Chapter 52: chapter 52

MADHAVThe media and newspapers are all filled with reports of what happened in my house. The whole nation is in shock. They can't believe that something this bad would happen to Sruthi. She is pitied for having to go through all the pain. With Vikram's PR tram, I made the incident look like a break-in. I don't want the whole world to know about the revenge of Vishnu. It would further complicate things for Vikram.I am glad that there are a lot of people praying for Sruthi. Some people bring up the past and speculate that what happened with Sruthi has got to have a connection with her parents' murder. It is funny to see how people twist the stories and spin tales. As of now, this is the fourth day since the incident and a lot of ministers who want to curry favour with Vikram are visiting the hospital. I finally gathered my courage and called Vikram yesterday but he never picked up. Nisha too has been constantly trying his phone daily but he hasn't picked up her calls too. I have a bad feeling about this. I contacted some friends I have there and have asked them to keep an eye out for Vikram. “I still can't believe this,” the chief doctor's voice makes me look up at him. He looks happy and relieved. Hope blooms in my heart as he walks to me with a big grin on his face.“Good news, Madhav. Shruthi is responding to the treatment. I am not sure what miracle happened but her body is cooperating. You have God's blessing. At this rate, she may regain consciousness in a couple of days.”I go still at his words. Talk about becoming speechless. I can't believe his words. It is like I can breathe again easily. Relief and joy like never before spread through me.“Can I see her now?” I ask eagerly. “I am afraid not. She is still in a critical stage. We can be sure of anything only after a few hours .”“Okay, I will wait for her to recover fully,” I answer earnestly. All I need is now for Sruthi to get better. My phone vibrates in my pocket and I pick it up without looking at the caller ID. But as soon as I hear the deep voice, I realize what a grave mistake it was. My heart skips a beat at the voice.“Madhav, how is my sister?” Vikram's voice is rough like he barely trying to control his anger. I pinch the bridge of my nose as I contemplate how to answer him. I have rehearsed what to say to him every time I dialled him but now I have no idea what to say. My mind is blank in fear. “Where are you?” I ask trying to dodge his question. It is obvious to me that he knows what happened to his sister.“I am at the airport. I will be back in the capital in a day,” he answers in a controlled voice. I know I am testing his patience, so, I close my eyes and blurt out the truth.“I am terribly sorry but your sister was attacked and I wasn't there to protect her. She is in the ICU. But, the doctor just told me that she is recovering.”The line is silent for a few seconds and I remove the phone from my ear to check if I am still on the call. I am. Vikram's silence is something more menacing than his angered words. They say that a tiger remains silent before it pounces on its prey. That is the same with Vikram. His silence means he is thinking of ways to torture me for letting this happen to his sister. It is funny how I am shit scared of Vikram when I am the one assassinating the people while he plans it.“How did this happen? Isn't your place the second best safe place in the capital?” he asks with genuine confusion in his voice.I too had the same confusion when the cops called. But, Vishnu was a clever bastard. Most of the security gadgets in my house work using electricity.  So, he made sure there was a power outrage first and then proceeded with his plan. He even messes with the backup power sources.I explain that to Vikram and wait patiently for him to rebuke me. I hear his frustrated sigh and imagine him massaging his temples.“Did you talk with him?” Vikram asks.“I did. He is under the police custody. But,  I can't say what we discussed on the phone. I will explain it clearly in person.”“That would be for better,” Vikram agrees. I hold my breath and wait for his words of accusation to hit me. It is better if he yells at me but the more he prolongs this, the more nervous I get. We both are silent again. Our phone conversations were never like this before. We always had something to talk and we never had these kinds of weird pauses in our conversations.“How are you holding up Madhav?” he asks after nearly twenty seconds of silence. I was expecting him to accuse me and yell at me in anger that his question catches me off-guard.“Vikram, aren't you going to scold me for not protecting your sister? Aren't you angry with me?”“Honestly, Madhav, I am furious and raged. I want to rip things and take out my anger on you but that won't be right because you are not the only person who is solely responsible for the plight my sister's in. I shouldn't have pressured you to find the culprit. After all, it was me who got you permission to meet with Raj. I am angry and frustrated at myself for what happened to her.”“You only wanted to find the culprit as soon as possible so that your sister could be safe. There is nothing wrong with that. Don't blame yourself.”“How could I not bl—” he pauses for a second as I hear an announcement in the background. “I am going to board the flight. I will call you back as soon as I land at the next airport.”“Okay, take care,” I say and hang up the call. ❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥“There is a great improvement in your wife's condition, Madhav,” the chief doctor says with a big grin. It had been nearly seven hours since he told me the first good news. His eyes gleam as he utters the next words, “And, there is good news. She has passed the critical stage but she is still unconscious due to the anaesthesia we gave her. She may regain consciousness at any time.”“Can I see her?” I ask barely containing the excitement in my voice.The doctor's grin only stretches wider, “By all means, you can.”❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥It is nine in the night. I have been staying in the hospital for the past four days. The only ever time, I went out was when I wanted to talk with Vishnu. I didn't even go and visit Jaya Ma who is on the top floor. I was afraid that something would happen if I wasn't waiting for Sruthi in the hospital corridor. I know that was an irrational fear but I am not rational when it comes to Sruthi.Her room is quiet and the monitors are beeping. I am getting used to the sound of those. I sit in the chair near her bed and take  Sruthi's hand gently in mine. Now that she has passed the critical stage, the doctors have removed the oxygen mask and tubes. She is still in the hospital gown and has an IV drip attached to her left wrist. I clasp her right palm in my both hands and bring it to my forehead. I never want to experience the fear that I had when I thought I was going to lose Sruthi. Tears stream down my face as I feel overjoyed at her recovery. “Thank you, Sruthi. Thank you for not leaving me. Thank you for staying alive.”❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥