Ojasvi
I opened my eyes slowly, my body aching with every breath. The faint sound of someone’s voice reached my ears.
"She is awake."
Blinking a few times, I made out Badi Ma's familiar, worried face in front of me.
"How are you, bachha? Are you okay now? Any discomfort or pain?" Her voice was soft, laced with concern.
I shook my head slightly, trying to focus through the haze of pain, but then the memory of what had happened before I fainted hit me with full force. My heart raced.
"Vedant!" I gasped, forcing myself to sit up despite the sharp pains in my body.
"Ojasvi, beta, calm down! They're all safe. Don't worry," Badi Ma said, gently holding me to keep me from getting out of bed.
"Vedant, Arhaan Bhai, Eesha... where are they? I need to see them!" I pleaded, my voice trembling as tears threatened to spill from my eyes.
Her expression faltered as she spoke, her voice tinged with sadness. "Eesha and Vedant haven't woken up yet, and Arhaan is resting now."
My chest tightened. "Please, I need to see them," I begged, the tears I had been holding back streaming down my face.
Bade Papa walked in with a doctor, trying to convince me to rest, but I couldn't.
I couldn’t stay here while Vedant was still unconscious. "Please... I need to see them," I repeated, my voice breaking under the weight of my emotions.
They could only nod in helpless agreement. After a brief check-up, I made my way to the guest room.
As I opened the door, I saw Ma sitting by Vedant’s side, silently crying.
She turned when she heard the door creak open and rushed towards me, her tears flowing freely.
"Ojasvi... mera baccha... tu theek hai na?" Ma enveloped me in a tight embrace, her sobs muffled against my shoulder.
"I’m fine, Ma," I whispered, but my heart was heavy. "How is Vedant?"
"He still hasn’t woken up... Why did this happen to my children? To all of you?" Ma cried out, her voice filled with despair.
Badi Ma gently guided her away to comfort her, and I was left alone with Vedant.
My legs felt weak as I walked towards the bed, my eyes locking onto his face.
He was wrapped in bandages, and a drip was attached to his hand.
Seeing him like this broke something inside me. Tears cascaded down my cheeks uncontrollably as I sat beside him, gently holding his other hand—the one free from medical equipment.
"Vedant, please... please wake up," I whispered through the tears, my voice shaking. "I can’t see you like this... I feel so suffocated, seeing you like this."
The guilt clawed at me, each breath heavier than the last. "Maybe my father was right... maybe I am a broom star. I bring bad luck to everyone I care about, and now you and your family are like this because of me."
I clutched his hand tighter, my tears blurring my vision. "I’ll leave, Vedant... I’ll go far away, so my bad luck doesn’t hurt you anymore. Just... please wake up. I can't do this without you..."
Memories of my dark past was coming to me. I don't want to lose him. I don't want to lose Vedant.
I cried until exhaustion overtook me, my head resting beside him as I held onto his hand for dear life.
After what felt like hours, Badi Ma woke me gently, asking me to eat something.
At first, I refused—I didn’t want to leave Vedant’s side—but she reminded me that Vedant wouldn’t want to see me like this. Reluctantly, I agreed.
Before eating, I visited Eesha’s room. Bade Papa and Papa were there.
They reassured me that Eesha only had minor injuries and would wake up soon. I made them promise to call me the moment she did.
Then, I went to Arhaan Bhai’s room. He was sitting up, bandages around his torso, speaking on the phone.
As soon as he saw me, he ended the call and gestured for me to sit beside him.
"Ojasvi, how are you?" His voice was gentle, but I could see the concern in his eyes.
"I’m okay," I replied quietly, though the lump in my throat betrayed my words.
Arhaan Bhai smiled softly, trying to reassure me. "I know this has been hard, but don’t worry. This won’t happen again. I promise you, I’ll protect all of you."
His words, meant to comfort, only made me cry harder. How could he be so calm? I had brought this curse upon them.
He gently patted my head, his touch comforting. "You have to take care of yourself, too, Ojasvi. You can’t help them if you don’t eat or rest."
I shook my head. "I’m fine," I lied, though the emptiness gnawed at me from inside.
Before I left, he asked if I remembered anything about the incident.
The only thing I recalled was a person with striking green eyes who had knocked down the attacker before everything went black.
Arhaan Bhai nodded thoughtfully, but told me not to dwell on it for now, insisting that I eat something and regain my strength.
I left his room, my heart heavy with worry, guilt, and the overwhelming sense that I was a curse to the people I loved.
