Till Eternity..........

Angelic - was the word to describe her. 23 year old, Avantika looked dazzling in her dark green salwar. She climbed the stairs of the cancer hospice and saw the familiar faces. She waved her hand to the receptionist and took the elevator to the second floor. She made her way to Dr. Sanjay’s room. Sanjay welcomed her with a big smile and offered her a seat. Sanjay told Avantika how the patients missed her badly for the past two months and he also told her that they would be very happy to see her again. She smiled and thanked him. She stood up to leave when Sanjay broke the news that Mr.Vinod had passed away. She took a deep breath. She did not know what to reply him and left his room silently. She walked slowly towards the patients ward.
She was fifteen years old when she first came to this hospice. She had accompanied her aunt who was a doctor. She fell in love with the place almost immediately. She went and met the patients. Her presence made them really happy. She wanted to make them happier. Avantika had the natural gift of great sense of humor. So she used it to make them laugh. She gave life to her childhood incidents and enacted before them. The patients fell in love with Avantika’s caring nature. Within days she became everyone’s “darling”. She visited the hospice on weekends and spent time with them. She did not believe in hanging out with friends, rather she loved spending time with the people in hospice.
Avantika entered the patient’s room. She was surprised to find the room empty. She went near the window and peeped outside, again there was no one. Suddenly she heard a big hiiiiiiiiiii……… Avanti. She turned and faced them with a big smile. They were all looking at her eagerly like small kids waiting to open their Christmas gifts. Slowly she opened the big box she had bought along with her and took out books, music cd’s, chocolates, sweets and lot more. She distributed their gifts and they started telling her about what they did those two months, and almost everyone ended up telling her that they missed her too much. She smiled. Mrs. Mani asked her to tell something interesting and she started telling them what she had been doing those two months and it went on for three hours at the end of which they were all laughing. She had made the day for them. Suddenly out of nowhere a voice boomed “Who allowed you inside?” She turned to see a tall, young and a handsome man wearing a doctor’s coat. She did not know why she suddenly felt scared. She opened her mouth to reply, but words never came out!!! Her face was turning red. She had never seen this man before; therefore she had no reason to be scared of him. But then she was having collywobbles. Her heart was off course, beating a little faster than usual. She slowly replied, “Hi I am Avantika”. The doctor was so rude and he replied that he did not ask her name and he just wanted to know why she was here. Avantika felt her temper rising. She met his eyes and began speaking when she heard everyone laughing, including the doctor. She turned pale and didn’t understand head or tail. Mr. Mehta came to her rescue, and told her that the doctor was Rahul and he was also one of them.
Avantika did not know what to say. Few minutes back she was feeling elated for some unknown reason, but now she felt bad. She was staring at Rahul, while Rahul was still laughing. Then he managed to look up at her and apologize. Avantika told that it was alright and complemented him that he acted well. For some strange reason she was not able to look into his eyes. She felt shy. It was almost time for her to leave. She waved them good bye. She faced Rahul and smiled at him; he smiled back at her and asked her whether she can stay for another half an hour.
He promised her that he would not play any pranks on her. She giggled and told him that she had a class that evening, so she had to leave!!! He felt a little disappointed. She told him that she would be there the next Sunday. He nodded and accompanied her to the gate. They did not speak a word till they reached the gate. She turned to leave when he suddenly called her and smiled and told her that she looked beautiful!! She blushed and uttered her thanks and walked away. She felt light hearted. She was feeling elated, even though she knew it would not be long lasting!!!!!!
Avantika was waiting restlessly for Sunday to come. She had been thinking about Rahul the entire week. She was cursing god for giving him the dreaded disease. She wanted him to be normal like other people. She knew the answers for her own questions, but still she was not able to resist!!! Her wait was over. It was Sunday at last. She met him in the hospice. It was as if they had known each other for years. He made her laugh, made her feel happy. She was on cloud nine. One afternoon he was feeling tired so he was on his bed, when she came. Avantika noticed that he had dark circles around his eyes. She knew that his days are numbered. She hated to even think about it. Rahul was his usual self. He told her about the how he had spent the entire week. She listened intently to him. Suddenly he became silent. He looked at her; she was not able to resist his eyes. It was gleaming with emotions. He told her that he was feeling sleepy and so she asked him to sleep. She left his room and went to Dr.Sanjay’s room. She posed her question directly to him. Sanjay replied that Rahul may survive for maybe ten days. He was not sure of those ten days also. Her heart was heavy. She left his room and walked back to Rahul’s room. He was sleeping soundly. She sat beside him. She did not know how one hour had passed. Rahul woke up and he was staring at her. He told sorry Avantika, I should have never spoken to you. Avantika replied that it was destined to meet. Before leaving him she promised herself, that she would make his days memorable!!!
The next few days were the happiest days in Rahul’s life. Avantika visited him daily. She took the permission of the doctors and took him out. She bought him new clothes, books, ice creams, what not…..the list was exhausting!!!! It was on the eighth day when she received the call. She was fast asleep. The phone rang and Dr.Sanjay asked her to come to the hospice. She reached in half an hour. She was expecting things to happen, but not as quickly as this!! She went straight to Sanjay’s room, and from there she ran to Rahul’s room. Her heart was beating too fast. She was scared to see him now.
When she reached his room, he was staring at the sealing. She sat beside him and touched him. He gave his usual charismatic smile that attracted her towards him. She smiled too. Time was too short for them. He was speaking really fast. He thanked her for all the things she had done. She did not hesitate to ask him. She knew that it was painful for both of them. “You like me right??? She questioned. He grinned and replied casually, “Madam you are making a grammatical mistake. Replace the word “like” with “love”. They both burst out laughing. When the laughter died he told her sorry. She knew what it was for. She was in tears now. Their eyes met. When her tears touched his forehead he closed his eyes and never opened. She whispered in his ears “I will love you Rahul, till eternity………........”