He chose & she stayed

Follow-up

NOTE: General Anesthesia can last upto 24 hours.
_________________________

The next day - 3.00 p.m.

At the hospital run by an NGO, intern Aarohi stumbled on her steps and supported herself by holding a desk.

Nurse: Are you alright, doctor?

Aarohi: Yeah, I'm okay!

Nurse: *suspicious* Are you sure? You've not yet taken your lunch break today, is something bothering you?

Aarohi: *faking a smile* I'm just not hungry, sister! My work in this ward is done, so I'm leaving.

"My last solid meal was yesterday's lunch, I need to grab something to eat, or else I might faint before I even execute my plan", Aarohi though to herself.

Aarohi checked the time. It's 3.00 p.m. It's been solid 21 hours since Dr. Abhimanyu Birla was taken. Aarohi also identified the injection yesterday as general anesthesia, Abhimanyu was forced to take. He has got 3 more hours, before he regains his consciousness.

*Flashback*

Yesterday - around 8 p.m. - Goenka House.

It's been two whole hours, since Abhimanyu was kidnapped. Aarohi was sitting without moving a muscle infront of the pictures of the deceased Goenkas. She could hear, Manjari and Akshara crying in the background. Yet Aarohi felt as if she was underwater. Though she felt someone calling her name, she couldn't bring herself to respond. Suddenly she felt a hand on her shoulder. It belonged to Harshavardhan Birla. Aarohi was finally able to break free from the vaccum surrounding her.

Aarohi: *confusingly looking at Harsh* Huh! Yes, sir?

Harsh: *grimly* Aarohi, the policeman wants to ask you some more questions.

That finally made Aarohi get up from her place.

Policeman: So Dr. Aarohi! If the information, I've gathered was correct. Then tell me, why you've visited the Goenka House especially today even though you've went no contact with your family 2 months ago.

Aarohi: *blankly* I wanted to pay my respect for my late grandparents. I... I wanted to have a closure.

The Birlas and Akshara looked on. The policeman found Aarohi's answer logical. But he still suspected Aarohi, as he has witnessed the first masked man talking to Aarohi after doing her first aid from the street's CCTV footage. Aarohi gave her statement for that as some more threats by that man, and nothing else. There were literally no proper lead to help them find Dr. Abhimanyu as the kidnappers wisely made them loose track in traffic and they changed their vehicles multiple times in public parking places. The policemen further pushed Aarohi to speak the truth. But Aarohi just repeated her statement again and again. Internally she was screaming at herself. She's completely torn apart by not knowing what to do. What even is the right course of action to save Abhimanyu?

Aarohi (in her mind): *praying* God! Please show me the right path! What even should I do next?! What if Dr. Abhinav's words were true and I'm being watched now. I can't risk a drugged and vulnerable Abhimanyu's safety. Please keep him safe. Please God please.

Harsh backed Aarohi up, as she won't lie in a dire situation like this. Aarohi felt a new pang of guilt crushing her already guilty heart. Her heart broke for the worried father standing infront of her. Her eyes welled up with a fresh set of tears as she took in the conditions of the Birlas and Akshara. Aarohi never knew what took over her as she took three large steps and stood infront of a distraught Akshara. Damn her horrible childhood and family life, but she can't abandon Akshara not like this. Not after today as she got to know that her remaining family left India.