As the day progressed, Priya and Viraj continued to enjoy the spring fest, their laughter mingling with the lively atmosphere around them. The sun was beginning to set, casting a warm, golden hue over the event, making everything feel just a bit more magical. They were immersed in conversation, sharing stories and jokes, when suddenly Viraj's phone rang, breaking the moment.

Viraj glanced at the screen, his expression shifting from lighthearted to serious in an instant. He answered the call, and as he listened, his face grew increasingly concerned. Priya, noticing the change, immediately asked, "What happened, Viraj? You don't look fine."

Viraj ended the call, his voice strained as he replied, "I just got a call from Dad. Mom's health suddenly deteriorated—she's been admitted to the ER."

Priya's heart sank at the news. "Oh no, Viraj... What happened? Do they know what's wrong?"

Viraj ran a hand through his hair, visibly stressed. "It might be that she missed one of her medications... I don't know for sure. I didn't want to leave you in the middle of all this, but—"

Priya quickly interrupted, her tone firm yet gentle, "Viraj, it's fine. You need to be with her. Go now, don't worry about anything here."

Viraj hesitated, guilt washing over him. "I'm sorry, Priya. We had plans for dinner tonight, and now I don't think that's going to work out."

Priya shook her head, giving him a reassuring smile. "Viraj, dinner is not important right now. Your mom needs you. Just go, and let me know how she's doing, okay?"

Viraj nodded, clearly torn but knowing Priya was right. "Thank you for understanding, Priya. I'll call you later."

With a quick, apologetic smile, Viraj turned and hurried away, his mind already on his mother and the drive ahead. Priya watched him leave, her heart heavy with concern for him.

The sky had darkened ominously by the time Ram decided it was time to leave the spring fest. He approached Arjun, who was eagerly anticipating an upcoming performance. "Arjun, I think I need to leave now," Ram said, a hint of urgency in his voice. "The office is calling—something came up."

Arjun looked disappointed. "But Dad, just wait a little longer! There's an exciting performance about to start."

Ram shook his head, clearly torn but resolute. "I really can't stay now, but I'll let you stay here. I'll leave the car and send a driver for you, okay?"

As Ram spoke, the sky continued to darken, thick clouds gathering ominously overhead. The atmosphere grew tense, as if the weather was mirroring Ram's inner turmoil. Despite the threatening storm, Ram was ready to leave. He walked briskly toward the main road to hail a cab when a loud thunderclap suddenly rumbled through the sky, making his heart skip a beat. Within seconds, the heavens opened up, and a heavy downpour began, quickly escalating into a torrential rain.

Ram's worry intensified, thoughts of Priya and Arjun swirling in his mind. He hesitated on the main road, the rain soaking through his clothes. "Should I go back and get Arjun?" he wondered aloud, anxiety gnawing at him. Finally, his concern for his son and Priya outweighed his initial resolve to leave, and he turned back toward the college.

When he re-entered the campus, chaos greeted him. The rain had turned into a fierce storm, and students and teachers alike were scrambling to find shelter. Ram's eyes darted around, searching for Arjun, until he spotted the principal leading his son to safety. Relief washed over him, but only for a moment—his thoughts quickly shifted to Priya.

Scanning the grounds, he finally saw her. She was at the exhibition corner, drenched to the bone, struggling against the wind to save the students' creative displays. Her determination was evident, but so was her vulnerability in the face of the storm. The wind whipped around her, threatening to undo all her efforts, yet she continued, undeterred.

Ram's protective instinct kicked in. Grabbing the umbrella from his car, he made his way to her, pushing through the rain. As he reached her, he held the umbrella over her, shielding her from the relentless downpour. Startled, Priya looked up, her eyes widening in surprise when she saw Ram standing beside her.

"What are you doing?" Ram asked, his voice edged with concern. "Aren't you supposed to be inside? Let's go—you can't save all of this. It's going to hail soon."

Priya glanced at the soaked displays around her, her heart sinking. "But all of these... the students worked so hard..."

Before she could finish, hailstones began to pelt down, hard and unforgiving. Ram, seeing the futility of her efforts, grabbed her hand and pulled her away. They ran through the rain, desperately searching for shelter as the storm intensified. All the doors seemed to be closed, and the campus was quickly becoming a ghost town as everyone sought cover.

Finally, Ram spotted an abandoned corner of the college, partially sheltered from the storm. They ducked into the small alcove, standing side by side, both catching their breath.

Priya, soaked and shivering, leaned against the wall, a mix of frustration and sorrow in her eyes. "Oh God, what has happened? I worked so hard for this," she lamented, her voice tinged with despair.

Ram, still holding the umbrella, looked at her with a mix of sympathy and practicality. "Nature is not in your control, Priya. But there was a forecast of rain—why didn't you check it?"

Priya sighed, her shoulders slumping. "I should have been more careful. I'm just relieved that all the students are safe."

Ram nodded, his stern expression softening as he looked at her. "That's what matters most. You did your best, Priya. Now let's just wait for this to pass.