As the haggard sun was setting at a distance, soft and mellow music were flowing into the ears of Nikita. She was standing in her terrace looking at the buzzing city. Everything was calm at that height. The only sound came from the birds that were hovering in the sky apart from her music player. It was the month of December… a season of joy and happiness … a season of sharing and singing!!!
She checked the calendar in her mobile. Twenty four days more for the New Year and then the dawn of the year 2009!! A vague smile crossed her face!!! A memory…… still crystal clear …. An incident which changed her perspective towards human relations!!! It was the evening of December 31st 2007,
An evening of fun, laughter, dancing, music and many more………………………
It was a perfect evening for Nikita and her family. The New Year mood was in the air and the festive mood could be smelt in the ambience!! Nikita’s brother had reserved a table in the resort for the New Year blast!! Nikita was standing in front of the mirror looking at her evening party wear. She was wearing a denim skirt with white frills and a white t-shirt. Nobody would believe if she told that she was in her third year of under graduation. She was looking like a kid. She smiled to herself and went out of her room to check on her mom. Her ever beauteous mom looked esthetic in a blue sari. Her dad was in jeans and her bro Arjun was as usual flaunting his party wear clothes.
It was seven in the evening and the family got settled in the car and drove towards the highway with music blasting over the system!!!!On route to the resort Nikita peeped outside the window to see people hurrying out of shops with huge bags finishing their last minute shopping’s , cartoon characters holding balloon’s entertaining the kids on the road, the colorful lights and also people who were waiting outside the temple who were eager to get the blessings. Everything was perfect… nothing could go wrong ... she was beaming with joy…:):)!!
They reached the resort at eight thirty and they settled in their table. Arjun’s friend Neelesh had come. Nikita waved to Neelesh and teased him “what bro enjoying the New Year without your wife huh???” he smiled back and gave her a hi-fi and settled in his chair beside her. For Neelesh this New Year would be his best because he was going to be blessed with a baby soon. So his wife was out of city secure in her mom’s home. And so he was partying for the new comer too. The party had started long back with the DJ thumping the music from the stage. A MC was conducting contests for the crowd on the dance floor. The dance floor was quite large with three stages and it was lit up with all kind of shimmering lights and looked inviting!!!
But Nikita was a kind of girl who would sit and watch the action from a distance and she preferred her silent way of enjoyment. She was now settled on a wall with a Pepsi can in the hand and was having her favourite marry brown chicken fries and was enjoying the music. Her dad was with Arjun and Neelesh enjoying a drink. Her mom was settled with her aunt who had also come for the party. She was sitting alone on the wall and was trying to get a line to her best friend but the network was busy!!! The party was gearing up and there was a dance show by some group. The atmosphere was cheerful and anxiously waiting for the clock to strike twelve. Half an hour more for New Year!!!!
Eleven forty five Arjun hurried up to her laughing. “Hey gal Nita aunty is in nearby resort. Mom and myself are going there to pick her up. Dad wants to stay back… so you got to stay here!! Any probs???” Nikita was happy as far they leave her alone in her own world of enjoyment!! She accepted to stay. When he left, she went in search of her dad!! He was sitting and having another drink and was chatting with Neelesh and an elderly person. She went near and got introduced to Verma uncle. She waved hi and got introduced to his family. He had two physically challenged kids. They were sitting in a wheel chair and were waving their hands with the beat of the music!!! She went to them and they invited her lovingly and there she earned two more friends!! She was standing with them and was looking towards the stage. The kids urged her to take them near the stage. She gave a glance towards uncle and he ushered her to go forward. Neelesh joined her to give a hand and they both pushed the wheel chair towards the front of the stage. Soon her dad and Verma uncle joined them on the stage in the front. The whole crowd was waiting to utter the count down. The stage was too crowded in the front…… the temperature was a bit high but the crowd never bothered!!! Then the count down started and the lights were off!! The two kids were clutching her hands so tight and were having a fun time!!!
A brilliant aura of light lighted the sky as the clock struck twelve and let’s get loud song by Jennifer Lopez was blasted on the system!!! What a moment!! She hugged the kids and wished them New Year and then gave a hi-five to Neelesh who was dancing with joy and was shouting over the phone to his wife!! Her dad and Verma uncle were in their own world of dance!!! Her mom and bro were probably enjoying with Nita aunty!! The sky was sparkling with brilliant fire works and the crowd was waving for more!!!
Twelve ten Nikita felt it was enough and brought the kids to the garden and settled down and started calling up her friends. Her dad had also settled in a chair nearby and was happily chatting with Verma uncle as though they knew each other for years. The kids were hungry so uncle told he will join them shortly and left to the food counter.
She was sitting on the table, and after a few minutes she felt a cold hand touching hers. She turned to see her dad. He was not normal. She saw him completely wet with sweat. She slowly got down from the table and touched her dad’s chest. It was beating too fast. Within few seconds he was totally numb; his eyes went up and stayed there above his eyelids!! She was shaking him vigorously and slapping him!! He was falling on her!! She did not understand what was happening. Was this the end of her dad’s life?? From nowhere Neelesh appeared to her rescue. They both were frantically calling her dad to wake up. No result!!! The manager of the party saw the drastic situation and somehow got some lady doctor from the crowd. She came forward and pressed her dad’s chest. Then she asked Neelesh to hold her dad and give a thump on his back. After two thumps her dad came alive and started throwing up!!!
The doctor checked his pulse and told Nikita to take him immediately to the hospital. Nikita tried calling her brother’s mobile. His network was busy. Neelesh told her to wait near the entrance and brought his car. Then slowly she settled her dad in the back seat. Suddenly Neelesh’s mobile started ringing and he checked to see who it was. It was Arjun calling him. He picked up to tell him the news but rather his face turned ghostly white!!!
What was wrong??? Neelesh told her that Arjun and her mom never reached the resort and their car was hit on the road and her mom was unconscious!!!!!Her legs felt weak. She was feeling drowsy!!! She had to hold on!!! Neelesh told her to take her dad to the hospital while he told he’ll soon join her with his brother and mom!! She could not believe her ears. It meant that she had to drive!!! She drove only for fun. She was not able to tell exactly whether she would be able to reach safely!!! Neelesh gave her a hug and told that she can do it and told her he will join her soon!!!
She understood the urgency… she saw her dad breaking a sweat and his pleading eyes!!She felt like crying but she held back her tears and started the car and felt a new wave of confidence. She put the car into gear and sped slowly to the road. She heard her dad cough. Every time he coughed it increased her nervousness. All that was running in her mind was “whether he will survive before she reaches”…..
She increased her speed and reached the city within twenty minutes. She had to reach the hospital now. She drove like a maniac turning into every possible street and finally she reached the hospital. She thanked god for showing her the way. When she checked on her dad, he was totally cold and numb.
She ran into the hospital, banged the reception table and shouted for help!! The night doctor appeared shocked by the way she was acting. She calmed her down and asked her to explain the situation. She was furious … “my dad is sick, he is in the car ……. Help, help, help and she broke down!!” Two attendee’s ran towards the entrance and saw her dad’s state and pushed him out!! They made him lie in a stretcher and wheeled him inside. The doctor asked her to wait outside and took him into the I.C.U. Then the doctor came out and told her that he was going to take an angiogram. She nodded her head!! Everything was so distant now!! She was trying to reach Neelesh and his number was busy. She cursed the network and sat down on the chair!! Then Neelesh called her back and told that her mom was under treatment and she was going to be fine and Arjun had sprained his ankle. None of them knew what was happening and after treatment he was going to drop them off at home. She was frantic to call him for help but then decided not to, after thinking about her mom’s condition.
She tried her close friend’s number. But to her dismay none of them wanted to help her at that moment. She tried her relatives, her cousins and almost half of the numbers that were in her mobile!! But to her dismay none of them responded properly. All that they could tell her was “come on nik, we are busy with our friends and it’s too late so we can’t come now. Your dad will be all right.” She was calm at least till the last second, but now she lost her control and she was crying uncontrollably!!! She slopped down in a chair and was sobbing, praying to god that this nightmare would end soon!!!!!
The doctor came out and told her that her dad was a having a mild attack. She told him that he was a heart patient and he had an attack some 7 years back!! The doctor replied that her dad would be all right as this was caused by excitement.
He asked her to wait and left inside!! One and a half hour had passed. She was sitting tightly in a chair. Her knuckles were white as she was holding it around her legs so tight!! Her mind was point blank!!!!
Neelesh arrived and he woke her up. He told that mom and bro were safe and told her that Arjun knew what was happening but was staying with mom. She told him what the doctor told. Neelesh sat beside her and the wait was on!!!
It was morning six o clock when the doctor woke her from her world. He told her that her dad was all right and he could go home!!
For the first time since the hell broke out she felt relieved. They went inside and helped him get into the car. And drove home. Her dad was feeling tired and so he immediately slept off!! Arjun gave a big hug to Nikita and she whispered back “happy new year bro!!”
They smiled and thanked Neelesh for everything. Nikitha went inside her room and sat down in her chair while Arjun and Neelesh settled in the bed!!
Thoughts were running wild……….. She was cursing her friends and relatives!! Not even one soul was ready to offer help when she was in need!! How selfish??? Was she way too helpful or just that they are selfish and exploited her????
She slept!!!!
One year had passed…… after that incident she never believed anybody so easily. She felt that the world was selfish!!! She did not believe in human relations… what were relations for when they don’t help in need??? She just moved along with the world without fighting back as it was pointless to fight with selfish people!!
Nikita …………… she heard her mom’s voice from below and was shaken from her thoughts. She saw the receding line of sunset and said a silent prayer to god “let this New Year be a good one!!!” and went down!!!
