Author's pov
" Don't be nervous, baby. Ma and Papa are here," Srilekha patted Orni's hair who was laying on the hospital bed.
She smiled at her parents. Her father kissed her knuckles gently while her mother wiped away her emotional tears.
" Mumma, I will be praying for you to God," Roman hugged his mother tightly.
Orni kissed his forehead," My sweet baccha(baby)."
" Mumma, Please come back soon," Rion requested her. She kissed his tiny fingers affectionately.
Their emotional moment was interrupted by the doctors, nurses and Shivansh. They came here to take Orni to the operation theatre. The nurses shifted her to a stretcher.
" Don't be scared," Shivansh said. " We all are here for you," he assured her patting her head gently.
Orni smiled," I have faced worst than this."
Shivansh's face got clouded with sudden sadness. He knew what she meant. Having an awkward smile he caressed the back of her hand.
" I will be back, bhaiya," Orni let out a dry smile.
The doctors and the nurses forwarded their legs to the operation theatre. They were walking through a narrow corridor. Orni's eyes were stuck at the ceiling though different types of thoughts were roaming inside her mind.
Orni tilted her head to the right side when she noticed another group of doctors and nurses walking through the same corridor with a patient. Her eyes almost bulged out from her sockets noticing the patient. It took only a few seconds for Orni and the patient to cross each other's path. But, Orni didn't do any mistakes while recognizing the patient. It was none other than VR.
Orni knew that VR was admitted to the same hospital. She never wished to meet him but it seemed like destiny has some other plan. Orni didn't know what she felt after seeing VR's pale face. He had turned into a stick due to severe weight loss.
She reached the operation theatre soon. The doctors started preparing for the operation while Orni's mind got stuck with VR's face. She didn't know why she was becoming restless after seeing him. She wasn't understanding what was this restlessness. Why did she feel something for him suddenly? She couldn't name her feelings specifically.
" I am just scared about the surgery. Nothing else," Orni convinced herself though she wasn't sure why she was nervous.
Two days later
" Mumma, AAAA....................," Rion said holding a piece of orange in front of Orni's mouth.
Orni pouted," Mumma's belly is full." She took the piece of orange from Rion's hand. He giggled.
Roman questioned touching Orni's abdomen," Mumma, does it hurt?"
" A little bit," Orni answered making Roman upset. He just hopes his mother recovers fast.
Letting out a sigh Orni looked at her surroundings. She was laying in the hospital but her family members never let her feel that she was in the hospital. Her parents were here. Her sons were with her. Even a few moments ago Shivansh came to visit Orni with Niyati and Neela. She smiled thinking about all of their sincere concern for them.
Orni's smile faded away slowly the moment she remembered VR. She didn't know why she felt so down recalling that he was laying in the hos[ital bed alone. There was no one beside him.
" I shouldn't feel this way," Orni mumbled.
Yes, she shouldn't feel anything for a person who did everything to break her in every possible way. She loved him with her whole heart but except for pain and misery, he gave her nothing. However, should she just ignore how he was regretting all of his actions? He surrendered himself to the police for her happiness. If he wanted he could have kept her with him forcefully but he knew what he was doing was wrong.
Orni kept thinking about all of these things. Gently she caressed the bandaged area of her abdomen. She didn't know if she should thank him for his kidney or if she should curse him for whatever he did in the past. VR has been messing up with her mind since the day she saw him on that stretcher. Something changed inside her.
Orni's thinking was interrupted by a nurse who came here to change her saline. The nurse started doing her job while Orni searched for her mother in the room.
" Where is your grandma, Rion?" Orni questioned Rion who was busy playing video games.
Rion replied," She went out with Grandpa."
Orni diverted her eyes at the nurse," Can you help me in shifting there?"
Orni pointed her finger at a wheelchair," And, take me to the next room."
" I can but you shouldn't move at all," The nurse answered.
Orni insisted," Please."
After thinking for a few moments the nurse agreed and shifted Orni to the wheelchair. Then took her to the next room where VR was staying.
When Orni reached in front of that room she saw two police constable guarding the room. At first, they stopped her from meeting VR. But, when she took Shivansh's name, they did not make any fuss and let her enter.
Entering the room Orni found VR sitting on the bed. His abdomen was bandaged just like hers. He was looking outside through the window. Sensing someone's presence he diverted his attention to the sudden intruder. He froze in his place after watching her while she kept observing him with her blank eyes. She was void of any emotions at this moment.
" You should take a rest," VR broke the silence with a shaky voice.
Orni answered," Don't think that I have forgiven you for the generosity you showed." Her voice was enough rude to scar his heart. " I am in this situation because of you," She pointed her finger at him.
VR lowered his eyes." I am not denying anything, Angel," he admitted without any hesitation.
" I knew that except for punishment I don't deserve anything. You were right. I should have gotten the death penalty," he added looking directly into her eyes.
Orni's eyes softened slightly while he continued," However, I am glad that you are fine now. That's enough for me. At this moment, if death is written in my destiny I will embrace it gladly because at last I did something for my Angel's well-being. I saved her life. That's enough for me." VR smiled nervously. " Thanks to God that He gave me this chance."
" I won't mind if you request another petition for my death penalty," VR said meaning every word he said. " A mere apology isn't enough for what I did. I deserve more punishment than what I am getting."
Orni was becoming uncomfortable after hearing his words. She did not know why his words kept soaring her like sharp needles. She felt genuine remorse in his voice which did something inside her. She did not know what was it but for a second a part of her wished she could lead a happy life with the person she loved once.
" I am being stupid," Orni mumbled and forwarded the wheelchair to leave. How could she even think of accepting a person who ruined her life?
" I can even wait an eternity for you. It's just 30 years of jail," VR said loudly. She stopped in her track. Turning her head slowly she gave him a questioning look.
He added with determination," I will return to you, Angel. I will return for you and our sons if you don't request another petition for my death penalty.
" Either I will die or I will return to you even after 30 years," VR promised her. " I will love you till my last breath."
Orni was flabbergasted by his words. She did not know how to react to his words.
" You never loved me. Never," Orni screamed in his face before storming outside of the room.