As Vrinda entered her home, she saw her mother unconscious, blood trickling from her nose. The sight made her scream. Hearing her, Anish rushed to her house, only to find her mother in this condition. He quickly called an ambulance, and they rushed to the hospital.

Once there, Vrinda's mother was taken to the ICU for a check-up. After what felt like an eternity, she regained consciousness, and Vrinda hurried to the ICU to see her mother. The moment she laid eyes on her, she began crying uncontrollably at the sight of her mother’s frail condition.

Her mother called her close and whispered, her voice barely audible, “Beta, daro mat, kuch nahi hua… aur pehle rona band karo…” Sharvari said, trying to reassure Vrinda.

Just then, Sharad entered the ICU, looking worried.  

“Kya hua? Tum theek ho?” he asked, concern etched on his face.  

“Haan,” Sharvari replied, her voice weak.  

“Vrinda beta, main hu na, kuch nahi hoga,” he assured her as he watched his daughter feel helpless.  

“Pappa…” Vrinda cried, holding her mother’s hand, which had a saline drip connected to it.

As Sharad went to complete the formalities, he saw Anish and thanked him for his help.  

“Beta, mere paas jyada samay nahi hain. Main baas yeh kehna chahati hu ki agar mujhe kuch hua… toh apna aur apne pappa ka khayal rakhna, beta… woh toot jayenge,” Sharvari said, tears streaming down her cheeks.

“Aap aisa kyu bol rahi hain, mummy? Aap chinta mat karna. Main khayal rakhungi, par aapko kuch nahi hoga,” Vrinda said, wiping the tears from her mother’s cheeks.

Just then, Aditi, Sharvari’s best friend and Anish’s mother, entered the ICU.  

“Yeh kaise hua, Sharvari? Aur tumne mujhe kuch nahi bataya… Main toh tumhari behen jaisi hu na. Itna nahi bata sakti thi. Ab main aayi hu na, main tumhara aur Vrinda ka khayal rakhungi…” Aditi reassured her.

“Aunty, aap kab aayi?” Vrinda asked Aditi.  

“Baas abhi aayi. Anish ne mujhe bataya tha, par mere bhai ki tabiyat jyada theek nahi thi, isliye main sheher mein nahi thi. Abhi aayi hu aur jaise aayi, idhar hi chali aayi. Anish ne aaj subah mujhe yeh sab bataya taki main chinta na karu,” Aditi explained.

“Accha, baithiye na, Aunty,” Vrinda said, getting up from her seat.

As Vrinda got a call from Vaidehi, she excused herself and stepped outside to take the call.  

“Tumhe kal discharge mil sakta hai. Main abhi doctor se baat karke aaya hu,” Sharad said to Sharvari.

Vrinda re-entered the ICU, followed by Anish.  

“Aunty, ab aap kaisi hain? Theek hain na aap?” Anish asked, worry evident in his voice.  

“Haan beta, main ab theek hu… aur tumhari mummy jo aayi hain… isliye aur theek lag rahi hain,” Sharvari said to Anish, making everyone chuckle a little.

“Apna khayal rakhna, Aunty. Mummy, mujhe college ka ek kaam hai, woh karke wapas aata hu,” Anish said to his mother.

As Anish left, he gave a reassuring look to Vrinda before departing, as if to say he would always be there.  

“Bye…” Vrinda whispered.  

Anish nodded with a head tilt.

After a few days, Sharvari was discharged, and they all went home.

While Vrinda was sitting with Vaidehi, Isha, and Akshat, Anish, a boy suddenly came and closed Vaidehi’s eyes from behind, leaving everyone surprised.  

“Kon hain?” Vaidehi asked, startled.  

“Batao, kon ho?” the boy teased.  

“Batao nahi toh muh tod dungi tumhara…” Vaidehi said, getting frustrated.  

“Are nahi… abhi waise hi ho jaise pehli thi,” the boy removed his hands from Vaidehi’s eyes.

“Abhijeet, tum yahan kya kar rahe ho?” Vaidehi exclaimed, hugging him.  

“Aap se milne aaya hu…” Abhijeet replied mischievously.  

“Chup karo… tum aur mujhse milne…” Vaidehi said, tapping his shoulder.

“Arey... main yahan padhta hu…” Abhijeet said.  

“Toh main bhi yahan padhti hu…” Vaidehi replied.  

“Aur kaise ho?” Vaidehi inquired.  

“Badhiya…” Abhijeet responded.  

“Tum batao, kya haal chaal?” Abhijeet asked.  

“Badhiya… tumse mil kar toh aur badhiya,” Vaidehi said, smiling.

“Hello… hum bhi yahan hain…” Isha interrupted.  

“Ohh… Haan, sorry,” Vaidehi replied.

Just then, Shriyan joined them.  

“Isse milo, yeh mere childhood best friend hain, Abhijeet,” Vaidehi introduced him to her friends.  

“Yeh kon hain?” Shriyan whispered to Akshat, who was standing next to him.  

“Tumhara rival,” Akshat winked at Shriyan, who looked shocked.  

“Kya matlab?” Shriyan asked, confused.  

“Vaidehi ka childhood best friend hain,” Anish clarified.  

“Accha…” Shriyan said, trying to understand.

“Vaidu…” Abhijeet said in a questioning tone.  

“Yeh usse Vaidu kyun bula raha hai…” Shriyan muttered in a jealous tone.  

“Humare college mein ek dance competition hai, mere paas koi partner nahi hai… meri partner ban jao na, please… mana mat karna, nahi toh main mar jaunga,” Abhijeet pleaded, acting dramatically.

“Yeh nautanki karna band karo… main koi dance nahi karne wali… aur woh bhi tumhare saath, bilkul bhi nahi,” Vaidehi firmly replied.  

“Please na…” Abhijeet begged again.  

“Nahi bola na,” Vaidehi insisted.

“Arey, itna keh raha hai toh kar lo na,” Vrinda suggested.  

“Tumhe kya hua tha, pata nahi hai na isliye bol rahi ho tum…” Vaidehi shot back at Vrinda.  

“Kyu… kya hua tha?” Vrinda asked, confused.

“Ruko… isse hi batane do… bolo Abhijeet,” Vaidehi prompted.  

“Chhod do usse, woh toh galti se hua tha,” Abhijeet said, getting a little embarrassed.  

“Nahi nahi, bata bhi do,” Vaidehi insisted.

“Woh… woh maine ek baar bachpan mein Vaidu ko dance karte karte gira diya tha,” Abhijeet confessed, cheeks flushed.

They all burst into laughter, except Shriyan.  

“Ismein hasne wali kaunsi baat hai… bechari Vaidehi chooth lagi hogi usse,” Shriyan said quietly, only audible to Anish and Akshat.  

“Bechari Vaidehi,” Akshat and Anish teased, joining in.

“Vaidu yaar, hum chote the, ab aisa kuch nahi hoga… maan jao na meri maa,” Abhijeet said, pretending to touch Vaidehi's feet.  

“Accha, thik hai, itna keh hi rahe ho toh… karte hain,” Vaidehi agreed reluctantly.  

“Thank you, thank you!” Abhijeet said, hugging her, while Shriyan’s eyes widened in disbelief.

“Mujhe tumhara contact number dena, main saare details tumhe message kar dunga,” Abhijeet said to Vaidehi before leaving, as she wrote her number down for him.

“Bas hua ab… chalo ghar chalte hain,” Shriyan said.  

“Haan chalo,” Akshat and Vrinda agreed.

“Shriyan, mujhe drop kar doge… room pe,” Vaidehi asked.  

“Haan, kar dunga… par Abhijeet toh abhi gaya na, nahi toh woh drop kar deta tumhe… meri kya zaroorat?” Shriyan said, jealousy evident in his tone.  

“Woh kyun mujhe drop karega aur aise kyun baat kar rahe ho… naraz ho kya?” Vaidehi asked, puzzled.  

“Nahi… nahi… main kyun naraz hoga,” Shriyan forced a smile.

“Tum theek toh ho?” Vaidehi asked again.  

“Haan bilkul,” Shriyan replied, starting his bike.

He dropped Vaidehi in front of her apartment.  

“Bye, Shriyan,” Vaidehi said.  

“Bye,” Shriyan responded, leaving.

Vaidehi stood watching him go, then entered her room, only to find a message from Abhijeet regarding the details of the competition.