CHAPTER- 67❣️

Naina's P.O.V

I hate the view in front of me.

Adis lifeless sulken face. Holding dad's hand as he breathed through the wires. Eyebags under his eyes, his skin drained of colour. Like he would break down any moment now.

Dad got a heart attack and we rushed here as soon as possible. My heart slipped from chest and all I could feel was hollow and breathless. A part of me went numb and I couldn't think anything except rushing back and seeing them.

Mom was so plae and lifeless and she wont leave dad's side. All family members were here in the hospital holding it together somehow with the arrows still in our hearts.

Ma was sitting with abhi and vidhi.

It was fine till yesterday until something fell apart again. I dont know what life is doing with Me. I really don't. All I know is that I can't expect things to be good all the time. There's been a change...yes. Adi gave me a whole new perspective of life. But moments like these somehwere bring back my old days filled with pain and this was my only perspective of life.

Adi changed that. Now it's all about how you see life. It's all the mindset. Every since he came, my life had changed for the better and my perspective of it.

The door opened and the doctor walked in. Mom and adis eyes remain glued to dad.

"Mrs shekhawat." He called out.

She blinked her eyes and tears dropped on her cheeks.

"There's no need to worry now, his vitals are stable and he'll be out of here in no time." A smile came upon his lips and our lips hearing the news.

"How did this happen?" Mom whispered enough for the doctor to hear.

"There are a lot of factors. Considering his old age, no matter how healthy the person is." He replied shrugging.

"Even work stress too" he muttered after a minute.

Mom nodded and a few more tears escaped her eyes.

Work! The goddamn work!

"We'll keep him under observation for a day and then you can take him home." He said.

I looked behind me and abhi and vidhi were sleeping on the couch, tears stains so prominent on their cheeks. Until they fell asleep from the crying. Ma was comforting them, their cheeks on their shoulders.

It had been hours sitting like this and the atmosphere and mood was getting foul by the second which wouldn't make things any better.

"Adi!" I called out softly and he turned towards me. Tears forming in his eyes.

I hugged him immediately, clutching him hard to Me. He dosent deserve this. None of us do.

I grabbed his hand and took him out.

"Why naina why? This is not supposed to happen. No! I can't loose him naina......I can't. I need him. More than anything else, mom needs him. She won't be able to live without him." He sobbed loudly and I just clutched him hard to me.

"I don't know what went wrong. Naina I can't please I just can't, I want him back, with mee, with mom. I want to hear him laugh and scold me. I want to hear his voice.!!!" He cried loudly as every inch of his body was giving away.

No I wont let that happen. I won't let him break in half. No I wont. I'll be there for him. I will be there for him. No matter what.

He sobbed harder and loudly and I didn't loosen my hold on him. Time passed and his body was light and loosened itself. His eyes became droopy and his breathing was slow.

My mind was swirling with so many emotions and the most dominant of them was the shock. Every single time something happens, the thought dosent leave me for months.

"Adi, look at me." I grabbed him but he didn't budge. "Look at me please" I grabbed harder and made him face me. His eye bags were deep and black barring his eye bones. And the lifeless, painful eyes hanging open with hope of seeing someone's else's eyes open.

"Nothing is going to happen to him, nothing." I spoke as a promise which I myself didn't know if I could fulfill.

He sobbed a little closing his eyes.

"Bhai he's awake!" Vidhis rushed voice made adi run.

We ran inside and adi crashed by his side, his face lighting up suddenly. His eyes wet again. All of us were by his side. It's like something inside us turned alive again.

"Dad, you're okay" adi said smiling and holding his hand, squeezing it. Hoping that this very same hand will squeeze it back.

He nodded slowly and adi gave a small laugh. Dad turned is face slowly to mom and shakingly with his hands nudged her to come closer, she obeyed and kept her forehead on his. Feeling him finally.

Tears left her eyes as she clung to him. Seeing those same eyes she could never live without. Feeling the heartbeat that only beats when she's around. She was ready to do anything with him but nothing without him.

"Please do not crowd him" the doctors sudden voice came from behind but none of us paid heed to him.

"I need to check his vitals please" He said again with force.

Dad's eyes were droopy and he signalled mom to sit down. She squeeze his hand not wanting to go away. If she could, she would share the same oxygen as his.

She backed away reluctantly and kept a hand over her mouth to stop the loud sobs.

The doctor probed him here and there for a minute and then came back with a satisfying smile.

"He's fine, but as I said we'll keep in under observation and I would suggest that he takes a month of twos leave from office." The doctor said and went out.

Oh he's not going near any building for a year unless it's our home and the hospital.

Vidhi and abhi hugged him and he hugged them back weakly. They stayed like that until mom joined followed by adi. They all stopped and dad looked at me and extended his arm and little wider for me to join. I smiled and hugged him hard too and then we all looked at ma opened our arms for her and she came too.

It was a complete family hug that would stay forever in our hearts.

Dad gave out a small cough and we all backed up immediately and then laughing slowly at our synced action.

Ahh finally! A laugh to beat the foul silence.

We spent a few more hours there until the mood had turned lively.

"You should go home now, rest a little. I'll stay here with him" mom said looking at me adi, abhi and vidhi.

Ma came forward. "I'll stay with you" she said and mom smiled.

"It's okay, really, you should rest" mom said.

Ma smiled sadly "rest is impossible in times like these"

That bought back old memories that I no longer wanted to recall but they pushed Their way in my mind. I closed my eyes and pushed them away replacing it with mine and adis kiss.

And that beat those memories.

"You've been when we needed you, that Is so enough for us. Please, take some rest" mom smiled.

"I wish I could do more" ma said looking at dad. Mom held her bicep and squeezed softly.

"You've done enough. Give some to yourself while you can. Do more for yourself." Mom smiled at her softly.

Like two besties cum sisters. The role she didn't think she needed in her life.

We all hugged him one last time and made our way back. The ride was silent but calm, not that silence that was making our heartbeats painful.

Abhi and vidhi rested on my shoulder while adi on ma's.

We reached the mansion and went in.

"Ma do you need anything? Did you have your medicines?" I asked as adi went up the stairs.

Just then a maid came with Mas medicine.

"Yes, I'm having it now" she said and ate them up.

"You should rest, you haven't even eaten since you got back....wait let me make you something" with that she made her way to the kitchen.

I stopped her.

"No no I already had a sandwich in the cafeteria in the hospital, and you are not doing any work at all , you get that?" I said holding her arm.

She huffed and nodded and went to her room.

I walked up to mine and opened the door and adi was leaning against the cupboard taking his clothes out. I gently shut the door and made my way to him and wrapped my arms around his back.

He stilled and then relaxed.

"You okay?" I asked softly.

He hummed. "I am, now that you're here" he said, his voice tired.

"You want me to make you something?" I asked again and he turned around this time.

He shook his head. "I'm not hungry." He muttered sadly and my heart ached seeing him like this.

"I'm sorry our honeymoon got interrupted" he said cupping my cheeks and my eyes widen.

I pulled him close as my facial expressions hardened.

"Don't you ever say that again. Why would you say that adi. I can't even think about honeymoon when family is the only thing going in in my mind. I was worried what would've happened if we haden't and reached here on time. That thought alone scares me. Family is my top priority, fuck everything else" I said assertively.

His face was starting to get a flicker of smile. Being supported.

"Wow!" He breathed out. "Thank my stars for a sun like you" he said and kissed me hard.

"Family is always first. We can celebrate our honeymoon anytime." I whispered against his lips.

I reciprocated with the same emotion fighting the sadness he held. We parted.

"Let me make you some tea, hmm?" I said caressing his cheeks. This was not my adi. He dosent deserve this. But he got it and now I'll make sure it dosent take up all of him.

He nodded and went to change while I made him some tea and bought it up. He was laying in bed, blanket till his neck and I climbed in handing him the tea.

"It's going to be okay, nothing is going to happen to him. He's strong. Very strong. We're all with him." I assured him holding his hand and he gave a small smile.

"Well see him first thing in the morning okay" I said and he nodded.

I held him close and put his face on my breasts and hummed him to sleep. Something we all needed to get our wires back to normal.

~~~~~~~~~

The next day, we met dad and he was doing much better. Much healthier and lively. Mom was back to normal and everything was OK.

A smile to start a day with moments that might wipe it off of my face.

I'm going to meet alisha today. I promised to move on with my life and she is the chapter I can't wait to get over. I'm ending things today. I haven't told adi about this and I won't.

Not with everything going on. And I have to deal with this on my own with the new me that adi bought out. I won't let him down. Or myself.

I excused myself and adi held my hand.

"Where you going?" His eyes curious. I wanted to tell him but the reaction left me hesitating.

"I'll be back in a while. I have to be somewhere" I said and he stared at my face for a minute before nodding. Trust. Just what I wanted.

I hurridly went out and told the driver to drive. The whole ride my mind was in a conflict. A storm I know will only settle once I cross it.

I didn't think much after that and we reached.

I stepped out and there she was, just like before, no different than a skeleton. Looking here and there with a nervous face. She had lost weight. Just not the same anymore.

I walked towards and came in the line of sight and she got up like a jolt seeing me. She gulped multiple times as if I'm here to kill her.

"Hi" she muttered weakly. I nodded and we sat.

The first few minutes were in silence as I kept observing and looking at her. Pitying her. What goes around, comes around. The karmic life cycle. And she was the example right in front of me.

She didn't look at me in the eye at all. They had nothing in them. Nothing. Pale and abyss of darkness that consumed her.

"Do you wanna eat something?" Her voice came out meek. She raised her eyebrows and looked at me. Lifeless.

I shook my head. I didn't wanna stay here any longer than I need to. I took a deep breath, looked down and then up

"I don't want the mansion" I said firmly looking her straight in the eye.

She kept blinking her eyes unsure of what to say until she blurted out "I don't want it either"

I raised my eyebrows. She continued "and I figured if we both don't want it, we could sell it off and donate the money for a good cause" she spoke softly.

I didn't recognize the person I was talking to. Who was she? Disguised as somewhat else. She couldn't possibly have gotten enlightened.

"Sounds good" I said. "Then I guess we're done here" I said and got up. She got up too. Small and simple.

I turned to go.

"Naina wait!"

I halted and turned around.

"Will you forgive me please?" She asked as tears began pooling in her eyes. Forgiveness. God, what is wrong with me.

Why is my heart all of a sudden so soft. I wanted to, I don't know why. My heart said something else. But it was detached. It wanted to move on.

Straight and simple. No recalling anything, remember what I came here for.

"Yes. And I don't want to keep any relations with you" I said coldly. She broke out in a cry and came towards me sending me on alert and then....

Hugged me. I stilled, rooted, frozen.

What the hell is happening? And why am I not doing anything.

She backed off and gave a small smile. The one that suited her face. Authentic.

"Thank you naina. Thank you sister" she whispered the last part and I stilled, again.

Sister, a word I wanted to delete from my mind forever. When it came to Alisha.

"You're so kind. I'm sorry, I'm sorry I made your life hell. I'm sorry. I'll always be grateful to you naina. Thank you." She wiped her Tears with the back of her hand and my stoic face fell.

Replaced by my soft face. Why did I give her the privilege to see it. I felt like I could see through her. The evilness in her no longer there. Only something broken and new, waiting to be mended and somewhere I wished that she too would find someone.

I wanted a few endings to be good. And this was one of them.

I backed off and we looked at each other for a minute beofre slowly parting and going back.

I relased my breath and it all went away the way it came.

Goodbye alisha.

~~~~~~~~~

Aditya's P.O.V

Naina came back with her forehead strained. She told me she was going somewhere, and seeing her face mada me think if it was about her family.

She came in and gave me a small smile that didn't queit reach her face.

"How's dad?" She asked plopping on the bed.

"He's good. Just had his medicines" I say.

There was a knock on the door. Vidhi popped her head in.

"Family time guyss, come down" she said and left hurridly. Yess family time!

"Come, let's go down, you'll feel better after it" I said and her face relaxed as if she let of some tension.

We went down and everyone was seated. We took our seats.

"How was the honeymoon bhabhi? Where all did you go? And what all did you do?" Vidhi emphasized on the last sentence and i couldn't love her more.

I looked over to Naina to see her as red as a rose. Damnn baby.

Everyone gave a teasing smile and naina just looked at me.

"It was nice and we went to Paris and Mauritius" she said shyly. Cutting out on the important details.

"And what all did you do?" Abhi asked wiggling his eyebrows.

She glared at him failing miserably and I was enjoying the show.

Suddenly there was kick on my foot and I clutched my foot.

"Ow!" I said and she smiled sweetly. Just wait!

"Bhai showed us the pictures of your honeymoon and we converted them into ghibli but we haven't seen them" shreyas excited voice was loud.

We all gathered around her expect mom and dad who were just smiling. Masking the pain that still hadn't left them.

"Here is the ohh shit-" ayush stopped and looked at us and put his hand to his mouth.

What!

"What?" Naina asked coming closer and they his the phone.

"What is it? I wanna see" she said and they gave a nervous laugh.

"Yeah I wanna see too" i said and they laughed again.

"This is a bad idea...uh I think we should uh not do this" vaishnavi said and they were about to get up .

"No wait! Show us" I said glaring at them. They gulped and handed the phone over.

What is it that they can't show us? Huh.

I scrolled down and my eyes widen and a loud, thunderous laugh left my face. Ohh shit!!

The original pic was of me and nain standing close hugging each other and the ghibli pic had turned her into a snake and my facial expressions were fearful. My wife was a snake in my life and made it hell is what the picture depicted.

Naina looked at her the photo, her jaw hung open and eyes wide as she glared at me, huffing and puffing. Oh shit! I couldn't stop laughing as she hit me.

Mom and dad laughed loudly. I was rolling on the floor and everyone was looking at me like I didn't know my death was near.

She stood angrily. "You think I trouble you?" She hissed. I laughed loudly and she glared harder.

"You're sleeping out of the room" she seethed and I laughed loudly, tears steaming down my face making me look batshit crazy.

"Oh my gawdd look at this one hahahahahahahaha" they both laughed loudly. And naina whined and went to them to see the next pic.

I saw it too, and I laughed even louder. and this time everyone laughed with me too.

"ohh gawdddd, bhabhi" abhi rolled on the floor with me. Mom and dad laughed loudly too and she just stood there with that angry but cute face.

"now what?" she said angrily. She snatched the phone and her face was as red as fire.

The orignal pic was of me and naina standing near the sunset and this time she was a bear and I was hugging her. And a new pic where she was a witch and I was running away from her.

she whined and stomped her feet loudly.

"its not funny.....mom dad you too" she pouted and they opened thier arms for her.

She ran into them.

"you looked cute like a bear though" mom muttered and she whined again making us all laugh.

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