As Vrinda read the paper, her heart sank. The report was about her mother, Sharvari, and it revealed the devastating truth: glioblastoma. Panic washed over her as she absorbed the information, tears spilling down her cheeks. Each moment spent with her mother flashed through her mind, and the weight of every cherished memory felt like a heavy stone in her chest.

Rushing to her mother’s side, Vrinda clutched the report tightly. “Mummy… yeh kya hai? Aapne toh kaha tha reports nahi aaye… yeh kya hai, mummy?” Her voice trembled, choked by sobs.

“Beta, tum rona band karo pehle… yeh report mera nahi hai,” Sharvari said softly, but Vrinda could see the pain in her mother’s eyes.

“Mummy, please sach bata dijiye… kitna jhooth bolengi?” Vrinda’s plea was filled with desperation, her hands shaking as she clung to the report.

At that moment, Sharad walked in, his face reflecting immediate concern. “Vrinda… kya hua, beta? Ro kyun rahi ho?”

“Papa, aapko yeh pata tha??” Vrinda asked, showing him the report, her hands trembling uncontrollably.

“Beta… woh…” Sharad struggled to find the right words, his eyes filled with sorrow.

“Papa, aapne kyu chhupaya mujhse? Main roz puchti thi… aur aap bas ‘sab thik hai’ kehte the… kyun nahi bataya?” Each word dripped with hurt, her voice rising with emotion.

“Mummy, yeh sach nahi hai, na? Yeh sach nahi ho sakta… please, mummy, bolo na yeh sach nahi hai?” Vrinda’s voice wavered, searching her mother’s eyes for any glimmer of hope.

But Sharvari’s nod, a silent acknowledgment of the truth, felt like a dagger to Vrinda’s heart. She collapsed, feeling utterly lost.

“Papa… kuch toh kar sakte hai, na? Doctor ne kya kaha… kuch toh treatment hoga?” Hope flickered in her eyes, desperately seeking answers.

“Nahi beta, doctor ne kaha… yeh last stage hai. Maine bahut koshish ki, par kuch nahi ho sakta,” Sharad said, his voice cracking under the weight of his helplessness.

Overwhelmed, Vrinda turned and fled to her room, shutting the door behind her. She curled up on her bed, tears streaming down her face, haunted by the thought that her mother didn’t have much time left. The thought twisted like a knife in her gut.

When Anish called, she didn’t answer. After several agonizing minutes, he tried again. “Tum kaha ho?” His voice was laced with concern.

“Ghar pe hi hu…” Vrinda managed to reply, struggling to keep her voice steady.

“Tum thik toh ho na?” Anish pressed.

“Haan…” she said, but the word felt hollow.

“Call kyu nahi uthaya? Accha, chhod do. Free ho toh milte hain aaj?”

“Main aaj nahi mil sakti… main busy hoon…” A sob escaped her lips, betraying her resolve.

“Ghar pe ho na?” he asked again, sensing something was off.

“Haan…” she repeated, but it was a lie, a facade crumbling under the weight of her grief.

Concerned, Anish ended the call, but not before promising he’d check in on her.

A short while later, Anish arrived at her house. “Aunty, Vrinda kaha hai?” he asked Sharvari.

“Uske room mein hai,” Sharvari replied, her voice heavy with worry.

“Kya aap usse bula sakti hain?” Anish requested, hopeful.

“Mujhe nahi lagta woh aayegi. Tum hi jao,” Sharad said, his own heart aching for his daughter.

“Waise, tum achanak kaise aa gaye? Kuch kaam tha?” Sharad asked, noticing Anish’s worried demeanor.

“Woh meri ek book Vrinda ke paas reh gayi thi… kal submit karni hai,” Anish replied, trying to sound casual but failing to hide his concern.

“Accha, tum dekh lo,” Sharad said, watching Anish head toward Vrinda’s room.

Anish knocked gently on the door, but there was no response. He knocked again, and finally, the door creaked open. The sight of Vrinda—eyes red and puffy, tears streaming down her face—made his heart ache.

He wrapped her in a warm embrace, instinctively knowing she needed comfort. “Kya hua? Bolo, please,” he urged gently.

Vrinda’s sobs returned, and between gasps of air, she shared the devastating news. Anish listened, his heart heavy with each word, feeling her pain.

“Vrinda, tumhe himmat rakhni hogi. Agar tum aise haar gayi, toh uncle aunty kiski taraf dekhenge?” He held her tighter, his voice steady. “Main hoon na… mujhe batao, main kya kar sakta hoon. Main dekh leta hoon kisi aur doctor ka opinion lekar. Mujhe bas woh reports dena.”

“Thank you… aane ke liye,” she whispered, wiping her tears, drawing strength from his presence.

“Main kuch nahi kiya… chalo, bahar chalte hain,” he said, drawing a smile from her despite the tears that remained.

“Woh mujhe tum ek book de sakti ho kya?” Anish asked, a hint of mischief in his voice.

“Book… kyun?” Vrinda asked, confused.

“Woh main uncle aunty se keh ke aaya hoon ki tumse ek book leni hai. Kal submit karni hai,” he replied, feigning embarrassment.

“Tum sach mein yeh reason de kar aaye ho?” Vrinda asked, a slight smile breaking through.

“Haan, aapse milne jo aana tha… kya karta,” Anish said playfully.

“Ek minute ruko, main book deti hoon,” she said, retrieving it from her desk.

“Byee… dhyaan rakhna uncle, aunty ka aur apna bhi,” Anish said before leaving, hugging her tightly.

“Mummy… Papa…” Vrinda called out, stepping from her room to embrace them both. “Ab main college yahan se hi jaungi. Aur mummy, aap sirf aaram karengi. Agar kuch khane ka mann ho toh mujhe bata dena. Aaj se aapka bahut khayal rakhnege main aur papa…”

“Beta…” Sharvari said, hugging her tightly, their tears mingling.

Vrinda accepted the harsh reality in her mind, but her heart remained heavy with sorrow and fear.

The next day, as she sat in college, her thoughts were consumed by memories of her mother.

“Vrinda…” Vaidehi’s voice pulled her from her thoughts.

“Haan, bolo…” Vrinda responded, attempting to shake off the sadness.

“Kya hua hain tumhe? Aisi khoyi hui si rehti ho jab se college aayi ho,” Vaidehi asked, concern etched on her face.

“Main bhi wahi puchne wali thi… sab thik toh hain na?” Isha chimed in.

“Haan, bas kuch tension chal raha hai, baki kuch nahi,” Vrinda replied, trying to sound convincing.

“Kyuu? Kya hua… bata do,” Vaidehi and Isha insisted, their eyes searching for answers.

Vrinda shared her mother’s situation, watching as shock spread across their faces. Isha immediately wrapped her arms around Vrinda, offering comfort. Vaidehi joined in, and they formed a tight circle of support.

“Tum sab ho, isliye main abhi thik hoon… nahi toh pata nahi mera kya hota,” Vrinda confessed, her voice trembling.

“Oyee, rona mat… aur hum saath nahi denge toh koun dega?” Isha said, trying to lighten the mood.

“Hum hamesha tumhare saath hain, Vrinda. Itni jaldi thodi tumhara picha chodenge,” Vaidehi reassured her, eliciting a faint smile amid the tears.

“Aunty ka khayal rakhna. Aur kuch zarurat ho toh call kar dena. Hum hain,” Isha added, wiping a tear from Vrinda’s cheek.

“Thank you…” Vrinda said, her gratitude palpable.

“Bolo, abhi ‘thank you’ bolke paraya kar diya hame,” Isha joked, nudging Vaidehi.

“Are nahi nahi… tum kaha paraye ho,” Vrinda replied, a small smile breaking through.

“Khyaal rakhna. Milte hain kal,” Isha said.

“Byee…” Vaidehi added.

“Byee…” Vrinda echoed, feeling a flicker of warmth from their support.

As the day ended, Anish offered her a lift home. But when they arrived, Vrinda was met with a shocking sight. She gasped, “Mummy…”

Anish heard her scream and rushed inside, dread coiling in his stomach. The scene that unfolded left them both in shock, tears streaming down Vrinda’s cheeks as the reality of her situation crashed over her like a tidal wave.