EP02: THE HOSPITAL

 

 

Rayaan along with Anika’s mother and father took her to the hospital. Rayaan was driving and Anika’s father sat next beside him. Anika’s mother was on the back seat with Anika’s head on her lap and her legs folded like a mountain, reaching to the other end. Rayaan was confused with what happened and was driving anxiously. The moment which was supposed to be the best moment of life had suddenly turned its direction to the seriousness with no future clearly visible. As soon as they reached hospital Anika was laid on the stretcher and was carried to the operation theatre. Two ward boys were holding the stretcher from the front and two from the back and one complementary was holding the oxygen cylinder which was connected to the oxygen mask of Anika. Rayaan was waiting outside the operation theatre with his fingers crossed, legs shivering and his head weighing down deep in thoughts. He was unable to understand whether it was a small block on the road which his life vehicle will be able to surpass or a big hole in which his vehicle of life will get stuck.
The light of the operation theatre turned off. It didn’t turn from red to green to signify the operation was successful but instead it turned off. It was another big setback for Rayaan, he felt like he was losing his lady love. Doctors came out rubbing their hands against each other and murmuring something important to each other. They came close to Rayaan and Anika’s father and with a heavy voice asked, “is Anika a drug addict?”. Rayaan and Anika’s father looked at each other and shared a wired expression of what the doctors are asking. Anika’s father shook his head in disagreement as well as Rayaan too shook his head indicating the same. Doctors further announced, “we got samples of cocaine in her blood” paused and added, “she had consumed cocaine in large amount and her blood, unable to identify the new substance in her body diffused it in her brain which had affected her brain and eventually led her to collapse. We are sorry to further inform you that in process of digging out drugs from her brain we have performed some operations which will lead to loss of her memory slowly.” The doctor took a deep breath and said, “you have half an hour to meet and speak to her but remember not to put immense pressure on her and asking various questions. After half an hour we will shift her to ICU.” And they left.

Rayaan wanted to meet Anika and ask her what led her to consume drugs and hug her and tell her whatever she was doing he was with her and she can share anything with him. But he realized that before him it was her parents who wanted to meet her and he asked them to go and meet her first. Her parents were depressed, low, and down in the dumps. They were in shock. They didn’t want to see her and asked back Rayaan to check her and let them know if she was well or not? Rayaan went inside and sat beside Anika. She was pale and her face lacked luster all her highlighter fade away somewhere. Her lifeless body scared Rayaan even more and forced him to think in a way from which he was restricting himself. He sat on a stool which placed near her bed and held her hands in his. He relied his face on their hands and continuously stared Anika. Anika felt the movement of Rayaan and opened her eyes. She smiled sweetly and said, “I am sorry for ruining your day”. Rayaan asked, “why did you do this? Wasn’t my love enough for you? You could have thought of me and your parents before doing this?” Anika was sad and just rolled her eyes. She felt down and bad. She held Rayaan’s hand even tighter and said, “I will answer all your questions but before that I want you to do me a favor. Please get me my diary, it is in the left drawer of my bed in my room.” Rayaan agreed and in a sweet voice said, "I love you my sweetheart get well soon. I can't see you like this." Anika replied, "I love you the most". And they hugged each other.

After a while when Anika's brother brought her diary, he handed it to Rayaan. She asked Rayaan to open page number 63 and read till 65. Rayaan started reading it aloud when Anika interrupted and asked him to read it in his mind. He started reading in an inaudible voice and took three long minutes to finish reading. He was shocked. He was unable to believe what he read and decided to read it once again. Anika tried to ask him whether he completed reading but was asked to shhh by Rayaan.