Aarohi is teary-eyed hearing the story from Aaryan. She requests him to take her to the patient. She enters the room and as her eyes fall on Ruhana, she’s surprised.

“Ye!?”

“Aap Ruhana ko jaanti hain?” Aaryan asks.

“Haan! Ruhana meri achchi dost thi. Delhi mein hum log school mein sath mein they, aur humne computers ka diploma sath mein kiya tha.” Aarohi replies, looking at him.

“Uske baad main MBBS ke liye chali gayi thi aur aaj aapse mil rahi hoon. Kuch saal pehle, Ruhana se phir se mili thi, us waqt wo pregnant thi, aur ab aaj aise dekh rahi hoon usey.” Aarohi says.

“Mujhe toh usne kuch nahi bataya kabhi.” Aaryan is surprised.

“Aaryan ji, ho sakta hai wo bhool gayi ho. Lekin Ruhana meri achchi dost thi. Mujhe khushi hai ki main uske liye kuch kar paungi. Aap chinta mat kijiye, aap apne kaam pe dhyan dijiye.” Aarohi says, assuring him.

“Are you sure? Waise tum…” He asks, and before he can complete his statement, she cuts him.

“Main jaanti hoon, mujhse zyada chinta aapko hai, lekin trust me, ab jab mujhe pata hai ki Ruhana meri dost hai, aap uski zimmedari mujhe de sakte hain.” She says softly.

At the same time, they hear a babyish voice and Aaryan runs into the room. Aarohi follows after him and finds him comforting a little boy. The little boy is crying while hugging him and he’s patting her back.

“Aaru, aap toh good boy ho naa, main sab thik kar dunga. Mumma bhi thik hai.” Aaryan says.

“Mujhe mumma chahiye…” Little Aaryav cries.

“Hum abhi mumma ke paas jayenge, lekin achche bachche rote nahi hai. Come on, chup ho jao. Mumma jaldi thik ho jayegi, dekho vo aunty aayi hai na, wo sab thik kar dengi.” Aaryan says it while pointing at Aarohi, who’s standing at the door.

“Aap mumma ko thik kar doge?” he asks innocently.

Aarohi enters the room and sits on the bed near him and Aaryav glances at him hopefully. She holds his hands, and pulls him near her.

“Aapka naam kya hai?”

“Aaryav Singhania.”

“Bahut achcha naam hai aapka. Kyun ro rahe ho?” She asks him.

“Mujhe Mumma chahiye. Wo kitna soyengi? Unko uthaao na..” The boy looks at her.

“Main aayi hoon na, sab thik ho jayega, beta. Par aapko  rona nahi hai, nai toh Mumma ko achcha nahi lagega. Aap chahte ho, mumma sad ho jaye?” She asks, and the boy nods negatively.

“Toh phir, aap royenge nahi. Aur ab se main rahungi na aapke paas. Hum Mumma se baat bhi karenge, aur khelenge bhi! Dosti karoge mujhse?” Aarohi asks softly.

The boy gazes at her firstly, and then at his maternal uncle, who nods his head positively, and then the boy agrees and shakes hands with her. She smiles and gives him a toffee, which the boy readily takes in.

“That’s like a good boy. Chalo abhi aap so jao thodi derr. Phir hum shaam ko khelenge.” She says so, and the boy agrees.

He leaps into her arms, leaving her surprised, but she embraces him in her arms and rocks the boy to sleep. Her eyes meet with Aaryan’s who’s smearing Avni’s head. After putting the kids to sleep, they head out of the room and Aaryan looks at her, trying to explain the situation to her.

“Aaryav aur Avni, Ruhana ke bachche hai. Jabse Ruhana ka accident hua hai, tabse ye dono mere sath rehte hai. Aur ab ye dono Ruhana ko bhi miss karte hai. Mujhe nahi pata main kaise aur kab tak sambhalunga in dono ko?” He says, tears are visible in his eyes.

“Aur Ruhana ke pati kahan hai?” Aarohi asks.

“Vineet kisi kaam se London gaya hai. Uska kaam extend ho gaya aur kyunki wo busy tha, mujhe usey Ruhana ke accident ke baare mein batana sahi nahi laga.” Aaryan replies.

“Lekin…” She begins to speak but refrains herself from asking.

“Jaanta hoon, tum kahogi ki Ruhana ka itna bada accident ho gaya lekin usey nahi pata! Ruhana ne usey kuch bhi batane se mana kiya tha. Vo meri behen se itna pyaar karta hai ki wo kaam chhod ke yahan aa jayega. Aur Ruhana nahi chahti thi ki uska koi nuksaan ho. Isliye humne usey kuch nahi bataya,” Aaryan answers her unasked question.

“I understand, Aaryan ji, lekin unhe pata hona chahiye. Ap unhe bata dijiye.” She says.

“Ek na ek din toh batana padega, Aarohi ji, lekin abhi waqt nahi aaya hai.” He replies.

Aarohi glances at him for some good minutes and then keeps her hand on his shoulder. She can understand his pain. And now, she has learned that the patient is her friend, she’s determined to heal her.

“Aaryan ji, aap chinta mat kijiye. Main Ruhana ko bhi sambhal lungi aur dono bachchon ko bhi. Lekin haan, main ek doctor hoon, toh shayad mujhe hospital bhi jana padega. So will you be able to manage in my absence?” She asks.

“I understand, I am glad Dr Batra ne meri request maan li aur aapko yahan bheja hai. Aap chahe toh yahin reh sakti hain. Please feel home.” He says, trying to comfort her.

Aarohi agrees, she has been instructed from her peers to stay with Ruhana and keep a close check on her. So, she decides to stay at Aaryan’s home. She assures him that she will shift to his house the next day. She changes the drip, gives medicines to Ruhana and takes her leave.

Aaryan sees her off, he’s now hopeful that his little sister will be fine soon.

To Be Continued.

Jasminearun Hey! I am sorry for delayed update, but here it is. I hope you like it.