"I'm sorry, he's no more"

Flatline. Asystole. Lifeless. Dead. Whatever your preferred way of saying it doesn't change the facts, that there was no more brain activity. Her eyes glanced up as she saw the straight green line on the monitor, emitting a continuous high pitched tone. Then silence, as the nurse switched off the monitor and pulled the plug on the only ventilator attached to his body.

Nurse: Anika....

The woman's gaze shifted from the shut down monitor to the senior and familiar nurse staff beside her.

Nurse:  please formalities poori karo
(Please complete the formalities)

Anika: ji, mein aati
(Yes, I'll come)

They both began to walk along the corridor and down the staircase.

Nurse: mujhe pata hai it's hard, lekin apne aap ko sambhalna padega
(I know it's hard, but you have to handle yourself)

Anika: mein manage kar lungi Pammi Ji
(I will manage, Pammi Ji)

Anika walked with the nurse, whom she had got to know well enough due to prior hospital visits. Soon they approached the main desk and Anika's trembling hands managed to sign the remaining documents.
Randomly, three upset men who appeared to be troubled caught her eyes as they roamed here and there. She could identify that they were angry on the doctor leaving the operation theatre, as their shouts were evident of that.

Anika: Pammi ji, voh log vaha, kyu aaye?
(Pammi Ji, those people there, why have they come?)

The nurse patted the shoulder of an intern surgeon, who was submerged in her paperwork

Pammi: Sheila, voh log kyu aaye?
(Sheila, why are they here?)

Sheila: ma'am, voh log Oberoi's hai. Tej Singh Oberoi ka heart attack hua aur usko transplant ki zarurat hai
(Ma'am, they are the Oberoi's. Tej Singh Oberoi has had a heart attack and is in need of a heart transplant)

Pammi: reports dikhaye
(Show the reports)

The nurse took the file from the young doctor and began to flick through the few pages in it.

Anika: Pammi ji, kuch hair kya...
(Pammi Ji, is there something...)

Pammi: ek minat Anika
(One minute Anika)

The nurse shushed her for a second as her attention traveled back to the papers.

Pammi: iska aur tere Papa ka match hai
(His reports and your father's match)

Anika: aapka matlab ki mein uss Uncle ka jaan bacha sakti, balki mere Papa bacha sakta?
(So you mean I can save his life, well, my father can?)

Pammi: ji
(Yes)

Anika: pehle mein family se baat kar sakti, please?
(First can I speak to the family, please?)

Pammi: ji of course, mein jaake organs ko preserve karne ki koshish karungi, shayad zarurat pade. Sheila tu uss parivaar se baat karo please, I'll try and salvage the heart.
(Yes, of course. I will go and try to preserve the organs, might they be needed. Sheila, you go and talk tot he family please, I'll try and salvage the heart)

The intern surgeon simply nodded at the command as the other nurse went. She approached the family and caught the attention of one man

Sheila: Mr Omkara?

Omkara: Ji?
(Yes?)

Sheila: aapke Father ko heart transplant ki zarurat hai, right?
(Your father is in need of a transplant, am I right?)

Omkara: yes

Sheila: dharasal ek ladki hai. uske baap sirf abhi abhi guzar gaye, lekin voh possible donor hai
(Actually there is a girl here. Her father has just passed away, but he is a possible donor)

These words attracted everyone's attention. The one lady, who had been constantly crying, got up immediately with hope filled eyes.

Om: Mom

Jhanvi: kaha hai voh ladki, mujhe usse milna hai
(Where is that girl, I would like to meet her)

The eager wife wanted her husband back, so it comes as no surprise that she was ready to talk after crying her eyes out.

Sheila: mein bas abhi usse bulati
( I will call her now)

With that, the lady disappeared, and soon another young girl came up to them. Yes, it was Anika. The one with a beautiful glowing face which was now dulled with dried tear stains. She was dragging her feet along with the two large suitcases and purse on her shoulder.

Anika: aap sab Oberoi parivaar ke hain?
(Are you all members of the Oberoi family)

Dropping her bags on the floor at the side, she questioned looking at the huge family. She had never seen so many people here for one family member. A young well built man, also the brother of the first guy, replied to her.

Rudra: ji haan, aap voh ladki hai?
(Yes, are you that girl?)

Anika: ji. Mera naam Anika
(Yes, my name is Anika)

Jhanvi: Anika, please tum mere pati ko bacha sakti. Tum humari aakhri hope hai. Mujhe pata hai, sahi nahi hai tumse poochna abhi, lekin ek aur jaan kathre mein hai
(Anika, please you can save my husband. You are our last hope. I know, it isn't right to ask you know, but there is another life that is in danger)

Anika: Aunti Ji, aap shaant ho jaye
(Aunti, calm down)

Anika made her take a seat and she herself sat beside her.

Anika: mere Papa aab iss duniya mein nahi hai, toh mein unse nahi pooch sakti. Lekin mujhe pata hai ki voh as many logo ko help karna chata
(My father is not in this world any more, so I'm unable to ask his permission. But I know that he would want to help as many people as possible)

Jhanvi: tumhe manzoor hai?
(Do you approve?)

Anika: Ji Aunti
(Yes Aunti)

What else could she do? It was a big loss for her, but with her decision, she saved another man's life. Just like she was begging for her father's life, she could see the male with whom the doctor spoke to, in the same position. Maybe her prayers weren't answered, but if she could help someone else's bhi fulfilled, then she wouldn't hesitate.

Anika: agar aap mana nahi karenge, kya mein yaha ruk sakti, operation ki vact ke liye?
(If you don't mind, may I stay here for the duration of the surgery?)

Dadi: ji Puttar, ajao yaha aur humare saath beto
(Yes puttar, come here and sit with us)

Anika moved to the elderly lady and took a seat. She couldn't speak any further as the nurse approached them.

Pammi: Anika, yeh hai papers, sign ki jiye agar aapko transplant ke saath ahead jaana hai
(Anika, these are the papers. Sogn them if you would like to go ahead with the transplant)

Anika looked around at the people in the room and tried to figure out who they were. She already could recognise the man's wife and their two sons. The elderly lady with whom she was sat next to may be her mother. Another couple was sat opposite them. Maybe the brother and sister-in-law or sister and brother-in-law. Another girl was there with them two, maybe their daughter. She couldn't let so many people down, so she agreed with them and her hand scruffily penned her signature down. Jhanvi also wrote on the papers.

Anika: Pammi ji, surgery abhi shuru karenge?
(Pammi Ji, when will you start the surgery?)

Pammi: patient ko abhi leker jaare hai hum
(We are going to take the patient now)

She keeps her hand on Anika's shoulder

Pammi: Harsh ji will be proud. Itna kuch kho ker tum ready ho, doosre ke madat karne ke liye
(Mr Harsh will be proud. After losing so much, you are ready to help other people)

Anika smiled and let the nurse return to her job. Soon, the wife of the patient sat beside her and thanked her numerous times.

Jhanvi: mera naam Jhanvi, mein Tej Singh Oberoi ki biwi
(My name is Jhanvi, I'm Tej Singh Oberoi's wife)

Anika: Mein Anika
(I'm Anika)

Dadi: mein Kalyani Singh Oberoi hoon. Jiske jaan tune abhi abhi bachaya, voh mera beta hai
(I'm Kalyani Singh Oberoi. The person's life you have just now saved, he is my son)

Slowly like this, she was introduced to them all.

Dadi: puttar, bohot bohot dhanyvaad, mere bete ko bachane ke liye.
(Puttar thank you very much for saving my son)

Anika: Mrs Oberoi, thank you bolne ki kohi zarurat nahi hai. Mere paas sirf ek request hai
(Mrs Oberoi, there is no need to say thank you. I just have one request)

Jhanvi: bolo Anika
(Say Anika)

Anika: kya mein operation ke baad, patient ko dekh sakti?
(After the operation, can I see the patient

With pleading eyes and hesitation, she finally mustered the courage to ask.

Dadi: haa puttar, yeh kohi poochne ki baat nahi hai
(Yes puttar, is this a thing to ask?)

Jhanvi: Priyanka beti, apni Dadi ke liye chai leker aao, tumhari Mom ke kiye bhi
(Priyanka, go get tea for your Dadi, also your mother)

Jhanvi speaks to a young girl sitting, fidgeting with her dupatta.

Anika: Aunti, mein chalti iske saath, aap sab ke liye chai mang waati
(Aunti, I will go with her and get tea for all of you)

With this Anika got up and followed the girl to the canteen area. As they went and stood in the queue, Priyanka broke the silence first.

Priyanka: kya mein pooch sakti ki aapke paas bags kyu the? Aap kya holiday se aayi?
(Can I ask, why did you carry bags when coming to us? Have you recently returned from a holiday?)

Priyanka couldn't help but ask, not everyone carries so much luggage with them, that to on a hospital.

Anika: nahi, un suitcases mein, mere saare kapre aur saman hai.
(No, those suitcases contain my clothes and all my luggage)

Priyanka: sab kuch kyu? Ese bags mein kyu hai?
(Why everything? And why are they in bags like that?)

Anika: voh...
(That....)

She couldn't explain any further since the lady at the canteen counter took their order and prepared the cups of tea for them. Once they were all ready, the girls tool them back to the family and began serving them.

Anika: Aunti, aap bhi peelo
(Aunti, you also have a drink)

Jhanvi: nahi Anika, meri mann nahi
(No Anika, I don't feel like)

Anika: hmmm. Acha ek baat bataye, kya Uncle Ji kush hoga ki aap kuch kaha pee nahi reh? Kya aap ese problems ko iss tarah face karte. Mein nahi jaanti Uncle ke baare mein, lekin I know voh nahi chaahte aap bhuuke raho
(Hmmm. Ok, tell me one thing, will Uncle like it if you don't eat or drink anything? Is this your solution to facing problems? I don't really know much about Uncle, but I know that he wouldn't want you to stay hungry)

Jhanvi chuckled at how this girl could convince her. She's a complete stranger, the two haven't met before and she has just lost her father. Despite all this activity, she isn't letting others suffer.

Jhanvi: Kese karti tum? Logo ko ache se manati. Theek hai, agar tum bolri toh mein pee leti.
(How do you do this? You Pacify and convince people so well. Okay, If you are saying I will have it)

After handing over the tea to Jhanvi, Anika leapt up and went to open one of the suitcases. Taking out two boxes, she closed it then returned to Jhanvi.

Anika: Dekho Aunti, yeh dono boxes hai. Ek mein hai paranthe aur doosre mein mitha. Aap abhi paranthe kaho, baad mein jab Uncle ki surgery khatam ho jaata, phir hum mithai khaker khushiyan milayenge.
(Look Aunti, these are two boxes. one contains Paranthe and the other one has sweets. Now, you eat the paranthe and when Uncle wakes up after jis surgery, we will together eat the sweets and celebrate)

Like this, Anika got Jhanvi to put something in her stomach. Before they knew it, the 4 hours had passed along with an extra one, and the Nurse called them.

Pammi: Patient ko hosh aara hai
(The patient is getting his conscious back)

The Oberoi family raced inside the room as Anika stood from a distance. Another man barged inside the door, too quick for Anika to see him and vice versa. She caught his name as he was called by Dadi Ji.

Dadi: Billu

Despite the serious moment, Anika couldn't help but let out the slightest chuckle compared to how she was maniacally laughing inside. Billu? That was his name.

Billu: Sorry I'm late, Bade Papa aap theek toh hai naa? Traffic mein phas gaya tha raaste mein.
(Sorry I'm late, Bade Papa are you alright? I got stuck in traffic on the way)

Pinky: theek hai beta
(It's okay son)

Tej: mujhe?

The confused patient asked his wife first.

Jhanvi: aapko heart transplant ki zarurat tha, aur itna sammay bhi nahi. Lekin aab transplant surgery ho gayi, aap bilkul theek hai
(You were in need of an urgent heart transplant, and on top of that there wasn't much time. But now the transplant is done, you are fine)

When Jhanvi spoke, it was almost as if she was reassuring herself.

Tej: donor?

Jhanvi: donor ki beti hai, aapse milna chaati
(The donor's daughter is here, she wishes to meet you)

Tej: bejho

He orders for the girl to come in, which she does, tightly gripping her bags. Everyone makes space for her to come in, including Billu. He went back, and didn't see her face, only her shining dark brown hair that swept across his face. In the process, he moved back some more and let Jhanvi come infront

Anika: Uncle Ji, Mr Oberoi, Sir

What a beautiful voice, Billu thought. It was a sweet melody, unlike any girls squeaky, flirty voice that he often heard. On the other hand she corrected herself, Unaware of how he would react.

Tej: Anika?

Dadi: tu isse jaanti?
(Do you know her?

Tej: Mr Malhotra ki company mein kaam karti thi
(She used to work in Mr Malhotra's company.

Anika: Sir meine voh job chod diya, Papa ke surgery ke liye, multiple jobs karna tha, aur voh ek job ke hours kaafi lambhe the.
(Sir, I left that job. For my father's surgeries, i had to work multiple jobs. And the working hours then were quite long.)

Shakti: tumhara poora naam kya hai?
(What's your full name?)

Anika: Anika Vardhan Trivedi

Anika told her family name proudly.
As for Billu, he made a mental note on her name, Anika. Now he just needed to put a face to the name.

Tej: don't tell me tum Harsh Vardhan Trivedi ki beti hai?
(Don't tell me your the daughter of Harsh Vardhan Trivedi?)

She was a bit shocked that he knew about her, but regardless she answered.

Anika: ji Sir, voh mere Papa hai
(Yes Sir, he is my father)

Tej: kese hai? You know hum bachpan mein dost the. Best of friends. Kaafi saal hoge meine usse dekha nahi. Pata nahi bohot busy hota hai. Jhanvi yaad hai voh mera dost jisne mujhe tumhare delivery ke time tumhe hospital ponchaya jab tu pregnant thi? Kyuki mein office se aara tha usne tujhe sahi salamat hospital leker aaya? Aur haa, yeh Sir ka business chodo, tumhare Papa ka dost hoon mein.
(How is he? You know we were childhood friends. The best of friends. It's been years since I have seen him. Don't know, he's been very busy. Jhanvi do you remember my friend that took you to the hospital at your delivery time, when you were pregnant? Because I was coming straight from office he helped you reach safely? And yes, stop calling me Sir, I'm your father's close friend)

Jhanvi simply nodded. Realising the two were good friends, she didn't know how he would react. Harsh was one of the few close friends that he introduced to the family. Being a big name in the business world, there were many rivals that plotted against him, but Harsh was one of his good friends.
Seeing all of the faces looking down he realised that she was the daughter of the donor. He looked at her, and saw small tears appear in his eyes. Tej then lifted his arm and cupped her cheek.

Tej: sorry beti, dimag se phisal gaya
(Sorry beti, it slipped from my mind)

Anika: it's okay Uncle, acha aab Jhanvi Aunti aapko mithai khilayegi
(It's okay Uncle, okay now Jhanvi Aunti will feed you the sweets)

Jhanvi went in front and forwarded a sweet to him.

Jhanvi: isne mujhe yeh mithai diya aur bola ki jab aap uthenge toh mein aapko khilaoungi
(She gave me this box and told me that when you wake up, I'll feed you them)

Tej smiled at them both. Thankfully he knew she had eaten and he mentally thanked Anika for it.

Pinky: Jeth Ji, jaldi khaalo, hume bhi mithai kaana hai
(Tej, eat it quickly. We also want to eat the sweets)

They chuckled and the sweets were passed around to all of them.

Dadi: puttar, tune mere bete ka jaan bachaya, hum tumhare liye kya kar sakte?
(Anika you saved my son's life, how can we repay you?)

Anika: voh...
(Well...)

She stuttered and hesitated. She needed it but felt bad for asking.

Pinky: burha maat mano, yeh toh leasts hai joh hum kar sakte
(Don't feel bad, this is the least we can do)

Anika smiled faintly before looking back up. But she didn't dare meet anyone's eyes.

Anika: kya mein 10,000 rupaye le sakti?
(Can I borrow 10,000 rupees?)

Her voice was filled with hesitation when she said the first line, but after that her mouth wouldn't stop, not even for a pause to breath.

Anika: Actually mujhe kohi hostel ho dhoondhna hoga, rehne ke liye. Jab tak mein job nahi dhoonti. Mere paas bohot pese nahi hai. Ek baar mujhe naukri mili, mein saare pese vaapis karungi with interest. Aap 100 kya, 200% interest rate laga sakte. Aur agar aapko nahi dena toh bhi chalega, mein samajh sakti. Mujhe sirf thore pese hostel ke liye.....
(Actually i need to find some hostel to stay in. Until i find a job. I don't have a lot of money with me. Just let em get a job, then I'll return all the money, with interest. Forget 100, you can keep a rate of 200% and I promise to repay it. And if you don't wish to pay it then that is fine also, I can understand. I just need a little money for a hostel.....)

Pinky: areey chup kar Shatabdi Express
(Shut up, Shatabdi Express - fastest train in India - )

Pinky stopped her from blabbering and embarrassing herself any more.

Jhanvi: tum hostel mein nahi rukhegi
(You won't stay in a hostel)

Om: humare saath reh sakti
(You can stay with us)

Tej: Harsh ki beti ko hum hostel mein todi naa rehne dege
(We won't let Harsh's daughter stay in a hostel)

Anika: arrey, yeh zaroori nahi hai
(This isn't necessary)

Billu: zaroori hai
(It is necessary)

Billu abruptly said, shocking everyone. But unintentionally he succeeded in bringing Anika's gaze to him. He saw she had hope of a new family her eyes, whereas she met with his kanji aankhe. They weren't ready to leave the trance but they did, and Om along with Rudra were the first ones to tease him through small actions. Not just them, pretty much all of them noticed this, but stayed silent and waited to hear how Billu would cover up his mistake.

Billu: matlab, joh Bade Papa ne kaha, vahi
(Meaning, whatever Bade Papa said)

They all chuckled and after a while, convinced Anika. She unwillingly agreed, tho inside she felt she could really help with some people to support her.

Precap: Anika says something that shocks Billu

Anika: mein khud saman le sakti _____ _______