Vivian sat next to her unconscious grandmother, her only family. Seeing her lying on that single hospital bed filled her heart with a heavy, unbearable grief. It felt as though a huge brick had been placed on her tender heart, crushing it under its immense pressure.
The cold, sterile environment of the hospital only added to the suffocating heaviness she felt in her chest. The rhythmic beeping of the machines, the faint hum of fluorescent lights, and the antiseptic scent in the air all seemed to mock the warmth and vibrancy that her grandmother had always brought into her life.
Unknowingly, her blocked tears made their way down her cheeks. She gently grabbed her grandmother's feeble hand, and then placed her head on it, applying minimal pressure.
She could feel the coolness of her hand, as she reminisced about her lovely memories with her grandmother, the moments played vividly in her mind, filling the sterile room with a bittersweet warmth of memories.
She remembered her first summer with her grandmother, who had taken her to the beach. The memory was vivid: the salty water clashing against their legs as they laughed and ran across the shore, with the setting sun casting a golden hue on their brunette hair.
They enjoyed building sandcastles and eating beach ice cream, their laughter echoed through the salty air. Her grandmother's laughter had been the sound of pure joy, a melody that Vivian would give anything to hear once more.
She recalled her first winter, when they traveled to a scenic hill station. The barely snow-capped mountains, the crisp, cold air that flushed her cheeks, and the chilly land beneath them were all fresh in her memory.
When the cold breeze made her shiver, her grandmother had picked her up in her arms, wrapping her in her coat to keep her warm and safe from the harsh world. They had sipped hot chocolate by the fire and danced to the unknown songs that the locals played.
Her first rainy season was spent in the garden, known for its puddles. Vivian had splashed through them, her boots eventually filling with rainwater and becoming heavy, making her feel like crying. But her grandmother laughed, filling her own shoes with water as well, turning her tears into giggles.
They had danced in the rain, their clothes soaked wet, but their spirits unburdened by the worries of the world. It was a time of innocence and pure joy—something that had started to feel distant now.
Every memory with her grandmother was filled with happiness, and that joy only grew with time. Her grandmother had been her anchor, her safe harbor in the storm of life. But what if—
A sudden realization hit her, hard and fast like a slap to her face.
"What if she leaves my side forever?" Vivian muttered, her voice barely a whisper, as if saying it out loud would make it true.
The thought felt like a million needles piercing her heart, making her whimper in fear. How could she possibly face the world without the one person who had always been her guiding light, her protector, her confidant?
The idea of a life without her grandmother was unimaginable for her, and yet, the harsh reality of it loomed closer with every passing second.
After her parents died in a car accident when she was merely three, her grandmother became her only family. Everyone else—relatives who once seemed caring and kind—turned against her as she excelled in her studies, fearing that she would surpass them and claim what they believed should be theirs.
They saw her as a threat, a young girl who might one day take over the family's legacy. Her childhood was wrecked by the coldness of these so-called relatives, who offered no comfort, only contempt.
After enduring every abuse, Vivian continued to believe that there were kind people in the world. But after her university days, one thing she learned, which was probably the most important, was that "in this world where one has come alone, only one's self alone is there for them."
She had a boon in the name of her grandmother. She had built walls around her heart, trusting no one but herself and her grandmother. The world is a battlefield, and she has to be her own warrior.
She knew that, like everyone else, one day her dear grandmother would also leave her behind, leaving her truly alone. But she never wanted to be the reason for that farewell.
The guilt of possibly causing her grandmother's heart attack weighed heavily on her. She had always been a source of pride for her grandmother, but what if, in her pursuit of stubbornness, she had pushed her grandmother too an edge?
"Vivian." Her grandmother's soft voice was enough to pull Vivian back from the dark abyss of thoughts, away from the haunting image of a world without her.
"G-ma!" Vivian raised her tear-streaked face, to catch a glimpse of her grandmother.
She looked frail, as if she didn't have much time left. Her complexion was pale, almost translucent, and her voice sounded shaky. Seeing her grandmother in this condition was unbearable for Vivian. This was not the strong, vibrant woman she had always known. The woman before her was a shadow of that person, worn down by time and worry.
"Don't cry, dear." Her grandmother caressed Vivian's hair warmly, her touch as gentle as it had always been, but weaker now, as if the strength had been drained from her.
"How can I not? You had a heart attack, G-ma, a real one this time. All because of me. Can you please stop worrying about me?" she cried in a trembling voice, her words choked by the sobs she was struggling to hold back.
"Vivian, you are yet to face the cruel world I've been protecting you from. In this world, even our own blood relatives can betray you to take what you have, even if it was never theirs to begin with," her grandmother explained, her voice laced with the wisdom of someone who had seen and endured more than she ever wanted to. Yet what she said was something, Vivian was already familiar with.
"I don't need it," Vivian revealed her exhaustion from fighting those greedy people. The weight of responsibility, the burden of legacy—it all felt too much. She had never asked for it, yet it had been thrust upon her.
"You can't say that. It's not up to you. As a member of the Kapoor family, it's your inherent responsibility," her grandmother's words saddened Vivian deeply, reminding her of the inescapable fate that awaited her.
"I'm tired."
"No, dear. This is only the beginning. You can't get tired just yet. Every time you fall, you have to get up again. For that, you need a life partner who will support you and help you up. That's why I ask you to get married." She turned to the window, its curtains drawn, blocking out the world outside.
"Vivian, it's an undeniable fact that to secure your position in the company, you need the support of a strong family to back you up. I beg you, please get married." She turned back to face her confused grandchild, her eyes now almost pleading.
"Before I die, I want to see you settled and happy." She closed her eyes, feeling relieved as a smile broke on her face when she imagined Vivian's small and happy family. "This is my last wish."
A wish like that felt irrefutable to Vivian. She was still skeptical about marriage, but she also wanted to give this last bit of happiness to her beloved grandmother. The thought of being without her grandmother was unbearable, but if this was the only way to ease her final moments, how could she refuse?
"Fine," Vivian exhaled after wiping her tears. She straightened her back and looked confidently at her G-ma, a posture that signaled she was ready for the upcoming battle.