Thawing the CEO's Heart

Chapter 39: Courage in Harmony

A few days later, Meena sat at her desk, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she worked through a stack of urgent tasks. The bustling atmosphere at Aoom Corp seemed more intense than usual, with everyone focused on meeting deadlines and managing the hectic pace of the day.

Her phone rang, breaking her concentration. She glanced at the caller ID and saw it was an unknown number. Frowning slightly, she answered, "Hello, this is Meena."

"Is this Meena Rina?" a calm but urgent voice asked.

"Yes, it is. Who's calling?" Meena replied, a knot forming in her stomach.

"This is Nurse Wila from Bumrungrad International Hospital. I'm calling to inform you that Mr. Austin has been admitted due to a heart attack. He's in critical condition. You should come to the hospital as soon as possible."

Meena's heart plummeted. "What? Oh my God. Is he... will he be okay?"

"I can't give you specifics over the phone, but you should come immediately," the nurse replied.

Meena's hands trembled as she ended the call. She stood up, feeling dizzy, and quickly made her way to Aoom's office. She burst in without knocking, her face pale and eyes wide with fear.

"Aoom," she gasped, her voice breaking. "It's Dad.... He had a heart attack. He's in the hospital."

Aoom's eyes widened in shock. "What? When did this happen?"

"Just now. We need to go," Meena said, her voice trembling.

Without another word, Aoom grabbed her keys, and they rushed out of the office. The drive to the hospital felt like an eternity, with Meena's mind racing through worst-case scenarios. Aoom reached over and squeezed her hand, trying to offer some comfort.

"He'll be okay, Meena. He's strong," Aoom said softly, though her own worry was evident in her eyes.

When they finally arrived at the hospital, they hurried to the emergency department. Meena approached the reception desk, her voice urgent. "Mr. Austin... where is he? He was brought in with a heart attack."

The nurse behind the desk checked her records. "He's in the intensive care unit. Take the elevator to the third floor and turn left."

Meena and Aoom followed the directions, their hearts pounding. They reached the ICU and found Nurse Wila, who had called Meena.

"How is he?" Meena asked, her voice shaking.

"He's stable for now, but it's critical. The doctors are doing everything they can," Nurse Wila said gently. "You can see him, but please keep it brief."

They entered the room and saw Mr. Austin lying on the bed, surrounded by monitors and medical equipment. His face looked pale, and he seemed so fragile compared to his usual robust self.

Meena approached him, tears streaming down her face. "Dad... I'm here," she whispered, taking his hand gently.

Mr. Austin's eyes fluttered open, and he gave a weak smile. "Meena... Aoom... you came."

"Of course, Dad," Aoom said, her voice thick with emotion. "We're here with you."

Mr. Austin's grip on Meena's hand tightened slightly. "I'm sorry... I didn't want to worry you."

"Don't talk like that," Meena said, her voice breaking. "You're going to be fine. The doctors are taking good care of you."

"I know," Mr. Austin replied softly. "But I need you to be strong, Meena. No matter what happens, you have to be strong."

Meena nodded, tears falling freely. "I will, Dad. I promise."

Aoom put her arm around Meena, providing support. "We're here for you, Dad. We're not going anywhere."