Pranbir: Heart meant to love you

61.

Later at night:
The yard was decorated with some already hanging while veils but the girls put some lights around them to make it more aesthetic.
There was a small table with cushions surrounding them for each person to be comfortable.

Pranbir/Arhana smiled seeing the finish product and high five each other.
Soon, their parents along with Rhea/Rohan came there.

Pallavi:"what is going on here?"
Ranbir:"just to spend some time with you all..."
Vikram, on seeing the barbecue preparation:"Ranbir, Prachi shouldn't be eating all this..."

Ranbir:"I know, Dad. For her, it's apart: different one."
Abhi:"ok then, let's take our seats. The younger boys will be today's chefs."
Aryan/Ranbir/Rohan got busy in the barbecue while Prachi sat next to Pragya. She had hugged her mother from behind and lazily rest her head on her shoulder.

Pragya ran her finger on her head: patting her softly as everyone engaged into conversation around the table. The boys served everyone and they all began to eat together.

But as the minutes passed, Prachi was growing nervous. She was dreading to tell the others. Her nerves finally calmed down when she felt her husband's hands on hers. He drew circles on the back of her hand and it oddly calmed her down.

Ranbir, whispered to her:"If you don't want to do it. We will tell them later."
Prachi, whispered back to him:"If I don't do it now, I will never be able to do it."
He nodded understandingly.

Clearing his throat, he got the attention of everyone.
Ranbir, nervously:"I want to share something with you all..."
Vikram, jokingly:"business deal, you got it... as usual."

But seeing their son's seriousness, Pallavi signed him to listen.
Ranbir:"It's about Prachi..."
All eyes were on her and she avoided them all. Ranbir tightened his grip around her hands to let her know that he was right there.

Prachi, taking a deep breath:"Maa... Papa... you know that since childhood, I keep getting those bruises on my body."
Abhigya nodded yes tensedly while Pallavi/Vikram were confused. The youngsters around the table were as nervous as Pranbir.

Pallavi:"what bruises?"
Pragya:"bruises kept appearing and 5 years ago, Doctors confirmed it to be skin sensitivity. She will get a bruise with even the lightest and harmless hit."

Abhi:"Prachi? Are you having them again?"
She nodded yes and lifted the sleeves of her hoodie to show them.
Vikram:"does it hurt?"
Abhi:"no it didn't, no matter how much you poke it."
Pragya:"Ranbir, you are aware of it, right?"
He nodded yes.

Vikram:"If it's only about skin sensitivity then what's the issue?"
Ranbir:"that's what we want to say..."
Abhi:"What do you mean?"
Ranbir:"Prachi was feeling dizzy some days ago as well and I had call Arjun. He saw the bruises on her and I explained to him. But he shared that skin sensitivity isn't like that."

Pragya:"what do you mean not like that?"
Ranbir:"Skin sensitivity includes itches and rashes, not easily bruising."
Abhigya looked at Prachi worriedly.

Ranbir:"Arjun did her blood test..."
Pragya, scared:"and?"
Prachi, avoiding eye contact with their parents:"and.... According to the blood test, I..."
The words seemed to get lost as she was unable to bring herself to tell them.

Ranbir knew exactly what she was going through and just held her by her arms. She looked at him and he clearly saw the hesitation but fear in her eyes.

Abhi:"Prachi/Ranbir... what's going on?"
Prachi, taking a deep breath:"the reports said that I have can... cancer."
Once the words were out, she didn't dare to look at the reactions of their parents.