52. Critical condition

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At Arjun's palace, the news of the failed attack reached Mansi, who was furious. She had been so sure that Kashi would be dead by now, but instead, the woman had somehow survived.

"This isn't over. Kashi may have escaped this time, but I will make sure she doesn't get another chance." said Mansi.

Arjun, though disappointed by the failure, remained calm. "We underestimated Shivansh's determination. But Mansi, don't let your anger cloud your judgment. We need a new plan, one that will truly break him." said Arjun.

Mansi nodded, her mind already racing with new ideas. "Next time, we won't leave anything to chance. Kashi will pay for everything she's taken from me." said Mansi.

Aarav, who had been silent throughout the conversation, finally spoke up. "We'll strike again, and when we do, Shivansh won't be there to save her. She won't survive the next attack." said Aarav.

Mansi's lips curled into a cruel smile. "Good. Let's make sure of it." said Mansi.

The ambulance had arrived and Kashi who was now unconscious was being taking inside. Shivansh was very worried for Kashi. He was sitting in the ambulance while holding her hand. Suddenly a flashback hit him.

Flashback, some days back, it was Janmashtami. The day where Indian god Shree Krishna was born at midnight. This day is celebrated with a lot of excitement. The palace had been alive with color, music, and the sweet aroma of freshly prepared prasad.

Kashi came out of the kitchen with the makhan she prepared. When she saw Akshita and Anita in the hall. They looked at Kashi. " Kashi, come here we have to tell you this." said Akshita, " What is it, Maa sa?" asked Kashi while sitting down.

Akshita and Anita exchanged knowing glances. The conversation had drifted to children, with Akshita fondly recalling stories of Shivansh's childhood, much to his embarrassment.

"Shivansh was such a mischievous child. Always running around, getting into trouble. We used to call him our little Krishna because of the pranks he used to play." said Akshita while smiling.

Anita laughed, nodding in agreement. "Oh yes! He would steal sweets from the kitchen and blame it on the servants. It was always so hard to stay angry with him." said Anita.

Kashi listened with amusement, picturing a young Shivansh causing chaos in the palace. She could see the twinkle in Akshita's eyes as she reminisced, and it warmed her heart to see how much love there was between them.

After a moment, Akshita turned to Kashi, her expression playful yet filled with affection. "Kashi, now that you're part of our family, when are you planning to bring the Krishna of our house? It's about time we had a little one running around again, don't you think?"

Kashi's cheeks flushed at the question, caught off guard by the sudden shift in conversation. "Maa sa." she stammered, her voice barely above a whisper, "I... I hadn't really thought about it..." said Kashi.

Anita, who had been listening intently, leaned forward with a teasing grin. "Come now, Kashi. You and Shivansh have been married for a while now. We're all eagerly waiting for the pitter-patter of tiny feet in this palace." said Anita.

Shivansh, who had been enjoying the conversation from the sidelines, decided to join in on the fun. He leaned closer to Kashi, a mischievous smirk playing on his lips.

"You hear that, Kashi? Maa and Bua sa are eager to become grandmothers. I think they're giving us a not-so-subtle hint." said Shivansh.

Kashi's face turned a deeper shade of red, and she shot Shivansh a flustered look, her eyes wide with embarrassment. "Shivansh!" she whispered, trying to reprimand him, but her voice was tinged with a hint of shyness.

Undeterred, Shivansh continued, his tone light and teasing. "Well, Kashi, what do you think? Should we start planning for a little Krishna? I'm sure he'll be just as mischievous as I was, if not more." said Shivansh.

The room erupted in laughter, with Akshita and Anita joining in on the teasing. "Oh, he definitely will be. And don't worry, Kashi, we'll be here to help you every step of the way. Raising a little Krishna requires a lot of patience and love, but I'm sure you'll do wonderfully." Akshita wsaid while agreeing.

Kashi, overwhelmed by the affection and playful banter, could only smile shyly, her heart swelling with warmth. Despite the teasing, she could feel the genuine love and excitement from Shivansh's family, and it filled her with a deep sense of belonging.

Shivansh, seeing the blush on Kashi's cheeks and the softness in her eyes, couldn't resist one last playful remark.

"I suppose we'll just have to see how things unfold, won't we, Kashi? Who knows, maybe next Janmashtami, we'll have our very own little Krishna to celebrate with." said Shivansh.

Kashi playfully nudged Shivansh, her embarrassment giving way to a laugh. "Stop teasing me, Hukum sa." she said, though her voice was filled with affection. Laughter echoed in the whole palace.

Present time, " Shiv, Shiv.". Shivansh came out of his world when Yuhan shook him. Shivansh looked at Kashi who was already taken inside the hospital. He came down and then headed towards the OT.

To his surprise, his family was there. Bhairav looked at Shivansh. " Papa, what did the doctors say? " asked Shivansh, " They said that she is critical." replied Bhairav.

Prisha was crying. " I wish that I didn't force Kashi to come with me. This is all my fault." said Prisha.

Yuhan looked at her and patted her back. " Don't worry Prisha, Kashi will be fine and there is no fault of yours in this." said Yuhan. But Prisha wasn't able to control her tears. Vedant sat down with her.

Shivansh looked at Jai. " I NEED THE ONE WHO DID THIS." said Shivansh while fuming in anger. " Yes Hukum sa." said Jai and then walked out of the hospital with his guards. The doctors kept coming in or out.

Everyone was very worried for Kashi. They all were praying for the betterment of Kashi. Shivansh's heart was beating very fast. He just wished that Kashi is okay.

As the tension in the hospital's waiting area grew unbearable, the quiet hum of the fluorescent lights overhead only added to the anxiety that hung in the air.

Shivansh paced back and forth, his fists clenched, his thoughts consumed by worry for Kashi. His heart pounded in his chest as if it might burst, each second feeling like an eternity.

Suddenly, the sound of heels clicking against the tiled floor caught everyone's attention. They turned to see a tall, elegantly dressed woman approaching. Her eyes were cold, and there was a smirk on her face that didn't quite reach her eyes. It was Nandani.

Nandani's gaze swept over the gathered family members, lingering briefly on Akshita and Bhairav before settling on Shivansh. Finally, her eyes narrowed as they rested on the closed doors of the operating theater where Kashi was fighting for her life.

"So, this is where it has come to. Kashi, the so-called queen of this palace, lying in there helpless. You all must see it now—this is karma, nothing more." Nandani said with her voice dripping with a mix of bitterness and satisfaction.

Bhairav stepped forward, his expression hardening. "Maa ji, this is neither the time nor the place for your vendetta. We're all worried about Kashi. Don't you dare—" said Bhairav.

Before Bhairav could finish, Akshita placed a hand on his arm, silencing him. "Let her speak, Bhairav. If this is what she needs to do, let her do it. We know the truth." Akshita said.

Nandani's smirk widened as she stepped closer to Shivansh, her voice lowering to a whisper. "You think you can shield her, don't you, Shivansh? But this is what happens when you cross the lines that should never be crossed. Kashi is reaping what she has sown—the deaths of Kushal and Kamini. Did you think the universe would just let that go?" said Nandani.

Shivansh's jaw tightened, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. " Dadi ji, you don't know anything about what happened. Kashi has always acted in defense of this family—" said Shivansh.

"Defense? You're deluding yourself. That woman has brought nothing but disaster to this family, and now she's paying the price. But don't worry, Shivansh, I'm sure there's more to come. This is just the beginning." Nandani said.

The words cut through Shivansh like a knife, but he refused to let her see his pain. "You've said enough, Dadi ji. I won't stand here and listen to you speak ill of my wife when she's fighting for her life. If you have no compassion left in your heart, then leave." said Shivansh.

Nandani let out a dry laugh, her eyes flashing with something akin to triumph. "Compassion? Don't be naïve, Shivansh. This world isn't kind, and neither am I. But I'll take my leave, for now. I wouldn't want to be here when the truth comes crashing down on you." said Nandani

With that, she turned on her heel and walked away, leaving a tense silence in her wake. The echoes of her departing footsteps were the only sound as the family stood there, processing her harsh words.

Shivansh took a deep breath, trying to push down the rage that threatened to consume him. His hands trembled slightly as he turned to face the doors of the operating theater once more. "She's wrong. Kashi will survive this. She's strong, and she'll come back to us." he said to himself.

Akshita stepped forward, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "She will, Shivansh. Kashi has always been a fighter. And no matter what anyone says, we're all here for her. Don't let Maa ji's words shake your faith." said Akshita.

Bhairav nodded in agreement, his voice firm. "Your mother is right, Shivansh. We'll get through this together. Kashi is part of this family, and we won't let anything happen to her." said Bhairav. He looked at Dada Hukum who was getting tired sitting.

" Dada Hukum, I know that you want to stay but it will accept your health. You should go back to the palace." said Shivansh. Dada Hukum looked at him and smiled.

" I know that I am tired but Kashi is not just the daughter-in-law of the house. She is the daughter of the house just like Naina. " said Dada Hukum. Shivansh smiled. When the doctors came out.

Yuhan looked at Shivansh and patted his shoulder. " Shiv, the doctors." said Yuhan. Everyone looked at the doctor and then came to him. " How is she?" asked Shivansh, " Is she okay? " asked Akshita.

The doctor looked around at the anxious faces before him, his expression grave. "She's stable for now, but the next few hours are critical. We've done everything we can, but now it's up to her. She's a strong woman—keep praying for her." replied the doctor.

As the doctor's words sank in, Shivansh felt a mix of relief and fear. He nodded, his voice barely audible. "Thank you, doctor." said Shivansh.

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