BJL Epilogue Part - 2

Part 2

Arjun had indeed shut her up with his most passionate love making but he didn’t realize that it was just for the night. Her unrest mind wasn’t going to go silent so easily. She was stubbornly inclined to knowing the reason behind Arjun’s denial for a baby of their own. Perhaps somewhere deep inside, she felt that she was the reason for his denial and she was all set to find it out.

Annie’s phone rang for the 3^rd time after she ignored the last 2 calls from her best friend Sakshi. Annie looked at Raj and then at the phone.

“Pick the phone Annie……You know that she won’t rest until she finds it out”

Raj’s spoke up in response to Sakshi’s constant calls to find out something which they had kept hidden from her. Annie shook her head protesting the same, “No Raj….you know I can’t lie to her…..neither can I tell her the truth….we had decided that we won’t….”

Raj wrapped his arm around his wife who stood concerned for their dearest friend. He replied, “I know Annie but don’t you think its time we tell her all about it”

“We had hidden it for a reason and even today, Arjun doesn’t want her to know….then how can we tell it to her?”

Annie’s concern and reasoning was right in its place but Raj being a doctor and more than that, being Sakshi’s close friend knew that it was better to let her know what Arjun was hiding.

He decided to pick the call as he knew that Annie would never be able to tell it nor would she tell some false excuse.

He took the phone from Annie’s hands much to her surprise.

“Hello darling”

Annie rolled her eyes hearing that because it wasn’t Raj’s usual style of addressing Sakshi but then her thoughts were nowhere near jealousy as she knew every nuance of the unique bonding between Sakshi and Raj. She was just surprised by his changed tone but soon she realized that it was just his way of cooling down Sakshi.

Raj’s flirty tone didn’t impact Sakshi. She even refused to have noticed it as something else topped her thoughts. She instantly spoke in annoyance, “Raj, Where is Annie?? Why is madam hiding from me?”

Raj chuckled at Sakshi’s reply and naughtily remarked, “What yaar? You disturb us even on our honeymoon, huh? Don’t you know that a husband keeps his wife busy on a honeymoon?? So is Annie…..samjhe ya samjhaavum?”

Sakshi hissed and stamped her foot but also couldn’t help a smile. Raj knew instantly that his friend was hiding her smiles, “Oye Mrs Rawte, Mr khadoos ACP ke saath rehte rehte smile pe bhi ration karne lagi, haan??? Agar smile aa gaya toh kar dena chaahiye”

Sakshi giggled and then replied in mock anger, “Khabardaar Mr Doctor…..don’t you dare call him khadoos…..”

In a more mellowed down tone, she added, “He is very sweet”

Raj chuckled naughtily, “hmmm…..I can see that…..usska sweetness ka asar dikh raha hai”

Sakshi blushed at that but she remained focussed on her thoughts. She urged again, “Raj…..please let me talk to Annie…..matter bohat important hai warna main aap dono ko kabhi disturb nahi karthi……I need to know what she is hiding from me Raj”

Raj took a deep breath as he looked at Annie who stood in anticipation. He took the hands off her waist and patted her shoulders assuring that he will handle this sensitive issue. Annie nodded understanding what her husband wanted to tell her. She stood there while Raj stepped into the sit out area.

He was silent but Sakshi wasn’t. She kept impatiently switching her phone from her right to left and back. She nudged him when he took his time to open up.

Finally he sighed and then started off, “Sakshi, there was a reason that this matter is being hidden from you and the same reason holds even now but then your anxiety to know it…..”

Sakshi snapped him short without being able to handle the suspense further, “Raj…..just tell me….I know its all about me and so I have to know it…”

Raj smiled knowing very well that Sakshi was stubborn and hell bent on this. He said without further delay

“Sakshi, do you remember the last check up you had with your doctor, a month after your recovery?”

Sakshi nodded, “hmmmm”

He continued, “Soon after that, your doctor called me to discuss about your medical condition……Arjun bhi aaya tha because he wanted to be sure of everything concerning you,”

Sakshi listened with utmost patience while Raj went on, “your doctor was sceptical regarding your married life Sakshi….Based on your medical tests, she felt that your body is quiet weak due to the paralysed state and the heavy medication that was given for so many years…..She wasn’t sure if you would be able to…..I hope you understand”

She didn’t nod but could perceive it all.

“She told us that your immune system would take years to recuperate and we should take full care of you…..Arjun had told the doctor that you both had already….I mean….”

Raj’s words trailed off but Sakshi understood that he was taking about their consummation and that Arjun was making sure if their physical relation would ever cause harm to her.

Raj just completed his words saying that doctor had given Arjun some counselling and precautions to be taken. He also made it clear that it was as per the doctor’s advice that Arjun was avoiding even the topic of having their own baby. Her body wasn’t strong enough to hold a baby and nurture it inside her. She and the baby would be at constant risk if a pregnancy happened.

Sakshi’s eyes welled up remembering the innumerable times when Arjun had made sure that she was perfectly fine before he made love to her. Never once had he hurt her or let his wild side out when they made love. He was always gentle, quite unlike his real self, making sure that her body was handled with care, just like a glass doll.  In fact, she had at times teased him for his slow and predictable approach for which he merely winked at her with a naughty comment that she was still a small kid and he can’t be hard on his baby.  Now when all those moments ran past her mind, she could stop her tears roll down her cheeks.

His love making was always pleasurable and a love therapy for her body which soothed and comforted her inside out.

She now realized why he always made sure that she took good healthy food and multi vitamins regularly. He was never careless about her health. Even if she sneezed, he would treat her like a baby and make sure that she is hale and healthy.

Her brief trip down her memory lane was broken by Raj’s call, “Sakshi…..you there?

She just hummed back, “hmmm”

Raj knew that she was sad hearing all of it and so he enquired, “Are you alright Sakshi? See, this is why we decided not to tell you…..Arjun was stubbornly against letting you know all this”

She wiped her tears as she knew that this wasn’t a time for crying, “No Raj…..I should have known this long before……Arjun ne mere liye yeh sab…..”

Raj intervened knowing where she headed, “Sakshi don’t overthink…..just stay cool ok? You guys are happy together and there is absolutely no problem”

Sakshi was silent. In her mind, their life together replayed and also the thoughts that Arjun loved kids. It was just for her sake, he was depriving himself the happiness of becoming a father.

Her silence worried Raj and also Annie. Annie took the phone from Raj and gave him an ‘I told you’ look.

Even Annie’s continuous call didn’t make Sakshi talk.

“Sakshi….you are worrying us now…..kuch toh bolo na?”

And then Sakshi responded much to her relief, “Don’t worry….main teek hoom..I will talk to you later Annie”

Saying that she cut the call.

Meanwhile, Arjun was restless at ETF. Something about last night’s talks disturbed him. He could understand that it was not like all times. Sakshi was adamantly inclined to have a baby. It was a wish that he could never grant her knowing well that it could cause harm to her. Yes, he loved kids and he also wanted to have their own baby but never at the cost of Sakshi’s health. He needed nothing which could harm her. His love for Sakshi was way beyond all that.

He wanted to meet her then and there, talk to her and make sure everything was normal and like always.

He told Sameer that he was taking a day off because he wasn’t feeling well. Sameer was surprised as this was the first time Arjun put forth such a reason but he didn’t probe much. He wasn’t blind not to notice the off late tension in Arjun’s mind and he also knew that it concerned Sakshi. He was getting hints about it but kept silent giving them their time and space to solve it between them.  Aisha had also told him that Sakshi was keen on having a baby now and in their personal conversations, Sakshi had asked for tips to conceive.

Though Sameer and Aisha had no idea about Sakshi’s medical condition, they knew that there was something that Arjun hid from all of them and it was the same reason why he was pushing the baby plan.

Sameer just prayed and hoped that whatever it was, everything gets sorted soon.

Arjun got Annie’s call when he was driving back home. He flared up at Annie the moment he heard what Raj had done.

“How can you ppl do that? Mujhse pooch toh liya hota…..this is so not done Annie…..”

Annie tried to explain their situation which forced Raj to spill it out but Arjun cut the call angrily and his foot stamped the accelerator pretty hard as he raced through the traffic to reach his Sakshi as soon as possible. His mind was agonized just like his heart thinking about how Sakshi would have taken this revelation.

[To be continued]