The girl he loved once now laid on the bed almot lifeless. An oxygen mask attached to her face made her condition even more pitiful. He wiped the tears in his eyes with the back of his sleeve and started taking steps towards Avni. 

One step closer to her he looked at himself in the mirror on the window in the room. He was still weaing his Coat.

Avni: ke ghut ghut ke heene ki aadat ho gyi hai tumhe?

Taking a deep breath he removed it at once. He unbuttoned the cuffs and collar. He took his shirt out of the pants. Looking at his reflection he ran his fingers through his hair messing them. 

He wiped his face and put up a big smile just the same as he used to have three years back.

Reaching close to her he gently poked her arm. Avni stirred and opened her eyes. Seeing her awake Neil twisted his hand in 'what happened' motion and popped up his eyebrows. Avni shook her head in a no and stayed still.

Neil reached for her oxygen mask and pulled it up at once. Avni gasped at his sudden move.

Thinking that he only wanted to poke her and disturb her just to irritate her she sighed and grabbed her mask back. It was not completely on her mouth when neil pulled it again.

Neil: kya hai?

Avni: saans lene mein dikkat hoti...

Neil: hoti hai dikkat tumhe... ayi badi Raani Elizabeth. Saas lena to tera apna kaam hai na.. apne liye hi karna hai.. kamse kam woh to khud kar liya kar...

Avni sighed and closed her eyes feeling drowsy.

Neil: doctor ne to kaha ki tum bachne wali nahi ho... phir kyu tangi padhi ho yaha?  

Neil said this with straight face. Avni kept looking into his eyes for few seconds then turned away.

She don't know what she should say as an answer to this. Even she knew the truth of her life but still her heart wanted to beat once again.

Neil on the other hand stood there looking at her with tear filled eyes. He wanted her to get well soon and come back to her normal life. And this time decided to use Reverse Psychology as his tool.

Before he could say anything else the Nurse came inside the room. She saw Avni without an oxygen mask and  Neil standing next to her. 

She at once rushed to her and tried to reach the mask.

Nurse: sir yeh aap kya kar rahe hai?

Neil: arrey kya hai?

Nurse: mask...

She tried reaching for the mask again but Neil stopped her in between.

Neil: arrey kuch nahi hua hai isko...

Nurse seemed worried for her job but Neil refused to listen her even for once.

Neil: kuch nahi hoga isko... pata hai.. teen saal baad mil rahe hai hum... pata hai kitni baatein ikattha kar rakhi hai maine... Ab iska kya pata kal ko pataka chal jaaye... main to yaha constipation se mar jaunga na...

Avni rolled her eyes at his stupid remark. While the nurse still looked worried.

Nurse: par...

Neil: par war kya? accha ek kaam karo... yaha baitho.. 

He took her to the couch in the room.

Neil: yaha baitho aur dekho... 

He came back to Avni and sat on the bed infront of her. Taking the oxygen mask in his hand he  looked at it.

Neil: ab agar yeh marne lagi na to main chota sa tent iske naak pe laga dunga... aap tension mat lo...

The nurse shook her head in disbelief while Avni rolled her eyes at him.

Neil: aur waise bhi iska kya bharosa... (To avni) aur tum suno meri baat... Agar mar war gayi na... to direct upar ki ticket le lena.. yaha waha mat bhatakti rehna.. aur mere piche to bilkul bhi mat aana...

Avni narrowed her eyes at him. What even the concept of talking about this here?

Neil: tumhe pata hai mere ghar ke paas na ek taantrik baba rehta hai... woh na bhooto ko pakad ke bottle mein band kar lega... Itni si bottle... uske mein choti si tum... Phir wahi rehna padega tumko hamesha... 

A smile broke on her face. She chuckled lightly at his stupid talks.

Neil: haslo... paalak to nahi na lagi daant mein...

Avni smiled and shook her head in no.

The nurse who was there sitting on the couch looked on with tears in her eyes. It was for the first time in her career she is seeing a terminally ill patient happily smiling. The thing which touched her the most was the care which Neil had for Avni. She wondered where was he for the previous one year.

She smiled at them and silently walked out.

Neil: arrey main to batana hi  bhool gya pata hai woh 'Tinny' tha na uska breakup ho gya bohut roya bechara...

Avni: kon Tinny?

Neil: arrey 'Ruby' ka beta.... 

Avni: kon Ruby?

Neil: arrey woh Rocky ki girlfriend

Avni: kon Rocky...

Neil: tumhe Rocky nahi pata?

Avni shook her head in no.

Neil: arreyyy rocky...  meri gali ka dusre number wala kutta.

Avni: what?!

The very next moment a sound of laughter resonated around the room Avni was laughing wholeheartedly. It was seen by Ashish who stood by the door.

He was surprised to see avni laughing. And obviously the reason for her laugh... Neil.

Now when he looks back he feels that had he not been so against neil.. Avni would have been much more happier. It is said that half of the diseases are cured by the love and other half by the laugh. Neil was the one who gave his daughter both of the required things.

He wiped his tears and walked back to corridor. Sitting on the waiting chairs his thoughts wandered to the things he heard at the nurses station.

Nurse 1: Arrey pata nahi avni ka jo vo dost hai na uski bohut care karta hai... aaj hi aaya hai aur aaj hi avni ki haalat sudharti dikh rahi hai.

Nurse 2: haan... maine bhi dekha hai... Avni jab bhi uske saath hoti hai na ek ajeeb kisam ki khushi hoti hai uski aankhon mein.

Ashish: jaanta hoon avni maine galti kari thi... i just hope tum mujhe maaf kardo aur apni zindagi mein wapis aajao... 

Inside the room Neil was continuously telling one or the other story while avni was trying hard to stay awake and listen them. But the medicine has already overpowered her system. she slept. It was for the first time she looked peaceful in her sleep. she had a content face today.

Neil caressed her hair. he was about to get up and go out when avni held his hand. She was in sleep but her hold was so tight.

He tried to get out of it but was not able to at last he sat on the stool next to her bed and slept leaning to it only.

****** 

The sun shone brightly on the green grass  and the birds chirped and flew over the tallest buildings. Neela walked inside the hospital with a bag. Reaching the room floor she was  surprised to see ashish sleeping on the chairs outside the room. She gently poked his arm to wake him up.

Neela: ashish.. tum yaha kyu so rahe ho? andar kyu nahi gye?

Ashish: woh andar...

He recalled something and immediately stood up he walked to the room. Neela followed him confused.

Reaching the doorstep they were surprised to the sight in front of them. Neil slept sitting on stool holding avni's hands. avni slept peacefully  for the first time in past three years.

Ashish and neela looked at each other and smiled with tears.

She carefully walled to Neil and stirred him a bit. Neil opened his eyes immediately and looked around rubbing his eyes.

Neil: neela maa aap?

He realised his condition. He looked around and saw ashish standing there.

He immediately excused himself and walked out. Ashish looked at his retreating figure and sighed.

**************

Some hours later.

Avni sat in balcony of her hospital room that directly opened on the main ground. it was her favourite hobby to look at a pair of birds living on the tree directly in front of her room. She liked to see the both birds loving each other and caring for each other. 

Seeing her sitting there ashish walked inside the room with a file.

Ashish: baccha... good news hai... doctor ne kaha hai ki ab aap jaldi theek ho jaoge... liver aur kidneys dono ki reports min kaafi sudhar aaya hai...

Avni: papa... aap kehte the ki zindagi chalne ka naam hai...  lekin meri zindagi to wahi khadi hai... pichle ek saal se sab ruk gya hai.. 

Ashish looks on.

Avni: Wahi pedh... wahi kamra... Wahi theek hone ki kahaniya......  Wahi sab kuch...kuch bhi to nahi badla.

Ashish looked at her... She was right. Nothing has changed from past one year except for the calendar.

Ashish: baccha sab theek ho jayega... Bohut jaldi..

Avni: yeh sab aap mujhe keh rahe hai yaa khud ko bata rahe hai?

He was spellbound. Not knowing what to say he just placed the file on the table and turned to go.

Avni: thanks...

He stopped at his spot. He frowned and turned back.

Avni: maine aapse kaha tha ki main haan nahi karungi... Neil ko yaha laane ke liye thank you... Papa.

Ashish took a deep breath and walked back. Life had been difficult for him too.

Since the time Neil left avni had lost the colors of her life. She never went to the terrace. She never painted. She never made any pottery. She never even cracked silly joke and laughed all to herself.

A year and half back the day of her wedding she fainted in the mandap. Rushing her to hospital the worst shock of his life was there. His daughter was diagnosed with Chronic Kidney Disease, the doctors were trying their best from past 1 year but nothing helped. Everyday she had to stay in the same room she had to behave the same. Neela and ashish had to stay the same. Those fake smiles. Those tensed expressions. Everything was a part of their lives now.

But whatever he witnessed last night was a ray of hope for them. Avni had smiled and laughed after such a long time. He could do nothing but just sit and pray for her well being.

**************

Some hours later.

The blue and white room of the hospital's kidney dialysis unit is seen. Draped in blue gown avni laid on the bed with various wires attached to her body. Dialysis procedure was going on.

Neil stood at a distance seeing her. She was in pain. He closed his eyes looking away.

Neil: yaar nurse please... Usko pain ho rahi hai... Chod do na usko...

Nurse: sir please ab procedure hai to pain to hoga hi na... Weakness hi bohut hai...

Nurse: pichle janam mein jallaad (Executioner) thi kya?

She gave him a look and walked out of the room leaving Neil and avni alone.

He thinks something and walked towards avni. He was busy looking at her face when he stumbled over a pair of slippers laying bedside. Before he could manage himself he directly landed over Avni.

Avni gasped in shock.

****************