“Amaal.” His hand tightened, his brows furrowing. “I didn’t know who was behind this change of his perspective towards life. Now I do. And I am assuming he does too. He will not go anywhere. Ok?”
She nodded.
“Say it.”
“He will not go anywhere.” She repeated.
“He will not go anywhere.” Atharva reiterated. “Once they clean him up, they will let us see him.”
“Did he wear a koti over his kurta today?” She asked.
Atharva’s eyes fell. “I don’t know.”
————————————————————
Seven hours later, they came back and said that he was cleaned up and dressed, a procedure done on his lungs. Three more hours later, and they said he was awake, but disoriented. Three more hours later, and they said something about rhabdomyolysis. Muscle breakdown. Kidney failing. Dehydration. They said a lot of things, and allowed up to three visitors.
“Is this for goodbye?” Amaal asked Atharva.
“No,” his voice softened. “No. This is to see him.”
Atharva could lie through his teeth and not let a single soul realise. She knew he was lying.
When they opened the sterilisation room, he stood up and walked in first. That clued her in that he was lying. Ten minutes later he walked out, tipping his chin at Adil.
“What?” Amaal shot to her feet. “What was that?”
“What?” He took off the mask from his face. “Nothing.”
“You gestured something to him. What?”
“I asked him to go in.”
Amaal blinked, tears forming a layer over her eyes. “I want to go.”
“Amaal…” Atharva stalled.
“You can’t stand in my way.” She began to run around him.
“Hey,” he caught her shoulder. “Relax. It’s not a good idea.”
“I want to go!”
“Let Adil go. You can meet him tomorrow.”
“Three people can go!”
“Amaal, he is not in a condition to… You won’t be able to see that.”
“I will.”
“Let her,” Adil said. Atharva glared at him.
“Why is he letting me?” Amaal snapped. “It means this is goodbye? No?! You both are lying to me! What is happening? Fucking tell me! PLEASE! I am going mad thinking!!!”
Atharva caught her eyes, bending down to her eye level. “Amaal?”
“Hmm?”
