Through Time And Expectations

Tense

It had been a few hours since we were sitting outside the OT. The silence of the hospital at nearly 5 AM was deafening, with only the occasional shuffle of nurses and the beeping of machines from nearby rooms cutting through the tension. Luv sat beside me, his head resting heavily on my shoulder, eyes staring blankly ahead, as if lost in some faraway thought. His usual carefree self had all but disappeared in the hours we had been waiting.

Maitri chachi sat across from us, her head tilted back against the cold, sterile wall. Her eyes were closed, but her face was creased with worry lines as if trying to hold back the flood of emotions. She hadn't said much since we arrived, except for small updates, and even now, she looked defeated, tired. Dad had been here until a few minutes ago, answering calls from the endless stream of relatives and friends who had heard about Dadu's heart attack.

I couldn't stop thinking about the phone call I had made an hour ago. I had dialed Lakshya after Maitri chachi asked me to try reaching him, as she couldn't get through. They were both traveling for business-Lakshya and Chachu-but I had no idea where exactly they were. After several failed attempts, I finally got through.

His voice was groggy, confused. "Who's this?" he asked, clearly not having my number saved.

"Lakshya, it's Krishvika," I replied, my voice a little shaky but trying to keep calm.

"Krishvika? Why are you calling?" His tone was casual, almost indifferent, and it stung. For a moment, I forgot the urgency of the situation, my heart sinking at the realization that he didn't even recognize my number. Why would he? After all, I was never more than someone in the background to him. But I shook off the thought, quickly explaining, *"Chachu's flight is still airborne, and none of us can get through to him...."

His tone shifted slightly. "What's going on...why do you need him?"

I took a deep breath, unsure how to tell him. "Lakshya... Dadu had a heart attack. He's in critical condition."

There was a pause, his silence more telling than any words. "What...is he okay? How's Mom and Luv?!" His voice was sharp, urgent now.

I told him they were holding up, and that he needed to get to Chandigarh as fast as possible. He told me that he was going to take the next flight and asked me to take care of everyone in the meantime. I agreed, but even as the words left my mouth, a pang hit my chest. No matter the situation, I couldn't help but notice how distant he felt. He didn't seem to care beyond the immediate concern.

Shaking my head, I forced myself to focus on the present, glancing over at Luv. He was still leaning into me, his shoulders slumped. Maitri chachi's eyes fluttered open as if sensing movement, but she remained silent, lost in her own thoughts. It was then that I noticed how lightly dressed they both were. The hospital's heating wasn't enough for the chill in the air.

I stood up quietly, shrugging off my jacket. "Chachi, please wear this."

She shook her head, protesting softly. "Beta, you'll feel cold."

I was about to insist when Luv backed me up, his usually playful face now dead serious. "Mummy... Please, wear it." His tone left no room for argument, and reluctantly, Chachi slipped it on.

Just as I sat back down, the red light above the OT switched off. My heart leapt into my throat. I gently nudged Luv awake. "The surgery's done," I whispered.

Luv immediately sat up, rubbing his eyes and glancing around. He rushed to wake up his mother, who stirred at his touch. We all stood up as the doctors slowly began filing out of the OT.

I could feel the tension mounting as we waited. Our eyes were glued to the door, hoping, praying for good news. Finally, the head surgeon stepped out-Mom. Even though her face was masked, I could see the weight of the past hours etched into her eyes.

Before Mom could say a word, a familiar voice cut through the tension.

"Mom?"

We all turned to see Lakshya, his tall frame looming at the end of the corridor. He had finally arrived. His presence alone seemed to break the icy tension that had gripped the room. Maitri chachi's eyes welled up with fresh tears upon seeing him. Without a second thought, Lakshya strode over and enveloped her in a tight hug.

"Don't worry, Ma. I'm here," he murmured, his deep voice a rare mix of comfort and command.

It was a rare sight to see Lakshya so vulnerable, so open. As he pulled back slightly, he looked directly at my mom, his jaw tense. "Chachi dadu kasie hain?"

Mom sighed deeply, her shoulders relaxing just a fraction. "The surgery was successful, but due to his age, Dadu is still in critical condition. We need him to respond well to the treatment. I'll be discussing the next steps with Rajeev bhaiya once he's here. For now, we'll move him to the ICU for observation."

We all exhaled a collective sigh of relief, though it was clear we weren't out of the woods yet.

Luv quickly moved toward Lakshya and their mother, wrapping his arms around both of them in a tight hug. It was a sweet moment, watching the three of them together, clinging to one another for strength. I couldn't help but smile softly at the sight. Chachi seemed to be coping better now that her elder son was here.

Lakshya glanced in my direction, his eyes locking with mine for the briefest moment. I couldn't read his expression-it was guarded, as always. But something about that look made my heart race despite everything else going on.

Even in the middle of this crisis, my mind betrayed me, wondering if Lakshya would ever see me the way I saw him. But I quickly shook the thought away. This wasn't the time.

"Krishvika, thanks for taking care of them," Lakshya said quietly, breaking the silence.

I nodded, my throat tight. "Of course."