Prolog

Fortis Hospital, Noida

hose memories still send a sharp, stinging pain through me.

I walked to the Fortis internal medicine ICU. My heart was racing

and I was flooded with emotions. After a few minutes, I was standing outside

the ICU door; Bhavna was behind a green curtain.

"Listen, you have to be brave and calm. I want to inform you that

Bhavna's condition is deteriorating further and we're planning to put her on a

ventilator," the doctor said in a concerned tone and handed me a document to

sign.

I felt numbed. As these icy words pierced me, it felt as if my blood was

freezing.

"What are the chances of recovery?" I asked bluntly.

"Rare chance; once she is doing well we can remove her from that, but

her condition is getting worse. The ventilator is not the problem, the infection

is."

"So, is she not on ventilator yet?" I asked. "Can I see her?"

"That is what I called you for. This ventilator will only be removed once

she starts recovering or there are signs of improvement. She'll be

administered anesthesia which will make her unconscious so that the

ventilator doesn't cause any damage."

"What if there are no signs of improvement?" I asked.

"Then, I'm sorry…" he sighed. "It is possible you'll be talking to her for

the last time."

I went behind the green curtain. I thought I would hug her, but that would

make her feel that something was wrong and she might break down

completely. With a heavy heart and this dilemma in mind, I went to her. There

was blood around her lips. She lay with her mouth open and her eyes closed.

It was the most horrifying moment of my life. Watching her struggle to

breathe made me insane. I wished I could have given her my breath and a part

of my life, but I was helpless. I had never felt so disabled in my life.

With great difficulty I said, "I love you, Bhavna. And you are the best

wife."

She collected her strength and whispered something with ragged breaths.

My life changed from that day onwards. What my life was before and

what it became after, is something that forced me to write this book. I wish I

could rewind time and go back and relive all the beautiful moments that we

had cherished together.