Twisted Hearts Chapter 5

Two years passed and Aditya continued to call Pallavi and Deepika. His calls, however, were more frequent to Pallavi to make sure she was doing fine in his absence.

He often checked with Deepika to confirm whether Pallavi was eating on time. He even asked a boy from Pallavi’s class to keep an eye on her and ensure she was safe at college. Aditya regularly sent chocolates to both Pallavi and Deepika but Pallavi carefully saved every single one of them. Just as she had promised herself, she never ate chocolate or ice cream without her Aditya.

The very week after Aditya left for New Zealand, Pallavi joined an academy to learn programming. Along with that, she stayed focused on her studies. She was determined to secure a job, to become the girl he deserved and to stand beside him as his support in life.

With each passing day, her love for him only grew stronger and she missed him deeply. During every video call, Aditya could see her struggling to hold back her tears. To distract her, he would crack jokes, tease her and talk endlessly about his office, all to make sure she wouldn’t feel his absence so strongly. Deepika would sit next to Pallavi and watch them talk for hours.

Eventually, Pallavi graduated from college and got recruited as a junior programmer through her academy. Overjoyed, she bought sweets for her family and waited impatiently for Aditya to call.

When Deepika returned from school, Pallavi quickly shut her diary and slipped it into her handbag.

Deepika hugged her sister warmly and congratulated her. Soon, the sisters decided to watch a movie together. Halfway through the movie, Pallavi’s phone started ringing and she answered it immediately.

“Aadhi, I did it… I did it. I got a job as a junior programmer. It’s been two years, Aadhi… when will you come back? Did you talk to your team leader?” Pallavi asked excitedly.

“Congrats, Pavi. I’m so happy for you and I knew you would succeed. And yes, I spoke to my team leader. I’ll be back in three months. He has agreed to initiate the process and the tickets will be booked soon,” Aditya replied.

Pallavi let out a loud scream of excitement. She almost dropped her mobile making Aditya laugh at her reaction. He then glanced at Deepika, who was smiling at him from beside her.

“I’m coming back… are you happy?” he asked softly and Pallavi nodded as a blush spread across her face.

“Aadhi, I will come to the airport to pick you up. Let’s have ice cream on the way home,” Pallavi said eagerly and Aditya narrowed his eyes at her.

“If you hadn’t eaten all the chocolates I sent, we could have opened a chocolate shop by now. You are not getting any chocolate or ice cream when I’m back,” he teased and Pallavi simply smiled at him.

“She never ate—” Deepika started to say but Pallavi quickly pressed her thigh, stopping her mid-sentence. She didn’t want him to know that she had given up chocolates and ice cream just because he wasn’t there with her.

Pallavi cut the call and walked to her wardrobe, she pulled out a carefully hidden box. As she opened it, a soft smile spread across her face. The box was filled with all the chocolates Aditya had sent over the past two years, every one of them was untouched and preserved like memories.

“I can’t wait any longer, Aadhi… I’ll propose to you the very same day you come back to me,” she thought and gently closed the box.

Soon, Pallavi joined her new job and sent a picture of herself from her desk. Aditya immediately set it as his status and wished her for her new beginning, his pride evident in every word.

A month passed and Pallavi received her first salary. She was over the moon and wanting to make it special, she decided to buy a shirt and a watch for Aditya. She messaged Deepika that she would be late and headed straight to a mall after work.

After choosing a maroon shirt and a watch, her excitement became too much to contain and she video-called him instantly.

Aditya was fast asleep when his phone rang with the special ringtone he had set for Pallavi alone. He wouldn’t miss her call at any cost. Rubbing his eyes, he answered the call and Pallavi’s face lit up with a blush as she saw his sleepy yet handsome face.

“Aadhi, I have a surprise for you. Look at this, I bought a shirt and a watch for you with my first salary. It’s maroon do you like it or should I change ?” she asked eagerly.

Aditya smiled and showed her a thumbs-up.

“Are you alone? Where’s Deepi?” he asked, sitting up on his bed instantly.

“I came straight to the mall from the office. I texted Deepi that I’ll be late. Tomorrow is Sunday and I’m taking Deepi, Appa and Amma out for lunch. My treat ” she said, her excitement bubbling over.

Aditya chuckled softly. “ Pavi, didn’t I tell you not to go anywhere other then office ? You could have Deepika with you. Now take care, go home safely and message me once you reach ” he said before ending the call.

Pallavi twirled in happiness and walked out of the mall. Just then, her eyes caught a small keychain shop across the road. A banner read, Customized Keychains Available.

Without a second thought, she crossed the road and ordered one with Aditya’s name engraved on one side, and “Love” with a small heart on the other.

She placed it carefully inside her handbag and she stepped back onto the road, lost in her thoughts, her mind filled with dreams of his return.

In a split second, everything changed. A speeding car came out of nowhere and hit her. Her body was thrown onto the road. She lay there, motionless, her head was bleeding, her body covered in scratches. The world around her blurred and voices faded into distant echoes.

Aditya… was the only thought in her mind. As her eyelids slowly closed, tears slipped down her cheeks.

A crowd gathered almost instantly. Someone rushed forward and called for an ambulance. Within minutes, Pallavi was taken to the nearest hospital.

A kind woman who accompanied her in the ambulance picked up Pallavi’s mobile and with her finger print dialed the last number.

Aditya had just stepped out after a shower when his phone rang again. Seeing Pallavi’s name, a smile touched his lips as he answered.

But the moment he heard the voice on the other end…the mobile slipped from his hand. He collapsed onto the bed as tears streamed down his cheeks. His breathing turned ragged, each inhale was a struggle.

“Why, Pavi…?” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

Frantically, he searched for his mobile and immediately called his father and informed him about the accident with a great struggle and asked him to take care of Pallavi’s parents and Deepika.

After the call, Aditya slid to the floor and clutched his hair and let out a broken scream unable to bear the pain tearing through him. He dialed Pallavi’s number again. This time, a nurse answered.

“Hello… the girl who was brought in just now, how is she? Is she fine? Please… tell me she’s fine,” Aditya pleaded in a shaking voice.

“I’m sorry, sir. She is severely injured. She had a head injury and multiple wounds all over her body. The doctors are attending to her. Please come to the hospital at the earliest,” the nurse said.

Aditya clutched his chest unable to endure the sharp ache spreading through him.

“Pallavi…” he screamed holding his head.

Hearing his cries, his roommates rushed in from the next room. Through his sobs, Aditya explained everything. They stood there, helpless, knowing how much Pallavi meant to him.

“I need to go… I need to go to my Pallavi,” he said and ran to his team leader’s room. He banged on the door and when it opened, the man stood stunned at the sight of a shattered Aditya.

“Sir… I need to go back home,” Aditya said, but his words dissolved into tears. His colleagues quickly stepped in and explained the situation.

“Aditya, I understand your situation, but arranging everything immediately is difficult. Give me some time. She will be fine… please try to stay calm,” the team leader said gently.

Aditya returned to his room, but there was no calm left in him.

” He claims to be in love with Deepika but all he thinks and speak is of Pallavi. He is fooling himself but I hope he would realize his true love for Pallavi. He love her to the extent that he wouldn’t survive without her ” one of the colleague said and everyone agreed to his words.

In Chennai, both families reached the hospital and their cries echoed through the corridors. On hearing about Pallavi’s critical condition, they broke down completely.

She was taken into the operating theatre for her head injury. Outside, the families stood waiting, praying desperately for her life.

Meanwhile, Aditya’s team leader managed to secure the necessary approvals and arranged his travel ahead of schedule. Tickets were booked for the next day.

Aditya called his father and learned that Pallavi was still in surgery. He dropped to his knees, folding his hands and prayed for her survival.

After hours, the doctor finally stepped out and the family rushed toward him.

“She is stable for now, but the next 24 hours are very critical. We will monitor her closely… let’s hope for the best,” he said and the words shattered them.

Pallavi was shifted to the ICU and the family was allowed to see her only for a few minutes,  she was lying there, lifeless, surrounded by machines.

Back in New Zealand, Aditya packed his belongings with trembling hands. He paced restlessly, calling his father again and again for updates.

The next day, he reached the airport and boarded his flight. He hadn’t eaten anything. When the air hostess offered food, he refused and accepted only water.

“Pallavi…” he whispered and wiped away his tears.

At the hospital, tension thickened in the air as the family waited outside the ICU. Suddenly, a nurse rushed out, followed by doctors hurrying inside.

Panic spread instantly.

Moments later, the doors opened again. Pallavi was wheeled out on a bed, surrounded by medical staff, machines still attached to her fragile body.

“Doctor, what happened? What happened to her?” her parents cried, running beside her.

“She had a seizure, but we have brought it under control. We are taking her for an MRI scan now. Please stay here,” the doctor said before walking away.

Pallavi’s mother collapsed upon hearing the news. Deepika quickly helped her onto a chair and sprinkled water on her face, trying to bring her back to consciousness.

At the airport, Aditya’s father arrived to pick him up. The moment Aditya saw him, he broke down, hugged him tightly.

“Appa… please tell me she’s fine,” he begged but his father said nothing. He simply guided him into the car.

They reached the hospital just as Pallavi was being taken back into the ICU.

Aditya froze and his entire body trembled at the sight of her, so still and so broken. The world around him spun and before anyone could react, he collapsed.

The family stood shocked, witnessing the depth of his love. His father immediately called for help and Aditya was taken to the emergency room. A few minutes later, he regained consciousness and rushed out, desperate to see Pallavi.

Just then, a nurse approached Pallavi’s father.

“The doctor wants to meet you,” she said.

“I’ll come too… please, uncle,” Aditya pleaded and with heavy hearts, they all walked together into the chief doctor’s room.

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