Namaste
Chapter 13

One afternoon, Dhruv sat on the bed, pale and sweating, struggling to take each breath. His small chest heaved, and his eyes were wide with fear. 

“Dhruv, what’s wrong?” Nitara’s voice shook as she knelt beside him. 

“Bhabhi… I… I can’t… breathe,” Dhruv managed between gasps. 

Panic shot through her. She rubbed his back, trying to calm him down. “It’s okay, baby, I’m here. Just try to breathe. We’re going to the hospital, okay?” 

He nodded weakly, his head drooping against her shoulder. Nitara jumped to her feet, quickly throwing on a kurti and leggings. She grabbed his medical file, medicines, and inhaler, stuffing them into a bag. 

Still panicked, she rushed next door and banged on the neighbor's door. Mina bhabhi answered, startled by Nitara’s urgency. 

“Mina bhabhi, is Ravi bhaiya home? Dhruv’s really unwell—he can’t breathe! I need to get him to the hospital, but I can’t carry him. Please help!” Nitara pleaded, her eyes welling up. 

Mina nodded, alarmed. “Ravi! Jaldi aao! Dhruv needs help!” she called out. 

Ravi appeared within seconds. “What happened?” he asked, already stepping forward. 

“Dhruv’s struggling to breathe. I’ve booked a cab, but he can’t walk. Can you carry him downstairs?” Nitara explained hurriedly. 

“Of course. Let’s go,” Ravi said, following her back to the flat. 

In the room, Ravi gently lifted Dhruv into his arms. Dhruv’s head lolled against Ravi’s shoulder as he murmured, “Bhabhi…” 

“I’m right here, sweetheart,” Nitara said, brushing his hair back. “We’ll be at the hospital soon, okay? You’re going to be fine.” 

Ravi carried Dhruv downstairs while Nitara locked up and followed. The cab was already waiting. Ravi carefully settled Dhruv in the back seat, propping him up with a pillow Nitara had brought. 

“Thank you so much, bhaiya,” Nitara said, her voice trembling. 

“Don’t worry about it. Call me if you need anything,” Ravi said firmly before stepping back. 

As the cab sped off, Nitara pulled out her phone and called Anubhav. 

“Anubhav ji,” Nitara’s voice broke. “Dhruv isn’t well. He’s struggling to breathe. I’m taking him to the hospital.” She could barely keep her composure. 

There was silence for a moment, then the sound of rustling, as though he was grabbing his things. A text came through immediately: “I’ll leave now. Keep me updated.”

Nitara texted back: “Okay. Please be careful.”

She reached back to hold Dhruv’s hand. “Dhruv, can you hear me? We’re almost there, baby. Stay strong.” 

“Bhabhi… will I… be okay?” he asked weakly, his small hand gripping hers. 

“Of course, sweetheart. You’re going to be fine,” she said, though her voice shook. “You’re a brave boy, right? Just hold on a little longer.” 

Dhruv nodded faintly, his eyelids fluttering shut. Nitara bit her lip hard to stop the tears from falling, whispering a silent prayer as they approached the hospital gates.

As soon as the cab pulled up at the hospital, Nitara jumped out, calling for help. A nurse rushed over with a wheelchair, and together they settled Dhruv into it. His breathing was ragged, his face pale and drenched in sweat. 

“Emergency! He’s struggling to breathe,” Nitara said, her voice shaky. 

The nurse nodded and gestured for her to follow. “Come with me. We’ll take him to the ER.” 

Inside, a doctor approached them. “What’s happening?” he asked, his tone calm but serious. 

Nitara tried to steady her voice. “He’s been feeling weak all day, but just now, he said he couldn’t breathe properly. He has a history of heart problems.” 

“Do you have his medical documents?” the doctor asked. 

“Yes, here,” she said, fumbling through her bag and handing them over. 

The medical team quickly hooked Dhruv up to an oxygen mask and monitored his vitals. One nurse checked his blood pressure while another set up an ECG. 

“Heart rate is elevated—140 beats per minute,” a nurse reported. 

The doctor frowned as he skimmed through the file. “Dilated cardiomyopathy… and he’s been on medications for a while,” he murmured. Looking up at the team, he said, “We need an echocardiogram immediately.” 

Nitara stood frozen by Dhruv’s bedside, watching as they worked. “Will he be okay?” she asked, tears brimming in her eyes. 

“We’ll do everything we can,” the doctor assured her. 

After an echocardiogram and some blood tests, the doctor returned, looking concerned. “Mrs. Nitara, I need to explain something. Dhruv’s condition is serious. His heart is severely enlarged, and it’s not pumping blood properly. This has caused fluid to build up in his lungs, making it hard for him to breathe.” 

Nitara’s chest tightened. “What does that mean? What can be done?” 

The doctor sighed gently. “He needs heart bypass surgery. It’s urgent. Without it, his heart won’t be able to keep up. We’ll stabilize him with medication for now, but the surgery needs to happen within a week.” 

“Surgery?” she whispered, her voice breaking. “Is it dangerous? Will he… will he be okay?” 

“There are risks, of course,” the doctor said gently. “But Dhruv is young, and that gives him a good chance of recovery. The surgery, called a coronary artery bypass graft, will help improve blood flow and ease the strain on his heart. The sooner we do it, the better his chances.” 

Nitara blinked away tears, her hands trembling. “What do I need to do?” 

“We’ll admit him right away for monitoring and pre-surgery care. You’ll also need to meet with the surgeon, who will explain everything in detail. We’ll run some tests over the next few days to make sure he’s ready for the procedure,” the doctor explained. 

She nodded, barely able to process the words. “Thank you, doctor,” she managed to say. 

Nitara walked back to Dhruv’s bed. He was lying there, small and fragile, with an oxygen mask covering his face. His eyes fluttered open when he felt her hand on his. 

“Bhabhi…” he whispered weakly. 

“I’m here, babu,” Nitara said, her voice soft but firm as she stroked his hair. “The doctors are going to help you, okay? You’ll feel better soon.” 

Dhruv nodded faintly, his little hand clutching hers tightly. Nitara leaned down, kissing his forehead and whispering, “You’re so brave, my little one. We’ll get through this together.” 

Anubhav arrived at the hospital, his footsteps heavy and hurried, his eyes darting around anxiously. He spotted Nitara in the waiting area, sitting outside the ICU. Her face looked pale, her hands clenched tightly around a scarf. She stood up as soon as she saw him. 

“Anubhav ji…” she began softly, but her voice cracked. She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. “Dhruv… he had trouble breathing. I brought him here. The doctors said…” Her voice trailed off as tears spilled down her cheeks. 

Anubhav’s eyes widened in alarm. He gestured for her to continue, his hands trembling slightly. 

“They said he has a condition,” she continued, her voice shaky. “Severe left ventricular dysfunction. His heart… it’s not working the way it should. They need to do a bypass surgery. It’s urgent.” 

Anubhav blinked, his face frozen in shock. He stumbled slightly, catching himself on the back of a chair. His lips parted as if to speak, but no words came out. Instead, he shook his head, his expression pleading for her to say something that made sense. 

“I know it’s a lot,” Nitara said quickly, stepping closer to him. “They said we have to act fast. The surgery has to be done within a week, or…” She stopped, unable to say it out loud. 

Anubhav’s hands clenched into fists, his jaw tightening as he struggled to process her words. He pulled out his phone and typed hurriedly, the device shaking in his hands: 
"How bad is it? Is he in pain? What did the doctor say exactly?" 

“He’s stable for now,” Nitara replied, swallowing hard. “They’re giving him oxygen and monitoring him. But the surgery… it may be expensive, and we need to prepare for it as soon as possible. We have 10-12 lakhs from what my uncle gave and you won in the street fighting.” 

Anubhav stared at the screen for a moment before turning away and pacing back and forth. He paused, his shoulders hunched, and typed again: 
"How much money do they need? I’ll figure it out."

Nitara reached out, touching his arm gently. “Anubhav ji, I know you’re thinking about the money, but we’ll handle it together. Right now, Dhruv needs us to be strong. He needs to see that we’re here for him.” 

Anubhav turned to her, his silver eyes red with unshed tears. He nodded but still looked haunted. Typing slowly this time, he showed her: 
"It’s my fault. I should’ve seen this coming. I should’ve done more."

“No, it’s not your fault,” Nitara said firmly. Her voice, though quiet, held a resolve that made Anubhav pause. “You’ve done everything for him. You’ve been his brother, his parent, his whole world. This isn’t because you didn’t do enough. This is just… life being unfair.” 

Anubhav’s head dropped, his hands pressing against his forehead. He took a shaky breath and looked at her again, typing: 
"He’s just a kid. Why him?"

Nitara’s tears started falling again, but she wiped them away quickly. “I don’t know why,” she admitted. “But what I do know is that we’ll fight this. Together. Dhruv will be okay. He has to be.” 

Anubhav nodded slowly, his eyes still on the ICU door. He stepped forward and placed a hand on the glass, staring at his little brother lying on the bed, looking so small and fragile. Then, he turned back to Nitara, typing: 
I’ll make sure he gets the surgery. Whatever it takes."

Nitara nodded, her voice soft but steady. “ Everything is going to be fine. Our Dhruv is going to be fine.” 

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Guys, I gave an double update but you guys didn't vote on the 11th chapter.

The medical stuff mentioned in the chapter may not be accurate.

Keep voting and remember constructive criticism is welcome with open arms. I genuinely look forward to your feedback.

Target: 110 votes