TRUE LOVE NEVER GIVES UP

Chapter-71: Coma

The hospital room was eerily quiet except for the rhythmic beeping of the machines that surrounded Nandini’s fragile form. As the doctors finally allowed everyone inside, there was an overwhelming weight in the air, a stillness that felt almost suffocating.

Manik was the first to step into the room. His feet moved mechanically as if they were not his own. His eyes were locked on Nandini’s face, pale and bruised under the harsh hospital lights. He felt like his entire world had collapsed. His chest tightened with every step he took closer to her. When he finally reached her bedside, he just stared at her, his face completely expressionless, his heart silently screaming inside.

There was no movement from him, no sound, not even a single tear. It was as though he had shut down completely, unable to process the overwhelming agony that clawed at him. He couldn’t even recognize the girl lying in front of him, the one who used to smile so brightly, whose eyes would light up his entire world.

Beside him, Vishakha moved with the same lifelessness. Her steps were slow, her face gaunt, her entire body slumped with despair. She stood next to Manik, her eyes fixed on Nandini’s motionless form, but she was somewhere far away, trapped in a nightmare from which there was no waking up. She didn’t say a word. How could she? What words could express the emptiness she felt?

Cabir and Navya entered next, and the sight of Nandini on the hospital bed shattered them. Navya’s tears came instantly, streaming down her face as she clutched Cabir’s arm for support. Her sobs broke the silence, soft but heart-wrenching. She leaned over Nandini, her hand shaking as she touched Nandini’s cold fingers.

“Nandini… please… please wake up,” Navya whispered through her tears. “Please… we need you. I need you.” Her voice cracked, and she buried her face in her hands, her sobs echoing in the room.

Cabir, usually so composed, was barely holding himself together. His eyes were red, his hands trembling as he tried to comfort Navya, but his own heart was breaking. He reached into his pocket and took out the small family photo he always kept with him, staring at it for a moment before placing it gently beside Nandini’s pillow.

“It’s you… my Trishu,” Cabir whispered, his voice hoarse. “I waited so long to find you, and now…” He swallowed the lump in his throat, his hand covering his mouth as his body shook with suppressed sobs. “Please wake up, sis. I can’t lose you again… not like this.”

In the corner, Bela and Mahir stood quietly, their tears falling freely. Bela held Vishakha’s hand, trying to offer some comfort, though her own heart was breaking. Mahir gently stroked Vishakha’s back, whispering soft words of reassurance, though none of them believed their own words.

Vikrant stood beside Soha, his arms wrapped around her as she cried silently, guilt and sorrow etched into her face. She didn’t know how to face anyone, especially Manik and Vishakha. She felt like she didn’t deserve to be in the same room, but she couldn’t leave either. She watched the pain around her and felt suffocated by it.

Dhruv, who had remained quiet, walked over to Manik after some time, gently placing a hand on his shoulder. “Manik… you need to go home for a while. Change your clothes, at least. You’re covered in blood.”

At those words, Manik stiffened, his jaw clenched tightly. His blood-stained clothes had long dried, the fabric sticking uncomfortably to his skin, but he didn’t care. The moment Dhruv mentioned leaving, a surge of fury rose inside him.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Manik muttered, his voice low and dangerous.

Dhruv looked at him carefully, trying to remain calm. “Manik, you need to take care of yourself. You can’t help her if—”

“I said I’m not going anywhere!” Manik roared, suddenly standing up, his hands balled into fists. His eyes were wild, filled with an intensity that none of them had seen before. “You want me to leave her here? How can you even ask me that?”