Together Forever

Chapter 12

Anika's POV

Today, I was standing in front of Uday's house, my heart racing for reasons I couldn't fully understand. Nervousness crept over me as I considered turning back, but I shook the thought away. No, I had to do this. With a deep breath, I rang the bell.

The door opened, and Uday's father stood there, his familiar, kind face greeting me.

"Oh, Anika!" he said warmly.

"Hello, uncle," I replied, offering a small smile.

"Come, beta, come inside," he gestured, stepping aside to let me in.

I nodded and stepped into the house, noticing how spacious and elegant it was. Every corner seemed to reflect a sense of warmth and homeliness, yet I couldn't help but feel a little out of place. My hands clutched the bag of fruits tightly as I looked around.

A moment later, Uday's mother appeared from another room, her face lighting up when she saw me.

"Oh, Anika, it's you!" she exclaimed, her voice carrying the same affection I had grown accustomed to.

"Namaste, aunty," I greeted her, offering her a smile. I held out the bag. "I brought some fruits for Uday."

She walked over to me, her eyes soft with gratitude. "Thank you, beta. You really didn't have to."

"It's nothing," I assured her. "How is Uday now?"

"He's much better today," Uday's mother said, glancing towards the hallway leading to his room. "He's resting. You can go see him. He'll like it—he's been bored just sitting in his room."

"Isn't Nitya home?" I asked, trying to gauge the situation.

"No, she had some work," she replied, then smiled warmly. "You should go in and talk to Uday. It'll lift his spirits too. I'll get something for you to eat."

"No, no, aunty, there's no need for that," I quickly said, shaking my head. "You should rest. Please, don't trouble yourself."

She gave me a small nod.

Taking a deep breath, I made my way towards Uday's room. With a hesitant knock, I waited, my heart racing again.

"It's open," came his voice from inside.

I entered the room quietly, unsure of how to break the silence. "Umm, Uday?" I called softly.

His eyes fluttered open immediately, locking onto mine. A smile spread across his face, as if seeing me had somehow brightened his day. "Anika," he said, his voice warm and welcoming.

I stood there, feeling a strange mixture of relief and nervousness wash over me. "How are you feeling now?" I asked, taking a tentative step closer to his bed.

"Better," he said with a smile. "Now that you're here, even better."

I couldn't help but smile a little. "That's good. I... I brought some fruits for you," I said, holding up the bag.

"Thanks, but you didn't have to," he said, still smiling. "Come sit. Don't just stand there awkwardly."

I hesitated for a moment before walking over and sitting on the chair next to his bed. "I didn't know if I should come," I admitted, keeping my eyes on the floor.

"Why?" he asked, his tone softening.

I glanced up at him, feeling a surge of emotions I hadn't quite processed yet. "I just... I still feel responsible for what happened. You got hurt because of me, Uday."