Chapter 14

Anubhav sat by the hospital bed, carefully sponging Dhruv’s small, frail body. The boy was pale, his energy sapped, but he managed a faint smile. 

“Bhaiya,” Dhruv whispered, his voice weak. “I feel sticky.” 

Anubhav nodded silently, his movements gentle as he cleaned Dhruv’s face and arms. He picked up a fresh shirt, slipping it over Dhruv’s thin frame with care. 

Nitara stood quietly in the corner, watching the scene. Her heart ached as she noticed Anubhav’s hollowed cheeks, the tired droop of his shoulders, and his eyes, clouded with worry. He hadn’t said much in days. Even his usual gestures seemed weighed down by something heavy. 

“Anubhav ji,” Nitara called softly, stepping closer. “You’ve been at this all night. Come and rest for a while. Please.” 

Anubhav shook his head without looking at her. His hands moved methodically, tucking the blanket around Dhruv. 

“Bhabhi,” Dhruv mumbled, turning his head toward her. “Tell Bhaiya to stop fussing. I’m fine, see na?” He tried to muster a small laugh but ended up coughing lightly. 

Nitara smiled weakly at Dhruv, then crouched beside Anubhav. She placed a hand on his arm, her touch warm and grounding. “Anubhav ji, you’ve been so quiet. Please, talk to me. What’s going on?” 

Anubhav hesitated, then reached for his phone. His fingers hovered over the screen before he finally typed:  "It’s tomorrow. His surgery. What if…" 

Nitara’s heart sank as she read his words. She placed her hand over his, steadying him. “Don’t think like that. We’ve done everything we can. The doctors are ready. Dhruv will be okay.” 

Anubhav stared at her, his silver eyes shimmering with unshed tears. He typed again: 
"He’s my everything, Nitara. I can’t lose him. I can’t imagine life without him." 

Dhruv, half-asleep but still aware, whispered, “Bhaiya, you’re not gonna lose me. I’m a tough guy, remember? You said it yourself.” 

Anubhav blinked rapidly, forcing back his tears. He gave Dhruv a small nod and a shaky smile, brushing his brother’s hair back gently. 

Nitara sat on the bed beside Dhruv, stroking his hand. “That’s right,” she said softly. “We’re all here together. And together, we’re going to get through this.” 

Dhruv smiled faintly before drifting off to sleep. 

Anubhav stood and walked to the window, his posture tense. Nitara followed him, standing silently by his side. 

“You’re scared,” she said, breaking the silence. “I can see it. But Anubhav ji, you’ve done everything for him. You’ve given him the best chance. Trust that.” 

He turned to her, his expression pained. He typed again: 
"The money is there, but money doesn’t guarantee anything. What if it’s not enough?"

Nitara gripped his hand firmly. “Listen to me. It’s not just money. It’s love, care, and hope. And Dhruv has all of that, thanks to you. He’s going to fight because he knows he has you by his side.” 

Anubhav stared at her for a moment before nodding, his shoulders relaxing slightly. He leaned against the wall, his gaze falling on Dhruv’s peaceful face. 

“Come,” Nitara said softly. “Sit down for a bit. He’ll need you to be strong tomorrow.” 

Anubhav let her guide him back to the chair beside Dhruv’s bed. As he sat, Nitara placed a hand on his shoulder and started rubbing his tense shoulders. Pressing a kiss against his temple, she hugged him.

She didn't like seeing her husband so gloomy and sad.

The next day, Anubhav sat beside Dhruv on the hospital bed, holding his little brother close to his chest. His arms wrapped around him tightly, as though letting go would make the moment unbearable. He buried his face in Dhruv’s hair, his tears falling silently. 

Dhruv, sensing the tension, patted Anubhav’s back. “Bhaiya,” he said softly, his voice weak but comforting. “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. The doctors said I’ll be as strong as Superman after this.” 

Anubhav pulled back slightly, his face wet with tears. He cupped Dhruv’s face in his hands and pressed soft kisses on his forehead, cheeks, and hands. No words were exchanged, but the love and fear between them were palpable. 

Nitara stood near the bed, watching the scene unfold with a heavy heart. For the first time, she saw Anubhav’s vulnerability. His silent strength had always been unwavering, but now, the fear of the unknown was breaking him. He may not tell anyone but her husband was scared that something may go wrong it would cost him his brothers’ life.

Anubhav reached into his pocket, pulled out his phone, and handed it to Nitara. He pointed to the camera icon, silently asking her to take a picture. 

Nitara nodded, her hands trembling as she captured the moment. Dhruv smiled faintly at the camera, trying to appear brave, while Anubhav held him tightly, his silver eyes shimmering with tears. 

After taking a few photos, Nitara sat on the bed and gently pulled Dhruv into her arms. She held him close to her chest, her own tears falling as she kissed the top of his head. “You’ll be fine, Dhruv,” she whispered, her voice steady despite the ache in her heart. “After the surgery, we’ll do everything you love. I’ll take you to the water park, to watch all the movies you want, and we’ll eat your favorite ice cream. It’s all waiting for you, okay?” 

Dhruv nodded, a small smile breaking through his exhaustion. “Promise, Bhabhi?” 

“Promise,” she said firmly, cupping his face and planting a kiss on his forehead. 

Anubhav wiped his tears and typed on his phone before showing it to Dhruv: 
"You are my superhero, Dhruv. Stronger than Superman. I’m so proud of you."

Dhruv grinned weakly. “And you’re my Superman, Bhaiya.” 

Nitara looked at both of them, her heart swelling with love and pain. “Our Dhruv will be fine,” she said, her voice barely a whisper. 

As the nurse came to wheel Dhruv toward the operating room, Anubhav hesitated, his grip tightening on Dhruv’s hand. Nitara placed her hand on his arm, her touch grounding him. “Let him go, Anubhav ji,” she said softly. “He needs to go so he can come back to us, stronger than ever.” 

Reluctantly, Anubhav let go, pressing one last kiss on Dhruv’s forehead. As the nurse rolled Dhruv away, Nitara held onto Anubhav’s arm, anchoring him as they watched the boy disappear into the hallway. Neither said a word, but their eyes spoke volumes. Especially the tears rolling down.

Anubhav sat in the corridor outside the operation theatre, his eyes fixed on the doors as though willing them to open. His face was pale, and his fingers trembled slightly as he typed on his phone. Nitara stood beside him, her hand resting gently on his shoulder, offering silent support. 

He passed the phone to her, his expression a mix of pain and nostalgia. She read the message: 
"When my parents first brought Dhruv home, I thought he was the tiniest and cutest human in the world. His little yawns, those tiny fingers… he would always make this funny face before crying. He was so small he could fit in my lap. After my parents’ death, he kept me alive. I lived for him. He’s my entire world, Nitara ji.” 

Tears welled up in her eyes as she read his words, her heart aching for him. She crouched down beside him, gently rubbing his back. “He’s going to come out of that room stronger and better, Anubhav ji,” she said softly, her voice steady despite the lump in her throat. “He has your strength in him. He has you.” 

Anubhav looked at her, his silver eyes glistening with unshed tears. He typed again, his hands shaking slightly:  "I feel helpless, Nitara. I should be protecting him, but I can’t do anything right now."

She placed her hand over his, steadying him. “You’ve done everything, Anubhav ji. You’ve given him a chance at life. That’s what matters. Sometimes, being strong means letting others help.” 

He nodded slowly, his shoulders sagging under the weight of his emotions. Nitara leaned closer, wrapping her arms around him. “I am with you,” she whispered. “Dhruv will make out of this, and we’ll make sure his life is filled with love and happiness.” 

Anubhav hugged her back briefly before pulling away to stare at the doors again. He reached for his phone, typing one last message for her: 
"I couldn’t have done this without you. Thank you for being my strength." 

Nitara smiled softly, her eyes glistening. “You are my whole world. And you’re a lot stronger than you think, Anubhav ji. And Dhruv knows that too.” 

They sat together in silence, the tension in the air thick. Nitara held his hand tightly.

The surgeon stepped out of the OT, his mask still hanging loosely around his neck, and smiled at the anxious couple. "The surgery was successful. Dhruv is stable now. He’ll be shifted to the general ward shortly, and you can see him once he wakes up in a few hours," he said warmly. 

Anubhav’s shoulders sagged in relief as tears welled up in his eyes. Without hesitation, he shook the surgeon’s hand with both of his, his grip trembling with emotion. His lips moved silently, mouthing "Thank you" repeatedly. The surgeon patted his shoulder reassuringly. "He’s a strong boy," he said before walking away. 

Anubhav turned to Nitara and hugged her tightly, his tears soaking into her shoulder. Nitara held him just as tightly, her own relief spilling over in quiet sobs. “He’s okay, Anubhav ji,” she whispered, stroking his back. “Our Dhruv is a strong boy.” 

As Dhruv was wheeled into the general ward, Anubhav and Nitara followed closely. The sight of Dhruv’s small frame lying amidst the tangle of wires and machines broke their hearts, but they knew he was fine now.

Nitara was about to sit beside Dhruv when a sudden wave of nausea hit her. She clutched her stomach and ran to the washroom, barely making it in time. She emptied her stomach into the sink, her body trembling. Suddenly, she felt a comforting hand gather her hair and rub her back gently. 

Anubhav stood behind her, worry etched across his face. He waited until she was done, then handed her some water to rinse her mouth. Nitara washed her face and leaned back against the chair, exhausted. Anubhav crouched in front of her, holding out his phone with the words, "Are you okay?" 

She nodded weakly, taking small sips of water. “I’m fine, Anubhav ji,” she managed to say, her voice shaky but steadying. She noticed him studying her face closely, his brows furrowed in concern. 

As she reached for her phone to check the time, her eyes caught the date, and a realization dawned on her. She froze for a moment before her heart began to race. She quickly calculated and realized she was three weeks late for her period. 

Nitara’s mind raced as she glanced at Anubhav, who was still watching her intently. She smiled faintly to reassure him but couldn’t stop the mix of emotions swirling within her. "Could it really be...?" she thought to herself, her hand unconsciously resting on her stomach.

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Happy Holidays! ⛄

Target: 110+

Radhe Radhe