Soon, the surgery ended. Ratan was still waiting outside the door anxiously. Roaming from here and there. It was 1:00am of the night… they had transferred Diya to the hospital for the surgery. Everyone else was at the palace.
Only he, Yash banna, ayush bhai saa and Diya’s bhai saa were present there. Ayush bhai saa was asleep and Diya’s bhai saa had gone to make some calls and get some coffee.. Yash banna was playing a game on his phone while Ratan was roaming to and fro of the corridor looking at the door.
The operation theatre bulb’s light was switched off, the door opened and Aarav came out. Both Ratan and Yash ran to him.
“Congratulations Ratty, the operation was successful. We removed the bullet safely. I’m so happy for you….” Aarav sighs.
“I don’t know how to thank you…I will always be indebted to you brother…thank you so much.” Ratan says with his hands joined.
“Pagal ho gaya hai kya tu……mujhe thanks kahega?? Bhai, yeh to mera farz tha….” Aarav says and hugs him.
“Kya hum ab Diya se mil sakte hain?” He asked.
” I don’t think so, but you can meet her after her blood pressure stabilises. Ratty listen, I want to talk to you, come with me.”
“Yea sure.”
They go to Aarav’s cabin.
“So, what did you decide? Did you ask her anything? ”
“No, I couldn’t, I was going to talk to her but tabhi….”
“Thank god….” Aarav sighs.
“What???”
“See, Ratty, I wanted to tell you something….”
“Kya hua aarav, Diya? Is she okay? Is everything alright?”
” Calm Down, this is important. Kya decide kya tumne?.”
“Hamari decision hain ki hum Diya ko accept karenge. Behoshi ki halat mein bhi she made sure that I was okay and more importantly I am nothing without her. Hum aaj jo kuch bhi hain, its all because of her. I can’t afford to lose her, ever….”
Aarav hugs him. ” I can understand, see abhi unki condition bohot delicate hain, zaraa se stress jaanleva ho sakta hain. She needs support in this condition, she needs you. Stay by her side and support her emotionally. She helped you a lot, now it’s time ki tum unki help karo.”
“You are right Aarav, I will.”
Then a nurse comes and informs that her condition has now stabilised and she is now conscious. Ratan goes to see her.
He opens the door slowly.
Diya is sleeping. He goes to her and sits by her side. He holds her hand softly. Diya wakes up.
“Ratan saa…”
“Diya”
“Ratan saa aap thik hain naa?”
Ratan says “Hum bilkul thik hain Diya. Ab aap kaisi hain?”
“I’m okay.”
Ratan says “Hum apse kuch baat karna chahte the……actually hum pehle bhi apse baat karne ka try kar rahe the but yeh incident ho gaya….but ab hum apse yeh keh kar rahenge. Thank you so much, hamare liye itna kuch karne ke liye. Thank you, hamari jaan countless times bachane ke liye. Hume ek accha insaan banane ke liye. Thank you so much Diya……….aaj hum 21 saal ke ho gaye hain. Aapko pata hain, kuch time pehle hum un responsibilities aur relationship ko lekar dilemma mein the, but aapko dekhte hi woh door ho gaya. Hum kya chahte hein yeh humne jaan liya……..aap kya chahti hain yeh hum jaan na chahte hein…….”
Diya thinks for some time….
“Ratan saa, iss baare mein, humne bhi bohot socha. And hum chahte hain ki yeh decision aap le. Ratan saa aap us waqt chote the, ab aap jo bhi chahte hain use accept karenge hum. Hume Koi expectations nahi hain. I just want you to be happy and that’s all.”
“Diya, I want you. And not just now, anytime in my life, I’m nothing without you. Jaise Ratan ko chamakte hue dekhne ke liye Diye ki roshni chahiye waise I need you…..will need you always. I will fulfil all my responsibilities from now not because of my fathers wishes, but because I want you, till the end……..” tears fell through his eyes as he spoke these words.
Diya’s eyes are also filled with tears. Ratan sees this and wipes her tears.
“You won’t cry anymore….angels don’t cry…I won’t let you cry, you already had enough……”
And they hug each other……..for something they needed the most, ‘PROTECTION’………….
To be continued