In the heart of chaos

Chapter 25

The night was unusually quiet at the Birla mansion. Akshara was sitting on the couch, holding Aarav in her lap as he played with his toys, his innocent giggles filling the room. But something in the air felt off—Akshara couldn't shake the unease that had settled deep within her.

Abhimanyu walked in, noticing the tension in his wife's face. "Akshu, is everything okay?" he asked, concern lacing his voice.

She gave a forced smile, brushing Aarav's hair softly. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... tired."

Before they could continue, Harsh Birla entered the room with a grim expression. He hesitated for a moment, then said, "Abhi, Akshu, I need to talk to you both. It's about Aarav."

Akshara immediately tensed. Abhimanyu's brows furrowed as he gestured for Harsh to sit. "What's wrong, Dad?"

Harsh sighed, looking at Aarav with a sad expression. "I've reviewed the tests. There's a mass—a tumor. Aarav has a brain tumor."

The words hit Akshara like a ton of bricks. She held Aarav tighter, her heart racing as panic surged through her. "No... no, that can't be true," she whispered, tears already welling up in her eyes.

Abhimanyu clenched his fists, his face growing pale. "How bad is it?" he asked, his voice low.

Harsh shook his head. "It's serious, Abhi. But we've caught it early. He needs surgery, and it needs to be done soon."

Akshara's voice cracked as she asked, "Who will do the surgery?"

Harsh's expression grew even more grave. "Most of the senior neurosurgeons are abroad right now for the medical conference, including your go-to surgeons. But..." He paused, hesitating.

"But what?" Abhimanyu pressed, impatient.

Harsh took a deep breath. "Aarohi Goenka is here. She's one of the best, and she's available. She can handle this surgery."

At the mention of Aarohi's name, the room fell into a tense silence. Akshara's tears slowed as she processed the words. Aarohi? The same Aarohi who had left their lives in shambles? The same Aarohi who had been at odds with them for years?

Abhimanyu's jaw tightened, his ego and pride clashing with his duty as a father. "Aarohi?" he repeated, his tone incredulous. "You think I'm going to ask her to operate on my son?"

"She's the best we have right now, Abhi," Harsh said firmly. "You may not like it, but this isn't about ego. This is about saving Aarav's life."

Akshara's mind was racing. She knew Aarohi was brilliant—she'd heard the stories, seen her accomplishments—but asking her for help? After everything that had happened between them? It felt impossible.

Abhimanyu shook his head. "No, we'll wait. We'll find someone else."

Harsh stared at him in disbelief. "Wait? Abhi, this isn't something we can delay. Aarav's condition could worsen by the hour."

Akshara looked at Abhimanyu, her voice shaky. "Abhi... maybe we should just ask her."

Abhimanyu snapped, "You want me to go begging to Aarohi after everything she's done? After everything we've said and done to her?"

Akshara bit her lip, her heart torn between her pride and her fear for her son. "This is about Aarav. Not us. Not our past."

Harsh stood up, his patience wearing thin. "You can't let your pride come before your son's life. Aarohi's personal life has nothing to do with her skills as a doctor. She is the best option right now, and you know it."

Abhimanyu turned away, his fists clenched as he battled his inner turmoil. He couldn't bear the thought of relying on Aarohi, of admitting they needed her. But at the same time, he couldn't deny the truth—Aarav's life was at stake.

Akshara wiped her tears and stood up, her resolve hardening. "We'll think about it," she said quietly, her voice filled with determination. "But we need time."

Harsh gave them a stern look. "You don't have time. If you want Aarav to have the best chance, you need to make this decision soon. You know where to find me when you're ready to put your pride aside."

With that, Harsh left the room, leaving Abhimanyu and Akshara standing in silence, the weight of their dilemma pressing down on them.

Akshara sank back onto the couch, pulling Aarav close to her, as if holding him tighter could protect him from the terrifying reality they now faced. "Abhi... we can't let this drag on."

Abhimanyu's face was a mixture of anger and helplessness. He paced the room, unable to sit still, his mind racing with conflicting emotions. "She's not the only surgeon in the world, Akshu."

"But she's here," Akshara said softly. "She's the best we've got. And if something happens to Aarav because we waited too long... I won't be able to forgive myself."

Abhimanyu stopped pacing and looked at Akshara, his eyes full of pain. He knew she was right. He knew this wasn't about them. But the idea of going to Aarohi—of admitting they needed her help—felt like swallowing glass.

"I'll think about it," he muttered, avoiding her gaze.

Akshara nodded, though her heart felt heavy. They didn't have time to think. Tomorrow was already too late.