Heyy Baby

Part 16

Back at the mandir, outside the prayer room

Anubhav stood at a distance, arms crossed over his chest, his jaw clenched. He refused to join in the prayers, his stubbornness rooted in pain and anger.

Amar (looking at him, voice filled with frustration):

"Anubhav, ab bhi waqt hai. Bhagwan se maang le. Karu hum sabki hai. Uske liye kuch karna padega." He wiped his eyes with the back of his hand.

Anubhav (coldly):

"Main kisi se kuch nahi maangne wala. Yeh sab farzi hai. Jo hona hoga, hoga."

St (tears streaming down her face):

"Kaise nahi maangoge, Anubhav? Karu hum sabke liye family thi. Tum uske liye kuch nahi karoge?" Her voice trembled with anger and sadness.

Santosh (angrily):

"Tumhe itna farak nahi padta kya? Karu ke bina sab kuch khatam ho jaayega. Tumhe yeh sab farzi lagta hai, par hum sab apne apne tareeke se usse wapas laane ki koshish kar rahe hain!"

Cheetah (quietly, his voice breaking):

"Humse galti hui thi, aur ab hum kuch bhi karne ke liye tayaar hain. Tu bhi usse itna pyaar karta tha... par abhi tumhe kya ho gaya hai, Anubhav?"

Anubhav remained silent, his face hard as stone. He couldn't bring himself to believe that prayers would change anything. His grief was eating him alive, and he felt powerless.

The others returned to their prayers, tears in their eyes, while Anubhav stood frozen, watching as each of them poured their hearts out to the gods, begging for a miracle.

As he stood there, his fists clenched, his heart waged a war of its own.

Morning Break:

By the time morning came, everyone was exhausted, but no one had left. Haseena hadn't slept at all, and Shivani had fallen asleep on Amar's shoulder. The doctors had said nothing had changed—Karu's condition remained critical. Her body was still fighting, but it wasn't enough. The machines kept beeping, but the rhythm was uneven, unsettling.

Then, suddenly, the monitor's beeping grew erratic. Dr. Maya rushed into the room, the team of doctors springing into action. The tension in the air was unbearable.

Haseena and the others were pushed out of the room, but Haseena's heart refused to let her move far. She stood at the door, her eyes glued to Karu's pale, unmoving form. "Plz, bacha lo usse... humare paas aur kuch nahi bacha."

The doors slammed shut in front of her, leaving them all waiting, praying, hoping for a miracle.

A Choice to Make:

After what felt like hours, Dr. Maya came out, her face drawn with exhaustion. "We've stabilized her for now, but... there's been more damage than we initially thought."

Haseena stepped forward, her voice shaking. "What does that mean? Kya wo theek ho jayegi?"

Dr. Maya hesitated. "We've managed to save her from the immediate threat, but her condition is extremely fragile. There's a high chance she may not wake up, and even if she does... she could be in a coma."

The room fell silent, the weight of those words crashing down like a tidal wave.

Shivani shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "Humne ye sab kya kar diya... ek masoom zindagi... humne barbaad kar di."

Amar slammed his fist against the wall, frustration etched on his face. "Yeh sab meri wajah se hua... agar humne use waha nahi choda hota..."

But it was Haseena who stepped forward, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside. "It's not too late. Wo abhi yaha hai. Agar hum haar gaye, to wo bhi haar jayegi. We have to keep fighting, for her."

The others nodded, but the doubt in their hearts remained. Could they really bring her back from the edge?

Scene: ICU – The Fight to Bring their Karu Back

The room was filled with the quiet hum of machines, each beep a painful reminder that KARU was barely holding on. Her small, fragile body lay on the bed, surrounded by wires and tubes, her face so pale it almost blended into the white sheets. The oxygen mask over her nose and mouth seemed too big for her delicate features. But what hurt the most was her stillness—the little girl who once filled their lives with chaos, now lying motionless, teetering between life and death.

The six stood at the door, staring at her. None of them had spoken for a long time. The weight of guilt, regret, and fear hung in the air like a suffocating cloud.

Haseena was the first to step forward. Her hands trembled as she reached for Karu's small hand, cradling it gently between her own. Her voice was soft, but it carried a desperation that was impossible to hide.

Haseena:

"Beta... humse bohot badi galti ho gayi. Hum... tumse door ho gaye, jab tumhe sabse zyada humari zarurat thi." She paused, her throat tightening with emotion. "Par ab hum tumhe kabhi akela nahi chhodenge. Kabhi bhi nahi. Bas... bas ek baar wapas aa jao."

A tear slipped down her cheek and fell onto Karu's hand, but there was no reaction. The stillness was unbearable. Haseena gripped her hand tighter, as if trying to transfer all her strength to the little girl who had stolen her heart.

She wiped her eyes quickly and stepped aside, letting Amar take her place. He cleared his throat, awkward in his own skin for once, his voice cracking as he knelt by Karu's bed.

Amar:

"Aree choti... tu kabse itni shaant ho gayi? Tu toh sabko tang karti thi, itni si baat pe sabko pareshan karti thi." He forced a laugh, though it was hollow. "Mujhe hamesha lagta tha ki teri energy kabhi khatam nahi hogi... aur aaj... tu yaha chup chap so rahi hai."

He wiped his face roughly, sniffling, and leaned closer. "Wapas aa ja na. Dekh, hum sab yaha hain. Tujhse bohot pyar karte hain, pagli. Humne galti ki, lekin tu waapas aayegi na? Hamesha ki tarah, sabko harake, tu apni marzi se wapas aa ja."

Still no movement. He bit his lip, trying to swallow the lump in his throat.

Shivani stepped forward next, her eyes red from crying. She sat down beside the bed, brushing Karu's hair away from her face gently.

Shivani:

"Chotu... please uth jao. Main tumhare bina kya Karungi? Tumhe pata hai na, tum mere bina kitni fights lose karti thi?" She smiled through her tears, though her voice wavered. "Woh Amar na, usse hamesha main tumhare liye samjhati thi. Hum dono best team the... tum hamesha mere side thi."

She glanced over at Amar, who was barely holding it together, before looking back at KARU. "Bas ek baar aankhein khol do, beta. Main tumhare saath phir se wo sare games khelungi. Tumhe us stupid Amar se jitwaungi. Tumse vaada karti hoon. Hum sab tumhare bina adhure hain."

Her hands lingered on Karu's arm, but when she didn't respond, Shivani pressed her lips together tightly, unable to continue. She motioned for Cheetah, who hesitated before coming forward.

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ENJOY!!!!!!