In The Hands Of Fate

Chapter 8

Akshara ran through the narrow lanes of the neighborhood, her heart pounding as fast as her feet hit the pavement. The shouts and jeers from her neighbors echoed in her ears, growing louder with each passing second. They were relentless, fueled by the baseless accusations against her family. The fear of being cornered, of being unable to defend herself or her loved ones, drove her to run faster, her breath coming in ragged gasps.

But no matter how fast she ran, she couldn't escape the hostility. "Liar!" "Murderer!" "You and your family deserve this!" The cruel words chased her, cutting through her like knives. She could feel their anger, their judgment, burning into her back.

In her panic, Akshara darted across the street without looking, desperate to find a safe place. But as she did, she suddenly heard the screech of tires and the blare of a car horn. Time seemed to slow down as she turned her head, just in time to see a car hurtling toward her. Her eyes widened in shock, and she froze, unable to move as the car came closer and closer.

The driver, Ruhi, slammed on the brakes, her heart leaping into her throat as she watched the woman in front of her. The car skidded to a halt, but not before knocking Akshara to the ground. Ruhi's eyes widened in horror as she realized who it was—Akshara, the woman she'd spent years resenting.

For a moment, Ruhi was paralyzed, her mind reeling from the shock. But then, instinct took over. She threw open the car door and rushed to Akshara's side, kneeling down beside her. "Oh my God," Ruhi whispered, her hands trembling as she reached out to check Akshara's pulse. "Please, please be okay."

Akshara groaned softly, her eyes fluttering open. She tried to sit up, but the pain in her body forced her back down. "Don't move," Ruhi said quickly, her voice surprisingly gentle despite the storm of emotions raging inside her. "I'm going to get you to the hospital."

Without wasting another second, Ruhi carefully helped Akshara into the back seat of her car. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, a mix of fear, guilt, and confusion swirling within her. Once Akshara was safely inside, Ruhi sped off, driving as fast as she dared to the nearest hospital.

As they reached the hospital, Ruhi jumped out and called for help. Nurses and doctors rushed over with a stretcher, quickly assessing Akshara's condition. Ruhi watched, her heart in her throat, as they wheeled Akshara inside.

"Please take care of her," Ruhi called after them, her voice tight with worry.

When the emergency doors swung shut, Ruhi took a shaky breath and pulled out her phone. She needed to let someone know what had happened, but she didn't know who to call. She wasn't exactly close to Akshara's family—if anything, she had spent most of her life keeping her distance from them. But this was different. This wasn't about the past or the complicated web of emotions that tied them together. This was about saving a life.

After a moment's hesitation, Ruhi dialed Mansi. When Mansi picked up, Ruhi quickly explained what had happened. "I— I didn't mean to, Mansi," Ruhi stammered, her voice shaky. "It was an accident, but she's at the hospital now. They're taking care of her."

Mansi was quiet for a moment, processing the information. Then she asked, "Do you know how to reach her family? They should be informed right away."

Ruhi bit her lip, realizing the gravity of the situation. She knew Abhira was Akshara's daughter, but she had never interacted with her before. She had kept her distance from anyone connected to Akshara, preferring to live in her own world. But now, she had no choice.

"Mansi, do you have any contact information for her family?" Ruhi asked, her voice steadier now, though her heart was still racing.

Mansi quickly searched through her contacts, then sent Abhira's number to Ruhi. "Here it is. Call her and let her know. I'll come to the hospital as soon as I can."

With a deep breath, Ruhi dialed the number, her fingers trembling slightly as she waited for the call to connect. She had no idea how Abhira would react or what she would say, but she knew she had to do this.

On the other end of the line, Abhira was still processing the events of the past few days when her phone rang. She glanced at the unknown number on the screen, hesitating for a moment before answering. "Hello?"

"Hi... um... Abhira?" Ruhi's voice came through the line, uncertain and strained.

"Yes, who is this?" Abhira asked, frowning slightly. She didn't recognize the voice.

"It's... it's Ruhi. Ruhi Birla. I— I'm sorry to call you like this, but there's been an accident," Ruhi said, her words coming out in a rush. "Your mom, Akshara, she... she was hurt, and I brought her to the hospital. She's stable, but you should come quickly."

Abhira's heart skipped a beat, her grip tightening on her phone. "What? My mom— What happened?"

"It's a long story, but she's at the hospital now," Ruhi replied, trying to keep her voice calm. "Please, just come as soon as you can. She needs you."

"I'm on my way," Abhira said, her voice shaking as she ended the call. She grabbed her bag and rushed out the door, her mind racing. She didn't know who this Ruhi was, or why she had her mother's number, but that didn't matter right now. All that mattered was getting to her mom.

As Ruhi hung up the phone, she leaned against the wall, her mind a whirlwind of thoughts. She had just spoken to Abhira—Akshara's daughter, someone she had never met but had always felt a strange connection to. And now, they were about to meet under the most unexpected and unfortunate circumstances.

Ruhi couldn't help but wonder how this would change things. Would this be the start of something new, or just another painful chapter in the story of their lives? She didn't have the answers, but she knew one thing for sure—nothing would ever be the same after today.