The sterile smell of antiseptic was heavy in the air, mingling with the rhythmic beeping of medical equipment. Neil's senses slowly returned, pulling him out of the fog of unconsciousness. His eyelids fluttered open to reveal a stark, white ceiling, and the reality of his situation began to sink in. The world around him was disorienting; his body felt strange, as though he hadn't used it in years. He struggled to grasp why he was here and what had happened.
"Aarohi!" His voice cracked with desperation as he shouted her name. The urgency in his tone was palpable, but his limbs felt heavy and uncooperative. The beeping of the heart monitor grew louder, and he felt a wave of panic as he tried to piece together the fragments of his memory.
A doctor rushed to his side, a calm and practiced expression on his face. "Mr. Neil, you need to calm down. You've been in a coma for five years," the doctor said gently.
Five years. The realization hit Neil like a sledgehammer. How could he have been unconscious for so long? His thoughts immediately turned to Aarohi and their child. What had he missed? His heart raced with a mixture of fear and anticipation.
Ignoring the doctor's attempts to keep him in the hospital, Neil pushed himself out of bed, his body protesting with every movement. He stumbled out of the hospital, driven by an urgent need to find Aarohi and their child. The world outside seemed to spin as he struggled to make sense of the new reality he faced.
The drive to Udaipur was a blur of emotions and anxiety. Neil's thoughts were consumed with visions of Aarohi and their baby. Memories of their dreams and plans together flashed before him, filling him with both hope and dread. He was so absorbed in his thoughts that he barely noticed the traffic around him. His heart ached at the thought of the time he had missed.
Suddenly, a sharp pain in his chest jolted him back to reality. The car in front of him appeared out of nowhere, and before he could react, the vehicles collided. The impact was jarring, and Neil's world went dark.
When he regained consciousness, he was disoriented but immediately recognized his brother's voice. "Neil... Neil, are you alright?" Abhimanyu's voice was a lifeline in the chaos.
Neil opened his eyes slowly, seeing Abhimanyu leaning over him with a concerned expression. "Bhai..." Neil's voice was weak, but the relief was unmistakable. The sight of his brother, whom he had missed so dearly, brought a mix of joy and sorrow.
Abhimanyu helped Neil out of the car, checking him for injuries. "You're lucky, Neil. It's a miracle you survived that accident. We need to get you checked out," Abhimanyu said with urgency.
Neil nodded, but his thoughts were still fixated on Aarohi and their child. "Bhai, please... tell me about them. Tell me everything."
Abhimanyu's expression softened, and he placed a comforting hand on Neil's shoulder. "Aarohi... she's been through so much. When you went missing, she was devastated. But she held onto hope, believing you might return someday. It's been difficult for her."
Neil's heart ached at the thought of Aarohi's suffering. "And the baby? Our child... is it a girl?"
Abhimanyu's eyes grew warm with empathy. "Yes, Neil. It's a girl, just like you always dreamed. Aarohi was overjoyed when she found out. She had hoped you would be there to see her."
Hearing this filled Neil with a mix of happiness and sadness. His dream had come true, but he had missed so much. Abhimanyu's next words struck Neil deeply.
"I was wrong about Aarohi," Abhimanyu said quietly. "I thought she wasn't the right person for you, but I see now how much she loved you. She always said she couldn't love anyone else. She waited for you, hoping you would come back."
They drove to the Birla house, the familiar sight of the grand gates coming into view. Neil's heart raced with anticipation and anxiety. This house had once been a symbol of his hopes and dreams, a place where he had envisioned building a life with Aarohi and their child. Now, as he approached it, he was filled with a desperate hope to see them again.
When Manjari opened the door, her face was a mix of shock and disbelief. The sight of Neil, who had been presumed dead, was overwhelming. "Neil..." she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. The reunion between mother and son was poignant, filled with tears and heartfelt embraces. Manjari clung to Neil, her emotions a blend of joy and sorrow.
Neil's heart ached as he saw the woman who had mourned him as lost. But his thoughts quickly shifted to Aarohi and their child. "Ma, where are Aarohi and Ruhi? I need to see them. I need to be with my family."
Manjari's expression changed, a shadow of sorrow crossing her face. She hesitated, as though grappling with how to deliver the difficult news. "Aarohi... she left. She couldn't stay here any longer."
Neil's heart sank. "What do you mean she left? Why would she leave? I'm here now. We can be together again."
Manjari's eyes were filled with sadness as she continued. "After you went missing, Aarohi was heartbroken. She wanted to tell Ruhi about you, but I wouldn't allow it. I thought it would be too painful for her, and I didn't want to give her false hope. But Aarohi couldn't bear the silence and the pain. She decided to leave, thinking that starting a new somewhere else would be better for her and Ruhi."
Neil struggled to process this information. The vision he had held onto-of a joyful reunion with his wife and child-was slipping away. The reality of their absence hit him hard, and he felt as though his world was collapsing.
Despite the crushing disappointment, Neil's determination did not waver. His love for Aarohi and Ruhi was stronger than the pain of their absence. He couldn't give up on the family he had fought so hard to return to.
"Where did they go, Ma?" Neil asked, his voice steady despite the turmoil inside him. "I need to find Aarohi. I need to make things right."
Manjari took a deep breath, her expression compassionate yet filled with regret. "Aarohi went to Jaipur to be with her family. She thought it would be easier for Ruhi to be away from this place, where every corner is a reminder of you."
Neil nodded, his resolve hardening. He knew that finding Aarohi and Ruhi would be a difficult journey, but he was prepared to face any challenge. He would not let this opportunity slip away. He would fight to rebuild the life he had envisioned with them.
As Neil prepared to leave, he took one last look around the Birla house, the place that had once symbolized his dreams for a future with his family. The house now seemed empty and hollow, a stark reminder of what he had lost. But as he stepped into the world beyond, he carried with him a renewed sense of purpose. His family was out there, and he would do whatever it took to bring them back home.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
