Page 62 of Forged By Fate

It was already eight in the morning, and by Dhruv’s estimate, they would move her to the ICU around 4 pm.

“I need to attend a funeral this morning, Dhruv,” I said worriedly. “The chauffeur who was driving her died on the spot, and he’s being cremated in a couple of hours. Will Sunaina be okay if I go to the funeral? I don’t want to leave her, but I have to do my duty by Ramesh.”

“Of course,” he replied. “I’ll stay with her while you attend the funeral.”

“Thanks, man,” I said gratefully and went home for a quick change of clothes before the funeral.

Ramesh’s family was understandably heartbroken. I spent some time assuring them of all my help before they began his last rites. As I stood by the burning pyre, I started getting flashes again. But instead of the past, I kept seeing Sunaina lying under the logs instead of Ramesh.

The first time it happened, I almost jumped on the pyre to save her from the flames before I came to my senses. But it happened again and again until I could take it no more. I paid my respects to Ramesh and left the crematorium, my eyes burning with unshed tears. For Sunaina.

They allowed me to go into the ICU and see her for five minutes that night, even though she was still heavily sedated. She was still connected to all the tubes and was heavily bandaged, but I could see more life in her unmoving form.

As I stared down at her, I ran a finger gently over her hand and made a silent promise to her. She was in this state because of me. Because of my cursed life. I was going to free her from this curse, even if it was the last thing I ever did.

CHAPTER 30

VIREN

They kept Sunaina in a medically induced coma for three days to allow her body to heal. And I was by her side every minute of the day, clocking every little change in her condition, urging her to heal quickly.

When they finally decided to wake her up, she showed no inclination to open her eyes even though her condition was stable.

“While you’re lazing away in bed, Aisha is crying all day, and Daima has stopped eating. Sufi is not much better,” I scolded her. “I am the only person with any sense around here. And I’m wasting precious time in the hospital when I could be at work. Oh, and your boy toy won’t stop hovering around you like a little ministering angel. If you don’t want me to rip his arms off, open your eyes, Sunaina.”

There was no response.

“Fine!” I said, trying again. “Don’t tell me I didn’t warn you. The next time he gropes you under the pretext of taking yourtemperature, I’ll rip his puny little head off. They’ll have to clean his blood off the floor, and the patients will be traumatised for life. But that’s all on you, wifey. You know what to do if you value his life. Just open your eyes. Stop being so bratty, for fuck’s sake.”

“Umm, can you stop threatening me?” asked Dhruv, rolling his eyes as he read Sunaina’s charts. “She will wake up as soon as all the drugs we pumped into her body get cleared out.”

“See? I told you he was shady. He’s a fucking drug dealer. He just admitted it,” I went on, ignoring the ministering angel.

He patted me on the shoulder and went on with the rest of his rounds.

As soon as he left the room, Sunaina’s eyes flickered open, and she stared at me blearily before she shut them again. I wanted to shout my joy to the whole world, but all I did was ring for the nurse. They poked and prodded her for some time and coaxed her to open her eyes.

I stepped out into the corridor and found Daima, Sufi and Aisha waiting for me.

“She’s waking up,” I informed them. “Maybe not right now, but soon.”

About an hour later, Dhruv came out of the ICU beaming.

“She’s awake, Viren. You can go and see her now. She’s asking for you. She said something about your nagging getting on her nerves. I told her I’d fill her in on your activities while she was in a coma, so you better go in while she still wants to see you,” he teased.

I cleared my throat and swallowed the sobs of gratitude struggling to get out.

“Let Aisha go in first. She’s been very worried about her Aunty Sue,” I said.

Dhruv gave me an odd look as he took Aisha in. She came out wiping happy tears and grinned at me.

“Aunty Sue is so mad at you for not letting her sleep, Chachu. Go and say sorry right now.”

“Let Daima go first, beta,” I said, waving her into the ICU.

Daima went in with a strange look at me, and I blew out a short breath.

“Sufi, I’m going to take Aisha home. You go in after Daima,” I instructed.

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