RECAP Anushka’s mother and grandpa come to visit her from her native place. It was Zunaid who had informed them about the accident, yet, the old man shows hostility towards him from the very beginning. Zunaid discharges himself from the hospital and devote all his time trying to bring Kunal out of the coma. He also handles the responsibility of Shivani. CHAPTER 11 “I am leaving with Tina. I will go home for a while. After that I will pick Shivani and bring her here. I can drop your parents at home when I take her back….” Zunaid glanced towards Anushka’s grandpa and added “If they want me to”. There was an open hostility between the two men. Anushka was sure that even her mother was able to sense it. Anushka was too tired and exhausted to make any effort to do something about it. “That will be so kind of you Zunaid. But you are in no condition to drive with that broken hand. You must take rest.” She said. “You don’t have to worry about that. Tina will be with me. Obviously I can’t drive right now.” he smiled and then walked out of the room. It was half hour after his leaving that her grand father spoke again. “It is not safe.” “What is not safe grandpa?” Anushka couldn’t make a connection to what he had just said. Her mother was equally confused. A nurse had come to check Kunal’s stats and adjust his IVs. He waited for her to leave and then added in disgusted grunt. “It is not safe to let that Muslim man be so near Shivani.” Anushka gasped. “Are you out of your mind?” she could not control her anger anymore. “Zunaid loves Shivani as much as Kunal and I do. And please never ever show your anti – Muslim attitude in front of Vini. I will not have my child exposed to your mindless prejudice.” “Yes. May be he loves your daughter as much as you do, but I think he likes you too. I am sure Kunal would not have liked you holding his hand while he is in a coma, few feet away from you.” This was more than Anushka could take. “Stop right there. You have no right to talk from my husband’s side. It was you who had disowned us when I chose him over the man that you had selected for me. And I don’t have to explain my relationship with Zunaid to you, of all the people in this world.” Once again he turned his gaze towards the window. His face was red with anger. Anushka looked up towards her mother to see if the past five years had made any changes in her. But she was looking at the same demure woman who refused to speak up to her father, no matter how wrong he was. When Zunaid finally returned with Shivani, it had a mellowing effect at Anushka’s grandpa. For the first time he smiled. Anushka was relieved to see that he accepted his great grand daughter without any prejudice or malice. She prayed that Zunaid or Tina didn’t’ notice the way he was almost wiping Shivani’s hands. The hand that was held by Zunaid, just a few moments ago. After an hour, it was time for them to leave. “Ma, please don’t go back to Masoorie. Stay with us for a while.” Anushka pleaded. “Yes baby, we will stay till Kunal is back on his feet. I can not leave you alone in this condition.”  Tina guided them out while Zunaid lingered back. “After dropping them at your home, Tina will drive me back here. I am not saying this in front of that crooked old man of yours. I am sure he hates me.” Zunaid said in a hushed tone. “You don’t have to worry Zunaid. You must go home and relax. The doctors here are very efficient.” She could not help but smile at his jab at her grand pa. They were almost like two kids in a school, who hated each other. “Don’t argue Anushka. I will come back and stay here. I have to keep an eye on Kunal’s stats. He may require another surgery in next few days if he doesn’t come out of the coma.” He winced as he watched her pale face go even more ashen. He hated himself for saying that, but she had to know the truth. Knowing her too well, he was aware of the fact that she could deal better with the truth than with uncertainty. Anushka gathered herself in few moments. “Why do you forget that you have met with a terrible accident a couple of days ago? I am not sure Tina will like the way you are pushing yourself.” “Ahhh! You don’t worry about her. She is a cool girl. In fact it was her idea that I should leave with them and come back later. Trust me; your grandpa is very bad at hiding his contempt. Tina was fuming when we went back. She even suggested that I inject him with a sedative and keep him in an induced coma till Kunal wakes up and takes care of him” he made a gesture of slashing the throat when he used the words ‘Take care’. They both laughed. Yes, it was nice to be able to laugh once again.  Anushka thanked god for giving them a friend like him. Later that night, they talked. They talked about Kunal’s childhood. They talked about the way they grew up together and how their bond crossed the limits of friendship and became brotherly. For next three days, Kunal’s condition refused to improve. Finally another surgery was done on his brain. Zunaid continued to be by his side. He would stay back at his home the whole day but return to the hospital in the night. They talked some more. Slowly the topics started drifting towards the things that they both liked, things that were common between them. Movies, music, books. It was one of those nights when they were talking about their favorite characters from the literary world. There was a sudden change in the constant sound of the monitoring machine attached to Kunal. Zunaid noticed it within seconds and pressed the buzzer to call the attending doctor’s team. Before they could arrive, he was busy checking Kunal’s natural reflexes. “Is he waking up?” was Anushka’s desperate question.                                    To be continued…