JLS HOSPITAL

The following day, Sonakshi went to meet Dr Diwakar in the hospital. He was shocked seeing her there.

"Arre Sonakshi?? Aao...aao beta" he said

She slowly walked towards him and sat down. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Diwakar hesitatingly asked her, "Sonakshi...tumhaari maa ne tumhe yaha bheja hai kya??"

"Nahiin uncle. Maa ko kuch nahiin pata. Woh yeh nahiin jaanti hain ki main yahaan aayi hun." She answered

"Ohh" he said

"Uncle. Aapse ek baat puchun?? Aap please iska sach sach answer de gein naa??" She asked hopefully

"Ha..haan..pu..pucho" he replied but with fear in his heart. What if she asks something which he wont be able to answer?? What if she asks about her medical condition??

But his worst fears came true when, Sonakshi asked, "Uncle mujhe kya hua hai?? Kya bimaari hai mujhe??"

"Um..woh...aisi koi baat nahiin hai beta. Tumne studies aur sports mein kuch zyada hi mehnat kar li hai. Bass aaram ki zaroorat hai. Aur kuch nahiin" he spoke while averting his gaze from her. He couldn't look into her eye and lie straight on her face.

"Uncle...aap mujhse kuch chupa rahe hai naa..." she said sadly

"Nahiin...nahiin beta. Aisa kuch nahiin hai. Aur agar hogi bhi toh uski chinta hum, doctors karenge. Tum kyon itni pareshaan ho rahi ho?? he said and tried to force a smile

Just then a wardboy entered and said, "Sir, Room no 12 wale patient aapka wait kar rahe hain."

Diwakar got up and said, "Haan..haan...Main abhi aaya. Sonakshi, tum yahin baitho..jaana mat. Main tumhe khud ghar drop karunga (and turned towards the wardboy) madam ke liye fresh fruit juice le kar aao" and left his cabin.

Sonakshi sat there, not being able to decide as to how would she know about her condition. But one thing was true for sure. Her mother and Doctor Uncle were definitely hiding something from her.

Just then, the intercom in the cabin rang. Sonakshi looked here and there for some wardboy to come and pick the call, but there was no one. So, she herself decided to pick it.

She picked the receiver and heard a male voice speaking, "Hello....Dr Khanna...this is Dr Kapoor"

"Yes Dr Kapoor...boliye" it was Dr Diwakar on the other side. He had picked up the intercom which was located in the patient's room.

Hearing his voice, Sonakshi was about to put down the receiver but stopped in her tracks when she heard her name.

"Woh Sonakshi Bose ki reports ke baare mein baat karna tha aapse" spoke Dr Kapoor

"Yes..." he spoke nervously

"Am sorry Dr Khanna. The culture and biopsy reports are positive. Its a straight case of leukamia. BLOOD CANCER

Sonakshi's world stopped at that moment. She couldn't believe what she heard and her head started spinning. The receiver fell from her hands and she was shattered.

On the other hand, Dr Diwakar was speechless. Not a single word came from his mouth. He excused himself from the patient and walked towards his cabin. He had to face Sonakshi. He can't be weak. He made a strong face and entered, "Haan Sonakshi...main yeh keh raha tha ki.." but there was no one in his cabin. The washroom door was also unlatched. He was wondering where did she go and then his eyes fell on the receiver lying on the floor.

He immediately understood what must have happened and rushed towards Sonakshi's home.
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BOSE HOUSE

Meanwhile, Sonakshi returned home totally broken from inside and saw Asha waiting for her restlessly. She couldn't control herself and ran to hug her.

"Sona....kahaan chali gayi thi tum?? Apna phone bhi nahiin saath le gayi. Pata hai main kitni pareshaan ho gayi thi" Asha said worriedly while hugging her

"Itne dinon se ghar mein baithe baithe bore ho gayi thi naa...isliye bahar chali gayi (broke the hug and faced towards her back) par maa....aaj sab kitna accha lag raha...log bhi kitne acche hain. Aaj...aaj main bohot khush hun" she spoke fighting back her tears.

"Accha...accha theek hai. Itna kyon bol rahi ho Sona?? Jao jaake aaram karo. Main tumhaare liye soup le aati hun" said Asha

"Nahiin maa....maine decide kiya hai aaj se saara kaam main hi karungi. Aap kuch mat karna" Sonakshi tried to force a smile

"Sona...ghar ke zyadatar kaam to tum hi karti ho. Aaj aisi kaunsi nayi baat hogayi??" Asha asked

"Nayi baat?? Nahiin maa...koi nahiin baat nahiin hai. Mujhe bhi apne responsibilities ko samjhna chahiye naa" said Sonakshi trying to hide away the pain that was reflecting on her face.

"Sona...aaj tumhe kya ho gaya??" Asha cupped her face

"Kuch nahiin maa....aaj main bohot khush hun naa. Isliye. Aap nahiin jaanti ki main aapse kitna pyaar karti hun" she said again engulfing her in a hug.

But Asha was quick enough to guess that something was wrong with her daughter today. Before she could even ask anything, Sonakshi said, "Maa...main apne room mein jaati hun. Thak gayi hu naa" and ran away before she broke down in front of her mother.

Asha was standing in hall itself, confused over her behaviour when Dr Diwakar rushed inside.

"Asha....Sonakshi ghar aayi??" he asked worriedly

"Jee Sir...abhi aayi." Asha answered

"Aaj woh hospital aayi thi. Aur usse shayad sab kuch pata chal gaya hai" he spoke guiltily.

Asha's eyes widened in shock and tears spilled out of her eyes. Diwakar came towards her and said, "Asha...tum Sonakshi ki maa ho. Agar tum aisi ro gi toh usse kaun sambhlega?? Give her the courage to fight, Asha. Jao uske paas aur usse sambhalo" he consoled her.
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Asha enteted Sonakshi's room only to see that the entire room was dark and Sonakshi was standing near the window. She hesitatingly walked towards her and kept her hand oh her shoulder. Sonakshi turned towards her mother with her tear stained face and red eyes. Asha couldn't control herself and hugged her with all her might. Both of them cried bitterly in each other's embrace. After a while, Sonakshi broke out of the hug and said, "Devvvv!!" leaving both of them in deep thoughts.
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Next Morning, she woke up to the voice of Dev calling her.

"Good morning Sona!! Tabiyat kaisi hai??" asked Dev

Sonakshi forced a smile and said, "Ekdum theek hai. Aur aaj tum college nahiin gaye??"

"Nahiin...mann nahiin kiya (bent down and touched her forehead) Arre...tumhe toh abhi bhi fever hai!!" he exclaimed

"Toh kya hua. Do- chaar din mein theek ho jaungi" and smiled

"Do- chaar din?? He asked shocked

"Haan...!! Jab tak main college nahiin jaati, tab tak tum meri share ki bhi padhayi kar lena. Ok??" she said

"Woh kuch bhi ho. Jab tak tum theek nahiin ho jaati, main college vollege jaana wala nahiin" he replied making a cute face

"Dev?? Meri thodi si tabiyat kharaab hone par tum padhayi chod doge?? Agar main marr gayi toh??" she said without even realising it.

"Sonaaa...khabardar aisa fir kaha toh. Aisi faaltu ki baat ki toh zor se maarunga tumhe" he spoke angrily

Sonakshi's face fell and eyes brimmed with tears. Dev immediately realised that he was too harsh on her. He cupped her face and said, "Am sorry Sona. Mere woh matlab nahiin tha. Par tumne aisi baat ki toh mujhe gussa aa gaya. Tum mere liye sabse important ho. I can't even imagine my life without you. Please aisa fir mat kehna."

Tears rolled down Sonakshi's cheeks and Dev hugged her tightly to console her. He thought that Sonakshi was hurt as he had scolded her for the first time. Little did he knew, that Sonakshi feared for him. Feared what would happen if he comes to know that she has blood cancer. Or what if she dies?? How will he survive??

They broke out of the hug after a few minutes and Dev wiped away her tears. "Am really sorry. Please maaf kardo. Aage se kabhi nahiin chillaunga tum par" he said apologetically. "Its ok" Sonakshi smiled in between her tears.

"Dev?? Tum yahaan??" asked Asha coming from kitchen.

"Haan Maa...Sona itne dinon se college nahiin aayi toh miss kar raha tha. Ab aadat ho gayi hai naa. Uske bina mann nahiin lagta" he said smilingly whereas Asha and Sonakshi exchanged silent glances.

"Ohh...lekin Dev, iski tabiyat kharaab hai. Isliye college nahiin jaa sakegi. Tum kyon apni studies ko neglect kar rahe ho?? Final exams bhi toh hain do mahinon baad. Aur tumhe first aana hai ki nahiin??" said Asha

"Nahiin maa. First nahiin, second. First place is reserved for my topper Sona...haina" he said winking at Sonakshi while she just passed a faint smile.

"Lekin maa...aap kehti hain toh jaata hun. Aur aap donon se ek important baat kehne aaya tha. Woh toh reh hi gaya... This Sunday, that is, 25th, Dad is organising a party...Actually not a party but our engagement party. Pandit ji ne date nikal di hai" he said enthusiastically

Asha and Sonakshi were dumbfounded. Words were stuck in their throat. Such a happy occasion and they couldn't even rejoice!!

"Aree kya hua?? Aap donon itne shocked kyon hain?? Dad bhi aap ko phone kar denge maa....bass mujhse raha nahiin gaya isliye turant chala aaya. Ab main chalta hun. Aur Sona...please hamari engagement tak theek ho jaana. Bye Maa...Bye Sona" and he left.

As soon as he left, Sonakshi hugged her mother and cried, "nahiin maa...nahiin. Iss engagement ko roko. Main Dev se engagement nahiin kar sakti. Usse yeh sab pata nahiin chala chahiye. Nahiin toh..." and wept inconsolably
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