Chapter 27

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A U T H O R

The dimly lit hospital corridor was drowning in a suffocating silence, punctuated only by the occasional sound of sobs. The air was thick with despair as the weight of the ticking clock grew heavier with each passing second.

Karanveer sat slumped on the bench, his head buried in his hands, his shoulders shaking with silent cries. His once vibrant face was now pale and worn from the endless stream of tears. Aarav stood nearby, pacing restlessly, his own face streaked with tears, while Yash sat beside Karanveer, trying and failing to console him.

Nikshant was in a corner, his knees drawn to his chest, hands clasped tightly as he whispered desperate prayers. His lips quivered as he repeated the same plea over and over again.

"Please, Cherry, open your eyes. Please don't leave us."

Yash, unable to watch the two men fall apart any longer, spoke up, his voice tinged with frustration and concern. "If you two want to ruin your health by crying, go ahead. But think about this: what will we tell Aaravi Bhabhi when she wakes up? What if she asks about you? Do you want to be admitted to the hospital yourselves?"

Aarav nodded in agreement, though his voice was heavy with his own grief. "Yash is right. We need to stay strong-for her."

Karanveer, however, seemed beyond reasoning. He raised his tear-filled eyes, his voice trembling as he asked, "Will... she... open her eyes before 24 hours?"

"Yes, she will," Nikshant replied, his tone hard and determined. His teeth clenched as if he were willing his words to manifest. "She has to open her eyes."

Karanveer's desperation only deepened. "Then why isn't she opening her eyes? The 24 hours are almost up, Nikshant. Why hasn't anything happened yet?"

The words echoed like a cruel reminder of their helplessness. The room fell into a tense, dreadful silence, the weight of the approaching deadline pressing down on them all.

An hour later, the ICU door opened, and the doctor stepped out, his face grave. Everyone rushed to him, their expressions a mixture of hope and fear.

"How is she, doctor? Did she respond?" Karanveer asked, his voice breaking.

The doctor hesitated before shaking his head slightly. "I've done my examination. Her vitals are stable, but..." He sighed deeply, the pause stretching unbearably. "She hasn't regained consciousness. I need to speak with you in my office, Mr.Sachdeva."

Karanveer felt his legs grow weak as he followed the doctor down the corridor. Each step felt like a walk toward doom.

In the chamber, the doctor's words hit Karanveer like a bolt of lightning. "The head injury was severe, and despite our best efforts, Aaravi has slipped into a coma. There's no way to predict when she might regain consciousness-it could be days, weeks, or even longer."

Karanveer stared at the doctor, his vision blurring with tears. His chest felt hollow, like his very essence had been drained.

"She's in a coma..." he whispered, the words tasting bitter on his tongue.

The doctor placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "I know this is difficult, but don't lose hope. Sometimes, patients recover faster than we expect. Keep talking to her. Let her hear your voices-it can make a difference."

Karanveer left the doctor's office in a daze. When he returned to the waiting area, all eyes turned to him, silently pleading for good news. He stood there, frozen for a moment, before finally speaking.

"She's... in a coma," he said, his voice devoid of emotion, as if saying the words aloud made them too real to bear.

The revelation hit everyone like a tidal wave. Nikshant staggered backward, his vision going dark. He almost collapsed, but Aarav caught him in time, holding him steady.

𝐔𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐋𝐨𝐯𝐞: 𝐀 𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡 𝐭𝐨 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐲Where stories live. Discover now