34 | finally they meet
_________________________________________
Avantika suddenly sat up on the bed. Her breath was uneven, but her mind was clear now.
"I can't do this anymore... I can't be stupid. I need answers. Right now."
Without waiting for anyone, she quietly got up and slipped out of the house before anyone could notice. She drove herself straight to Avyukt's house.
But when she reached there, it was almost empty. Only a few staff members were present.
She quickly walked in. "Where is everyone? What happened here?"
The staff looked confused, then hesitated before telling her about Renuka's condition.
The moment Avantika heard it, her face turned pale.
"Hospital... which hospital? Tell me!"
But no one had clear information. Everyone looked just as lost.
Frustrated and panicking, she stepped out into the garden and immediately called Avyukt's secretary.
The call was picked up. But the answer she received made everything worse.
"I'm sorry... I don't know anything. Sir has locked his phone. He told us not to disturb him for a few days and that he will handle everything himself."
Avantika froze.
"No calls... no contact... nothing?" she whispered.
"Nothing," the secretary confirmed.
Her hand slowly lowered. she didn't know where to go.
After a long pause... she gave up.
And went back home.
---
On the other side, everything was falling apart.
The hospital belonged to Vardhan Group, so Renuka was getting the best treatment possible, but no one in that house was living normally anymore.
They shifted between hospital and hotel rooms, but nobody really rested.
Avyukt never left the hospital.
He just sat there.
Same chair. Same position.
Hours turning into days.
Three to four days passed.
He barely ate anything-sometimes just a coffee, sometimes a single toast.
No sleep.
No reaction.
No words.
It was like he was physically present... but mentally gone.
A living body with no life inside.
---
After a few days, Renu slowly regained consciousness.
The first thing she said, in a weak but clear voice, was: "I want to meet Avantika and Abhimanyu."
The room went silent.
Dr. Prince stepped outside and informed everyone.
"They need to be called."
But everyone knew the truth. Calling both of them was not that simple anymore.
It wasn't just a phone call.
It was a broken bridge.
---
Avyukt thought for a moment that he should call Abhimanyu himself... but before he could-
His father called him.
He informed him everything.
Avyukt finally moved.
Abhimanyu agreed to come.
---
When he arrived at the hospital, he didn't look at anyone.
No greetings.
No questions.
He directly walked toward the ICU room. Inside, he sat beside his mother for a while. Soft words were exchanged between them-painful, quiet, unfinished.
And then... Without meeting anyone's eyes... Abhimanyu stood up. And walked out of the hospital.
Just like that.
Silently.
As if he had nothing left to hold on to... except the weight he was carrying alone.
_______
Avantika was sitting under the tree outside her house, on the wooden bench.
Her mind was completely blank. What she had just heard... she couldn't accept it. And she also couldn't deny it.
Both emotions were fighting inside her at the same time.
She closed her eyes tightly.
How could I be so stupid...?
How did I not see this all...?
She kept blaming herself over and over, but she had no answers, no clarity, nothing to hold on to.
For the past few days, she hadn't been able to contact anyone properly. She hadn't eaten well. She hadn't slept properly.
And in all of this... she had completely forgotten one thing- She was not okay physically either.
She suddenly stood up from the bench.
Her body felt weak, but her decision was instant.
She went inside, took the car keys, and walked out.
Her father tried to stop her.
"Avantika-where are you going?"
But her mother gently held him back.
"Let her go... she needs to."
No one in the house knew yet about her condition... not even what she was going through internally.
She got into the car. Siya followed her without asking anything. And both of them headed toward the hospital.
---
On the way, Avantika started feeling a slight pain in her stomach.
She ignored it at first.
But it kept increasing slowly.
---
At the hospital entrance, Krish was standing there. The moment he saw Avantika and Siya, he froze.
Siya and Krish looked at each other for a brief second-silent, unsure.
Avantika quickly walked toward Krish.
"Is Mom admitted here?"
Krish looked confused...
then nodded slowly. "Yes... she's here."
He hesitated, then pointed them toward the direction.
Avantika didn't wait. She started walking immediately. But the pain in her stomach suddenly increased sharply.
She paused briefly, breathing unevenly.
Siya rushed beside her. "Avantika di-are you okay?"
But Avantika shook her head slightly and forced herself to move.
---
First, she went for her check-up in the gynecology department.
The doctor examined her and said calmly, "It's stress and lack of proper diet. You need rest. You are too weak right now."
Avantika nodded silently, but her mind was already somewhere else. She came out of the room... and that's when everything froze again.
Siya and Ruhi were standing nearby, looking for her.
Before they could speak and think -
___
Krish reached there first.
He looked around and then asked, confused,
"Are you looking for someone?"
Avyukt's dad immediately asked, "Who are you looking for?"
Krish answered, "Avantika bhabhi..."
At that exact moment- Avyukt, who was standing a little further away, turned instantly.
"Bhabhi came here?"
Krish nodded slowly. "Yes... she came... but I don't think she's here now."
Silence.
That one line hit differently.
Avyukt didn't expect her to be here.
Not now.
Not like this.
His expression changed instantly.
His calm broke.
Why did she come here? Is she okay? Did something happen?
His thoughts started spiraling.
And before anyone could stop him-
His eyes shifted.
And he saw her.
A little distance away.
Standing still.
Avantika.
Neither of them moved for a moment.
No words.
No reaction.
Just silence stretching between them like something heavy and unbreakable.
Siya and Krish also froze.
Ruhi looked around helplessly, thinking-
Someone please say something... anything...
But no one did.
Then slowly, Avantika walked forward.
And without saying a single word...She sat down next to Avyukt.
Siya quietly went and sat beside Ruhi.
Krish stayed standing for a moment, still looking at both of them.
Avyukt didn't move.
Avantika didn't look away.
Everything around them went completely silent.
Not peaceful.
Not calm.
Just... heavy.
As if even words were afraid to enter that space.