Pawan took a deep breath and continued "And, When he passed a-away... He-he told me to protect Him and his fa-family, Jiya..." His voice got shaky after each word he spoke. "They were best buddies..." Bhavna said and sighed. "But he did wrong with her... didn't he?" Ranvir asked, "Yeah but I-I don't want to... to be the one who will disallow my father's will..." He said and placed his hand on his mouth.
"It's not right but... Will you take care of her during her recovery period?" Shrishti said and placed everything back on the table. Pawan "I will take full responsibility for her and her health from now on," He said and released a shaky breath. "Shristi, can we just consider it as ancient?" "Umm-" "Aunty, t-that could not e-even happen in the wo-worst cases" Ranvir interrupted and Shristi seemed to agree with him...
Then the room was filled with a deep silence. "So?" Bhavna asked while tossing her gaze around the room. "Let's just forget this... Anubhave will look after this... And buy these medications from the pharmacy on the ground floor," she said and handed over a piece of paper to Ranvir "Okay? and?" "And nothing else just go back and take care of Jiya" She jumped on the seat.
The whole office went silent for a moment or two. Then Pawan stood up from his seat to open the door and went out, without sparing a glance behind. Bhavna and Ranvir also followed him quietly.
***
"Raj, You know who brought me this little teddy bear?" Jiya asked cutely while softly hugging the stuffed toy "Hmm?" He was quite focused on the trafficked road. "Ranvir bought this for me," She said quietly while smiling to herself. Raj was about to turn his head around to say something, but a honk made him go forward.
Soon the ride went silent with a light sound of Jiya's breathing. All the thoughts were running in Jiya's head as she played with her fingers.
What will Dad think?
Who will take care of him?
How will-
"JIYA? We are here, I said" Raj said loudly while staring at her in the rearview mirror. She lifted her gaze to the front to meet his eyes "Oh- I 'm-I am sorry," She said and lowered her head "Can you walk Jiya?" Raj asked with an empty voice "I can try..." He said in the same posture.
There was a tension build-up in the car. Soon it was parked and Raj hoped out almost immediately.
"Okay Jiya I'll be right back" he said and left. Jiya, in the back seat, was zoned out in her thoughts. She didn't realise how much time had passed before Raj Came back.
"Here I bought a Wheelchair, let me help," He said and placed his hand on Jiya's waist and shoulder With one of his feet, he held the wheelchair in place and the other to support the weight of both of them.
After some tripping, he was successful in making Jiya stable in the wheelchair and headed towards Pawan's room.
Time skipped to when Pawan and Bhavna came back home
"So what did the doctor say?" Jiya asked while sitting still on the bed. Bhavna sat on the opposite edge of the bed and looked towards Pawan, who was lost in his thoughts.
"Pawan?" Bhavna slowly called out and looked over him with concern. He started his sentence with a regretful sigh "Nothing much..." But his voice was not helping "Please? I should know what happened to me?" She was helpless.
Pawan looked at her with moist eyes and slowly patted her head, then bent on his knees. Jiya's eyes followed his figure throughout. It was as if the pain just vanished for her for some time...
"Doctor said, that you have some internal bleeding and a slightly cracked rib, Just that much and you will recover in a few weeks if you eat properly and take sufficient rest" and he ended with a small smile. "Really?" She seemed to be relieved by the news. Pawan nodded with a giant fold on his lips in her response.
There was a knock on the door grabbing the attention of the whole room. After a moment the door opened, "Sir, Kavita Ma'am wants to see you" The message was delivered and Pawan stood up from his position. "Uhh... Jiya... I'll be back in some time... Oh, and I got your phone, There you go" He said and passed it to her and left hurriedly. Bhavna also followed him and left the room.
Pawan took a deep breath as soon as he exited the room and rushed towards Kavita's room.
Jiya opened her phone to see MISSED CALL FROM RANVIR (13) "What was he even thinking?" She asked herself and called Ranvir and to her surprise, he picked up the call on the first ring
"Hellow?"
"Oh Jiya I'm on my way to Pawan's place I'll meet you soon"
"Oh but why did you-"
"Jiya I'm a bit busy on the road, we'll talk when we meet now. okay?" He said and simply hung up the phone. Jiya made a small pout on her lips and started scrolling through her phone.
...
Pawan quietly peeked inside the slightly opened door and gave a big smile to the person sitting inside "You are awake Kavita" He said and giggled "So baby-" He said and patted her head and sat beside her. She passed him a small smile "I missed you so much..." she said and reached out to hug him "Shh-" he said and wrapped his arms around her. A few moments passed in silence and then Kavita let go.
"So how are you?" Pawan stated that he hadn't had a chance to talk to her before. "Just good as before," She said with a smile and shrugged her shoulders. "You guys talk I'll be back in a moment" said Bhavna and left the room.
"Pawan you know it has almost been a year since I came home" She said and threw her head down still showing a smile. "I know, but you visited me in Spain-" Pawan was cut off "Oh that, That was a proper coincidence you see. I had no plan for going there but the situation was built up like that, and I had to... Hope you didn't mind me as a company back then" She spoke "Ha No-no I was happy enough to have company" Pawan laughed at her sentence.
"Yes-yes I know, who can feel bad after getting their beautiful sister's company" She said and did a hair flip.
*TO BE CONTINUED*