THE RAJHANS SISTERS

DARK HOURS

Diwakar returned and immediately noticed Aniket being escorted outside by the ward boys.

"What was he doing inside?" Diwakar demanded, his gaze piercing into Aniket. "And who called him here?"

"I was just saying the same thing, Dad, but Mom and Abhishek..." Nishi began, but Diwakar cut her off, focusing his attention on Aniket.

"What are you doing here?" Diwakar asked angrily as he approached Aniket, who couldn't meet his eyes.

"Just leave this place right now and don't show your face again," Diwakar muttered.

"If you need anything..." Aniket attempted to say, but he was interrupted.

"We don't need anything from you. You've already done enough harm to us... Don't shower your pity on us anymore," Diwakar said, folding his hands in front of him. "And if you must do something... then leave this place immediately... that's all."

Aniket nodded and left. Niharika noticed the anxiety on his face and decided to follow him.

"Doctor Wadhva, I don't care how you do it, but if anything happens to my wife, I'll shut down this entire hospital, I swear it," Aniket muttered to the senior doctor.

"Mr. Sharma, we understand your distress, we are working on your wife's case, and she will be fine... I assure you," the doctor replied.

"I don't want assurance, I want my wife... safe and sound," Aniket growled. Niharika observed him from a distance, her heart heavy with empathy as she watched him wrestle with his emotions. As Aniket noticed her gaze, he looked away, unable to bear the weight of her concern.

"Go ahead," he said and began to walk away.

"Wait, Aniket," she said, and he stopped. Niharika walked up to him and stood beside him.

"Aniket."

"Yes... Maa," he whispered.

"Maa... you call me Maa, but I never truly earned that right, and today, I won't complain anymore... my grievances will continue, but today I won't blame you... I know, Aniket, that you and Nitya love each other deeply," Aniket was astonished to hear this from her.

"Don't look so surprised, Aniket. I am a mother, nothing is hidden from me. I have seen it in your eyes, love, respect, and trust for each other, I have seen it many times before and today too, but I don't know what happened between you two that led to this divorce. I don't know why you are separating my daughter from yourself. I don't know what punishment you're giving her. I only know that you are distancing Nitya from yourself, causing her pain, and silently enduring her suffering. I don't know why, but I do know that this is not just about Nitya and you anymore, it's also about your child, the child who hasn't even been born yet, you are going to be a father... that's why you can understand a mother's fear. You may endure the pain of losing love, but you can't endure the fear of losing your child. Today you and I stand on the same threshold, Aniket, as you don't want anything to happen to your child, I don't want anything to happen to my daughter, my Nitya. I know that you are both, her weakness and strength, that's why I only want to make one request, if you can't give her the happiness she deserves, then don't give her the pain she doesn't deserve, if something happens to her, no one will be worse than me, Aniket, remember this..." she warned.

Aniket joined his hands and bowed his head before her. "I call you Maa, and I respect you as my mother, that's why I know how much your heart must be aching to see Nitya in this condition, how angry you must be with me, how many questions you must have in your mind. Your anger is justified that's why whatever punishment you want to give, I accept it, but at this moment, I don't have answers to any of your questions, and I can't ease your pain by explaining anything, I have nothing, but Nitya's health, that's all, her treatment is my priority. I won't leave any stone unturned to ensure her well-being. I will move heaven and earth, but I won't let anything happen to Nitya and our child, and that's my promise to you..." he assured. "I'm leaving, Namaste," he said, and he left the place.