Her Only Saviour

66. Reborn by a heartbeat

𝕯𝖍𝖔𝖔𝖕 𝖘𝖊 𝖓𝖎𝖐𝖆𝖑 𝖐𝖊
𝕮𝖍𝖍𝖆𝖆𝖓𝖛 𝖘𝖊 𝖕𝖍𝖎𝖘𝖆𝖑 𝖐𝖊

𝕳𝖚𝖒 𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖊 𝖏𝖆𝖍𝖆𝖆𝖓 𝖕𝖆𝖗𝖗𝖗𝖗
𝕷𝖆𝖒𝖍𝖆 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖒 𝖌𝖆𝖞𝖆𝖆𝖆𝖆

𝕬𝖆𝖘𝖒𝖆𝖆𝖓 𝖕𝖎𝖌𝖍𝖆𝖑 𝖐𝖊
𝕾𝖍𝖊𝖊𝖘𝖍𝖊 𝖒𝖊𝖎𝖓 𝖉𝖍𝖆𝖑 𝖐𝖊

𝕵𝖆𝖒 𝖌𝖆𝖞𝖆 𝖙𝖔 𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖆
𝕮𝖍𝖊𝖍𝖗𝖆 𝖇𝖆𝖓 𝖌𝖆𝖞𝖆𝖆𝖆𝖆.....

~~~~~~~~

Days had passed since Nandini returned to the Oberoi Mansion, and slowly, piece by piece, life had begun to settle.

Almost.

Every morning started with Anika fussing over her breakfast, Kalyani dadi's loud instructions, and Rudra’s endless pranks with Saisha's sarcasm balancing it all out.
Nandini, though still reserved, had begun finding her rhythm again—helping with the kitchen, guiding Saisha’s fashion startup ideas, and sharing quiet chai evenings with Shivaay.

It wasn’t perfect.

She still avoided certain spaces. Still slept in the guest room. Still didn’t say his name.

But the warmth that once existed between her and the Oberois was finding its way back.

Everyone noticed it.

And yet—the air felt a little off.

The way she walked a bit slower. How her hands rested on her lower back sometimes. The way she pushed her plate away more often now, or pressed her temples a second longer than usual.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” Gauri had asked just last evening.

“I’m fine, Chachi,” Nandini had smiled, brushing it off.
“Just fatigue. Nothing else.”

But that morning, her body betrayed her.

BREAKFAST TABLE, OBEROI MANSION—

The family was gathered as usual, laughter echoing through the halls.
Shivaay reading the business file. Dadi with her usual magazine. Dadu went out of station. Rudra and omkara enjoying breakfast. Anika and Gauri discussing about the upcoming event.
Saisha had her face buried in her phone as she scooped chilled custard from a glass bowl.

“Mmm, this mango custard is heaven,” she said to no one in particular. “Dadi, you need to taste this!”

The scent wafted through the room—fruity, rich, creamy.

Nandini, seated at the end of the table, froze.

Her face went pale in an instant.

Her hand covered her mouth, and before anyone could react—

She bolted from her chair.

“Nandini?” Shivaay stood up, alarmed.

Everyone rushed as they heard the unmistakable sound of her retching echo from the hallway washroom.

Anika got there first. “Beta… what happened?”

Nandini was kneeling, her breathing ragged, gripping the edge of the basin.
Her skin was clammy, lips pale.
The scent had triggered something deeper. Something undeniable.

Everyone gathered around, panic setting in.

“Food poisoning?” Rudra asked.

“She barely ate anything last night…” Gauri said, stroking Nandini’s back gently.