Some time back,  I lost someone to suicide, I shall dedicate this story to her, for love and friendship and feelings that are unbearable. For something, that is so true to pure that the feeling is for always, but maybe she wasn't able to recollect and feel them in the last few hours of her life.

If you are reached this far, then I thank you for showing me the support. Whenever I feel low in my life, the Wattpad family ALWAYS has been there.   

The ICU room was brightly lit, with fairy lights and candles.  A small shrine was placed on the table of the room, with three different pots of indoor plants- a jade, a spider plant, and a snake plant. A diya was placed in front of the Gods and Goddesses and a soft mahamritunjay mantra played on Abhi's phone.   His mask was on, to avoid any sort of transmission of the virus,  especially with the covid cases on a rise.  He lowered his mask and sipped a light brown hot liquid from a cup and chuckled recalling Akshara's words, 'methi daana wali smile'.  He sipped the hot  liquid, nearly burning his tongue. He got slightly closer to her, the wounds on her face were convalescing, "I took a shower today," he reported to her, "shampooed my hair and revamped my outfit of the day. Neil said that maybe I wasn't giving you pleasant vibes," he chortled gently, "maybe smeller vibes?" He took two more sips of the drink, a single tear escaped his eye, "my ghrelu doctor, what should I do to make you come back to me?" He put his glass on the table, held her hand, and like every day, rested his head by her side and shut his eyes, "just come back, I miss those times when you would talk to me, good, bad, bitter, everything, I've spent days thinking of the older content, I can't wait hear more." Two tears escaped her eyes, but no one noticed, not even him.  

When he woke up, the ambience had a distinct aroma.  He looked around and found a  small glass bottle next next to his cup, curious to find out what it was, he opened the familiar bottle and sniffed it, "Gudhal ka tel," a voice responded, startling Abhi.

"Neil?"  Abhi frowned, and turned around, "why did..."

"It has been more than a week. I asked Taiji if we could use hibiscus oil to relieve any stress that the Akshara is feeling. She said that it is beneficial for cuts and bruises." He walked up to him, and argued, "it's rich in Vitamin C and A so..." he was scared that his brother would yell at him, "so I applied it on some nearly-healed cuts  and her feet."

Abhimanyu nodded, proud of his brother, "you did well." He was impressed,  rubbing his face with fingertips, he questioned, "did you go get it from the same lady when Maa was sick?" 

Neil shook his head, "Bhai,"  he paused and  confessed, "Akshara had made it for Maa."  

Abhimanyu shook his head overwhelmingly , "No..." He marveled at her, with gratitude, love, and more unanswered questions. 

"I thought you would get angry at me, that's why I didn't tell you earlier!" he picked up a box, "Bhai, ma sent some food for you, please eat. If you don't eat food, you'll get unwell and then you might not be able to spend time with Akshara! " he pointed;  in return Abhi nodded, "I haven't been able to talk to ma properly, is she well?" 

"She is well. She is taking her medicines on time. She spends loads of her time in front of the mandir, praying for her wellbeing,"  he replied. " I'm going home, I've brought your clothes for the night and some other essentials. kept them in your room." As he started walking towards the door, he turned and pointed at the cup, "Bhai, that elixir tastes terrible! Stop drinking that!"  

Abhimanyu smiled at him and confirmed his discovery and turned to look at Akshu, "How can I not fall in love with you," he passed his hand in her hair, "Akshu,  if you want that I stop falling more in love with you,  please wake up, Jaan." 

 Aarohi walked around her bedroom, disenchanted,  opening her drawers, looking through the almirah,  searching for something desperately. She had not been able to sleep peacefully and when she did, Kairav's words hurt her heart.  Was she to take her brother seriously or believe he said that in his anger? She compassed that she would have to win back Kairav bhai's love. She wouldn't allow her family to think she was responsible for any of this, impossible, she thought to herself, Kairav bhai will come to apologize to her soon. She convinced herself that he had said it because he was disturbed by Akshara's condition, nothing else.  Exhausted from today, she looked at the empty room, flashbacks of her childhood replayed in front of her. There was a time when Akshara and she would play around here. Papa used to love them so much, never once made either feel that they were half-sisters.  Mama hadn't ever allowed them to feel like they were any different to her. Even Kairav Bhai had always loved Aarohi equally, never making her feel that she was his half-sister.  This was her family and Akshara was part of it.  But this was Akshara's family too. 

She removed a white cloth and revealed what she had been trying to find, in the drawers of her box bed. She flipped the album open, her family photo, all were smiling. They were all so perfect, a loving and caring family. She looked at Kartik, her dad, and her mom,  Sirat Maa, what would they have wanted? If Papa was here, wouldn't he have blamed Akshara for the accident? She flipped through the pictures and found the envelope, she had failed to read, her heart skipped a beat, as she unsealed it.  

Dear Aaru, 

I would always been scared that someone will take you away from me. As I got older, I didn't know my nightmare would one day come true, you would want me to leave you. Mama used to say that I'm  Aaru's lawyer and bodyguard, mama had said she will tie our feet together so that we don't ever go away from each other, mama had said our Rishta is of siblings, two sisters  can never separate, neither you nor I can ever change the fact that we are connected by blood, nothing can change it. 

 I loved you meri Golu, I will always love you my highness, and I will miss you so much Aaru.   Just hoping one day, when you read this, you will realize I adore you and will love you always.

Always yours, 

Your molu,

Akshu

,

That had hit harder than she imagined, those words had never been spoken to her. Some flashbacks to when she loved Akshara unconditionally, they were so happy and used to call each other golu-molu, princess and commoner, had she just been disillusioned? She questioned herself, had Akshara been Sirat Ma's daughter, would she have reacted this way? Would she still have disliked her this much, blamed her for the accident?  Why didn't this bother her earlier?  Has she really been unfair to her? Was what Kairav bhaiya said, true? 

She flipped through the album and saw a picture of her dad with Naira, Kairav and Akshara. Naira's photo always made her stomach somersault,  how could two distinct people look so similar. She sat down on the bed,  had she disappointed everyone in the family? Was she truly responsible for  Akshara's state?  She closed her eyes and lay in the bed, holding the album and the letter close to her.  

A call distracted her thoughts, Dr. Ravish was on the call, "Hello Doctor Aarohi!" Sitting up to sweaty palms, she opened her eyes to her darkroom,  holding on to the album, she felt pain.

"Hello Doctor, is Akshara doing well?"  She harshly rubbed her tears. 

"I'm afraid, I don't have good news. We are losing her.  I've informed your family. I thought I should call you personally as I didn't see you in the hospital." 

"What do you mean?" She sadly questioned. 

"Before I pronounce any conclusion, you know comas are the worst medical emergencies we have to deal with...if you want to say your last few words to her, it's now..."  Doctor Ravish sighed and cut the call.  His words rang in her ears. 'the moment she loses her will to live, you nor I will be able to save her, we are out of time. we are out of time...we are out of time." 

That was the last blow to her,  the pain of the loss she had felt when her dad had left her and when her mom had passed away in front of her was hit again.  "Akshu," she breathed, "not this time."  Tears fell from her eyes, she stood up from her bed, tucked the letter in the album, ran downstairs, wore slippers, still holding on to the album.  She started the car, it was nine at night, beyond visitor's time, but the fear of losing her sister smarted her heart. She drove harshly and reached Birla Hospital in no time, still clutching to the album. She walked straight inside the hospital, roughly wearing her uniform and coat, and grabbing a mask, she walked inside ICU,  where two doctors were examining Akshu. 

"Doctor Aarohi..." one of the doctors addressed, looking at sandals,  " she offered the plastic shoe covers. 

"I need some time with her," she breathed, the other doctor patted her shoulder and they left her alone with Akshara. She had visited Akshara daily, but today, her emotions were different. She saw her sister, her head throbbing. In her medical education, she wasn't taught how to deal with this, but she was well aware that the chances of recovery got less as days passed. She sat down and looked at her sister, in deep sleep, she wasn't used to her silence, wiping her tears, she held Akshara's hands, feeling the coldness, her spine chilled, she checked the ventilator, "Akshu, can you hear me," she whimpered, she had kept herself from crying as she had full faith that she would get better, the reality of her state had just hit her. "Akshu," still sobbing, unable to produce words, "you always listen to me, always pray that my wishes come true, right? Please, one more wish!  Please fulfill my one last wish."  Unable to deal with her unresponsiveness, she let go of the hand and took a few steps back to the shrine, "Bhagwan Ji," she fell on her knees, "why is it hurting me so much? I dislike Akshu, she is the reason Maa left me,  it was her fault, non?"  She questioned naively, "But..., " she felt the droplets fall on her hand, " these tears and this..." she touched her heart, "this heart is beating so fast, my brain isn't allowing me to close my eyes peacefully, I'm feeling scared. I have never been fearful ever since mom and dad left me, but today, this fear is back. Why?  I don't want Akshu to die. I just wanted her to go away so that I wouldn't have to see her face, I didn't want her to be part of my life, and she did leave, but returned. I just didn't want to share my family with her, but ... this family was hers too, I was punishing her, but she didn't deserve the punishment. " And she turned to look at her sister, "she doesn't deserve this either! I couldn't see my family in tears and agony and so prayed that she will get better, but now..." she looked at her sister brokenheartedly, "I want her back for me.  I don't want her to leave me because..." she licked her dried, chapped lips, "I won't be able to live without her.  Ever since mama and papa left, she made so many sacrifices for me. How did I forget, they were just not mine but they were her mama and papa too. She kept loving me," she took out the letter, and placed it infront of the shrine, "see, she took care of me, but you took care of her! Please save her!" Putting her head in front of the shrine, she let the warm salty tears leave her eyes, she stood up and walked up to Akshu, held her hand again, and put her head against it, she prayed silently, 'please return my sister to me. I promise I will love her. I promise I will be the best sister.  My happy family! She opened the album, "already our mom and dad have left us,  Kairav bhai will never forgive me.  And Akshu and Kairav are all I have left of papa and ma!' Kairav's words were still crystal clear, 'maybe I don't deserve an elder sister like Akshara. She looked at Akshara, "but Akshara does deserve a good sister." 

"Akshu,"  she lowered her eyes, " I am sorry. I'm so sorry that I blamed you for Mama's death. You were not responsible, it was in her destiny and it had to happen in that way. Nothing you nor I could have done. Your golu is sorry, maaf kardo di." Tears flowed out of Akshara's eyes. Aarohi pressed on the hand, those tears were her hope. She was listening to her and she was going to ensure that brings her out of this inertia.  She wiped her tears, "You can hear me, Mama would be so happy today to see  us like this." She held her bandaged face, "Akshu, you are listening to me right? I solved everything, your Aaru is suddenly very smart, I was born smart, but.."  she wiped her nose, chuckling, "enough for self-praising,  do you want to hear from what your Aaru did?" She looked at the ring on her finger and happily removed it, "I told Abhimanyu that I can't marry him because he is my sister's," saying this didn't pain her, "no offense, Abhimanyu is a little too much of a lover-type boy, he's not how I imagined my husband to be; I might not be able to deal with him and I'm over him, seriously, he might be topper," she tried convincing, "but I think, I broke his heart, maybe, so you will have to come out of this coma and fix his heart,  please apologize from my side too...!" she wiped off Akshu's tears, her lips quivered, "I'll tell you more what is happening!" She was energetic to see her sister finally make some reactions, she was willing to go all out, "You know, Bade Papa, Badi ma, Mimi,  Harshvardhan Uncle, Manjari aunty, oh and that chamkadar, they have taken the car to some Kuldevi Mandir to fix your and Abhimanyu's wedding," there was movement in her fingers, her heart rate was increasing, she firmly held her hand, "they have taken your horoscope to the Pandit Ji to match your and Abhimanyu's! That's right! And that cham...Neil informed me that it matched so well that even the Doctor Harshvardhan Birla  said, 'Ram-Sita jaisi Jodi'." She enacted and then cringed, "Very cheesy, non? It doesn't suit his brooding no-nonsense personality. She waited for newer reflexes, "I know you can hear me, Akshu, your princess has finally understood if there is someone you love more than Abhimanyu,  that's ME! And maybe that Abhi of yours can be jealous, I won't mind it, after all, bhen-bhen ka Rishta is stronger than any partner's relationship, right? " More tears flowed out of each eye, she could feel her fingers lightly tighten their grip. This encouraged Aarohi and she continued her lies, "Akshu, did I forget to tell you,  I told them the whole truth, I told them that you saved your Abhi from the fire, when Manjari aunty was sick, you had done a special puja for her in the temple," she looked at her sister, she was breathing normally on her own, "did you know, they thought I had convinced you to go as a witness, I have cleared all the misunderstandings! I told them, sure Akshu does everything I ask her to, but stop giving me credit for everything."  A slight smile formed, "sure I'm smarter than Akshu, but my sister is as good as me. Have people failed to acknowledge how well you you sing, dance, play the guitar,  know your music therapy, and know how to heal people..." she kissed her hand, "your love healed me, Akshu, let my love heal you. I promise today will be the death of all misunderstandings and problems of your life!" 

Tears escaped her closed eyes, Aarohi's throat was dry, from all the talking, she was willing to do this again till Akshu finally came out of this forced reverie.  She found a cup of cold green tea and drank it to quench her thirst, "Chii," she spit it all out  on the table, "what the hell is this?" She smelt it, "I said such big-big things, and I got to drink this bitter-god-knows-what-disgusting-tea, who in their right mind drinks this shit?" 

"Aaru,"  Akshara smiled, her eyes twinkled,  she removed her oxygen mass, "I love you."

 Taking Aarohi by surprise, she put the cup back and widely smiled, "Akshu," she got close to her sister, held her face, "you're back!" She shouted, "Oh my God, you're back!" 

  Akshara smiled through the tears, "I love you..."

"I love you too."  

They hugged each other, as time passed, they both realized, that they have always shared love and friendship.  The feeling that Aarohi had tonight was unbearable, she knew it was so true to pure that the feeling will stay always. She had loved her sister and will love her sister; and no matter how far Akshara went from her life, she still wanted her to be there, always. They were family.  For Akshara, the words spoken to her by her sister mended her emotions and cleared her thought process, she was able to recollect and feel them. Her sister's collection of lies reflected how badly she still wanted her to stay.  And in those few minutes, Akshara had realized she had will to still live a life she had wanted- with her sister and with him, of course, with her whole Goenka family. 

They embraced each other each other tightly,  cried till Aarohi realized, "Shit! I'll actually have to solve everything now!"

Akshara grinned, "Jhuti!" 

My heart and soul is in this one, may you have good things to say! :)