#10 MR. VULNERABLE Khanna.!!

"WHAAATT...!!!" Neil's shrilled voice, subjected to someone on his phone, echoed in the whole station with intensity enough to shiver the furnitures let alone the human forms present there, including DD whose Ear drums barely managed to survive a rupture with an ultimate close call, owing to his Position just beside Neil.

The Unintentional Voice attack was soon followed by a loud thud as He slumped lifelessly on his chair making the poor luckless Electronic Device on his hand to fall mercilessly on floor only to be broken down into countless tiny pieces, just like his heart right now courtesy the untoward news he just received.

His eyes blood shot, muscles paralysed, eyelids fail to blink and heart Froze, barely managed to whisper "Avni.!!". A lone tear succeded in sneaking through the corner of his eyes in an attempt to embrace his cheek. And before it could be followed by more, making a flow of stream, he composed himself, hastly reached out to his car keys and stormed off.

The agonising site presented to DD was enough to give him an insight of what might be the reason, or rather WHO, more precisely. But Neil didnt allow him much time to sink in the situation before reacting and so DD did what he always do without giving a second thought and word, Be by the side of His Sirji as the most trusted disciple he is. And so Acting on the known fact, he ran behind him with long strides so as to reach him before he drove off.

ACP Neil Khanna, the strict and stern Law abider, today became a centurian in breaking Laws including all the Red Signals that otherwise would have posed a delay of few seconds in reaching his Wifey. The reason was simple, he wasnt an ACP now, he was an apprehensive little boy driven by his Love and the fear of losing the same Love. When the emotions charge u, you fail to recognise your own self. DD has never seen him driving so rashly, except for once or twice maybe, the reason for which also very much revolved round the same Person.

As soon as he entered the hospital's corridor near OT, the only capable word that has shaken his very life now, he saw Shweta and Prakash pacing in front of its Entrance door with Worry and Anxiety written in bold on their faces. Neela was unconsolably crying sitting on the nearby bench while Bebe was trying her futile attempts to comfort her.

Being a police officer, he had been subjected to worst scenarios possible and he has handled them too with flying colors, but a mere glance at Neelamaa's soaked saree in Colour of Danger, the traces of which were also present on his Mother's suit, made him numb, his neurons failed to comprehend and he needed some extra efforts to squeez out the caught air inside his lungs. Blood.!! HER Blood. His mind registered the untold story of how gravely she has been hurt.

He directly headed towards Neela. "Neela Maa. Ye sab kya hai.? Meri Avni ko kuch nahi hua hai na.? Vo Thik hai na.? Huh.? Boliye na Neela Maa.?" He shook her vehemently, desparately in need of a positive answere from her but unfortunately he just received a stream of freshly formed tears and few more sobs in response from her. His heart sank deeper to his gut and eyes refused to remain dry.

He collapsed on the floor placing his head on Neela's lap, sobbing like an innocent child. "Ye sab Kaise...?" He somehow dragged those incohorent words. Shweta instantly was by his side silently soothing him through her gentle pat on his back, while herself struggling for some comfort.

"Sab Meri Vajah se hua Hai, Neil. Mai zimmedar hu Apni Bacchi ki iss Halat ki." Neela declared with blank eyes staring into nothingness, loosing herself deeply in puddle of guilt. "Mujhe maaf kardo Neil. Mujhe maaf kar do..!!" Those words crashed on Neil as not less than any Proclaimed Bomb.

He instantaneously felt the sense of his responsibilities that his Wifey had given him, to take care of and Handle Neela Maa in her physical absence. And He can do anything but failing his Wifey. So now he knew he has a hurricaneously tough work in his hand, to assure Neela Maa along with wiping away her guilt, with the added load of working on himself, to compose his demenour. He cant loose himself like this.

He leaned up to reach her. "Nahi Neela Maa, Dont say that.! Aapse galti se bhi Aesa kuch nahi hosakta hai. Mai janta hu." He said cupping her face, trying his best to console another broken soul with definately more peircing pain than what he is feeling. He promply engulfed her in his Warm Soothing Embrace. Exactly the thing Neela needed the most in that moment, his words and his Comfort.

Later Prakash filled him on the required details of the dreadful Accident that landed Avni on Hospital bed. On Neela's persistant insistance Avni, Shweta and Neela went out to have some "We Time" after what felt like ages. While Neela was crossing the road to reach their parked Vehicle, she didn't notice the Car heading towards her in full speed. Before she could receive a strong dash, Avni pushed her away and Took the fatal dash on herself. By the time Neela realised, the car had already rammed into her, and even before it could halt with a sudden jolt, her head had already made a contact with the tarred road lying amidst the puddle of blood.

Prakash also informed Neil about the gravity of the fall as doctors Confirmed that Avni has suffered Major internal bleeds which has soon organised into blood clots inside her brain[ref. Subdural Heamatoma] and if not removed at earliest The building pressure from the Advanced Clots on brain can severly jeopardise her Brain's function, the range of which vary from Paralysis, loss of Voice to even loss of Memory. There were chance of her Vision loss too owing to the another Hit her head has sufferdd while she collapsed on ground, the other being on her temple through Car's Fatal dash. That explain the rush in which she was taken inside OT for surgery without even waiting for his arrival.

Suddently Neil felt the Air to be too heavy to even enter inside his lungs. His Insides knotted in uncertainity. He ran to the OT gate with a speed of light, peeking through its transparent glassy half, in desparate need to see the only Face that can give him some sort of assurance in that moment. But to his dismay, he didnt receive any.

He slumped against the Door in a state of morbund and defunct, on the floor just outside the OT where Avni was being treated, where His Existence Lies, probably battling with her own existence.! He stare into nothingness being completely Lifeless and motionless. Unknown to him, a stream of salty water find their way from his blood shot eyes making his cheeks wet in the process.

*******

Few hours passed by and nothing actually changed for him except his seating position from Floor outside OT to Nearby Steel Chair beside NeelaMaa. For the first time in life, Neil felt the weight of the whole world on his shoulders. Until now, in every problem he faced, Avni was always by his side, sharing his pain and supporting him, come what may.

She possessed such a pure soul, filled with so much of warmth that it managed to even thaw and warm his icy heart, after the loss of The First Love of his Life, setting it ablaze with the fire of her love. She possessed such a selfless Little Heart, albeit on Right Side, that it didnt ever wished anything bad even for her enemies. What Did She even do to Endure this.? What bad did he has done to Go through the Fear of Loosing His Love, His Life.? The Destiny is being So Harsh and Cruel to them.!!

He let out a defeated sigh "Take away my everything, but just spare her. I want nothing but her. Please just let her be alright. Please..." he whispered desperately to the walls of the hospital, hoping and praying that some divine force has mercy on him and just accepts his prayers.

As if The Almighty heard him, the OT Door pushed open and A team of Medical personnels came out along with Treating Doctor, removing his OT Mask and Cap. Soon everybody enveloped him effectively blocking his way and bombarding him with their sets of questions.

"Mrs. Khanna is out of Danger now. We will Reasses her as soon as she will regain her consciousness." The Doctor declared. His words came as the answers to their silent unsaid Prayers.

Soon Avni was shifted to ICU for her better and speedy recovery. She was immediately followed by Neil. One of the ward boys tried escorting Neil outside the ICU only to have him yell at him and murdering him through his hostile glare, declaring that although he would not interfere with any medical procedures, he would not leave his wifey's side even for a second.

The sight that met his eyes broke him into pieces. With numerous tubes and wires attached to her, she looked weak, frail, fragile and pale. The bandage that was dressed around her head concealed the bleeding wound, but the purplish-brownish bruises on her cheek, chin and lips told him how fatal the accident was, and how close he would have been to losing her. The thought itself made him shiver. He carefully held her hand in his, and bent his head to kiss it. Tears streamed down his cheek when he saw her lying there almost lifelessly.

"Harr baar apni manmaani karni hi hoti hai na tumhe?" He said in a choked voice, knowing that she couldn't hear him. "Ye bhi nahi socha Tumhare bina Mera kya haal hoga.? Mai kaise Jeeunga." His voice broke and trailed off..

Avni refused to say anything. More tears streamed down his cheek as he sobbed like a child. Then wiping away his tears with both hands, he said in an apologetic tone, "Accha baba, sorry... Main Gussa nahi karunga... I promise. Lekin tum bhi promise karo ke tum jaldi thik ho ke, jaldh se jaldh mujhse baat karogi..." Neil stared at her with tears welling up in his eyes, and his heart slowly breaking into pieces with her lifeless silence. "Baat karogi na? Mujhe dantogi na.? Mujhse jhagda karogi na.?" he said, breaking down into bitter tears next to her.

******

Almost 2 days has passed after her surgery but still there was no sign of her consciousness, something worrying her loved ones beyond words and blanketing their hearts with unsaid Fear, A grave fear of Loss and Uncertainity. Even doctors couldnt pinpoint the exact reason for the same.

"All her blood investigations and Radiological reports are Fine. Even her body is responding but her Mind has Literally stunned, More like Frozen, maybe from the sudden and forceful Shock that her brain has suffered." Doctor informed his squinting languaue to Neil. Neela and Prakash looked on.

Neil has had enough of this bookish knowledge of these nerds. He stormed off the cabin totally dismissing the further discussion, to His Avni followed behind by Neela and Prakash. He know she can not leave him alone, come what may. She is an unimaginably strong and brave women. What rubbish is this, Frozen Mind n all.? He will let his Warmth and Love Reach her, at any cost. He will bring her back from her slumber.

He sat by her side admiring her through his teary eyes. She is the first warm ray of sunshine on a cold winter morning; she is the gentle summer breeze; she is the first drop of rain; she is the color to his colorless canvas; she is the meaning to his otherwise empty life. Infact She is His Life. He cant afford to loose her. And He wont Let her go Ever.!!!

He leaned upto her level cupping her cheeks in his hand, gently rubbing it from the pulp of his fingers. "Suna tumne Avni, Ye Doctor kya keh Rahe the. Bata do unhe ki Tum Fighter ho, Tum Meri Lady Don ho. Prove them wrong.!" His eyes brimmed with newly formed Tears and he sniffed trying to control them. "Mai janta hu tumhe kuch nahi hua hai. U can hear me. Meri dhadkan iss baat ka Saboot hai." He started sobbing unstopably. "Please Laut aao Avni, Apne Stupid Pati ke paas,Laut Aao. Kyunki Tum ho toh mai Hoo. Apni Avni ke bina Neil kuch nahi hai.. Kuch nahi.." He touched his forehead with her, still crying making incoherent sounds.

A lone tear rolled down through his cheek and fell in her mouth. Few more tear drops fell on her face and as a reflex her Eyelids twitched immediately. The tear drop turned to be a magical elixir for her and she suddenly gasped, whispering a faint "Neil..!!" The whole scene unfolding in front of Neela and Prakash who shed happy tears now.

Neil couldnt beleive his senses. He placed few loving feathery kisses on her face, very tenderly and carefully, being overwhelmed on savouring his Treasure of Life. He wanted to hug her but the instruments on her body denied him a full access to her and so he went along with his trail of kisses. Avni smiled weakly but her eyes sparkled.

He caressed her cheek through his in an attempt to partially hug her. "Ouch.. Neil.. Tum..hari.. dadhi chubh rahi hai.." Avni whispered with whatever of strength her body has. She felt his lips curving in a smile on her skin. "You Are truly a Miss Ajooba, Wifey." He said pulling away from her. She smiled and didnt forget to correct him "Mrs Ajooba.!!" He smiled through his tears and now Finally His Heart sought its Peace.

To be Continued in Next Shade Story.!!!

Love
Riya