Chapter 25:- A Reality Check

The tightness reduced and I felt a lot lighter. Slowly I tried opening my eyes but they were shut immediately and I winced , realising the world is too bright for me.

I heard someone rushing outside and calling for a doctor. Another soft voice fell into my ears, “Open your eyes slowly. Don't strain yourself."

I tried following the command and opened my eyes to see a wrinkled face in my view. An elderly nurse was standing close, looking at me with a soft smile. My surroundings were dimly lit but blurred. I felt good.

I tried looking around but was immediately stopped, "don't move your head son. Stay still." The nurse instructed softly and I realized that I survived.

My surgery was successful and I made it. Khwaab!! Mom-dad!! I'll be able to see everyone. Now I'm yearning to meet them. I can't imagine what all they would've gone through in these hours or days. I don't know.

"Armaan please calm down. You are overthinking and it's not advisable in your condition. Try and understand." Dr. Mittal advised, standing in my line of vision. But why is everything so blurred? I blinked my eyes to clear the haze but nothing worked.

"Do you recognize me Armaan?" Dr. Mittal asked me again. Yes ofcourse and why would I not?

I tried nodding my head but my head felt heavy all of a sudden. "Aahaa.... don't move your head Armaan. You are asked to stay still." Another man standing in blue scrubs near me warned me softly in his American accent. Even if I try to I won't be able to.

"Armaan are you comfortable? Answer by blinking your eyes. Twice when no and once when yes. Got it?" Dr. Mittal instructed and I blinked my eyes once. I got it.

"So are you comfortable?" He asked me again. I blinked my eyes again and he had a relaxed smile on his face.

"Okay so now I'm going to conduct few small tests and ask you some questions in between. And you've to answer in the same way. Fine?" I blinked my eyes once again with a smile. I'm eager and excited to meet all of them. Very soon!

Both the doctors started with simple questions about me, my family and my career like whether I remember that I'm a musician and so on. As I could recall everything they asked, I felt mettlesome. Maybe everything was only in my mind, the fear of the complications and my survival.

"Armaan can you feel anything?" Dr. Mittal asked, staring at me. I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion and concentrated more, to check if I could. The doctors communicated with each other through eyes and I knew something was off. Before I could dig into it Dr. Mittal raised my right hand some inches above the bed and asked me to try sustaining it in the air which- I couldn't. The atmosphere grew tense and I realized the fear was real.

★★★★★

"Congratulations everyone. Armaan is a lot better than we expected. We've examined him and conducted few tests and we are satisfied with his progress. He will be able to meet you guys soon." Dr. Mittal assured Armaan's family sitting in his cabin.

They all were confused and scared for they were waiting to meet him.

"But why not now? He's fine right?" Ahaana asked eagerly.

"Yes but he was tired after we examined him. His brain and body are quite weak after the surgery. He needs proper rest."

All their hopes shattered with this information. It seems Armaan is on some mission to teach them a lesson on patience and he was getting successful. It was his fourth day post surgery and they were still waiting to see him, talk to him and assure themselves of his well being.

"But doctor you informed us that one of us will have to come inside. But you didn't call anyone?" Khwaab asked tentatively.

"Initially we decided to test his memory and whether is he able to recollect the bond he has with his family or not but we couldn't take the risk of exciting him right now. Although he was really eager to meet y'all." Dr. Mittal's affirmation relieved them in many ways. Fore mostly he didn't forget them and secondly he expressed his eagerness to meet them. All this meant his brain was functioning and they are still a part of his world.

"He said this to you?" Ahaana asked smiling brightly.

"We didn't allow him to speak yet but his body language was enough. Once he wakes up you guys will be able to meet him." The other doctor couldn't stop himself from breaking this happy news to the family. It's a delight to see happiness on the faces of the family members when you are dealing with cancer patients.

"Doctor what about his complications?" Everything appeared good till now but Rohit wanted to be practical this time and make sure that all this is not superficial. His question made the air thick with tension but it had to be dealt someday or the other.

"Well the immediate complications we could decipher were his blurred vision and weakness in all the four limbs along with loss of sensation. We can't name it complete paralysis yet since we couldn't examine him much, owing to his tiredness. His cognitive functions are working just fine and his speech is yet to be tested."

Ahaana digged her nails further as her hold on Rohit's arm tightened while he felt nothing because the pain these words made him feel was ineffable. Khwaab felt her world stopped right there and she wanted somebody to wake her up from this nightmare.

It doesn't matter how much they tried to prepare themselves for the worst outcomes in these past days because when reality hits you hard, it is ought to hurt and shake you in a way you cannot imagine beforehand.

At this moment they were clueless whether to be delighted that he still remembers them and can see this world, though a little blurred but better than darkness or whether they should be sad that he'll has to pass through this phase of paralysis too. Well forgetting all this they can be happy that he could make it and survive. Life is a blessing that isn't in everyone's fate and Armaan was the lucky one to get a new life.

"Does he know about his condition?" Khwaab enquired regaining her composure. She was worried about his reaction. This was his biggest fear.

"Yes and he has to accept this reality."

"But this is temporary right? He will be back to normal after the physiotherapy?" Ahaana asked in a panicked voice.

"Yes and that is what we hope but we cannot allow any sort of movement or jerk for a month or so. He will be bed ridden for that time period and it takes time for the patient to adjust accordingly. You all have to be really supportive. All this become physically and mentally taxing for the patient."