Chapter - 58
The soft sunlight slipped through the curtains as the quiet hum of the hospital filled the air. Dr. Mehra had already finished Siya's check-up and spoke to Aarav separately outside the room.
"Ranasa," Dr. Mehra said in a calm, serious tone, "her vitals are stable now. Physically, she's recovering well. But emotionally... she's fragile. Don't push her to remember anything. If she talks about the past or the accident on her own, then listen. But don't ask. She needs peace, not pressure."
Aarav nodded silently, his jaw clenched but his eyes heavy with concern.
"Dr. Arora will be arriving tomorrow. We'll start therapy after that. Until then, just be there for her... like you always are."
Aarav gave a quiet nod.
"I will. Thank you, Dr. Mehra."
Back in the room, Siya was now sitting on the bed, dressed in a soft pastel floral kurta with matching straight pants and a delicate dupatta, looking more like herself again. The hospital gown lay folded neatly on the side table, replaced by comfort and color.
Neelam had brought her clothes and sat beside her for a while, brushing her hair gently.
"You look like sunshine now," she smiled, placing a kiss on Siya's head.
Siya gave a small smile in return.
After a few more words of love and reassurance, Neelam left, as Dr. Mehra had mentioned some final tests. There was still another hour before discharge.
Aarav was sitting near Siya, scrolling through something on his phone when a soft knock came at the door.
He stood and walked over to open it.
At the door stood Trisha and Karan.
Aarav turned slightly towards Siya and said in a calm voice,
"Siya, your friends have come to meet you."
Siya's heart skipped a beat. She hadn't expected them. And with their presence came a wave of anxiety. The only thought rushing through her mind was—
"What will they think of me? I didn't even tell them I got married..."
Her grip on the dupatta tightened.
Karan looked at Aarav and gave a respectful nod. Aarav remembered their early morning call. Karan had requested to meet Siya and promised to be careful with his words. Aarav had agreed.
Looking back at Siya one last time, Aarav walked over to her.
He leaned down a little and said softly,
"I'll be back in a while. Spend time with your friends, hmm?"
She looked up at him, her eyes uncertain.
He gently squeezed her hand, his touch grounding her.
"It's okay. They care about you. Talk to them."
Siya gave a small nod.
Aarav turned toward the door, nodded once to Karan and Trisha, then left the room, closing the door behind him with a soft click—leaving Siya with her friends and her thoughts.
As soon as Aarav left the room, I looked at the door for a few seconds, still nervous. My heart was beating fast. I didn't know how to face Trisha and Karan. I felt like I had done something wrong by not telling them about my marriage. I wanted to tell them... truly. But I couldn't.
Trisha came close to the bed and smiled warmly.
"How are you, Siya?" she asked softly.
I gave her a small smile and nodded. "I'm good."
Karan stood next to her and asked the same. "You okay, Siya?"
I again nodded, but inside... I was confused. What should I say? What should I explain? Do they know? Did Aarav tell them everything?
I looked at their faces, both were smiling gently... but my heart kept whispering, what if they came just because I'm ill? Will they talk to me like before now? Or will things be different?
Before I could sink deeper into my thoughts, Trisha handed me a beautiful bouquet and smiled wide.
"See, I brought your favourite chocolates too," she said playfully.
My eyes welled up with tears.
Why were they being so nice when I had kept such a big thing from them?
They looked at me, panicked.
"Hey! What happened?" Trisha asked, coming closer.
"Did I say something wrong?"
Karan stepped forward. "It's okay if you don't like chocolates, I'll bring something else next time," he added quickly.
I couldn't hold it anymore. I hugged Trisha tightly, tears falling from my eyes as I whispered,
"I wanted to tell you... I didn't want to hide it, Trisha... but..."
Trisha hugged me back and rubbed my back gently.
"It's okay, Siya. I understand."
She pulled back a little and looked at me with kind eyes.
"Maybe if your husband wasn't Ranasa, I would've been upset," she said with a small laugh.
"But if a marriage like yours is kept hidden from the world, I'm sure there's a reason.
You don't need to explain it to us. We're best friends—and we always will be. "
That made my heart feel lighter.
Then she sighed dramatically. "The only regret I have is... I didn't get to dance at your wedding. And the lehenga I was planning to wear..."
I chuckled through my tears. That was so Trisha.
We talked more after that—about random things, our college memories, the funny teachers, and that one time I fell off the library chair while grabbing a book.
But... something felt different.
Usually, Karan and Trisha would be teasing each other nonstop. Their silly fights, random jokes, and loud laughs were always part of our trio. But today... they were quiet. Careful. Almost too careful around each other.
Maybe... it's just the hospital atmosphere, I told myself. Maybe that's why.
Still, I noticed how they avoided looking at each other for too long. And how their words were short, unlike the usual banter.
After a while, there was a soft knock. The door opened, and Aarav stepped in. He gave me a small nod and a look that asked, Are you okay?
I nodded back softly.
Karan stood up and smiled politely.
"We'll leave now. It was really nice to see you, Siya."
Trisha hugged me once more.
"Take care, okay? And don't forget—we love you. Always."
I nodded with a soft smile, watching them leave.
After all the tests were finally done, Dr. Mehra said I could go home. Home. The word itself felt strange on my tongue... but warm too.
We sat in the car, and for a moment, I just leaned my head on the window, watching the world move as we drove. Aarav didn't say much either, but his hand gently brushed mine, and that was enough. His silence isn't empty... it's comforting.
As we reached Rathore Palace, my eyes widened in surprise.
The entrance, the pillars, the path leading inside... everything was decorated with beautiful white and pink flowers. There were rangoli designs near the steps and small brass lamps lit on the sides. It felt like some celebration was happening—but it was just for me?
The car stopped, and Aarav quickly stepped out. He came around to my side, opened the door, and extended his hand toward me.
"Come, Ranisa," he said softly.
I smiled and placed my hand in his. It felt warm. Safe. Like I could breathe again.
He didn't let go of my hand as we walked toward the main entrance. I saw everyone standing there—Maa, Chachi, Dadimaa, Chachu, Papa... and Arjun Bhaiya too.
Maa was holding an aarti thali, and I froze for a second. I had never been welcomed like this in my entire life.
Maa smiled, did my aarti gently, and applied a small tikka on my forehead.
"Welcome home, beta," she said warmly.
I could only nod. My throat felt tight, but I tried to hide it with a small smile.
After the aarti, they all stepped closer—asking softly how I was feeling. Chachi gently cupped my cheek and said,
"Take care of yourself, Siya."
Papa said, "You're looking better today."
Even Chachu gave a slight nod and a smile. Arjun Bhaiya looked relaxed seeing me and said,
"You're finally home. That hospital gown wasn't suiting you, Bhabhi."
I chuckled lightly, hiding behind Aarav just a little.
Then Dadimaa looked at Aarav and said,
"Take her to the room now. She needs to rest. She's been through a lot."
Maa added quickly, "We'll send your food to your room only. Don't worry."
And Chachi smiled and nodded beside her.
Aarav said nothing—just looked at me and gently wrapped his fingers around mine again.
Without a word, we started walking towards our room. The room I had missed so much... but more than that, I had missed him.
His voice, his touch, the way his presence filled every corner of that room.
And now, I was going back... not just to a room, but to the safest place in the world.
We were just a few steps away from our room when, suddenly, Aarav bent down and picked me up in his arms.
"Aarav!" I gasped softly, my hands going around his neck. "What are you doing?"
But before I could say anything more, we were already standing in front of our room.
And the moment I looked up... I froze.
Our room—it wasn't the same.
The cold black walls were gone. Instead, soft beige and gold colors covered everything. It looked warm and bright—like a peaceful little world.
Did he change it all... just for me? I remembered telling him once that I didn't like the black theme. And now, here it was, just like I wanted.
Tears welled up in my eyes even before he said anything.
Then Aarav looked at me with a small smile and said,
"Ranisa... the first time you entered this room, I didn't welcome you properly."
He gently placed me down and continued,
"But now... this isn't just my room anymore. It's our room."
He told me to wait, then walked inside and came back with a white cloth and a thali of alta in his hands. He placed them near my feet.
"Come," he said softly, "First put your feet in the alta thali, and then step on the white cloth. I want to frame this and keep it in our room... as a blessing."
My throat tightened again. How does someone like him—cold, powerful, feared by the world—do something so gentle... for me?
I did as he said. Stepping into the alta, then on the white cloth. The red marks of my feet stained it softly. And he smiled like it meant the world.
After that, he helped me sit on the bed and looked around the room.
"Did you like the room?" he asked, sitting beside me. "I had just one night, so couldn't do much. But if you want to change anything here or anywhere in the house, you don't have to ask anyone, jaan. You can do whatever you want."
I couldn't hold it anymore.
I blinked back tears. It wasn't about the colors or the changes. It was about him—how he remembered the little things I said and made them real.
I hugged him tightly, my tears finally falling.
"I don't want to change anything now, Avi," I whispered, my voice trembling. "It's already enough. More than enough for me."
He wrapped his arms around me just as tightly.
"Okay baby," he said softly, kissing my hair. "If you don't want to change anything, then that's okay too."
After a moment, he pulled back and gently cupped my face.
"Now you rest," he said, his thumb wiping the corner of my eyes.
He started to get up from the bed, but I held his hand.
"Lie beside me..." I said, looking up at him.
He didn't say a word—just quietly slipped beside me, like he had been waiting to be asked.
And as I laid my head on his chest, feeling his heartbeat against my ear...
I finally felt home.
But deep inside, my heart wasn't quiet.
I had hidden something from him.
Avi trusts me so much... but I didn't tell him about that night.
Should I tell him now?
What if he gets upset? What if he misunderstands me?
I bit my lip.
No, Siya. He's your Avi. He'll understand. He always does... But still... he should know the truth. From me.
I took a small breath and whispered, "Avi..."
"Hm?" he hummed softly, brushing my hair gently.
"I want to tell you something," I said, nervously playing with the fabric of his shirt. "I wanted to tell you before too... but that day during the Holi party, I forgot... and then everything happened so fast, I just... I didn't remember."
Aarav wrapped his arms around me tighter and said in a calm voice,
"I told you before too, jaan... you can tell me anything. I will never judge you or be upset with you."
My throat felt dry. I finally said it.
"It's about Veer..."
He held me even tighter. His body became still—but he didn't say a word.
So I continued, my voice trembling slightly,
"That day.
.. at Trisha's birthday party... he proposed to me.
But I politely told him that I already have someone in my life.
And he said he understood. I really meant to tell you, Avi.
But just as I was about to, your phone rang.
.. and then the Holi party came... and after that, he didn't show up again, so I completely forgot about it. "
I felt tears prick my eyes.
"But that day... he—he tried to..."
I couldn't finish.
Aarav suddenly hovered over me, his eyes filled with emotion—anger, protectiveness, pain—but none of it for me. Only for what I had been through.
He gently held my face in his hands and whispered,
"It's okay."
He kissed my forehead softly.
"You don't have to think about anything now. You're safe with me. Just focus on me."
And before I could even blink or reply,
he leaned down...
and pressed his lips on mine.