The sterile smell of antiseptic filled the air as Karan sat in the hospital waiting room, his heart heavy with worry for Sneha. The earlier joy of the engagement festivities felt like a distant memory, overshadowed by the grim reality they faced. As he tapped his fingers nervously on the armrest, he could see Nandini pacing anxiously, her face pale and drawn.

“Karan, do you think she’ll be okay?” Nandini asked, her voice shaking slightly as she turned to him, desperation etched across her features.

“I don’t know, Nandini,” he replied, trying to remain calm for her sake. “But the doctors are working hard. They know what they’re doing.”

Sneha had always been the light of their lives—a bubbly, carefree spirit who had the uncanny ability to make everyone smile. The thought of her in danger made Karan’s heart ache, and he couldn’t shake the feeling that they had to do something.

Just then, the door to the treatment area swung open, and a doctor stepped out, removing his gloves. The room fell silent as everyone turned to him, hope glimmering in their eyes.

“How is she?” Dhruv demanded, stepping forward. “Is Sneha okay?”

The doctor paused, his expression serious. “She’s stable for now, but we need to run more tests to assess the extent of her injuries. It’s too soon to say how long she’ll be unconscious or what the full impact of the fall will be.”

“Can we see her?” Nandini pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I’m afraid not right now,” the doctor replied gently. “We need to keep her under observation. I promise you’ll be updated as soon as we have more information.”

As the doctor walked away, the weight of uncertainty settled heavily on everyone’s shoulders. Nandini sank into a chair, tears glistening in her eyes. Karan moved to sit beside her, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

“We’ll get through this,” he said softly. “Sneha is strong. She’ll fight.”

Nandini nodded but remained lost in her thoughts. “It’s my fault. I should have been watching her. I didn’t even notice Tarini lurking. What if something worse happens?”

“You can’t blame yourself for this,” Karan urged, his tone firm. “Tarini is the one who needs to be held accountable. We need to keep an eye on her. If she did this, we can’t let her get away with it.”

The determination in his voice sparked a flicker of strength in Nandini. “You’re right. We need to find out what happened. Sneha wouldn’t have fallen if it weren’t for Tarini’s interference. We need to protect her.”

Karan’s gaze sharpened. “Exactly. But first, let’s make sure Sneha is okay. After that, we can figure out a plan.”

Hours passed in anxious silence. Each ticking moment felt like an eternity, but eventually, the doctor returned, this time with a glimmer of relief in his eyes.

“Good news,” he said. “Sneha is awake, and her vitals are stable. You can see her, but keep it brief. She’ll need rest.”

Nandini shot up from her seat, adrenaline rushing through her veins. “Can I go in?”

“Of course,” the doctor replied with a nod.

Dhruv, who had been pacing nearby, immediately followed her, and Abir trailed behind. They stepped into the small, dimly lit room where Sneha lay, her tiny form looking fragile against the white hospital sheets.

“Sneha!” Nandini cried, rushing to her sister’s side.

Sneha blinked slowly, confusion washing over her features as she recognized Nandini and Dhruv. “Nandini bhabhi? Dhruv Bhaiya? What happened?” she croaked, her voice barely above a whisper.

“You had an accident, but you’re safe now,” Nandini said, her heart swelling with relief. “The doctors are taking care of you. You’re going to be okay!”

Sneha’s brow furrowed as she tried to sit up, but Dhruv gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “Take it easy,Nehu. You need to rest.”

“I feel… funny,” she admitted, her small face scrunching up as she tried to comprehend the situation.

Abir stepped forward, his voice soothing. “That’s normal after a fall, Sneha. Just relax. We’re all here for you.”

“Did Tarini do this?” Sneha whispered suddenly, her eyes darting to Nandini.

Nandini exchanged a glance with Karan, surprise flickering in her eyes. “What do you mean?”

Sneha hesitated, her expression turning serious. “I saw her… she was near the fountain before I fell. I think she pushed me.”

Nandini’s heart sank as she processed the words. “Are you sure? We need to tell the police.”

“I’m scared,” Sneha admitted, her voice trembling as she looked between them.

Karan knelt beside her bed, meeting her gaze with warmth and reassurance. “You don’t have to be scared, Sneha. We’ll make sure you’re safe. No one is going to hurt you again.”

“You promise?” Sneha asked, her voice small.

“I promise,” Kara. replied firmly. “We’re in this together. You’re our family, and we won’t let anything happen to you.”

Tears welled up in Sneha’s eyes, but she managed a small smile. “Thank you, Karan.”

“Now, get some rest,” Nandini said softly, brushing a strand of hair from Sneha’s forehead. “We’ll be right outside.”

As Sneha closed her eyes, Karan and Nandini stepped back into the hallway, the weight of the revelation heavy on their shoulders.

“If Sneha’s right, we need to act fast,” Karan said, his voice low but filled with resolve. “We need to gather evidence against Tarini and make sure she doesn’t get close to Sneha again.”

“We also need to talk to Dhruv,” Nandini replied, her brow furrowing in thought. “He deserves to know the truth.”

Just then, Dhruv emerged from the waiting area, his face a mask of worry. “How is she?”

“She’s awake and stable,” Karan informed him, relief washing over Dhruv’s features. “But she might know something about what happened.”

Dhruv’s eyes darkened as he glanced toward the room. “What did she say?”

“She mentioned seeing Tarini near the fountain before the fall,” Nandini said, her voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. “She believes Tarini pushed her.”

Dhruv’s expression hardened, a storm brewing within. “I knew she was up to something. I just didn’t want to believe it.”

“We need to confront her,” Karan stated, determination lighting his eyes. “If she did this, she can’t get away with it.”

“Agreed,” Dhruv replied, his jaw set. “But we have to be careful. I won’t let her hurt anyone else, especially not Sneha.”

As they prepared to face Tarini, a sense of unity forged among them—a bond strengthened by the trials they had faced together. They knew they had to protect Sneha and uncover the truth, no matter the cost.

Outside the hospital walls, a storm was brewing, and it was just the beginning of a battle they hadn’t anticipated. Together, they would rise to confront the darkness threatening to tear their lives apart, for the sake of family and love.