Celestial Bond

12

Sita🌻

I tied my hair into a messy bun, slipped into a t-shirt and full-length panda-print pajama pants, and tried to keep myself occupied.

The clock ticked loudly in the silence, mocking me. Arjun had said he'd be home in ten minutes—fifteen had passed, and still, no sign of him.

That unsettling knot in my chest tightened again.

"Maybe it’s just traffic," I told myself, pushing down the wave of worry. "I’ll wait ten more minutes before I call."

To keep my mind off things, I started tidying up the house.

When I finally dialed him, the line was dead. His phone was switched off.

"Probably out of charge," I whispered, brushing away the creeping dread clawing at the edges of my thoughts.

I focused on cleaning a vase when my phone rang.

I darted toward it, still clutching the vase, my heart pounding with the hope it was Arjun. But the name flashing on the screen stopped me cold.

Rohith.

"Hello, Rohith?" My voice trembled for no reason.

"Sita... come to Nethra Hospital immediately."

My heart stilled. "Why? What happened? Is everything okay?"

"It’s Arjun. We had an accident. He’s... he’s in the hospital."

The vase slipped from my hands and shattered at my feet.

"Is... is he okay?" My voice cracked, choking on the words. "Please tell me he’s okay."

"I can’t say anything right now. Just come quickly." And the line went dead.

I barely heard the voices of my neighbors calling after me as I rushed out the door.

At the hospital, I scanned the corridors frantically until I spotted Rohith, Divya, and Sravan sitting outside a room. Their faces were pale, eyes swollen with unshed tears.

"Rohith!" I cried, running up to them. "Where is Arjun? What happened? Is he hurt badly? Please, tell me he’s fine! I need to see him!"

Tears streamed uncontrollably down my face as I begged for answers.

"Situ, calm down," Sravan said gently, his voice laced with worry.

"Don’t tell me to calm down!" I shouted, hiccupping as the panic consumed me. "You’re all hiding something! Why do you look like you’ve been crying? Is it serious? Please, just take me to my husband!"

Divya stepped forward, trying to hold me, but I pulled away, sobbing uncontrollably. "Don’t lie to me! I need to see him! Arjun... Ajju... Where is my Ajju?"

"Sita,Arjun js fine.It was just a small accident-"I cut divya off.

My cries echoed down the corridor as my legs threatened to give out. "Ajju! I want him! Please, take me to him!"

Suddenly, I felt a familiar grip on my arm, pulling me close.

I looked up, and there he was.

Arjun.

I scanned him from head to toe, frantically searching for any sign of injury. My hands cupped his cheeks as I inspected his face, desperate for reassurance. 

“Hey, Sita. Why are you crying?” Arjun asked, his voice steady but concerned, as he gripped my shoulders and gave them a gentle shake. 

That was it. The dam inside me broke, and my sobs grew uncontrollable. I threw my arms around his torso, clinging to him like he might vanish.