Tum Bin

"Aunty please come with me"urged Oorja to a lady standing beside her

Oorja was a nurse in a reputed hospital and she was just trying to make one of her patients comfortable.

As she walked in she could feel that the lady was distressed not physically but mentally.

She gathered courage and asked "what happened aunty"

"Beta would you forgive me" she asked

Oorja was completely zapped. She had never seen that lady in her life and now she was asking for forgiveness.

Totally confused she asked her

"But do you ask of forgiveness of me"

"Salil Chaturvedi....am his mother" she answered

Suddenly there was a knock on the door.

"Mrs. Chaturvedi " asked the receptionist

"Yes" she answered

"Your son is here to pick you up" she told

"Ask him to come here" she requested

As Salil Chaturvedi approached her, a lump formed in her throat

"No God no this can't happen" she kept denying

Just then there was a knock on the door and in entered Salil

"What happened maa what brought you here" he questioned

His mom motioned towards Oorja and as his gaze wandered towards her, her eyes welled up

He too was equally shocked to see her.

It had been good 10 years that he had been away.

Oorja had learnt to live without his presence in her life.

"Why now god...why" she questioned herself

Salil Chaturvedi approached her slowly until they both were face to face.

Still his gaze had that magical charm which made her toes curl and her heart beat fast.

As he came near, she kept going back until she bumped into a wall and had nowhere to move.

He was standing merely inches away.

His mom sensed that they both needed some alone time so she moved out.

Salil pinned her against the wall.

His masculine smell, evoked some emotions at the pit of her stomach

And then she could hold it no longer and kissed him hard. He responded with equal passion. It seemed that they both were savoring each other. Literally they both were just consuming all these years of hurt and loneliness.

Once their heart was satiated, they both were face to face with each other, Salil spoke

"I missed you"

Teary-eyed she looked at him and asked

"Then why did you leave me and go. You know how long I waited outside the marriage court"

Salil had no answers.

He just hugged her hard and she hugged him back with equal passion.

Both were just trying to soothe the wounds that both had to bear.

"So you waited for me all this while," he asked still hugging her

"What do you think" she whispered snuggling to him

He hugged her more tightly. She felt secure in his embrace.

Both were just enjoying being in each other's company, holding each other, cuddling each other when suddenly they heard the door open.

"Beta shall we leave," asked his mom

"Sure mom," he told leaving Oorja

"And Oorja beta I expect you to be at our place in the evening. We have loads to catch up" his mom told

"I'll come to pick you up. This is my number. Call me once you are done" saying so, he kissed her forehead and took his mother home

Oorja was feeling that she was living some dream.

"Is it for real" she questioned herself

Umpteen times she had imagined what if Salil came in front of her. Her reaction was very different than what she had thought it would be.

Obviously she was elated to know that Salil still loved her. That same passion was there.

Then what happened on that fateful day of 18 June 2009 that he didn't turn up at the registrar office.

She made up her mind that she would question Salil regarding it and looked forward to the clock to strike 6 so that she could go to his home or rather her home.... finally.

As soon as the clock struck 6, she got ready to leave the hospital and was pleasantly surprised to see Salil waiting for her.

She smiled at him and he smiled back.

"Hop in" he gestured

She looked at him smiling and gestured him to concentrate on his driving.

"Care for ice cream...your favourite flavour" he asked

"Do you still remember?" she asked rolling her eyes

"I remember everything about you" he told intently gazing at her

Taking the ice cream they both sat at the rear seat.

They both were having their ice cream when he quickly finished his and asked her

"Can we share"

"Sure go ahead" she told and passed on the cone to him

"Not like this...like we used to do earlier...we both lick from either ends" he told

Her toes began curling and her heart started beating fast.

As they both relished the ice cream, they didnt realise when their tongues intertwined and they were sucking each other out of breath.

Both were breathing heavily. Both wanted more of each other.

"Please come inside me" she moaned as she was fully wet

He was just waiting for this opportunity.

Quickly he removed his trousers and pulled down the salwar that she was wearing.

She was completely wet, just waiting for him to go inside her.

As he gave one final push, he was completely inside her and god how she moaned in pain. She had been dying to feel this feeling till eternity. Only he could take her to that level.

Once they were done, they quickly dressed themselves and proceeded towards the destination.

His mom was looking forward to seeing them.

As soon as the car entered the porch she instructed the house help to bring the Kalash with rice.

As they both stood together at the door, very lovingly she asked Oorja

"Beta you are now apart of our family please drop the kalash and come inside "

Oorja was speechless. She didnt know what to say, how to react.

It had taken 10 long years for his mom to accept her.

As Oorja entered the house, she saw that it was beautifully decorated. She couldn't understand what that whole preparation was all about.

She looked at Salil with questioning eyes.

He just motioned her that all was well when suddenly she could feel flower petals falling on her head. She was shocked. She was speechless.

"Happy birthday to you. Happy birthday to you" and in marched an array of friends whom she had not seen in all these years

Never ever in her wildest dreams had she imagined that something like this would be happening with her.

She pinched herself to make her realize that all that was happening was for real.

Finally at 5 in the morning they called it a day and once they both were alone, Oorja just lay beside him with her head leaning on his broad shoulders and he placed his arms on her shoulder, securing her tightly in his embrace.

"I felt it's all a dream. Is it all for real" she questioned

"Obviously my darling it is. I shall give you all the happiness in this world" saying so he kissed her forehead

"But Salil what happened that day. Why didnt you turn up" she questioned teary eyed

"I know I should have come. I know I should have called you up. I know I should not have left you alone. But trust me I wanted to. I was ready to reach the registrar office when my dad had a nervous breakdown.

I had fought with them and was coming to marry you, but dad collapsed. I had to rush him to hospital where he was taken in critical care unit. My mom was devastated. She took a promise from me that I should never meet you again. The situation was such that I relented. However we could not save my dad and he left for his heavenly abode. My mom tried to convince me to see other girls but I had lost interest in marriage.

I told them if I cannot have you in my life then I don't want anyone else. I shifted base to Australia along with mom. I thought it would be easier to erase your memories if am away from you. But little did I know that you are a part of me....my life....I can never forget you

Never" he had tears in his eyes.

Oorja was watching him. He still had the same passion in his eyes. She wiped his tears and gave him a peck on his cheeks.

"I love you" she whispered

"I love you too " he told lovingly

"Now what we are already 40, what are you seeking in this relationship" questioned Oorja

"I want to wake up with you. I want you asleep by my side. I want you to make food for me. I want you to get dressed in front of me. I want to spend my remaining life with you. Would you please allow me to hold your hand and walk along till death do us apart" he poured his heart out

Tears refused to die down. She simply hugged him and he hugged back with equal passion.

"Let's get married today. I had already made all the arrangements.

We shall do marriage in temple and then proceed to court to register our marriage" he told stroking her hair

"But I need to get my stuff from my home " she reasoned

"Ok darling I'll drive you down" he told kissing her forehead

Once they were done with breakfast, she got ready to leave for her home when he got a call.

It was an urgent call from the client. He couldn't miss it. And she didnt want to be late for her wedding.

"Maa I'll catch a rickshaw and get my stuff or else we would be late" she informed his mother and went to board the rickshaw.

Hurriedly she packed all her stuff and took a rickshaw back to his place when she got a call.

"Who told you to go alone? I had told na I'll drive you" scolded Salil

She just smiled and felt blessed to have him in his life

"Its ok Jaan. You were busy so I just thought I'll come lest we get late. You know I don't wanna get late for my wedding"

Immediately his anger vanished and he smiled

"Come soon am missing you already"

"Yes jaan just 5 more mins...I shall be....." and the line went dead

"Darling..darling " Salil sounded desperate

He called her number but it went unanswered.

He called again and this time it was an unfamiliar voice on the other end.

"She has met with an accident" is all Salil could register

He asked for the location and like a maniac he rushed to the spot only to find oorja lying in a pool of blood. The rickshaw she was traveling in had rammed into a car.

He broke down seeing her like that.

Thankfully his mom was also there by his side

"Salil, Salil let's take her to hospital or else it would be too late" she shouted

He somehow got back to his senses and picked her up in his arms and rushed to the hospital.

Salil's mother sat beside him comforting him while Salil who was staunch believer of God started praying to ganpati bappa.

"Dont worry bappa is great " told his mom

"I know bappa is great. He won't take her away from me now. I wont let him do that again" he told with a firmness in his voice

Oorja lay on the bed with bandage wrapped on the head.

Tears filled up Salil's eyes.

"Please God don't take her away now" he silently prayed to god

It took sometime for Oorja to gain senses.

Her head was throbbing in pain.

"Please someone switch on the light " she requested

"Switch on the light "the nurse looked at her

"Yes I can't see so just switch on the light "

The nurse rushed to the doctor.

As doctor proceeded towards her cabin,Salil asked concerned

"Is everything fine"

"I'll check and get back to you " he told and went to examine here

Once he was done he called Salil to his cabin.

"Yes doctor please tell me " requested Salil

"Mr Chaturvedi, there's a bad news" he told

"It seems that she has lost her eyesight" he continued

Salil's heart sank. He started crying inconsolably

"Control yourself beta" told his mom keeping her hand on his shoulder

He just hugged his mom hard.

"Beta ganpati bappa is testing us. Nowadays we have eye transplant and the medical science is so advanced why do you worry so much" she told stroking his head

Salil wiped his tears and off he went to Oorja.

"Darling you alright" he sounded cheerful

"Jaan you are here. Please switch on the lights." She requested

He went and took her hands in his and told

"Darling there is a slight issue. The lights are on but unfortunately the wound has had an impact on your eyesight. We shall go for a transplant as soon as possible"

Oorja removed her hand from his.

"My eyes my eyes" she shouted and cried

Days passed into weeks and weeks into months.

Oorja had accepted that she would have to lead the life of a handicap. She didnt want Salil to suffer with her so she denied his marriage proposal.

It had been 8 months that she cut off ties with him. He came everyday to just see her. To know that she is fine, to know that she is safe , to make her realise how much he loved her.

In the meanwhile Salil's mother suffered from a heart attack and was on ventilator.

Doctors had given up all hopes.

She had left a letter for Salil which he got the nurse handed him that day.

It read

"Dear beta,

I know I have wronged you and Oorja and perhaps God has given me a chance to repay it through donating my eyes to Oorja.

I would be more than happy if after my death, my eyes are donated to Oorja.

I shall be able to live through her eyes and what better way to be a part of your life too.

So please treat this as my last wish that I wish to donate my eyes. I hope you would fulfill your mom's last wish.

Always love you.

Yours,

Maa

Salil didnt know what to say. He was emotional, he was speechless when the doctor came and put his hand on his shoulders.

"Mr Chaturvedi your mom is a strong woman. Let's begin the procedures. She's just breathed her last" he told

Salil was crying profusely. He didnt know whom to call, he was feeling lonely

So he called up Oorja

"Oorja, mom is no more" he told this and started crying

She felt very bad for him. She knew he needed her the most now.

"I am coming" she told and got ready to go to the hospital he had mentioned

As soon as Oorja reached the hospital, Salil just went and hugged her and cried inconsolably.

"Sit down please..have some water" she requested

She searched for his hands and finally when his hand were his hers she could feel how much she had missed him. She caressed his hands and he found solace in her touch.

They both spoke in their silence.

Just then a tear escaped her eye.

"Please darling dont cry. I dont want you to be sad ever. I never want to be the reason of your sadness" he pleaded

She just hugged him tightly and told

"Jaan would you marry me"

Salil was on cloud one. He didnt know what to say, how to react.

He equally hugged her hard, cupped her face in his palms and gave her the most passionate kiss.

Oorja had been yearning his touch for so long. It was like a breath of fresh air in her boring life.

"Mom had decided to donate her eyes as her last wish. So we would go for your eye transplant here tomorrow itself" he shared the good news with her

Tears refused to die down

"I shall be grateful to maa always" she told teary eyed

All the preparations were done and Oorja was wheeled into OT.

The operation lasted for good 5 hours and once she was wheeled out of OT she was kept in observation for 48 hours.

After 48 hours when her bandage was removed, she slowly opened her eyes.

She could see the doctor, the nurse but her eyes were searching for Salil.

"I know where he is "

And she walked towards the temple located at the rear end of the hospital.

"God has answered your prayers jaan" she told smiling

He was broken out of meditation and was elated to find oorja standing hale and hearty.

Immediately he picked her up in his arms and called out

"Pandit ji jaldi fere karwao kahin ye fir se irada na badal de"

All the hospital staff congratulated them on their union and as they drove down to their place as man and wife for the new beginnings