Chapter22

Armaan walked into his house after a week being away on a business trip.
He had been to business trips many times in his life.
Sometimes to other states, sometimes to other countries, but he had never been homesick
before.
He took in a deep breath and the aroma of food from the kitchen hit him hard.
Coming home to Janani's cooking is something he could get used to.
It was past lunch time, but he could still have something to eat.
Once done with eating a little bit of the food left in the kitchen, he sighed.
He missed having this while in Delhi.
He looked around and couldn't see either Janani or the kids.
Along with that came the realisation that it's not coming home to Janani's cooking that
matters.
It's coming home to Janani and the kids that brings this warmth in his heart.
The heart which he had locked away long ago.
He is stepping into dangerous territory, he knew.
He is not sure what it is he feels, but he is liking that feeling.
One week away had been hell.
Maybe he is feeling these things for the wrong person.
She might not be the right person for him if he thought with his clear brain.
But then his heart sways the other way.
"Looking for someone??" Aadesh asked, coming inside the kitchen, pocketing the phone in
his hands with a cheeky smile.
"Uh yeah!! I was looking for you" he replied after a momentary pause.
"Sure sure" Aadesh said airily
"Aadesh! Aadesh!" they heard the loud panicked screams of Janani from the backyard and
without wasting a second they rushed out.
Fear gripped his gut tight.
"What happened to her??" Armaan asked frantically as soon as he spotted Janani and Ava.
He saw his daughter going limp in Janani's arms.
And she is not breathing properly.
"Ava, baby wake up" Janani tried waking her by patting Ava's cheeks.
"What is wrong?? What happened??" He asked again
His daughter is unconscious.
There are rashes on her skin.
And she is not breathing properly.
Never in his life had he felt so helplessly.
"Call the paramedics. Immediately" she said and with shivering hands he did that before
kneeling down beside his child.
Janani laid Ava down on the ground on her side and Armaan was thankful that atleast
someone here has their head clear.
"Armaan, please get Ava's medical reports ready!!" Janani asked in between
"Why?? What happened??"
"Do as I say Armaan, please"
"She doesn't have one. She was perfectly alright until now" he said helplessly
He felt like a failure.
He should have made necessary check ups.
The first time she came with him, he had done a regular check up, but nothing untowards
was found.
"Was Ava's mother allergic to anything??" Janani asked him as she elevated Ava's legs a bit.
Ishana??
Was she allergic to something??
He had no idea!!
He felt ashamed of the man he was and vowed never to be so careless in his life again.
They heard the sound of the ambulance and the paramedics came running.
"What do we have here??"
"Bee stung allergy I think" Janani said
He saw them giving Ava a shot of adrenaline immediately after making sure Janani's
diagnosis was right.
"We need to take her to the hospital" the paramedics informed
"Ofcourse" she said as they placed Ava on a stretcher and took her to the ambulance.
Janani and Armaan followed them not before he asked Aadesh to collect the medical history.
"Aadesh, contact Ishana's sister and ask her to come to the hospital immediately" Armaan
ordered.
Once they reached the hospital, Ava was taken to the emergency room and as soon as Ava
was out of sight he saw Janani's composure crumbling down and she sagged against the
hospital wall falling down to the floor.
Her whole being was trembling and the agonising sobs that came out of her trembling lips
cracked the walls around his heart.
"Janani" he squatted down beside her
"It's my fault. It's all my fault" she mumbled again, rocking herself.
"Janani. Stop crying please" he asked, not able to take in the sight of her crying form.
"I should have paid more attention. I shouldn't have let that happen to her. I was careless"
she said, slapping her head again and again until he caught hold of her hands.
He needs to be strong for her.
He can't break down.
He is terrified seeing the state of his daughter, but he needs to be strong for his family.
He pulled her into his arms and she turned to him and sobbed into his chest and he let her
do that.
He just stayed silent letting her pour out. He could feel his shirt getting wet with her tears, but
he didnt care.
His hold on her tightened as he consoled her
"Janani, sweetheart. It's not your fault. You didn't knew about her allergy. She would be okay.
She is a strong child. She is a fighter. She had been through worse and she is still smiling
and that is because of you. She will come out of this too and she wouldn't be happy to see
her Jaan crying." He said and pressed a light kiss on her temple.
They stayed in the same position until the doctor came out.
It's true, adversities bring people closer.
And here, the fear of losing Ava brought these two souls closer than before.
Once the doctor came out they stood up immediately.
"Doctor, how is my child??" Armaan asked fear forming a tight coil in his gut
"She is stable now. She has had a nasty allergic reaction. This might be the first episode I
guess??" He asked
"Yes doctor. We had no idea" he said helplessly
"It happens. Are either of you allergic to bees??" The doctor asked wanting to know the
medical history.
Armaan sighed.
"I am not sure about Ava's mother's medical history doctor. I will inform you as soon as I get
it" Armaan said and the doctor frowned, moving his gaze from Armaan to Janani and then
back to Armaan.
Then he shrugged. It's not any of his business.
"Doctor. Can we see Ava??" Janani asked
"She is sleeping. Under sedation. You can meet her once she is shifted to a private room.
And then we will have to take some tests to rule out other allergies" The doctor said
"How long is she to be admitted here??" Armaan asked
"You can take her back home tomorrow. We just need to keep her overnight for observation.
Nothing serious. Just usual protocol" The doctor said and with a pat on Armaan's shoulder
he walked away
They both sighed and sat on couch in the corridor
"Advi" Janani mumbled cursing herself for forgetting him in the chaos
"Mrs Seth would be with him. I will call to make sure he is okay. Now don't start blaming
yourself for neglecting him" he said and and gave a light pat on her cheeks before taking his
phone to make the call.
****
Ava was transferred to one of the VIP rooms of the hospital.
Perks of being the daughter of The Armaan Verma.
Ava slowly opened her eyes as she heard the hustle bustle in the room.
The doctor along with a nurse had come in to collect her blood samples for further tests.
The sight of the syringe and needle made Ava whimper.
"Momma" she cried terrified at the sight of the needle and the doctor scolded the nurse for
being careless enough to take the needle in plain sight of the child.
Janani couldn't take the sight of Ava crying for her mother.
She turned around a sob coming out her mouth.
Armaan held her shoulders
"Armaan, she is asking for her momma. What will we tell her? Poor baby, what will we do"
she cried
"Momma" Armaan saw Ava reach out a hand in Janani's direction and a lump formed in his
throat.
"Do something Armaan" Janani sobbed
He cupped her face with both his hands and looked into her eyes while wiping the tears with
his thumbs.
"She is asking for you Janani" he whispered
Janani froze
Her breath hitched when Armaan said that
He slowly turned her around and she saw Ava's hands stretched in her direction
"Momma.." Ava called again and Janani with a cry rushed towards her and gathered her into
her arms.
Did Ava just call her Momma??
She felt overwhelmed.
She felt loved.
She felt heaven.
"I am here sweetie. I am here"
"Mein gil gayi momma" Ava complained weakly and Janani tightened her hold on the child.
(I fell down momma)
"It's okay baby."
Janani distracted Ava by singing nursery rhymes while the nurse took the blood samples
needed.
After a while, tired with all the chaos Ava fell asleep in Janani's arms and Armaan looked on
feeling blessed to have Janani with him at the moment.
The door opened with a thud and in walked a beautiful woman in her early twenties along
with Aadesh.
Her eyes were a beautiful blue green just like Ava's
"What happened to Ava???" The cold tone reverberated in the room.