Chapter 56 #4
The older man knew Dev was connected to Shaurya through Aakriti, though he didn't know they were best friends.
"How is he? Is it a brain stroke?" Akansha asked.
Dr. Rajeev Chauhan nodded.
"Yes, a brain stroke. But mild. We need to keep him under observation for three to four days. Mrs. Shekhawat, you have to convince him because he won't willingly stay away from work that long. That stubbornness is what brought him to this situation."
"Sorry?" Akansha asked, confused.
"He had been experiencing throbbing headaches for days.
I even prescribed medicine the other night and asked him to visit me the next day, but he didn't. His symptoms sounded alarming, so I kept asking him to come in, but he neglected it.
He was finally supposed to visit today, but cancelled again.
We could have avoided this if he had gotten the tests done earlier", Dr. Chauhan said.
Akansha fisted her palms, struggling to contain the fury rising inside her. So that night, his irritated tone had been because of unbearable pain. Damn that man and his tolerance.
Anyone else suffering that kind of pain would have shouted, screamed, thrown something, or at least let their suffering spill out. But this man had struggled only to keep his tone from turning rude to her.
Suddenly, tears filled her eyes.
The way he always treated her with respect and love broke something inside her. If this was how much control he showed even through soul-wrenching pain, how much must it have killed him to be harsh toward her after their marriage?
She had studied that people with hemorrhagic strokes often suffered the worst headaches, and she knew his stroke had to be hemorrhagic if the headaches had come before. If it were another kind, it would likely have been sudden.
It had come with warnings. So many warnings. And Shaurya had ignored all of them. He was so dead once he woke up.
"Mrs. Shekhawat, please convince him. It's important we keep him under observation for at least three days. People who suffer mild strokes carry a risk of a major stroke within the next forty-eight hours. We need to monitor him closely", Dr. Rajeev said.
"Don't worry. He will stay here for as many days as you advise", Akansha assured, wiping her tears and fighting hard not to cry.
"What do you mean by risk of major stroke?" Dev demanded. "If you know there's a risk, prevent it. Give him medicines, injections, whatever is needed."
Dr. Chauhan looked at Dev strangely.
Between Akansha's forced composure and Dev's hyper concern, it almost felt like Dev was Shaurya's wife and Akansha his best friend.
"We are doing everything possible, Mr. Bisht. But for proper treatment, we need Shaurya to cooperate", Dr. Chauhan said.
Dev nodded reluctantly.
"Tell me one thing, Doctor", Akansha said. "What caused the stroke?"
"As you may have already realized, Dr. Akansha, this is a hemorrhagic stroke.
It appears to have resulted from a past injury, possibly from years ago.
The vessels weakened by that injury may have suddenly burst. Fortunately, it's mild.
The bleeding is small and limited, and we've controlled his blood pressure.
We'll see how he responds to treatment. For now, he is stable", Dr. Chauhan explained.
"So it's not AFib?" she asked immediately.
He shook his head.
"No. Shaurya's family does have a history of it.
His grandfather had it, his father has it too, so there is a high chance for him as well.
But as of now, we haven't observed anything like that in him.
You don't have to worry about that for the moment.
However, mental distress, anxiety, and depression have certainly fueled his current condition.
Please make sure he doesn't undergo excessive stress.
Otherwise, there is a risk of another stroke. "
"I'll make sure he isn't stressed. Thank you, Doctor", Akansha said, exhaling shakily.
"Mrs. Shekhawat, I would also need his reports from the past accident", Dr. Chauhan added. Akansha frowned. "The head injury appears connected to the accident he had more than six years ago", he clarified.
Akansha went still. The same accident. The one where he had been stabbed while trying to save her. She swallowed hard, forcing her tears back.
"We'll get those reports, Doctor. Thank you", Dev answered for her before guiding Akansha out of the cabin.
He knew she wouldn't be able to hold herself together much longer, and she would be embarrassed if she broke down in front of the doctor.
"I'll get the reports from the hospital where he was treated. You stay here. I'll come back with them, okay? I'll send Rachna here", Dev said gently.
"Dev..." Akansha's voice cracked. "Am... am I the reason behind this?"
Dev's eyes welled up seeing the strong woman finally break. Her vulnerability hurt him.
"No. Of course not. Don't you dare blame yourself. Shaurya will get another stroke if he sees you crying and blaming yourself like this, and then you will be the reason for that", Dev joked weakly.
Akansha shook her head, wiping her tears.
"I'll ask Rachna to bring lunch for you. Eat something. It's already too late", he said.
She nodded faintly.
"Wait... oh God, Siya..." Akansha suddenly remembered and called, "Suraj..."
Suraj immediately walked toward her.
"Suraj... Siya... Did Jasmeet bring her home?" Akansha asked, holding her head.
How could she forget her daughter? It had already been three or four hours since school ended. Fortunately, the staff knew Siya well and would have taken care of her, but worry still gripped Akansha.
"Yes, ma'am. Jasmeet brought her home. She was asking for you. Mrs. Sudha is handling her", Suraj informed.
"Don't let her know anything. We won't be able to handle her if she finds out Shaurya is sick", Akansha said quickly.
Suraj nodded.
"She is upset that Shaurya sir didn't pick her up from school. She's throwing tantrums. Jasmeet called. It's getting difficult to handle her because she keeps insisting on seeing sir. You were inside the doctor's cabin, so I couldn't inform you earlier", Suraj said.
Akansha sighed helplessly.
"Dev, take her to your place and ask Rachna to stay home. She'll forget her Dadda for a while if she's busy playing with Ishaan and Ivaan", Akansha said. Dev nodded. "I'll send food through Ashwini", he added.
"Don't bother him. I'll eat from the café here or ask someone to get it from home", Akansha replied.
"It's not a bother. Relax. I'll come back with the reports. Take care", Dev said before leaving.
Akansha walked toward the ICU.
The doctor had said not to disturb Shaurya, but she could see him. She stepped inside quietly and sat on the couch, staring at him. Her heart clenched painfully at the sight of him lying on a hospital bed. It looked wrong.
Shaurya barely ever fell sick. He took care of his health so carefully that she had never imagined seeing him like this.
Was this how he had looked years ago when he got injured saving her?
Maybe worse.
His condition had been critical then. Tears slipped from her eyes as she looked at him. Stress had triggered his stroke. And why was he stressed? She knew very well.
Was this how deeply her suffering affected him?
Damn him.
Why did he have to love her so much?