Aryamann's pov!

"I am such a bad mother. I couldn't even take proper care of him," Bhumi cried out in anguish.

"Bhumi, it is not your fault." I tried to console her.

"No no, it is mine. I should have taken proper care. He was already weak. Now this fever. Oh God!" Bhumi cried, as we stood outside the children's Intensive Care Unit into which Sammy was taken to.

The whole family was crowded in the waiting room, waiting for news of Sammy.

The senior doctor, who came out of the Intensive Care Unit looked grave.

"Doctor, what is it?" I asked in apprehension.

The senior doctor looked around the anxious faces of the horde of people crowded in the waiting room.

"This is a hospital, for heaven sake. Not a fish market," the booming voice of the doctor startled everyone gathered there.

"Doctor..."

"I was informed by one of the nurses that multiple people were coming in and out of the patient's room. Do you think this is a child's play?" The doctor asked furiously.

"Doctor, how is my son?" Bhumi asked through her tears.

"He is sick. He got an infection. All because the people around were careless," the doctor said. I wrapped my arms around Bhumi and hugged her closer.

"Doctor, is it serious? Please tell us." Daksh spoke.

"It is. For now. Hopefully he will get better with close monitoring and isolation." The doctor said.

"Isolation?" Bhumi cried out.

"What else are we supposed to do, if people keep coming in and out of the patient's room? Samarth's immune system is weak. He is more vulnerable to infections now. The nurse who asked you to leave was rebuffed on the first day. Power and influence should be used for a good cause. Not for ridiculous things like this." The doctor yelled at everyone in the room.

For a change, we all stayed silent, because we know we are at fault.

"We just wanted to be there for our children." Jalaja defended quietly.

"Well, support them from a distance. If you people are not ready to follow the hospital protocols, I will be forced to discharge the patient. You can have his treatment done elsewhere," the doctor said mercilessly.

If the situations were any different, I wouldn't have tolerated the way the doctor spoke. But here I am thankful.

For one, he is no sycophant. And I respect him for that.

Two, he managed to do what none of us could do. He will keep the family out of the hospital.

"No. Please don't say that. Save my son." Bhumi cried out.

The doctor's mask melted a little seeing Bhumi's despair.

"The family will have to stay out. One of them is allowed to visit one day. Even then, they wouldn't be allowed inside the Intensive Care Unit. Only the parents are allowed inside. That too just for a few minutes a day. I repeat, Only Mr and Mrs Mehrotra are allowed inside," the doctor said.

"Abhi?" Abhi, who has been hiding his face into the crook of Ishitha bhabhi's shoulder, since the doctor began scolding, asked.

"What?" Doctor asked in confusion.

"Abhi see Sammy. Abhi miss Sammy." Abhi said, with an adorable puppy dog face and a small smile appeared on the doctor's face.

"Okay. Abhi can also meet Sammy. But you have to follow what the nurse says before entering the Intensive Care Unit," the doctor said and Abhi nodded enthusiastically.

"Fine. All of you, leave the hospital in ten minutes. No more excuses," the senior doctor said and walked away.

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

Bhumi's pov!

The whole family left the hospital in a matter of ten minutes.

Everyone took their turn, hugging me and kissing my cheeks.

"Take care sweetie. We will be here in the hotel itself. Call anytime you want. I will be here in a jiffy." Dadi said and I hugged her hard.

"Now, let's leave before the doctor comes back," Siddharth said, urging everyone out of the hospital. They took Abhi also with them, promising to bring him back in the evening.

As everyone left, I slumped against the chair in the waiting room.

Aryamann sat next to me and wound his arms around me. I placed my head on his shoulder.

I sooo needed a shoulder to lean on.

"Sammy will be alright. He is your son, Bhumi. He is a fighter." Aryamann said.

"I should have been more careful. I should have realised that he is weak and is more vulnerable to infections. But I was greedy. I always wanted a large family. And finally, when I got them all, I couldn't bear to stay away. I didn't think of anything else." I said, feeling guilty for my son's condition.

"I understand, darling. It is not your fault. Don't beat yourself up on this." Aryamann said.

"I hope Sammy gets better soon." I said softly.

"He will."

We remained silent for a moment, then Aryamann asked.

"Did you check your phone today?"

"No," I responded in confusion.

"Mumbai media strikes back. They are writing on and on about our epic love story. About how we found each other again and what a happy family we look like.'' Aryamann said with a laugh and showed me the article Kabir Basu wrote.

"Aww. That was so sweet of them." I said.

"When you became buddy buddy with these paparazzi, I didn't know what to do with you. I had half a mind to strangle you back then. Now I am glad that you did. They were loyal to your friendship. Three years ago, they did everything in their power to protect your reputation and character. They are doing it again now." Aryamann said.

"I know. Arohi and Bani told me."

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

TWO WEEKS LATER

Aryamann's pov!

I stared angrily at the sheepish real estate agent.

The guy has been creating problems where there were none, since day one.

I have no interest in finding the best deal. If the vendors wanted more money, they bloody well could have it.

And I had to finally spell it out, for this dumb man to understand.

"Give them a blank check. I don't care as long as I have the keys with me now." I said and the real estate agent gaped at me.

"Black check?" He asked in a scandalised whisper and I rolled my eyes.

I quickly finished the deal, and returned to the hospital with the keys to the house with me.

As I climbed up the stairs of the hospital, my mind wandered to the last two weeks.

Everything was strict for the last two weeks. No one other than the three of us were allowed to visit Sammy.

Buzzed on to the ward, I didn't hurry with the hygiene rules. The strict measures to protect my vulnerable child has become a second nature for me over the last couple of weeks.

Shrugging on the hospital gown, I almost collided with the two figures standing outside Sammy's room.

I felt as if someone had reached into my chest and squeezed my heart hard, as the implication of what I am seeing sunk in.

I froze, as I watched Bhumi, oblivious to my presence, her head on Jalaja dadi's shoulder, continued to cry uncontrollably.

For the past couple of weeks, Bhumi had become even more vigilant than before. Refusing to leave Sammy's side, even to sleep.

He had even had moments of doubt, worried if Sammy would make it. But not Bhumi. She believed.

It was always when Sammy got better. Never an if.

They had even been warned that even complete compatibility cannot guarantee success.

But Bhumi had tuned out everything negative. Strongly believing that everything will be better.

I had tried not to think how she would react, if the worse happened.

Now I know.

Oh god! Why couldn't you take my life instead?

Oh my baby...

Her cries ripped my heart out.

She looked away from her grandma and saw me; then she flew into my arms while sobbing my name.

"I am sorry. I am sorry, Bhumi." My eyes filled with tears, as I whispered. It hurt too much to bear.

Sammy. My darling! Our little one is no longer with us! No way! No way!

My god!! Just why are you treating us this way?

You've taken everything from us before, haven't you? Just why? A sense of foreboding washed over me.

While holding my hands, Bhumi drew away from me just a little.

"Oh no. No." As she spoke through her tears, she smiled, saying that she was happy.

"Happy?" I did my best to understand her.

"It has been taken. The transplant became effective. Everything will be well with Sammy. The doctor has already expressed optimism about the outcomes. However, the most recent findings indicate that it is definitive. The transplant became effective. He is doing well now." With a smile etched over her face, Bhumi spoke.

All I did was stand there, gazing at her.

As she squeezed my hand once more, Bhumi was both laughing and crying. My response was inadequate compared to her infectious joy.

"I thought—" I was speechless.. A wave of relief washed over me, and tears streamed down my cheeks. I couldn't speak. For a moment there, I had seen what hell would be like. The thought that I would never be able to see my baby again. The regret that I couldn't ever get to know him. I died a thousand times in the past five minutes.

"Sorry, I understand." A long, steady breath from her lips. "You have all my thanks, Aryamann. Sammy would not be here if it weren't for you. No matter how long it takes, I will always remember how generous you were with me." With gratitude on her face, she spoke.

Anger welled up in me, and I withdrew my hand.

"That wasn't why I did it. Please don't thank me." I said, furiously.

"Excuse me. I didn't mean that. I have no idea what I'm talking about," she said with a dash of nervousness.

Out of nowhere, I saw that she was swaying slightly. Just as she was about to fall, I leaped forward and grabbed her.

I lifted her higher in my arms while making a low grunt sound.

"Could we please have a doctor?" I yelled out my question.

No one stopped by.

"There are a lot of bloody doctors here. When you really need one, though, where are they?" My question was intense.

"Is she breathing?" In a state of great terror, Jalaja dadi inquired.

There is a tipping moment for everyone. It looks like this belongs to Jalaja dadi.

"My soul! She isn't breathing," Jalaja yelled.

"She is. She passed out suddenly. I think she is just exhausted." I reassured her by saying this.

"Thank God, thank God, I knew this would happen soon!" While her granddaughter lay unconscious, Jalaja dadi let out a raucous of loving criticism, a release for her pent-up maternal concern.

"What a defiant little kid! Similar to her father. She simply refuses to take help. She said she doesn't want to be a bother on anybody. Bother? We love her very much. I would love to lend a hand. I must lend a hand." Jalaja dadi cried.

"It won't be an issue, Jalaja dadi. First, let's see a doctor. "I said.

Bhumi's pov!

The ear-piercing ringing in my brain was all that remained in my memory. Everything went black after that.

What followed that is a mystery to me.

Now that I'm awake, I can make out that I'm on a hospital bed.

The tired question 'where am I?' need not be asked.

I can see exactly where I am and what may have happened to me, and it hurts.

Still, I couldn't help but ask another question.

"Did I faint?" Slightly out of the blue, I inquired.

"Yes,"

Upon hearing the voice, I glanced up and noticed Aryamann standing sternly beside my bed.

"Well, I am smart. I passed out just where it ought to be, didn't I?" He didn't crack a smile even after I said it in jest.

It appears he is not in the mood for humor, then.

I stood up to leave the bed, but he shoved me back down.

"Take your time getting up. Take your time and ease into it. Please sip this glass of juice as I reassure your grandma that you are doing OK. Then we're heading home." When Aryamann spoke firmly, I furrowed my brow.

Home?

Where on earth is he referring to?

"I am-"

"Let me guess, you are fine?" He said sarcastically.

"I am fine." I countered, expressing my frustration with his domineering behavior.

He handed me the glass of juice as I gingerly rose from bed.

"Sammy is doing well and fast asleep. Plus, he won't benefit much from you if you wind up a patient here." Everything he stated was spot on.

I said, "Alright," and he arched an eyebrow in surprise.

Yeah, I am not stupid. When I am down, I know it. When Sammy is entirely under my care, I will require all the energy I can get. I should really work on my energy levels right now if I want to accomplish it.

"Wonders never cease." I shot an icy look in response to Aryamann's sardonic mutter.

A/N

I have already started posting Arohi's book in stck : BRIDE FOR HIRE

My stck page : SFwrites

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SF❤️