*Akhila Pov*

"She doesn't like staying in pain like this and even wished to not go through the time limit which we both went through. However, she is going through more than us." I mumbled not able to see her in pain like this.

"Tell me about it. Did you text Khushal to come directly to the hospital?" Di asked and I nodded at her.

I texted him while Di said she will wait for some time as right now Bharghav must be on stage as per the itinerary.

As we both continued to stay in the room while Ri finally took a small nap, my phone started ringing.

I frowned seeing the coach's name and picked it up asking, "Will it take longer for the match to finish, coach?"

I asked that thinking maybe Khushal left instructions to keep me updated but all I heard was a rushed voice from the other side and I heard the words that scared me.

"Khushal is hurt and we are bringing him to the hospital where you are right now. I need a family member to do the formalities and so I called you against his wishes." I stood up hearing those words.

"I am coming to the emergency ward right now." Saying that I cut the call and glanced at Priya Di panicking.

"What happened?" she asked standing up after seeing my expression.

"Di! His coach is... saying that he got hurt and... they are bringing him... to the hospital." I replied and her eyes widened.

"I will come with you and leave a nurse here." She mumbled holding my hand and I felt grateful to have her presence but then glanced at Ri's sleeping form.

"No Di! Stay with her and I will be fine." I mumbled assuring her and removed her hand from my hand.

"Akhila!" she called my name but I shook my head and rushed out of the room while praying it is not serious but my hands started shaking when I pressed the elevator button.

After reaching the ward, I stood silently and suddenly heard a commotion from the entrance.

I froze seeing Khushal's face with a band covering his head and face but it is already covered with blood.

"Akhila!" I heard the coach's voice but I couldn't move at all.

"Stay with her!" someone walked towards me and placed a hand on my shoulder.

"Don't worry! It looks serious but it is not a serious wound." After hearing those words I turned to the owner of that voice and found the coach's daughter giving me an assuring look.

The doctor checked on him immediately and it nearly took an hour before he is shifted to the room beside Ri's.

We are lucky that we took a VIP room for Ri to stay comfortably and that helped us in getting a room for Khushal beside hers.

Otherwise, if she had stayed in the gynecology department then it would have been a trouble to travel from her room to here continuously.

He got fifteen stitches on the side of his head and as per the tests there is no internal damage but he needs to be continuously monitored.

I sat beside him and held his hand carefully before finally letting the tears out. Did he get hurt because of me as I rushed him about Ri's news?

I shook my head while trying to control my emotions and felt a hand on my shoulder. I turned to find Priya Di standing beside me.

"What about Ri, Di? You..." she cut me off saying, "Nothing will happen within five minutes."

"I saw the video that got released about the incident." She added and I hugged her before crying out.

"It must be because of me, Di." She immediately scolded me hearing those words.

"It is not because of you. He won the match and was about to walk away after getting down from the ring but his opponent suddenly hit his head with the chair that was laid for his coach. It is not your fault and don't think like that." I nodded hearing those words.

"I am calling Bharghav but he is not picking up the phone. I left a message about Ri and hopefully, he can come soon after seeing the message." Saying that she left the room and I continued to sit beside him.

In the evening, he finally woke up and I immediately called the doctor while he slowly opened his eyes and then stared at me.

After looking at my face, he closed his eyes saying, "I am sorry, Akhila!"

"Shut up! Why are you apologizing?" I shook my head and didn't let him talk while the doctor reached the room in a few seconds.

When the doctor left after giving the instructions, I sat down in relief as he will be fine after a few weeks' rest.

He continued to stare at me in silence while I caressed his hand saying, "Don't think about the incident and take a rest."

"From the morning time, all I was thinking is how to help you with everything from house chores to Ri's matter. But I ended up increasing your work and I couldn't even get ice cream for you." I shook my head hearing those words.

"You are right! I asked you to come directly to the hospital from the stadium but didn't ask you to come like this." I commented shaking my head.

"Why are even thinking like that, Khushal? All this didn't happen because you wished for it and we should be glad it is not serious. Also, I want you to get well soon and then buy ice cream. That is not forgiven at all." He smiled hearing my words and I asked him to continue to sleep.

"I will go and check up on Ri once and then come back." He nodded closing his eyes and after a few seconds, I walked out of the room before entering Ri's room and found her awake.

"Di! I heard that Khushi asked Bharghav jeeju about me dying. Please don't tell Khushal about this matter otherwise he will kill me. It's not that I can't fight him back but as you can see I am in a position to give my best." Ri said looking at me and I frowned at her before glancing at Priya Di.

"I told her about that matter as she continued to ask about you and I didn't want to tell your matter unless it is not serious." Di explained and I nodded at her.

"Don't worry about that, Ri. Even he is not a position to give his best." I assured Ri before telling her what happened.

"How is he?" Priya Di asked and I told her that he is fine and is right now resting.

"I will stay with him, Di. Call me if there is any need and don't stop as he is just resting." I said looking at her and she nodded promising.

I walked back into his room and found him sleeping and as the coach already left the hospital after I told him to go, I texted him about Khushal's situation and he thanked me but also apologized for not protecting Khushal.

I asked him to not think like that and told him I will give updates about Khushal for sure. After that, I leaned back in the chair and closed my eyes while thanking God for letting him escape from a major calamity.

*Priya Pov*

After the doctor left the room, I sat down while Ri closed her eyes in silence. I know she is worried about the operation which will take place if by tomorrow evening she can't deliver the baby.

"Don't worry about it, Ri." I consoled her but she shook her head.

"I wish Kalyan is here, Di. I am missing him but I don't want him to miss the match." She mumbled sighing and gripped the sheet in pain.

"Walk in the room after this small break and I will get you some food." Saying that I stood up and walked out of the room.

I wish Mom and Dad are here and I even want to call them but even if they are here this will just worry them.

But I will call them in the morning about the matter as they will find out about Khushal's issue by morning paper.

I glanced at Khushal's room and opened the door slowly and found her resting while sitting on the chair.

She rushed here and there in the hospital after they brought Khushal and must be tired more than she was before.

I closed the door again and walked towards the canteen to bring food for two of them and heard my phone ringing.

"Hello! Did you just see my message?" I asked picking up the call.

"No! I already got a train and right now traveling back but it will take time for me to reach. Is everything okay? I just saw the article about Khushal. How is he?" he asked in a worried tone.

I told him what happened while getting the food at the same time and he apologized for not checking the phone.

"Don't think like that, Bharghav! You went there for my sake and so just calm down. We are handling it fine and you reminded me about the principal. I will give him a call and let him know this matter." After that, I cut the call and immediately called the principal to tell him about Khushal's matter.

He said he will be here soon and cut the call. I took food for Akhila first and woke her up and she immediately checked on Khushal before glancing at me.

"Thank you, Di! Did you eat?" she asked taking the tray.

"No! I will eat with Ri." I replied gesturing the other tray and she nodded before placing the tray aside.

"I will come with you to see Ri once." Saying that she followed me into Ri's room and left after a few minutes when I reminded her that food will get cold.

"Di looks so stressed." Ri commented and I nodded before we both continued to eat and then asked the attendant to remove the trays.

*****

"Bharghav?" I called his name as when I opened my eyes at night, I found him sitting on the chair beside mine.

"Yeah! Sleep for some more time and even Ri is taking a small nap. The doctor came to check up on her a few minutes back." He whispered and patted my shoulder.

"Thank you!" I whispered closing my eyes and this time I slept with a sense of relief with his presence beside me and let go of tension from my mind.

When I woke up, he is not in the room and it was already past four in the morning. So, I took out my phone to call Kalyan's coach and stepped out of the room only to find Bharghav talking on his phone.

I waited until he cut the call and found messages from Kri and so I immediately replied to her the words that he just talked on his phone and the person on the opposite side must be Sanjay.

After he cut the call he turned around and paused when he realized I was standing behind him.

"Did the call disturb you?" I shook my head before asking who is it and as expected it is Sanjay.

"I told them to not come now and take rest." I nodded and told him I said the same to Kri.

"Uncle!" he suddenly said and I turned to find Khushal's Dad stepping out of Khushal's room and nodded at us.

"He woke up and is doing fine right now. I will go home and come again with breakfast." He informed but I shook my head.

"Kri will come with Sanjay and bring breakfast with them, Uncle. You go and rest as you are here from yesterday night." He slowly nodded before walking away.

I unlocked my phone and finally called Kalyan's coach before informing him about Ri's situation.

When he assured me that he will take care of it and will also try to let him play only until half-time and then send him off, I felt relieved and then cut the call after thanking him.

I sighed sitting on the chair thinking I need to call Mom and Dad after two hours as they will be awake at that time.

"Don't worry! Everything will be fine." I smiled hearing those words and leaned over to put my head on his shoulders.

"I am glad you are here otherwise I wouldn't have been able to stay on my feet without the rest I got after you came." I mumbled closing my eyes.

"Why don't you go home and sleep? I can manage for now and you can come back after breakfast." I offered opening my eyes and glanced at him.

"I am fine! And if I really can't stay awake then I will go by myself." I smiled nodding and then walked into the room where Ri is walking around as instructed by the doctor to do it in intervals and now increase the time spent on walking.