Part 3
Shailja reached the hospital on time. She was called inside and Doctor checked her. After a few more rounds of the check with different glasses and instruments doctor said, “Shailja, I want you to do a biopsy for this. Then only I can say anything.”
Hearing biopsy made Shailja worried and she asked, “Is there anything wrong Doctor?”
The doctor replied, “I hope nothing to be wrong but to be sure I have to see biopsy reports.”
Shailja got very tensed and as soon as she reached home, she called Abhay. She told him everything.
“Look Shailja, all my meetings are lined up and it will take me another 8-10 days to come back. You do one thing. Take Preeti along with you to the hospital.” Abhay said after hearing everything.
Shailja couldn't believe Abhay’s words. He is the same Abhay who used to get panic even on her ordinary cold and fever. And now he is casually asking her to take Aakash’s wife Preeti with her. She could not utter a single word. Then she consoled herself thinking that Abhay must be really busy and called Preeti.
The next day Shailja and Preeti reached the hospital on time. After some time test reports came and the same happened which was feared. Shailja was diagnosed with skin cancer. She was shocked. She never thought in her dreams that this can happen to her. The doctor assured her it is in the preliminary stage and with the immediate operation, it will go away.
“I suggest you not to wait. It can increase rapidly with each passing day. Better we will do the operation as soon as possible. It will be a small surgery and we will remove the mole. You will be discharged within 3 days.” The doctor told Shailja.
Shailja gathered herself and decided to undergo surgery the very next day. She informed Abhay and arranged everything at home for the kids. Her neighbor assured her to take care of everything.
The doctor removed the mole and nearby area to make sure there were no cancerous cells left and operation turned out successful. After a few hours, Shailja was shifted to a normal room. Abhay was in touch with her through the phone. Akash and Preeti also visited her every day and even took care of kids. After 3 days Shailja came back home and in the next 4 days, Abhay also got back from his trip.
Shailja’s eyes were continuously pouring looking Abhay and Abhay was completely shocked looking at Shailja’s stitched and distorted cheek.
It took around a month for Shailja to be back to normal. But it went out very exhausting physically as well as mentally. So she decided to go to Kolkata for a few days. Pulak and Lavanya’s vacation has also started. She asked Abhay to also join but he refused, as usual, making his work as an excuse. His passive and cold behavior towards her is now getting over Shailja’s comprehension. And after her surgery, he made himself distant from her.
Shailja reached to Kolkata with her kids. Her in-laws don't like her anyways so she stayed with her parents for 1 month. Shailja’s parents felt something is wrong with her as she doesn't seem to be happy like before.
“Shailja, what happened dear? Is there anything bothering you? Is everything alright?” Her mother asked affectionately.
Shailja got a little uncomfortable as she was not expecting this but then quickly she covered her emotions and replied, “No Ma… nothing happened. Everything is going well. Why are you asking all this?”
“Dear, you are looking sad and dull from the time you came here. You are always somewhere lost in your thoughts as if something is going in your mind. We are your parents and we know you very well. You were never like this before. You can share with us if there is anything.” Her father asked Shailja softly.
Shailja was filled with emotions from inside and wanted to cry like a baby in front of her parents but don't know why she held herself back. She sat down near to her parents and hold their hands.
“Ma Papa… It's just this illness. It all happened so fast that I couldn't get time to digest everything. It took me over and made me weak. It keeps me haunting that what if it comes back in any other form. That's why I came here. After spending time with you now I am feeling much better. I think time will heal everything… my scars as well as my fear.” She said touching her cheek and tears on it. She was saying this but her heart was fearing something else. She was still not able to understand Abhay’s behavior.
Her parents hugged her and wished her a happy and healthy life. After a month’s vacation, Shailja and kids reached back to Singapore. But as she entered the house, she felt like she came to someone else's house.
