Tata memorial cancer hospital and research centre , kolkata....

Three weeks of tests and more tests and trephine biopsies that followed....
After naina had agreed to take. Further treatment....

The cold and smelly hospital rooms.... Where the anxious faces of drs.... Passing a friendly smile....with an uncertain expression
... He couldn't tell if she was pretending to be calm... Or is she actually that strong... As he would watch her fighting against all odds with sheer courage and will power....

But will power doesn't alone have a remarkable impact on your blood picture or bone marrow aspirate...sometimes you also need luck by your side....
And to take a record of it Being supportive in her case....one could clearly tell that her odds were as few as a comet hitting the earth at that very moment......
Her life was a certified tragedy.....when closely looked at....

Dr vernon:wehave started her on a newer set of drugs.... .....replacing methotrexate.... But given her delicate liver we can hardly tell how effective it has been so far.... Its been three months from the start of remission induction therapy .... But no signs of remission...... At all....

Rajveer ':i m. Sorry dr... But your complex. Medical language... Doesn't sink in.... Can u explain... What can exactly be done to get her better

Dr vernon.. :i m sorry.... But these complex terms are merely a cover up..... For saying that probably.... Only miracle would save her....

His blood was boiling.... At the casualty of the tone of the attending dr...

What do u mean...there has to be some way...... To save her..... "him in a puddle of tears barely able to make up the sentence

"dr vernon shared a sympathetic look..... And left....what else could he do....... In this case...

......

She just woke up to find him sitting in his proximity.... A deep thoughtful expression...

" hey there... Done beating around the bush"she teased him with a mocking tone......

" yupp... Surely..... "he replied with same tone." someone seems to be really looking forward to an afterlife...... Turns out your immune system... Is as stubborn as you are..... No signs of remission or recovery.... As dr. S said"

"told ya.... No use.... These therapies suck big time.... I know that..... And my back.... And ass both are itchy.... And these iv drips suck..... And i hate this smell" she made all sorts of faces........

"Plus its really embarassing as the nurse comes up to clean that bed pan..... Do u mind if we go home... "she narrowed her eyes..." and she looks damn tired of wiping my ass.... As well.... Please us bechari par to thoda rehem karo..... Mujhpr na sahi.... "

He gave her an expression.... As if telling her to have some pity......on him.....

" seriously.... U choose this moment to joke...... "

" guess there's no other option...... Besides. I have pro level skills joking about my own misery....... If it were not for this nasty cancer.... I would have made for an outstanding stage comedian" she giggles.....

"you are too sexy..... To be laughed at...... Besides men would rather be confused whether to laugh at ur pro level jokes.... Or to rush to the bathrooms....... Controlling their boners" he remarked...... It was quite bold of him.... But she chuckled so hard.......
"men are too  visual.....did you..... I mean was i that arousing" she asked curiously

"every single time........" he confessed in a husky tone........ Matching her dark sense of humour..... "and your innocence was the cherry on top." he smiles sexually.......
" ..but you know a secret this nasty unfiltered tone of yours is damn arousing as well ...."

"you do know you sound like a pervert...... I wish i knew back then.... That you have a thing for bitches" she taunted........

They have have learnt learnt to crack jokes on most uncomfortable truths of their lives in a short time.......
.
The level of openness and comfort same as a couple in their fifties who had spent a long journey seeing each other brush and floss together

That companionship those moments she had always longed for in a one year long relationship where she tried so hard to find a key to his locked heart.......it was now that she sees his soul clearly through his eyes and often gets startled witnessing an image of hers so clearly reflecting in it

They burst out laughing.......

Next thing she knew was they were having tears in their eyes........

"what did dr. Say........ Is there really no way"

"we are shifting to aiims delhi...... . Tommorow ............. They seem to have a whole imported bunch of attending oncologists...... I had mailed your reports to them.....and finally managed to get an appointment....... From them... And six other oncology centers around the country........ So be prepared for a long torturous trip......... "his eyes still shining full of hope.........

" don't give up....... Hang in there........ I will save you i promise......... "

He said with an honest but shockingly firm tone.........

" you almost sound like one of those cliché superheroes in movies..... But
...... What about jiya"

She questions worriedly

"don't worry about her............. I ll take care" he assures

"that tone of responsiblity ... Huh     ......but its damn sexy" she confesses and a blush creeps on his face...........

"way sexier than a passive pervert i was once married to" she giggles......

There is a hint of guilt that emerges the surface but that needs to be shrugged off........

He enjoys this changed dark version of her.............. Falling for her wits her attitude......... Her nasty comebacks......... He had missed these aspects of her personality or say overlooked them......... .

The time they were together........ It was like he met an amazing person........ And was falling for every bit of her once again.....

She used to observe a different person .....full of determination.. ..... And patience...

Who wouldn't budge as she would insult him to the face taking her pain out on him.......... Who would tuck her and jiya to sleep singing lullabys and narrating stories like a mother.......

Who would comfort her and pat her hair........... Clean her soiled bedding and carcasses wash her clothes  , plait jiya's hair with utmost perfection and tenderness
They have become companions......... Who would crack adult jokes....... speaking in codes...... In jiya's presence.. .........
He would often notice the glimpses of his late friend in her....... She was so much like naveen........ Facing a catastrophe like a hero............ With all grace and humour

The cracks have not been mended......
And her health keeps on deteriorating..... Each day taking away small increments from the hope they had collected with a lot of effort........
But they will fight as long as they can........ Like a team............. like a family

......

"mamma one more story na"
Jiya in her lap poor kid too bored by the hospital and the serious atmosphere

"jiya go to sleep jaan........ Mamma aapko kal suna degi story" shee sighed a little sadly as a look of disappointment clearly visible on her munchkin 's face

"mai sunau aapko story" rajveer asked softly

"yayyyyyy" jiya chirped her reverse smile line shifted in an opposite direction resembling one of those glittering one's in the toothbrush commercials

"mind u..... Koi decent bacchon wali story aati he tumhe" she made fun of him

"o hello...

" I m not that big a pervert okaay.... Aati he mujhe stories " he a screws his nose looking like a fresh icecream cake....... And naina started to laugh out loud
" mumma pervert matlab "she asked cutely and rajveer bit his tongue.........

She glared at rajveer....... And he mouthed a sorry.....there was clearly a lot of improvement needed on his part..... But poor guy had been really working hard on parenting skills so she decides to forgive him once

"beta jab aap bade ho jaoge na....... Tab bataunga okkay" he said

"nai abhi batao" she stomped

"okkay to aap ko story sunna he ke meaning jaanna he"

She cutely scratches her head in indecision.....and frowns
"story sunna he" she says pouting decisively too drowsy but having no heart to sleep missing the storytelling session

"that's good...... . To ye story he ek khoobsurat rajkumari ki jo apne bhaiyya ke saath rehti thi.........."
He started

"us rajkumari ki aankhen itni pyaari thi.....bilkul pariyon jesi....."

"mumma jesi???" jiya asked lovingly getting patted by her mom

"jiya jesi" he answered

"ek din wo apne bhaiyya ke saath ghumne chali gai........ Jungle me "

"wahan use ek ghayal raj kumar mila.....
Rajkumari ko usse pyaar ho gaya..... Par wo nahi jaanti thi ke rajkumar ke pas to tuta hua dil tha"

Jiya was excited........
."bohot mehnat se aur pyaar se usne rajkumar ko theek kiya"

Jiya was asleep by now but he brely noticed it....... And went on
"par jese hi rajkumar ko hosh aaya wo rajkumari ko bhool chuka tha"
"wo wapas apni purani duniya me laut gaya bina us rajkumari ko thankyou bole........ Bina use pehchane"
"phir" naina asked her eyes moist too

"rajkumar ko kuch din ke baad ye ehsaas hua......uske paas jo dil tha....... Wo us rajkumari ka hi to tha...aur wo uska tuta hua dil lekar chali gayi....... Use ek nayi. Zindagi dee kar"

"phir kua hua" her voice hoarse while he started sobbing ..... Could no longer continue

"kya wo rajkumari use mili.... Usne. Maaf kiya rajkumar ko" she asked with a voice filled with grief and curiosity

"pata nahi" he replied looking in her eyes his vision fogged by the tears collected afresh in them

"tum batao na" requesting her............ But she keeps quite closing her eyes allowing  the moment to pass