“That’s a good start.”

The man said. They did another set of the same exercises. Vishesh was not given too much pressure of starting other exercises. The day was scheduled solely for breathing exercises. The most important part of any exercise.

By the end of the session, he felt like his lungs were burning. He hadn’t done any manual labour yet his lungs felt like they were on fire. He felt exhausted.

Nishtha helped him lay down and wiped his sweat off his forehead. 

For the first time since the accident, he felt like he was not just surviving. He was learning how to live again, one breath at a time.

Surekha, his wife, came back from work in the evening. She stopped short on seeing Nishtha on the couch.

“Oh hello.”

“Hello mam.”

Nishtha smiled politely. She got up, wanting to leave the two in privacy. Nishtha reached the living room and saw his parents already there.

“Kya hua beta? Kuch chahiye tha kya?”

(What happened? Did you want something?)

“Nhi aunty. Wo…mam hai sir ke paas.”

(No aunty. Umm…mam is there with sir.)

His mother nodded with a smile. Nishtha and his parents frowned seeing Surekha come out of the room, not even two minutes later. 

“Sir ko kuch chahiye?”

(Does sir need something?)

Nishtha asked, thinking that she might have come to get him something. Surekha looked at her and shrugged.

“I don’t know. That’s your job. Mujhe kuch kaam hai mummy. Mai study room mai hu.”

(I have some work mummy. I am in the study room.)

His mother nodded, not knowing what else to say. Nishtha was surprised. She got up and went to Vishesh’s room.

His expression was unreadable. She didn’t say anything. 

“Mai aapke liye kuch laati hu. Phir aapke supplements ka bhi time hai.”

(I will get something for you to eat. Then you have to take the supplements.)

She went out again and asked his mother about his food.

Vishesh kept looking at her as she fed him his food.

“Tumhe hasi aati hogi na…ki itna bada aadmi aur bacho se bhi jyada care krni padh rhi hai.”

(You must feel like laughing…that a grown up needs more care than a child.)

Nishtha’s gaze met his. She smiled and shook her head.

“Nhi. Achha lagta hai ye dekh kr ki aapne iski wajah se khud ko rukne nhi dia. Bhut kam log kr paate hai, sir.”

(No. I feel good seeing you did not let yourself stop because of this. Very few people are able to do it, sir.)

Her words, somehow, always grounded him. Working as an anchor to his sinking ship. She wiped his lips clean of the remnants of the food and left the room after giving him his supplements.

A few moments later, the male caretaker, Nirmal entered.

“Kya hua?”

(What happened?)

Vishesh asked.

“Wo madam ne bheja hai. Urine bag badalna hai.”

(Madam sent me. To change the urine bag.)

Vishesh looked away and nodded. It was times like these that he felt the humiliation and helplessness the most.

Nishtha came back after Nirmal had left the room. She sighed seeing his closed off expressions. She knew it would take him a lot of time to cope up.

For the next month, the physiotherapy sessions were slow and it seemed like they weren’t showing much result. The therapist started with breathing exercises and added on one physical exercise after each session.

During the whole month, Vishesh had done Shoulder Flexion, Shoulder Abduction, Elbow Flexion, Elbow Extension, Forearm Rotation, Wrist Flexion and Extension, with the therapist guiding his movements.

When he would stretch his body, Vishesh felt the strain. For a moment, the sensation would come just to disappear as quickly.

He had started feeling random pains and sensations in his arms or limbs. Sometimes it got unbearable because he couldn’t do anything to relieve the pain.

His parents went back to their place shortly after the sessions started. They visited every weekend.

Nishtha was scrolling through her phone while Vishesh rested. He had gained weight during the whole month. 

She looked up in alarm when she heard him wince. She rushed towards him and bent down to his level.

“Kya hua? Does it hurt somewhere?”

(What happened?)

“Haan. My leg. The left one.”

(Yes.)

Nishtha immediately moved to the directed limb and massaged in slow motions. His expressions eased and he sighed.

“Feel better.”

He hummed and thanked her. She massaged for a few more minutes before going back to the couch.

Surekha entered the room and straight away went to the washroom. Vishesh followed her movements. She hadn’t spent a minute with him in the same room.

After his parents left, she shifted to the guest room. She said that she wasn’t comfortable with the caretaker, Nirmal, sleeping in the same room.

Which was valid. He understood. But could she not even sit with him for 5 minutes?

Surekha came out of the washroom and started moving towards the door.

“Surekha! Kaha jaa rhi ho? Do minute baitho toh.”

(Where are you going? Sit for two minutes.)

She didn’t even turn.

“Mujhe kaam hai. Nurse hai aapki care krne ke liye.”

(I have some work. You have the nurse to take care of you.)

This. She always did this. When Nishtha left, it was always about Nirmal. ‘Wo hai aapki care krne ke liye’. 

Nishtha was surprised at her emotionless tone. 

“I know I should not intervene but…is everything alright?”

She asked when he didn’t speak for a long time.

“No. Nothing is fine. She doesn’t speak to me at all. Dekha na tumne. Jab bhi baat krne ki koshish krta hu aise hi kuch na kuch bolke chali jaati hai. At this point, I feel like we are just dragging a dead relationship.”

(You saw it. Whenever I try to talk to her, she leaves saying something like this.)

Nishtha looked at him. For the first time, she didn’t know what to say. She had heard that communication was the key. But what if the other person had resolved that they did not want to communicate?

“I understand that we could not form the bond that a husband and wife shared. Arranged marriage thi hamari. We didn’t get much time to get to know each other before marriage. Aur shaadi ke kuch hafto baad hi mai…but wo baat hi nhi kregi toh kaise ek dusro ko samjhenge hum. Aur agar samajh hi nhi paaye toh iss…rishte ki kya value reh jaayegi?”

(We had an arranged marriage….And after just a few of our marriage I…but if she will not talk how will be understand each other. And if we do not understand each other…what will the value of this relationship?)

There was silence for some time. He shook his head, as if removing the thoughts.

“Ye chhodo. Open the side drawer…usme ghar ki keys hai. Kabhi agar subha tumhe thoda late ho jaaye aur Surekha ghar pr nhi ho…toh keys se enter kr lena.”

(Leave it. Open the side drawer…there are house keys. If you ever get late in the morning and Surekha is not home…enter using the keys.)

Nishtha nodded and took the keys. 

“Thank you sir.”

“Yaar! Tumhe kitni baar kaha hai….sir mat bulaya kro. Itna bhi bura naam nhi hai mera.”

(How many times have I told you…not to call me sir. My name is not that bad.)

She smiled slightly and nodded.

“Fine! Thank you Vishesh. Ab thik hai?”

(Is it fine?)

“Perfect.”

He mumbled with a grin, making her chuckle.