City Hospital

Vikram had been standing in front of the ICU, the doctor had been attending to Aarav. It had been more than three hours and the doctor had not yet come out of the room for even a single minute. 

After a while, the doctor stepped out of the room. Vikram asked with curiosity "doc.. kya hua hai isey achanak?" 

"aao mere saath" Dheer said in a serious tone. He moves to his cabin and Vikram follows him. The doctor checks the MRI reports and other reports. Vikram had been tensed, he feared a storm was about to appear in his life. 

"Doctor batayie na" he asked

"humhe turant Aarav ki brain surgery karni hogi Vikram" Dheer said 

Vikram was shocked hearing him "what? surgery? lekin kyun?" 

"There is a blood clot in his brain Vikram maine tumse kaha tha koi bhi jhatka ya chot uske liye khatra paida kar sakti hai aur ye wahi khatra hai agar turant operate nahi kiya toh he can die" Dheer shared the seriousness of the situation. 

Vikram was left in disbelief "doc mahino baad blood clot kaise?" 

"use sar dard kaafi dino se ho raha tha Vikram par tumse door jaana ya phir mental aslyum mein jo kuch bhi hua uss darr se usne tumhe bataya nahi.. pehle aate toh medicine se thik kar deta lekin abhi surgery karni hogi aur specialist bulana hoga kyuki uska brain pehle hi sensitive hai aur survival ke chance sirf 30% hai soch samajh ke faisla karna" Dheer said

Vikram gets tears in his eyes "doctor aapka kehna hai ki surgery na hui toh bhi mera bhai marr jayega aur ho gayi toh bhi" 

"surgery ke baad kuch bhi ho sakta hai Vikram, he can get stroke coma mein jaa sakta hai.. faisla tumhare haath mei hai" He forwards the papers to him. 

"jaldi faisla lena Vikram" he said and walked out of his cabin. 

Vikram picks up the agreement, moves out, and reads it. It clearly mentioned if something happens to him hospital or the doctor is not liable for it. He sits down on the bench "kyun bhagwaan kyun? baar baar mujhe mere bhai se alag karne ki koshish kar rahe ho aap? mumma papa ko toh apne paas bula liya lekin mere bhai ko main aapko chenne nahi dunga" 

He takes out his phone and calls Poonam. It was a tough decision and he wanted her to be with him. She picks up his call "Hello" she said

She didn't hear him but could feel he was upset. "Vikram.. is everything fine?" she asked tensely. 

"Aaru Poonam.. main kho raha hun use please aa jao" he said leaving Poonam in disbelief 

"matlab?" 

Vikram told her everything and Poonam's eyes became wide hearing his words. She sat down on the couch with a thud. Vikram said with heavy heart "kuch bhi ho sakta hai Poonam aur main chahta hun uski bhabhi maa uske saath ho please aa jao" 

Poonam said "haa main.." she paused remembering something. "nahi Vikram main nahi aa sakti ye faisla tumhe khud lena hai" she said

Vikram was left terrified hearing her "Poonam tum aaru se milne nahi aaogi? use zaroorat hai tumhari.. tum samajh rahi ho na kuch bhi ho sakta hai" he nearly yelled 

"samajh rahi hun Vikram main par main nahi aa sakti aur mujhse zyada use tumhari zaroorat hai Vikram.. tumhare hote kuch nahi ho sakta Aaru ko" Poonam said with teary eyes. 

"Poonam main akele nahi le sakta ye faisla" he said with a hope.

"le sakte ho Vikram.. jeene ke liye 1% umeed bhi kaafi hoti hai yahan toh 30% chance hai aur Aaru jaisa bhi ho tum apni zimmedari se kabhi peeche nahi hatoge hai na?" she said giving him the courage. 

Vikram cries "Poonam please.. aa jao agar Aaru ko kuch hua toh main.." 

"Vikram faisla tumhe hi lena hai der mat karo.." she said

Vikram was left in disbelief hearing her words "tum jiske liye lauti thi aaj wo insaan shayad apni zindagi ki aankhein saansein lega aur tum aane se mana kar rahi ho kyun?"

"Vikram office ka kaam hai bahut important hai" she replied

"meri Poonam ke liye office mere Aaru se zyada important nahi tha kabhi! mujhe naraz ho toh raho lekin mere bhai ki kya galti hai use kyun saza de rahi ho?" he asked with teary eyes. 

Poonam closed her eyes for a moment. "main kisiko saza nahi de rahi hun Vikram.. faisla tumhe hi lena hai warna baad mein kahoge meri wajah se kuch galat ho gaya" she said harshly. 

"Poonam... yeh waqt mujhse ladne ka nahi hai" he said angrily.

"wahi main kah rahi hun.. mera intezar karoge toh kho doge usey..Faisla lena hai tumhe Vikram" she ends the call abruptly. 

Vikram sighed deeply, he glanced down at the papers. He rolled his eyes towards the ICU, Aarav was fighting for life and death. His one signature could save him or snatch him forever. He closed his eyes and signed the papers. 

"tujhe chahe stroke aaye ya tu coma mein jaaye lekin mujhse door nahi jayega!" he thought. He gave the papers to the nurse. 

Dheer smiled "mujhe yahi umeed thi tumse Vikram.. I will try my best specialist aa gaye hai baaki jo bhagwaan ki marzi" 

"unse hi toh meri ladai hai doctor.. mera Aaru kahi nahi jayega kabhi nahi" he said

Aarav was taken to the operation theatre, the light turned red and Vikram waited outside for the surgery to get over.

Mumbai

Poonam breaks down in tears after speaking harshly with Vikram. She knew he is hurt with her behavior but it was for his own good. If it was in her hand she would had immediately reached to him, consoled him in this situation. She looked towards God Idol and walked towards the temple. She removed her slippers and sits down. 

She began to pray for Aarav's well being. She closed her eyes and folds her hands in front of God idol "bahut badi keemat chukayi hai maine bhagwaan.. aap mere tyaag ko iss tarah barbaad nahi kar sakte ho! maine apne hone waale bache ko bhi uske pita se door rakha sirf Aaru ke liye use aap Vikram se door mat karna warna ek maa ka vishwas aap se uth jayega" 

She places her hand on her belly, yes she was three months pregnant. She got closer to Vikram again but then remembered the sacrifice he had asked her to make. "jabtak Aaru thik nahi hota hum maa baap nahi banenge Poonam.." 

She remembered the day when culprits were expose and they were in the hospital. She had been feeling week and dizzy. It had never happened in the past, she looked at Vikram who was sitting beside Aarav. She went towards the canteen to get something to eat but the sight in front of her began to get blur and she could faint any minute. She saw a bench and sat down for a moment. 

A lady doctor passed by and noticed her condition. She asked "mam are you alright?"

She nodded in yes but doctor wasn't satisfied. She took her to cabin and did her checkup. Poonam was worried and said "doctor main thik hun mujhe wapas jaana hai" 

"mam you are pregnant! aapko apna khayal rakhna chahiye kaafi time se kuch khaya peeya nahi hai aapne thik nahi hai yeh bache ke liye.. please apna khayal rakhiye" she informed her. 

Poonam was left shocked hearing her words but next minute a smile appears on her face. She placed her hand on her belly, a life was breathing inside her womb. Years ago, she never thought about it as she was parted away from her love but today they are together and this is the prove of it. Is this a sign that she should start fresh with Vikram forgetting the past? 

She looked towards doctor and asked "are you sure?"

"100% sure hun main! reports bhi tumhari subah tak aa jayengi.." she informed her. Poonam thanked her. The nurse got the food for her, she ate it for the sake of baby. 

She headed back towards the room, the news was big but a wrong timing. She was in dilemma whether she should inform Vikram about it or not. She entered and saw Vikram sleeping placing his head on Aarav's arm. She admired the due and sat down on the couch. 

She closed her eyes and drifted into sleep due to excessive tiredness. The next morning, she opened her eyes and saw Vikram standing in front of her with a cup of coffee. She smiled and took it from him. 

"tumhari" she asked

"mera mann nahi hai" he replied as he was still waiting for his brother to gain back his senses. She knew till he wakes he will be restless. Maybe this isn't the right time to share the good news with him. 

She made him sit and said "khud nahi khaoge toh tumhe sambhalna padega Aaru se pehle chalo peeyo" 

She smiled and sipped some and asked her to have the rest. He also gave her the sandwich and she smiled at his care.  She asked her something and she was amazed hearing him. He wanted to start fresh with her, and this the opportunity she could share the pregnancy news with him. 

She was about to speak but heard a loud voice "nahi jaana nahi jaana Aaru ko nahi jaana". She looked at the direction and freed her hand from his. 

Vikram went to his brother and she was left with teary eyes seeing him recognize him and call him brother. She saw the doctor outside who checked her up, she moved out of the room and took the doctor to the corner "aap.."

She forwarded the report to her "You are a month pregnant Poonam.. here is your report" she informed her 

Poonam took the report and smiled hearing her. "congratulations!" 

"Doctor aapse ek request hai yeh baat aap kisiko na bataye.." she requested. She was a good colleague of Dr. Dheer and was aware of the situation. She tapped her shoulder light "I won't but take care of yourself" she said and left from there. 

She glanced at Vikram and Aarav from the glass door. She thought "nahi! abhi Aaru thik nahi hua hai aur main ye news deke Vikram pe ek aur zimmedari nahi daal sakti hun.. I am sorry Vikram but mujhe tumhe diye hue vachan ka mann rakhna hoga hamara ye bacha kabhi tumhari zimmedari ke beech nahi aayega" she immediately left the hospital without meeting Aarav or Vikram. 

Shruti placed her hand on her shoulder and Poonam looked towards her with a light smile on her face. 

"tujhe Delhi mein hona chahiye Vikram aur Aarav ke paas" she said

"main bhi jaana chahti hun Shruti par nahi jaa sakti.. wada kiya tha maine usse jabtak Aaru thik nahi hota hum bache ke baare mein nahi sochenge aur ye hota bhi nahi agar uss din main kamzor nahi padti" Poonam recalled the night when they got closer after their separation. 

"aur ab shayad Vikram ki zimmedari Aaru ko leke aur badh jayegi Shruti.. doctor ne kaha hai use stroke ya coma.." she exhales deeply. 

Shruti held her hand tightly "tu pareshan mat ho.. teri tabiyat bigad jayegi"

"nahi main thik hun mujhe waha hona chahiye tha unn dono ke paas. mann kar raha abhi flight leke chali jao par nahi jaa sakti hun. lekin main haar nahi manungi.. mujhe Aaru ke liye pooja karni hai.." She said and again looked at the God idol and began to chant the mantras. Shruti joined both her hands and prayed for the same. 

"bhagwaan meri dost ko uski khushiyan lautado! haan main selfish ho rahi hun lekin aap ya toh Aarav ko thik kar dijiye ya phir use apne paas bula lijiye main aur apni saheli ko iss tarah apne pyaar ke liye tadapte nahi dekh sakti hun" she said

Delhi

Vikram had been pacing up and down the corridor, Maria had been praying in the church for Aarav's well being. "God please save him, end the pain in their life and show the path of happiness please" 

It has been almost three hours, and finally, the light on the OT gets off. The door opened and Doctor Dheer stepped out with the specialist doctor. Vikram was curious and scared at the same time but he was prepared for the worse. 

He looked at the doctor and he said "agle kuch ghante crucial hai Vikram.. uska brain respond nahi kar raha hai chances are he can go to coma" 

Vikram sits down on the bench with a thud, did he make a mistake by making such a decision? Should he let him die in peace? "no.. no.. pehle hi itne saal chacha chachi ki wajah se use itna sab sehna pada aur ab maine apne liye use yahan pahucha diya! main itna selfish kaise ho sakta hun?" 

Here Poonam is in touch with the doctor, and he informs her about Aarav's condition. She places her hand on her belly "baby aapke chachu ko aapki prayers ki zaroorat hai! mera pehla bacha hai wo use thik hona hoga aisa thodi hota hai tum aaoge toh wo chala jayega.." 

She recalls the cute moments she had spent with him

"bhabhi maa.. Aaru ko aap khana khilaogi" 

"bhabhi maa aap hoti ho na toh Aaru ko darr nahi lagta" 

"katti hun aapse main" 

She video called Maria who showed her Aarav. She gets emotional seeing him "kya hai yeh Aaru? kyun itna tang kar rahe ho mujhe haan? tumhari wajah se main apni pati ko chodke yahan baithi hun! aur tum ho ki use saath nahi rah sakte ho.. kitna toota hua hai Vikram.. akele padh gaya hai ek dum.. thik hona padega tumhe samjhe! bhabhi maa ki baat sunte ho na.. toh jaldi se thik ho jao" she said and ended the call immediately as she couldn't hold her tears anymore. 

Maria places the cross under his pillow and prays for his recovery. Vikram enters the ICU after meeting the doctor. He sits down beside him holding his hand tightly. There was a huge white bandage around his head. He placed a soft kiss on his palm "bahut sata raha hai mujhe tu.. kyun? kis baat ki saza de raha hai tu mujhe? teri bhabhi maa ko ghar se nikala iss baat ki ya tujhe chacha chachi ke bharosa chodke kaam pe chale jaane ki? galti teri hai na tune mujhe kuch nahi bataya..  bahut pyaar karta hai na mujhse toh mere liye tujhe wapas aana hoga Aaru samjha! aur nahi bardasht hota mujhse.. toot gaya hun main Aaru teri zaroorat hai mujhe laut aa apne bhai ke paas warna mujhe apne saath le chal" he places his head on his hand and cries.