Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and places mentioned. All the places are fictional and any resemblance is a mere coincidence.
The days passed, after a week doctor again introduced the penicillamine but its adverse effects didn't let it to be continued. Daya again ended up in the hospital because of high fever and rash. A day before he was discharged.
On the other hand, the stubbornness of the little bear increased. He was eating less those days and that too a tasteless liquidy food. He wanted chocolate that day but it was prohibited in his condition. It contains a high amount of copper.
Abhijeet pleading before him: please meri jaan maan jaa na… mera acha bhai nahi hai…
Daya nodded his head in a big no: nnnnaaaiiiii… mmjjjeeee… chaaaiiyeeeee…
Abhijeet rubbed his forehead in the try to come up with something. Disha in an anxious tone: subah sy yahi sb chal raha hai… mai samjha samjha k thak gai hun lekin iski sui to jese aik hi baat pr arr gai hai… (worriedly) kl hospital sy aany k baad sy khuch khaya bhi nhi hai… bukhaar bhi theek sy nahi utra hai…
Abhijeet tried to calm her down: aap pareshaan na hon mai hun na… aap khana ly ayein… (smilingly looked towards his brother; who was sitting with a swollen angry face) aaj dumbo apny Abhi k sath khana khaye ga…
Daya in angry mood: naaaaaiiiiiiii…
Disha sat on the bed-foot while grabbing her head in her hands. Abhijeet put his hand on hers and assured her: aap khana ly kr ayein… (Disha looked at him with tired eyes) please Maa… aap ly kr to ayein…
Disha took a deep breath: laati hu… (she moved out)
Abhijeet again tried to make him understand: baccha please na… pata hai na tumhy k doctor ny mana kia hai chocolate… kyun zid kr rhy ho?
Daya in the same way: chaiiiyeee… chaiiiyeee… bs chaiiiyeee…
Abhijeet rubbed his face in try to come up with a better approach: hmmm… acha chalo aik kaam krty hain… (Daya looked at him with a questioning gaze) mai Rahul ko call kr k puchta hun… agar usny permission dy di to mai apny iss pyare sy (he tweaked his nose) bhai ko chocolate laa dunga… lekin uss sy pehly Daya ko khana khana pary ga… bolo manzur hai? (Daya looked at him with suspicious eyes) arey tjhe bharosa nahi hai mjh pr…?
Daya instantly nodded in no. Abhijeet looked at him with shock filled gaze: Daya tjhe apny Abhi pr sach mai yakeen nahi hai?
Daya again gave a nod with a big no, he started with an explanation: tuuummm… mjjee… kaanaaa kkilaaa dogyyy oreee… cchooccoo nnhiiii dooggyyy…
Abhijeet tried to swear: arey… mai promise kr rha hun na… tumhy pata hai na k mai apna promise nahi torta… (Daya again give a jerky nod signalling a big no) acha bhai… lo mai pehly Rahul ko phone krta hun taaky tumny tasali ho jaye… (he dialled to Rahul and put the phone on the speaker) hello Rahul… haan yaar sb theek hai… bs aik baat puchni thi tumsy… (Daya was listening to the conversation attentively) yaar wo Daya ka chocolate khaany ka man ho raha hai… mai ussy dy dun, please…
Rahul suddenly spoke loudly: Jeet tera dimagh to nhi kharab ho gaya hai?
Daya was taken aback listening to the loud voice of his jolly brother, Abhijeet observed his actions: Rahul araam sy yaar kya ho gaya hai aik dum tjhe…
Rahul took a deep breath: sorry yaar… bs achanak tuny esa sawal poocha to mai hyper ho gaya… (listening to his soft voice Daya relaxed a little) problem Yeh hai k abhi Daya koi bhi medicine nahi ly raha to abhi koi bhi esi cheez allow krna theek nahi hoga… (Abhijeet included Daya into the conversation so that Rahul would know Daya's presence and he doesn't say anything unnecessary) lo bhai yeh baat tum khud Daya ko samjhao… isny kl shaam sy kuch khaya bhi nahi hai… bs aik hi zid hai k chocolate khani hai… phone speaker pr hai… tum baat kr lo…
Rahul understanding Abhijeet's intentions: ohhooo… to chote miyan call pr hain? Kesa hai mera shair…?
Daya with a sweet smile replied: teeeek…
Rahul also smiled: wahhh… yeh to bht achi baat hai… ab bhaiya ko batao jaldi sy k kyun chocolate khani hai? Hmmm?
Daya sadly: booleee (bore) ho raaa taaa… kuucccch aachaaa kaaany kaaa mnnnn haaiii… thaaakkk gaaayaaa huuuu… bekaallll sssaaaa kaanaaaa kaatyyy kaatyyyy…
Rahul and Abhijeet also became sad, Rahul after thinking something: Abhijeet tum Daya ko white chocolate dy do lekin aik square sy zyada nahi wo bhi sirf aaj k liye… (Abhijeet: Rahul dekhhh lo yaar koi problem to nahi hogi na…) yaar koi problem nhi hogi bs jitna maine kaha hai us sy zyada mt dena… (to Daya) ab to khush hai humara chotu?
Daya replied smilingly: Geeee…
Rahul in strictness: lekin sb sy pehly Daya khana khaye ga!
Daya agreed happily: doneee…
Abhijeet off the loudspeaker and ruffled Daya's hair lovingly (to Rahul on-call): Haan Rahul…
Rahul in seriousness: Abhijeet bs yeh permission aaj k liye hi hai… woo bhi aik chota sa piece… baar baar nhi dena ussy… (strictly) zid kry to bhi nahi…
Abhijeet: theek hai… mai dehan rakhunga…
Rahul: khayal rakhna… BYE…
Abhijeet: hmmm… BYE…
Abhijeet cut the call. Disha came back with a food tray and placed it on the bed. Abhijeet came forward and took Daya's plate and started feeding him.
Daya silently ate the bite. Disha released the relaxing sigh seeing her baby having food. She gave Abhijeet a questioning look to which Abhijeet smiled. Now, the food is always taken in Daya's room so that all of them can have it together.
After dinner, Abhijeet stood up: Maa mai aata hun, Daya k liye chocolate ly kr…
Disha worriedly: lekin kyun? Doctor ny to mana kiya hai na chocolate khany sy?
Abhijeet calmed her down: meri Rahul sy baat ho gai hai… usi ny kaha hai k thori si white chocolate dy skty hain hum, bs aaj k liye…
Disha after listening to the name of Rahul replied with satisfaction: phir theek hai…
Abhijeet: mai aaya dus min mai…
Abhijeet bought chocolate for Daya. After having chocolate Daya slept. Disha was sitting on Daya's bed and ruffling his hair lovingly while Abhijeet was sitting on the chair kept beside his bed.
Disha while rubbing his head asked Abhijeet: pandrah din ho gaye hain… kb tk permission mily gi dawaa mangany ki? formalities kb tk puri ho jayeingi?
Abhijeet in silence: Sir sy baat hui thi aaj, abi bhi km az km pandrah din or lagain gy… or Rahul bhi keh raha tha k medicine import karany ki formalities ho gai hain… maine ussy payment kr di thi… usny order dy diya hai… wo keh raha tha k barah pandrah dino tk medicine aa jaye gi… Dr Abhinav ny kaha hai jb tk sirf diet control rakho…
Disha didn't say anything just hummed in reply.
Daya was eating slowly with his own hands as Disha was busy cleaning his room. He took another bite of liquidy rice and at the same time, his body jerked resulted in the rice going in his windpipe. He choked. Disha hurriedly came to his side to comfort him by rubbing his back. He was coughing hard. The rice went down into his lungs making it hard to breathe. Disha gave two-three hard blows to his back making it a little easier for him to get some air. After some moments the coughing decreased showing now it is fine. When he relaxed some more Disha gave him some sips of water making him calm.
Disha agonizing over his son's pain: Jeet ussy saans nahi aa raha tha… pura neela par gaya tha uska jism… wo to shukar hai Bhagwaan ka k khud hi thori dair mai theek ho gaya warna pata nhi kya ho jaata aaj…
Disha was telling Abhijeet about the morning's incident, who became worried for his baby brother.
Rahul was also present on the scene as he had come after Disha called him about Daya's condition.
Rahul cleared his throat: Aunty yeh sb to hoga… esi condition mai swallowing problem hona normal hai…
Abhijeet apprehensively: to iss problem ka solution kya hai…
Rahul after mustering up the energy: Daya ko feeding pipe laga dena chahiye… (Disha felt like her heart stopped for a second)
Abhijeet stood up, his hands squeezed into fists, jaw tightened: Rahul tumhay malum hai tum kya bol rhy ho or kisky bary mai bol rhy ho?
Rahul calmly tried to make him understand: Mai achi tarah jaanta hun mai kya keh raha hoon… dekho Abhijeet tumhay samajhna hoga is baat ko… abhi problem itni nhi bari… lekin any waly waqt mai yeh cheez Daya k liye bht zyada nuqsaan-deh sabit ho skti hai…
Abhijeet ran his hands through his hair, frustratedly: Rahul, please… iss k ilawa or koi tareeqa hai to batao… Yeh to mai hrgiz nhi hony dunga apnay bhai k sath…
Rahul tried to calm him down: yaar dekho yeh time emotions mai behny ka nahi hai… yeh Daya ki behtri k liye hi keh raha hun mai… mjhe fikar hai Daya ki iss liye keh raha hun… it can prove to be dangerous for him…
Abhijeet's eyes blazed with fire: Rahul mere sabar ka imtehaan mt lo… maine aik baar jo keh diya so keh diya… esi fikar hai tumhy jo ussy mazeed andheron mai dhakel dy gi… wo pehly km pareshaan hai… wo already apny apko burden samajhny laga hai... mai koi bhi esa step nahi lunga jis k chalty mera bhai andheri gehraiyun mai phans jaye...
Disha in her own trance: mera beta ab theek sy kha bhi nhi sky ga… (looking upwards) or kya kya sehna baki reh gaya hai hummy…
Abhijeet grabbed her shoulders tightly: mai esa kuch nhi hony dunga apny dumbo k sath…
Rahul's expressions hardened: to tum kya chahty ho k aik din aye or Daya ki yunhi saans atak jaye or humesha humesha k liye uski saansain band ho jayein…
Abhijeet's lips drew back in a snarl: Rahullll‼… please abhi yahan sy chaly jao… issy pehly k mai kuch esa keh dun jo mai nahi kehna chahta…
Rahul took his belongings and prepared to leave, in a very calm voice he said: Abhijeet I'm very sorry… mai tumhy hurt nahi krna chahta… mjhe andaza hai tumhy yeh sb sunky kesa feel hua hoga… but aik dafa mere kehny pr iss baary mai zara thandy dimagh sy sochna… I am sure tum samajh jao gy k jo mai keh raha hun wo Daya k bhaly k liye hai… (he moved towards the door) Bye…
Abhijeet turned and aggressively hit the wall. Disha looked at him and took him inside her loving shell: bs mera bacha… (Abhijeet let out a small sob) arey meri jaan kyun ro raha hai esy… tu to mera sahara hai na… meri taqat… please Jeet tu esy kary ga na to mai to tut jaungi…
Abhijeet carefully broke the hug: Sorry Maa… wo bs… tu chal room mai thak gai hogi na…
Disha shook her head in no, she knew her son's nature, sometimes his strong self cracks a bit showing his wounds. She embraced him into her loving shell. Abhijeet said in a brittle tone: Maa… mera bhai bht takleef mai hai na… (Disha choked her cry) ussy bht dard hai na… (looked at her with a tear-stained face) kyun Maa… kyun?
Disha just tightened her grip and took him to the room.
A constant rhythmic stream of breaths told that Daya was fast asleep after a tiring day. If you would look at him now, you will see a young boy enjoying his slumber after a hectic day. It was strange when he was asleep no one can say that he was suffering, spending each day in pain. But when he was awake his body would stiffen, hands tremble, neck move like a pendulum and speech was incomprehensible.
Disha sat on Daya's bed and Abhijeet lay down on her lap. She weaved his head while staring at the space. Abhijeet was clutching her legs tightly. He was trying his best to be a strong pillar for his mother. There was nothing to say from both parties. Both were indulged in the world of their thoughts.
"There's that occasional night where you just break down and cry because you know that no matter what, things will never be the same again."
A/N:
Hey there... I don't know what should I say... Just one thing please pray for my cousin, yesterday he met with a serious accident... His brain is fully damaged... Doctors gave us no hope at all... please for once pray for him... I had already written the chapter that is why I am updating it otherwise I am not in the state to update at the moment... Please remember me and my family in your prayers... Also, take care of yourselves...
I will try to update once in a week from now on...
See you soon...