TANGLED WITH YOU ✓ [COMPLETED]

61|● Echoes of Hope

Happy Reading ✨️

I stood there in silence, my eyes fixed on the clock, watching the seconds crawl by. Each tick felt like an eternity, stretching the agonizing wait. The hospital walls felt suffocating, and the beeping of the machines from inside the ICU only made my anxiety worse.

Avivansh never left my side. Not once.

We had sent Nalini Bua home-her health was fragile, and I didn't want her condition to worsen because of all this stress. But no matter how much Avivansh tried to comfort me, the gnawing fear inside me refused to subside.

"Aana," he murmured softly, his hand reaching for mine. "At least eat something. You haven't had a single bite since morning."

How could I? How could I swallow even a morsel when my father was lying on a hospital bed, fighting for his life?

All my life, I had never fought for his affection like Sobha did. I had accepted my place in the shadows, content with simply having a roof over my head. I never asked for more. But now that I knew the truth-that he was my father, my only family-life felt unbearably cruel. Just when I found him, was I going to lose him?

"I don't feel like eating," I whispered, shaking my head as I clutched onto Avivansh's arm, the only anchor keeping me from breaking apart.

He sighed and pulled me closer, his warmth enveloping me. "Aana, you'll get sick," he said, his voice laced with concern.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my grip on his arm tightening. "Avi, what if I leave for even a second and... and something happens?" My voice trembled as fresh tears welled up in my eyes.

His hold on my hand tightened. "Aana, calm down. I told you-nothing will happen."

"But what if it does?" My voice cracked, the fear clawing at my chest. "What if-"

"Shh," he hushed me, pulling me into his embrace. His arms wrapped around me protectively, his hand cradling the back of my head as he whispered against my hair, "It's okay. Everything will be fine."

I held onto him like my life depended on it, burying my face into his chest, letting his steady heartbeat soothe my panic.

And then-

The sound of approaching footsteps made us pull away.

The doctor was walking toward us.

My heart pounded as I grabbed Avivansh's hand tightly, bracing myself for the worst.

The doctor stopped in front of us, a small, knowing smile on his face.

"It's a miracle, I must say," he began. "Mr. Malhotra has regained consciousness."

For a moment, I couldn't breathe.

I blinked, my mind struggling to process his words. "W-what?"

The doctor nodded. "He's awake."