Chapter 10 Cardiac Arrest

     The ringing of the ‌phone brought her back to the present.

“How is my sweet friend?" The voice of a man came from the other side.

"I'm fine Naman I don't know as even after taking my revenge I'm  not happy, feeling guilty of snatching a son from his mother."A feeling of gloominess took over her.

"Oh please don't feel guilty. Hey, are you regretting killing him? As for snatching, he has also snatched your father and all your happiness from you. You should not feel bad." Naman, his friend, tried to convince her.

"Whatever you are saying is true but then too. Both of them are so sweet and love me a lot ."She spoke in between sobs.

"Please for god sake you should stay strong. I know they are good people but you have to. I had called you to inform you that I think now Raj's body will come. Be a strong person and focus on your goal. Take care and bye." Explaining everything to Sujata.

"Ok bye." Sujata too hung up and was depressed on hearing.

    After talking to Naman she thought of going downstairs. Thereupon she came near Rajini and sat there with tension showing off on her face. There were tear marks and her eyes were red and puffy from continuous crying. She sobbed and asked, "ma is there any news of Raj. I'm very worried I could not sleep the whole night."

    Everyone is in their world and are brought back by the sudden ringing of the doorbell. Inspector In-charge Mr Rathore enters "namaste(a form of greeting) Mrs . Kapoor. " Hearing both Rajini and Sujata move towards the inspector, Rajini says, '' Namaste inspector, what is the news? Did you find my Raj, where is he please speak up"

"I think we don't have good news." The ladies started wallowing.

"Although it is against protocol to file a report of a missing person before 24 hours. Since someone was seen falling from the cliff, therefore, the investigation was started immediately." The inspector tried to convince her but it was far from convincing.

"Oh, please cut the formalities inspector and tell us what you have found out," Simmi shouted who was just witnessing the scene and lost her patience.

"Miss Kapoor we are trying to be polite and being helpful and here you are shouting at us." The inspector didn't like the tone of Simmi.

"Simmi, please calm down. "Her mother tried consoling her. She hugged her and started caressing her head in an attempt to calm her.

"Our search team had found that indeed a man had fallen from the cliff, but since it was getting dark so we can't make out who it is but from silhouette it appears that it is indeed Mr Kapoor. Our team has gone to this particular place to bring the body and if it is Mr Kapoor then they would bring it here. I sincerely hope that it is not him."  Inspector bowed his head, feeling bad for the family.

     At that very moment, everyone hears the screech of tyres and an ambulance stops in front of their gate. Each eye turns to see. The moment was still, each face turned pale, tears were falling continuously, expecting that whatever the inspector was saying turn to a lie. But destiny has its ways and every time the hopes are not fulfilled. They are about to witness what they don't want to.

    The door of the ambulance opens and a stretcher carrying a body comes out. Upon seeing the body every one is horrified. The body was unquestionable of Raj.      The three ladies started wallowing and there was sadness and emptiness in the air.

Rajini couldn't take it anymore and she fell with a thud. Simmi was the first one to react. She started shaking her and sprinkled some water but Rajini didn't gain consciousness. Leaving Raj's dead body, both of them rushed to the hospital in the same ambulance.

    Rajini was immediately taken to the emergency ward where she was diagnosed with cardiac arrest. Not knowing what to do she called Sanjay.

"Hello Sanjay, Simmi here." She was shaking and tears were flowing continuously.

"Yes Simmi, I had just awakened and got this terrible news, I'm sorry to hear it. Raj's death is not only your loss but mine to he was my best friend. I'm coming to your place, don't cry please."

Simmi’s sobbing increased. 

"Sanjay we are not at home, we are at the hospital. Ma had a cardiac arrest and her condition is fatal." She spoke in between sobs. Her voice was uncanny, still, Sanjay managed to understand.

"Oh no don't worry I am coming to the hospital just tell me the name, meanwhile call Ranjeet and tell him the situation and ask him to come back and is Rajan with you." Sanjay jolted out of his bed and started getting ready while talking to her.

 "No, Rajan Bhai is at home as someone has to make preparations for Bhai's last rites." sobbing frantically she replied.

After talking to Sanjay, Simmi called Ranjeet.

"Hello, bhai."

"Hi, Simmi, hey why are you crying? Everything is alright there." Ranjeet's voice was laced with concern.

"No bhai, nothing is right here". Pausing for a few seconds she continued." Raj Bhai is no more . Yesterday he had gone to the cliff and fallen from there. Hearing this ma, had a cardiac arrest and her condition is critical" she started weeping once again.

   Ranjeet was shocked hearing this, he was on the verge of breaking but then thinking about people at home, he calmed himself and replied, "what the hell is this, no one even cared to inform me, I may not be your real brother but I consider you as a sister. And who allowed Raj Bhai to go near the cliff, he gets  dizzy." He was feeling angry and helpless at the situation.

 "I'm coming please don't panic and be strong. Call Khanna uncle.  I'm coming as soon as possible." With that, he slammed the phone in frustration and helplessness.

   Nurses were running here and there frantically but no one was giving any answers. Simmi and Sujata were standing near the emergency ward and sobbing inwardly. Just a few days back everyone was so happy.

Exactly then the door of the emergency ward opened and the doctor came out.

 "Mrs Kapoor had a massive attack and the next 48 hours are fatal. If she doesn't gain consciousness in that time she will slip into a coma and even if she gains consciousness she will be paralyzed forever." After explaining everything, the doctor went.

   Meanwhile, in the Khanna mansion, Sanjay was crying his heart out. Not only has he lost a friend but a brother. He always considered Raj as his brother. Just then Mr Khanna came with tear-filled eyes, he tried to console Sanjay.

'Beta for the sake of Simmi you have to stay strong. In just a single day her world came crashing down. Wipe your tears son and let's go to the hospital. come on hurry up." His dad went out to the car.

  They entered the hospital when the doctor was summarising the case history of Rajini.

"Simmi" called Sanjay upon entering the hospital.

   Simmi ran into the warm embrace of Sanjay he started consoling her, she was feeling secure and warm in his embrace. His warm touch made her sob profusely. Mr Khanna went towards Sujata, she bowed to greet him.

 "You are like my daughter don't feel that you are all alone I'm always there, whenever you need any support you can always count me"

Sujata sobbing speaks, "thanks uncle I know you are all there. I want an answer to one question: why is God so angry with me? For which of my sins he is punishing me. Firstly I didn't have a family then I married Raj, I found my happiness and family with ma and Simmi. Then again he took Raj from me and ma is in this condition. I think I'm too ill-fated. I should end my life." Sujata was crying. Her face was pale and her eyes were puffy.

"Bhabhi please don't say such things. Where will I go if something happens to you? You are the only person I have in the name of family. " Simmi hugged her.

"Ok, now enough of talking I will stay with Rajini bhabhi and Sanjay you take everyone back home to perform the last rites of the Raj. By that time I will also talk to a doctor about Bhabhi's condition and will try to see what can be done." Mr Khanna pulled them in a tight hug.

   At that moment a nurse came, "the patient has been shifted to ICU. One by one you all can come and see the patient but make sure not to make any noise." The nurse took them inside the ICU.

   One by one everyone goes to the ICU. Mr Khanna is the last one to go as he is a doctor he wants to assimilate everything from his point of view as such he will stay with Rajini

    

         Author's Note

   Dear readers

Just want to give you a brief introduction to Ranjan and Ranjeet. They are real brothers and are sons of senior Mr Kapoor's Gardner. Their mother died during the birth of Ranjeet and their father died when both of them were quite young so instead of abandoning them, Mr and Mrs Kapoor brought them as his children.

For my non-Indian readers, bhabhi means sister in law and beta means a child