November 11, 2015
[The same day of Diwali]

The fire brigade team reached within twenty minutes and controlled the situation. They had strictly ordered Adi and Amaya to not enter inside without their permission. But Amaya ran inside once she felt like they controlled the fire. She couldn't see anything as before the orange flame had turned into the white smoke now. It looked like something out of a horror movie, twisted plastic, dark walls and charred wooden posts, nothing to salvage, not a damn thing! The room was reduced to nothing but ashes and charcoal. Adi also ran behind her. Amaya coughed and covered her mouth with her palm. Fanning with her other hand, she walked inside.

"Ma'am?"

"Excuse me ma'am, who gave you the permission to come inside?"

"Amar, take her out please. It's still dangerous here."

"No." Amaya pushed the guy and kept walking. "Ansh!" She cried out his name and tears started rolling down her cheeks. Her heart was beating fast and she had the feeling that he wasn't well.

One guy came and grabbed her elbow to stop Amaya, "You can't go inside, ma'am."

"Leave me." Amaya jerked off her hand. "How can you-"

"Calm down. We are trying-"

"My son and my hus.. and my husband are.. " Amaya coughed placing her palm over her mouth and then continued, "are trapped here for God knows how long and you want me to calm down? How can you-"

"We are trying our best. Right now, we are just waiting for this smoke to fade away so we can see clearly and find them." The man tried to make her understand.

"You can't-" Amaya was cut off by Adi interrupting.

"Bhabhi please." Adi tried to stop Amaya. "Let her go, I'm with her." He tried to convince the man.

"But you two just stay here and let us do our job." He said strictly, wore his mask and disappeared in the smoke.

Amaya was so broken. She had no strength to lose the last hope of her life. Ansh was the only reason she was living her life for. She just stood there in a corner, leaning back to the wall and placing her palm over her mouth so no one could hear her crying. Adi also stood beside her.

"Sir, there's no one in this room." One of the men shouted and Amaya's heart literally stopped at that moment.

How is this possible!? Where is Ansh then? And Rishaan? Where is he? Amaya's mind was flooded with so many unanswered questions.

"Check properly Raj!" Another man shouted.

"Okay sir."

"Adi, how is this possible? Where are they?" Amaya cried, holding the collars of Adi's shirt. She questioned something he couldn't answer.

"Sir, I can see someone's legs near that cupboard." Amaya left his collars as soon as she heard that. She turned and tried to look in that direction. She took a small step, still looking there. She took another step but stopped by Adi grabbing her wrist.

"You can't go there, bhabhi. They have strictly told us to stay here." Adi tried to stop Amaya.

Amaya looked at Adi's face, put her other hand on his hand and just removed it. She turned around and started walking into that direction.

"Who is there?"

One of the men switched on his torch and tried to see who there was.

"Oh my God sir! He is-"

"RISHAAN!?" Amaya literally screeched in shock. All the team members of fire brigade just looked at her. She placed her palm over her mouth and some more tears escaped from her eyes.

"Take him out, FAST." One of the men ordered.

They pulled Rishaan out by holding his legs. His upper body was behind that burned stool. As they pulled him out Amaya's eyes widened in shock. All the hate and anger that had made its place in her heart just melted right at that moment.

Rishaan was passed out but still he had tight clasp around Ansh's body as if he was protecting him. For the first time in these four months, she felt like Rishaan could be Ansh's daddy. For the first time she felt like he too had a heart, a golden heart.

Amaya's eyes landed on burned skin of his arms and it was something that shook her to the very core. She just broke down on the floor, crying.

"Bhabhi, please?" Adi said, placing his hand on her shoulder.

They released Ansh from Rishaan's grip and then called the ambulance crew. They came and carried Rishaan to downstairs and then put him inside the ambulance. Amaya also ran downstairs, taking Ansh in her arms. She also got into the ambulance and they drove off to the hospital. Adi went downstairs to check on Disha and Riddhima. When he entered the room he saw Disha sleeping in Riddhima's lap. She was moving her hand lovingly through her hair. He smiled from far. As soon as Riddhima's eyes landed on him she gently put Disha on the bed and stood up. She walked to him and he noticed tears in her eyes.

"How are they?" Riddhima asked, trying her best to not break down in front of Adi.

Adi just shrugged in reply. He didn't know what to answer. In fact, he himself didn't know how they were.

"And Di?" Riddhima asked, wiping away that single tear that rolled down from the corner of her eye.

"She is just.. broken." Adi replied, remembering that scene of Amaya breaking down on the floor crying.

"Are you fine-"

Before she would complete Adi said, "I am also going to the hospital. You don't need to come there. And please take care of Disha. And don't let her know that Shaan and Ansh are in the hospital." He looked into Disha's direction as he said and then at Riddhima. She nodded her head. "Bye." Saying that he left to go to the hospital.

×××××××××××××××

It was three am when Amaya checked the clock for the nth time. Rishaan and Ansh both were in different ward. Well, Rishaan was in ICU. It had already been two hours by now but there was no news of any of them. Adi was doing paper work downstairs while Amaya was just sitting outside the ward and praying. Her eyes had become red because of crying and also because of not sleeping. She kept chanting God's name and every time what she asked for was just to make Rishaan well. She knew Ansh was fine and he didn't need much treatment but Rishaan... He surely needed.

After an hour, the doctor came out of Ansh's room. Both, Amaya and Adi stood up and ran to him as soon as their eyes landed on him.

"How's he? Is he okay? Is he awake right now?" Amaya asked so many questions in one go. That was the proof of how much she loved him.

"Yes, he is fine. But.. "

"But what?" Adi asked.

"As he is a kid, his lungs are still developing. And... you know that smoke is mixture of heated particles and gases. And these microscopic particles have penetrated in his lungs. He is fine by now but there are chances to have asthma in future."

Amaya stood there shocked, not knowing what to react.

"Is there any medicine for that?" Adi asked him.

"Yeah, meet me in my consulting room. I'll give you prescription." He said and added almost immediately, "And no, he's not awake. You can meet him after an hour or so."

Amaya and Adi both thanked him and soon he left. Now all they wanted to hear was that Rishaan was also fine. They again took their seats and waited for doctors to come out. The next few hours would either pass as a blip in the course of her life, or they would be the final trauma that would break her completely. Adi noticed concern in her eyes. He placed his hand on her shoulder to calm her down, to soothe her. And she closed her eyes, letting her tears to fall carelessly down her cheeks.

"Ansh will be fine, bhabhi." Aid tried to calm Amaya.

Amaya looked up at Adi as his words rang into her ears.

"It's not about Ansh." Amaya said and left it uncompleted for Adi to think further.

Adi just looked at Amaya and understood that she was worried for Rishaan, not for Ansh. He smiled a bit and took his hand back from her shoulder.

"So you two had a fight, again. Right?" Adi asked with a small smile, already knowing her answer in positive.

Amaya just nodded her head before replying. "I'm feeling so guilty right now." She said, wiping the stream of her tears. But they seemed unstoppable. "I shouldn't have judged him so easily." She added and Adi kept looking at her. "He is not what he-"

"Yes." Adi interrupted. "He is not what he shows. He tries to be a bad person but he is not. He tries to show that he doesn't care about anyone when he really cares for them. He has so many personalities. He is something else in front of you. And at the same time he's a different person in front me or Disha. He wasn't like this. Actually he used to be the exact opposite of this." Amaya just listened to Adi with a big question mark written on her face. "He is actually a good person, from inside out. All he needs is someone like you to change him and make him a normal man that he used to be."

Amaya stared at Adi for a while. He needs someone like me? For what? To change him? But how? She had hundreds of questions running in her head.

"Then what changed him so much?" Amaya finally asked, rubbing her forefinger on her nose as she sniffed.

Adi just looked at Amaya and thought if he should tell her or not. He looked down and closed his eyes for a moment. He looked up at her and opened his mouth to say something but stopped by the sound of opening the door. They both stood up as they saw the doctor coming out.

"Doctor how-"

"He is still in a critical condition." Amaya's heart stopped at that moment. "His skin.. It'll heal by passing time but... he is finding difficulty in breathing." He added. "As he's inhaled so much carbon dioxide from the smoke, he's finding difficulty in breathing."

"But he will be fine na?" Adi asked.

"Actually... " He took a deep breath before continuing. "If he wakes up in next three hours, he'll be fine. But if he doesn't then he can go into coma. And we don't know when he will emerge from coma."

It was like a heart attack for both Adi and Amaya. She could feel the throbbing of her own eyes, the ringing screams vibrating in her ears, and the frantic beating of her heart against her chest. Her fingers were curled into a fist, nails digging into her palm. She controlled her tears and emotions that way.

"Can- can we go inside?" Amaya asked.

"Yeah! There's no problem in that." Doctor nodded. Adi thanked him and the doctor left. Before Amaya could get inside the room, Adi stopped her.

"Should we inform about this to Mom and Dad?" Adi asked her.

"It's so late. We'll inform them in the morning." Amaya said and he nodded.

Adi let Amaya go inside first and he himself stood outside, waiting.

Amaya entered inside the room and saw Rishaan laying on the bed. Her eyes landed on the nurse who was doing something on the table beside his bed. Amaya went near to him and sat down on the chair near his bed. His arms were covered in cotton cloth. There was an oxygen mask which was helping him in breathing. He also had a bandage on his forehead. The nurse stayed there for some minutes and then left the room, telling Amaya if she needed anything, just press the red button on the bed.

Amaya looked at Rishaan with tears welling up in her eyes.

"I'm sorry Rishaan." Amaya joined her hands in front of him, really wanting an apology. "I am just... " She couldn't speak more but her tears spoke more than words. She wiped her tears and forwarded her hand towards his body. She slowly put her palm on his forehead. She never felt this kind of concern for him. She moved her hand slowly, soothingly, on his forehead. His forehead was hot. Maybe he had fever or maybe her palms were way too cold that his forehead seemed hot to her. She took her hand back and just sat there, staring at him. She never had any feelings for him except for hate and anger but today, he gained so much respect in her eyes. She decided to never judge him by his actions. She decided to take his every word positively.

While outside, Adi was watching Amaya from the glass window. He had a soft smile on his face. All he wanted was them to live a happy life, together. He knew it was hard for both of them but c'mom hard is not impossible. They both had different personalities; none of them was perfect. No one is perfect actually. And obviously it takes time, to understand each other.

This is life; and it isn't about finding the perfect person, there's no such thing like that. It isn't about living some happily ever after fairy tale and always having a happy ending at the end. It's about finding someone you're willing to work for, no matter if the person is perfect or not. No one is perfect in this world, people make mistakes. They have their flaws. But the secret is to focus on what they do right. Perhaps it is only imperfection that makes two different persons with different personalities and different characteristics perfect for each other.

As Adi saw Amaya getting up, wiping her tears he adjusted himself and sat back on the chair. He saw her coming out and he stood up. Her face looked so blank as if this condition of Rishaan had absorbed all her emotions out of her. She didn't even look at him and went inside the next room where Ansh was. Adi went inside the room to check on Rishaan.

×××××××××××××××

When Ansh opened his eyes Amaya was sleeping, resting her head on the bed. Her other hand was on his forehead.

"Mamma." It came out like a whisper from Ansh's mouth.

"Mamma." Ansh shook his head, in an attempt to wake her up.

Amaya got up abruptly. She looked at his pale face. She was happy that he finally woke up but that pale face of his broke her heart into pieces.

"Mamma, I-" Before Ansh could complete, Amaya took him in her lap and showered him with kisses. She then hugged him and some tears escaped from her eyes.

"How are you feeling, beta?" Amaya asked him caressing his cheeks.

Ansh himself didn't know how he was feeling then. He felt so tired. He felt like his body was burning. But that little kid didn't know how to describe his condition. He didn't answer her and sat silently in her lap.

At the same time Adi entered there with the doctor. Amaya stood up and let the doctor do his work. He checked Ansh with his stethoscope and checked his eyes. He checked his pulse and told them to give him medicines on time.

"But is he okay or not?" Amaya asked stopping the doctor.

"Yes. He is. You can discharge him by the evening." He said with a smile and Amaya smiled widely.

Amaya looked up at the clock and it showed seven am. And she realized that three hours were about to complete in half an hour and Rishaan still hadn't woken up. She gulped down her saliva and ran to his room to check if he was awake or not. Her heart was throbbing in fear as she stood beside his bed. The only one sound to be heard; the sound of her own pulse throbbing in her ears. She broke down on the chair as tears started streaming down her cheeks. Time was passing slowly and each second seemed to play on forever.

"Rishaan please, open your eyes." Amaya cried. "At least for Disha." She wiped her tears. "You just can't leave all of us like this. You have to-"

"Amaya!" It was Amrita. Amaya looked back and found her looking at her with teary eyes.

"He will be fine." Rajeev added as he also entered inside the room.

Fifteen minutes. Amaya's mind reminded her. What if he won't open his eyes? Will I be able to answer Disha's questions? She shook her head, throwing all the negative thoughts out of her head.

Amaya stood up and gave them place to sit next to him. She stood in the corner.

"Your baby is so inauspicious for our family. He or she killed my parents before even entering this world."

"I'm telling you, this baby will definitely kill everyone. This baby is so unfortunate."

"Himansh, I'm telling you, abort this baby of yours. It has already killed three people. This baby killed your father!"

"And see, lastly this kid, Ansh killed his own father. I told Rekha before to abort him but no one listened to me."

All those words from her past started ringing into Amaya's ears. What if Rishaan's family also blame Ansh for this condition of Rishaan? Her mind was totally blocked. She looked up at the clock. It showed 7:35 am. Three hours had already completed. She stood there like a statue. She didn't want him to go into coma. She wanted him to live, for Disha, for Ansh. She wanted him to give his love to Ansh and Disha.

"I don't think there are any chances for him to recover now." The doctor gave up. "Maybe he himself doesn't want to recover." He added.

Amaya, Adi, Rajeev and Amrita, they all stood there with a blank face. They didn't know what to react now. Amrita just broke down. Rajeev had tears in his eyes but he controlled. And Adi... He stood there like a statue, not believing. Amaya wiped her tears and ran outside to look for any idol of Lord Ganesha. She stopped in the hallway when she spotted a Ganesh murti in the corner. She took off her footwear aside and stood in front of his idol. She joined her hands and closed her eyes.

"Dear Lord, you always shower us with your love and you send people into our lives to help us, to take care of us. Maybe you also sent Rishaan to help Ansh. Ansh is living the life given by him. Now he also needs someone to help him. He also needs someone to take care of him. Today I've come to you in faith asking you to heal him. He doesn't deserve this. Please put your hand on him and touch his soul to heal him. I can't see him going into coma. I don't know what to say more but please be with him."

With that Amaya wiped her tears and opened her eyes. She went back to the ward and sat outside. She had no strength to go inside. Every time she saw Rishaan's face and those arms of his, she felt so guilty.

Rajeev and Amrita also came out of the room and saw Amaya sitting there. Amrita walked to her and put her hand on her shoulder.

"I think you should go home and freshen up. Also, Disha must be waiting for you." Amrita said and Amaya looked up at her. "Don't worry, Adi is here with them." She added.

"No, Ma. It's okay. Tell Adi to go home. I'll stay here." Amaya denied her idea.

"But-"

Rajeev put his hand on Amrita's shoulder and stopped her, telling her to let her stay there. Adi didn't want to go but Amrita forced him. They all left after some time, leaving Amaya there.

×××××××××××××××

Amaya decided to stay in Rishaan's room as Ansh was sleeping. She too had no hopes now. She made up her mind to stay strong. She was on the couch and doing something with the drape of her saree when she heard something. She looked around in the room but found nothing. Finding nothing, she rested her head back on the couch and closed her eyes.

"A- An- Anshh... " Amaya stood up with a jolt.

"Ansh.. "

"Rishaan?" Amaya walked slowly towards his bed, unable to believe that it was really him speaking.

"An- An- Ansh." Rishaan was finding difficulty in saying. His eyes were still closed and his face looked so tensed. He moved his fingers a little.

"Ansh... " Rishaan's breathing became rapid and Amaya's heart started throbbing in fear. She pressed the red button with her trembling fingers so the doctor could reach there fast.

"An- Ansh." Rishaan drawled.

Amaya had tears in her eyes. He is thinking about Ansh even when he himself isn't fine! She placed her palm on his forehead and moved it slowly to calm him.

"He is fine." Amaya whispered and wiped her tears.

The doctor along with two nurses rushed into the room. He was half shocked, half surprised. He had not thought that Rishaan would ever recover. It was like a miracle. He adjusted Rishaan's oxygen mask and then checked his pulse. He checked him with his stethoscope and then stood up, smiling.

"It was totally unexpected." He said, looking at Amaya. "It's like a miracle." He looked back at Rishaan and said, "Nurse, give him an injection."

"Is he out of danger now?" Amaya asked.

"Yes, mostly. But he still needs this oxygen mask." He paused as he noticed her tensed face. "Don't worry, he'll wake up in an hour or so."

Amaya smiled at him and thanked him. This time both the nurses stayed in the room. Amaya left his room and decided to stay with Ansh for some time. She entered in his room and took her phone from the table. She messaged Adi about Rishaan's recovery. She thought to talk to Riddhima and Disha. She dialed Riddhima's number and waited for her to pick up the call.

"Hello bhabhi." It was Adi. His voice sounded so happy and cheerful. Amaya hadn't expected him to be there but she didn't give much attention to that thing. "I am so happy. Finally Shaan is out of danger."

"Yeah. He is." Amaya smiled from the other side. "By the way where is Riddhima? And Disha? I hope she is-"

"Riddhima took her to a nearby park. Don't worry, Disha is fine. And I'm coming there once they come back." Adi said and Amaya could feel him smiling.

"Okay... Bye." With that Amaya cut the call.

Amaya looked up and found Ansh awake. Maybe she disturbed his peaceful sleep. He was staring at her blankly.

"What happened Anshu?" Amaya asked, getting up from the couch. "Are you feeling okay?" She asked and he nodded.

"Mamma, where are we?" Ansh asked innocently, looking around in the room.

"Hospital." Amaya replied and he stared at her blankly. "Anshu, don't you want to meet your daddy?" She asked stroking his hair, lovingly.

"He is not my daddy, Mamma." Ansh said, looking down.

"Ansh!" Amaya was so angry at him. How can he? Rishaan saved his life and here he's not even accepting him as his father! That man tried to save him risking his own life and Ansh! "He. Is. Your. Daddy." She said with her gritted teeth.

"No, he is-"

"Ansh!" Amaya was angry as heck. She closed her eyes to calm herself down. She opened them and said calmly, "Do you know who saved you and Disha when you both were stuck in your school?" She asked and he just looked at her, not saying anything. "It was your daddy." He gulped down as she said. "And do you know who saved you last night?" She asked and he remembered how Rishaan forwarded his hand in the fire and told him to hold his hand. "Again, it was your daddy." She said and he looked down. "Come with me." With that she picked him pick in her arms and stood up. She left the room and went to Rishaan's room. "Dekho unhe. Unhone tumhari jaan bachane ke liye apni khud ki jaan khatre mein daal di. [Look at him. He risked his own life just to save your life.]" Ansh just looked at Rishaan in disbelief, with his eyes widened.

Amaya put him down near Rishaan's bed and stepped backwards. Ansh just stood there, staring at Rishaan. All the images from last night started flashing on his mind. He remembered how Rishaan had taken him in his arms just to protect him. Ansh really felt guilty at that time for not trusting Rishaan. He sat on the edge of the bed and Amaya watched him standing in the corner of the room. Ansh touched Rishaan's arm slowly to check if he was awake or not and if he would shout at him or not. But Rishaan wasn't in his sense to feel anything except his presence.

"I'm sorry for last night." Ansh looked down, sticking out his lower lip. Amaya smiled at him but she also noticed that he didn't call Rishaan daddy.

"Ansh... " Rishaan mumbled and Ansh looked up at him. Amaya stood there shocked. Ansh gulped down really hard and got down from the bed. He was so scared.

Rishaan opened his eyes slowly and what he saw first was Ansh. He forced his lips to curve into a smile. He motioned Ansh to come near to him by his fingers. He could hardly move his fingers. Ansh looked back at Amaya as if he was asking her what he should do. Amaya nodded her head and a tear rolled down her cheek. Ansh moved his face closer to Rishaan. He was so scared.

What if he will punish me? What if he will slap me? What if he will scold me for last night?

"How are you?" It came out like a whisper from Rishaan's mouth. His voice sounded cracked.

Amaya placed her palm over her mouth just to hide her sob. How wrong I was! How can someone be so selfless? Is he a human or something else? She thought.

"I-I am good." Ansh stuttered.

Rishaan smiled at him and tried to lift his body up but failed so miserably.

"How- how are you?" Ansh asked Rishaan, still scared.

Rishaan opened his mouth to say something but couldn't say anything. He still found difficulty in breathing. He coughed a little and again opened his mouth, "Good." That was all what he could utter.

Amaya had no strength to stay there for more time. His every word, every action went straight to her heart. She turned around and ran out of the room. She cried her heart out, once she was out.

"Bhabhi?" Adi spotted her crying, sitting on the chair. "What happened? Shaan? Is he fine? Is- is he alright?" Her actions made him scared. Her tears spoke more than her lips. All the negative thoughts started running into his head.

Amaya didn't answer Adi and kept crying. She didn't care if people would call her too sensitive. So many emotions flooded her at the same time. She was happy but she was also sad. She was guilty but she was also proud, not on herself though. It was like feeling so many emotions at one time.

Adi was so worried and more than just worried he was scared. He ran inside the room and what he saw was something so unexpected. Ansh was moving his little fingers through Rishaan's hair while Rishaan was sleeping with a big smile plastered on his face. Adi also knew that Ansh didn't like Rishaan and seeing him doing something like this blew his heart. At that moment he believed that nothing is impossible if you try. He turned around and left, leaving these two alone. He went to Amaya and sat beside her.

"Saley ne rula diya aaj! [He made me cry today!]" Hearing his words, Amaya laughed and cried at same time.

××××××××××××××

"Some steps need to be taken alone. It's the only way to really figure out where you need to go and who you need to be."

"The hardest times in life to go through are when you are transitioning from one version of yourself to another."

×××××××××××××

Finally an update! How was the chapter? It was the longest one till now.

I hope I justified the chapter and you all liked it. I hope y'all liked this new version of Rishaan.

Do votes and comments and share your views.

Thank you.
~J