The beeping patient monitor, disinfectant-smelling white flooring, the snow-white hospital bed, Radhika sitting and holding onto her Mother’s hand. She realised that her Mother had become very thin. The slow ups and downs of her chest were the proof of her tired body. The body that had become tired after working endlessly for her family over all these years. Radhika knew all these too well.
A soft knock on the cabin door jolted Radhika back to reality. She stood up to open the door. It was the usual visiting hour for her Father to visit her mother. After staying for a bit longer they both used to leave for home.
But strangely, that knock sounded a bit different than usual.
Though Radhika didn’t believe in any superstitions and was a firm science believer, still there was an uneasy feeling from the start of the day. She felt restless the whole time. She even shared her concern with her Father. Her father had always been a very calm and rational person, Radhika felt a little anxiousness in him. Though he smiled warmly and told his daughter not to worry, his face was saying something otherwise.
Radhika let her intrusive thoughts win and deduced that, “Perhaps, he’s a little anxious today!”
On opening the cabin door, Radhika was welcomed by a completely new face. She didn’t remember ever knowing this person in her entire 30 years.
“Maybe this person got the wrong number,” she thought.
But before she could even utter a single word, the person said, “Radhika, I’m here to meet Vibha, your mother.” “Is she awake?”
Now before Radhika could even process this strange closeness and absolute lack of confusion about the room number from this complete stranger, she heard her mother calling her, “Radhika, let Chandra in.”
Now Radhika’s head was spinning, all her thoughts were a complete mess now. Her mother had been sleeping all these days, but today when this strange stranger knocked their door, not only was her mother wide awake but was talking all clearly.
Clutching her mobile phone tightly in her palm without uttering a single word, she moved aside the door. Radhika’s eyes didn’t leave the man. His every movement was under her strict scrutiny.
After all these commotions, Radhika’s gaze fell on the bouquet this strange man was carrying.
“Red roses?? Like seriously??” She scoffed.
“Is this man here to suddenly confess to my Mom?? No way, till I’m here, I’ll make sure to regret his life choices if he tries anything funny!! I swear!!”
“Hello Baapi!!”
Chandra got a little surprised and looked at Radhika, who was already on her phone with her Dad. Before he could say a word to either Vibha or her, Radhika was already on alert. With the emergency alarm within her hand, she went on:
“Baapi! Come fast to the cabin,” she yelled while trembling in shock and hung up.
Chandra was surprised to see such a strong reaction from this charming young lady. He was totally taken aback and was at a loss for words. In a few seconds, he got a hold of himself and before he could even say a word, Vikram entered the room.
When the nurse left them after changing the saline bottle, the silence of the room was screaming louder than Radhika’s thumping heart. An unknown fear was creeping into mind and many random thoughts were gushing in.
A faint, weak, soothing voice broke the silence.
“It’s been a while Chandra! Hope your wife and son are doing well?” Vibha said with a faint smile. Vikram too joined in the conversation.
He said proudly, “Our Radhika is also grown up now. She’s pursuing her PhD, you know!”
“Is it? I’m glad to hear that. I’m glad to know that you grew up so well, Dear!!”
“Dear????” This word made Radhika lose her mind.
“Baapi, probably Mom and you might know this crackhead. That doesn’t make him any close relative of mine right? What’s with all these Dears and all??”
She wished to continue her argument further but was stopped midway by an incoming call on her cellphone. Though it was a short call, it gave her the chance to escape from the stuffy and heavy air of the room. Even her parents looked like strangers to her.
Looking inside the room through the glass windows of the balcony, she saw the three people inside chatting happily. As if it was some sort of sweet school or college reunion and Radhika was the least desired person in there.
Days went by, that strange man Chandra visited regularly and neither her mom nor her dad felt the need to introduce this man to her. With every passing day, Radhika felt that this person, Chandra, was too arrogant. He too never took the initiative to introduce himself to her. So she too reciprocated equally. Never uttering a single word in his presence. She didn’t even answer any questions that were asked by him.
Seeing such rude behaviour of her daughter, Vibha felt that it was now time for her to meddle to ease out the tension between these two.
Next day, when both Radhika and Vibha were alone in the cabin, Vibha started talking. Radhika thought it had been many days since she had a good heartfelt conversation with her mother.
“Radha, my darling. It’s been really difficult for you and your dad these days, right sweetie?”
“No Mum! We were more anxious about your health. Please be kind enough to take the medicines on time from now, okay?” Radhika said chantingly.
Vibha cleared her throat and continued, “Sweetie! About Chandra…”
“Please Mum! Not that man again! I really have zero interest about that man or his life,” Radhika interrupted Vibha.
“But sweetie! There are some…..”
“Mum! If we are going to talk about that random man, then it will be better if I take a nap now. At least that’s going to help you heal faster.” Radhika turned her head sideways and started scrolling her phone.
Chandra entered the room after a slight knock at the door. Radhika let out a deep sigh. She picked up her bag and turned to Vibha, “Mum! I’ve some urgent submissions so need to rush out now…..”, turned and left the room.
Chandra let out a sigh and said, “We need to tell her soon, Vibha…” to which Vibha nodded her head slightly while her eyes were still lingering to the door through which Radhika left a few seconds ago.
On the day when Vibha got discharged, Radhika was packing Vibha’s belongings. There was an utter silence in the air. Radhika was not feeling like telling any of her thoughts and Vibha was reluctant to break the silence and ask her wellbeing. With Chandra’s visit, their happiness suddenly came to a halt. Where Radhika was not able to pour her heart out to her family fearing her anxiety would be ignored. On the other side, her parents were searching their entire vocabulary to pick the right words to communicate with her.
The next day in the morning, Radhika got up early after waking up from the noises coming downstairs. She slowly came down to the living room and seeing Chandra sitting on the couch, she literally scoffed.
“Radhika dear, freshen up quickly, let’s have breakfast toge……” Before she could even finish, Radhika had already left.
At the breakfast table, Vibha said, “Radha, I hope after listening to me you’ll change your perspective about Chandra.”
“Not again…..”
“Learn to listen, Radhika,” Vikram said in a cold voice.
Radhika got a hold on herself quickly and concentrated to finish her breakfast.
Vibha continued, “Chandra is my first husband and your biological Father!”
The fork Radhika was holding fell to the ground with a loud sound, breaking the silence caused by Vibha’s pause.
“Vikram called him so that he can meet you before he leaves for settling abroad with his family.”
“Why now?”
“Because, I too came to know about you when Vikram called me up. Your mother never told me about you.”
“I never wanted the past to weigh on your present or future. I’ve always wished for your happiness,” Vibha said with a warm smile.
“So, you just wanted to ruin our happiness before leaving, right? Else I don’t see any reason for this truth reveal…” said Radhika with a smirk. “I was right, that you are up to no good.”
“We all have been selfish some way or the other. Some wanted others’ happiness, someone was greedy to bid last goodbye to their kid, and someone wanted to be a really good father,” said Vikram with tears in his eyes and holding Radhika’s hand.
Radhika, trembling with anger, left the dining table in a rage and banged her door shut.
She wished that day this stranger had never knocked… wished he had never picked her father’s call………
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Let me know if you want a version with improved tone, emotion, or literary polish.
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