Deathbed

‘I love you’. She whispered slowly, while lying on the bed.

‘I love you too my dear’, he took her warm hands into his own as he sat besides the bed.

‘I won’t live, will I?’ she was almost in tears now.

‘Shh, do not speak rubbish. God knows who gives you such ideas’, he tried to comfort her.

‘I know that. Even the doctor says so. It has been 4 months now since I have been bedridden and with each passing day, I feel as if I am becoming weak and paranoid. As if I do not have any more strength left. I feel so bad, so helpless. What has happened to me, dear? We were so happy, as lively as a couple sometime back. I loved the way you took me out on holidays, I loved the way you cared for me and I cherished all the gifts you bought for me. How can I forget, that amidst all my troubles, grief and sorrow, it was you who held my hand. How can I forget, that after his death, it was you understood my pain and married me. And now, look at me, a thankless woman, going away from you, leaving you alone? Is this justifiable? Tell me, my dear husband, tell me. This realization has been haunting me since the day I fell ill.’ And with this, she started crying like a baby.

‘I don’t care what the doctor says! Dear, if it was destiny that brought us together for this blissful relation, let it be destiny again to decide what shall happen in the future. I have been lucky so far to have you as my companion and it gives me sadness and pain to see you in this condition. Love, always remains in our hearts and god forbid if something happens to you, you will remain with me forever. Now if you would just allow me to give your medicines and the syringes.’, and he moved towards the desk, which had piles of colorful tablets and couple of syringes.

‘You know, the doctor has been really sweet and kind to me. She has been talking to me about various things in life and I really think we owe her quite a lot. I think if she weren’t around, I would have died a long time back’, she muttered.

He gave a smile and said ‘Yes, we do owe her a lot. I shall thank her personally once you are fit again.’

‘I have asked you so many times to keep a nurse to take care of you and to give you these medicines, but you are one hell of a stubborn lady. Would never listen to me’, he remarked as he filled the syringe with utmost care.

‘With you around, why should I even think of any other person? I want to die in your arms with you looking into my eyes.’ she smiled feebly yet with a mischief in it.

‘You and your deathly talks!’ and they both laughed heartily at this.

As he injected the syringe, she said ‘Wow, you know I suddenly feel good about all this. I now want to live and love you more than ever, I want to roam around places with you, I want to even have kids, ha-ha, with you and I just want to live life once again! We have so much money that we don’t even have to think about anything and you know I also want to….’ her voice suddenly choked as the tears filled eyes gave him a wide stare.

He looked into her eyes, came closer to her and said slowly ‘This is what you wanted dear, to look into my eyes while dying, didn’t you? What made you think, you old fool, that I am in love with you?’ his voice started to grow with immense hatred in his eyes. He continued,’ What made you think I would marry a widow of my employer, who was 24 years elder to me? What were you thinking when I was taking you out around the world on your own expenses? Why on the earth you thought that I will have kids with you? You were nothing but an emotional fool and a ticket to my fortune. Here you go back to your husband. I waited for months for this moment and now it has finally come. I love you too my dear because of the treasure you have left behind for me to enjoy and as promised will remain forever in my heart as a token of gratitude.’

He looked at those lifeless eyes again and then picked up his phone, scrolled down to the name ‘Doctor’ and rang up. A small ring and a female voice spoke up ‘Hello dear’.

‘Darling, it’s done. Pack up for honeymoon!’

Author – Siddhartha Adhikari