"I can only speak if you will let me. Calm down, young man. Patient is out of danger. The operation has been successful and since there was, thankfully, no internal hemorrage, she will regain her consciousness soon. She will be shifted to her cabin now. Then you will be able to meet her. However, she will have to stay in the hospital for atleast 6 days. You can take her home this weekend." The older man smiled kindly, understanding Ranbir's state of mind.

Ranbir shut his eyes tightly as an intense relief coursed through every single vein of his body. He staggered back and when his back collided with the hard strength of the cold wall behind him, he rested his head on it. Eyes still closed, he sent a fervent prayer to the Almighty followed by an ardent thanks for saving the life of the love of his life.

"Thank you so much, doctor." Abhishek shook the doctor's hand and expressed his gratitude.

"It was my duty, Mr. Mehra. Don't worry. Everything will be fine. You can see her shortly." The doctor smiled benevolently and excused himself.

"Where is Prachi's mother, Saritaji? Have you informed her." Pallavi turned to  Saritaji.

"She went to the temple to pray for the success of the operation and Prachi's wellbeing. I will inform her what the doctor said. She will be so ecstatic." Saritaji smiled through tears.

"I understand. Nothing is more important to a mother than her child's happiness and wellbeing. I can understand what she must be going through. Please inform her as soon as you can. She must be so worried." Pallavi nodded understandingly.

Saritaji walked a little away from the group to inform Pragya about the recent developments.

Ranbir's eyes snapped open as the sound of wheels grating against the concrete floor reached his ear. Instantly, he starightened from the wall and turned towards the OT just in time to see the doors opening and some compounders and nurses wheeling the stretcher carrying the unconscious form of Prachi, now covered in bandages. 

Abhishek experienced a strange pain as he witnessed the unconscious form of the girl he had come to consider as his own daughter. He didn't understand why but he felt as if someone very dear to his heart was in agony seeing Prachi. He didn't understand why he felt such a pull towards this girl as if he shared some relation with her. 

Both Abhishek and Ranbir hurried over to the stretcher at the same time and both took hold of one hand each of Prachi. As they looked up and their eyes met, their eyes communicated a shared agony. As the stretcher moved, both Abhishek and Ranbir walked beside it, neither leaving Prachi's hands. 

Soon, Prachi was shifted to the private cabin. After she had been settled down on the bed and the multifarious medical paraphernalia had been set in place, Ranbir, who was staring at Prachi with desolate eyes, looked up. The despondency in his eyes slowly morphed into an incandescent rage and a thirst for vengeance. 

"Aryan, stay here with Prachi. And till I return don't leave her alone for a moment." A fire was smouldering in the depths of Ranbir's eyes.

"Okay. But where are you going?" Aryan stated at him in utter bewilderment.

"To complete an unfinished work." The grimness in both the voice and features of Ranbir warned Aryan against any further inquiry at that moment.

As Ranbir walked out of the hospital, he fished his phone out of his pocket and dialled a number. He didn't have to wait much before the call was answered.

"Yes, Ranbir. How are you? And how is everyone at home?" A familiar voice answered.

"Balbir Uncle, noone is fine and least of all me. I need your help. May I come to your office right now?" Ranbir inquired with an urgency in his voice.

"Sure. Come right away." The unusual grimness in Ranbir's voice worried DCP Balbir Singh.

"Thank you, uncle. Bye." Ranbir smiled slightly.

"Bye."  DCP Balbir Singh cut the call while wondering what had happened to make Ranbir so tensed.

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Pragya darted into the room and as her tear drenched eyes fall on the unconscious form of the girl laying on the hospital bed, whimper of anguish escaped her lips on its own volition. Without noticing anyone else, she hurried over to the bed where her beloved child was. As she hold Prachi's hand in her own cold, unsteady ones, a wave of intense agony washed over her. Pragya squeezed her eyes shut and more tears cascaded down her cheeks.

"Prachi" A tremulous whisper left the bereaved mother's lips.

Pallavi walked towards her and hold her shoulders from the back, understanding her pain and wanting to provide some much needed support.

"Don't worry. Doctor said Prachi is out of danger and will soon regain her consciousness." Pallavi tried to console the grief stricken mother.

"And if you will break down like this, who will take care of Prachi? She needs you the most now." Daljeet, who had walked over to Pragya, placed a hand on her head afectionately.

"You are right. I can't break down like this. I have to be strong for my daughter, my Prachi." Pragya composed herself with great difficulty and wiped her tears off. 

"Pragya!" 

An astonished whisper made Pragya whirl around. She was stunned to find a tearful Abhishek Mehra standing in a lone corner of the room. In her distress, she had failed to notice the other people in the room and hence, had failed to notice her beloved husband. 

"Abhishek! You! Abhishek, Prachi..." Pragya's words were engulfed by choking sobs as she hid herself into the loving arms of her husband.

"Nothing will happen to Prachi. She is our daughter. She is a fighter. We won't let anything happen to her." Abhishek, too, shed tears as he wound his arms around his wife.

"Prachi is your daughter and Anuradha ji is your wife?" Vikram stared at Abhishek, bemused.

Everyone else in the room mirrored his confusion.

"Yes, Prachi is our daughter. But who is Anuradha? This is Pragya. Pragya Abhishek Mehra." Abhishek declared proudly.

"Actually, Anuradha is my daughter's name. I gave it to Pragya and later forgot to correct you." Saritaji cleared the final misunderstanding.

"Mehra Sir is Prachi's dad? Wow! Prachi will be so happy. Prachi, you just have to wake up now, you lazybones. See, what an wonderful news is awaiting you." Sahana walked over to Prachi's bed and looked down at her bestie with tearful smile.

As if responding to Sahana's earnest entreaties, Prachi's eyelids fluttered and she fidgeted a bit. Then she slowly opened her eyes and blinked due to the bright light inside the room.

 "Masi, Prachi is coming around." Sahana chirped happily.

Abhishek and Pragya hurried over to their daughter. Pragya placed a loving hand lightly on Prachi's bandage covered head while Abhishek took his daughter's smaller, fragile hands into his own stronger ones, providing her strength wordlessly.

"Ma, Mehra Sir." Prachi whispered feebly.

"Prachi, how are you feeling now?" Pragya stared down at her daughter anxiously.

"I am alright, Ma. Don't worry." Prachi gave her mother a weak smile.

"I am sorry. So sorry." Abhishek's eyes brimmed with tears.

"Why are you apologizing, Sir? Nothing was your fault." Prachi stared at him, bemused.

"Everything was my fault. But I assure you I won't let anything happen to you ever again." Abhishek vowed.

Prachi was about to ask what he meant and why was he blaming himself, but the sedatives had begun to work and slowly, she drifted into a dreamless sleep.

At that precise moment, Abhishek's mobile buzzed. His brows furrowed as he stared at the number. Then he picked the call up. 

"Okay. But, why? What happened? (Pause) Ok. Done. I will do it right away." Abhishek cut the call with a sigh.

What happened? Whose call was it? And what did Abhishek agree to do? Socho socho ;)

Hope you guys like this part. Please let me know whether you like it or not. Eagerly waiting for your feedbacks.