Chapter 29
Nisha
As my eyes flutter open, it takes a moment to adjust to the soft morning light filtering through the window.
The steady beep of the monitors pulls me back to reality.
I’m still here… in the hospital. Still waiting for Sunita Aunty to wake up.
It’s been three long days, and honestly, I don’t know how I’ve managed to hold it together this long.
The waiting, watching her lie there, completely unresponsive, has almost broken me more times than I can count.
I finally understand what Kavya must have gone through when I was in a coma for so long, and how having someone special by your side to hold your hand can make all the difference.
That someone special, for me, is Sidharth, the only one keeping me sane in this moment of storm.
Even now, I’m curled up beside him on the narrow couch in the corner, my head resting against his chest, listening to his heartbeat. A peaceful smile curls my lips as that steady rhythm is the only thing that’s allowed me to sleep, even if only for a few hours each night.
I shift slightly and reach for my phone, blinking at the dim screen. It’s still only five in the morning. I exhale as I try to sit up, careful not to disturb him, but his arms tighten instinctively around my waist, pulling me right back against him.
“You awake, sweetheart?” he murmurs, his voice husky with sleep as his lips brush against my hair.
“Yeah,” I whisper, closing my eyes for a beat and pulling in a slow breath.
“It’s still early. You could catch a few more hours of sleep,” he says, his hand gently smoothing over my hair.
“I can’t,” I reply quietly, sitting up and easing out of his hold. “I tried, but can’t.”
His thumb lifts to trace the edge of my jaw, back and forth. “What’s going on in that beautiful head of yours?”
“I think it’s a little of everything,” I say, swallowing past the knot in my throat. “Sunita Aunty still hasn’t woken up. And that message…”
“It’s normal to feel like this,” he murmurs, his hand sliding to the nape of my neck and squeezing it gently. “A lot has happened. But this…” His eyes don’t leave mine. “The fear, the waiting, the pain… it’s temporary. You won’t be stuck in this forever. Soon, you’ll be free from all of it.”
“I know you’ll make sure of it,” I whisper, holding his gaze.
He leans forward and presses a soft kiss to my forehead. “You’re damn right about that, sweetheart.”
I give him a small smile in return.
“I should go grab some coffee,” he says, brushing a thumb under my eye as if trying to wipe away the fatigue.
I nod. “Okay.”
He hesitates for a second longer, like he doesn’t want to leave me alone. Then he leans in and brushes his lips against mine before walking towards the door.
“Be right back,” he smiles, casting one last look over his shoulder before slipping out.
The door clicks shut behind him, and I find myself staring at it for a long moment. I exhale sharply, then turn to Sunita Aunty.
With a sad smile, I rise to my feet and make my way to her. I drop into the chair beside her bed and gently reach out, taking her cold hand in mine.
“Please wake up, Aunty,” I whisper, the same words I’ve been repeating like a prayer for days now. “Please…” My thumb runs slowly over the back of her hand, a silent plea in every stroke. “I need you to open your eyes.”
My voice cracks, tears pricking at the corners of my eyes.
“I miss your scolding, your little lectures… even the way you tease me about Sidharth.” A shaky laugh escapes through the tears.
“You knew before I did that I loved him, and you’ll be happy to know that I’ve finally confessed my love, Aunty. ”
I grip her hand tighter, my voice trembling. “Now I just want you to wake up and give us your blessing.” My tears fall freely now. “Please. Wake up. Give me a sign. Anything.”
I rest my forehead against the edge of the bed, still clutching her hand. I don’t even hear the door open. I only realise Sidharth has entered when his fingers brush lightly over my shoulder. I let go of Sunita Aunty’s hand, lift my head, and meet his eyes.
“Come, let’s have some coffee,” he says gently, nodding towards the coffee table near the sofa.
I’m just about to shake my head and say no, when a faint voice makes my heart stop.
“You better have your coffee. You’re cranky without it.”
My head snaps towards the bed to find Sunita Aunty’s eyes flutter open, a soft smile lining her face. For a heartbeat, I freeze, unable to believe what I’m seeing. Then a choked sob escapes my throat, and my hands fly to cover my mouth as tears blur my vision.
“Aunty…” I whisper, lunging forward and grasping her hands in mine. I bend down and kiss them over and over again. “You’re awake,” I cry, my voice breaking with joy. “You’re really awake… Thank God. I was so scared. I—I thought…”
“You thought I’d leave you?” Her attempt to smile is feeble, but it sends my heart crashing into my ribs.
I shake my head, laughing and crying at the same time. “Don’t joke like that! You scared me out of my mind.”
She blinks slowly, her brows knitting faintly. “How long?”
“Three days,” I say, brushing a tear off my cheek with the back of my hand. “Three whole days we’ve been waiting for you to open your eyes.”
Beside me, Sidharth steps closer to the bed and gently places his hand over hers, right where mine is still holding on. “We can’t tell you how happy we are to see you awake, Aunty.”
Her gaze shifts slowly towards him, soft and heavy with affection. “You stayed with her?”
“Of course, Aunty. I couldn’t leave her. Not for a second,” he replies.
Even in her frailty, there’s a flicker of pride that lights up her expression, and I swear I see her silently pass on an unspoken blessing.
Her fingers twitch in mine, but her gaze remains fixed on him.
With the ghost of a smirk tugging at her lips, she says to him, “Good. Because you’re the only one I trust to look after this stubborn girl. ”
“Your trust means the world to me, Aunty. I swear on my life, I’ll never break it.” He gives her hand a gentle squeeze. “And I’m not just here for now. I’m in this for life. I want to marry her, Aunty. Take care of her and build a forever future with her.”
My heart picks up speed. I wanted to be the one to tell Aunty, but Sidharth just blurted out the truth. And honestly, I’m not even mad at him. Seeing the happiness on her face, I know no timing could’ve been more perfect than this.
“You have my blessings, son,” she murmurs as a tear slips down her cheek. Sidharth leans in and gently wipes it away.
“Thank you for your blessing, Aunty. I truly love Nisha, and I’ll spend every day proving I’m worthy of her.” A beat passes before he adds, “That’s a promise from the man who’ll cherish her with all his heart.”
The lump in my throat rises so fast that I can barely breathe through the flood of emotions coursing through me. I look from her to him, overwhelmed by how the scattered pieces of happiness are slowly falling back into place.
Sunita Aunty squeezes my hand. “You both gave me something to smile about. It almost made me forget I’m in a hospital.”
Her words hit me like a splash of cold water, and in that moment, I’m reminded of exactly why she’s here.
“It’s all my fault that you’re lying here, Aunty,” I whisper, my voice trembling as I lower my head, unable to meet her eyes.
She frowns faintly. “What nonsense are you saying?”
I hesitate, lifting my head to meet her eyes. “If I hadn’t left you alone that day…”
“Stop,” she interrupts, her voice firm despite its weakness. “You are not to blame for someone else’s evil. Do you understand me?”
“But Aunty…”
“No.” Her eyes sharpen, and her fingers squeeze mine with surprising strength. “You’ve been through enough already. Don’t carry guilt that doesn’t belong to you.”
“Aunty, I’ve been telling her the same thing,” Sidharth chimes in. “But she refuses to listen. Only you can beat some sense into her now.”
Aunty nods at him, then narrows her eyes at me.
“Listen to me, Nisha. If Sidharth is saying it, and I’m saying it, then it’s the truth.
And it’s about time you started believing it too.
” Her hand comes up to cup my cheek. “You are not at fault. Stop punishing yourself for something you didn’t cause. ”
My lip quivers, and I can’t speak. I just nod, pressing her hand tighter to my cheek. I stay like that for a moment, breathing her in.
“Does Kavya know?” she asks.
I shake my head. “No. I haven’t told her anything.”
She nods softly. “You did the right thing. With her being pregnant, the last thing she needs is more stress.” Then she turns her gaze to Sidharth, a hint of weariness in her eyes. “I don’t need to tell you to catch whoever’s involved in this.”
Sidharth’s jaw tightens, and his eyes darken with determination.
“You don’t have to, Aunty. I won’t rest until I find them and make sure they never hurt anyone again.” A beat of silence passes before his voice drops. “Especially not the ones I love.”
“That’s why I trust you with her,” Aunty says softly, just as a knock sounds at the door. The same nurse walks in, holding a small device.
“Oh, you’re awake!” The nurse says with a smile as she steps forward. “Let me check your vitals real quick, and then I’ll inform the doctor right away.”
Sunita Aunty gives a faint nod as the nurse begins adjusting the machines, gently placing the blood pressure cuff around her arm. She winces slightly at the pressure but says nothing, her eyes drifting back to me with a soft, reassuring look.
“Everything looks okay for now,” the nurse says cheerfully, glancing at the monitor.
Sunita Aunty lets out a tired sigh, then turns her gaze to the nurse. “When will I be discharged?”
The nurse smiles at her. “Well, that’s up to the doctor, but with how things are progressing, I’d say soon. Let me go inform him you’re awake. He’ll be in shortly to check on you and let you know exactly when you’ll be free to go.”
Sunita Aunty nods slowly as the nurse gives us one last encouraging smile before stepping out, the door clicking softly shut behind her.
I reach up to brush her hair gently back from her forehead. “We’ll be home soon, Aunty.”
“That’s all I need, beta. To go home with the people I love. That’s more than enough for this old lady,” she murmurs, her eyes starting to close again.
“Rest,” Sidharth says softly. “We’ll be right here when you wake up again.”
Her lips twitch into a tired smile before her eyes flutter shut.
I sit back in the chair, still holding her hand, my thumb brushing gently over her knuckles.
Sidharth crouches beside me, his hand resting on my knee.
“You okay?”
I nod slowly, then lift my eyes to meet his. “I think I’m… or at least, I’m getting there.”
“She’s a fighter. Just like you.”
His words settle deep in my chest, anchoring me, holding me together when everything else threatens to tear me apart.