Ayesha's POV

I run into the hospital with Pallavi and Ishika. The moment Charan called us, we all immediately got an auto and rushed to the hospital. When we get there, Charan, Nivi, and Rajendra anna are already there.

"Nivi!" I shout. I run up to her and give her a big hug. I give her to Pallavi and Ishika before turning to Charan.

"Vijay ki emaindi?" I ask Charan.

"What happened to Vijay?" I ask Charan.

"Nivi ni save chesetappudu Arjun Veera kaalchadu. Rendu bullet-lu digaayi. Surgery lo unnadu. Inka emi theleedu, kaani blood chaala poyindi."

"Arjun Veera shot him when he was saying Nivi. He got shot with two bullets. He's in surgery, we don't know anything yet. But he lost a lot of blood."

I fall into a chair. My brain shuts down. All I can think of is Vijay, shot and bleeding out.

****

The doctor comes out of the operating theater a few hours later. Charan's parents had joined us a while ago, as have Nani anna and Aarthi. We all stand up at once.

"Doctor, emaindi?" Charan asks.

"Doctor, what happened?" Charan asks.

"Bullets rendu bayatiki theesamu. Kaani, chaala blood poyindi. Surgery aithe baane jarigindi kaani antha blood povadam valla em issues vasthayo theleedu."

"We took out two bullets. But, he lost a lot of blood. The surgery went out but because of how much blood loss he had, we don't know what issues may come."

"Elaanti issues doctor?"

"What type of issues doctor?"

"Kachithanga cheppalemu, kaani amnesia or permanent coma lo undachu. Lesthe kaani cheppalemu."

"We can't say for sure, but it could be amnesia or a permanent coma. We can't tell until he wakes up."

I go numb hearing that. I can't lose Vijay. I lost my parents and my sister already.  I had only Nani anna and Aarthi. Now, Vijay, Pallavi, Ishika, Nivi, they have also become like family. I cannot lose Vijay. I look at Nivi who is sleeping on the chair. Nivi cannot lose her dad.

"Eppudu choodachu doctor?" Charan asks.

"When can we see him doctor?" Charan asks.

"OT nunchi room ki shift chesaka choodachu."

"You can see him after we switch him from the OT to a room."

"Ok, thanks doctor."

The doctor nods and walks away. After about twenty minutes, a nurse leads us to a room and tells us we can go see him.

"Andaru vellakandi, iddaru leda mugguru ala vellandi." She says.

"Don't all go at once. Only two or three of you go at a time." She says.

We nod and decide that Nivi, Ishika, and Pallavi will go in first, then Rajendra anna, then Charan and his family and then me.

As I walk into the room, tears prick my eyes. It hurts to see Vijay looking so helpless with tubes sticking out of his body. I walk over to his bed slowly and look at him.

"Vijay?" I say, my voice barely a whisper. I gently stroke his hair, willing him to wake up and open his eyes, to look at me.

As if god heard my prayers, Vijay's eyes open.

"Ayu?" He whispers.

"Vijay? Vijay!" I exclaim, tears streaming down my face.

****

"Jaagratha. Nidaananga." Charan says.

"Carefully. Slowly." Charan says.

"Rey, inko saari jaagratha, nidaananga, annav anuko, ninnu hospitalize chestha." Vijay threatens Charan. We all laugh as Charan immediately shuts up.

"Hey, if you say carefully or slowly again, I will put you in the hospital." Vijay threatened Charan. We all laugh as Charan immediately shuts up.

Vijay just got released from the hospital. Charan, Nani anna, and I went to pick him up. Everyone else stayed at home to arrange a welcome home party for Vijay.

The moment we step through the door, we are met with confetti. There is a big poster that says "Welcome Back!" Aarthi and Nivi made that. It's quite clear with the amount of glitter the two girls used. They made the whole living room a glittery mess. The maid was absolutely shocked this morning when she came to clean the house.

I watch as Pallavi and Ishika rush over to help their brother. After getting Vijay situated in the sofa chair, I run into the kitchen to get the cake I baked freshly this morning. I made his favorite, chocolate cake. I take it outside and put it in front of him.

"Rey, entra idi. Naa birthday kaadu."

"Hey, what is this. It's not my birthday."

"Cakes birthday kosame kaadu Mr. Vijay, ilaanti celebrations ki kuda cut chestharu." I reply.

"Cake's are not only for birthdays Mr. Vijay. You can cut them for celebrations too." I reply.

He smiles before cutting the cake.

Vijay's POV

I was not expecting a welcome back party. I'm beyond happy to be out of the hospital. After two weeks there hanging out with the doctors and nurses, I was more than ready to leave. They poked me with a needle almost every day and were always running some tests on me to make sure I was fine. After finally saying I'm ok, they told me not to stress too much or use too much energy and sent me home with a walking stick. I was told I was lucky because the bullet in my back barely missed my spine. If it had touched my spine, I would be paralyzed.

I look around at the people at the table, laughing and smiling as we enjoy the delicious food in front of us. I'm home.

Hey!!! Ok, so that's it! Or, should I write an epilogue? Hmm...maybe...let me know if you want an epilogue!