Love is a spontaneous emotion

Chapter7 She Was Hurt

I was falling into the abysmal depth of never ending despair, recalling the worst nightmare of my life , when the nurse came in and said, "Dr Raghunandan? your Dad is awake" bringing my thoughts to a jolting halt.

The nurse asked me to go with her to see my Father and I followed her to my Papa's ward. Dr Lee who was checking on my Papa greeted me and told me that my Papa's reports are all normal and he was doing fine which brought me great relief and then he said," I need to talk to you Dr Raghunandan. Take your time, talk to your Dad and we can talk during lunch time or whatever time that is convenient for you,let me know?"

I said I will call him soon and he left.

IV drips was still left in and so was the urinary catheter. Papa looked peaceful but tired there of no any sign of pain on his face. I walked to him and sat down in a chair next to his bed and held his hand in mine and spoke, "Papa how are you feeling?" all the emotions that I was holding back till now came crashing down and I started weeping like a child. Papa gently sqeezed my hand and spoke in a hoarse voice ,"Raghu, don't cry,see, I am fine now." I looked up into his eyes which were brimming with unshed tears.I still kept sobbing and Papa's tears rolled down his eyes, none of us were able to speak. Both of us grappling to control our emotions but failing miserably.

In our lives we are so deluged carrying the burden of duties responsibilities, our emotional battles,grudges, regrets, grief, etc that we forget what actually matters and what are we here for and what are we actually doing. I was hit hard by what happened to my Papa ,it shook me to the core. I was muddled by these feeling of resentment, Indignation and grievance I had towards my Papa for various justifiable reasons. I had completely overlooked the most crucial fact that I loved my Papa far Deeper and beyond reasons. Nothing mattered anymore. Everything forgiven and forgotten. How one incident put everything back right in its place. When I stood at the Precipice of losing my Father I was prepared to give anything and everything just to have him safe and happy with us. This whole situation has completely changed my perspective of life itself.

Clearing the throat my Papa spoke," Beta, when did you come ?I put you all through a lot of tension I guess? "

I said ,"not your fault, Papa. I came as soon as I could, after I heard everything on the phone while talking to you". I hugged my Papa and expressed what I could'nt through words. He hugged back with equal fervor.

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Maithili was elated that she got a seat in medicine at AIIMS. Yes, she dreamt of it but never expected it to come true. She had made it in the first list. She was so thankful to God for this gift but was her mom happy for her? It was an affront no. She had gone berserk since Maithili and her Dad went for the counseling and paid the fees for the first year which was mere Rs 3000 including her hostle expenses. Her father had decided to let her stay at the hostle as their house was very far from her college and impossible to commute everyday. Shalini could'nt take it anymore, she was now all set to put her scrofulous plans in motion that she had been hatching to ruin it for Maithili. She had to stop her somehow and it had to be quick and the quickest way was to hurt her physically so that she could'nt start her college as soon as it starts which was not far away. Shalini who seemed like the reincarnate of "Elizabeth Bathory" would stoop to any level. She had planned to hurt Maithili in such a way that she would be confined to bed for atleast next 6 months.

Maithili had just finished cooking breakfast and lunch and had cleaned the kitchen as well. Naav had called her the previous night to confirm that she was going with her out for friends get together at their common friend's house. All their classmates had planned to meet once before they parted ways as they were leaving to different cities for their further education.

Maithili after finishing chores got ready and was waiting for Naav who told that she would come to pick her up.

Maithili got a call ,it was from Naav, answering the call she asked if she was there already and Naav said she was. Maithili quickly saying that she she was leaving to her Mom left from the house and walked to the staircase with hurried steps .As she took her first step she slipped on something very slimey and rolled down the stairs with a painful scream. The neighbor rushed out of her house hearing Maithili's scream and Naav who was very close to the staircase also ran to the staircase. Naav had decided to come up to get her friend and so she had asked her driver to park the car and wait for her while she went to fetch Maithili.

Naav bolted towards the stairs at lightening speed but Maithili rolled down the staircase all the way to the last step.

The neighbor who had come out hearing Maithili's scream was stunned at the sight. She was unconscious. Shalini too came out and seeing Maithili in that state spilled crocodile tears. Having her presence of mind intact ,Naav was quick to react , she immediately called her driver to help her and then asked the neighbor to get some water. Shalini watched everything with deceptive tears in her eyes and deep satisfaction in her heart, for she successfully achievched what she wanted to. She thought she won but little did she she know that God had other plans.