XLI. Hold on

"When you will your heart, it can make wonders. It make us heal, we xam recover from almost everything. It's all in the heart and the people that supports us and be on our side."

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I sat there on the floor for a long time. I felt numb at that moment. I could not believe that Abhi was in an accident. He broke his promise and left without telling me. How can he leave me? I told him, I begged him but he didn't listen.

I can feel someone shaking me, but I am unable to come out of it. I was lost and engulfed in sadness. I don't want to come out of it and feel his absence.

What if he will not make it! He might need me now, I need to collect my thoughts and go near Abhi. He might need me. I tried to move my body but it's not listening to me. I willed my mind to move my hands but I was unable to do it. I could feel myself losing my consciousness, I tried to be awake but I lost the battle like many others and lost my consciousness. I fell into a deep sleep.

I think people will feel the same thing after losing of a person close to their heart. I didn't know what to feel when my parents died, burn I sure missed having them near me and in my life. The second death, Vinay, I was consumed with rage and guilt. I only knew him for a short time, so I was not deeply hurt by it. I kept my focus on Abhi knowing that he will take his uncle's death to his heart. Abhi, his name alone is enough to make me feel alive. Now I do not accept a life without him. I will protect him, even if I need to sacrifice my life for him. With that determination, I tried to open my eyes, it was not happening. I tried again but I got the same result.

This time, I felt water sprinkle on my face. I slowly fluttered my eyes open. I closed them immediately when a bright light filled my eyes. I kept my eyes closed for a moment and slowly fluttered them open. I observed my surroundings; I was not in the living room. I was in a bedroom; I looked to my right and found Anu there with an anxious expression on her face. She was lost in her thoughts.

"Anu," hearing my voice she turned towards me.

"My baby," she engulfed me in a hug. I was uncomfortable with the position; I patted her back and tried to move out of her grip. Anu left me after a moment. I slowly sat up; Anu adjusted the pillow to my back and helped me to get comfortable.

"How do you feel?" Anu questioned me once I was comfortable in my seat.

"Peachy. Can I have some water?" Anu filled the glass and placed it near my lips. She slowly lifted the glass as I drank, I felt like a small kid. When I get sick, Anu always treated me like this.

The door to the room burst open as I opened my mouth to ask questions. Aarav came in looking worried followed by anxious papa and Meera ma.

Their faces relaxed instantly relax as they saw me sitting. Meera ma rushed to my side and hugged me. When she released me from the hug, papa followed the queue and gave me a small hug. Aarav approached me and just kept looking at me. I waited for him to tell me something.

"What happened to you down there?" I repeated the scenario in my head.

"I woke up and Abhi was not there, I ate breakfast and I got a call that A-" I froze mid-sentence. Abhi was involved in an accident.

I immediately stood up and was about to fall if Aarav was not there. He helped me from falling.

"Avni, sit down. You just opened your eyes now. You were unconscious for nearly one hour. You-" I stopped listening to Ana's words. It has been an hour since I got the news. Was he safe? I need to see him, now.

"Aarav, take me to the hospital," I ordered the young one. He nodded his head.

"No, Avni. The doctor is coming here. No, need to go there," Meera ma tried to convince me.

"It's not about me," I replied trying to make them understand.

"Avni, I know you are stressed. Let the doctor look after," I cut her speech in middle.

"Your son is in the hospital!" I shouted at them. I know that I should not raise my voice, but I wanted to reach there and see how he was doing.

"What do you mean by that, Avni?" I just wanted to go and be near him.

Why can't they understand me? I want to be near him, but they are delaying me. I turned towards Meera ma, I thought that the quicker I tell them everything I can go and meet him.

"I got the call stating that Abhi was in an accident. After listening to the news, I fainted. Now, can we all go? I am worried about him." After my speech, we all rushed out of the house.

I kept regretting the way I spoke; I can apologize to them once I see Abhi. After a painful hour, we reached the hospital.

I got out of the car and rushed inside. I reached the reception. "Abhi. Abhi Goenka. He was admitted here for a car accident." I asked the receptionist immediately in a single breathe.

"Let me check ma'am," she checked her system. All the others joined me as we waited for her to inform me about him.

"Can you hurry up?" I snapped unable to control the anxiousness.

"He is in ICU number 3, on the first floor." I took off after listening to her. I reached the stairs and started walking fast. I don't want to waste time waiting for the elevator. I landed on the first floor in half a minute and searched for the room.

"Excuse me, ICU no. 3," I asked a doctor who was passing me.

"There," with a thank you for him, I rushed in the direction. I stopped in front of the room. I looked up and saw a red light. They were treating him.

I tried to keep my heart calm, but it was not happening. I hope that you are well Abhi; I thought internally and took a step forward.

Through the glass door, I found a person, Abhi lying still and some people were working on him obstructing my view from him. The person slowly moved aside making me gasp at his state.

I covered my mouth and tried to swallow my cry. I moved aside unable to look at him. He was lying helplessly on the bed, his head was not visible and his body had wires over it. I wish to see never see him in that position again. I heard the door open and I turned around and found the doctor exiting the room.

"Doctor, how is he?" Rudra papa asked the question. He was holding ma who had tears on her cheeks. I approached them eagerly waited to listen to a positive answer.

"He got hit on the head; his brain took a major blow. We performed major surgery on him it is a success. We have to wait for 24 hours for him to wake up. If he doesn't wake up, then he might slip into a coma. The good news is that if he didn't go to shock, his recovery rate is high. Let's hope that he will get well soon. You can see him once he is shifted to his room," he left devastating us.

We waited outside for them to bring Abhi out. We sat there and cried our eyes out. Anu was holding me and was rocking me back and forth. I was shaking with silent sobs, not knowing what will happen to him the next day.

The door opened and they wheeled Abhi out of the room. I rubbed my face to remove the remains of tears. I stood up and followed the others. We all waited outside waiting for the nurse to settle him.

The nurse exited the room after some time. "Please go one by one and don't disturb the patient," she again went inside the room. I want to go first and see him, but the first person to see him must be his mom. I stayed to the side letting his parents go in first. I waited patiently for them to complete their turns.

"Avni, go in." Meera ma said as papa came out.

I slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside. I took tentative steps in his direction. The nurse left the room and gave us privacy. I took the seat beside his bed and took his left hand. I looked at him, his head was covered with a bandage, his right hand was covered. He probably fractured it.

"You should see yourself. You look pretty beaten up." I laughed softly that slowly turned into sobs.

"Why did you leave in the morning? I told you that don't go, but you didn't listen and see where you are now." I waited a moment as I expected him to reply.

"See, I am waiting for your reply when I know that you are in deep sleep." I gently pressed his hand. "You have to come back to me. You, Diya, and I are going to live happily. Do you get that? You need to come back to me." I placed my lips on his forehead. I told him many things.

"Ma'am, you need to leave," the nurse came and informed me.

"I love you, Abhi. Hold on for me." After placing a kiss on his cheeks I left the room with a last glance at him.

As I stepped out of the room, I saw red. There the woman, responsible for my husband's position was sitting and consoling others.

"Don't worry. Our Abhi is strong; he will fight and come to us. Keep hope."

"He will be alright, right?" Akky asked the woman.

They might have arrived when I was inside, I didn't see Diya around. She might be at home.

"Of course, he will come back. If god even thinks of taking my son then I am going to fight him." A small smile was on her face, it might have been a pleasant and comforting smile if I had not known her. It looked like an evil smile for me.

"Son?" Listening to my voice, others turn in my direction. "You call Abhi your son, then why did you do it to him?"

"What are you talking about?" With a pure innocent smile, she stood up.

"I know and agree that you are a great actor. Now, cut this drama. I know that you are behind this." I scoffed at her face.

"Avni, I can understand that you are in pain." She puts a sympathetic look on her face. "I know how you are feeling now, I lost my husband too. You need to be-"

"Oh, for god's sake, just shut up." All others looked startled at my outburst. "Don't act as if you care for your husband. You killed him, your husband, and my parents. Now, you tried to kill my husband and act as if you don't know a thing."

"Stop, accusing me," Damini whispered those words. "I am suffering from the loss of my husband and you are accusing me of murder. Why will I kill the people dear to my heart?" She started crying hysterically.

"Don't even start acting now, you are shameless-" I got cut off when I got a slap on my face. My face whipped to the side because of the force.

I slowly turned my head and found Anu. She slapped me, she didn't believe me like others. She never slapped me in her life but she did now and that too for her. I looked in front and observed Damini giving me a smirk as she pretended to cry on Meera ma's shoulder. I saw that everyone was looking at me anxiously.

I turned towards Anu, "Anu, she is the one that killed my parents. Believe me." I tried to take her hand but she shrugged me off, turned towards her, and folded her hands (🙏) as an apology.

"I am sorry for my granddaughter's behavior."

"Anu," she gave me a sharp look to be quiet. I didn't want to anger her anymore, so I kept quiet as Anu apologized.

"I am sorry. She is distressed after seeing Abhi there. I hope that you will not keep this in mind and forgive her." She bent her head in shame. I clenched my fist trying to control the rage.

Anu was apologizing for the mistake I never committed. Did she not believe me? I hoped that she will be on my side but I hope everyone was surprising me.

"Don't apologize for her. We all know she is going through a lot and we can forgive her. Don't blame her." I heard Rudra papa speak. I think I do not have another person on my side.

"Thank you," she took my hand and dragged me away. She took me to an empty room and made me face her.

"What was that out there?" She fired the question in my direction.

"You know what it was! I was telling you the truth and you never believed me. You apologized to her. That woman is a witch. You slapped me supporting her." I shouted at her.

I was angry, not because she slapped me but because she said sorry to her on my behalf.

"Avni, do you even know what you are speaking about?"

"Yes, I do. Her husband informed me what type of a woman she is; she is the person who killed my parents and her husband. Now, she wanted to kill Abhi and Diya." I completed and waited for her to speak something.

"I believe you and I slapped you not because I didn't believe you either. I know who you speak when you are angry." My face brightened listening to her words. "I never need proofs to believe you, but for others to believe you, you need solid proof. Do you have proof against her? If we report her to the police, can they take action against her? If so, then you need to get solid proof so that she can suffer her life in prison."

Anu was telling the truth. I need to report this to the police, and to get the justice I need to gather evidence against her.

"You want evidence right? You will have it, but I have one thing to ask from you. Don't allow that woman near him or Diya. Send her away." I softly demanded her.

"I will never allow them near them, I will be waiting to hear from you," I turned to go as I opened the door Anu called me. "I know that Abhi will be safe, you will expose the truth in front of him tomorrow. I have confidence in you." I wanted to burst out crying for the confidence she have in me. Her words boosted me.

Hold on Abhi, for me. I will bring justice to you. Just be there and hold on. I willed that he would listen to words I told him in the room. I wish that he would be awake tomorrow.

Hello peeps!

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What is Avni going to do now?

We are getting close to the climax scene. Man! I am excited.

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