32.

After a few hours of journey they finally reached Udaipur. They all directly went to hospital where Sheetal Rathore, Tejraj's wife and Ryan's grandmother was admitted.

Tejraj is talking with the doctor about the treatment of his wife whereas Aaruhi, Ryan and Trisha are standing there listening to the doctor.

“She is better and awake, Mr. Rathore. We somehow control the situation but your wife needs surgery. And we can't proceed until she gives her permission. We don't have much time. Her condition is not really good. Delaying the surgery will worse the situation. I hope you are understanding," Hearing doctor Tejraj nodded in understanding.

"You start preparing for her surgery, doctor…” he told him.

The doctor left after nodding at him.

Turning to Ryan, Tejraj look at him and said,

“She will listen to you, Ryan. You can meet her now," he said.

Ryan looks at him then at the room in front of him where his maternal grandmother is staying.

He takes a shaky breath, feeling weird inside his chest at the thought of meeting an unknown person who is related to him.

As he was about to take a step towards the room, he stopped and looked at Aaruhi. He frowned seeing her not coming with him.

“Come, Ruhi…" she shook her head slowly and smiled lightly.

"I will meet her later. You go meet her first,”

“But-"

"I am here only, Ryan. Don't worry. She will be comfortable with you only now,” she assured him with a beautiful smile.

He looked at her for a moment before he walked inside the room.

As the door gets closed behind him, her smile drops and she looks at shaky breath, suddenly feeling lonely without him.

She looks around her to find only unknown and unpleasant faces. She mentally rolls her eyes, feeling Trisha's hard gaze on her.

She silently went from there and sat on a bench away from them.

Tejraj looked at her for a while observing her. Then he sighs and looks at the door in front of him.

Ryan stopped in his way as soon as the door closed behind him. His eyes fell on the fragile and weak figure laying on the bed surrounded by machines and wrapped with tubes.

Hearing the soft sound of door locking, the elderly woman slowly opened her eyes and turned her head towards him.

She stared at him with a slight frown of confusion on her slightly wrinkled face.

“Who are you??" She asked in her weak voice.

Ryan gulped slightly and looked at her face. She patiently waited for his answer while looking at him.

“Ryan…" he told her and he noticed her go still suddenly.

Her eyes slightly widen and she stops blink her eyes in shock.

Slowly her eyes turn glossy and soon a few tears roll down her eyes and a small emotional smile forms on her face.

Her face, which was tired and lifeless seconds ago, seems to brighten up now. Her eyes are twinkling as she got her life back.

“My bachch, Ryan…my Ryan…" she cried silently looking at him. She forwards her arms towards him, calling him near her.

Ryan felt his heart clench seeing tears in the old lady's eyes. He slowly walked to her and sat on the chair beside her bed.

“You are really my Ryan…or am I dreaming??" She said softly while crying.

She tried to touch his face but couldn't reach his face. Ryan slightly bent towards her, seeing her desperately trying to reach him.

She blink and smile widely as she softly caresses his cheek.

“You have finally come. I was waiting for you for so long," she whispered.

Ryan just observes her without saying anything. Suddenly he misses his Ma. She must be crying secretly for him after bidding him bye. He knew his Ma. She is very emotional when it comes to him and Aaravi. Thinking about her Ryan smile.

“You will stay with me. I won't let you go anywhere now," she said suddenly.

Ryan leans back and his expression turns blank again hearing her.

“Why are you refusing surgery?? Now I come to meet you, you will get your surgery done," he told her in a little soft voice.

She smile and nodded her head,

"I will. I wanted to live for my Ryan now," she said happily.

Ryan didn't say anything seeing her happy face.

“Take rest, I am just sitting outside, okay.." he said and stood up as he suddenly started feeling suffocated seeing her hopeful eyes and smile.

He didn't want to give her false hope and so badly wanted to tell her that he is here for a few days till she gets well soon. But he is helpless due to her health.

He walked out of the room in a hurry. As he came out of the room, Aaruhi stood up.

He saw Tejraj looking at him.

“She is ready for surgery, ”  he told him, then looked around before his eyes went to his wife standing a little away from them.

He took a soft sigh seeing her feeling calm.

He walks to her and hugs her suddenly and closes his eyes.

“Are you okay, Ryan?" She asked in worry and rubbed his shoulders softly.

“Now I am," he whispered against her neck and breathed deeply, taking in her fragrance.

Aaruhi also closes her eyes while softly caressing his nape as they stay like this for a while.

Tejraj turned away from them and went inside the room where his wife is.

Trisha was staring at them while fuming internally seeing them looking so perfect and in love.

“Tej, Ryan is really here na…" Sheetal asked her husband.

"Yea…he is here. Now you have to get your surgery done as promised…” She smiled and nodded her head and closed her eyes, thanking God again and again for giving them their only grandson back.

“Now I am willing to live. I wanted to live for Ryan, spend my time with him. He grew up so well,” she whispered lovingly remembering him only.

“Where do you find him, Tej??" She asks suddenly looking at her husband.

Tejraj gulp and said,

“I will tell you everything but not now. First get well soon, hmm…" he said and held her hand in his hand.

She nodded and smiled. She is so happy after so many days. She is ready to do anything just to stay with her grandson.

Tejraj looks at her smiling face and sighs thinking about her reaction after knowing the truth.

Ryan placed the plate on the table. Aaruhi looked up from the phone and seeing him, she smiled and placed her phone on the table.

“Finally!! I was famished ...." She said sliding the plate near her.

Ryan raises his one eyebrow seeing her eating so fast without even sharing with him.

“This is so tasty, right…" she said as she moaned in taste after stuffing a big bite of chole bhature.

Suddenly she stops and looks in front of her husband looking at her with an amused expression.

She smile sheepishly and lightly hit her head,

“Sorry…" she cutely said and then quickly made a bite.

Forwarding her hand, she bring morsel near his lips,

“Come on eat,…" she said lovingly like she was talking to some baby.

Ryan smiles and opens his mouth, taking the bite from her hand.

“Now, you eat it ...I have ordered a salad for myself. You can have it all,” he told her.

She smiled and nodded. Ryan stares at her as she is enjoying the meal so happily. This makes him happy too.

After a while his salad also comes and they both have their dinner in the hospital canteen.

Sitting outside Sheetal's room, Ryan is waiting for Tejraj to inform about Sheetal's surgery details. He slightly turned to his right to find his wife sleeping with her head on his shoulder. He wrapped his coat around her as she was shivering in the cold.

At the same time, Tejraj came there. Ryan looked up at him. He tried to place Aaruhi's head on the seat but Tejraj stop him,

“It's okay. She will wake up," hearing Ryan look at him and keep sitting on the bench.

“Her surgery is scheduled for tomorrow…” he informed him to which he nodded.

“It’s good…" Ryan said softly.

They stay silently for a moment.

"You can go to our house and rest there for the night ...I already informed the servants about your arriv-” Ryan interrupted in the middle.

“No need to trouble yourself, Mr. Rathore. I already booked a hotel room for us. Thank you for your offer,"  he said politely looking into his eyes.

Tejraj finds his eyes blank as he stares into his eyes.

“I should take my leave, Mr. Rathore. See you tomorrow," saying he carefully picked up his wife in a bridal style and walked away from there.

Tejraj watched him going away until he disappeared from his sight. He sat on the bench and sighs deeply, closing his eyes.

Aaruhi slightly opened her eyes, feeling herself placed on a soft seat. She blink her heavy eyes to find herself in a car.

Her head turns to the right as the door gets closed with a sound. She looked at Ryan who was fastening the seat belt around himself.

Sighing softly in relief in his presence, she again closed her eyes and fell into deep sleep.

Ryan keeps glancing at her in between while driving to their hotel. He smiles, seeing her sleeping so peacefully and deeply. She is looking like a little baby with a small pout while sleeping.

Ryan stares outside the window while lying on the bed. It is still dark outside. He couldn't sleep a blink last night for some reason.

He looked down feeling a hand caressing his chest softly.

Aaruhi looked at him with worry and cupped his cheek.

“Ryan…what happened?? Why did you wake up so early??" Ryan smiles slightly and shakes his head.

"I am not feeling sleepy ... .nothing else," he told her but she knows he is lying. Something is troubling him.

“You can sleep, Ruhi…" he said and tightly hugged her to himself and started stroking her head.

“I am also not sleepy…" she whispered looking at him. He looked at her face with a soft gaze.

“I know you are stressed about something," she said after a while.

He sighs, hearing her and nuzzles his face in her neck.

“Ruhi…" he murmured against her skin.

"hmm…” letting out a small hum, she brushed his hair with her fingers.

“After meeting Mrs. Rathore, I am feeling strange. It's not bad but also not good. Her hopeful eyes are bothering me. I can't stay with her always but I couldn't muster the courage to tell her this," Hearing him, Aaruhi understands his worry.

“I can understand, Ryan. We will make her understand once she gets better…." She lovingly said and kissed his head.

"Don't stress yourself…" Ryan let out a sigh and nodded while still hugging her.

Aaruhi smiles and closes her eyes, feeling his warmth.

“You really blessed me by coming into my life, Ruhi. My peace,.." he murmured softly and placed a few kisses on the base of her neck and shoulder.

She bit her lower lips, feeling shiver as he placed his cold lips on her warm skin. Her finger unconsciously holds his hair in a fist when he bites her on the junction of her neck and shoulder.

“iissh…Ryannn!" She hiss softly when dug his sharp teeth on her skin.

Ryan smirks against her skin before softly sucking the same spot when he just bites her.

He looked at her and felt his heart stop seeing her breathing deeply with a flushed face.

Aaruhi stared back into his eyes intensely. They both lean towards each other and the next their lips meet into a deep intense kiss.

Their lips are moving in synchronization while their chest brushing against each other, igniting the fire of desire and passion in their body.

“I need you, Jaan…" he whispered against her lips.

Aaruhi sucks his lips and wraps her around his neck and pulls him closer to her.

"Then take me…" she murmured softly looking into his eyes with love and desire in her eyes.

The next day, Ryan and Aaruhi reached the hospital before Sheetal's surgery. Ryan met her before she went for her surgery. He wanted Aaruhi to meet her but she refused saying it is not good to tell about their relationship just before surgery. As she doesn't know Ryan is married.

Sitting outside the OT, everyone is waiting for the operation to be over soon.

“Ruhi, drink some water…" Ryan said, giving a water bottle to her as it's been more than hours since they are sitting.

“I am okay,..." She assured him but as he gave her stern look, she silently took the bottle from his hand and took a few sips.

Tejraj is sitting in front of them looking at the OT. He seems stressed.

At the same time a man of middle age came there with a worried expression. He went near Tejraj, who looked at him and stood up.

“Uncle, how is Aunty?? And why didn't you inform me??"  He asked him, looking sad.

“We are here for her, Ravish. Her operation is going on, right now…” Tejraj informed him.

“She agreed for surgery!!"  He asked in surprise.

"Why not after all Ryan told her..” Tejraj said with a little smile and looked at Ryan.

“Ryan!?" Tejraj nodded and sighs towards Ryan who was already looking at him.

Ravish turned around and saw Ryan looking at him with an expressionless face. He smiles brightly and walks towards him.

“Ryan. You grew up so well, boy…" he said and chuckled.

Aaruhi was sitting beside him while Ryan was standing in front of her. She looked at the new face with a frown.

At the same time, Ravish's gaze fell on her and his smile fell slowly.

“She is Ryan's wife, Ravish…" Tejraj introduced her.

Ravish was staring at her with unknown emotions but suddenly he comes to his senses when Ryan comes in front of her hiding her from his gaze.

"Ryan, he is Trisha’s father, Ravish kaushik…” Ryan just gives a stiff nod, ignoring the smile he is giving to him.

“Trisha really missed you," he said with a smile.

Aaruhi grips Ryan's hand tightly, hearing him. It irritated her everytime she heard or thought about her.

“She shouldn't be, Mr. Kaushik. I hope you make her understand this," he said in his firm tone, making Ravish fist his palm tightly and control himself from clenching his jaw.

Aaruhi saw his curled palm then looked at his face which seemed stiff. But his lips curved into a forced smile.

“Ravish came with me. I have something to discuss…" Tejraj interrupts seeing the tension between them.

Ravish nodded at him and walked away with him. But he turns to look at Ryan and Aaruhi once before he disappears from their sight.

_____________________________________

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