His Wife

Chapter 7

Advika's POV

Standing at the hospital's reception desk, I stared down at the final discharge form, my heart racing with a mix of relief and excitement. After all the chaos, the late-night hospital visits, and endless worrying, Papa was finally being discharged. The thought alone made me exhale a long, contented breath.

The doctor approached, clipboard in hand, looking as calm and composed as ever. "Miss Rathore, just a few more signatures here," he said, handing me the form. I nodded, quickly scribbling my name where necessary.

"Remember, the nurse will come daily for the bandage change. Your father needs complete rest, and follow the medication schedule strictly." He handed me a detailed prescription list with all of Papa's medications neatly organized.

I thanked him, folding the paper and placing it in my bag. As I made my way back to the VIP ward, my mind buzzed with thoughts of getting Papa home and settling back into normal life. I pushed open the door, and there he was—sitting up in bed with a wide grin, his eyes sparkling like a little kid's.

"Beta, did they say I can leave?" he asked eagerly.

"Yes, Papa, you're being discharged today!" I said, my voice filled with the joy I felt.

His face lit up even more, as if someone had just told him he'd won the lottery. "Finally! No more tasteless hospital food. I thought I'd never see the day!"

I laughed, shaking my head. "Papa, you only spent a few days here, and they were taking good care of you."

"Good care? Bah! They were trying to starve me to death with that boiled nonsense they called food. If I had to eat one more bowl of that flavorless soup, I'd have staged a protest!" He crossed his arms, pouting dramatically like a child. "And don't even get me started on those boiled vegetables! Even you wouldn't survive that, Advika."

I chuckled. "Papa, it wasn't that bad. You just miss your sweets."

He wagged a finger at me. "Miss my sweets? Beta, I miss real food! Your cooking is passable, but hospital food? Torture! You might as well have been feeding me cardboard."

I couldn't help but laugh louder. "Okay, Papa, enough complaints. You'll be back home soon, and I'll make sure you get whatever you want."

"Good! Because I plan to eat my halwa the moment we get home," he declared, puffing his chest as if he were ready for a feast.

Just as we were chatting, my phone buzzed in my pocket. It was Meera Aunty—Rajveer's mother. I hesitated for a second before answering.

"Hello, Aunty."

"Advika beta, how is your father now? I hope everything's alright?" Meera Aunty's voice was full of warmth, as always.

"Yes, Aunty, he's doing much better. We're just about to leave the hospital."

"That's wonderful news! I was actually calling to invite both of you to dinner tonight at the Shekhawat mansion. We'd love to celebrate his recovery."

My first instinct was to politely decline. "Aunty, that's so kind of you, but I don't want to impose. Papa just got discharged, and I think it might be too much—"

"Nonsense, beta! It's no imposition. We're family, after all. It will do your father good to be around loved ones, and besides, I've already started cooking," she said with a laugh, her tone making it clear that she wouldn't take no for an answer.

I sighed, smiling. "Alright, Aunty, we'll be there."

As I hung up the phone, I turned to Papa, who was looking at me expectantly. "Papa, Meera Aunty invited us to dinner tonight at the Shekhawat mansion."