Eternal Love(VI) - The Culmination

Almost a week past in hospital , Sonal health deteriorating day after day, Rohan getting restless, arguing with the doctors everyday and each day getting the same reply “It’s too late, we are helpless”. Controlling the tears , keeping his emotions intact, trying to make Sonal smile all the time. Friends started visiting in the morning before going to office, showing their empathy , saying words of encouragement, suggesting different doctors and hospital , where Sonal’s case could have handled properly. Sonal was happy to see them just because they bring smile on Rohan face otherwise her eyes were always longing for particular faces.
Rohan was having breakfast on Sonal insistence as he skipped the night meal.

Sonal: Did you call them?
Rohan: Yes.
Sonal: then……
Rohan: Then what?
Sonal: Are they coming?
Rohan: Yes , they told they will book the tickets and will come as soon as possible.
Sonal: Lie, you can’t even lie properly.
Rohan: No baba , I’m telling the truth, believe me…
Sonal: Shut up!!
Rohan: If you already know the truth then why you want to hear it from me?.
And he started weeping like a baby. Sonal trying to console but can’t even move her hands to wipe out his tears because of the pierced needles.
Sonal: Please don’t cry and tell me what they said, I’m ready to hear anything .
Rohan: In heavy and sobbing voice --they told “Their daughter died the day when she ran away with you, now they least care, whether she is dying or she is already dead.” They even told that I’m responsible for whatever has happened to you.
Sonal: How can they talk to you like that, now I also don’t want to see them.

To their respite the doctor came, he told Rohan to come out. Now Rohan new that the time has come for the final verdict , he was trying to be strong , following the doctor out of the room.
Doctor: Rohan, Call everyone from the family whom she wants to meet, because the days may very soon get converted to hours. Be strong , we really tried hard but the test reports have come , almost all the internal organs have stopped functioning , the body is filled with water.

Rohan: How many days?
Doctor: 24 hours or at max 10 more hours.
Rohan: What? Can I take her home?
Doctor: No!! better keep her here only, she won’t be able to move at all.

Patting on Rohan’s back the doctor left. Rohan was shattered , he didn’t know what to do although he knew this hour will come. He called up his friends but couldn’t tell them anything just hung up hearing the voice from other end. He was preparing himself for this, but when the hour came everything was like a black hole, he felt as if he was dying. Finally he called up his mom but couldn’t tell her also , just cried on the call, his mom unaware of anything thought that his this state was because of Sonal. She started cursing her, blaming her for his condition, thrashing her by her words right and left and every curse statement was ending up with “I told you not to marry her, now see what she has done”. Rohan realizing the irony and accepting that his present state was surely because of Sonal but not how his mom was reasoning , his mom would never know how much he loved her.
Rohan: MOM!! It’s ok, stop cursing her, I’m hanging up. I’ll be all right, don’t worry.


He hung up the phone, rubbed his cheeks and eyes, went inside the room. Thinking why he called her up but then realized instead of her cursing Sonal, he stopped crying - that’s the effect of mom. Sonal eyes were fixed at the door from the time he went out. The moment he stepped in she started yelling at him with her very feeble and rushy voice.


Sonal: What the hell? What were you doing outside for so long? What the doctor said?
Rohan: Nothing much, he told he need to put in some more needles in your body to remove the water.
Sonal: What the f***? You lying again, how many days?
Rohan: Shut up n relax, not so soon.


They started their normal chit chats, Rohan trying to make her smile every time, reminding her of their first night after marriage , they were counting the money and packing to move out of Delhi rather than doing the stuff which every married couples do the very first night after marriage. At this Sonal started laughing. The doctor and nurses came inside willing to inject at 2 more places to remove water, she was telling them she didn’t want it but the doctor were insisting , as it will help her talk and breathe otherwise the water will block speech system and the breathing system too. Typical doctors they have their ways of making things done. Listening to this Sonal surrendered.


Time was running fast it was Friday afternoon, she was fading , she was nearing the dark clouds, she even started showing signs, not able to talk that fluently, sometimes having breathing problems. The conditions started getting worse and she started facing serious breathing problems, to help her breathe the doctor put a mask on her mouth. Tears were rolling continuously from Rohan’s eyes, her eyes were almost closed , she had her head directed where Rohan was standing. Looking at him with those half closed eyes. Rohan called up few of his friends asking them to come as soon as possible. She was constantly looking at her from few minutes. Suddenly she opened her eyes a little wider and started moving her hands calling Rohan.
Rohan came closer and understood that she wanted to remove the mask, he asked the nurse and she removed it.


Sonal: Rohan, ask the doctors to remove everything from my body please, I’m feeling very uncomfortable.
Looking at her eyes Rohan knew , he asked the nurses to do so, but the nurses were afraid, so they called the doctor.
Rohan: Sir please remove everything , my Sonal is feeling uncomfortable, please sir do it fast , she can’t bear any more pain --release her.
The doctor nodded to the nurse and she removed all the tubes.
Sonal: Embrace me, I want to die in your arms, always close to you.
Rohan: Nothing will happen , you will always be with me.
Sonal: Rohan!! I don’t want to die, I don’t want to leave you, I love you………………………
Rohan: You are not leaving me at any cost, I also love you …..Sonal …Sonal…Sonal…..


She had already left him and his crying was louder than before and he was shouting “Don’t leave me , what will I do without…Please..oh god……please ”. She was gone , he held her in the same position for some time, realizing nothing is coming back he laid her properly on bed ,removing his arms from her, kissed her on the lips, closed her eyes and retraced his steps backwards with his eyes still glued at her smiling face…………