Dons of Punjab: Fluke of Reality✔️

Chapter 34

Prabhneet Kaur Aulakh

I slowly woke up, my eyes fluttering open as the soft morning light peeked through the curtains. My body felt warm, almost too warm, and as my vision adjusted, I realized why.

Aman was lying on top of me, fast asleep.

His face was relaxed, his breathing slow and steady. His arms were wrapped around me, holding me close, as if he never wanted to let go. For a moment, I just stared at him, unsure of what to do. A mix of emotions ran through me—confusion, amusement, and something else, something deeper that I didn't want to name.

With a soft sigh, I tried to shift my position, hoping to slip out of his grasp. But as soon as I moved, he tightened his hold around me, burying his face into the crook of my neck. A quiet sigh escaped his lips, almost like he was seeking comfort.

A lump formed in my throat.

No matter how much I tried to hate him, no matter how much I told myself that things had changed, Aman would always be the same person—my best friend from three years ago. The one who knew me better than anyone else.

I hesitated for a moment, then gently ran my fingers across his back. He stirred slightly but didn't wake up. A small smile tugged at my lips. It was strange, how easily he found peace beside me.

Then, the sharp ringing of my phone shattered the quiet moment.

I flinched, quickly reaching for it on the nightstand. Aman groaned softly in his sleep, his eyebrows furrowing as he mumbled something incoherent. I ignored him and answered the call, not even checking the caller ID.

"Hello?" I murmured, my voice heavy with sleep.

For a second, there was only silence. Then, a voice I hadn't heard in years broke through.

"Prabh..."

I sat up instantly, my heart stopping.

"Dad?" My voice was barely above a whisper.

A shaky breath came through the line. "Prabh... your mother... she's been in an accident."

The words hit me like a punch to the stomach.

"What?" My voice cracked, my hands trembling as I gripped the phone tighter.

"She was coming home from the Gurdwara... some reckless driver crashed a truck into her car." His voice broke into a sob. "She's in the hospital... I don't know if she's going to—"

I didn't let him finish. The phone slipped from my hands, hitting the bed with a dull thud.

A sharp gasp left my lips as panic surged through me. My chest felt tight, my vision blurred with tears. I turned to Aman, grabbing his arm and shaking him desperately.

"Aman, wake up!" My voice was frantic, barely controlled. "Wake up!"

He jolted awake, immediately alert. "What happened? Prabh?" His hands cupped my face, his eyes filled with concern. "Why are you crying? What's wrong?"

I choked on a sob. "It's my mom..." My voice was barely a whisper. "She... she was in an accident."

Aman didn't waste a second. He threw off the blanket and jumped out of bed, already pulling on his clothes. "Get ready," he said, his voice firm but gentle. "We're going to the hospital now."

I barely registered his words. My hands were shaking too much to do anything. My mind was spinning. My mother... the woman who had always been my strength... she was lying in a hospital, fighting for her life.