The Mafia's Collateral

Part 67

Deep's P.O.V.

We reached the hospital and Arohi got out the car and went inside without even waiting for me or saying anything. I went to the ward and saw Arohi standing behind her Dad as he looked at his unconscious daughter. "Uncle," I said grabbing his attention. He looked at me frowning and remained silent. "Please come and eat something. You haven't eaten anything for the day I'm sure. You also have to take your medicines. Please come and eat something," I requested. "I'm ok son. Until Ananya doesn't wake up, I won't be able to eat," he said. "But Uncle..." I objected when Arohi looked at me and said, "Please, don't force him. Can't you see how worried he is already?" "Arohi..." I started again but she cut me off saying, "Please. Don't try to explain anything." I sighed and looked at them staring at Ananya, waiting for the moment she opens her eyes. A nurse came inside soon and said, "Can you all please step out? I need to give the patient her medicines." "So why can't you give her in front of us?" Arohi asked. "I'm sorry ma'am. It's against our rules. You have to step out. It's only a matter of two minutes," she said. "Arohi, Uncle, let's go outside and let the nurse do her job," I said. Uncle Navin got up and walked outside with me and Arohi. As we reached outside, Uncle Navin held his temple and closed his eyes bending his head. He seemed to be feeling dizzy. He sat on the chair and his face hang down. Perhaps this is the right time to ask him to eat. I went and sat next to him and rested my hand on his shoulder. "Uncle, shall I bring something for you to eat?" I asked. "No thanks. I'm not hungry," he said. "Please Uncle. By you staying hungry isn't going to cure Ananya any faster. You have to stay strong for her. For Arohi. For both your daughters. If your body is not strong, then how can you take care of them? Please eat something," I said trying to convince him. "Ok, I will eat," he said. I smiled and said, "Great! I'll be back in a jiffy." I quickly went to the cafeteria and bought some food for both Arohi and him and went back as fast as I can. 

When I reached back, they had gone back inside the room. I carried the food inside and said, "Look Uncle, I have brought your food. Please eat and take your medicines." He took the box from my hand and sat down on a sofa in the room. I looked at Arohi and went to her. Giving her the next box, I said, "You also eat something." She slowly took the box and looked at Uncle Navin eating. She past me and went outside. I followed her. She sat down on the chairs and I went and sat next to her. Opening the box, she looked at it and pouted. "Didn't they have anything else?" She asked seeing the food. "This is all you get in a hospital cafeteria. I'm sure that it won't be that bad. Eat a little bit. I'll eat the rest," I said. She frowned and asked, "You didn't eat anything?" "No, you eat, whatever is leftover, I will eat it," I said. "This isn't going to work. You have to eat with me," she said and took the plastic fork out of the pack. She took up some and brought it to my mouth. "You eat first," I said taking the fork in my hand. I fed her and as the food touched her tongue, she made a disgusted face. "Is it that bad?" I asked and took up some. I ate it and realised that it was really not good. The food was completely tasteless and plain. I managed to chew it and swallowed it. I looked at Arohi and frowned. "I'm sorry. If I had known that this food is so bad I would have bought something else," I said. She held my hand and said, "It's ok. We can't possibly expect pizza or fries in a hospital, right?" "Uncle...how will he be able to eat this?" I said and got up quickly. I went and stopped at the door to see Uncle Navin eating the food with a complain. As I was about to go and take it away, Arohi held back my hand and stopped me. "Don't take his food away. At least he is eating something. Let him eat and take his tablets," she said. "Maybe you're right. If I stop him, he might not be willing to anything else," I said sighing. I held her hand and made her sit back with me. 

I took the box of food and said, "The food is really not good, but perhaps eating from my hand might give it a taste." I took up some of the rice with the fork and fed her. "I'm sorry," she said. "For what? I asked eating a morsel. "For how I behaved. I was very moody earlier because I was only worried about Ananya. I regret saying those things about Avinash earlier. I shouldn't forget that even when you couldn't stand with me at that moment, he was there," she said. I held her hand and said, "Don't stress. Why are you so worried? For what? Ananya is fine now. Nothing will happen to her." She nodded and smiled. "Feed me," she said. I chuckled and fed her more.