Sid lay unconscious in the hospital bed, his face pale, with tubes and monitors attached to him. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only sign of life.

In the waiting room, Sana sat trembling, her eyes red from crying. Kabir paced restlessly, Dadi was praying continuously while Vaani ji stood frozen, guilt etched on her face.

Priya Ji, his chachi turned to his mother, her voice sharp. "Bhabhi, agar aap hamesha uske saath aese nahi karte, toh shayad yeh sab nahi hota! Aap use hamesha paraya feel karwati thi, maana wo aapka beta nahi hai lekin usne to aapko apni Maa hi maana tha na hamesha se"

Vaani ji eyes filled with tears, but she didn't respond. She knew Priya was right. For years, she had let her own pain dictate her behavior toward Sid, and now it had led to this.

She finally spoke, her voice trembling. "Mujhse galti hui hai, Priya. Main jaanti hu...janti hu main"

Vaani ji, for the first time in years, entered the small temple in the hospital. She knelt before the idol, her hands folded, her heart heavy with regret.

"Bhagwan, main apni galtiyon ke liye maafi maangti hoon" she said, tears streaming down her face. "Main Maa ka farz kabhi nibha nahi paayi. Lekin ab mujhe bas ek mauka de do. Sidharth ko bacha lo. Woh mujhe maaf kare ya na kare, par mujhe ek chance de do uske liye kuch karne ka. Maanti hu main ek achi maa nahi ban paai lekin hai to wo mera beta hi, bhale hi usko itne saalo pass se pyaar na kara ho lekin dur se hamesha uski fikar rahi hai. Usko kuch ho gaya to main kabhi khudh ko maaf nahi kar paaungi. Usko bachalo bhagwan ji usko bachalo" she cried her heart out, she never showed but deep down she loved Sid like she loved Kabir only the betrayal from her husband stopped her from loving him.

....................................

Sana sat by Sid's bedside, holding his hand tightly. "Sid, tujhe hosh me aana hi hoga. Tere bina main nahi jee sakti" she whispered, tears streaming down her face.

She gently ran her fingers through his hair. "Tune hamesha sabke liye sab kuch kiya hai, par ab tere liye hum sab yahan hai, Please, Sid, uth ja"

Kabir enter inside the room and saw her sitting beside his brother, he realised she loved him the most, he was wrong about her, no one can love Sid more than her. He wipe his tears and went towards her.

"Sana tu ghar chali ja sab pareshan honge"

"Main Sid ko chhordh kar kahi nahi jaungi" she said while holding his hand.

"Lekin Ashi bahar hai uska kya"

"Randeep le jayega usko maine bol diya hai wo kuch bahana bana degi" She said in low tone. He nodded and message Reem and Randeep about it.

"Tu fikar mat kar sab theek hoga wo theek ho jayega" he said to her but deep down he was scared for Sid.

"Ye sab kese hua Kabir? Meri jab Sid se baat hui thi tab wo bilkul khush tha lekin ye acc....accident ye sab kese?" Her voice cracked down when she asked, she can never imagine him in this state.

"Kuch baat hui thi ghar par mujhe nahi pata lekin"

"Lekin kya?" She stood up and asked.

"Usse pehle, kal raat ko...meri Sid se ladai hui thi"

"What? Kiu?"

"I...i was wrong...i.. sab meri galti thi" he sob while looking down. "Please isko bol ye theek ho jaaye main sab kuch karunga wo jo bolega, chahe to per pakad kar maafi bhi maang lunga. Please bol na isko uth jaaye teri to har baat maanta hai ye na please bol na isko" he fall down on his knees while crying.

"Kabir theek ho jayega wo, itna weak nahi hai mera Sid dekhna kal subha tak isko hosh aa jayega aur phir merese jhagda karega ye aur do thappad bhi khayega mujhse" she wipe her tears and said with a weak smile. Kabir nodded and left the room.

She kissed his forehead, her tears wetting his skin. "Fighter hai tu hamara uthna hi hoga tujhe hamare liye, hamare pyaar ke liye kiuki itna kamzor nahi hai hamara pyaar"

....................................

As the first rays of sunlight streamed into the hospital room, Sana stirred awake. She blinked, her eyes focusing on Sid's face. For a moment, everything was still, until she felt his fingers move slightly in her hand.

Her heart leapt. "Sidharth..."

Sid's eyelids fluttered open, and he looked around groggily before his gaze settled on her. His voice was weak but clear. "Tum kon ho?"

"Huh... Sid...Sidharth...main hu Shehnaaz tu bhul gaya mujhe? Oh god kahi teri yaadash to nahi chali gai" she was about to run outside to call the doctor when the doctor enter inside his room.

"D..doctor ye Sidharth iski yaadash chali gai hai". Sana said while her voice was shriving

"What, let me check him"

Doctor checked him and asked him about her. "Aap inko jaante hai?"

"Ji bilkul doctor meri classmate hai aur meri bestfriend Shehnaaz" he said with a cute smile.

"Dekha ye bhul gaya mujh- wait what, kutte tu mazak kr raha tha" she hit his shoulder lightly.

"Ahhh" he winced while laughing. "Sorry".

The doctor move his head in disbelief. "Wese to sab theek hai bass fracture ka dhyan rakhna hai, take care young man" he patted his back and left from there.

"Sidharth" she rise her hands to chock his neck but suddenly she felt emotional and hug him tightly. "Pagal hai tu dara diya tha mujhe". She said in crying tone.

"I'm sorry" he hug her tightly and sneef her fragrance which give him energy to live.

At that moment, Kabir and Vaani ji enter.

Kabir rushed to his side, his relief evident. "Bhai tune to dara hi diya tha itna gussa tha to do thappad aur maar leta lekin ye accident, tujhe pata hai kya halat thi meri kal se". Kabir hug him tightly. Both brothers share a brothery hug feeling emotional. His dadi and chachi also meet him.

Vaani ji stepped forward hesitantly, her face filled with guilt. "Sidharth…" Her voice cracked. "Kese ho?"

Sid looked at her, his emotions conflicted. He saw the sincerity in her eyes and, for the first time, felt a glimmer of hope for their relationship. But the previous behaviors of her flashed infront of his eyes suddenly. He look down. "Theek hu" he said weakly.

"Beta kya zarurat thi kal aese ghar se jaane ki jaan atak gai thi meri kuch ho jaata to tujhe" dadi said and hug him.

"Theek hu main dadi kuch nahi hua mujhe".

Sana notice the distance between the mother and son but didn't said anything.

Vaani ji went near him and caressed his hairs, a tear escape his eye feeling mothery touch after 18 years of his life. Her voice cracked. "Mujhse jo bhi galti hui hai, uske liye main tumse maafi maangti hoon. Tere baba ka diya waada to pura kiya lekin main ek achhi maa nahi ban payi. Mujhe maaf kar de Sidharth"

He look down. "Maafi to mujhe aapse maangni chahiye" he chuckle sadly. "18 saal aapne mujhe be dili se paala hai, jo rishta mera aapke saath tha hi nahi wo aapko zabardasti nibhana pada, Maaf kr dijiye mujhe Mrs. Shukla aapko meri wajhe se itni problem hui" he said in emotionless tone. "Chala jaunga main aapki life se i know sirf Kabir hi aapka beta hai aur ab jab mujhe sab sach pata hai to main aapke upar bojh nahi banunga".

He stabbed Vaani ji's heart while saying all this things. "Tu pagal hai Sidharth maana tujhe maa ka pyaar nahi diya maine lekin beta hamesha maana hai tujhe apna, bass apne pati ke dhoke me itna ghum gai thi ki tujhe chot pohocha bethi jabki teri to koi galti nahi thi. Main ek achi maa nahi hu beta lekin ho sake to mujhe maaf kar de, aur wo ghar jitna Kabir ka hai utna tera bhi hai, tu kahi nahi jayega apne ghar se"

He look away hiding his tears.

....................................

The days after Sidharth's accident were a mix of pain, healing. Though his body was healing, his heart was still heavy with unresolved emotions. Vaani ji attempts to mend their broken bond only left him more conflicted, while Sana stood steadfast by his side, offering him the care and love he desperately needed.

It was late afternoon, and Sid sat propped up in his bed, staring out the window. Vaani ji entered the room hesitantly, a tray of soup in her hands.

"Sidharth" she said softly, placing the tray on the bedside table. "Maine tumhare liye soup banaya hai"

Sid did not look at her. His voice was flat. "Mujhe bhookh nahi hai"

Vaani ji sighed, sitting down on the edge of the bed. "Beta, mujhe pata hai maine tumhare saath hamesha galat kiya. Par ab main sab theek karna chahti hoon. Please ek mauka do mujhe"

Sid finally turned to her, his eyes cold. "Aapko ye sab karne ki zarurat nahi hai ma...Mrs. Shukla"

Vaani ji eyes filled with tears, but Sid was not done.

"Ek baar main theek ho jaau phir main chala jaunga yaha se"

"Sid-"

He turned away, his voice trembling with emotion. "Aap chali jaaiye, mujhe akele rehne dijiye"

Vaani wiped her tears and quietly left the room, her heart aching with regret.

....................................

As the door clicked shut, Sana entered, carrying a fresh set of bandages and a bowl of warm soup. She placed them on the table and sat beside Sid, her gentle presence immediately soothing the room.

"Sid, agar tu yeh soup nahi piyega to main force karungi" she said playfully, holding up a spoon.

He shook his head lightly, a small smile tugging at his lips despite his pain. "Tu to meri personal nurse ban gayi hai"

"Bilkul! Arey aese kese dusri lucchi lafadi ladkiyo ko apne bande par nazar daalne du", she replied, her tone teasing but her eyes full of concern. "Aur mujhe apni duty perfectly karni aati hai. Now, open your mouth Aaaa"

"I'm not a kid", Sid said in teasing tone.

"Kisi bacche se kam bhi nahi hai tu, ab kha jaldi se warna mujhe Johnny Johnny wali poem gaani padegi".

Sid sighed but obediently took a spoonful of the soup. She fed him patiently, wiping the corner of his lips when some spilled.

"Dekha? Itni mushkil baat nahi thi" she said with a grin.

Once he finished eating, Sana carefully removed the bandages from his head injury. Her touch was light, her brows furrowed in concentration as she cleaned the wound and replaced the bandage.

"Tu to professional jese kr rahi hai bilkul" Sid murmured.

"Pata hai" she replied with a wink. "Tujhe chot chahe kese bhi lagi ho, par ab ye meri duty hai ki main ensure karungi ki tu jaldi recover kare"

Sid chuckled softly, his heart warming at her dedication.

The two sat together on the bed in his room, watching a movie on his laptop. Sid was leaning back, and Shehnaaz was curled up beside him, her head resting on his chest.

As the movie progressed, Sid looked down at her. She was smiling faintly, her eyes reflecting the light from the screen.

"Kya dekh raha hai?" she asked, catching him staring.

"Tujhe'' he replied simply, brushing a strand of hair away from her face.

She sat up slightly, looking at him. "Sid, tu itna cheesy kabse ho gaya?"

"Jabse tu meri life me aayi hai", he answered softly, his gaze locking with hers.

For a moment, neither of them spoke. Sana leaned in, her hand resting lightly on his chest. He tilted his head, their faces inches apart.

"Tu mere liye sab kuch hai, I love you" he whispered, his voice full of emotion.

She smiled, her breath mingling with his. "I Love you too, Sid"

Slowly, hesitantly, their lips met in a tender kiss. It was soft, filled with love and unspoken promises, a moment that felt like time itself had paused.

When they pulled away, Sana rested her forehead against his, her cheeks flushed. "Tujhe pata hai, main tujhe lekar har din aur zyada serious ho rahi hoon, itni aasani se picha nahi chhor ne wali main"

Sid chuckled softly. "Good for you kyu ki main picha chhudane bhi nahi wala".

Before leaving that night, Sana knelt by his bed, her hands on his.

"Tu jaldi se theek ho jaa, Sid. Hume ab ek naye chapter ki shuruwaat karni hai", she said with a smile, her eyes glistening with hope.

He cupped her cheek, his thumb brushing away a tear. "Main tere saath har naye chapter me hoon, Sana. Tune mujhe sambhala hai, aur main ab tujhe kabhi disappoint nahi karunga"

She smiled, kissing his forehead gently. "Goodnight, Sid kal subah aapki ye nurse phir se aapki khidmat me haazir rahegi".

As she left, Sid watched her go, a newfound sense of peace settling over him. With Sana by his side, he knew he could face anything.

....................................

Hope you liked this chapter.

Thanks for reading ❤️