Closure

28. Saving Lives

A few days before the Mehendi ceremony, Akshu, Arohi, and Kairav were returning home after a shopping trip. Midway through the journey, Kairav received a call from Manish about some urgent work and had to leave, putting Arohi behind the wheel with Akshu in the passenger seat. Unbeknownst to Akshu, Arohi was slightly intoxicated.

As they drove, Akshu began to notice Arohi's erratic driving. Alarmed, she urged her to stop and let her take over, but Arohi stubbornly refused. The car swerved and hit the roadside on the highway. Both felt a sickening thud, as if they had run over something. Panicking, Akshu implored Arohi to check what they had hit, but Arohi, frightened and disoriented, backed up and sped away.

Upon reaching home, Akshu, still in shock, confronted Arohi the moment she stepped out of the car. With a mix of fury and fear, she slapped her. "How could you drive intoxicated and then just flee after hitting something, without even checking? What if it was a living being you ran over? Do you understand that you've likely committed a crime?" Her words hung heavy in the air, underscoring the gravity of the situation.

Distressed, Akshu called Abhi and asked to meet him urgently. As soon as he arrived outside her house, she ran into his arms, trembling and crying.

"Akshu, what's wrong?" Abhi asked, pulling back to see her tear-streaked face, filled with fear and pain. "Please, tell me."

Between sobs, Akshu recounted the accident and Arohi's reckless behavior. She feared they had hit someone, as she distinctly remembered the bump.

"Abhi... please take me there, please. I can't live with myself if I don't go and check. I would have gone by myself, but I can't stop shaking."

Abhi, though shocked, remained calm. "Akshu, we will go and check. Don't worry."

They drove to the spot of the accident. After searching the area, Akshu spotted blood on the dry grass and shouted, "Abhi!"

Abhi rushed over and moved the grass aside, revealing a stray dog with a severe injury near its abdomen, bleeding profusely and unconscious. Akshu broke down at the sight, crying, "No!"

Abhi quickly checked for a pulse and, feeling it faintly, comforted Akshu. "Akshu, it still has a pulse. We can save him. Don't lose hope."

They called the nearest veterinary hospital, which dispatched a team to their location. After preliminary treatment on spot to control the bleeding and infection, the dog was transported to the hospital, with Akshu and Abhi following closely behind.

The veterinarian operated on the dog urgently, as it was in critical condition. Abhi and Akshu waited outside like anxious parents, Akshu clutching Abhi's hand tightly, her other hand pressed to her heart, eyes closed in prayer.

After the operation, the veterinarian informed them that the dog was out of danger but would require long-term care to heal fully. She mentioned a partner animal shelter where the dog could be sent after discharge. Relieved, Abhi and Akshu ensured all financial arrangements were made for the dog's treatment and recovery.

Akshu asked if they could visit the dog at the shelter, and the veterinarian assured them they could.

On the drive back, Akshu was silent, lost in thought. Abhi broke the silence gently, "Are you feeling better now?"

Akshu nodded, her face reflecting deep weariness. After a moment of silence, she finally spoke, her voice tinged with a mix of sorrow and frustration. "Abhi, I've always let Aru do as she pleases because she's my younger sister and I love her. I kept hoping she'd mature and come to understand. I've forgiven her for so many things, even though she never apologizes. But what she did today... I'm not sure I can ever forgive that. Anyway, I don't want to think about it anymore. How was your day?"

Recognizing her need to shift the conversation, Abhi steered their talk toward lighter subjects. They continued chatting until he dropped her off at home.

The next day at the hospital, Abhi called Arohi to the conference room, where other doctors and the director were present. Handing her a suspension letter, he said firmly, "We know about what happened last evening. We cannot have an irresponsible doctor like you here. Doctors are meant to save lives, not abandon them. You must leave immediately."

Arohi stood there, speechless, as the gravity of her actions and their consequences finally sank in. Without a word, she turned and left the room, tears streaming down her face as she walked out of the hospital.