Heartbeats and Boardrooms

twenty

The car lurched forward as Yuvraj pressed down on the gas, weaving between lanes and running a red light without hesitation. His eyes were fixed on the road, yet somewhere else entirely, panic widening his gaze. Vidhi's heart thumped in sync with his urgency, the silent desperation in his face so raw that she could almost feel it herself.

She had seen Yuvraj in all sorts of moods-calm, charming, angry. But this... this was new. His grip on the wheel was white-knuckled, jaw clenched, and there was a glimmer of something so childlike in his eyes. Vulnerability. A fear that, no matter how fast he drove, he wouldn't reach his father in time.

As they sped past another car, Vidhi rested a hand on his arm, squeezing gently. It was the only thing she could do, though it felt almost too small. She didn't speak; she knew he wouldn't want to hear reassurances, not while his mind spun with dread. Instead, she let her hand linger, grounding him in the present.

Memories of her last conversation with his father surfaced-how he'd stubbornly insisted he didn't want surgery, didn't want to live his remaining years tangled in hospital beds and machines. And while Vidhi respected his decision, she could see the toll it had taken on Yuvraj and his family, the helplessness etched deep in their lives.

Minutes passed in tense silence as they pulled up to the Malhotra house. Yuvraj barely waited for the car to stop before he jumped out, Vidhi following quickly. He led her up the driveway, almost as if his mother's urgent call was still ringing in his ears.

Inside, Mrs. Malhotra was waiting, her expression a curious mixture of calm and something else-was it nervousness? Before Yuvraj could even get a word out, he demanded, "Is Dad okay?"

His mother's face softened, and she shook her head slightly, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Yes, he's fine. He's resting."

Yuvraj blinked, caught off guard. Relief flooded his features, his shoulders sagging as he exhaled a deep breath. Vidhi, standing just behind him, felt the tension melt away as she watched him visibly relax.

"Then... why did you ask us to come? You sounded-" He paused, searching for the right word. "It sounded urgent."

His mother's gaze flickered over to Vidhi, lingering for a moment. "I realized I've never invited Vidhi for a proper dinner with us," she said quietly, almost as though the words surprised her too. "I thought tonight would be... a good time."

Yuvraj's brow furrowed, glancing at Vidhi, who looked equally confused. This wasn't like his mother-she'd always been lukewarm, at best, about Vidhi. This change, this sudden invitation, seemed almost surreal.

"Mom..." he began, his voice hesitant, laced with disbelief. "You scared us half to death. You know how worried I am about Dad. You could have just... told me."

Mrs. Malhotra's eyes softened, and there was a hint of guilt in her expression as she met Yuvraj's gaze. "I'm sorry, beta. I didn't mean to alarm you." She looked to Vidhi, her voice gentle. "Vidhi, I... apologize if I've been distant. I've never taken the time to know you as I should."

Vidhi's eyes widened, a flicker of surprise crossing her face as she processed the unexpected words. "It's... okay, aunty," she said slowly, unsure of how else to respond.

Yuvraj watched his mother for a beat, his brows drawing together. "What changed?" he asked, his voice soft but curious.

She took a breath, looking down as if gathering her thoughts. "I see how much she means to you. And tonight, seeing how you reacted..." She paused, glancing briefly at Vidhi with an expression almost of respect. "I realized maybe I've been unfair."

For a moment, the three of them stood in silence, each processing the shift that had just taken place. Yuvraj looked at his mother with a mix of gratitude and disbelief, his emotions tangled but softened. He finally broke the silence with a small, relieved laugh, running a hand through his hair.