“Shakthi, please open your eyes… Shakthi….”
Karthik rested his head against Shakthi’s shoulder. He was battling with not
only his tears but also with the fear of losing her. Life without her seemed
unimaginable. The eeriness of the ICU ward was anything but threatening.
Somehow, the place smelt of death – death of his ego. Yet, hope was spreading
its wings, bringing the memories of the days of togetherness and joy. Karthik
could not believe that it was only two years since he met her on his friend
Prakash’s wedding. Shakthi’s grey colored half sari and the messy long hair
would have gone unnoticed in the crowd if she had not asked, “What’s wrong with
our bride?” overhearing him carelessly tease, “Poor Prakash is trapped now!”
Karthik never believed in love,
commitment or marriage. In fact, he was like a bird who feared all of that. He
was trying to establish a software start-up company at that time and was
frustrated at the fact that climbing the steps to entrepreneurship was anything
but easy. But, when he saw Shakthi, the second time while travelling in
Chennai’s local train, he knew that she was meant to stay in his life; at least
forever.
“I am sorry Shakthi. Please open your
eyes”, Karthik murmured again. He didn’t know how much time had passed when he
felt some slight movements from Shakthi. When he looked towards her, he noted
that she was slowly opening her eyes.
“Did you get scared?” she asked. Her
voice was feeble and her doe eyes teary.
“I almost died!” he replied.
“I love you”, she whispered
“Will you do anything for me?” he
asked teasing her.
“I love you”, she repeated.
“Will you jump from the train?” he
asked reliving that Sunday afternoon when he had proposed to Shakthi in the
local train.
“I love you”, she said with a smile
which only the feeling of homecoming brings.
“Hey!
What do you mean by that?” he asked; once again repeating Shakthi’s
response from that Sunday afternoon.
“I don’t know. But I love you”, she
said and touched his cheeks.
Meanwhile, Shakthi’s older sister
Poorni informed the doctors that Shakthi has gained her consciousness. They
came to check her and declared that there is nothing to worry anymore. She
asked Karthik to meet outside the ward and said, “She has to be under
observation for at least month in the hospital and she would need another six
months to get back to normal. There are multiple fractures as you know”, she
said in the professional yet compassionate tone. Karthik nodded, silently
thanking all the Gods and guardian angels although he was an atheist.
“Karthik, sit beside me. Don’t leave
me”, Shakthi mumbled as she dozed off. Her mother ruffled his hair with
motherly care and Poorni offered to stay in the hospital that night with
Karthik. He just smiled and turned away to look at Shakthi – his life. More
memories came gushing towards him.
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