Farewell -sequel

Dear friends,

I have come up with a sequel to my story, Farewell. As per your wishes, there will be a happy ending this time. I sincerely hope that this sequel (Part 3 & 4) meets your expectations. Enjoy and don't forget to leave behind a constructive feedback as that is my oxygen. Thank you.


Farewell

Part 3


When Dwarki and Prerna reached Rao’s house, Prerna rushed ahead and was shocked to find the door ajar and Lata lying unconscious on the floor. Dwarki caught up behind her quickly. Together they tried to sprinkle water on Lata’s face to revive her.

“It’s good that I called the Prabhus and they should be here in moments. Wonder what exactly happened to Lata,” Dwarki said.

“She is moving a bit and gaining consciousness, please switch on the fan; it may help her. I hope it is nothing serious,” Prerna observed anxiously.

“Just check if she has hurt herself,” Dwarki instructed Prerna.

After checking her head, Prerna observed, “Since she fell on the carpet, luckily she has not hurt herself.”

Dwarki looked around the room restlessly. Looking at Sridhar’s phone on the side-table, he wondered why it was outside. “Let me check if there were any calls on Sir’s phone and you also check Lata’s phone and see if she had received any calls.”

Dwarki knew Shridhar never locked his phone. He moved to the balcony as he checked the phone.

In the meantime, Prerna fetched a napkin to wipe Lata’s face and she too started checking Lata’s phone.

A few minutes later, Dwarki came into the verandah and said, “Prabhus are here, they will revive her.”

Seema and Ajay Prabhu rushed in with their medical kit. Prerna reported, “When I sprinkled water on Lata’s face she groaned and moved her head.”

Seema began to check Lata as others anxiously watched. As Seema patted lata’s cheeks, Lata moaned and mumbled incoherently. “Her breathing is fine. Her BP is a bit low and her heart rate is a bit high. Her Pupils are normal. It is possibly vasovagal syncope. I know that she doesn’t have any major health issue; in any case, we can get her to have all the routine tests done later," Seema concluded, looking at her husband Dr Ajay. She then turned towards Dwarki and Prerna, “Nothing to worry. It looks like a stress reaction. Please check her phone to see whether she had received any messages or calls.”

“I checked Shridhar Sir’s phone. There are a couple of calls from some unknown number. I was trying to call them before you arrived, let me call them again,” Dwarki said and moved to the balcony again. Dr Ajay followed him.

Seema positioned Lata on her back, checked her for injuries and raised her legs by placing a bolster under her feet. As Lata opened her eyes, she looked dazed. Supporting her head, Prerna offered her a few sips of Glucose water. As Lata gained full consciousness, seeing her friends, she started crying aloud. Looking at the degree of distress, Seema decided to inject her with Valium to calm her.

By then Dwarki and Ajay came into the verandah.

Calling aside Prerna, Dwarki whispered, “Lata had received a call from the Police station regarding Cheenu’s accident and that seems to be the cause of her fainting. Right away Ajay and I are going to the Victoria Hospital to check out the facts.”

Prerna said, “In that case, please take Shridhar Anna’s phone with you; in case someone calls again, you can directly deal. And call us the moment you get any further news.”

By then Lata recovered a little and in between sobs, she told them about the phone call and the blank selfie!

Her story had everyone in tears.

“This is no time for tears. The call you received could be a hoax. Let me go with Dwarki to the hospital and check out,” Ajay reassured.

“We will get in touch with you if we get any phone calls and you too keep us updated,” Seema added.

“Ajay, luckily the rain has reduced; we should be able to drive fast. Let us go in my car, leave your car keys with Seema,” Dwarki said as he hurried out.

After the men left, Seema and Prerna helped Lata recline comfortably on the sofa. Prerna checked on Shridhar, who was sleeping peacefully. She locked the doors, pulled on a chair and settled near Lata.

As the time crawled, putting on a brave façade, Seema and Prerna helped Lata to relax. As the medicine worked, Lata fell asleep.


**********


Dimming the light, Prerna and Seema moved to the dining room.

Prerna made coffee for both of them and in a hushed voice, they started conversing.

After a while, Seema phoned Ajay, “Did you reach the hospital?”

“Not yet. We are nearing and in about 5 minutes, we will be there.”

“How is the rain?”

“Just a drizzle now but the roads are badly waterlogged.”

“Take care; call me as soon as you get any information.” Seema cut the call and shared the information with Prerna.

Prerna checked the time; it was 1:34 am


**********


I sensed my Cheenu near me and jolted out of my slumber screaming, “Cheenu…Cheenu..,” I struggled to catch hold of Cheenu but my body refused to move, I screamed again, “Cheenu…Cheenu...”

Prerna and Seema came rushing and they held me, “What happened Lata? Did you have any bad dreams? Don’t get up.”

I looked at them in a daze, wondering where I was and what they were talking about! Prerna switched on the light and Seema gave me a sip of water. As the realization dawned, I sobbed hysterically,

“Seema…Cheenu is outside…open the door,” I said, trying once again to get up.

“Lata, relax, I will go and check,” Prerna said as she rushed towards the balcony door.

“Open the main door, he is here…,” I screamed.

My sudden tantrums confused them and as Seema reached out to her medical kit, there was a knock at the door!

Without a moments delay, Prerna ran and opened the main door wide and to everyone’s utter relief there stood my Cheenu, fully soaked. Cheenu was really back home!

I couldn’t hold back my emotions; I sobbed uncontrollably.

Cheenu was surprised to see Seema and Prerna at that hour and his mother in a pitiable condition.

“Amma, please don’t cry, I have come back safe. Amma…please…”

“Cheenu…let her cry and get over her emotions. I have sedated her and she will be alright. Quickly change over to warm clothes and sit with her. She will be alright.” Seema said, trying to control the situation.

“But…what exactly happened and I can’t …”

“Cheenu, quickly change and freshen up. I will tell you what happened.”

“Okay, Seema aunty, I will be back in two minutes,” Cheenu rushed to his room.

Prerna called Dwarki and informed him about Cheenu’s return. It was 1:55 am.

I cried till I felt better but again I wondered, whether Cheenu had really returned or was it my dream?

“Prerna…Cheenu has come back and you saw him, right? Please pinch me; I want to make sure that it is not a hallucination this time. Where did he go…why is he taking so much time?” Prerna’s tight hug reassured me. All three of us hugged each other and cried until all our tension melted. We were interrupted by Cheenu who had now changed into dry Kurta Pyjama. He still had the towel in hand to dry his wet curly mop of hair.

As we embraced each other; his warm breath and strong arms consoled me. “Amma… relax I am back,” he said reassuringly.

“Do we get to know what delayed you so much, young man?” Seema’s voice broke our reverie.

“Before I start my story, Chikki, please get hot coffee for all and some leftovers from the last evening for me, I am famished.”

“Cheenu, I will get everything in two minutes. Don’t tell the story till I come,” Prerna said, rushing to the kitchen.

“Aunty, tell me what happened to Amma and is Appa alright?” Cheenu sat next to Lata and asked Seema, who was now sitting on the other sofa.

“Last evening as you delayed coming, Shridhar was very tense. Ajay injected him with Valium; he is sleeping well since then.

After we left around 10:30-10:45, Lata was all alone waiting for you and obviously, she was extremely tense. She called up Dwarki around 12:45 and he, in turn, asked us also to come here. When Prerna and Dwarki reached here, the main door was ajar and they found her unconscious. In the next few minutes, we reached. I found her hypotensive (Low BP); vasovagal syncope, you see. As she was distressed and trembling, I gave her a Valium injection and then she slept well for a while. Somehow just before you came, she got up screaming that you are here and luckily, she was right and you were here.”

“Oh, God! It was entirely my mistake.” Cheenu said regretfully.

“Where are Ajay and Dwarki Uncle?”

“Well, there was a call from the KR Road Police station regarding an accident…and they went to the Victoria Hospital. We have now phoned and informed them about your safe return.”

“Oh, no! My mechanic Rajesh must have met with the accident, he was riding my bike! I hope he is alright!”

“Oh! God! I will tell them that,” said Seema, as she clicked on Ajay’s phone number.

Prerna walked in with a tray of warmed Chapatis and curry. After placing it on the centre table she went in and brought a tray with four cups of steaming coffee. As Cheenu started eating, he narrated the story of the previous evening.

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End of Part 3.

 

Thank you, shravs.

 

Thank you, HP.