The awkwardness mapped with a lot of confusion unravelled us all. Manish, Dhrithi, Sindhu and me, most stared at eachother for  a considerable amount of time. Chaos didn't seem to seize the situation. 

What on earth is happening here? What are we trying not to look into? What is my sight blinding me from seeing? Let's face the elephant in the room, how did Manish know Sindhu?

Even before we could address the happenings consciously, my phone rang and the call was from my husband. 

"Pavi-?", he called urgently.

"Yes-?", I replied with worry conquering my voice. 

"Please hurry up, the doctors are looking for you- Babaji- umm- well, I don't know", he rushed. 

"Okay, I am on my way-" 

Without my knowledge I found myself sprinting in the hospital corridors. Looking at me pounce through the crowd, my sisters and Manish seem to follow me as loud foot sounds could be heard. 

As I took a familiar turn, I saw my husband standing with folded hands across his chest. He did look worried. 

"Ji-what happened", I managed to say as I gasped for breath. 

"Pavithra- Jiju, is everything okay?", asked Dhrithi, with concern ringing in her voice. 

Silence sweeped amidst us as Raj ji tried to be gentle about the situation. But, with every passing milli-second, I felt hidden from the truth. My doctor instincts kicked in as I turned to  read the room. 

Doctors and nurses seem to surround Baba and people were moving quickly.  I immediately knew what it could be. 

Tears pooled my eyes and Raj ji immediately pulled me towards him. 

Dhrithi, Sindhu and Manish looked at us cluelessly. I knew I had to break the silence but how could I be the sinned soul to deliver the bad news? 

The machines around Baba beeped louder than ever and just within a few seconds, a flatline monotonous tone echoed through the room. 

THIS WAS IT. 

My heart didn't want to believe my other sensory receptions. Raj ji stiffened his hold on me. His gaze and actions revealed the moment of truth loud and clear. I had to face it and there was no running away from it. But most importantly, I had to tell my sisters. 

Dr. Malhotra walked towards us with a hung face. Every non-verbal commnication just tallied so perfectly. 

"Pavithra-", he said with a throated voice. 

I looked at him earnestly. His words were my last hope. 

"I am so sorry, we tried everything we could-". 

I felt all doors of light shutting out and throwing me into darkness. 

"Oh doctor, please tell us what is happening-", shivered Sindhu. 

Manish who also picked up with the non-verbal cues, looked with concern at Sindhu. 

However, he somewhere knew that she had to hear it from Dr. Malhotra. 

Dhrithi plunged in to hold onto her sister as tears befriended all of us. 

"Your father is no more, my child. He suffered a heart attack and breathed his last. I am certain he is at a better place-" 

"Oh definitely not!", spiralled Sindhu in anger. 

"Doctor, you have no idea, he has literally thrown our lives way out of trajectory. All we have seen is a perennial rain of suffering. He is finally out of our lives-"

"SINDHU-"

A loud voice bellowed right behind us as we sharply turned to look who it was. 

My mother threw glaring looks at my sister. 

"YOU WILL NOT SPEAK ILL OF HIM." 

More tears pooled through all of our tears. 

Odd emotions filled us all. Dr. Malhothra looked at Sindhu with concern. 

"My child, I understand that you are deeply hurt by your father. But the truth is, you also loved him equally  and that his loss is hurting you even more. Stay strong, your family is with you. "

Manish no longer felt conscious to explain himself. He pulled Sindhu towards him, bringing questionable looks on everyone's faces but now wasn't the time. 

"Rajeev, can you please follow me, I will explain what has to be done before you can take him home-" 

Raj ji immediately took his hands around me and nodded gently. 

I was left with my mother, sisters and Manish. 

Reality hit us all as we just swirled into a huddle. Holding my sistsers and my mother tightly I weeeped uncontrollably. Manish let us have the moment and withdrew himself. 

"Shh- my dear children. It is going to be okay-" , my mother tried to console us. 

"Ma-" 

"No, let us not talk about anything. Let's just be there for eachother." 

"Yes-", shuddered Dhrithi. 

BE THERE FOR EACHOTHER-

"You're my strong children-", Ma continued.

"My dear girls, you have always been for one another. It was my mistake to seperate the three of you. I felt that was the right thing to do then. But I realised that we survive better with all of us being together.

I know that your Baba has not been the greatest father, but he didn't know any better. I know there's a lot of pain, but like how the doctor explained, we miss him. His blessings is always with us. Let us gear up for his funeral. Let us send him to the heavens in the best way possible.

My strong girls, do not break. The world is not for the brittle and the weak. Make this pain and loss your strength. Keep your head up high. Make your Baba and me proud."

Ma's words felt like a drag of soothing breath on a wonder soul.

Bottomline is, she was absolutely right.

I had to be not just a doctor, but the best one around, not just for me, my husband or Dev, but also for the sacrifices of my parents.

But most importantly, right now, I had to be there for my mother and my sisters.

We have to be there, for EACHOTHER.

***