"Your father is missing..."
"Your mother is in the hospital..."
Aarav froze.
"W-what happened? Is everything okay?" he managed to ask, his voice trembling.
His uncle sighed heavily before dropping a bombshell:
"Your father is missing, Aarav. And your mother…"
"What happened to Mom?" Aarav interrupted, his voice rising.
"She fell down the stairs this morning. Stress, exhaustion—she's in the hospital. It's serious, Aarav."
Aarav freezes, the words hitting him like a punch in the gut. "What?" he stammers. "What do you mean? I—my phone—it wasn't working—"
His uncle cuts him off, his voice sharp with frustration and worry.
"Your mother has been working herself to the bone to support you and find your father. She slipped down the stairs this morning and was rushed to the hospital. She's in critical condition, Aarav. Critical."
The line goes silent for a second, but Aarav feels the weight of his uncle's words sinking in, drowning him in guilt and panic. His chest tightens, his breathing quickens, and a lump forms in his throat.
"I—I'm coming," he says, his voice cracking.
Without waiting for a response, Aarav ends the call. He grabs his bag, his hands shaking, and bolts out of the room. His classmates called him after , startled by his sudden exit, but he doesn't stop. His mind is racing.
As he sprints through the corridor, dodging students and teachers, he fumbles with his keys, his heart pounding. "Mom… what happened to you? Dad… where are you?" He mutters under his breath, barely aware of the concerned faces around him.
Aarav jumps onto his bicycle. His grip on the handlebars is tight, and the cold wind stings his face, but he doesn't care. His thoughts are a chaotic storm of worry, regret, and fear.
Every red light feels like an eternity. He taps his foot impatiently, glancing at the time on his watch, and as soon as the light turns green, he speeds ahead. Cars honk, pedestrians shout, but he ignores them, weaving through traffic with reckless urgency.
"Please… let her be okay. Please." He repeats the words like a prayer, his eyes stinging with unshed tears.
When Aarav reaches the hospital, he skids to a halt outside the entrance and rushes in, breathless. The sterile smell of antiseptics fills his nose, and the bright white lights sting his eyes. He looks around frantically until he spots his uncle pacing near the waiting area.
"Uncle!" Aarav calls out, his voice trembling.
His uncle turns, his face lined with worry and exhaustion. "Aarav," he says, walking up to him. "She's in the ICU. The doctors are doing their best, but—" He pauses, struggling to find the words.
Aarav doesn't wait for him to finish. He pushes past, rushing toward the ICU. His feet feel heavy as he approaches the glass window, where he sees his mother lying on a hospital bed, unconscious and hooked up to a maze of machines.
Her face is pale, and her fragile frame looks smaller under the weight of the wires and monitors.
Aarav presses his hand against the glass, his heart shattering at the sight. He steps inside, his movements slow and hesitant.
"Mom…" he whispers, his voice cracking as he sinks into the chair beside her bed. He takes her hand, his own trembling, and feels the coldness of her skin. Tears stream down his face as he chokes out, "I'm so sorry… I wasn't there. I should've been there…"
His uncle stands silently in the doorway, his expression softening. He places a hand on Aarav's shoulder. "This isn't your fault, Aarav. But your mother has been under so much stress… between your father's disappearance and trying to support you, she…" He trails off, his voice thick with emotion.
Aarav shakes his head, guilt twisting in his chest. "She didn't deserve this. None of this…"
As he sits there, holding his mother's hand, Aarav silently vows to do whatever it takes to make things right.