Chapter 9: The Truth (Part-1)

Hospital: RAJAT'S Room -

ABHIJEET enters to RAJAT'S room. RAJAT was resting on his half raised bed. He smiled seeing ABHIJEET.

ABHIJEET asked him: how are you now?'

RAJAT: fine.'

ABHIJEET: I am here to take your statement and also to thank you. My sister PURVI told me, how you saved her from those kidnappers.'

RAJAT asked: How is she?'

ABHIJEET: she is fine. She wanted to see you but I said her next time. So, she told me to say thank you.'

RAJAT: tell her I am thankful her too.' Then looking at ABHIJEET he said: I even couldn't properly thank you in the jungle for saving me.'

ABHIJEET said: I should be the one to be grateful to you. I really don't know how to thank you for protecting my sister in the jungle.'

RAJAT looking at ABHIJEET said: It's ok. I know how you feel.'

ABHIJEET looked back at him and said: yeah, no one can know better than you how I feel. You too have a sister.'

RAJAT: Is she ok… my sister?'

ABHIJEET said: she was really terrified the day you got hurt?'

RAJAT: how can she be terrified when she herself can be given another definition for terror?'

ABHIJEET: how could you say something like to your sister?'

RAJAT: you don't know anything. So you won't understand.'

ABHIJEET: I think I know.' RAJAT looked at him as ABHIJEET said: She told me everything.'

RAJAT: she isn't someone like to say you everything.'

ABHIJEET: she really isn't someone like that she pretends to be.'

RAJAT: She is my sister. Do you think I don't know that?'

ABHIJEET: Then be nice to her.'

RAJAT scoffed: you are telling me to be nice to her when I was never mean to her.'

ABHIJEET: She was really worried for you. She cried all night that day.'

RAJAT: how do you know she cried?'

ABHIJEET: I know because I was with her all night.'

RAJAT absentmindly repeated: you were with her all night…' suddenly he flustered: What? What were you doing with my sister all night?'

ABHIJEET realized: No! It's not like that. I mean I was with her at the hospital. She was crying…'

RAJAT reacted like a typical brother: She was crying so…?'

ABHIJEET felt himself a fish out of water at the moment as he tried to explain: I was just trying to pacify her, nothing else.'

Before RAJAT could say anything the two heard door opening sound the only saving grace of ABHIJEET at the time as the two look at the door to see TARIKA entering the room.

ABHIJEET had a sigh of relief for her perfect moment to enter while RAJAT kept looking at her as she stood far from them. She stood there strong but failed to stop her tears as soon as her eyes met RAJAT's.

Seeing tears in her eyes RAJAT asked her: Is it because I got hurt or I got hurt because of you?'

Tears went down her cheeks helplessly as she managed to whisper loud enough: I am sorry.'

RAJAT: if it's because you couldn't able to save me from getting hurt or I got hurt instead of you, then you need not to be sorry or guilty.'

Seeing the file in her hand RAJAT asked: you can take my statement. I am ready.'

TARIKA shut her eyes tight letting the last tear fell down her eyes, tightening her fist. She opened her eyes looking at RAJAT letting out the breath she held back and threw the file direct at RAJAT darting towards him: you little monster!'

ABHIJEET was quick to block it and hold her back just an inch away from grabbing RAJAT, who was totally aback by her reaction as TARIKA let out her frustration: Yeah! I was sorry because I wasn't able to save you from getting hurt and guilty because you got hurt because of me.'

ABHIJEET who was trying his best to hold her back asked: What are you trying to do? He is hurt.'

TARIKA struggling to get free from his grip furiously yelled: but his mouth doesn't seem to be. He was on the verge to die the day before yesterday and he thinks I come here to take his statement? Does he had any idea how scared and worried I was? He would have been dead by now, if it wouldn't have been me. He is alive today because of me!

Offended RAJAT quickly replied pointing at ABHIJEET: I am alive because of him. He is the one who saved me in the jungle.'

TARIKA with sharp eyes looked over her shoulder at ABHIJEET. ABHIJEET realized his both hands are around her waist and he quickly leaves her standing aside.

ABHIJEET stuttered: yes… yes, I was the one who saved him. He is alive today because of me.'

RAJAT gave a nod to her agreeing with ABHIJEET.

She furiously looked at the two saying to RAJAT: I shouldn't have saved you. Then you would have better known how you were alive.'

RAJAT looking at ABHIJEET said: you were asking me to be nice to her?'

TARIKA too asked ABHIJEET: and you were asking me to apologize to him?' Both the siblings looked at each other.

ABHIJEET felt him-self stuck between the two and murmured aloud: I guess I was very wrong at the first place. So better I leave it up to you two.'

RAJAT protested: please, don't leave me alone with her.'

TARIKA glared at RAJAt but by the time a doctor and nurse arrives at the room as the dr. asked: what is this all commotion? You can't shout like this in front of a patient. Please go out.'

RAJAT taking the advantage of the moment asked the Dr.: yeah, yeah, please take her out.'

TARIKA was again about to approach towards him but ABHIJEET dragged her out of the room with Doctor.

Outside of the room the doctor in a serious note told TARIKA: he has survived a fatal injury. Please do take good care of him.'

TARIKA nodded and thanked the doctor.

While inside RAJAT in a whisper asked the lady nurse pointing at TARIKA: can you see the lady out there?'

Nurse: your sister?'

RAJAT: how do you know?'

Nurse: she told me yesterday that you are his brother.'

RAJAT again asked her: When she came here, was she injured heavily somewhere, specially on head to suffer any mental illness?'

Nurse: no, she was perfectly fine.'

RAJAT: not even too shock or surprise to act different from usual behavior?'

Nurse again answered: no. she was the sanest person here all this while.'

RAJAT said to himself: of course, why would she even care?'

Nurse: but the day you were admitted here later that night she cried a lot.'

RAJAT looked at the nurse and then out at his sister talking with ABHIJEET.

Outside RAJAT's Room –

As the dr. went away ABHIJEET asked TARIKA: were you two always like this?'

TARIKA sighed: I wish we were always like this, then things wouldn't have this worse between us. We were never like this though I enjoyed it. He never listened to me ever. Every time I asked him not to call me sister, next moment the only word came out of his mouth was Sister. He doesn't change a bit.'

ABHIJEET: It's a good thing he doesn't changed. Things are not that worse yet between you two.' TARIKA looked at him thoughtfully.

ABHIJEET: you know, it's never too late...'

TARIKA completed the sentense for him: to begin something good, right?'

ABHIJEET nodded and surprisingly found her smiling. He felt his heart beating suddenly at her smile. This was the first time he saw a smile on her face.

ABHIJEET smiled: I left the file in the room. I should get it.' TARIKA nodded and he again went to RAJAT's room.