

Shivaay was still, silent. He didn’t even know if he could breathe or not. His mouth moved but no words came out of them. Om kept his hand on Shivaay’s shoulder and made him face him.

Shivaay: *with teary eyes* O…Om… woh nurse kya… kya keh ke gayi? She said Anika… hum… humara…bab…baby…

Om: Shivaay, please sambhaal apne aapko.

Shivaay: Om… mera baccha…

Om: *putting more emphasis on his words* Bhabhi ko teri zaroorat hain.

Om hugged Shivaay tightly, who was shaking in his embrace. After a while, Shivaay pulled away from Om and patted his face.

Shivaay: *to himself* Anika… Anika ko meri zaroorat hain.

He sees the nurse from before and goes to her.

Shivaay: Sister, meri wife i..is waqt kahaan hain? Kya main mil sakta hoon?

Nurse: Woh ward no. 4 mein hain. Abhi anaesthesia ki wajah se behosh hain likin kuch der mein hosh aa jaayega.

Shivaay thanks her goes to Anika’s ward, leaving OmRu and Priyanka. Om hugs his younger siblings and make them sit on the bench.

Shivaay entered Anika’s ward and sat beside her bed. Anika had a bandage wrapped around her head and one around her feet, an I.V. tube and other cables connected to her arm. Shivaay held her hand in between his, trying not let his tears fall.
After a while, Anika woke up. Shivaay saw this and cupped her face.

Shivaay: Anika…

Anika: Shivaay! Aap theek hain na? Aapko chot toh nahi lagi?

Shivaay: Anika main…main bilkul theek ho.

Anika: *looking around* Main kahaan… Shivaay, main yahaan kaise aayi?

Shivaay: Anika tum…tumhare hospital ke baahar ac…accident hua tha.

Anika: Accident…

Anika recollects everything from outside the hospital. Her expression morphs into one of shock. She wraps her arms around her stomach.

Anika: *scared* Shivaay, mera baccha…theek hain na? Boliye, humara baccha theek hain na?

Shivaay keeps his hand on top of Anika's and removes them from her stomach. He holds both of her hands in his while looking into her fear-filled eyes.

Shivaay: *shaky voice* An…Anika, hum…humara baby… doctors use... nahi b...bacha paye Anika.

Anika’s eye’s widened looking at Shivaay, his chin was tucked in his chest and his shoulders were shaking. Anika felt her throat constricting. She couldn’t breathe. And even if she could, it was so painful. But seeing Shivaay’s condition was even more painful.

Anika: *heavy voice* Shivaay… Shivaay meri taraf dekhiye. Please Shivaay.

Shivaay: *looking down* I’m sorry Anika. Main tumhe protect nahi kar paya. It’s all my fault. I’m really sorry Anika

Anika: Nahi Shivaay. Aapki koi galti nahi hain. Aapne mujhe protect karne ki poori koshish ki thi. Shivaay, aapki galti nahi, please meri tarf dekhiye.

Shivaay looks towards her. Anika sniffles and looks towards him.

Anika: Khushiyaan na… zimmedaariyon ke saath aati hain. Kabhi-kabhi hum un zimmedaariyon ko sambhaalne ke liye tayaar nahi hote. Aur aap bilkul chinta mat kijiye. Dikheye, aap theek hain, main bhi theek hoon. Sab…sab theek ho jaayega Shivaay.

Shivaay: *nods* Sab theek ho jaayega.  *cups her face* Main sab theek kar doonga.

Anika nods and sighs before looking up at Shivaay.

Anika: Shivaay, aap…aapko ghar jaa ke aana chahiye. Aap kabse inhi kapdon mein hain aur aapna na khaana khaya hoga na dawaai.

Shivaay: Anika main tumhe chhod ke kaise jaa sakta hoon?

Anika: Shivaay aap mujhe chhod ke thodi jaa rahe hain. Aap bas ghar ja rahe hain, khaana khaane, dawaai khaane. Taaki aap theek rahe aur mujhe bhi jaldi theek hone help kar sake. Theek hain. Aur chinta mat kijiye, mere saath nurse hain, doctors hain. Aap bas apna dhyaan rakhiyega.
Shivaay cupped Anika’s face.

Shivaay: Take care, okay?

Anika nodded. Shivaay took small steps towards the door and went out, closing it behind him.

As soon as the door shut, Anika’s calm façade broke. She wrapped her hands tightly around her stomach, which was once home to her unborn baby. Her baby that left the world before it even arrived. Anika cried. Cried out loud. She wailed over the loss of her child and sobbed to herself.

Anika: *sobbing* I’m sorry. Mera baccha, I’m so sorry, main aapko protect nahi kar paayi. I’m sorry Shivaay. Humare bacche ko protect nahi kar paayi main. I’m sorry.

Unbeknownst to her, Shivaay was still outside her room, tears rolling down. He fell to floor and sobbed, burying his face in his hands. The two never showed how broken they were to anyone. Only the hospital walls knew extent of damage inflicted upon their souls.