Her Only Saviour

68. Love Letters & Lemon Pickles

𝕳𝖆𝖆𝖆𝖆𝖓 𝖕𝖍𝖊𝖊𝖐𝖊 𝖍𝖆𝖎𝖓 𝖘𝖆𝖆𝖗𝖊
𝕹𝖆𝖆𝖙𝖊 𝖏𝖆𝖍𝖆𝖆𝖓 𝖐𝖊

𝕿𝖊𝖗𝖊 𝖘𝖆𝖆𝖙𝖍 𝖗𝖎𝖘𝖍𝖙𝖆
𝖌𝖊𝖍𝖗𝖆 𝖇𝖆𝖓 𝖌𝖆𝖞𝖆𝖆𝖆

𝕯𝖚𝖓𝖎𝖞𝖆 𝖇𝖍𝖚𝖑𝖆 𝖐𝖊𝖊𝖊𝖊
𝖙𝖚𝖒𝖘𝖊 𝖒𝖎𝖑𝖆 𝖍𝖔𝖔𝖓.....

~~~~~~

The tension of the previous day lingered in the air, but today… there was a different kind of urgency.

Kalyani walked briskly into the room, her voice gentle but firm. “Nandini beta, time to get ready. The doctor will be here soon.”

Nandini sat on the bed, brushing her hair slowly. Her face was pale, but calm.
There was still pain behind her eyes, but the warmth around her made it bearable.

Anika entered next, holding a warm dupatta. “It’s your favorite,” she said, wrapping it around Nandini’s shoulders with a mother’s care.
“You don’t go to the doctor without looking your best."

Nandini smiled faintly, the first real one in days.

Downstairs, the living room had been transformed into a mini clinic. A soft couch was arranged with cushions, a fruit tray and warm water ready at the table.

“She’s not a patient, she’s royalty,” Rudra declared dramatically, placing a rose in a small vase beside the chair. “Doctor Kaveri must feel honoured to enter this temple of beauty and chaos.”

“Stop being filmi,” Saisha muttered, but couldn’t help grinning.

When Nandini stepped down with Anika and Gauri on either side, the room fell silent.

Not out of awkwardness.

But awe.

She looked delicate, glowing faintly despite the fatigue—like a flame flickering but not fading.

Kalyani stood with pride and reached out. “Come, child. Let’s get our future checked.”

Rudra instantly brought a stool to help her sit comfortably.

Doctor Kaveri arrived soon, setting up with practiced ease. “Vital signs first,” she said gently.

Nandini sat calmly as the cuff was tightened around her arm, her belly lightly covered by her shawl. Anika stood behind her, Gauri beside her, and Saisha held her hand quietly.

Shivaay paced behind the couch.

Omkara handed over the reports from her previous visit silently, worry lining his brows.

Rudra, meanwhile, crouched beside her.
“Are you craving anything weird yet? Like… chalk? Ice cubes? Brinjal milkshake?”

Nandini gave a small laugh, her eyes crinkling. “Thankfully, no.”

“Good, good. Because if you asked for pani puri at 3 a.m., I’m going to need a bike with a jet engine.”

“Rudra!” Kalyani scolded lightly, but her lips twitched.

Doctor Kaveri smiled at the family.
“You’re lucky to have them,” she told Nandini, checking her abdomen gently. “Your blood pressure is still low, but better than yesterday. You need iron, rest, and regular meals.”

“Meals we can force-feed,” Gauri said firmly.

“With love,” Anika added.

“With a little blackmail,” Rudra offered. “Like, finish your roti or we’ll play old Anirudh music till your ears bleed.”