His Forced Bride

23. Emergency

Rohini's POV: 

The day began with a flurry of activity in the house as Maa prepared for an elaborate Muh Dikhayi lunch.

 Aditya's bua, Kavita, had decided to extend her visit by a few days, much to everyone's dismay. Her constant snide remarks and nitpicking had cast a cloud over what should have been a happy time for our new family.

I found myself in the kitchen helping Maa with the final preparations. Kavita bua hovered nearby, her tone saccharine but her intent sharp.

 "Rohini, you must be careful. These rich households are not like the ones you're used to," she said, her voice dripping with condescension. I forced a smile, choosing not to engage.

Sonal stepped out for a moment to oversee the table arrangements, leaving me alone with Kavita Bua. I focused on the kadhai of boiling oil in front of me, hoping the task would distract me from her presence.

"You know," she began, her voice closer now, "this family deserves perfection. Aditya deserves perfection. Are you sure you're ready for this responsibility?"

Her words stung, but before I could respond, I felt her elbow brush against mine. The next thing I knew, the ladle in my hand slipped, and the scorching hot oil splattered onto my left hand. A searing pain shot through me, and I cried out, instinctively pulling my hand back.

"Oh dear! Look at that!" Kavita bua exclaimed, her voice feigning concern but her face betraying a hint of satisfaction. "I told you to be careful. You should've let someone more experienced handle this."

The pain was unbearable, but her words added salt to the wound. My vision blurred as I tried to steady myself, the kitchen spinning around me. The last thing I remembered was Kavita Bua's voice calling out dramatically, "Sonal! Come quick! There's been an accident!" before everything went dark.

Still Rohini's POV: 

When I opened my eyes next, I was lying on a hospital bed. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed faintly, and the sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air. My hand throbbed painfully, bandaged and immobilized.

Maa was sitting beside me, her face etched with worry. When she saw me stirring, she let out a breath of relief. 

"Thank God, Rohini! You scared us all. How are you feeling?"

I tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in my hand stopped me. "What... happened?"

"You fainted from the pain," she said, her voice trembling slightly.

"When I came running into the kitchen, you were on the floor. I called for help immediately. We're at the hospital now, and the doctors are monitoring you closely."

Just then, the door burst open, and Aditya rushed in, followed closely by Dad. Aditya's face was a mixture of anger and worry, his usual composure was completely shattered.

"Rohini!" he said, hurrying to my side. His eyes softened as he knelt beside me, carefully taking my uninjured hand in his. 

"Why didn't anyone call me sooner? Are you okay? What happened?"

"I'm fine," I managed, my voice weak. "It was just an accident."

"Accident?" Aditya's eyes narrowed, his jaw tightening as he turned to his mother.

"How did this even happen, Maa? Who was with her?"

Sonal hesitated, glancing at me before replying. "Kavita was there. She said Rohini slipped while handling the oil."

Aditya's expression darkened, and his father placed a steadying hand on his shoulder.

"Aditya, let's focus on Rohini's recovery first," Dad said firmly, though his own worry was evident.

A doctor entered the room, breaking the tense silence.

"Mr. Kapoor, we've examined your wife's injuries. The burns are second-degree, which are serious and require immediate care. She's also severely dehydrated, likely due to stress and overexertion. She'll need close monitoring to ensure the burns heal without complications."

"Close monitoring? What complications are we talking about?" Aditya's voice was sharp, his protective instincts on full display.

"Burns can lead to infections if not treated properly," the doctor explained. "She needs rest, proper hydration, and regular dressing changes. We'll keep her under observation for the next 24 hours."

Aditya nodded, his expression grim. "Do whatever it takes. Just make sure she's okay."

Once the doctor left, Aditya turned to me, his anger barely contained. 

"Why were you even handling the oil? You're supposed to be resting, not working yourself to exhaustion."

"It's not her fault," Sonal interjected, guilt evident in her tone. "I stepped out for just a moment, and—"

"It's not your fault either, Ma," Aditya said, his voice softening slightly. "But I need to have a word with Bua."

He stood abruptly, his fists clenched, and Dad followed him out, clearly understanding his son's intentions.

Thanks for reading<3 

I know it's a pretty small chapter but honestly, I didn't have anything else to write here. But I promise the next chapter will be interesting. 

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Yours Sugar.