Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and places mentioned. All the places are fictional and any resemblance is a mere coincidence.
Disha left Daya and ran to check who was on the call. When she put the hanging phone on her ear, she heard a static beep. She left the phone and turned her attention to the trembling Daya. He was continuously mumbling the same incoherent words with an extreme nodding head. She took him to the room.
A person woke up with an "Ahhh".
He sat up and looked around. The white painted walls and antiseptic's smell assured him that he is in a hospital. He looked outside the window; a clear sunny sky told him that he was unconscious for about five hours. He remembered that he was in a car with his companion and they had an accident around six in the morning.
A nurse entered his room and found him awake: aap ko hosh aa gaya hai? (she turned back to go outside) mai abhi doctor ko bulati hun…
He just nodded. His head was still paining a bandage was present there. He looked for more injuries but due to god's grace, he was almost fine; his left hand had a banged other than that he was almost alright. When he had done assessing his condition, he decided he was fine and now it is time for him to leave the hospital. He was descending the bed when a middle-aged doctor entered inside.
The doctor: Arrey… yeh aap kya kr rhy hain… aap ko kis ny uthny ko kaha hai yaha sy…
The person while removing the equipment attached with his body: mai theek hun doctor… mere sath mera dost tha… kahan hai wo… mjhe us sy milna hai…
The doctor didn't answer his query. He pushed him back on the bed and started checking him. The man protested but the doctor continued his task. After checking him thoroughly he wrote something on his chart: App theek hain… mai aapko discharge kr raha hun… (forwarding a paper) yeh kuch medicines hain aik week tk liye ga… or do din baad dressing change krwa lijiye ga…
The man nodded in ignorance: yeh konsa hospital hai? Or kahan hai mera dost aapny bataya nahi?
The doctor: yeh City Hospital hai… (took a sigh) and we are sorry… aapka dost ab iss duniya mai nahi raha… hum unki jaan nahi bacha saky… brain main heavy internal bleeding k kaaran unki maut ho gai hai…
The man looked at him in shock: yeh aap kya keh rhy hain? Esy kesy ho skta hai… zaroor apko koi ghalatfehmi hui hogi… Jeet… (he left the bed in hurry) mjhe uss sy milna ha…
The doctor nodded: aap aiye mere sath…
The doctor took the man to a door. He looked at the nameplate of the room and chills ran down his spine, "MORGUE". The doctor opened the door and invited him inside. He followed the doctor inside with a fast heartbeat. The doctor stopped near the stretcher covered with a white sheet. He pulled the sheet down. The man looked at the face of the deceased and took a step back.
The man with wet eyes: Oh God… Jeet… (in heavy tone to doctor) tu esy kesy jaa skta hai yaar?
The doctor looked at him and spoke: aap please mere sath ayiye… humny police ko inform kr diya hai wo aaty hi hongy… wo ap ky hosh mai aany ka wait kr rhy thy… they want to know what happened?
The man replied: uski zaroort nahi hai… hum CID officers hain… there is no need for police… aap bs mera phone dy dijiye…
The doctor looked at him suspiciously: mai kesy maan lun k aap CID officers hain? Hummy ap ky pass sy koi proof nahi mila yahan tk koi identity card bhi nhi mila aap k pass sy…
The man irritatingly: dekhain hum mission pr gaye huye thy jb yeh accident hua tha… aap please mera phone dijiye… aapko sb pata lag jaye ga… or agar phir bhi aap ki tasalli nahi ho rhi to aap police ko aany dain… I'll handle them myself…
The doctor nodded after seeing his confidence: aapka sara saman aap ko reception sy mil jaye ga…
He nodded and moved toward the reception after covering the body with the sheet. He reached the reception and asked for his belongings. The receptionist handed him over a bag having his clothes and various other things. He rummaged through all the stuff.
The man asked her: Excuse me… mera phone nahi hai iss saman mai…
The receptionist: Sir jo saman hummy aapky pass sy mila tha wo sb is mai hai…
The man insisted: esy kesy nahi mila phone aapko… (remembered something) or mere dost ka saman kahan hai?
The receptionist handed him over another bag: G yeh lay lain…
He checked his belongings and murmured to himself: yeh to mera phone hai… (checking the cell; he in shock showed her the mobile screen) yeh call apny ki hai…
The receptionist: G… humny inki family ko inform kr diya hai inki death ka…
The man in anger: Oh God… aapny esy kesy call kr di? Yeh phone Navjeet ka nahi mera hai… aapny meri death ki news dy di meri family ko… (the receptionist looked him in bewilderment; something struck his mind) kya aap bata skti hain k call kisny receive ki thi?
The receptionist nodded in the same trance: G… kisi larky ny ki thi…
He took his head in his hands: yeh kya kr diya aapny…
He took a deep breath and dialled a number: Hello Sir…
ACP Sir: Haan Abhijeet bolo… kb wapis aa rhy ho tum log…
Abhijeet: Sir hum subah hi wapis aa rhy thy… lekin humara accident ho gaya… (in a low tone) Navjeet is no more…
ACP Sir in shock: Oh My God… kahan ho abhi tum mai aa raha hun…
Abhijeet: Sir mai City Hospital mai hun… aap jaldi aa jayein…
ACP Sir assured him: Don't worry mai aa raha hun…
Abhijeet: yes sir… (he cut the call)
He called at home; he was anxious and worried. No one received the call, he called again and again. it was his sixth time redialing number. His head had started paining from all the stress, sweat was falling down his forehead.
The phone ranged for the third time.
Disha tried to make Daya understand something: beta please mjhe dekhny do kiski call hai…
Daya was shivering, he held the Disha's hand and stopped him in incoherent slurred speech: nahi… nahi… uthana… Abhi…
Disha tried to free her hand: Acha nahi uthati phone mera hath to choro… (Daya shook his head in no) Acha tum aik minute hath to choro mai tumhary liye pani laati hun…
Daya aggressively shouted: Nahi… peena…
Disha forcefully withdrew her hands and went to the kitchen when she heard the phone ranged for the fifth time. She looked at the phone and shook her head. The one who is calling must wait because Daya was now her priority. She took a half glass of water and mixed a tablet in it. She rushed in Daya's room and made him drink that water. Moments later Daya laid silently on the bed. She sighed and received the call.
At the seventh ring, someone received the call. Abhijeet released the breath, which was stuck in his throat.
He heard a soggy wet tone: Hello…
He in hurry: Hello Maa…
Listening to the voice the callee overjoyed: Abhijeet…
Abhijeet replied softly: G Maa… mai hun…
Disha allowed the tears to fall: Tu theek to hai na beta… wo… wo… call… Daya…
Abhijeet cut her: G Maa… mai bilkul theek hun… aap yeh btaye k Daya kahan hai wo theek hai na…?
Disha in teary-worried tone: so raha hai… zabardasti dawai dy k sulaaya hai… (explaining) wo bht dar gaya hai… pata nahi koi call aai thi… usny receive ki usky baad sy bs aik baat baar baar boly jaa raha hai… k Abhi chala gaya hai baba k pass… (asked for an honest answer) tu sach mai theek hai na…
Abhijeet reassured her: Haan Maa mai bilkul theek hun…
Disha asked: phir wo call?
Abhijeet: wo sb mai aap ko mil k batata hun… mai bs thori dair tk aata hun… aap khayal rakhna…
Disha nodded: hmmm theek hai… (caringly) or tu bhi apna khayal rakhna…
Abhijeet smiled: G Maa… Bye…
He turned to say something to the receptionist when someone put his hand on his shoulder. He turned and found Rahul standing there with surprise expressions.
Abhijeet: Rahul…
Rahul smiled: haan bhai yahan job krta hun to yahi hun ga na… (looking at his condition) or yeh kya haal bna rakha hai… (Inquired) kya hua?
Abhijeet explained everything. Rahul's lips turned in an "O" shape: ohhhh…
Before he could pass any comment ACP Sir and police arrived. Abhijeet got involved with him. After investigation and police's remarks about the accident site, they deduced that it was a planned accident to stop the officer's from providing evidence to CID.
ACP Sir ordered Abhijeet: tum ghar jao ab mai hun yahan… kafi chot lagi hai tumhy… araam karo ghar jaa k…
Abhijeet tried to protest: Sir mai theek hun… yahan sb kaam nimat jaye phir chala jaon ga…
ACP Sir showed him a stern look to which he submitted soon enough.
Rahul in reminding tone: ghar sir tumhy rest krny k liye bhej rhy hain… aai samajh?
Abhijeet gave him a disappointed look: Bye…
Rahul in the same tone: bandage change karany ka bhi kasht kr lena…
Abhijeet simply: Goodbye Rahul…
Rahul shook his head.
Disha was in Daya's room sitting beside him weaving his hair. She heard the approaching footsteps. She hurriedly came out of the room. Abhijeet was coming in the lounge. Disha saw him and rushed to him. She hugged him.
Disha in teary tone: Shuker hai Bhagwaan ka aap theek ho Jeet… Pata hai hum kitna pareshan ho gaye thy…
Abhijeet separated her from the hug and made her seat on the sofa: mai bilkul theek hun Maa…
Disha looked at him: yeh kya hua hai.. Yeh chotain kesy lagi aap ko?
Abhijeet told her they were returning from the mission and they met with the accident.
Disha was sitting placing the palm on her mouth: Ohhhh… dekho kitni chot lag gai hai… (rubbing his head) or wo phone kiska aya tha? Daya ny jb sy phone suna hai uski tbiet kharab hai… itni mushkil sy dawai dy k sulaya hai…
Abhijeet: hum jb aa rhy thy to Navjeet drive kr raha tha… mai aap ko logon ko call krny laga… Socha Daya khush ho jaye ga… mai bs phone krny hi wala tha to us ny mere hath sy phone cheen liya… kehny laga k phone krny mai kya maza hai ghar jaa k surprise dena… itni dair mai humara accident ho gaya… police ko laga k wo phone Navjeet ka hai to unhony wo phone Navjeet k saman k sath hospital walon ko dy dia… receptionist ny call ki thi aapko…
Disha nodded in agreement: hmmm… chalo ab utho or jaa k fresh ho jao… phir mai soup laati hun wo kha k araam krna…
Abhijeet looked towards Daya's room: mai pehly chotu ko…
Disha interrupted him: wo so raha hai abhi aik ghanta hai usky jagny mai… seedha apny room mai jao or jaa k fresh ho k ao…
Abhijeet sighed he knew there was no chance of winning against her still he tried: acha bs aik dafa dekh to skta hun na ussy…
Disha nodded. Abhijeet went to Daya's room, he looked at his restless face and left.
He came after a soothing shower.
Disha: mai lunch ki tayari kr rahi hun tum jao Daya ko bhi utha lao… wesy bhi usky uthny ka time ho gaya hai…
Abhijeet nodded. He entered Daya's room and sat beside him. He rubbed his head. Daya felt something and opened his eyes with a jerk. He looked at Abhijeet and tried to touch his face with his trembling hand: Abhi… (he then remembered something) lekin… Abhi… gaya… baba ly gaye… wo chala gaya… (he looked at him with half-opened eyes) phir tum… kon…
Abhijeet firmly put his hand on his hand: bach'cha yeh mai hi hun… tera Abhi… mai kahi nahi gaya…
Daya's eyes opened widely: tum sach… mai sapna nahi…
Abhijeet cut him and made him sit: yeh koi sapna nahi hai… mai sach mai mere Daya k pass a gaya hun…
Daya looked at him and hugged him tightly. He started sobbing.
Daya: tum kaha gaye thy… mai kitna dar gaya tha… (slurring more tha than regular) chor gaye thy… or pata hai baba bhi aye thy… wo keh rhy thy k ab tum nahi ao gy… tum unky sath chalyugot late gaye ho… pata hai kitny sary… draony spny aye… maine kitna wait kiya… yaad kiya…
Abhijeet tried to hush him: shhh… Chup ho ja mery bhai… mai aa gaya hun na… ab nahi jaun ga…
Daya sobbed even more.
Abhijeet continued his consoling. It took some time before Daya settles down. Disha came with the food in the room. They had their lunch. On Daya's insistence, Abhijeet had to feed him as an apology for not calling him during the mission.
Disha stood up with the food tray: Jao Jeet ja k araam karo… sar dard ho raha ho ga na…
Daya gripped Abhijeet's hand tightly: nahi Abhi yahi rahy ga…(he made space beside him) yahi soye ga… mery pass…
Disha nodded: theek hai lekin mjhe baton ki awaaz na aye… dono so jao…
Daya laid with closed eyes… Abhijeet's left hand was in his tight grip placed upon his chest while the right hand weaved in his hair… Daya slept soon. Abhijeet also laid beside him. He too sunk into the deep sleep. Disha looked at the from afar and prayed in her heart for their well being.
"Life and death are one thread, the same line viewed from different sides"
A/N:
Thank you everyone for your reviews. Sorry got late but here is a long chapter for compensation.
Hopefully, you liked this chapter as well.
Next chapter will also come after 40 reviews.
Take care... Bye