"Now, what doctor?", asked Mahi trying to sound brave.

"Let's not lose hope. She is still alive but unconscious. She can hear everything...so all we have to do is make her respond. This might take a day, a month or a year...but we should be very strong and make sure that we are happy at least when we are around her", saying which the doctor left.

At that time, Mahi receives an incoming call from Shreyas. Composing himself, he answers the call.

"Mahi bhai, how is Anu? Today is the last session right?", asked Shreyas.

"Ya Shreyu, she will be fine don't worry ", replied Mahi not wanting to disclose anything about Anu till they come back. All he has to manage is only for a few more hours because, after today's match, they would anyway be returning tomorrow.

"Ya bhai, is she in a position to talk now?", asked Shreyas.

"Shreyu concentrate on the match...you will be here tomorrow anyway right?", said Mahi.

"Ya bhai can't wait. Thank you so much for everything bhai", saying which Shreyas disconnected the call.

After winning the series, Team India returned to their homes and Shreyas came out of the airport eagerly to meet Ananya. His eyes were searching around for her...but finding only Mahi, he went towards him followed by Virat.

"Bhai, where is Anu?", asked Shreyas still looking behind Mahi expecting to see his love. Virat came and hugged Mahi bhai while Mahi congratulated them for the win.

"Come with me", saying which Mahi asked them to get into the car.

"Bhai, Anu is fine right?", asked Virat voicing out Shreyas concerns.

"Let's go to the hospital", Mahi said to the driver and explained her condition to Virat and Shreyas.

They both didn't know what to say and how to react. Finally, finding his voice, Virat spoke...

"What's the cure?", asked Virat.

"Only love. The doctor said we have to keep talking to her about all the happy moments so that she would wish to live and come back", explained Mahi.

"Shreyu, you have to be strong for her", said Mahi holding Shreyas's hand while he just looked out of the window tears rolling down his eyes.

All the three of them reached the hospital where Sakshi was waiting for them. Virat and Shreyas went in to see Anu. Looking at her surrounded by wires as a lifeless body pierced their heart. Virat patted her head and kissed her forehead.

"Anu...Anu we won the series sweetheart. Shreyas was brilliant all through the series. He got man of the series award", said Virat caressing her head. Virat paused wishing that Anu would say something. Not able to continue this one-sided conversation, Virat went outside the room with tears in his eyes.

"Anu, it's past 11 and you are still sleeping...now I got a good reason to call you sleepy head. And also madam you broke the promise...you didn't come to receive me today and as I am a good husband, I am forgiving you. Now get up soon, I have a lot to say", said Shreyas holding her left hand.

Shreyas kept talking to her reminiscing all their memories with tears in his eyes. After some time, Sakshi walked in.

"Shreyu, go home and get some rest. I will stay with Anu".

"Bhabhi, can you do me a small favor? Please send my clothes with the driver. I will stay here with Anu", requested Shreyas not leaving Ananya for a second.

Not having the heart to deny, Sakshi agreed. This routine continued for more than fifteen days, with minimal progress in Ananya's reflexes. Other than the tears rolling down her closed eyes, there is no movement in her body. Virat, Anushka, Mahi, Sakshi, and Shreyas regularly visited her without giving up. They still believed that Anu would wake up one day.

After a month, one day

"Dad, I want to see Anu right now", said Ziva.

"Baby kids are not allowed into the hospital", Mahi tried to convince her but of no use.

"Pappa please, take me and Viraj along with you. It's been a long since we met her...please please pappa", requested seven-year-old Ziva, and Mahi looked at the two kids being helpless.

He called the doctor and requested her. After a lot of persuasions, the doctor agreed if the kids wore masks and gloves.

Mahi took the kids near Ananya and looking at her immediately Ziva hugged her.

"Anu, we missed you a lot. When will you wake up and play with us?", asked Ziva shaking Ananya a little but then hearing no response, she looked at her parents who were just standing there not understanding what to say.

"Anu, wake up na...Viraj is also here and you know what I taught him our names and I wanted you to hear him but you were not coming to our house and pappa was not getting us here", saying which Ziva went near Virat and pulled him and Viraj towards Ananya's bed.

"Viraj...say Ziva", said Ziva looking at him but he royally ignored her playing with Virat's shirt button. But Ziva is not the one to give up, so she held his hand and as she was sure that he is listening to her, she again said "Say Ziva"

"Iiiiva", said Viraj looking at Ziva.

"Seee", she smiled with pride looking at Ananya but then to her disappointment there was no response. Not giving up Ziva asked Virat to make Viraj sit on Ananya's bed and he obliged.

Ziva kept Viraj's little hand on Ananya's hand while Viraj was looking at Ziva not understanding anything.

"Viraj, call Anu...look she is sleeping. Wake her up...say Anu", Ziva repeated it with patience and after hearing it enough Viraj blurted out.

"Aaauu"

All of them had tears looking at the little girl's efforts though she didn't know why Ananya was not getting up still she is trying.

Viraj repeated Ananya's name not aware of what he was saying but his sister Ziva is smiling at him and that's enough for him to keep repeating what he is saying.

"Ziva, baby it's time to leave. The doctor only gave us 30 minutes' permission", saying which Virat tried to take Viraj in his arms but he felt something holding his little hand and as he saw, he exclaimed "Anu".

Everyone followed Virat's eyes and was very happy looking at Ananya's hand holding Viraj's little hand.

"Anu, can you hear us?", asked Shreyas with happy tears. Hearing everyone calling Ananya Viraj continued uttering her name.

Mahi called the doctor and by the time the doctor came in Ananya slowly opened her eyes and was looking at everyone with a smile. Though she was not able to speak clearly, she was very happy hearing her name from Viraj.

"Awesome Ananya, you won the battle. It would only take a few more days for you to get back to your routine", said the doctor after examination for which Ananya nodded with a smile.

The doctor went out of the room followed by Mahi while everyone was sitting around Ananya talking their hearts out while Ananya was just smiling hearing them out.

"Mr. Dhoni, it's very good that Ananya came out of Coma. Now it's just a matter of days that she would get back on her feet and start walking...I will prescribe few medicines and after taking a few tests, we will discharge her", saying which the doctor left with a smile.

Soon Ananya was discharged and with the help of Shreyas and with the love of her brothers and their wives, she got back on her feet in the next fifteen days.

As days passed by the bond between Ananya and Shreyas strengthened and they learned to resolve their little fights themselves and were very happy together. To add to their happiness Ananya conceived making Shreyas the happiest man at that moment.

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In all these happy moments let's take leave from Ananya and Shreyas wishing them a happy life ahead.

Here ends this story...this is not what I planned to write when I started the story but somehow ended up spoiling it completely. Later I will write one-shots on Shreyas and Ananya whenever time permits.

Thanks, everyone for your support and I am sorry for disappointing you 😢

To get notified for further story updates, do follow me, and till then stay safe. Love you guys, bye-bye.

Signing off,

Praahi.

20/11/2020