Chapter - 95
Hello, beautiful people! ??
I let the silence stretch a little longer — the kind of silence that makes people feel their own guilt.
Then I straightened, my tone calm but sharp enough to cut.
"I will not ask you why you did all this to me," I said slowly, looking at both of them.
"Because there is no reason... no explanation... that can make me forgive you."
Taiji's breath caught. Tauji tried to sit straighter, but even he couldn't hold my gaze.
"I didn't come here to hear anything from you," I continued.
"I came here to... increase the hospitality."
My voice dropped even lower — cold, steady, dangerous.
"Rohan."
He entered instantly. "Yes, Rani sa."
I didn't look at him — my eyes were fixed on the two people who once controlled my childhood.
"They both have gained too much weight sitting here doing nothing," I said, my tone almost polite.
"So from today, give them one meal a day. Only water after that."
Taiji's eyes widened, "Siya beta—"
I cut her off without raising my voice.
"Rani sa.
I am only your Rani sa."
The room went still.
I continued, each word slow and clear.
"From today, they will clean this entire building."
"Wash the clothes of every staff member."
"Do the dishes."
"And cook the food for everyone."
I paused.
"The staff who were doing these jobs... send them on a paid holiday."
Rohan nodded sharply. "It will be done, Rani sa."
Tauji finally spoke, voice shaking, "Siya... we're old... how will we—"
I stood up and walked toward them.
For the first time in my life, they looked small to me. Weak.
Not because of their age — but because their cruelty was finally powerless.
I leaned down slightly and said quietly,
"I will make sure you both regret the day you took your first breath."
"And this... this is just the beginning."
I straightened my saree pallu, turned around, and walked toward the door.
"And what you did to my parents..."
My voice didn't break — it hardened.
"I haven't even started that chapter yet."
Without waiting for their reaction, I walked out, my footsteps echoing through the hall.
For the first time in years...
I felt in control.
I closed my notebook with a quiet sigh and leaned back in the chair. My fingers were aching, my wrist was stiff, and my eyes felt heavy. I placed all the assignment papers neatly inside my bag, leaving only a few sheets on the table.
Then my eyes went to Avi — still, silent, breathing slowly.
I moved closer and held his hand gently, resting my cheek against it for a moment before whispering,
"Avi... I'm tired."
My voice came out soft, almost like a confession.
"Do you know how much work my professors have given me? And for what? Just ten marks."
I shook my head, a helpless smile tugging at my lips.
"I wrote fifteen–twenty pages for just ten marks. And still they'll give me eight or nine... not even ten."
I lifted my hand slightly, showing him the faint redness across my palm and fingers.
"See? My hand is red from writing. They have no fear now — they're giving me so much work. Can you believe it?"
I sighed again, brushing my thumb over his knuckles.
"Wake up fast and scold them na... please. At least then someone will listen to me."
He didn't respond, of course.
But I knew he was listening.
The doctors said so, and my heart believed it more than anything.
That belief... that tiny, stubborn hope... was the only thing keeping me strong.
But with each passing day, even hope felt a little heavier.
It had been twenty days now.
Twenty long days of talking to him, holding him, waiting for him...
And he still hadn't opened his eyes.
I rested my forehead against the back of his hand and whispered,
"Avi... I spent Karva Chauth alone. And Diwali too."
My voice didn't shake, but something inside me did.
I took a slow breath, steadying myself.
"But I don't want to spend our first marriage anniversary alone."
I looked at his face — peaceful, as if he was just sleeping.
"You promised to give me a marriage that means something."
A soft smile touched my lips at that memory.
"And I said I didn't want anything grand."
I tightened my hold on his hand just a little.
"But now... now I want it. I want our anniversary to mean something for both of us."
I blinked slowly, memories brushing against my heart.
"We planned something simple... just a quiet day for us. And now I'm here... begging you to open your eyes."
My voice grew quieter, almost like a child making a demand she was scared of.
"Are you listening? I want to celebrate it with you."
I swallowed, blinking away the sting at the back of my eyes.
"Avi... please wake up. You've rested enough."
A tiny pause.
Then, in the softest whisper—
"Otherwise I... I won't talk to you."
I knew he would laugh at that if he were awake.
I knew he would pull me into his arms and say, 'My Angel can't stay quiet for even a minute.'
I smiled sadly at the thought and leaned forward, pressing a tender kiss on his forehead.
"Please, Avi... just open your eyes once."
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the off-white Anarkali suit I had chosen for today. The navy-blue embroidery looked simple yet elegant, and the sheer dupatta felt light on my shoulders. I tied my hair neatly, added small earrings, and took a slow breath.
But before anything else, I turned to look at Avi.
He was lying there, just like every day... quiet, still, peaceful in a way that broke me from the inside.
His face looked peaceful, but the faint machines beside him reminded me that peace wasn't the same as being alive.
I had already given him a sponge bath earlier — gently, carefully, the way I always did. The hospital had offered a male attendant, insisting that it would be easier, but I refused.
"No one touches my Avi," I had told them.
And I meant it.
I walked to him now, leaned down, and pressed a soft kiss on his forehead.
"Avi, I'm going to college, okay?" I whispered. "I have to submit my assignment, otherwise I won't go at all. After that, I'll come straight back."
I brushed a strand of hair away from his forehead.
"First, I'll go to the temple... then college... and then maybe I'll eat something from the cafeteria."
I paused and smiled gently.
"I know, I know — you don't like when I eat outside food... but sometimes it's okay, right?"
Silence.
But I spoke anyway — because talking to him had become my only strength.
"You take care, hmm? I'll come back soon... just after submitting everything."
Just then, the door opened and Arjun bhaiya walked in. His eyes softened when he saw me.
"Good morning, bhabhi," he said quietly.
I gave him a small smile. "Good morning, bhaiya."
He went straight to Avi, placing a hand on his shoulder — the same way he did every morning, like a silent ritual of hope. I didn't disturb him. After a moment, I greeted him properly and left.
Outside, Rohan was already standing near the car. He opened the door, and I sat down calmly.
The entire drive to the temple, my heart felt heavy. As soon as I stepped inside the quiet mandir, a wave of emotion rushed through me. The fragrance of incense, the soft bells, the calmness — everything reminded me of the days when Avi would bring me here.
I folded my hands in front of Shivji.
"Shivji... it's enough now."
My voice was soft, steady, but filled with a pain I didn't let leak out in tears.
"Please... please make him wake up soon. I can't..."
I exhaled slowly, grounding myself.
"I can't see my Avi like this anymore."
I closed my eyes tightly.
"Everyone smiles in front of me so that I don't cry... I know that. But I can see the pain behind their smiles too.
They are breaking, Shivji. All of them.
Dadi maa stopped eating properly... Maa doesn't step out of her room unless necessary.
Chachi doesn't say any teasing things anymore... even Arjun bhaiya smiles less.
Papa looks too old now. Chachu forgets to rest... and Anaya has become too quiet."
My throat felt tight, but my voice stayed calm.
"The doctors say he is recovering... but I don't see any recovery."
I looked up at Shivji's idol.
"He's not talking... not smiling... not moving... he didn't even lift his finger. And they call this recovery? I don't understand any medical term."
A small breath escaped me — a tired, helpless breath.
"I just understand one thing... please make him wake up. I want to hear his voice. I want to see his smile. I want to see the love in his eyes when he looks at me."
I stood silently, letting the temple bells echo around me.
Then I touched Pandit ji's feet, took his aashirwad, and walked out.
Rohan opened the door for me again.
"College," I said quietly.
And we drove away — my heart left behind in a hospital room, waiting for a pair of eyes that still hadn't opened.
College felt strange today... like I was there, but my mind wasn't.
I submitted my assignment, attended my lectures, wrote notes... but every few minutes, my thoughts drifted back to him.
Avi... did he wake up? Did he move? Is he okay?
Every minute in college felt wasted... like I was cheating on my own heart by being away from him.
I kept telling myself that Avi wouldn't want this...
He would scold me if he knew I was missing classes just to sit beside him.
So I forced myself to stay. For him.
After the second lecture, Trisha nudged me.
"Siya, let's go to the cafeteria? You haven't eaten anything."
I was about to say yes when my phone buzzed. A message.
I opened it — next class cancelled.
"Trisha, our next lecture is cancelled," I said quietly, already grabbing my bag. "There's no lecture now... so I'm going to Avi."
She looked at me the way everyone does now — with worry hidden behind a smile.
"Okay... take care." She hugged me tightly. "Message me when you reach."
I nodded and walked out.
Rohan was already waiting outside. The moment I sat in the car, he didn't ask anything — just started driving. He never asks... and I am grateful for that.
The moment we reached the hospital and I stepped into the room, I saw Maa sitting beside Avi, talking to him softly, caressing his hair like he could hear every word.
When Maa noticed me, she stood up immediately.
"Siya, go freshen up," she said gently. "I'll arrange your food."
"Maa, I—"
She raised her hand before I could finish.
"I know you haven't eaten anything since morning. I will scold you later for that. First freshen up."
I didn't have the strength to deny her. So I walked to the bathroom, washed my face and hands, trying to remove the tiredness from my skin... but the heaviness in my heart stayed.
When I came out, Maa was waiting with food.
"Sit," she said gently, and before I could take the plate, she added, "I'll feed you."
I didn't protest. I didn't speak. I just ate quietly... because I knew if I opened my mouth, my voice would break.
I sat quietly while she fed me each bite, her eyes watching me like I might break. I wasn't breaking... not on the outside. But inside, everything felt tight and achy.
After I finished, she sighed and brushed my hair back.
"You have to take care of yourself, beta. If not for you, then for him."
I nodded.
Maa picked up her bag.
"I'm going home now. Call me if anything happens. And Siya..."
She paused at the door, her eyes lingering on both of us.
"Take care of each other."
She left after another small scolding, and the room felt quiet again. Just me... and my Avi, lying so still.
I walked to him and sat beside the bed, my fingers brushing his hand.
"I'm back," I whispered, calm but aching.
"I told you I'll come after class... and I did."
Silence filled the room, but it didn't scare me anymore.
I had learned to live in it.
For him.
I sat beside him, like always, holding his hand gently between both of mine. His fingers were warm... alive... but so still.
I leaned a little closer and whispered, my voice soft but breaking from inside,
"Avi... please. I can't do this alone anymore. How much more will you punish me?"
My thumb brushed over his knuckles.
"Don't you feel pity on me? I have so much to tell you, Avi... so much to share. So many things I need your opinion on."
My breath trembled.
"Why are you doing this to me? Please... wake up."
I laughed a little, a painful, small laugh.
"You always said you listen to me... whatever I say. Then why the hell are you not listening now? For twenty days, Avi... twenty days I'm saying the same thing."
I swallowed.
"Is it so hard to listen to this one wish of mine?"
Silence.
I closed my eyes, took a deep breath, and forced a smile on my face.
"Okay... sorry. I shouldn't talk to you like this." I lifted his hand to my forehead. "See? I'm smiling too. Only for you."
And just like every day, I began telling him everything —
about college, the temple, Maa scolding me, Trisha hugging me, the cancelled class... everything.
But he stayed quiet.
Not a sound. Not a movement.
I sighed and rested my forehead against the back of his hand—
And that's when the memory hit me. Like a whisper from him.
I was sitting in Avi's lap, his arms wrapped around me like I was the whole world he wanted to protect.
He cupped my face gently, his thumb brushing my cheek in that way that always made my heart calm.
"You know..." he murmured, a soft smile playing on his lips, "you are the most beautiful thing in this world."
My cheeks burned instantly. I hid my face in his chest, giggling before I could stop myself.
Avi laughed quietly, the sound vibrating against me as he held me even closer.
"And I love this sound," he whispered into my hair.
He took my tiny hand in his, lifting it slowly, almost reverently, to kiss the back of it.
"This hand feels like it was made only for me to hold, baby."
I kept my face still buried in his chest as I muttered, half embarrassed,
"How much will you praise me, hmm?
Avi smiled — that soft, helpless smile he had only for me — and whispered,
"Words can finish, Siya... but your praise never will."
The memory faded... leaving my eyes burning.
"Avi... please," I whispered again.
And suddenly...
A small movement.
Very small.
But real.
His finger... moved.
I froze. My heart stopped beating for a second.
I straightened up immediately, staring at his hand like I was scared to blink.
"A-Avi?" I whispered.
He was still sleeping. Completely still. His chest rising and falling. His face calm.
But my hand... I felt it.
I felt it.
"Did I—did I dream that?" I whispered to myself. My heart was racing, confusion and hope clashing inside me.
No. It felt real. A real touch. A real movement.
My hands were shaking as I pressed the bell beside the bed.
The doctor walked in quickly.
"What happened, Rani-sa?"
"I—I felt his finger move," I said, my voice firm even though I was trembling. "He moved. I know what I felt."
The doctor checked his eyes, his pulse, his vitals. After a few moments, he sighed.
"His vitals are stable... but we cannot predict how long this coma will last."
"I'm not asking about the coma," I said quietly. "I'm telling you he moved."
He gave me a sympathetic look — the kind that made me feel small and helpless.
"Maybe you were dreaming, Rani-sa. It happens when family members spend too much time in stress."
"No," I replied softly but with clear certainty. "I wasn't dreaming. I know his touch better than anyone."
But he didn't believe me.
They never do.
Only I know what I felt. Only I know that my Avi is fighting his way back to me.