As Vrinda picked up the call, her heart raced.

“Papa…” she said, her voice quivering.

“Beta, jaldi aao. Tumhari mummy ko hospital mein lekar aaya hu… woh behosh ho gayi thi…” Sharad’s tone was firm, but the worry was unmistakable.

“Haan, Papa, main abhi aati hu…” Vrinda replied, shock gripping her. Her face went pale.

“Senorita, kya hua?” Anish asked, concern evident in his voice.

“Woh… Main…” Vrinda struggled to speak, tears choking her words.

“Mujhe kya Senorita?” Anish pressed, his worry mirrored in his expression.

“Mummy… mummy… hospital mein hai… mujhe jana hai… please…” Vrinda sobbed, unable to contain her tears.

“Koi baat nahi, abhi chalte hain. Pehle tum rona band karo…” Anish said softly, pulling her into a comforting embrace, her head resting against his chest as she cried.

As they arrived at the hospital, Sharad stood outside the ICU, anxiously waiting for news about Sharvari’s condition.

“Papa,” Vrinda said, rushing towards him.

Sharad looked up, his eyes filled with concern. “Doctors are checking for internal injuries.”

“Yeh kaise ho gaya? Subah main toh mummy bilkul theek thi…” Vrinda’s voice trembled with disbelief.

“Pata nahi, beta. Main office ki files lene ke liye ghar aaya tha, aur woh bilkul theek thi. Jab main jaane laga, toh chakkar aa kar gir gayi… maine jaldi pakad liya isliye mujhe nahi lagta usse kuch laga hoga,” Sharad explained, his worry palpable.

“Koi baat nahi, Papa. Mummy strong hai, woh theek ho jayengi…” Vrinda said, her voice a mixture of firmness and concern.

“Haan beta, tum bhi tension mat lo. Main hoon na, sab kuch theek kar dunga…” Sharad reassured her, though he too was clearly worried, his gaze fixed on the ICU.

“Uncle, aap chinta mat kijiye. Aunty theek ho jayengi…” Anish said, approaching with coffee in hand.

“Yeh lijiye. Aapne subah se kuch khaya nahi hoga,” he offered to Sharad.

“Tum yahan kaise? Tumhe kaise pata chala?” Sharad asked, confusion etched on his face.

“Woh papa, hum sab friends milkar college dekhne gaye the,” Vrinda explained.

“Accha,” Sharad said, his expression softening slightly.

“Woh… Anish, humne Isha, Vaidehi, Shriyan, aur Akshat ko kuch bataya nahi…” Vrinda mentioned, remembering their friends.

“Nahi, Seno..Vrinda. Maine unhe call kiya tha. Unhe sab pata hai,” Anish said, just as Vrinda became aware of her father’s presence.

“Thik hai,” she replied, her focus shifting back to the ICU.

The doctor stepped out, and Vrinda felt her heart race.

“Unki health abhi bhi critical hai. Unhe abhi tak hosh nahi aaya aur kuch keh nahi sakte,” the doctor informed.

“Woh theek toh ho jayengi na?” Sharad asked, desperation in his voice.

The doctor walked away without confirming, leaving Vrinda’s eyes brimming with tears. She looked at her father, feeling the weight of their shared worry.

“Beta, woh theek ho jayegi. Tumhe pata hai, tumhari mummy bahut strong hai…” Sharad said, trying to be the pillar of strength even as he felt helpless.

“Haan, Papa. Aap bhi tension mat lo,” Vrinda said, her voice steady despite her own fears.

After some time, Sharvari regained consciousness, her eyes fluttering open. The doctor examined her and reassured them.

“Woh abhi theek hain. Hum kuch tests karne wale hain. Woh achanak behosh ho gayi thi, toh dekhna padega koi complication toh nahi hai… Aap unse mil sakte hain,” the doctor said before leaving.

“Mummy, kya hogaya tha? Aap achanak se behosh kaise ho gaye?” Vrinda questioned, tears spilling down her cheeks. Sharad stood behind her, worry etched in his features, while Sharvari nodded with a weak smile.

“Beta, main theek hoon…” Sharvari replied, her voice barely above a whisper.

“Abhi aap sirf aaram karengi, aur kuch nahi,” Vrinda insisted, wiping away a tear.

“Haan, beta,” Sharvari said, the smile lingering on her lips.

“Main bahar hu,” Vrinda said before stepping out of the ICU.

Outside, she locked eyes with Anish, tears welling again. He held her close, letting her cry into his arms, feeling the ache in his chest as he watched her pain.

“Senorita, bas. Bahut ho gaya. Main tumhe aur rote hue nahi dekh sakta,” Anish said, gently wiping her tears with his thumb.

“Aunty ab theek ho jayengi. Tum fikar mat karo. Hum hain na, hum unki tabiyat ka acche se dhyaan rakhenge,” he assured her.

“Thank you…” Vrinda whispered, squeezing him tightly.

As she composed herself, Vaidehi, Isha, Shriyan, and Akshat entered the hospital, searching for her.

“Yeh kaise hua? Aunty theek toh hain na?” Vaidehi asked, concern clouding her expression.

“Abb woh theek hain,” Vrinda said, trying to lighten the mood.

“Tum sab yahan kaise aa gaye?” she inquired.

“Woh hame Anish ne call kiya tha,” Isha replied, her eyes still anxious.

“Kya hum mil sakte hain?” Vaidehi asked, hope glimmering in her voice.

“Haan, bas abhi Papa gaye hain. Woh aa jaye toh mil lena,” Vrinda said.

Just then, Sharad emerged from the ICU.

“Tum sab yahan?” he questioned.

“Haan, Uncle. Hum aunty se milne aaye the. Kaisi hain ab woh?” Isha asked, concern evident.

“Abb thik hai. Tumhe milna hai toh jao,” Sharad said, motioning for them to go in.

“Haan,” Vaidehi said, relieved.

As they entered the ICU, they encouraged Sharvari to take care and rest.

“Chalo, Vrinda, hum chalte hain. Agar kuch madad chaiye toh call kar lena, hum yahi hain,” Isha said, hugging her.

“Bye, Vrinda. Khayal rakhna,” Vaidehi added, embracing her.

“Bye… Dhyaan rakhna,” Shriyan and Akshat said in unison, and Vrinda nodded with a faint smile.

“Bhai, agar kuch madad chaiye toh call kar dena,” Shriyan said to Anish as they left.

“Main bhi yahi hoon. Call kar dena,” Akshat echoed.

After they left, Anish went to the cafeteria to get dinner, knowing both Vrinda and her father hadn’t eaten since afternoon.

“Vrinda, kuch kha lo…” Anish said, handing her the food he had brought.

“Mujhe bhook nahi hai… mujhe nahi khana…” she replied, shaking her head.

“Senorita, aunty ab theek ho gayi hai. Agar unhe pata chal gaya ki tumne kuch nahi khaya, toh unhe kitna bura lagega. Thoda sa toh kha lo… aunty ke liye,” Anish urged.

Vrinda remained silent, but eventually nodded, opening her mouth as Anish offered her a bite.

As Sharad came out from the ICU, Anish offered him food, which he initially declined. But then Vrinda spoke up.

“Agar aap khana nahi khayenge, toh aapko power kaha se milegi mummy ka khayal rakhne ke liye? Apna khayal rakhenge toh hi mummy ka bhi khayal rakh payenge…” she said gently, feeding him.

Anish captured the tender moment between father and daughter on his phone.

“Uncle, ab main chalta hu. Mummy ghar pe raah dekh rahi hongi. Unhe kuch bataya bhi nahi hai… kal mummy ke saath aa jaunga,” Anish said, glancing at Vrinda.

“Are beta, tumhe pehle hi bahut kuch kiya hai… Thank you,” Sharad replied, grateful.

“Uncle, aisa kuch nahi hai. Agar aapka beta hota, toh woh bhi karta. Aur kya aap usse thank you bolte?” Anish asked, to which Sharad shook his head.

“Toh mujhe bhi apna beta hi samjhiye. Khayal rakhna,” Anish said before leaving.

“Papa, main usse chhod kar aati hu,” Vrinda said, following Anish.

“Bye, Senorita. Khayal rakhna,” Anish said as he started his bike.

“Aur… tumhe apne mummy-papa ke saath apna bhi khayal rakhna hai, yeh mat bhulna. Apne liye na sahi, mere liye apna khayal rakhna,” Anish

 added, holding both of Vrinda’s hands.

“Haan… Thank you…” Vrinda said, hugging him tightly.

“Kal milte hain. Bye,” Anish said and rode off.

Vrinda returned to the ICU where her father sat, deep in thought.

“Tum bhi ghar jao, Vrinda. Chalo, main chhod kar aata hu,” Sharad insisted.

“Nahi, Papa… main yahi theek hu. Mujhe mummy ke paas rukna hai,” Vrinda said, her resolve strong.

As she gazed through the glass at her mother, memories flooded back, and she fought to keep her tears hidden. She knew that if she let them fall, her father would weaken too. So, she stood there, silently wishing for her mother’s recovery.

As Vrinda stood in the sterile hospital corridor, a doctor approached her, handing over her mother’s medical reports. Her father was outside, engaged in a call from his office, unaware of the storm brewing inside. Vrinda’s hands trembled as she unfolded the papers, her heart racing with dread. With each line she read, disbelief turned to horror, and tears streamed down her cheeks uncontrollably. The weight of the diagnosis crashed over her like a tidal wave, leaving her gasping for breath in the harsh reality of the moment.