"A collision of rough souls"

CHAPTER 18

*AFTER FEW DAYS*

(Hiya spends most of her days locked in her room, emerging only in the mornings to visit the garden and see her mom at the hospital. She doesn't eat properly, hasn't slept well, and has even stopped taking her prescribed medicines. Hrihaan, growing more frustrated and angry each day, often scolds and shouts at her, but hiya remains silent and unresponsive)

*IN MORNING*

(Hiya receives the devastating news that her mom has passed away. She stands in shock, unable to process the reality. Hrihaan takes her to the hospital, where hiya numbly bids farewell to her mom, her eyes dry, her expression vacant. Hrihaan is confused by her lack of tears but leaves for the office after they return home, for an important meeting)

( Later that afternoon. Hrihaan's mom brinda knocks on hiya's bedroom door)

Brinda (knocking gently) : hiya, beta, it's me. Can you open the door?

(There's no response. She knocks again, louder this time)

Brinda : hiya, please, open the door. I'm worried about you.

(Still no response. She knocks several more times, panic rising in her voice)

Brinda (shouting): hiya! Open this door right now..

(Realizing something is seriously wrong, she calls hrihaan, who is still at the office)

Brinda (on call) : hrihaan, hiya is not opening the door...
And also not answering...

Hrihaan (irritated on the phone): So what? She’s probably in the washroom or something. I'm not free for her tantrums right now.

Brinda (frantic) : hrihaan, I've been knocking for 10 minutes! Something's wrong! You need to come home now..

(Hrihaan, finally understanding the urgency in his mom's voice, agrees to come home)

(Hrihaan arrives home and heads straight to their room)

Hrihaan (knocking and then shouting): hiya! Open this door now!

(When there's no response, he breaks the door down. The room is empty. Panicked, he rushes to the washroom and finds hiya lying on the floor, unconscious, with a blade in one hand and a deep cut on her left wrist)

Hrihaan (screaming): hiya....No..

(He scoops her up in his arms, blood staining his clothes. His mom follows him, tears streaming down her face)

Hrihaan (running to the car, his voice shaking): Mom, get in! We need to get her to the hospital, now...

(He drives recklessly, speeding through the streets. Hiya lies unconscious in the backseat, her head cradled in her brinda's lap)

Brinda (sobbing): Hang on, beta. We're almost there.

(They arrive at the hospital, and hrihaan bursts through the doors, carrying hiya in his arms)

Hrihaan (shouting at the nurses): I need a doctor, now! She's losing too much blood!

(A doctor and nurses quickly take hiya from him and rush her into an examination room. Hrihaan stands there, covered in blood, his hands shaking, his mind reeling with guilt and fear. His mom tries to comfort him, but hrihaan can barely register her words)

(Minutes feel like hours as they wait for news on hiya's condition. Hrihaan's anger and frustration are replaced by a deep, gnawing fear and regret. He can't bear the thought of losing her, especially knowing he drove her to this point)

Hrihaan's Uncle (entering the waiting room): hrihaan! What happened? How is hiya?

Hrihaan's Aunt (following behind): We came as soon as we heard. Is she going to be okay?