Ivan's P.O.V.

The smell of medicines, phenol and various other fragrances made me nauseous as soon as I entered the hospital. People were running here and there with a tensed look, some were sitting in the waiting area consoling each other. Nurses, ward boys walking here and there holding trays and stretchers. Everyone was busy, all lost in their own world.

Some were happy and smiling holding a small new version of themselves welcoming the new lives in their lives, their child. Some were mourning over the death of their loved ones. I hate hospitals. My sister lost her child, I lost Joe once here.

I walked to the reception area and asked for Hazel. She checked something in her laptop and then told me the way. I thanked her and gave her a last glance before walking away. This lady at the reception must have witnessed way too many lives and death. She doesn't seem fazed by agitating visitors at all.

Tightening the grip over the bag, I walked to the lift and pressed the button to the second floor. Along with five more people I walked out of the lift and turned right. Breath left my senses for a second seeing Hazel in front of me. She was on the floor with a lady holding her hair in her grip. In front of me, she slapped her so tightly that her lips bleed.

Somehow I found myself raging in anger. It was a private area so only three people were present here. Hazel, that lady and a man in his forties who was standing there quietly watching the whole show.

"You bi***. How dare you steal our grandson from us? He's in this position only because of us. If anything happens to him, I'll kill you", the lady said and again slapped her.

"Stop there mam", I yelled. Three pairs of eyes looked up at me. I walked over there and holding the lady by her arm, I pushed her away from Hazel and stood in between them.

"What the hell are you doing?", I asked glaring at him.

"Who are you?", She asked. I noticed the expensive clothes she had worn and the amount of pride she had in her eyes. She's a powerful person.

"Who are you to treat a girl like shit?", I asked.

"We're not bound to answer you anything. This girl stole our grandson from us. By God's grace, today we met her in this hospital and got to know about our Aiden", she said looking disgracefully at Hazel.

"You stay out of it. This is our personal matter. Get out", this time the man says who was standing quietly a few seconds before.

"Oh, so you do speak. I thought you are dumb", I backfired and he clenched his fist.

"Mr. Green. Why are you here?", I turned around after Hazel addressed me. Her lips were bleeding and I saw imprints on her cheeks.

"I came here to deliver this bag to you. Emma will be here by any minute", I said and she didn't look up to see me.

"Thanks for the bag", Hazel said taking the bag from me and then said, "You may leave now". Her eyes were still on the floor.

"No way. These people will kill you", I said and glared at them.

The lady chuckled and said, "She's a real slut. How many days had she warmed your bed?". This caught on my nerves.

"Stop talking nonsense. Only if you're a man, I would have dug you six feet down the ground by now", I said.

"Stay in your limits young boy. So much anger is dangerous for health. We're not someone you'd love to mess with", The man said.

"Ivan, keep quiet. They're Aiden's grandparents. Don't talk back", Hazel said again and taking the bag, she walked and sat on the floor on one side of the wall. She folded her legs up to the chest and kept her head in between her hands and knees.

I glared at the couple and sat on the chair. They glared at me back but sat down quietly on the chairs in front of me. After that, no one talked and we all stayed quiet. Hazel didn't look up not even for a second. I opened my mobile and texted Emma to come soon.

"I'm going to take him with us. Did you manage to get the papers?", I heard the lady talking to the man who is her husband, I assume.

"My lawyer is on his way. Don't worry", he said.

Emma came after what felt like an eternity and her face showed worry. She ran to Hazel and sat down next to her. She placed her hand over her head and Hazel looked up. Her face was hidden behind her hair. I couldn't appreciate her expressions but she was devastated for sure because the next thing I know she hugged Emma and cried.

"Just look at her drama", That lady again said.

"Can't you stay quiet? You're giving me a headache already. Get a stop button lady", I said annoyed by her action.

"How dare you talk to me like that? A trash like you should stay within his limits", the lady said.

"You-", I got up from my seat but was interrupted by the entry of two men.

One wearing a black coat which I assume to be the lawyer and other who was looking as the same age as Ron wearing casuals. He must be Aiden's father, I assumed. The guy in casuals looked at all of us but his eyes settled on Hazel for longer.

"Dylan? What are you doing here?", The lady asked in surprise.

"Vena called me here. What are you guys doing here?", He back questioned them. Hazel looked up and after seeing Dylan, she got up and ran to him. She hugged him and he just consoled her.

Why am I feeling not good seeing them together?, I thought!!

"We came here to take custody of our grandson. Mr. Lanter just give the papers to her", Dylan's dad said.

"No, you're not. You never cared about me and my wife then why are you so concerned about this baby all of a sudden? I'm his father and I've given Aiden's custody to Vena. She's his guardian and no one's gonna take him away from her", he said with authority in his voice. Vena was standing behind him. Dylan stood in between Vena and his parents. He was acting like a shield for her.

"Aiden is our family and this girl is not even worth raising her. She doesn't even earn that much money", That lady again said.

"For your kind information let me tell you once and for all, this operation fee is given by Vena only. She never allows me to give any money for Aiden and work very hard to raise him. I don't think even I could do so much for my own son. She's the best person to have Aiden and not you, not even me", Dylan said and I looked again at Hazel. Is she working so hard to collect money for Aiden?

"I'll pay her the amount of money she had spent on our grandchild. Just sign the papers", That man said and signalled the lawyer to act accordingly.

"She will not and no one can force her", Dylan almost yelled.

"You're a very disrespecting and a shameless child. You don't have any courtesy regarding your parents", His mom said and I chuckled.

Right. Parents want us to behave the way they want on the basis of so-called sacrifices they've done for us. They want us to be their puppet. They raise us so that one day they could play with us. I hate this stupid emotional blackmailing. I hate my parents for that and I hate Dylan's parents too.

"You've already tagged me as useless so let me behave like one. Aiden is my child and I've the right to hand him to anyone I want. I chose Vena for that", Dylan said and hold Vena's hand.

"She can't raise a child all alone", the lady again said.

"I won't. I've decided to give Aiden to a family who will love him, even more than me", Vena said after so long. I looked at her. She looked at Dylan and he gave her a small smile.

"I'll always support you", he said and she smiled.

"You've let us down. Fine, do whatever you want to do with your child. But don't come to us crying when it'll be too late", Dylan's dad said and both of them left the place fuming in anger. The lawyer walked away with them.

"How is Aiden?", Dylan asked and as soon as Vena removed the strands of hair away from her face, my eyes widened. Emma gasped and Dylan went all angry. Her eyes were swollen and there were cuts on her cheeks too.

"I don't even deserve your sorry. I'm sorry that I've got such heartless parents", Dylan said looking away from her.

Hazel held his hand and said, "You're not one of them. You've always taken care of me and my sister. It's my turn to help you now".

"I can't take him with me. He'll hate me when he'll grow up", Dylan said.

"He won't. I will never ever let him hate you", Hazel said and Dylan hugged her. Something ignited inside me but I couldn't point out why am I feeling this restless?

I need a checkup!!

**********************

The operation theatre opened after few hours and a doctor came outside. We all stood up from our seat and Hazel walked first to the doctor. She stood quietly letting her eyes ask the doctor she wanted to know.

"How's Aiden?", Dylan asked.

"Congratulations. The operation is successful. The baby is out of danger", The doctor said with a smile and tears flew down Emma's and Hazel's eyes.

"Thank you", Hazel said and then she looked at Dylan. He hugged her and Emma hugged me out of happiness. My sister is sensitive, I get it.

"Can we meet him?", Dylan again asked.

"No. We're keeping him under observation but one of you can go and see him", The doctor said.

I looked at Hazel. She nodded and then looking at Dylan, she said, "You should go and meet him".

"What? No. You deserve to meet him first. You're his real parent", Dylan said and Hazel just smiled.

After that she walked to the room, Aiden was shifted to and we all waited outside. I sat on the bench and looked at the time on my mobile. It was two at night. After a few hours, I've to go and pick up Joe for her exam.

"Emma, we should leave. It's late. Now Aiden is fine. You should sleep and I need rest too. I've work tomorrow", I whispered in Emma's ear.

"We can't leave her alone", Emma said.

"She's not alone. Dylan is here with her", I reasoned out.

Hazel came out with a satisfactory smile on her face. Her tiring eyes were shining with brightness and the scars on her face were still visible still the happiness in her eyes hide all her stress. Her eyes are beautiful, she's not.

Hazel is of no match in front of Joe. She neither has those good looks nor she had any talking sense. She had got this rude attitude and bitterness in her voice whenever she talks to me.

"Is he ok?", Emma asked walking to Hazel.

"He's sleeping. Thank you so much to all of you for being here with me", Hazel said holding Emma's hand but her eyes landed on each one of us once a time. She even looked at me with a smile on her face. Her that smiling face was registered in my mind.

"You should go home and take some rest", Dylan said.

"I'll stay", Emma volunteered.

Excuse me?

"We've to go home. You need sleep and so do I", I said boldly. I'm not a sacrificing soul, not for Hazel at least. If it were Joe, I would have stayed for all night but for her, I've already wasted my enough sleep.

"He's right. You should go home. I'll stay", Hazel said.

"But you've an exam tomorrow", Emma said and it caught me off guard. Oh right! Joe and Hazel have got to be in same class. It's Hazel's exam too tomorrow.

"I'll skip it. Aiden is more important to me", she said and Emma couldn't fight with her anymore. Dylan also volunteered to stay but Hazel refused him too.

"Let's go", I said and walked out first. Emma walked with me.

"I need to go to the washroom. I'll join you in a bit", Emma said once we're near the reception.

"Ok", I said and walked out of the hospital.

I waited for Emma to show up in the parking. Instead of Emma, Hazel came running to me. I frowned and then my eyes landed on the paper in her hand. She stood taking the support of her knees and was taking a deep breath. She came here running for sure.

"What are you doing here?", I asked.

"Give this to Joe", she said and I took the paper from her. It was Joe's examination roll number.

"What is this doing with you?", I asked.

"Just give this to her. She forgot to take this from me", she said but her eyes never met mine. They're fixed to the piece of paper in my hand.

"Ok. Thanks", I replied and Hazel looked up. Our eyes met.

"Thanks for taking a stand for me even when you hate me so much", She said and I just stare at her blankly.

Why did I help her?, I thought.

"Your welcome", I replied with a nod and she smiled.

She nodded and left. I watched her going. Hazel and I don't have any sort of Hey or Bye kind of relationship. We just talk directly and fight unnecessarily.

I sat on my bike and wore the helmet. Emma came soon and sat on the bike.

"Let's go", she said and I kicked the engine.

--------------------------------

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