Cupcakes and Heartbreaks

Chapter 6

When Lakeisha reached the hospital it was almost 11 am. Brijesh came with her and spoke to the other girls also for some time. She loved the way he behaved with her friends and also made them feel so comfortable with him. He left after some time as he had some work to take care of and left Lakeisha with the girls. As Lakeisha waved goodbye to him he said “Call me when you are leaving dear, let us go back home together”

She went back inside to the girls who were talking to Avantika. Avantika had regained her consciousness and was speaking to the girls. The doctor had informed them that Avantika was out of danger now. They were advised to take good care of her as she was quite depressed and people who attempt suicide once were bound to attempt it again in most of the cases. Shresta was suggesting that all the girls should go on a vacation together. Avantika appeared to be cheerful and the atmosphere was light. Dheya’s phone rang.

“Hello Parul….. Hmmm… can’t it wait…okay….I will speak to him… we will look into it yes….okay Parul…. I will be on my way… half an hour I guess… bye” she put her phone in her bag and her lips were curved downwards as she looked from Lakeisha to Avantika.

“Go it’s alright” said Avantika.

“I am so sorry baby. There is a sudden crisis in the office and there is no one available to fix it” she threw her hands up and rolled her eyes.

“Dheya, it is alright. I will be fine. I have these girls to take care of me. Please don’t worry so much. Now go” Avantika smiled.

Lakeisha hoped Avantika meant it when she said that she will be fine. The girl had been fine during her marriage. Lakeisha got very little time to spend with her friends after her wedding as most of the weekends were consumed by visits to the relatives’ houses who wanted to host a lunch/dinner for the newly married couple. The newly married couple hardly got anytime to relax and unwind after the busy week at work. Since both of them were working in the software field, they got very little time to spend with each other, let alone spare time for socializing or being involved in the lives of their friends.

Dheya went up to Avantika’s bed and hugged her. She squeezed Avantika’s hand and said “Take care darling. I will see you soon”

While walking outside the room Dheya held Lakeisha’s hand and pulled her out of the room too.

“Lakeisha I know I can’t ask you to stay back longer but will you please try to spend time in the hospital with Avantika at least till 6 in the evening today. This is a delicate time and I blame myself so much for not having spent more time with her. She kept telling me about all the problems in her relationship. I should have seen this coming. It’s my fault” Dheya’s eyes glistenedlightly it filled up with tears formed in them.

“Dheya please don’t blame yourself for what happened. It is not your fault at all. Look nobody could have even thought that a strong girl like Avantika would ever attempt something like this. As for not spending enough time with her, we are all to be blamed equally”

“Well she used to call me and confide things in me. I felt a few red flags about the way her relationship was progressing and as a good friend I should have given her better advice. I have failed as a friend and I am not even able to give her enough time when she wants me to be with her” Dheya started sobbing.

“Hey hey ….common now don’t cry” Lakeisha hugged her and waited for her sobs to subside.

Kannika came outside the room and found them both hugging and crying.

“Girls please. This is not the time for us to cry. We have to be strong for Avantika and let us all try to be as cheerful as possible ok”

Dheya smiled and wiped her tears with a tissue Lakeisha nodded. Dheya hugged Kannika and waved both of them goodbye and headed outside the hospital.