Rishtey

Chapter - 19

As the door slammed shut behind Vineet and Shikha, the silence in the room became deafening. Anamika tried to hold herself together, but the weight of their words and the pain they had inflicted on her soul broke her. 

She sank onto the bed, her hands covering her face as sobs wracked her body. Everything she had worked so hard to bury—the memories, the hurt, the betrayals—came rushing back like a tidal wave, drowning her. 

“Why do I deserve this?” she whispered through her tears, clutching the pillow tightly. "What did I do so wrong to deserve such hatred from the man I once gave my everything to?" 

As her emotions poured out, a sharp pain shot through her stomach, catching her off guard. She gasped, clutching her belly, her tears momentarily replaced by panic. 

“It’s nothing,” she tried to convince herself, breathing deeply. “Just the stress... it’ll pass.” 

But the pain didn’t subside. It grew sharper, more insistent, until she could barely sit upright. A cold sweat broke out on her forehead as fear gripped her heart. 

“No, no... please...” she murmured, one hand instinctively cradling her belly. The thought of losing her baby—the one part of her life she was holding onto—was unbearable. 

Her breathing quickened, and she realized she couldn’t ignore it anymore. She needed help. But whom could she call? Her family was miles away, and she had no one in Delhi. No one... except Ashok. 

The thought of reaching out to Vineet’s brother felt strange, but she knew Ashok genuinely cared for her, and he had always offered his support. In this moment of vulnerability, she had no other option. 

With trembling hands, she grabbed her phone and dialed his number. 

The line rang twice before Ashok picked up, his voice calm yet concerned. “Anamika? Are you okay?” 

Her voice cracked as she spoke, tears streaming down her face. “Ashok... I... I need your help. Please...” 

Ashok’s tone changed immediately, his concern turning to urgency. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt?” 

“I... I’m in pain,” she managed to say through gasps. “I think... I think something’s wrong with the baby.” 

“Baby?? Stay where you are,” he said firmly. “I’m coming right now. Don’t move. Just send me the address.” 

Anamika hung up and sent him the address. Clutching her belly she cries as the pain continued to radiate through her body. She whispered softly, “Please, stay with me... I can’t lose you. You’re all I have.” 

Minutes felt like hours as she waited, her breathing shallow, her heart racing. Finally, a knock sounded at the door. She mustered the strength to stand and open it. 

Ashok stood there, his face etched with worry. Without a word, he stepped inside and gently supported her. 

“We’re going to the hospital,” he said, his voice steady and reassuring. “You’ll be fine, Anamika. I won’t let anything happen to you or the baby.” 

As he guided her out of the room, Anamika couldn’t help but feel a small sense of relief. In her darkest moment, Ashok had been there, proving that even amidst the chaos, she wasn’t completely alone.  He careful hold her hand and supported her to walk out of the hotel.

....

At the hospital, Ashok paced the corridor anxiously as the doctor conducted Anamika’s check-up. Every passing moment felt agonizingly long. Finally, the doctor emerged from the examination room, offering a reassuring smile.