HER SAFE PLACE

Epilogue -2

Rocky’s POV

You know how people say they’ll never forget their graduation day?

Yeah. I don’t think any of us can forget this one.

I stood there, blinking at the goat who was now happily trotting around with someone’s scarf in its mouth — Shaurya trying to chase it, slipping on cake frosting. Jenny had fainted into Ravi’s arms, and he, in turn, was begging someone to take a picture of him “catching her like a Bollywood hero.”

And right in the middle of this chaos?

Shivangi. My Shivangi.

Laughing. That full-bellied, head-thrown-back kind of laugh that she rarely lets the world see anymore. The kind that used to echo through our college corridors. And for a moment, despite the cake war zone, the screaming, the goat with an attitude problem — everything just paused for me.

She was glowing.

Not just graduation-day glowing — but something softer. Something I couldn’t quite place.

But then, in the blink of an eye — it all changed.

Her laugh faltered.

Her eyes fluttered strangely, and her hand reached out mid-air like she was trying to catch balance that wasn’t there.

And then…

She collapsed.

Right into my arms.

“SHIVANGI!” I shouted, the world snapping back into motion so fast I felt dizzy. I dropped to my knees, holding her limp form against my chest.

“Shit, shit—someone call an ambulance!” Adi shouted, already fumbling for his phone.

“What happened?!” Shanaya panicked, kneeling beside me.

“She just fainted! Maybe it’s the heat, the noise—something!” I yelled, brushing her hair away from her face, checking her pulse. It was faint. Too faint.

“She didn’t eat properly today!” Vani whimpered, eyes brimming.

“It’s okay… it’s okay, I’ve got you, baby,” I whispered against her temple, trying to stay calm when my entire soul was splitting in half.

The next few minutes were a blur of sirens, shouts, and chaos being replaced by cold hospital lights.

I sat in the waiting room, my leg bouncing non-stop, fingers laced tightly together like that would somehow hold my world from falling apart. The others were there too — quieter than I’d ever seen them. Even Adi hadn’t cracked a single joke. Mihir paced like he was preparing for war, Jenny was hugging Shanaya silently, and Vani kept wiping her tears, saying nothing.

But my mind?

It was still in that damn auditorium. Still holding her limp body. Still hearing her laugh just seconds before she collapsed.

The door opened with a soft click.

We all snapped our heads around.

The doctor stepped out, calm and composed. Too calm.

“Mr. Singhania?”

I was on my feet before the words left his mouth. “Yes, yes—how is she? Is she awake? Is she okay? Please just—”

He raised a hand gently. “Relax. Your wife is absolutely fine. She fainted due to exhaustion and low blood pressure.”

I exhaled so hard I felt like I’d been holding my breath for hours.