Together For-Ever

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Adrika

The guesthouse was quiet. Too quiet.

Everyone had left the older ones. It was just us now. The so-called "youngsters."

But I didn't feel young. I felt... old. Hollow.

The rituals were done. The river had washed away nothing. And now, everyone was laughing again, as if the weight of the morning had never existed. As if I hadn't drowned in my own mind.

I sat on the edge of the bed in the guest room, my white Banarasi georgette saree draped flawlessly, the rich red border brushing my feet. Fit for a bride. Fit for someone who was whole.

I wasn't whole.

I reached into my bag, hands trembling just slightly. The pill case was cold in my palm. I tilted it. Two pills dropped out. I hesitated, then let a third fall.

They clicked against my teeth as I swallowed. Bitter. Familiar.

I needed them. I needed something to hold me together for a few more hours. Just a few hours. Bangalore wasn't far.

"Adrika!" Anand's voice called from the living room.

I quickly straightened, dabbed my lips with gloss, and walked out like nothing was wrong.

Arjun was driving. Rakesh called shotgun. Anand and I took the second row, and Bharat tucked himself in the back.

I should have felt comforted. Surrounded. Safe.

Instead, I reached into my bag and slipped two more pills under my tongue.

And waited.

~

The sun rose higher. The trees blurred past. Laughter trickled through the car as the guys joked, shared stories, teased each other about temple clothes and rituals.

I smiled when expected. Laughed when needed.

But my ears had started ringing.

The space between my temples felt tight. Too tight.

I tilted my head against the window and closed my eyes. The fabric of my saree was soft against my skin, but I could already feel the first prickle of dread.

No. Not now. Not again. I know whats happening and it's not good.

My breath hitched, and I turned my head slightly, glancing sideways at Anand.

I barely registered what I said, or how I said it.

"Anand..."

He looked at me, confused at first. Then alarm bloomed on his face. "Adrika?"

My lips parted. I tasted blood.

It dripped onto my chin, then to my neck, staining the perfect red-bordered white silk.

Blood.

"No," I whispered. I was slipping. Sliding out of reality.

"Hospital," I said, slurring. "Aadheera. Hospital."

~~~

Arjun

It happened fast.

One second, I was teasing Rakesh about temple etiquette.

The next, I heard Anand's shocked voice. I turned just in time to see Adrika collapse sideways, blood pooling from her nose and mouth onto her saree. My breath left my lungs.

"Hospital. Aadheera" is all I heard before she collasped.

"What the hell—"

"ARJUN, DRIVE TO THE NEAREST HOSPITAL NOW!" Anand shouted, already cradling her limp body.