[Guys, everyone who were thinking whether it was dream or reality will get their answer now. LOL And those who have guessed it right, congrats to them. :D]

Prachi heard her mother calling out to her again, as if from a long distance. It appeared to her as if her mother's voice was coming down a long tunnel. Then someone placed a hand on her arm and shook her.

With a jolt, she came awake and looked blearily around. Prachi was bemused to find herself still in the car and her mother, Sahana and Sarita ji staring at her with concern. It took her a while to realize that she was having a dream.

"Prachi, are you alright?" Pragya placed a hand on Prachi's cheek concernedly.

"Yes, ma. I am okay." Prachi didn't quite meet her mother's eyes.

Pragya sighed, knowing that Prachi was lying but didn't press it. All four of them disembarked from the cab and started walking towards the hospital. Pragya and Saritaji walked ahead while Prachi and Sahana were behind them.

"You were having some dream, weren't you?" Sahana pulled Prachi's arm, drawing her closer.

"Why do you ask?" Prachi looked back at her, surprised.

"Because you were mumbling something in your sleep. What dream was it?" Sahana stared at Prachi curiously.

"Oh ok. I...I don't really remember." Prachi looked ahead.

"Oh. It didn't sound like a nightmare though." Sahana frowned in confusion.

"Let's go Sahana." Prachi held her hand and almost dragged her along as she quickened her pace.

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"Ugh! This stupid car just had break down in the middle of the road. We are getting late, Buji." Rhea whined.

"We will reach there as soon as we can, Rhea. I have informed Bhai. Don't worry, sweetheart. You will be the first one to see Ranbir apart from his family." Aliya reassured an agitated Rhea as she concentrated on driving.

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Sanju, who had left the cab a little away from the hospital and hid behind a tree, came out of his hiding place.

"Hmm...so if Ranbir Kohli is in hospital that has to mean Rhea and Aliya Khanna will come to see him or have already arrived. I will have to be prepared if I want to give them their dues." Sanju smirked.

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On locating the reception desk, Prachi hurried towards it, followed by the other three.

"Ran...Ranbir...Ranbir Kohli." Prachi managed to get out past the constriction in her throat.

The older woman behind the desk felt a surge of pity within her, witnessing the distraught state of the young woman in front of her. She felt it would be a crime to make the girl wait for information.

"Ranbir Kohli. Accident case. Private ward. 3rd floor. Room No 100." The woman related without moving her eyes from the computer screen and then looked up and smiled at Prachi sympathetically.

"Thank you." Prachi was about to turn away but stopped as the woman started to speak again.

"Don't worry, dear. Your husband will be perfectly fine." The woman smiled again.

Prachi was too distraught to correct her and nodding, she hurried away. It didn't escape Pragya, who smiled a little.

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As soon as the lift doors slid open, Prachi was out of the lift and hurrying down the corridor. Sahana, Saritaji and Pragya followed her.

As she walked down the long corridor flanked with rooms on both sides, the Kohli family came into view. They were assembled in front of the room at the end of the corridor.

As Prachi and family hurried towards them, they turned hearing footsteps.

Pallavi's eyes were brimming with tears, while tension was etched on every single feature of Daljeet, Aryan and Vikram. The Kohlis and Aryan began to walk towards them.

As they neared the distraught family, Pragya stepped forth.

"How is Ranbir, Mr Kohli?" Pragya regarded him, tensed.

"He has hurt his head but thankfully there's no internal haemorrhage. His forehead required 3 stitches. But the doctor said he is alright now. However, the doctor also said that he needed to be in the hospital for 2 days as they will need to check if he has a concussion. Also, some other tests are to be done." Vikram sighed tiredly.

"But, is he conscious now? Has he regained consciousness?" Prachi looked at Vikram anxiously.

"They have given him sedatives, beta. But they said he will be awake soon." Vikram tried to reassure the worried girl.

"Prachi" Pallavi trudged towards them.

Prachi turned towards her while Pragya regarded her with a slight frown.

To everyone's surprise, Pallavi took Prachi's hands in her own. Her hands were trembling slightly.

"Prachi, I know what I have done is not easily forgivable. In fact no one is more ashamed of my behaviour than me. Guilt is very difficult to live with. I am not able to meet my own eyes. I don't know what came over me. Why I behaved the way I did that day. Maybe I am a very gullible person who just believes whatever was in front of her eyes and I don't have the intellect to realize the truth. I am not a good judge of characters and I have proved it. But I am not an evil person. I am not evil by nature. Just very gullible. I shouldn't have believed what I saw but the way she presented everything to me that I just couldn't think beyond it. Prachi, I am apologizing to you. I can't describe how sorry I am. Will you please try to forgive me? I assure you, my child, my faith in you will never waver again. So, will you forgive me Prachi?" Pallavi pleaded with tear drenched eyes.

"Please don't say like that, Pallavi aunty. I understand the situations were such that you reacted that way. Please don't feel guilty. I have forgiven you. Yes, I was hurt but I don't hold any grudge against you. It was a matter of the past. Let's forget it and move on." Prachi smiled through tears.

"You are such a sweet and understanding child. No wonder your mother is so proud of you. You are so forgiving, such a gem of a person. It was my fault that I didn't see that. But I promise you, Prachi, that it will never happen again." Pallavi patted Prachi's cheek affectionately.

Pallavi then turned to Pragya. She walked over to her and joined her palms.

"I know I am asking for too much probably. But please, will you try to forgive me? Anuradha ji, I had hurt a mother and as a consequence, God had punished me through my child. I promise you my faith in Prachi will never waver again. If you don't believe me, I swear by my son. Please forgive me." Pallavi entreated.

"It is true that your refusal to believe in Prachi's innocence had hurt me and my daughter but it is her who has suffered the most. But today your apology felt sincere and straight out of the heart. So, if Prachi forgave you then I am forgiving you too. But make sure next time you don't repeat the same mistake, Pallavi ji, because if you do, neither I will forgive you nor will I let my daughter forgive you." Pragya's tone stated that she meant every word.

The Kohlis understood the unsaid words that this was their last chance and if they messed up this time there would be no more second chances for them.

"We promise you it will never happen again. Please forgive me too as I had doubts too. I am the eldest in the family and yet I lacked the understanding of character that those who are younger than me possess. Apparently my age and the experience that comes with it haven't taught me anything. Puttar, please forgive me too if you can." Daljeet walked over to the mother daughter duo and pleaded by holding one hand of each in her hands.

"It's okay auntyji. Let's forget about it. But only this one time." Pragya regarded the Kohlis sombrely.

"Yes, dadi, like ma said, please forget about it. Think of it as a nightmare that had passed." Prachi smiled a little at the very guilty old woman.

Smiling slightly, Daljeet blessed Prachi by keeping her hand on her head.

At that moment, the door to the room opened and the doctor walked out, followed by a nurse. Everyone hurried towards her.

"Dr. Roy, how is Ranbir? Is he awake? Can we see him now?" Pallavi showered one question after the other on the doctor.

"Calm down, Mrs. Kohli. Good news for you all. Ranbir is alright and has just regained consciousness. You all can go meet him now. I will return after completing my round." The doctor smiled.

Thanking the doctor, all of them hurried into the room.

Ranbir was sitting propped up against the pillows and was staring blearily around. He blinked his eyes and gradually his vision cleared. Hurried footsteps made him turn to the door only to find his family rushing in.

He smiled at them reassuringly, knowing how much they would have been worried. But then his eyes moved past them and stopped at the figure standing just inside the threshold. A rush of relief instantly flooded him.

He gave her a tentative smile while she frowned darkly, letting him know what was to come. He gulped nervously. But it also filled him with exhilaration. He understood her better than he understood himself. He knew this anger for what it was, worry for his well being, proof that she cared.

He turned his attention to his mother as she began to speak.

"Ranbir! Ranbir, you are alright na? You know how worried I was? All of us were so scared. What if something...." Pallavi began.

"Mom! Calm down. I am fine. Absolutely fine. Nothing happened to me. It was just a small accident." Ranbir interrupted her.

"I should give you a hard slap. It will explain the difference between small and big to you. Idiot!" Vikram raised his hand playfully.

Ranbir ducked and looked at his dida for help, making a puppy face.

"Oye Vikram! How dare you trouble my grandson? Don't you see he is not well. Instead of showering your love and affection on him, you are speaking all nonsense? Move aside. Let me see my beloved grandson." Daljeet almost pushed Vikram aside.

"Ranbir, how are you, my child? Are you okay?" Daljeet placed a hand on his stubbly cheek.

"Don't worry dida, I am absolutely fine. These doctors just want to make a hefty bill. That's why they are forcefully keeping me here." Ranbir frowned making everyone smile.

However, there was one person who didn't smile and was just observing the goings on with a frown.

Now who is this? Socho socho. 😂😂

I have always wanted this long apology from Pallavi and also an apology from Daljeet. Not the bland and small one the cvs showed. If they can accuse someone so elaborately why can't they apologize properly. So here they have. 

Hope Aman Ka Kohlis ke liye gussa ab thoda Kam ho. 😂😂

Aur Shree aur Khushi mujhe chase karenge ab. Fir se cliffhanger mein story ko chor diya Maine. 🤣🤣🤣

Hope you all like it. Please don't forget to vote and comment. Waiting for your feedbacks.

Precap - Hospital romance ;)