After parking my bike in my building, I remembered that my phone was on silent mode. When I took it out of my pocket, I saw 22 missed calls from my Bhayya. He had never called me so many times in a day. I was worried that he would get angry with me. At first I thought that I would talk to him personally when he returned from Jaipur the next day. But when bad times come, no one can stop them. I couldn’t stop myself and called him. But the voice that answered from the other side did not appear to be that of Bhayya. The person who answered the phone said something which destroyed all my happiness in a moment.

The man told me that my Bhayya’s car had met with an accident on Delhi-Gurugram highway, and that he had been calling me to inform this. It seemed my heart had stopped beating for a few seconds. I thought he was joking. I asked him if he was joking with me because Bhayya was supposed to return the next day. How could he return today? He just gave me the car number and hospital address and asked me to come as soon as possible. He had a very less chance of survival. 

It was as if the earth had moved from beneath my feet. My mind became numb. Everything became quiet. I somehow gathered myself and again called the person to confirm the address, and left for the hospital on bike. It was around 11 at night, yet there was big traffic on the roads. I must have jumped several traffic signals as I wanted to reach there as soon as possible. I didn’t care about anything. Everything looked useless to me.

After driving for 2 hours, I reached the hospital. I parked the bike in the parking and again called on Bhayya’s number. The person asked me to reach at room number 207 in ICU on the second floor. I can’t explain how I felt as I walked up the stairs. Outside the room, the man was waiting for me. Before I could say anything, he said,

“Are you Aarav?”

“Yes, I am Aarav. Where is Bhayya?”

He pointed towards ICU and said “He is inside. But the doctor has asked us not to go inside.”

“Can I see him from outside?” I asked.

I opened the ICU door and saw Bhayya. His head was completely bandaged and his face was also partially covered with bandages. It was clear that he had been involved in a terrible accident. I asked the man when did that happen.

He told me that it had happened an hour before he had called me. Bhayya had given my number to him, before he fainted. I was still not aware of my Bhabhi and Ankit – whether they were also in the car, and whether they were safe. I prayed for their safety, before asking him if there was anyone else in the car.

I did not want him to answer me, because I wouldn’t be able to bear any more trauma. But since I had asked, he answered. His reply again took me to a position where I had been a few minutes back. He said,

“There was a lady and a kid also in the car. Both of them died in the accident. Only the man was breathing.”

I thought that I had once again become an orphan. I was crying uncontrollably. Even the thought of Rihana or that I loved her did not cross my mind. Everything appeared hazy… I was standing on the ground, and yet did not feel anything. Slowly I tried to console myself that what had to happen, had happened. I could not undo what had happened, but pray for Bhayya to recover fast.

Two doctors walked past me and went inside the ICU without saying a word. I also wanted to go inside, but the attendant stopped me.

“The doctor has refused permission. You can’t go inside till he permits.”

He was right. But at that time I didn’t like it. I was dying to meet the man who had always loved me like his younger brother. And today he was in this condition. 

Suddenly my phone started ringing. It was Rihana’s call. I kept looking at the flashing screen, but didn’t have guts to receive the call. What would I tell her? How would I tell her about Bhayya and Bhabhi… She kept on calling me. I also knew that if I did not talk to her, she would remain worried the entire night. The man standing next to me asked me to pick it up.

“Pick the phone. Say you are busy in some important work.”

It was easy for him to suggest this, since he didn’t know whose call it was. I gave him no reaction. I went a little away and received the call.

“Hello”

“I have been calling since so long… haven’t you reached home yet?”

“Reached just now”

“It’s so late. Are you okay, Aarav? You are sounding very low.”

It was her love for me that without my revealing anything, she could sense that I was not okay. I tried to cover up.

“Oh yes, I am okay. Got late due to heavy traffic.”

“Oh… I got scared. I was having all sorts of ideas. You neither picked up the phone, nor called back.”

“Sorry, I couldn’t hear the ring due to traffic noise. I will talk to you tomorrow.”

“Why tomorrow? Why not tonight?” she was surprised.

“Actually I have to write some important articles tonight, for tomorrow.”

“Okay, okay. We can talk tomorrow. Bye, love you.”

I disconnected the phone. Her expression of love was not able to console me. My heart was so full of pain, that there was no space left for her love. I kept the phone back in my pocket, and tried to look inside the glass door. Both the doctors were still inside, treating Bhayya. I came back to the person and said “Thank You.”

He kept looking at me for a while. Then said,

“Pray to God that he is saved. I am also praying.”

I silently nodded in agreement. As soon as the doctor came out, I rushed to him. 

“Is he all right?”

Both the doctors looked at me, and said,

“Are you with him?”

“Yes. He is like my elder brother. How is he?”

“It’s too early to say anything. He is very serious. We are trying our best to save him, but can’t say anything.” One of them said.

At that time, the doctor looked like god to me. With folded hands I said,

“Please save him doctor saheb. He is the only family I have.”

The doctor put his hand on my shoulder and tried to console me.

“We are trying our best. You also pray to god. Maybe your prayers are answered.”

“Can I meet him?” I again asked him.

“Not yet. When we feel he is in that position, we will let you meet him.” And they left.

I kept watching the doctors, even as I prayed for Bhayya’s recovery.

A little later, a compounder asked me to accompany him. Somehow I sensed that he was going to show me Bhabhi and Ankit’s dead body. I followed him in the long hall, mentally preparing myself to face the ordeal.

There was a strange, unbearable smell in the hall. Some dead bodies were lying in the freezers, while some were lying on the tables, waiting to be kept in the freezer. All the bodies were covered with white cloth. The compounder asked me to look at each body and try to identify Bhabhi and Ankit.

It was extremely painful for me. My legs just wouldn’t move. Finally, we reached a body. I tried to hold on to my nerves, and gestured to the compounder to remove the cloth and show the face. As soon as he removed the cloth, it seemed as if someone had pierced my heart with a knife. 

It was Bhabhi’s dead body. Her nose was broken and the face was all red with blood. I could not see it, and immediately covered her face. But I needed more courage, as I had to see Ankit.

The compounder again asked me if I was ready, and I gestured. He lifted the cloth from another dead body. It was Ankit’s dead body. His head had got smashed and was full of blood. I couldn’t see it and tried to cover the face. Suddenly I saw the chain in his neck, which Rihana had gifted to him. I took out the chain, and sat down on the floor. I was crying uncontrollably. There was no one around who could control me. Suddenly, I felt someone’s hand on my shoulder. It was the compounder, who was trying to console me.

I put the locket in my pocket, and left for Bhayya’s room.

A little later the doctor allowed me to meet Bhayya with a request not to tell him about Bhabhi and Ankit. 

As I stood in front of Bhayya, he kept on looking at me. I went closer and held his hand. A drop from my eyes fell on his hand.

“Take care of Bhabhi and Ankit, Aarav.” He said in a feeble voice.

It looked as if he had forgotten that Bhabhi and Ankit were also with him in the car. How could I tell him that I had just now seen their dead bodies. I tightly clasped his hand, and moving my face near to his face said,

“Promise that you will never leave me.”

There was no movement in his hands. I could only hear the sound of the ventilator. I looked at the ventilator, but couldn’t understand anything. Only a voice came from behind,

“Sorry, we couldn’t save him.”

This was the voice of doctor standing behind me. I had lost everything. I just hugged Bhayya’s body and cried … and cried….