Healing Him | ✓

14.

Annika opened her eyes. And immediately closed it again as her eyes hurt from the bright hospital lights. She guessed that by the smell of anesthesia and the alcoholic tint.

She reached up her hand to her head where she could feel the dull ache. What happened?

"Annika-" she heard her mother's worried voice. And she opened her eyes slowly letting it adjust to the surroundings.

"Mum?" She asked confused. She tried to sit up, her mother immediately coming to her aid. "Annika!" Her father was standing by the door, he immediately rushed forward and enveloped her in a tight hug careful not to hurt her anymore. He peppered her face with kisses.

"My princess-how can you make your parents suffer like that? Do you know your mother and I have aged decades the moment we saw the blood around your clothes." He said between the pecks. Her mother waited by the side patiently. She didn't understand what happened but all she could feel was the sudden tiredness that was creeping in.

"Sleep for now. We'll wake you up." Her mother assured. Harsh sat on the side of the bed. Since Annika was too weak to attend the meeting only Sudha and Harsh had gone to the meeting as the principal refused to reschedule it. The outcome had shocked them out.

Harsh entered the principal's office, Sudha following him. They had left Annika with her caretaker.

Raghav's parents were present there. He couldn't spot Mrs. Oberoi there.

"Please take a seat Mr. And Mrs. Trivedi." The principal said politely as she turned to them seriously. There was a girl standing by the side with her parents. It was Mallika. She narrated the whole incident, but Harsh grew suspicious. They weren't adding up. Shivaay wasn't one to fight just because of a disagreement.

"I am sure you all are aware why we are here. The thing is that the student who was responsible for this has already been punished. We have expelled Shivaay. He won't be able to give the final examination of this year." While most looked happy with the prospect Harsh turned furious at this.

"What the-" Sudha stopped him. "Are you sure it was Shivaay? I know that it was not him. He would not do such thing." The principal looked surprised. "I'm surprised you are still trusting the boy Mrs. Trivedi."

"I am. I know him." Her voice was firm while the other set of parents scoffed at that. "We have stayed in this town longer than you, Mrs. Trivedi. I'm sure we know what you don't."

"Besides the boy is the reason my son was in the hospital."

"Expulsion is too light of a punishment." Mallika's parents agreed on that. Sudha frowned. "From what I can see Mrs. Malhotra, your son wasn't too innocent. There was a fight. And a fight is never one sided. Your son is much of a culprit that Shivaay is. The only reason we haven't punished your son is that he is already in hospital and we don't want to be hard on him." That shut his parents up.

The Trivedis' worries were dismissed by the principal and the other set of parents saying that the school term was officially over and there was nothing they could do now. One person had already been punished. No matter how much the couple wanted to save Shivaay there pleas weren't heard by the authorities as they had no evidence that Mallika had been lying. According to them the rest of school agreed with Mallika's words which was really pathetic.

Sudha exchanged a worried look with her husband. He put an assuring hand on her shoulder and nodded. Annika had gained consciousness two times but she woke up exhausted. The doctor said it was normal, and that she was weak from the blood loss that's why it happened. They were dreading the news they had to tell their daughter. That Shivaay had already paid for the crimes he never did.