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My heart pounded in my chest as I rushed into the hospital, barely aware of my surroundings. I reached the reception desk, breathless and desperate.
“Excuse me, can you tell me where Ritvik Sinha is?” I asked, my voice trembling slightly.
The receptionist gave me a sympathetic look. “He’s on the third floor, ICU. Go straight, then turn left.”
I nodded, murmuring a quick “thank you” before hurrying down the hallway. As I reached the ICU waiting area, I saw Ritvik’s mother, his sister Aarya, and his grandmother. His mother was seated, her face buried in her hands as quiet sobs shook her shoulders, while his grandmother clutched her hand, her own eyes red from crying. Aarya stood beside them, her face pale and filled with worry.
Taking a deep breath, I walked over to them, feeling a tight knot forming in my chest. I gently touched his mother’s shoulder.
“Aunty… how is he? What… what happened?” I asked softly, not wanting to add to her pain but desperate to know.
Aarya looked at me, her voice low and shaky as she explained, “He was on his way home when… when a car suddenly hit his car from the side. The impact pushed his car into a truck on the other lane, causing a serious collision.” She paused, her eyes filling with fresh tears as she struggled to continue. “It… it was bad.”
I swallowed, trying to process the horrifying image her words painted. “I’m so sorry… I can’t believe this,” I whispered, sinking down beside them. I reached over and took Ritvik’s mother’s hand, hoping that my presence might offer her some comfort, even though I felt as helpless as she did.
Time seemed to drag on endlessly as we sat in that waiting area. I texted my mom, letting her know about the accident and that I’d be late. Her reply came almost instantly, filled with concern: “Take care, beta. I’m here if you need anything.”
I sighed, feeling a mixture of sadness and exhaustion as I leaned back in my seat. Minutes stretched into hours, each one heavier than the last, as we waited for any news about Ritvik’s condition. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the doors to the operating room opened, and a doctor stepped out, removing his mask as he approached us.
Ritvik’s mother and grandmother immediately stood up, their eyes full of anxious hope.
“Doctor, how is he?” his mother asked, her voice trembling.
The doctor gave a small reassuring smile. “He’s out of danger. The surgery went well, but he’s still under medication. He’ll be conscious soon, but he needs rest.”
Relief washed over all of us like a wave. I let out a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.
“Thank you, Doctor,” his mother whispered, her hands clasped together in gratitude.
After the doctor left, I got up to get some tea and biscuits for his family, hoping it might give them some small comfort after such a terrifying ordeal. When I returned, I handed the tea to his mother, who looked at me gratefully.
“Thank you, beta,” she said softly, taking a sip.
We sat quietly, sipping our tea, the silence between us now filled with a bit of relief. It was almost an hour later when we heard one of the nurses say that Ritvik was waking up. We all stood up, our hearts beating faster as we prepared to see him.
One by one, we entered his room, keeping our steps quiet. Ritvik was lying on the hospital bed, looking pale but awake, his eyes slowly moving over each of us. His gaze finally settled on me, and for a brief moment, a sense of calm washed over me. He was okay. He was here.
I took a tentative step forward and smiled softly. “Hey… how are you feeling?”
He blinked, his brows furrowing in confusion. A strange expression crossed his face, one that made my heart sink.
“Who… who are you?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
The room fell silent, his question hanging heavily in the air. I felt my smile falter, a hollow ache spreading through my chest.
“Ritvik, it’s… it’s me, Rashmi,” I said, my voice shaking slightly as I searched his face for any sign of recognition.
But his eyes remained distant, filled with confusion, as he looked at me like I was a stranger. I tried to speak, to ask him if he remembered, but my throat closed up, and no words came out.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
I turned to leave but suddenly he laughed in weak voice, I again turned to him " Ayyy, I was joking i can't forget you, never" his mother pulled his nose. He whinnied and rubbed his nose.
I still can't believe.
"Rashmi, I'm sorry, hey?" He said in weak voice. I looked away and sat on couch in corner of the room.
"M...mom why do you women's have such habit to get angry on little little things" he looked at me and asked his mother. His mother crassed his head and said " because you man never understand our worries you just make fun of our feelings, my child. And if we joked about something you man got hurt and shout but we women's can't even express our feelings so we turn silent, now leave this all and sleep."
She stood up from the stool then his grandmother kissed on head and cried, "beta, kitni baar bola hain aaram se chala karo, humari liye tum hi humari dhaal ho tum ese karoge toh hum kaise jiyenge" he got tears in his eyes and hugged his grandmother. "Sorry, dadi now I will drive safely"
I quietly left the room not to disturb there family time and sat on bench outside the room. Today I felt something different, tightness in my chest it hurts me. Am I falling in love with him? Or I'm sick? Yes maybe I'm sick...
