Unless you are ready to drop the act, don’t talk to me. 

Tell me he is going to be alright… can you? 

His words reverberated in her ears, leaving her to both feel sorry for him and be mad at him at the same time. It wasn’t until she watched his eyes repeatedly going to the ward Dada-Kaka was in that she gave up the urge to hold him accountable for his mistakes and ended up choosing to comfort him for the time being. 

“He is,” she said, reaching out to pull his hands from his pockets and uncurling his clenched fists, “don’t worry.”

He nodded, his head constantly bobbing, giving away how desperately he wanted that assurance from her. 

She looked at where the rest of the Kanitkars were, saying, “I’ve to go.” 

He stared at her till she reached his family members. Kanitkar men were anxiously pacing back and forth while Kanitkar women were trying to console Mai.

As he watched Apurva taking Mai’s hand in a tight, secure hold of hers, he could feel his tensed shoulders relaxing a little. Though the burden still stayed as heavy as it was earlier, he felt as if his ex-fiancee had lifted it from his shoulder for a moment or two. He couldn’t hear what she was telling Mai but he could tell from Mai’s face that whatever that Apurva was saying was working to some extent. 

It took him back to the day when he had opened up about Netra to her and realized how unfathomably comforting her presence was. Even if she could barely change anything, at least the weight of the problems didn’t feel like it would kill him when she was around. 

Kanitkars spent several long minutes waiting for Dr. Kaushik to come out and assure them of Dada-Kaka’s well-being.

As Dr. Kaushik stepped out of the ward, Kanitkars rushed to him. Shashank straightened himself, letting go of the support of the wall. He strode a few steps forward and stopped at a distance from where he could hear Dr. Kaushik. 

Dr. Kaushik was bombarded with a series of questions right as he got out from the family that was worried sick.

“Ek minute-ek minute. Dadanna kahihi zalela nahiye,” Dr. Kaushik tried to calm everyone down so that he could speak, “ajibaat stress ghenyacha karan nahiye. ECG… Echo sagla normal aahe. Far far tar muscle strain watatoy. Tyanni saangitla ki tyanna sakalpasunach dukhat hota. Kuthla table uchal-la bolat hote. Dada saangat hote aata ghari kahi argument suru hoti. Maza andaaza aahe ki stress mule te hyper zale astil aani chhatit jasta dukhayla laagla pan kaalji karnyasarkha sadhyatari kahi waatat nahi karan test reports agadi normal aahe. Tari mazya mate aaj ratrabhar tyanna ithech raahu dya. Tashi garaj nahiye pan mala watata aajchi raatra tyanna under observation thevayla kahich harkat nahi.”

Convinced by Dr. Kaushik’s repeated assurance, it was decided that everyone would go back home and the one person allowed to stay with the patient would be Mai. Apurva’s offer to accompany Mai was disapproved by everyone but she had already made up her mind. 

Dr. Kaushik was the only baffled person among them until Apurva dragged him inside his cabin and narrated what had happened. 

“Mhanjje he lagna-

“Nahi honar! Cancel everything,” Apurva said, cutting her father off. 

Dr. Kaushik’s face was etched with concern as he left his chair upon hearing her. “Mi Shashank shi bolto!” 

He had almost reached the door when she rushed to him. She held his arm, shaking her head. “Kahi upayog nahiye. To tyachya gharchyanna khara kay te saangayla tayaar nahi aahe. Tula kay saangnaar?”

Dr. Kaushik turned to her, not understanding her choice of words. “Khara nahi saangnaar mhanje? Tula mhanaycha aahe Shashank… khota boltoy?”

Apurva sighed, sitting in a chair. “Isn’t it obvious?” she asked as a matter of fact. 

Dr. Kaushik followed her and stood beside her chair, leaning against his table. “Saangta yet nahi. Shashank and Netra have been working together for quite a long time. It would be impractical to not consider what Shashank is saying. They might have fallen in love…” Dr. Kaushik paused for a moment, the muscles in his forehead contracting with tension before he drew his eyebrows together. “But if that was the case, he should have told us. He asa aata… lagnachya divshi…”

Apurva’s head fell back in her chair, sensing anger surging within him. She hated how convincing the idea of Shashank and Netra being in a romantic relationship sounded to everyone. 

“Did we force Shashank?” Dr. Kaushik wondered, recalling the time when he had called Shashank over. He hadn’t been blind to the fact that Shashank did not like his daughter. The case with her daughter was no different. But he had still felt that Shashank was right for her. Did he assess it wrong? “Is that why he is doing this? Aaplyamule tyala traas zala mhanun to aata tula traas detoy? Ha asa?” 

“Tu kay boltoys, Baba?” Apurva stood up in disbelief. 

“Nahitar he asa lagnachya divsaparyant gappa basnyacha kay artha aahe? Lagna modaycha hota tar aadhi ka nahi saangitla?” Dr. Kaushik argued.

“Karan tyala modaycha navta,” Apurva defended. 

“Tu aikteyes swatala, Appu? Tula dhakka wagere baslaay ka?” Dr. Kaushik made her sit back in the chair. “How long have you known him, huh? What justifies this blind trust of yours?”

She pressed her chin on the table. “The fact that it is not blind, maybe? I can’t explain it at this moment. Just cancel the arrangements. Send the relatives back.” 

Dr. Kaushik darted a glare at her. “Tula he sagla evdha sopa watatay ka, Appu? Kay saangaycha aahe mi saglyanna? Do you even realize how serious this situation is? I don’t think you do from this attitude of yours and even if I do as you say… do you think your mother is going to keep quiet? Trust her on making Shashank regret his whole life once she comes to know about this.”

Dammit! She had completely forgotten about her mother. Standing up from the chair, she squeezed her father’s hand. “Baba, please. I don’t know how you’re going to do this but take her away from here for now. I already have a lot to deal with. I need no more problems than I already have.”

“What do you mean by take her away?” Dr. Kaushik stepped away. “How am I going to take her away? Where am I going to take her away? Do you know what you’re sounding like right now? Like you’re so madly in love with Shashank that even his betrayal is not able to make you face the reality.”

Her father’s uncertain gaze made her realize that she was fighting a lost battle. “So, you also think I am being delusional?”

Fed up, she dragged herself to exit his cabin. Just as she pulled the door open, she saw Shashank standing outside the cabin, his face giving away that he had heard something if not everything. 

She slammed the door shut and walked back to Dr. Kaushik. “Is your cabin not sound-proof?”

Dr. Kaushik gave her a confused look. “It is.”

Did I not properly close the door? She tried to remember. It clearly looks like he has heard something. 

Shaking her by her shoulder, Dr. Kaushik brought her back to earth. 

Apologizing for zoning out, she urged him to trust her. “I know you have no reason to believe me but trust me when I say, if I back out now and don’t do what I’m doing,” she began earnestly, her eyes meeting his with a pleading intensity, “… an innocent will suffer.”

Her voice tinged with urgency caught Dr. Kaushik off-guard. It was rare to see her adopt such a serious demeanor. Her usual childish and jovial self was replaced by a gravitas that he seldom witnessed, adding an unusual weight to the moment. 

“Fine. Do what you want. I’ll cancel the wedding arrangements,” he said, lifting his hand in his air to stop her, guessing what she was about to say when she opened her mouth, “and handle your mother.”

“Thanks, Baba…” She hugged him to express her gratitude. “Tell everyone that we have to postpone the wedding because of Dada-Kaka’s health condition.”

Dr. Kaushik pulled himself away to look at her. “Postpone? Tu aadhich vichar karun thevla hota?”

“Kay aadhich vichar karun thevla hota! Maza tar doka chaalna band zaalay. Aahe ti paristhiti pahun je suchla te saangtey. I don’t want to use Dada-Kaka for this… I know he’ll be fine by the time he’ll wake up but what other choice do I even have right now…” Apurva murmured, making no attempt to hide her guilt.

“Well, this does sound like a good reason provided your judgment about this situation is right,” said Dr. Kaushik. “But if Shashank is actually-”

“I’ll get going now. Tu pan ghari ja. Kahi asla tar mi phone karte.” With that, Apurva was out of his sight in no time. 

Dr, Kaushik stood there, taking his own time to process the turn of events. “I hope you don’t get your heart broken, Appu,” he murmured. 

“Where is Shashank?”

Apurva heard Amey ask as she reached Dada-Kaka’s room. Everyone was still standing outside except for Mai who was inside the room.

“Don’t take his name in front of me till Dada gets back home,” Vitthu-Baba warned. 

“It’s late,” Apurva reminded, walking closer, “I think you all should go back and rest.”

Babi-Aatya briefly hugged Apurva while looking at Suva-Aai. It seemed like she couldn’t muster the courage to say anything to her. 

Everyone left one by one. Nikhil and Suva-Aai were the last ones to linger around. Suva-Aai came to Apurva after telling her husband not to wait for her as she would return with Nikhil. While Nikhil went to pay the hospital bill, Suvai-Aai and Apurva sat together on a bench. 

2.45 a.m.

Apurva rested her head on Suva-Aai’s shoulder, seeking some moments of peace. She needed to quieten her mind even if it was for a minute or two. ”Khadoos bol-la tuzyashi kahi? Kahi saangitla tyaane tula?”

Suva-Aai swung her head from side to side. “Tula?”

Apurva sighed, slipping her hand around Suva-Aai’s arm. “Mala ajibaat idea navti Khadoos he asla sagla kahi karnaar aahe mhanun. Mala Nikhil Dada cha message ala tevhach kalala.”

Suva-Aai hummed.

“Actually…” Apurva began, raising her head as she shifted aside a little, “thodi far idea hoti.”

“He tya raatri-babat aahe, ho na?”

Apurva nodded, confirming her guess. 

“Mala watlach!” Suva-Aai straightened herself. “Aapan tevhach seriously ghyayla hava hota. Pan tu mhanali hoti na sagla thik aahe mhanun?” 

“Mala watla hota pan…” Apurva’s voice trailed off as if not wanting to say more. 

“Shashank ne goshti lapavlya tuzyapasun,” Suva-Aai completed the sentence that Apurva couldn’t. 

“Aata tyaala dosh deun kahi badalnaar nahiye, Suva-Aai. Netra Tai exactly kay kartey rather Khadoos kadun he saga kasa karavun ghetey he mahiti karna jaasta important aahe.”

Suva-Aai hummed. “Mahiti aahe mala. Nahitar ajun gappa ka aahe mi? Jevha he sagla ghari suru zala, Netra aali… sagle kahi na kahi bola-le. Shashank che Baba tar khup raagaat hote aani ajunahi aahe pan mi matra kahich mhatla nahi.”

Apurva’s curious eyes stayed on her. She remembered that along with her Kukki Gang, Suva- Aai was also quiet throughout. 

“Shashank la vicharu mi kadhihi shakle aste pan tevha tyaacha aikna mala jaasta mahattvacha waatla. To je sagla bolat hota, mala khaatri hoti tyaat to nakki kahitari asa bolun jaail jyaane aaplyala kahi madat milu shakel. Aani…”

With a glimmer of hope shining in Apurva’s eyes, she held onto Suva-Aai’s shoulders. “Tula kahitari clue bhetlaay na? I knew it. I knew it.”

“Nikhil Ravanni tula videos pathavle hote na? Mala dakhawashil?” 

Apura readily nodded and grabbed her phone. She played the first video and gave her phone to Suva-Aai who didn’t seem to find what she needed in that one and checked out the next. She paused the video after getting the desired one. “He-he bagh.”

Apurva shifted closer as Suva-Aai held the phone in the middle, playing the video. 

“Maza eka mulivar prem aahe he manya karnach mazyasathi khup avghad hota. Mi khup prayatna kela he sagla mazya manaatach thambavnyacha pan kahi upayog navta. Pan khara hech aahe… mazyasathi ti khup mahattvachi aahe. Itki ki mi tichyasathi,” Shashank said, his eyes going to his hand that was still in Netra’s hold, “kahihi karu shakto.” 

“Tula nahi waatat Shashank ithe tuzyabaddal boltoy?” Suva-Aai asked, pausing the video. 

“Mazyabaddal?” Unsure, Apurva stared at the paused video screen for a long moment. “Mala nahi waatat, Suva-Aai. I can think of nothing related to me that Netra Tai can manipulate Khadoos with. Seems to be just another random statement like every other that he had made in this conversation. He does not mean it. Anyway, tu pan ja ghari aata. Aani…” Apurva held her breath before telling Suva-Aai the same that she had told her father – tell everyone that the wedding wasn’t happening.

Apurva stared at Mai sleeping on the bed beside Dada-Kaka’s before she stepped out of the room, carefully closing the door behind her. It had been a while since Nikhil and Suva-Aai left. The clock was striking at 3 a.m. but sleep was far from her eyes. 

Is Khadoos home?

Not yet. 

She looked at her chat with Amey again while walking out of the hospital. “As expected,” she murmured, halting her feet upon catching the sight of him sitting on a concrete bench under the tree on the hospital premises. She pushed her phone into the pocket of her shrug, walked back inside and returned with two steaming cups of tea. 

Quietly keeping a cup near him, she sat beside him. “So, you’re not going home?”

“My family member is here. I am bound to stay. Why are you not going home?” he asked, pushing the cup of tea away. 

 “Ae, padel cup!” She curled her fingers around the cup in the nick of time but ended up burning them when some tea spilled onto her fingers in the process. She hissed in pain, her fingers tingling with the searing heat as she struggled to suppress the urge to cry. 

Alarmed, he looked at her reddened fingers, realizing what he had done. He immediately reached for her hand, his guilty eyes meeting hers for a brief moment before he sprang into action.

“Khadoos, wait. I am fi-” Her words were left hanging in the air as he rushed inside the hospital. She pressed her fingers against her lap, her eyes squeezing shut against the sharp sting. 

She had just taken the first sip of tea when he returned with a water bottle and a cream. She put her cup down, swallowing the tea. “Kay dhaawat gelaas aani dhaawat aalaas ki kay? Itkya lavkar kasa parat yeu shakto tu he gheun?” She chucked, raising her eyebrows. 

Ignoring her comment, he placed the cream beside her. When he held her wrist to pour cold water on her palm and fingers, she couldn’t hold back her laugh. “Being this careful? Does it even suit you after everything that you said not too long ago??” 

He grabbed the small tube of burn cream that he had brought from the hospital pharmacy. Squeezing a dab onto his fingertips, he began applying it to her skin. 

“Are you sure this is even needed? My hand looks just fine to me,” she asked, tilting her head to get a better view of his face, “also… the tea is getting cold.” 

“Stay still,” he whispered when she tried to take her hand back, “does it hurt?” 

“It does…” 

Her immediate response made him pause and look at her. 

“Shouldn’t it?”

Avoiding both, her eyes and her question, he focused on his work and he let go of her hand once he finished. He touched her cup and rose to his feet. “I’ll get you another one.”

“Don’t bother. Not everything that has been ruined can be restored. If you can’t give me everything, don’t give me anything.” 

He stopped in his tracks, knowing what she meant. He went ahead nonetheless and returned with two cups of tea. “I’ll be here. Drink this and go back.”

She let out a laugh, shaking her head. “You are not even my fiancé anymore. With what right do you think you can order me around?”

“I am not. I am just saying-”

She held her hand in the air. “If you have nothing nice to say, just drink the tea. Unless you are ready to drop the act, don’t talk to me.”

“Why were you defending me in front of your father?”

She sipped on her tea, not responding to his question right away. “Didn’t I tell you… unless you are ready to drop the act, don’t speak to me.”

“Apurva…”

Her lips stilled on the cup when his softened voice fell into her ears. 

“Don’t think I am innocent,” he said, keeping his gaze on her, “I am not!”