Ruhi was skipping college
since past few days. There was a severe pain in her lower abdominal and fever
was adding more to her illness. She was balled in the blanket in her bed, after
taking a paracetamol tablet. Earlier this morning, she had called the doctor and
taken an appointment for tomorrow.
She did not know how
she would reach the hospital next day. She couldn’t walk properly because of
the pain she had in her inner thighs. She just had her first love making and she
couldn’t even blush about it. The week
full of aches, fever and medicines had made her look pale.
“Maa, Can I have some
water,” She cried at the door, hoping that her mother would come with a glass
soon. She had already tried getting off the bed, but as soon as she stepped
down the bed, she almost fell.
She shouted a little
louder when her mother didn’t arrive and finally, after a third call, her
mother arrived with a glass of water. She was way thirstiest now, she emptied the
glass with heavy gulps. Her mother moved her hand in Ruhi’s hair. She felt
good. It took her a few moments, but finally she slept.
Next day, she was
feeling a little better, even her dad helped her and took her to the hospital. Doctors
went through some general tests and when everything showed negative, they took samples of her to check for all the possibilities.
“You will get the
reports after two days,” said the doctor.
She faked a smile. Her
dad seemed to be relaxed, it has been just a fever. He was always surrendered
with cold and fever, when he was young. He was bragging about the same on their
way back home. She was tired, yet she heard whatever he said. She loved her
dad, he had always supported her. She had received immense love from her
parents, which made her fat. She used to say this all the time.
“Dad, Can you take me
to my favorite coffee shop?” She asked.
“Even I want some
coffee,” He smiled, without looking at her.
She knew that she could
go there and give Arjun a surprise. They have been talking less these days and
seeing each other seemed impossible. Either Ruhi slept all the time or someone
was always around her, it was hard for her. She missed him like anything.
They reached the CCD and
parked the car in the parking, she could spot him standing on the other side of
the counter from the outside as well. They walked in and she was standing in
front of him, looking ill and ugly.
He looked up and there
happened a moment, a moment that happened before, a moment that happened many a
times. He fell in love with that girl in love with coffee. Her dad ordered the
coffees and the coffee was served to them.
Even if she was ill, even
if she was looking ugly, he always found it lovely to look at her. She was a
beautiful person and he always looked beyond her fat. She couldn’t smile at him or talk to him
because of her dad. They had their coffee and left for home. When she was
walking out of the café, she turned and their eyes met.
She blinked.
He blinked.
*****
Three days passed and
her reports arrived. Everything was negative in the reports, except one thing, just
one. Those HIV viruses were multiplying inside her skin and were spread all around.
Everyone in her house went silent, as the reports him. Ruhi’s father was angry,
disappointed and wanted to slap her, but he did not. He couldn’t figure out
what to do and how to react. Ruhi’s mother had locked herself in the room and
was crying out loud. She knew that it could be cured, but what if it couldn’t?
Ruhi was still in shock
and there wasn’t anyone to whom she could open up her heart. She wanted to tap
out everything that was happening in her mind. She looked at her parents, but
they were too broken to fix her.
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‘9 pm. Terrace of my
building.’ She texted Arjun.
It wasn’t easy to sneak
out of her house, but she did.
Arjun was already waiting
for her on the terrace, in the darkness. “Are you okay?” He asked.
She took a deep breath,
closed her eyes, and a tear trickled down her eyes. She was finally crying, and
was out of her numbness. She could finally feel the pain and shock ended.
“Why are you crying?”
He asked, when he heard her sobbing.
She stood there silent
for a while, slapped him, and asked, “Why the hell did you give me HIV?”
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