Rebirth

@Mistt I agree with you. Many things need to be changed.

 

Chapter 3

Shailja reached the hospital on time. She was called inside and Doctor checked her. After a few more rounds of the check with different glasses and instruments doctor said, “Shailja, I want you to do a biopsy for this. Then only I can say anything.”


Hearing biopsy made Shailja worried and she asked, “Is there anything wrong Doctor?”


The doctor replied, “I hope nothing to be wrong but to be sure I have to see biopsy reports.”


Shailja got very tensed and as soon as she reached home, she called Abhay. She told him everything.


“Look Shailja, all my meetings are lined up and it will take me another 8-10 days to come back. You do one thing. Take Preeti along with you to the hospital.” Abhay said after hearing everything.


Shailja couldn't believe Abhay’s words. He is the same Abhay who used to get panic even on her ordinary cold and fever. And now he is casually asking her to take Aakash’s wife Preeti with her. She could not utter a single word. Then she consoled herself thinking that Abhay must be really busy and called Preeti.


Next day Shailja and Preeti reached the hospital on time. After some time Test reports came and the same happened which was feared. Shailja was diagnosed with skin cancer. She was shocked. She never thought in her dreams that this can happen to her. The doctor assured her it is in the preliminary stage and with the immediate operation, it will go away.


“I suggest you not to wait. It can increase rapidly with each passing day. Better we will do the operation as soon as possible. It will be a small surgery and we will remove the mole. You will be discharged within 3 days.” The doctor told Shailja.


Shailja gathered herself and decided to undergo surgery the very next day. She informed Abhay and arranged everything at home for the kids. Her neighbor assured her to take care of everything.


The doctor removed the mole and nearby area to make sure there were no cancerous cells left and operation turned out successful. After few hours Shailja was shifted to a normal room. Abhay was in touch with her through the phone. Akash and Preeti also visited her every day and even took care of kids. After 3 days Shailja came back home and in next 4 days, Abhay also got back from his trip.


Shailja’s eyes were continuously pouring looking Abhay and Abhay was completely shocked looking at Shailja’s stitched and distorted cheek.


It took around a month for Shailja to be back to normal. But it went out very exhausting physically as well as mentally. So she decided to go to Kolkata for a few days. Pulak and Lavanya’s vacation has also started. She asked Abhay to also join but he refused, as usual, making his work as an excuse. His passive and cold behavior towards her is now getting over Shailja’s comprehension. And after her surgery, he made himself distant from her.


Shailja reached to Kolkata with her kids. Her in-laws don't like her anyways so she stayed with her parents for 1 month. Shailja’s parents felt something is wrong with her as she doesn't seem to be happy like before.


“Shailja, what happened dear? Is there anything bothering you? Is everything alright?” Her mother asked affectionately.


Shailja got little uncomfortable as she was not expecting this but then quickly she covered her emotions and replied, “No Ma… nothing happened. Everything is going well. Why are you asking all this?”


“Dear, you are looking sad and dull from the time you came here. You are always somewhere lost in your thoughts as if something is going in your mind. We are your parents and we know you very well. You are never like this before. You can share with us if there is anything.” Her father asked Shailja Softly.


Shailja was filled with emotions from inside and wanted to cry like a baby in front of her parents but don't know why she held herself back. She sat down near to her parents and hold their hands.


“Ma Papa… It's just this illness. It all happened so fast that I couldn't get time to digest everything. It took me over and made me weak. It keeps me haunting that what if it comes back in any other form. That's why I came here. After spending time with you now I am feeling much better. I think time will heal everything… my scars as well as my fear.” She said touching her cheek and tears on it. She was saying this but her heart was fearing of something else. She was still not able to understand Abhay’s behavior.


Her parents hugged her and wished her a happy and healthy life. After a month’s vacation, Shailja and kids reached back to Singapore. But as she entered the house, she felt like she came to someone else's house.

 

Thanks @peddadas . I agree with you because theory of cause & effect always works. It is a law of nature.

 

Thanks @blackbeauty84 for liking and comment. It is not issue of time for a workaholic person. It is a matter of priority. Some people take for granted things and relations because of easy availability.

 

Thanks@ Adharv. Agree with your thought that prioritizing work is fine bt not fair though....! Will post next episode soon.

 

Chapter 4

As soon as Shailja entered the house, she felt everything is changed. All the interiors, furniture and even color of walls. She thought Abhay might want to surprise her but he knew her taste. And everything seemed completely opposite of her likes. She went inside her room and saw Abhay’s wardrobe was also changed completely. Stylish clothes and branded accessories are overflowing. She couldn't understand anything as Abhay had not told her anything. He called hardly a few times when she was in India. In the evening, when he came back from office, Shailja noticed his hairstyle and attire were also changed.

“Abhay, you are looking 10 years younger than your age.” She said jokingly.

Abhay didn't take a second and replied with a sarcastic tone, “And you are looking 10 years older than your age... Shailja.”

It was just a casual conversation but Abhay’s thoughts came to his mouth and this pierced Shailja somewhere deep inside.

Coming home very late at night, sleeping in the guest room, talking softly on the mobile in the night and fingers always glued to the mobile have become Abhay’s life. When Shailja questioned Abhay, he said, “I come late and don't want to disturb your sleep so I sleep in other room. And I have some of my clients who are in different time zones, so I have to take some calls in the night.”


Shailja was not convinced. She is having intuitions that something is not right and so she decided to check Abhay’s mobile but it was locked with a password. She was surprised as it was a completely new thing in so many years of marriage. They never kept passwords on their phones. She knew if she will ask Abhay, he will make some or the other excuse. She didn't say anything that time.


One Saturday evening, Abhay and Akash families went to a 5-star hotel for dinner. They were all sitting in the family room which was having beautiful mirrors on every wall. Abhay and Akash were sitting on one side and Shailja and Preeti were sitting on the opposite side of the table. Kids were sitting in between and all are enjoying their food and chatting. Abhay’s phone rang with a message tone and he picked his phone to check. At that moment, Shailja looked at the mirror and pretend to talk to Akash and saw Abhay’s lock pattern. It looked like a reverse P. She continued talking to Akash and pretend that she had not seen anything. Now she wanted to go home and clear her doubts as soon as possible. Preeti was saying something to Shailja but her mind was repeating the pattern again and again.

“Shailja.. What happened? All ok?” Preeti touched her shoulder lightly.

“Ohh nothing… sorry you were saying something.” Shailja came back to present instantly.

“I was just saying we will go to the mall next weekend.” Preeti said finishing her dessert.

“Ya sure.” Shailja replied gulping a glass of water.

They all waved goodbyes to each other and left to their home.

Next day was Sunday and Abhay was at home for a change. Lavanya and Pulak asked him to come along with them for some shopping. Abhay agreed and they got ready. Kids wanted Shailja to also join but she refused, saying that she is not feeling well and wanted to rest for a while. She saw that Abhay put his mobile on charge and hoping that she gets a chance to check it. Her luck also helped her that day and Abhay forgot his mobile at home and left for shopping with the kids.

As soon as they went out, she locked the door from inside. She took mobile in her hands and started trying to make the pattern she saw in the mirror last night. Two three times it said the wrong pattern, she tried one more time with P and phone got unlocked. Her hands were shivering and she was sweating. She opened the chatting app and looked around. There were mostly people whom she knows but there was an unknown number. It is not saved with any name and there is no DP also to this number. She opened the chat and took screenshots and send it to herself. She quickly deleted all the screenshots and cleared the messages sent to herself. She locked the phone and kept it as it was on the charging station.

Her heart was still beating fast. After some time they all came back and had lunch. In the evening, Abhay went out saying that he has a meeting. Pulak and Lavanya also went outside to play. She sat down with her phone. She started reading the chat. It wasn't looking any professional chat. As she read further, she found romantic messages. Abhay praised her dressing style and her slim figure and sharp features. As she read the last line her heart skipped a beat. It says…

“You were looking so lovely in the pink dress last night and your loose hair was adding charm to your beauty. You are just like your name Pretty Preeti.”