His Love For Her ✔

23. Falling Apart

"Jaane kaise koi sehta judaai"
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23. Falling Apart

             IT HAD BEEN six months since Shreya's accident and still there was no progress in her health. There wasn't even one person who didn't feel her absence in their lives.

Aarav woke up to the sound of the alarm buzzing. Groaning, he switched it off and tried to reach for a warm body next to him but only found cold sheets.

He woke up with tears streaming down his face. It had become a daily routine now. Aarav would cry himself to sleep and next day he would wake up with tears streaming down his face. Every time he touched the cold sheets besides him, the reality would come crashing down on him.

His Shreya wasn't here with him. She was lying there in hospital battling with her life. The doctors always tried to give him assurance but his heart and mind were slowing giving up the hopes that she would survive.

The thoughts of her leaving him made him crush into pieces. He couldn't live without her. She was like the oxygen that helped him survive. Then without her how was he going to live?

No Aarav! No negative thoughts! She will make it through and once she wakes up I will never let her go away from my sight!, Aarav told himself.

Getting up from the bed he made his way towards the washroom. Taking a quick shower, he walked towards the closet. Opening the closet, his heart clenched again as he saw Shreya's untouched clothes. He swallowed the lump in his throat and removed his clothes from the closet.

You have to stay strong Aarav!, he reminded himself.

Changing into formal wear, he picked up his laptop which was lying on the couch. His desktop wallpaper, his phone wallpaper were her pictures. He placed the laptop in his bag and went towards the mirror to comb his hair.

As he picked up the comb, his eyes fell on the small vermillion box which was untouched from six months. He picked it up and kept it in his pocket.

Just one more night and then I will be able to stay with her!

Manish had told Aarav he could stay with Shreya only on Saturday nights since next day was Sunday. Other days, he could meet her in morning before going to his office. For others it may sound cruel but in reality Manish was right.

Aarav had his office and he needed to work, sitting besides Shreya day and night would eventually affect him mentally and physically. Every night one member from Shah family would stay at hospital with Shreya.

Shaurya would stay for some nights with Shreya but no one ever stayed with her on Saturday nights except for Aarav.

Everyone knew how hard it was for Aarav to cope with Shreya's comatose condition. Shaurya was the only person from Chauhan family who was allowed to meet Shreya. Shaurya was devastated when Aarav had informed him about Shreya's condition but what broke him the most was his family was responsible for everything. He had already lost his one sibling, he couldn't lose Shreya.

Aarav descended the staircase with a blank look on his face. He had learnt how to mask his emotions in the past six months. Everyone was eating their breakfast silently. No jokes. No conversations. It was like the entire family had forgotten how to smile and be happy in the past six months.

Even if they smiled it was fake and when they cried it was hidden from each other. Everyone was trying to be strong but they were far from that. Aarav sat on the chair and ate the pancakes which Shweta had prepared. As he ate the first morsel, his eyes immediately watered as he remembered the taste of Shreya's pancakes.