An Imperfect Story ||✔️||

11.

On the other hand, Shivaay got a call from their family doctor, who had also treated Anika.

Shivaay: Yes Dr Agarwal?

Dr: Good morning Mr Oberoi. Main aapki wife ki kuch reports aapse discuss karna chahti hoon. Kya aap mere office aa sakte hain?

Shivaay: *looking towards his room* Doctor, Anika isn't keeping well. Kya use saath laana zaroori hain? Kya main akele aa sakta hoon?

Dr: It would've been better agar aap dono saath aate magar I guess aap akele aayenge toh bhi chalega.

Shivaay: Okay, main jaldi aata hoon. I'll be there in an hour.

Shivaay hangs up the call and goes to the hospital. He sat in the waiting area of the hospital till the nurse called for him. He looked at the other pregnant couples in the waiting area. His heart ached thinking that it could've been Anika and him.

Nurse: Mr Shivaay Singh Oberoi?

Shivaay flicked away a single tear that escaped his eye and stood up.

Nurse: Dr Amrita Agarwal, cabin number 4.

Shivaay went to the said cabin, clutching Anika's medical file in his clammy palms. He knocked on the cabin door.

Dr: Come in.

Shivaay: Good morning Dr Agarwal.

Dr: Good morning Mr Oberoi, please have a seat.

Shivaay sat on the chair opposite to the doctor's and placed the file on his table. Dr Agarwal kept her hands on the table, finger interwoven, and sad look on her face.

Shivaay: Doctor, kya baat hain? Anika theek toh hain na?

Dr: Mr Oberoi, Anika ke accident ke baad, humne kuch tests run kiye thi jinke reports aane mein time lag gaya. Aur main aapko yeh news batane se sab kuch double check karna chahti thi.

Shivaay looked on as the doctor drew a breath before breaking the news.

Dr: Is miscarriage ne Anika ko... infertile kar diya hain. Anika dobara maa nahi ban paayegi.

Shivaay felt as if someone had punched him in the lungs. He couldn't believe his ears. His lips wobbled as he tried form a sentence 

Shivaay: Doctor, yeh nahi ho sakta. Anika maa nahi... Nahi, aise Anika ke saath kaise ho sakta hain? 

Dr: Mr Oberoi, main jaanti hoon yeh news accept karna aapke liye aasaan nahi hain. Likin...aapki wife ke liye bhi yeh bahot mushkil hoga.

Shivaay: *holds his head* Oh God! Main Anika ko kai...kaise face karoonga, use kya boloonga?

Dr: *softly* Shivaay, agar tum chaho toh Anika yahaan bula sakta. But I would recommend ki tum use, jitna araam se, jitna use comfortable rakhte hue batao. Yeh bahot badi news hoti hain aur Anika ko medical help se zyaada tumhare saath aur support ki zaroorat padegi. Tum dono ko ek-doosre ka saath dena hoga and you'll be able to get through it. 

Shivaay: *shaking his head* No, I can't do it...

Dr: You can Shivaay, I know you and you can. Khud pe aur Anika pe bharosa rakkho. Tum dono ek-doorse ko smbhaal loge. But for that tumhe pehle khud ko sambhaalna hoga.

Shivaay draws a shaky breath before patting his cheeks to regain his composure. He took Anika's files and went out after habitually saying 'thank you', to which the Dr Agarwal responded with a 'take care'.

As the cabin door closed, Dr Agarwal sunk into her chair. Years knowing Oberoi family. Years knowing Shivaay. Years into the field of medical science but this news never hurt any less, neither for the one delivering it nor for the one bearing it.