|| Carefree For The Moment. ||

|| Part Ten. ||

The doctor came out to speak them all, just as the Meenakshi, Yashpal, & Kaushal had arrived at the hospital. Leaving everyone else at home so as not to cause a crowd.

"Badi Maa" Mishti lowered her voice as Meenakshi spoke to the doctor. "Did someone call Mehul Uncle?"
"Yes, your Bade Papa spoke to him, Shaurya's gone to get him" She said & Mishti glanced over to see Kaushal speaking to her father.
"Rajshri." Yashpal came forward & interrupted the two of them. "Where's Kunal?" Yashpal asked her. "He was here, wasn't he?" He asked Mishti looked down both sides of the corridor, but Kunal was nowhere to be seen.
"Yes Bappu Jee, he was just here" Rajshri said, doing the same.
"I think he's just gone to get some fresh air Naanu." Mishti informed him & Yashpal sighed. "He'll be back soon"
"He's probably going out of his mind with worry, like the rest of us" He sighed & Mishti stepped forward.
"Relax Naanu, Abeer will be fine" She assured him & Yashpal smiled, placing his hand on Mishti's head & blessing her.
"I'll go & call Varsha" Rajshri said & Mishti nodded before taking a seat in the corridor.

Kunal walked out the hospital building, almost in a daze, replaying what his brother had said to him before the truck struck. Replaying what his brother had said to him before the truck had struck. The pain in his brother's eyes. He felt uneasy, his hands to his head as he paced the front of the hospital. He felt as if his head was about to explode. What if something happened to his brother!? What if-

No, Kunal stopped. Shaking his head vigorously. Nothing would happen to his Bhai. Nothing would happen to him He'd be fine. Even Mishti said... Kunal paused. Recalling the vigor in what she had said to him in the hospital corridor. The look of sadness in her eyes one minute, then of complete determination the next. Why couldn't he have that strength? Why was he falling apart when his brother needed him the most? He recalled what Kuhu had said to him, many times, about him pushing his brother away. Kuhu.... Why hadn't he listened to her? All this frustration built up inside him until out of nowhere, it caused him to yell out loud, in frustration. A few people had stopped to look at him but he hadn't noticed them. He was too busy throwing his hands to his head.

All of a sudden, someone placed a hand on his shoulder & he spun around. & without even looking to see who it was, embraced them, holding onto them with all the might & strength that he could gather from inside him. He cried into their shoulder, repeating himself; Bhai, Bhai, Bhai.

"It's okay Kunal" the voice said & Kunal recognised the voice, so he slowly pulled away. He looked up to see his father stood there. Giving him a reassuring look. "Nothing will happen to Abeer, mm?" He said, touching his son's cheek.
"He's hurt!" Kunal cried. "He's in pain! & it's all my fault!" He cried, his hands to his face. All of a sudden, rage built up inside him. "Why did I have to hurt him!?" He screamed. "Why did I do that to him!?"
"Shhhh" His father took him into his arms again where he cried even harder. The guilt just tearing him apart deep down.

"Mehul Ji, Kunal" A voice said & they turned to see Shaurya stood a few feet away from them, embarrassed to have disturbed them during a heartfelt moment. Both Kunal & Mehul turned around at once, as Kunal wiped his eyes.
"Is it Bhai!? Is he okay?"
"He's fine, the doctor said he's out of danger. Come" He said quickly & the two of them rushed to follow him into the hospital where the doctor had just finished explaining things to everyone else.

Meenakshi breathed a sigh of relief. "Hai, Maa Ambe!" She held her hands in gratitude.
"What is it, Maa!?" Kunal asked, out of breath. "What did the doctor say? I want to go & see Bhai"
"Kunal" Meenakshi put her hand on his shoulder. "The doctor just needs to do a few more tests to make sure there isn't any other damage but we'll go in & see him in a minute, okay?"
"Is he okay though?" He asked quietly, the desperation evident in his voice, causing everyone else to tear up around him. Seeing the love for his brother.
"He's fine, Kunal" Vishamber stepped forward as Mishti stood at the side, leaning her back on the wall, Rajshri placing a comforting hand on her daughter's shoulder. "We'll go in & see him when the doctor gives us the okay, alright?" He asked & Kunal nodded slowly, like a child.