It had been three days since Pallavi was shifted to the ward from the ICU. The family took turns caring for her, while Aditya and her father never let their pain show on their faces.
Pallavi was overjoyed to see Aditya. Her little heart fluttered with excitement that he had come for her, even though he still had a month left to stay in New Zealand.
She sat propped up against the bed as her mother gently fed her soup, while her father lovingly wiped her lips with care.
“Amma…” Pallavi said weakly and shook her head gently, stopping her from feeding further.
Her father didn’t force her and softly told his wife to feed her later.
Aditya asked them to go have lunch and once they left, he pulled a chair close to her bedside. Pallavi gently placed her palm over his hand and Aditya’s heart thudded against his chest since he now knew that his best friend had been in love with him for years.
“Aadhi…” Pallavi whispered and Aditya noticed the tears in her eyes.
“Hey, Pavi… why are you crying? Are you in pain?” he asked and panic was evident in his voice.
“The shirt… and the watch…” she mumbled and Aditya realized she was talking about the gifts she had bought for him.
“Pavi, the lady who brought you to the hospital only had your handbag. How about we go to the mall together and you buy me another shirt? Didn’t you say you wanted to have ice cream with me when I’m back? So get well soon and we shall have a lot of fun,” he said gently and Pallavi smiled faintly.
“I missed you…” she whispered and more tears rolled down her cheeks.
“I missed you too. But if you keep crying, I’ll go back to New Zealand forever,” he said softly, trying to lighten her mood.
“Promise me you won’t stress or cry over anything or anyone. Whatever happens, just ignore it and keep smiling. Promise me, Pavi.” he asked showing his palm.
She squeezed his hand weakly and mumbled, “Promise.”
He gently caressed her hand until she fell asleep, then took a deep breath and stood up only to freeze when he saw Deepika watching him.
“Aadhi… are you avoiding me?” she asked and he guided her to sit beside him on the couch.
“Why would I avoid you, Deepika? I’m just stressed. I will be fine once Pavi is back home,” he said quietly.
Deepika interlaced her fingers with his and Aditya’s heart began to beat erratically. His gaze dropped to their joined hands and then slowly shifted to Pallavi who was sleeping peacefully on the bed.
Deepika gently leaned on his shoulder and for a moment, he froze at her touch. Everything felt different since he got to read Pallavi’s diary.
“I missed you, Aadhi. What happened with your job? Did you speak to your manager or team leader here in Chennai? There won’t be any problem, right? Pallavi will be fine and we will take care of her. You should get back to work and continue your routine,” Deepika said.
At the thought of leaving Pallavi alone, knowing her condition fear gripped him.
Just then, Pallavi coughed softly and let out a faint moan of pain. Panic shot through him. He pulled his hand away from Deepika’s hold and rushed to Pallavi’s side. He touched her cheek, her forehead and then gently caressed her hair, watching closely for any sign of discomfort.
Deepika stepped closer and tried to hold his hand again, but he avoided it and adjusted Pallavi’s sheet to cover her instead and sat down beside her. His eyes wouldn’t leave her.
” What will I do, Pavi? Everything is a mess. I can’t think clearly. Deepika thinks I’m avoiding her but the truth is, I can’t even look at her. Somewhere deep inside, I feel responsible for all this. I should have realized that my actions were crossing the boundaries of friendship, that I was giving you hope. At least I should have proposed to Deepika before I left for New Zealand. The way she looked at me, the silent understanding between us.… I thought she loved me too. You both are my best friends. I can’t lose either of you. Right now I couldn’t think of anything other than you ” he thought and looked up just in time to see Deepika quietly leaving the room.
An hour later, Deepika returned to the room. Aditya was still seated in the same chair, his head resting on the bed, his hand still holding Pallavi’s as if she would run away if he let her go.
She gently touched his shoulder. He stirred and looked up, rubbing his face tiredly.
“Aadhi, you look exhausted. Go home, rest and come back later or tomorrow. Pallavi will be fine. I don’t want you falling sick while taking care of her. Go eat something… I’ll stay with her. Amma and Appa are here outside the room. We will take care of everything,” Deepika said.
Just then, her parents walked in after having lunch in the canteen. Aditya nodded silently and stepped out, needing fresh air to clear his mind.
He reached the canteen, splashed water on his face and ordered some food. For a brief moment, he tried to push away his thoughts and focus on eating but both the girls kept invading his mind.
After finishing, he walked outside and sat on a bench under a tree. Memories flooded him, moments with Pallavi, moments with Deepika.
He thought of Deepika’s quiet grace… Pallavi’s playful mischief…His mind spiraled.
“Should I propose to Deepika? What will happen to Pavi? She can’t handle stress… it might even risk her life if I do. But what am I supposed to do now? God… this is breaking me.” he muttered, frustration choking his voice.
When he returned to the ward, he saw doctors and nurses gathered around Pallavi, who lay on the bed.
“What happened?” he asked and his voice was low but tense.
Deepika rushed to him and hugged him tightly.
“Aadhi, I was so scared… she started crying in pain. The doctor had to give her an injection immediately. We were all terrified. Please… don’t leave me alone,” she said in a shaking voice.
But Aditya’s eyes were fixed only on Pallavi who was sleeping through her pain. Deepika’s words failed to reach his ears. His heart ached for the girl on the bed.
“Did something happen after I left? Why did she suddenly get worse?” he asked, gently pulling away from Deepika.
Deepika hesitated for a moment before speaking.
“She woke up and asked for you. I… I tried to explain that you needed rest that you had to focus on your job. I told her I would take care of her. She didn’t say anything at first but then she started screaming in pain,” Deepika admitted.
Aditya’s expression hardened instantly and he grabbed her wrist tightly gritting his teeth.
“Did I ever tell you that I needed rest? I know how to take care of my job. Nothing is more important to me than Pallavi.” he said through clenched teeth and he meant every word yet regret hit him and he loosened his grip seeing the hurt in Deepika’s eyes.
Deepika stepped back and quietly walked out of the room. Aditya glanced at Pallavi’s father, who nodded, assuring him that everything was under control.
Three hours later, Pallavi slowly opened her eyes and saw Aditya seated beside her.
“Aadhi…” she called softly and he immediately held her hand and cupped her face with the other.
“Pavi, why did you stress yourself? I will never leave you alone. Nothing is more important to me than you. You promised me you wouldn’t stress… and you already broke it,” he said gently.
Pallavi mumbled a soft “sorry.”
“Do I look ugly?” she asked, biting her dry lips.
“You are beautiful even with the cast. You will always be my beautiful Pavi,” Aditya said and she smiled faintly at his words.
Ten days later, Pallavi was discharged. Aditya pushed her wheelchair into the bedroom, then carefully lifted her in his arms and laid her gently on the bed. She now had only a cast on her leg and a plaster on her head injury and the scratches were healing.
He rearranged the table beside her and placed a vase of fresh flowers and organized all her medicines neatly. Her mother entered the room with a shopping bag and showed it to Pallavi.
“I bought some loose T-shirts and pants for you, they will be more comfortable than your leggings and usual T shirts. Just rest. You don’t need to work now. Later, send a resignation letter to your HR that you won’t be able to continue the job,” she said.
Pallavi panicked hearing her words. “Amma, why should I resign? I can’t do that. I worked so hard and this is my dream,” she said, trying to sit up.
Aditya gently stopped her and placed a finger on her lips.
He knew why she didn’t want to quit. He had read everything in her diary, her desire to support him financially after proposing to him, so he wouldn’t leave for an overseas project.
“Pavi, listen to me. I know this is your dream but you are more important to all of us, you are important to me. Right now, we just want you to be healthy. Take a break for a few months. Later, I’ll help you find a job in my office. We can work at the same place… what do you say?” he asked.
Her face lit up at the thought of working with him and she nodded her head immediately.
Aditya opened his laptop and helped her send the resignation letter. It was accepted quickly, as she had joined only a month earlier and her injury was serious.
Later, Aditya opened her cupboard and found a box filled with all the chocolates he had sent her.
“Why didn’t you tell me you weren’t eating these?” he asked sitting on the bed and Pallavi gently rested her head on his lap.
“You would have felt bad and I didn’t want to disturb you while you were busy. I just waited because everything feels meaningless without you,” she said softly.
Aditya was stunned by the depth of her words. She meant every single one of them and the intensity of her love shook him.
“What about Deepika? Didn’t she eat them either?” he asked casually, trying to ease the heaviness in the air.
Just then, Deepika entered with a box of chocolates and sat beside him.
“I ate all mine. This is the last box left. I think my little sister should finally break her chocolate fast,” she said with a gentle smile, handing it to Aditya.
He took a chocolate and fed Pallavi, who tasted her favorite treat after 25 months. Her eyes softened with quiet happiness. She picked one and fed Aadhi. He watched her, savoring not just the chocolate but the moment.
He fed her one more before handing the box back to Deepika, who looked at him with a silent longing hoping he would feed her too but Aditya was only focused on Pallavi.
“That’s enough for today. Next week, I’ll get you ice cream,” he said, gently wiping her lips.
