CHAPTER 23
After a few hours,
Prisha was sitting in front of the ICU, her hands clasped tightly as she continuously prayed for her husband, her love. Aditya and her mother was sitting beside her, while Shaurya’s parents were nearby, and Shivay stood in the corner. Everyone was praying for Shaurya's recovery.
“Why is it taking so long?” Shivay said angrily, frustrated by the three-hour wait with no updates from the doctor.
Finally, the doctor emerged from the operating room and informed them in professional tone,“We performed the surgery, but the chances of survival are very low. If the patient doesn’t wake up in 24 hours, we could lose him, or he could slip into a coma.” Prisha collapsed onto the bench, murmuring, “No, he can’t leave me like this. He can’t do this to me.”
Shivay rushed over, speaking softly, “Prisha, nothing will happen to him. We will pray for him, and I’m sure God will hear us.” Prisha looked at him with teary eyes and nodded. She couldn’t be weak now; she had to fight for him. He loves her, and can't leave her. He has to come back for her.
Determined, she stood up from the bench and walked to a nearby temple. She joined her hands in front of the deity’s idol and pleaded, “Please save my Shaurya. I promise I will never leave his side, no matter what. We will face all our problems together. I will never leave him, no matter how difficult it would be. "
Tears streamed down her face as she prayed fervently. Her gaze fell on the vermillion, and she took a pinch, filling her hairline with it. She continued to pray, and finally, her prayers were answered when Shaurya gained consciousness.
“Mr. Shaurya has regained consciousness and is now out of danger, but he can’t move his body due to the accident. It will take time, maybe 2-3 months or more. You must keep him motivated, as patients in this condition can slip into a depression,” the doctor explained.
“Don’t worry, doctor. I will take care of him. As long as he’s with me, no problem is too big,” Prisha said with a smile.
Outside the hospital,
Prisha and Shivay were distributing food to the people in need and then returned to the hospital. The doctor didn’t allow them to meet Shaurya until he was shifted to a different room.
“So, you’ve decided to give him a chance?” Shivay asked, glancing at the vermillion in her hairline as they walked inside the hospital.
She turned to him and smiled, “No, I am giving myself a chance. Because I understand how much I love him. If something had happened to him, I would have died.” She controlled her tears, still shaken by the memory of Shaurya fighting for his life in the ICU.
When they entered the room, they saw Shaurya’s mother holding his hand and crying. His father stood in the corner, with tears in his eyes but a smile on his face. Prisha’s mother was standing beside his bed, talking to him with a big smile.
The moment Prisha entered, Shaurya’s gaze fixed on her. Seeing them, everyone left the room to give the couple some privacy. She slowly walked towards him with teary eyes and held his hand, asking, “How are you feeling?”
“Good, but look at me. Now, I’m even more useless. I can’t even stand up; I’m tied to this bed,” he said weakly with faint smile.
She smiled, kissed his palm, and said, “You are not useless. You are my life. I died a thousand times in these 24 hours. How can you think your life is useless? You are the reason I am alive now.”
“Prisha, I am not right for you. I can’t give you anything, especially now. I’m just a burden on you,” he said sadly, tears rolling down his cheeks.
Prisha smiled and asked, “If the same thing happened to me, would you leave me?” Shaurya shook his head. “Then how can you think I will leave you in this condition?”
“Prisha, even if we forget about my condition, I have so many issues. I can’t quit alcohol. I have fears about having children. Don’t you want to become a mother?” he asked painfully.
“About alcohol, you don’t have to quit immediately. Just drink rarely, and I believe that one day you will stop drinking. And about children,” she bent towards him, joining their foreheads, “Before yesterday, I might have stopped myself from being with you because of wanting children. But today, I know all I want is you. I want to be with you, and I am ready to make any sacrifice.”
“Why do you love me so much?” he asked with a smile, feeling blessed to have her in his life. He wondered what good he had done to deserve her.
“I’m wondering why I love you so much too because you’re just an arrogant man,” she teased him. He chuckled and said, “Okay, answer me when you figure it out.” They both looked at each other with hope and love, envisioning a better future and a peaceful life together.
A few days passed,
Shaurya was steadily recovering, thanks to Prisha’s unwavering love and care. He was finally happy and feeling blessed gaining her forgiveness despite his many mistakes. He vowed to be the best husband he could be for her, for the rest of his life. He snapped out of his thoughts when he heard Prisha’s voice, “Shaurya, do you want to eat an apple?”
He looked at her and nodded. She smiled and began cutting apples for him. Just then, a nurse entered the room and greeted him in a flirty tone, “Hello, sir, how are you feeling?” Both Prisha and Shaurya widened their eyes in surprise. Shaurya glanced at Prisha, who looked furious enough to kill the nurse. He smirked and responded softly, “I am fine, thank you.”
The nurse smiled and said, “Great, sir. Let me check your blood pressure.” As they chatted, Prisha watched them with growing jealousy.
“Sir, your blood pressure is normal,” the nurse said with the same flirty smile. Shaurya thanked her, but Prisha, unable to control her jealousy, angrily slammed the plate down and said, “Nurse, you look so free. Can you please feed him too?” She turned to leave, but Shaurya grabbed her hand and said, looking at the nurse, “Miss, you can go now. I think my sweet wife is angry about something.”
The nurse was shocked, trying to speak, but Shaurya glared at her and said sternly, “I’m saying something. Do you want me to call the Director of this hospital to talk to you personally?” She shook her head and quickly left the room.
Shaurya asked, caressing Prisha’s cheek, “Are you jealous, wifey?” Prisha turned away and said, “Yes.”
Shaurya held her chin, turning her face toward him, and said, “You don’t have to feel jealous. I am only yours. I was just teasing you.”
Prisha jerked his hand away and said, “Shaurya, this is my final warning. If you think about any other girl, I will kill you.” Shaurya chuckled, kissed her palm, and said, “Sorry, please don’t be upset.” She nodded, and he cupped her cheeks, pulling her toward him. Their lips were about to touch when Shivay entered and said teasingly, “I’m sorry.”
He walked in and said, “Mr. Shaurya, I know you are desperate to lose your virginity, but you have to control yourself. You need to get healthy before doing all this.”
Prisha’s face turned red, while Shaurya threw a pillow at Shivay and said, “Shut up, and tell me what you’re doing here.”
“There is a meditation and yoga center in Kerala. It’s like an Ayurvedic hospital. I believe if you stay there, it would help in your recovery. Besides, they have a program for quitting alcohol. What do you think?”
Shaurya looked at Prisha and said, “I don’t think it’s a good idea. The hospital here is good; I’ll recover here.” But Prisha interrupted him and said, “Bhai, please arrange everything for us. We are going.”
Shaurya was shocked. He turned to her and said, “But, Prisha, what about Mom? How would she manage alone? And we don’t know how long it will take.”
“Shaurya, don’t worry. Aditya and Bhai are here; they’ll look after Mom. Isn’t that right, Bhai?” she asked, looking at Shivay. He smiled and said, stroking her hair, “Of course, Prisha. Don’t worry about anything. I’ll manage everything.”
Prisha smiled at him, and Shaurya frowned, saying, “What, Prisha? Call her Bhabhi. You told me we are like brothers.”
“She is not my Bhabhi but my younger sister. And dare you, Mr. Shaurya, if you try to hurt my sister, I’ll break your legs,” Shivay said, hugging Prisha, bringing a big smile to her face. Shaurya rolled his eyes and said, “You’ have changed your team. When your wife comes, I’ll team up with her. Just wait and watch!” Shivay and Prisha laughed at his words.
Afterward, Prisha and Shaurya left for Kerala for Shaurya’s treatment.
After that, Prisha and Shaurya left for Kerala for Shaurya’s treatment. Their journey was not just a physical relocation but a significant step towards healing and rebuilding their relationship.
They arrived at the serene Ayurvedic hospital and yoga center nestled amidst the lush greenery of Kerala. The air was filled with the soothing scents of herbs and the calming sounds of nature. It was a place of tranquility, perfect for Shaurya’s recovery and for them to find peace.
Shaurya's initial days were challenging. The rigorous routine of yoga, meditation, and Ayurvedic treatments was tough for him, but Prisha was always by his side, encouraging him. She participated in the sessions with him, holding his hand through every struggle. Her presence was his motivation.
Every morning, they would wake up early for meditation sessions. Prisha would sit beside Shaurya, guiding him to focus and calm his mind. They laughed together, cried together.
As the weeks passed, Shaurya's condition began to improve. He was slowly regaining his strength and, more importantly, his will to fight his demons. The alcohol quitting program was tough, but with Prisha’s encouragement and the holistic treatments, he made significant progress.
Prisha’s love and dedication never wavered. She ensured that Shaurya felt loved and supported every step of the way. Her positivity and determination were infectious, making Shaurya believe that he could overcome his challenges.
Months went by, and Shaurya was no longer the same man who had arrived at the center. He was healthier, both physically and mentally. More importantly, he was hopeful about the future. He realized the depth of Prisha’s love for him and was determined to be the best husband for her.
One evening, after a particularly good day of therapy, Shaurya took Prisha’s hand and said, “Prisha, thank you for everything. I don’t know what I did to deserve you, but I promise I will spend my life making it up to you.”
Prisha smiled, tears glistening in her eyes, “Shaurya, you don’t have to make anything up to me. Just promise me that we’ll face everything together, no matter what.”
Shaurya kissed her hand, “I promise, Prisha. Together, always.”
Their journey in Kerala was not just about Shaurya’s recovery but about rebuilding their relationship on a stronger foundation. They left the center with a renewed sense of hope, ready to face the world together, hand in hand.