Hi all, I'm really sorry for the late update, was really tied up with work and hardly had time to breath. Please forgive me if there medical terms used are inappropriate, it was based on my findings online. Hope the update justifies for the delay...
Part 15
Virat was disturbed by Manvi's sudden fear and her behavior last night kept
on haunting his mind. He has always yearned for the moment where Manvi would be
able to share her utmost fear or sadness with him but yesterday when she did,
he wasn't able to rejoice it. An unknown fear crept into him when Manvi
confessed that she was scared, the way she wept in his arms and how she held on
to him so tightly. She held him as if someone will abduct her in her sleep or
she would slip away if she let him go. He was not sure whether to be happy that
he has finally secured her trust or to be worried that she is trying too hard
to hide something from him. He was unable to brush off the thoughts no matter
how hard he tried, so he decided to share it with the one who always helps to
clear his mind of his doubts.
"Dr Shashank, Am I catching you at the right time?" Virat asked
as he popped his head into Dr Shashank's cabin. "Arrey Virat, come in and
have a sit. Just give me 5 mins to finish this report" Dr Shashank invited
him in. "Virat, what's wrong yaar. You look haggard and disturbed as if
you haven't slept the whole night" he enquired as he finished his report.
"Kuch nai Dr, I was a bit worried about Manvi. Just wanted to check with
you how her progress is." Virat replied. "But Virat, you seem to be
far more worried besides her progress." Dr Shashank asked sensing the hesitance
in his voice. "Yeah, you are right Dr. Besides her treatment progress, she
was very different yesterday Dr. She was really scared yesterday and somehow
that is freaking me out. Of course, I never showed it in front of her, but I'm
really scared as well." Virat finally poured out his heart. "Virat,
all this while you have managed to put up a brave act in front of everyone
including Manvi although I know deep inside you are dead worried for her. Her
slightest cry or moan affects you so badly but it was never shown on your face.
Today it is written all over your face." Dr Shashank told him. Virat
covered his face with his palm while mentally trying to erase the sign of worry
and recompose himself, then he spoke "I'm not sure why, suddenly there is
this unknown fear eating me up from within. I have tried my best to ignore and overcome
it but it seems to have overpowered me" his eyes began to get teary as he
spoke. "I feel like she is slipping away from me!" he finally uttered
those words that he dreaded the most and almost broke down. "Aapko samhalo
Virat. Nothing is going happen to Manvi. She is brave girl; she has been doing
well with her treatment. Her progress has been well, just that she is very
weak..." Dr Shashank withheld Manvi's actual condition as he got up and held
Virat's shoulders to comfort him. He didn't want to reveal the actual situation
to Virat now. "Thanks Dr, I'm alright now, somehow talking to you always
made me better." Virat assured him. "Anyways I should be getting back
to Manvi, don't want to hold you too long Dr." Virat continued.
Virat was about leave the cabin when they heard the receptionist paging for
Dr Shashank and a nurse abruptly entered the room. "Dr Shashank, there is
an emergency. Woh patient Manvi is
having difficulty breathing" she announced. Dr Shashank immediately rushed
out to Manvi's room while Virat just felt as if his whole world shattered. He
just dropped back on the chair; his brain and body just refuse to function. It
took him awhile before reality hit him and he got a grip of himself. "Damn
it….Manvi!" he yelled and rushed out from Dr Shashank's cabin. He froze at
her room door when he saw Manvi lying there lifeless while Dr Shashank and the
rest of his team were trying to revive her. The room was highly tensed, he saw wires,
tubes and machines surrounding her and everyone were shouting in language that
almost sounded alien to him. "Her heart beat is dropping, we are losing
her" one of the nurses reported as a doctor was performing cardiac massage
on her. Virat felt as if his darkest fear was befalling in front of him, those
words were enough to stop his heartbeat and to suck out his life and he felt as
if she was slipping away from him. He wanted to scream his lungs out "Manvi,
come back. Mujhe chodkhar nahi jaana" but his throat went dry and his
voice was gone. "Get me defibrillator" Dr Shashank commanded. He saw
her fragile body jerked into air as the electric shock penetrated her body. She
still lay lifeless, neither her pulse nor heartbeat improved. It took the
doctors their third attempt with the defibrillator to reestablishing a normal
heart rhythm. "She is back!" Dr Shashank sighed in relief. "I want
her to be transferred to CCU for observation and the rest of the instructions
are here. Make sure her reports reach me every 30 mins" Dr Shashank
instructed his team and turned to leave when he saw the sight of Virat.
Dr Shashank totally forgot about Virat in the midst of the emergency. Virat
stood motionless at the door; he was so pale as if the blood from his body was
drained out. Only the fear and tears in his eyes showed the sign of life in his
body as he stood there watching Manvi. Manvi was still unconscious, she was covered
with wires, machines and there was an oxygen mask to aid her to breathe. They
were transferring her to CCU when he felt her fingers brushed against his as
she was being wheeled out of her room. The touch of her finger brought him back
to life, to reality. Before he could hold her, she was taken away from him.
"She needs to be under observation for a while, you can visit her once her
condition is stabilized" he assured him but there was no response.
"Virat, I need to talk to you. Aao mere saath" he motioned Virat to
follow him which he obeyed silently. Dr Shashank called Viren to explain about
the emergency and requested Viren and Jeevika to come over immediately to
discuss about Manvi's condition. It was only then it struck him that he has not
informed his Bhabhi and Bhai about Manvi. Viren and Jeevika immediately rushed
to the hospital. Virat was totally shaken up and kept on blaming himself for
leaving Manvi alone. "I'm sorry Manvi, I shouldn't have left you alone. None
of this would happen if I was there with you. I'm sorry Manvi..." Virat
kept on repeating the same thing over and over again. Dr Shashank tried to
pacify him but it was futile."Virat, it was not your fault. Manvi is out
of danger now, there is nothing you could have done even if you were with
her" Dr Shanshak tried to make him understand. "No Dr, she told me
she was scared yesterday. I should have at least waited for Bhabhi to come before
leaving her there. I was never there when she needed me, how can I ever face
again. Agar usko kuch hogaya toh..." he broke down completely unable to
complete his sentence.
Jeevika directly rushed to Manvi's room the moment they arrived at the
hospital and she was horrified to see the room empty. Jeevika dashed out
towards Dr Shashank's room ignoring Viren's call. Viren saw the opposite traits
of his wife; gone was his usual serene and compose wife, Jeevika was like
frantic mother who was searching for her child that was snatched from her. No
force in the world was able to appease her. The door flung open leaving both
Virat and Dr Shashank in shock. Jeevika for the first time saw her Devar in
such a wreaked state. She ignored the presence of the rest and went straight to
Virat, held his shoulder and shook him hard "Virat, Mannu kaha hai!!!
Mannu koh kya hoga Virat? Virat tum chup kyu hoh? Kuch toh bolo Virat!!!!"
she cried out. Virat floundered for words. "Jeevika, apko
samhalo" Viren tried to pacify his wife but she was beyond consolable."Manvi
theek hai Jeevika. She is under observation now" Dr Shashank finally intercepted.
Jeevika sighed in relief the moment she heard that Mannu was fine. Viren helped
her to sit and regain her equanimity back. "Dr Shanshank, Manvi koh kya
hogaya?" finally Viren asked. "Manvi had a cardiac arrest. Chemotherapy
has many side effects and for some patients it will cause cardiomyopathy which
is weakening of the heart muscle. It happens on a very rare occasion but it is
possible to have a cardiac arrest during the infusion of the chemo medication.
This is temporary and it is reversible" Dr Shashank explained. We manage
to revive her and she is under observation in CCU. She is under medication and
will be unconscious till her condition is stabilized to minimize any adverse
effect "he continued. The trio listened to Dr Shashank's explanation
attentively. "Actually I was contemplating for days whether to discuss
about the next cause of treatment for Manvi or to wait until I analyze her condition after
the chemotherapy completion but looks like it is highly crucial to discuss it
now" he explained. "Manvi has completed 5 cycles of chemo
unfortunately her body is not as strong as her will. Based on her reports, I
don't think her body will be able to complete her 8 cycle of chemo. Now with
her cardiac arrest, we might lose her to chemotherapy instead of cancer"
he concluded. Jeevika gasped in shock while Viren was rubbing
his temples while trying to digest the facts.
"What would be the next best treatment for Manvi" Virat finally
asked. "Well, I have actually taken Manvi's bone marrow sample earlier and
have sent it over to the bone marrow bank and other hospitals for a suitable
donor in case the need arises. Unfortunately we are unable to find the right
donor. We found a nearest match but the donor had other complication that
prohibited us to pursue" he answered. "Dr Shashank, I will donate my
bone marrow. I'm willing to donate even my last drop of blood if it can save my
Mannu" Jeevika broke her silence. "I can't guarantee whether yours
will match but I would request you and your immediate family to go for a bone
marrow test to see whether it matches with Manvi. The probability is always
higher within family" Dr Shashank explained. "I will speak to Dr
Manan to arrange for a test in Riskhikesh while I will conduct a test on
Jeevika next week" he continued. Jeevika and Viren nodded in agreement.
"Dr Shashank, can I see my Mannu , please. No matter what assurance you
give me but my mind will not accept it until I see her with my own eyes and
touch her with my hand" Jeevika pleaded. He was left with no choice to agree.
"Jeevika, Manvi will still be unconscious for some time but her mind will be
aware of her surroundings. Please ensure the situation doesn't create anxiety
that may affect her." Dr Shashank warned her. Jeevika nodded in response and
left the room; Viren hugged his brother in comfort to ensure that everything
will be fine before following behind Jeevika. "Virat, don't you want to see
Manvi" Dr Shashank asked. "I'm not sure how I will face her again" he replied.
"Virat, stop blaming yourself for Manvi's condition, It was out of your
control. The reason why we manage to revive Manvi is because of you and
Jeevika. I'm sure she would want to see both of you when she opens her
eyes. Jao Virat" Dr Shashank urged him.
Virat watched Manvi from the glass pane of the CCU as Jeevika was sitting
next to Manvi, holding on to her hands and caressing Manvi's face. Neither did
he have the courage to see his Bandariya nor his Bhabhi. She trusted her life,
her Mannu with Virat and he nearly lost her, how will he ever face her again
and even the thought of it killed him. He sat out of the CCU and watched his
Bandariya from distance. He would
enquire the nurses for update every time someone walks out of the room. He
didn't know how long he was there until he felt a touch on his shoulder. His
body jerked in shock when he saw his Bhabhi next to him. His eyes immediately
lowered to the floor in guilt avoiding her gaze. "Can I sit here?" she asked
and he nodded silently. Jeevika sat next to her Devar, held his hand in
hers. "Virat, I'm sorry for my outburst
earlier. I didn't know what got into me the moment I saw Mannu's room empty and
the moment I saw your expression when I walked in, my whole world started
spinning and I lost my rational. I was angry with you for not alerting me of
the situation; for a moment I thought I have lost my Mannu" Jeevika explained.
"Bhabhi, please don't say sorry. I should be the one who apologizing, you
trusted Manvi with me and I gave you assurance that I will ensure everything
will be fine but today I failed. We nearly lost her" Virat sobbed as he spoke.
"Virat it was not your fault, even I would have been in your state if I was there
instead of you. I would have lost Manvi long time ago if not for you. You are
the reason we have come so far, you are the reason I got back my Mannu and I
know you will the reason my Mannu will walk out of this place healthy and bubbly
again. I can't bear to see you torturing yourself like this nor would Mannu"
Jeevika replied. Jeevika's words gave him the courage to finally look up and
meet her gaze. Jeevika's faint smile
removed all the guilt and burden he was carrying with him. "Go in and sit with
Mannu, talk to her. I know she will be delighted to hear your voice. I'm going
to the temple, I will be back shortly." Jeevika told him. "Bhabhi you want me
to be with Manvi?" he asked in shock. "Jitna haq mere hain, uthna be haq tera
bhi hain Manvi paar" she replied and left.
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