Shree's heart raced with excitement as she stood in the bustling airport with Olivera, eagerly awaiting the arrival of her mother Lakshmi and her sister Devi. She glanced at her watch anxiously, her excitement growing with each passing minute.

Finally, she spotted them emerging from the crowd, their familiar faces lighting up as they caught sight of her. Shree's face broke into a radiant smile as she rushed forward to greet them, enveloping them in warm hugs.

"Mom, Devi, I've missed you so much!" Shree exclaimed, her voice filled with joy.

Lakshmi returned her daughter's embrace, her eyes shining with affection. "We've missed you too, my dear," she said warmly.

Devi grinned, her excitement mirroring Shree's. "It's so good to see you, Shree!" she exclaimed.

As they exchanged greetings, Shree couldn't wait to introduce them to Sharan, the man who had captured her heart. She turned to where Sharan stood beside her, ready to share her happiness with her family.

"Mom, Devi, I'd like you to meet Sharan," Shree said, gesturing toward him with a beaming smile.

Lakshmi and Devi exchanged puzzled glances, their brows furrowing in confusion. Shree's smile faltered as she noticed their reaction.

"Where is he?" Lakshmi asked, her voice tinged with uncertainty.

Shree's heart skipped a beat, her confusion growing. "He's right here, Mom, Devi. Sharan, say hello," she urged, gesturing toward the empty space beside her.

But Lakshmi and Devi only exchanged bewildered looks, unable to see anyone standing beside Shree.

Shree's mind raced with disbelief. She looked to where Sharan stood moments ago, but there was no one there - just an empty space.

"I don't understand... He was just here," Shree murmured, her voice filled with confusion and frustration.

Olivera, who had been standing nearby, approached them with a concerned expression. "Shree, they aren't lying." she asked softly, sensing her friend's distress.

Shree shook her head, unable to comprehend what was happening. "I don't know... I thought he was here, but..." her voice trailed off, her mind swirling with uncertainty.

Lakshmi placed a comforting hand on Shree's shoulder, her eyes filled with concern. "Maybe you're just tired, sweetheart. It's been a long day," she suggested gently, trying to reassure her daughter.

"No, that can't be true," Shree protested, her voice tinged with desperation. "Sharan is real. He's an economics professor, and he loves me."

Olivera's expression softened with empathy as she gently squeezed Shree's hand. "I know this is difficult to accept, Shree, but you need to hear the truth," she said gently, her voice filled with concern.

Shree shook her head adamantly, unable to accept Olivera's words. "But I've been to his apartment, and we've gone on dinner dates together," she insisted, her voice trembling with emotion.

Olivera sighed, her heart breaking for her friend. "Shree, I know it feels real to you, but... most of the time, you're either going alone or sitting in bed, imagining these situations," she explained gently, her words laced with hesitation.

Shree's denial only grew stronger at Olivera's words. "No, that's not true," she insisted, her voice filled with defiance. "I remember being with him. I remember his touch, his kisses...".

Olivera sighed, her heart breaking at the sight of her friend's distress. "Shree, I think it's time you faced the truth," she said gently, her voice filled with compassion.

"But... how can it all be just... in my head?" Shree whispered, her voice barely above a whisper.

Olivera reached out and enveloped Shree in a warm embrace, offering her comfort in her time of need. "I wish I had all the answers, Shree," she murmured softly, her voice filled with empathy. "But sometimes, our minds can play tricks on us, and it's important to seek help when we need it."

Shree clung to Olivera, her heart heavy with the weight of her shattered reality. She knew she had a long journey ahead of her, but with Olivera by her side, she knew she wouldn't have to face it alone.

As Shree's world crumbled around her, she clung to her mother's embrace, seeking solace in the warmth of Lakshmi's arms. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she cried out, her voice choked with emotion.

"Sharan is real," Shree sobbed, her words barely audible amidst her tears. "He loves me, and he's..."

Devi's voice interrupted Shree's protestations, her tone gentle yet firm. "Shree, I tried looking him up on LinkedIn and Instagram, just like you suggested," she explained softly, her words tinged with sorrow. "But I couldn't find anyone. Not a single trace of him."

"No, that can't be true," Shree protested, her voice trembling with emotion. "There must be some mistake. Sharan is real. He's..."

Before Shree could finish her sentence, a wave of dizziness washed over her, her vision blurring and her legs giving way beneath her. She collapsed into her mother's arms, her consciousness slipping away as darkness engulfed her.

Lakshmi's heart clenched with fear as she held her unconscious daughter close, her mind racing with worry and concern. She cast a pleading glance at Devi, silently urging her to help.

Devi sprang into action as she quickly checked Shree's pulse and breathing. With practiced efficiency, she gently lowered Shree to the ground, ensuring that her airway was clear and her posture was stable.

"Amma, we need to get her to a hospital," Devi said urgently, her voice filled with concern. "She needs medical attention right away."

Lakshmi nodded in agreement, her heart heavy with worry for her daughter. Together, they carefully lifted Shree's limp form and rushed her to the nearest hospital, praying for her swift recovery.

As they raced through the corridors of the hospital, Shree's unconscious form cradled between them, Lakshmi's heart clenched with fear. She could only hope and pray that her beloved daughter would soon awaken, safe and sound in the embrace of reality.

In the sterile confines of the hospital room, Lakshmi sat anxiously beside her daughter's bed, her heart heavy with worry. As she waited for news on Shree's condition, the door swung open, and Doctor Maya entered, her expression grave. She led Lakshmi to her office.

"Lakshmi, I'm Doctor Maya," the psychiatrist began, her tone gentle yet firm. "I've reviewed Shree's case, and I'm afraid there's something I need to discuss with you."

Lakshmi's heart clenched with fear at the doctor's somber demeanor, her mind racing with a thousand worries. She nodded silently, urging the doctor to continue.

"Shree is suffering from schizophrenia," Doctor Maya explained softly, her words heavy with significance. "It's a serious mental illness that affects her perception of reality."

Lakshmi's breath caught in her throat at the doctor's diagnosis, her mind reeling with shock and disbelief, heart aching with sorrow at the thought of Shree's suffering.

Doctor Maya continued, her voice gentle yet clinical. "Shree's delusions about her lover, Sharan, are a manifestation of her illness," she explained. "Her brain has created a fictional character who deeply cares for her, to cope with the trauma of her husband's abandonment during her pregnancy."

Lakshmi's eyes brimmed with tears at the doctor's words, her heart breaking for her daughter's pain.

"It's all because of her depression," Doctor Maya continued, her tone compassionate. "The combination of her depression and schizophrenia has created a complex web of delusions and hallucinations, making it difficult for her to distinguish between reality and fiction."

As Lakshmi absorbed Doctor Maya's words, a pang of desperation gripped her heart. "Is there any cure for Shree's condition?" she asked, her voice tinged with a flicker of hope.

Doctor Maya's expression softened with empathy as she shook her head gently. "Schizophrenia is a chronic illness, and there's no straightforward cure," she explained gently. "However, since Shree's delusions are intertwined with her depression, managing her mood and keeping her happy can significantly improve her symptoms."

Lakshmi nodded slowly, her mind grappling with the enormity of the task ahead. She was willing to do whatever it took to bring a glimmer of light into her daughter's darkened world.

"Keeping her happy will be beneficial for her and her baby," Doctor Maya continued, her tone reassuring. "A positive environment, filled with love and support, can help alleviate her symptoms and promote her overall well-being."

Lakshmi's heart swelled with determination as she listened to the doctor's words. She would spare no effort in creating a nurturing and supportive environment for Shree, ensuring that she received the care and attention she needed to heal.