I was not in my senses after I heard the news of my father's heart attack. I kept sobbing and panicking. It is Arham who straight away booked my one-way ticket to Delhi. We didn't go to office; he was with me. Comforting me, consoling me.

My flight was in the evening, Arham comes with me to the airport

'As soon as you reach there, call or text me. And whenever possible keep me updated. After few days I will come there too.... okay...take care...' he says, I simply nod my head still in shock from the news.

Arham kissed my forehead and hugs me, but I didn't hug back. I am just too numb.

During my flight I kept looking out through the window wondering what is going to happen next. Will my father make it? Will things be normal again? Is my father's condition because of me?

I couldn't hold my tears, I wept silently. What if my father insists me to marry Aamir? I decided I will say yes, I decided then if my father wants me to marry Aamir. I will. I closed my eyes resting my head back. I didn't know where my future is going to head from here.

I come out from the airport and look around, I am relieved to see my brother come towards me.

'Bhai' I say and hug my brother, he hugs me back tightly. I and my brother were never like normal siblings, we didn't share love-hate relationship, we were always in hate relationship. He always taunted me and I had always annoyed him, we never shared our feelings or thoughts with each other. I but now we both are hugging each other and standing by each other in our tough time.

On the way home I quickly texted Arham that I reached safely.

When I reached home, I drop my baggage in my room and hurry to the hospital with my brother.

Reaching the hospital, I felt giddy with all the smell, I had never liked being in hospital. The atmosphere, the smell, the patients and blood always makes me feel uneasy. I followed my brother to the ICU ward. My mother is sitting there crying.

'Ma' I say softly; she looks up at me. My heart fell seeing my mother's dishevelled condition. She looked like a zombie, she had been crying her eyes out.

I rushed towards her, she stands. I hug her and I break down, she hugs me and begins to cry. Bhai comes and hugs us, we three stand there crying. In these tough times, a family only stands with each other, united. My father doesn't have any sibling and after my grandparents demise we are his only family. My Mama, my mother's elder brother, is in the US and will not be able to come so quickly.

I get a glass of water for my mother and sit beside her. I held her shoulder caressing her arms gently trying to calm her.

This morning Dad had suffered heart attack and was rushed to the hospital. He is unconscious now, in the afternoon he had gained consciousness but that was only for few minutes before losing his consciousness. He had called my name and wanted to meet me, my brother had said. I wonder if really I am the reason for his condition. I will never be able to forgive myself, if anything happens to my father because of me.

'Ma, how did this happen?' I ask softly.

My mother takes a deep breath and looks at me 'Today morning we got your parcel...we came to know about Aamir and his family. Then your father....' My mother breaks down unable to complete her sentence.

I didn't know what to say or except, I made my mother rest her head on my shoulder and wrap my arms around her. I felt her tears on my shoulder and found my own eyes filling with tears.

'How is your father?' Arham asked me. It's around 2am and I am at home with my mother. Hospital visiting hours were over and only one of us could stay. My mother is too tried to stay so I suggested that I will, but my brother ordered us to go home and take rest. I felt proud of my brother then, he is stepping into my father's shoes well and handling the situation like the man of the house.

'He hasn't gained consciousness...Arham...I think it's because of me that Dad...' I bit my lower lip trying to control my sob.

'Zahra...please don't cry' he says softly, his voice made me cry.

Arham knows me well, he knows my mood and knows how to handle me, comfort me. Talking to him I feel much better.

'I am sure it's not because of you. I guess your father got shock.... please don't blame yourself...' he comforts me. I nod wiping my tears with back of my palm.

'Zahra...I am there for you...I love you' he says

'I...love...you too' I reply.

Arham then begins to talk random things, positive things, trying to divert my attention. Eventually, I slept off holding the phone to my ear.

*

Next morning, I woke up feeling much better after I speaking with Arham, I texted him a "good morning" and "thanks" and a "I love you". I had slept in my mother's room, she needed my support, it was only after she fell asleep I had called Arham. I caressed my mother's head lovingly and kissed her forehead.

I didn't bother freshening up, I tied my night robe and made my way downstairs into the kitchen.

Dheem Chacha, our servant is already there in the kitchen and is about to prepare morning tea for my mother.

I tied my hair in a messy bun and asked Dheem Chacha to go do other household chores. He nods his head and leaves. I get busy in making morning tea for my mother. I then get a call from my brother. I spoke to him while still making tea. My brother says that Dad hasn't gained consciousness but his health is better than before. Dad has blood pressure but from last few days because of some tensions at work he had been skipping medicines.

I am relieved to know dad is improving, I pray that he regains his consciousness soon.

'Good morning, Ma' I say sitting beside my mother on the bed. I place the tea cup on the bedside table and help my mother sit. She smiles meekly at me. I hand her the tea cup smiling warmly at her. She takes it, I see her sad face and I feel bad.

'Bhai had called...'I say

I said only the positive news and added that Doctor said that he will soon regain consciousness. My mother feels better and I am glad I made her smile.

'Zahra...we didn't know about Aamir...I am so ashamed that...'

'Ma...' I place my hand over hers and held it tightly 'Parents can never hurt their child on purpose...I know whatever happened isn't your fault...'I say and kissed her cheek. She smiles at me.

'How did you find out about Aamir?' she asks

I look away, I wonder if I should tell her about Arham. No, let Papa recover then I will introduce Arham to them. I am sure they will like him.

I made up an excuse saying we will talk about this later, I also offered to make lunch. My mother had wanted to make but I asked not to worry about it.

I dropped Ma in the hospital and left for home, I will prepare something for my brother and Ma.

I prepared simple rice, dal and mixed vegetable and packed it in tiffin and quickly drove towards the hospital. Luckily there wasn't much traffic and so I reached quickly. When I reached there I am greeted by my brother who looks overexcited. He hugs me straight away

'Moti...Dad has gained consciousness...just now doctor informed us' he says happily. I sigh in relief. I felt like a huge bolder is off my chest. My Dad will be fine now, everything will be alright.

I am asked by the doctor to go in first, Papa wanted to see me. I feel nervous as I held the door. I wish Arham was here, his presence gives me strength and confidence. I take a deep breath and enter.

I see my father lying on the hospital bed, I see his index finger wired to complicated computer screens and his chest connected to ECG, monitoring his heart beat. I stand beside his bed, his eyes are closed and his breathing is even.

'Pa...Papa' I say softly. Slowly my father opens his eyes and looks at me. I am relieved seeing him but then I feel nervous.

'I am sorry, Papa' I apologized. Why am I apologizing? I am apologizing for all the mistakes I have done, knowingly, unknowingly. For every time I have ashamed him, I apologize for everything.

My father extends his hand and places his palm over mine, I look at him, I bit my lower lip. He smiles weakly at me.

'Why are you apologizing, beta?' he says

I feel lighter when he calls me "beta", it's been ten years since he has called me so lovingly. A tear drop falls from my eyes.

I wanted to say something to him but I am speechless, seeing my Father in the hospital attached to all the machines is making feel really uneasy.

I take his palms in mine and kiss the back of his palms lovingly. I smile at him.

'Beta...I am really...sorry...'he says. I shake my head. No, no...why is my father apologizing? He is my father, if he even kills me he needn't apologize. I wanted to stop him but he gestures me to not interrupt him. I nod looking at him teary eyed.

His hand trembles as he places his palm on my cheek 'Beta.... your daddy loves you a lot...and he is really ashamed...After that day I never treated you properly...I ignored you...I treated you so bad...and I was so blinded in anger that I almost ruined your life...' he says, he held my palms tightly and breaks down crying.

'Pa...Pa...Papa...don't cry please' I say wiping his tears and lean in and hug my father, he caresses my hair and whispers 'I am sorry, beta...I am sorry...'

I shake my head and hug him tighter.

It's after ten years that I finally am in my father's arms, we both are apologizing to each other, regretting the past. But I never held any grudges against my father, I never can. I love him more than anything on this planet and I more than happy that we have patched up. I am overwhelmed with emotions, I am just too happy.