You and I, plus 2 years of marriage!

It is over…?

{4}

She let out a long drawn breath in defeat. As much as she tried to remember, she could not recall the face of this stranger who was supposedly her husband. In fact she doubted that she was even married. When the doctor had visited her in the morning, it had not taken him long to discover that she had lost her memory. She could easily recognise her parents but drew blank on seeing her parents-in-law. A nurse walked into the ward and addressed Bhuvan.

‘The doctor wants to meet you now, Sir.’ He nodded in reply and she went to check Uttara’s temperature. For a moment he stood there locking eyes with his wife. With the thermometer in her mouth, she mutely watched him. There was not even the slightest inkling in her mind that she had ever shared a moment with him. Quietly he walked out.

‘Temporary memory loss,’ said the doctor as a matter of fact. Bhuvan was seated in the doctor’s room which was brightly lit up with the white light.

‘She remembers her parents, her school and college, but she has forgotten all about her occupation and marriage. To be precise, the last four years of her life has been wiped clean from her memory.’

He paused to give the young man some time to accept the harsh reality. To his surprise, Bhuvan showed no signs of distress. Rather he looked distant and indifferent. He did not know how to react because this crisis was like a bolt from the blue. He was still reeling under shock. The doctor could gauge his predicament and he sympathized with him. Usually mental illness was more painful than a physical one.

‘See Mr. Bhuvan, I can understand your pain. But you have to be strong. You are the vital link to the past that she has forgotten. She has lived the past few years with you. Therefore you are the only one who can help her recover soon and regain her memory. Please remember that, this is only a temporary problem. There is a really good chance that she will recall everything,’ he assured.

‘How long will it take, doctor?’ he asked slowly.

‘Could be days, or weeks or even months.’

‘What if she doesn’t regain her memory?’ he asked meekly. The doctor leaned back on his chair and looked at Bhuvan with a mature gaze.

‘Young man, I have been married for 26 years now. I have had many disagreements with my wife and I will certainly not say that we are a perfect couple. But I strongly believe that we were meant to be together because, otherwise we would not have come this far in life. Uttara has lost only her memory but she is still the same woman you married a few years ago. All you have to do is have some patience and revive the love between the two of you. Once there is love, nothing else matters. Moreover I too have a daughter and I know what her parents must be going through. If you stay strong and be affectionate towards your wife, they will be relieved to some extent. Don’t worry, everything will be fine,’ said the doctor kindly. Bhuvan politely thanked him and walked towards the special ward.

Why is this happening to me? Uttara no longer remembers anything…should I tell her that we had decided to part ways? I may not love her as a husband but I cannot abandon her in this condition. All that matters now, is that she should recover soon. But what about the divorce?

He slowly opened the door and found her mother feeding her breakfast. He went and sat down on the empty chair next to his father. Nobody spoke anything. Once Uttara finished eating, Shekar suggested that they should go to the canteen. The parents went out leaving behind the young couple. Bhuvan turned to look at her with some hesitation. He did not know how she would react.

‘Hi…’ she said weakly with a slight smile.

‘Hi,’ he said forcing a smile on his face. He was instantly reminded of the first day when they had met at a coffee shop. Their parents had arranged that meeting.

‘I cannot speak loudly. Could you please come closer?’ she requested. He promptly went and sat on the chair close to her bed.

‘How are you feeling?’

‘My head still hurts,’ she said with some effort.

‘Don’t worry, you will get well soon,’ he said in a tone which betrayed the assurance in his words.

‘So we are married?’

The uncertainty in her question amused him.

‘Legally speaking, we are still married.’

His answer broadened the smile on her face. He found her smile really enchanting. He could not remember the last time when he had seen her smile so innocently.

‘I still cannot believe it but I have to accept the truth. I don’t know how hard it is for you to go through this phase. There is just one request that I want to make. Please give me some time to adapt to this life which seems so alien to me. Everything around me looks different,’ she said lost in her thoughts. He was moved by her plight. This was not the woman he hated.

‘I hope you understand,’ she said softly.

‘I will do my best to help you, Uttara. For now, you don’t have to consider this stranger as your husband. Just focus on your health and take care.’

Uttara slowly outstretched her left hand. Her right hand had a needle pierced through which glucose and some injections were given to her.

‘We can start with being friends,’ she said with the smile back on her face. Bhuvan was apprehensive for a few moments but could not refuse her. She was no longer the Uttara that he had known.

‘Friends,’ he said gently squeezing her hand. This was not how they had begun their relationship the previous time. It was a new and different beginning.

What the hell am I doing? We had put an end to everything between us. It was over… or was it really over?

He found no answer to his questions but her smile reflected on his face too.

                                            To be continued...