IN THE CANTEEN

Faisu's Pov

We walked into the canteen, leaving Avneet's hospital room behind. Jai and I went ahead to place the order while the other two looked around for a table. After giving the order, I returned to the table while Jai stayed behind to make the payment. 

I sat down next to Jaan, noticing how she and Reem avoided looking at each other. Their eyes shimmered with unshed tears, but they both wore strained smiles, clearly trying to hold it together. I decided not to say anything until Jai returned.

A few minutes later, Jai joined us. He glanced at me and silently asked what was going on, to which I shrugged, unsure.

"What's wrong? Were you guys crying?" Jai asked directly, breaking the silence.

"Nothing much, just a trivial thought," Reem replied, her voice soft but steady.

Jaan forced a smile, masking her tear-streaked face. Jai and I exchanged a glance but decided not to press further. Some things are better left unsaid, at least for now. Jai didn't push further, though I could tell he was curious. The four of us sat in silence for a moment, the buzz of the canteen filling the gap in our conversation. Even though the accident was minor and Avneet was already awake, the whole experience had shaken us more than we wanted to admit.

When the food arrived, we tried to act normal. Reem poked at her fries, Jaan stirred her drink absentmindedly, and Jai was unusually quiet. I decided to break the ice.

"You know, Avneet's already cracking jokes with the nurses," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

Reem smiled faintly. "That sounds like her. Always trying to make everyone laugh, even when she's the one in bed."

Jaan chuckled softly. "She told me earlier that the hospital food tastes like cardboard but less flavorful. Classic Avneet."

Jai grinned. "And I bet she still asked for seconds, didn't she?"

We all laughed at that, the tension easing for the first time since the accident. Even though we were worried, we knew Avneet was the kind of person who wouldn't let something like this keep her down. As the laughter settled, Jaan spoke softly, her voice carrying a hint of guilt.

 "I just... I feel bad that we weren't there when it happened."

I reached over and gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze. "Hey, it wasn't anyone's fault. And she's fine now. That's what matters."

Jaan nodded, and Reem added, "Yeah. Knowing Avneet, she'll probably tease us about being so worried."

"True," I said, smiling. "But that's what friends are for, right? Worrying about each other."

The mood lightened as we continued talking, sharing stories about Avneet and making plans for when she'd be back home. Despite the scare, it was comforting to know she was okay—and that we'd get through this together.

After finishing our food, we sat there for a moment, reluctant to leave the canteen's lively buzz for the stillness of the hospital room. Eventually, Jai stood up and stretched. "Alright, let's head back before Avneet accuses us of abandoning her."

We all smiled at that and made our way to the elevator. The walk back felt heavier, even though we knew Avneet was fine. The accident might have been minor, but seeing her in the hospital had left its mark on all of us.

When we stepped into her room, Avneet was sitting up in bed, her arm in a sling and her hair pulled back in a messy bun. The glow from the overhead lights gave her a tired but stubbornly cheerful look. She looked up from her phone and grinned.

"Took you long enough. What, were you planning my farewell party in the canteen?"

"Of course," Jai said, playing along as he dropped into the chair next to her bed. "But don't worry, we decided to postpone it for now."

Avneet rolled her eyes. "Very funny, Jai. So, what did you bring me?"

Reem held up a small juice box she'd grabbed from the canteen. "Here. The only thing I could sneak past the nurses."

Avneet took it with a mock look of disappointment. "A juice box? Really? Where's my pizza, my chocolates, my—"

"You're in a hospital, Avneet," Jaan interrupted with a soft laugh. "Be grateful you're getting anything at all."

Avneet sighed dramatically, leaning back against her pillows. "Fine. But only because I'm too tired to argue. How was the canteen food? Better than this gourmet cardboard?"

"It wasn't bad," I said, pulling up a chair.

Jaan, who had been unusually quiet, finally spoke up. "How are you feeling now?" Her voice was soft, almost hesitant.

Avneet shrugged. "Like I got hit by a truck. Oh wait, I technically did." She gave a crooked smile,

For a moment, the room felt lighter. The tension that had followed us all day seemed to fade as we fell into our usual rhythm of teasing and talking. Even here, in this small, impersonal hospital room, it felt like home as long as we were together

As we stepped out of the room, the mood shifted again. The hallway was quieter than before, the fluorescent lights casting a pale glow on the white tiles. We walked in silence for a few moments, each lost in our thoughts.

We reached the hospital lobby, where the hum of activity was more noticeable—nurses walking briskly, the soft ding of elevators, and the faint murmur of conversations. The familiar chaos of the hospital reminded me that while we were focused on Avneet, there were countless others dealing with their own battles.

"I think we should do something for her," I said suddenly.

Jai raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Like... something to cheer her up. She's pretending she's fine, but we all know she hates being stuck here. Maybe we could bring her something fun tomorrow. A game, or her favorite snacks, or—"

"Her sketchbook," Jaan interrupted. "She always sketches when she's bored or stressed. We could grab it from her place."

Reem's face lit up. "Yes! And we could make a care package. Fill it with all the things she loves."

Jai grinned. "I'll bring the snacks. You know how much she loves those overpriced chocolate bars."

"And I'll get the sketchbook," Jaan said. "I know exactly where she keeps it."

"I'll write her a note," Reem added, "something to make her laugh."

"Perfect," I said, feeling a spark of energy. "Let's meet tomorrow morning before visiting hours. Avneet's not going to know what hit her."

Author's note

I'm really sorry for returning after a long time. How many years has it been 2?3? I've lost the count. I cant promise regular updates but I'm thinking of continuing the book. Let me know

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ALSO I need some motivation yaar, koi to dedo