𝐓𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐫𝐞

𝟑𝟒. 𝐈 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞 𝐘𝐨𝐮

Ahaan sir's voice hits me like a bolt of lightning. He's saying something, his tone is rushed, shaky, but I can't process a word.

My ears are ringing, and my mind feels blank, like a heavy fog has settled in. All I could hear is a deafening ringing in my ear.

I blink, trying to focus, but my head feels light. My knees threaten to buckle. Then suddenly, I hear him. His voice punches me back to life, sharp and broken.

"....Maa... get Maa... and Eva—Evara..."

The line goes dead.

For a second, I just stay there, frozen, staring at the phone screen like it will give me answers. Then the panic sets in, cold and paralyzing.

I drop the phone onto the bed and stumble toward the door, my breathing uneven. My chest feels tight, and my hands won't stop shaking.

Move, Evara, just move.

I race down the stairs, my feet nearly tripping over themselves, and grab my car keys from the table. My heart is pounding so hard it drowns out everything else.

The world around me feels blurry, out of sync.

I'm out the door in seconds. The cold air hits my face, but I barely register it. My hands fumble with the car door as I yank it open, slide into the driver's seat, and start the engine.

The moment the car roars to life, I slam my foot on the accelerator. My thoughts are racing faster than the car.

"He'll be okay," I whisper to myself, over and over again, like a chant. "He'll be fine. He'll be fine."

Endless tears spill down my cheeks, blurring my vision. I wipe them away with one hand, gripping the steering wheel with the other. My knuckles turn white from the pressure.

The hospital comes into view, and I don't bother parking properly. The car stops to a halt, and I throw the door open without a second thought.

I'm running before I even realize it, dodging people, my breath coming out in short, sharp bursts.

I rush through the hallways, searching for a familiar face, a sign, anything. My heart is beating so fast I feel like it's going to give out.

I pull out my phone and try calling Ahaan sir. It rings once, twice, then goes to voicemail.

"Pick up, dammit!" I hiss, shoving the phone back into my pocket.

And then...

Then I see them.

Geetanjali ma'am is standing near a group of people. Her sharp features look more rigid than usual, her lips pressed into a thin line. Next to her is Atharv sir's mother.

There are others too, his family, but I don't focus on them. My eyes lock onto Ahaan sir, standing stiffly near two men. One of them, his father, looked eerily composed, as if he were holding back a storm.