A Vow Of Eternity

1. Promise

"Ladies and gentlemen, we have landed at Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. The local time here is 05:27 am, and the temperature is 26°C. Please remain seated with your seatbelt fastened until the seatbelt sign has been switched off. Usage of mobile phones is now permitted..."

As soon as the seatbelt sign was turned off, Shravya unfastened her belt and silently collected her luggage from the overhead cabin. She moved quickly towards the exit, her face a mask of determination and worry. Sidharth had been watching her throughout the entire flight. She had been unusually quiet, hadn't eaten anything, and hadn't slept a wink during the long 16-hour journey. Shravya, who was always a cheerful and bubbly girl with her close ones but appeared as a strong, fierce, and bossy lady to the outer world, seemed uncharacteristically subdued.

After collecting their luggage from the conveyor belt, buying a new SIM card, and booking a taxi for the hospital, they moved outside the airport to wait for the cab. The ride to the hospital was silent, with Shravya growing more restless as they got closer to their destination.

Sidharth finally broke the silence. "Shravya, are you okay?"

She turned to him, her eyes filled with anxiety. "I just want to get to the hospital as soon as possible."

"I understand," he replied, taking her hand in his. "He's going to be okay."

Shravya nodded, but her mind was elsewhere. The thought of seeing her beloved Dadu in the hospital was tearing her apart. She had always seen him as a pillar of strength and vitality, and the idea of him being weak and vulnerable was something she couldn't reconcile with.

As they neared the hospital, Shravya's restlessness grew. Sid noticed her fidgeting with her hands, a sure sign of her anxiety. "We're almost there," he said softly, trying to comfort her.

Shravya and Sid entered the hospital, the tension palpable in the air. The entire Malhotra family was gathered in the lobby, their faces etched with worry. As Shravya and Sid walked towards them, everyone noticed their presence and turned towards them, smiles of relief mingled with the underlying tension. Shravya had been away for four long years, and her sudden return was both a comfort and a reminder of past hurts.

Ignoring everyone else, Shravya moved straight to her Ishani bhabhi , who was standing near the entrance to the operating room. Ishani hugged her back, tears brimming in her eyes.

"He's in the operating room now," Ishani said, her voice barely above a whisper.

"But when I called you during our flight's layover in Istanbul, you said his angioplasty was successful. What happened?" Shravya asked, her voice shaking.

Ishani sighed deeply, struggling to keep her composure. "He's having an allergic reaction to the contrast agent used during the procedure, and his blood pressure is fluctuating. There are some complications, so he's back in the operating room."

Hearing this, Shravya's heart sank further. She felt as if the ground beneath her was slipping away. She sat down, feeling utterly helpless and overwhelmed. Sid sat beside her, taking her hand in his. "He's going to be okay," he repeated, and this time, Shravya tried to believe him.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly as they waited. The minutes crawled by, each one heavier than the last. The family sat in silent vigil, the only sound the occasional whisper of reassurance or the beep of medical monitors.

Several tense hours passed. Shravya watched the operating room's red light, praying for it to turn off. Her mind raced with memories of her Dadu, his laughter, his stories, and his unwavering love. She couldn't bear the thought of losing him.