Chapter 40 — Mitra’s Changed Behaviour

Mitra's POV:

I reread the news and was in hell shock. My body started sweating, and my breath became hard. Somehow I gathered strength and called to his office. They confirmed the news, and I rushed to the hospital. I reached hospital and constables took me to ICU. I saw Dheer from the glass door of ICU.

My eyes started flowing tears uncontrollably. After my marriage to Dheer, this is the first time that I am crying like this. I remembered the words of people in my village who used to say that I am a bad omen. Maybe it's true. That's the reason I lost parents at an early age, and even Rajat (first husband) died after marrying me. Now, Dheer too...No...I can't bear it. No, my Dheer should be safe. Nothing should happen to him.

Lady constable came to me and made me sit on the chair. Dharma and Asha reached to the hospital.

"Mitra," Dharma said, and I hugged him crying.

"Mitra, please control yourself. Nothing happens to Dheer. Asha, take care of Mitra, I will inform his parents," Dharma said.

Asha sat with me on chairs. I just leaned my head on her shoulder and didn't speak anything to anyone. Tears were flowing continuously. The doctor said they can't say anything now and Dheer is under observation. They said they could say anything only after 24 hours.

Mom and dad reached the hospital. I am shattered, seeing Dheer unconscious. Dharma and Asha too stayed with us in the hospital.

"Mitra, have something. You didn't have anything from yesterday," mom said slowly.

I refused to eat. I am not going to eat anything unless Dheer comes into conscious.

"Mitra, please be strong. Dheer will be safe. Bullet went from his shoulder. He will be safe," Dharma said to me.

How did he know that bullet went from Dheer's shoulder? Is he on the spot?

"Are you on the spot?" Mom asked.

"Yes, mom. Actually terrorists made the residents of an apartment as their captives. Dheer and team went there to save them. As a home minister, I too went there," he said, clarifying my doubt.

At evening doctors said he is responding to the treatment and improvement was shown. I didn't sleep and had nothing for the whole day. Then the next day, the doctor checked him, and as the operation was successful, he opened his eyes. Doctors didn't allow us to go inside the ICU. Next day, they said only one among us could go.

"Mitra, you go inside. Dheer will be happy to see you," mom said.

"No, I won't go," I said and went off from there.

No, he shouldn't see my face. What if I am a bad omen? Seeing my face may bring him bad luck. No, I won't show my face to him. Someone patted on my shoulder, and it's Dharma.

"Mitra, what happened to you? Dheer is asking for you. Go and see him once."

"No, I won't go."

"Don't you want to see Dheer?"

"I want to see him but..."

I stopped seeing mom.

"Mitra, Dheer wants to see you."

I went inside calmly. Fortunately, Dheer is not in conscious due to injection. I saw him and came outside. He is recovering slowly. Most of the time, I stayed at the office without visiting the hospital. Mom and dad didn't like me focusing much on work though Dheer is unwell. I didn't want him to see me as my bad luck may affect him too.

Every day without others notice, I went to the hospital to see him. I want to take care of him and help him to recover fast, but I controlled myself. Seeing Dheer on the bed and leaving him like that hurts me a lot. Many times mom called me saying that Dheer wants to see me, but I escaped giving excuses. Slowly one and a half month passed by, and Dheer was discharged. Mom and dad took him home.

"Mitra, bring Aarti plate to welcome Dheer," mom said.

I want to go, but I stopped myself. I sent a maid giving aarti. Dheer came inside the home, and mom came to the kitchen. While I was preparing tea for mom and dad, Mom held my arm, turning me towards her.

"What happened to you, Mitra? Why are you behaving like this? I feel as if you are avoiding Dheer. Did you both fight before this incident? Whatever, Dheer is your husband. You can show your anger later. Now he needs you and your love, it helps him to recover fast," mom shouted and advised at the same time.

I didn't speak anything, and mom went off irritated with my silence. I didn't go to the room at day time, and now it's night. I didn't understand how to avoid going to the place. I got an idea and went to mom.

"Mom, I am on prayer. I prayed to God that if Dheer is safe, I will do this for 21 days. These 21 days, I shouldn't see my husband's face," I said.

Mom looked at me, suspiciously.

"I don't know, Mitra. Dheer is asking for you continuously. I know that you didn't start any prayer today. So, go and meet Dheer once. Talk to him, I can't say anything," mom said seriously.

I went slowly to the room as I am helpless. Dheer looked at me. I don't know how he will react for not caring for him all these days. He might be very angry with my behaviour. I stood before him without talking anything.

"Mitra, come and sit near to me," he said so sweetly.

I sat near him.

"I miss you so much. Do you know, Mitra? I thought I will die after that incident. But, your love and prayers saved me. As you are my wife, I am alive today," Dheer said, shocking me.

I looked at him.

"Mitra, you are my blessing. I love you so much. This is not fair to avoid your husband from a month who is dying to see you. Birth and death are two things which are not in our hands. So don't blame yourself for those things."

He knew why I avoided him. He understood me. His sweet words made me cry more, and I cried, holding his hands and keeping my forehead on his hands.

"I didn't ask you to cry. I asked you to love me," Dheer said, kissing me on the forehead.

"I am sorry, Dheer. Sorry for avoiding you."

"It's ok but from now don't do that. From now you are the one who is going to care for me, deal?" He said, smiling.

"Deal, I love you. I will take care of you till you recover completely. I won't be away from you at least for some time. I will help you to recover fast."

"Just keep smiling and your smile recovers me fast," he said, wiping my tears.