PRESENT DAY...
RISHA
The doctor I called for have just arrived , she is walking down the corridor that leads to my dad's room ,and suddenly the door opens up and then the old doctor comes out with a worried face. He shifted his gaze from the new doctor to me ,but before I could say anything he rushed towards us . Mam... he called out ,his voice low and carried a terrified tone
but I knew something bad had happened. I wasted no time and ran towards my dad's room and as I did my heart dropped. He was breathing heavily as his chest was moving in a frantic manner, my eyes moved from him towards the monitor which showed his pulse rate . Doctor... doctor.. please help my dad ....I half shouted and half cried.
I watched my father in terror, as if my surrounding felt numb and fear took control over me. Before I was pulled back from the room by two nurses who barely reached my height and saw both the doctors share a look with each other,but before I could see more the door closed on my face.
My feets tumbled as I saw one of the doctors sinking a huge syringe just above his heart from the small round glass present on the door.
My eyes moved from my father back to the the monitor and the it showed a low rate of heart beat. And then slowly the zick- Zak line was gone and a straight line took its place.
And then the doctor pulled two blocks and rubbed a gel on its surface. They are going to give shock treatment....I murmured to myself. They opened the hospital gown and pressed the blocks on his chest and suddenly he jerked his chest upwards. This was repeated 3 more times until I heard " we are losing him" the old doctor said . I placed my hand on my heart grasping for air, my legs gave up and I felt on my knees. ' Dad ' daddd ... my voice audible only to my ears and suddenly blackness consumed me.
( Risha's dream)
I am in my dad's office sitting on his chair and drawing a picture of my family. I am in the middle and both of my parents are holding my hands , they looked more like sticks rather than humans.
My dad opened the door and smiled at me, I looked up and was about to get down when he said" it's ok my sweet baby girl, you don't have to get down "...he came forward and looked down at my drawing ,darkness visible in his eyes. Risha misses mommy....I said looking down, and then he picked me up in his arms and says ' mommy is right over here ' ....he took my hand and placed it on my chest ,I could feel my heart beat under my fingers.
But I can't see her....my voice contained a sadness in them. And then slowly he placed me back on his chair and kissed me on the forehead.
You know your mom is right over there.....he said pointing towards my heart, 'and one day you will be sitting on my chair and ran the whole business, but you have to stay strong to fight your enemies , I won't be there by your side for ever'...........
(Dream ends)
I wake up with a jolt but something doesn't feels right, my eyes are adjusting to the light. And when I was finally able to see, I found myself in the hospital bed and then all the events came back flooding to my mind.
Dad.. I whispered to myself hoping that he would be fine, hoping that it all was a dream.
I was ready to get down of the bed when the door opened and the doctor entered. She was the doctor that I had called for my dad , but she didn't looked at me rather she focused on the floor.
Is my dad ok , what happened and why I'm here. Just like a lost child I started questioning but non of them were answered.
I asked, is my fath.... 'He is dead, we tried our best but his pulse dropped '.
Is it some kind of joke, ... I said my voice loud like a thunder.
No it's not , I am sorry for your loss mam.....
I felt like someone has choked me....
I jumped from the bed and pushed the doctor out of my way. I ran so fast like my life depends on it and at that point of time it did.
On my way two guys were pushing a body on a stretcher, I stopped myself and looked at the body. My hands tumbled as I puller the white cloth off the face , hoping it was not my dad.
Never in my life did I ever prayed to God but at that moment I did but it was of no use.
Dad .....my voice cracked, l touched his pale cheeks which has turned cold now. Tears started to flow freely from my eyes , all I knew was that I have lost the last person whom I loved the most.
Tapan kaka came and his eyes were red as if he was crying too ,but my surrounding felt so numb and all the sounds were like a wooshing sound.
I felt a pair of arms around my shoulder as I lost my balance and was about to fall. My limbs refused to work and the last ray of light was gone from my life.
Risha listen.....I heard tapan kaka, his voice audible only to my ears. Your father never wanted to see you in this condition Risha. You have to stay strong because this is not the end.
FROM AUTHORS SIDE
It has been three days and Risha has locked herself in her room. The lights of her room are always turned off and the windows are kept open even if it was raining. And raining in kolkata is just like a mini flood.
She is sitting on the floor, and there are several pictures scattered in front of her. She looks from one picture to the other and returns her gaze to a particular picture , it was more like a drawing of a kid . She drew it when she was seven years old.
There is a knock on the door but she didn't reply, and then comes the voice of Tapan kaka ' Risha there is still eight days left for all the rituals to get over, but you have already given up...I see. But let me tell you something, Mr.chakraborty has already got the news and is ready to take over all the hotels that your father has created. But only you can stop this Risha, protect yourself and what your father has created for you.
Risha got up from the floor and held the picture in her arms as if hugging it and opened her eyes only to see darkness in her room.
'Risha Mr.chakraborty has a son who will become the next owner of the chakraborty hotel group's ' .....came his voice from outside. All this year's we thought that he didn't had any children .
This is what your father got to know about that day. And you have locked yourself in a room just to run away from your responsibilities... said tapan kaka in a loud voice.
Her eyes opened up as if they were closed till now. She held the picture and walked towards the door and opened it revealing Tapan kaka who looked as if he was about to knock again.
I'm not running away from my responsibility kaka , but my enemies will. I will make that Chakraborty regret for bringing his bloody son into this world... she said, angry filled in her eyes and smile playing on her lips.