Chapter 78: Waiting Outside the Operation Room

The doors of the emergency treatment room closed behind the doctors.

The red light outside turned on.

"Treatment in Progress."

The corridor fell silent.

Mahendra stood with folded hands, silently praying.

Mahesh paced restlessly from one end of the corridor to the other.

Haji Kareem sat beside Shabana, his prayer beads moving continuously through his fingers as he whispered duas.

The children sat together.

Aadhya was crying quietly.

Ayat and Aarhan held each other's hands.

Aarav looked at the floor without saying a word.

Yash stood near the glass window, trying to stay strong for everyone.

Only Poornima...

She simply sat on the hospital bench.

She wasn't crying loudly.

She wasn't speaking.

She just stared at the closed doors.

Her heart was filled with fear.

So many emotions rushed through her mind at once.

"He has to come back."

"The children need him."

"I need him."

She clasped her mangalsutra tightly in her trembling hands.

Her mind replayed every memory they had made together.

She remembered the first time he had called her...

"Poons."

She had secretly fallen in love with that nickname.

A faint smile mixed with tears appeared on her face.

Then another memory...

She remembered waking up every morning in his arms.

At first, it had felt awkward.

Now...

She couldn't imagine sleeping without feeling the warmth of his embrace.

A tear rolled down her cheek.

She remembered the night they had shared whiskey on the balcony.

He had laughed when she asked him not to mix it.

"Drink it raw," she had said.

He had smiled.

"I have a partner in drinking now."

She had laughed and replied,

"Not every time."

Another memory followed.

She remembered him teasing her with a mischievous smile.

"Maybe we can start trying for babies."

She had immediately thrown a pillow at him.

"The other day only I made you sleep on the couch!"

He had laughed.

"But you also came and joined me on the couch."

Even through her tears, Poornima smiled at the memory.

Then she remembered the morning of Eid.

He had handed her a neatly wrapped gift.

A simple purple saree.

"I went to buy other colours..."

"But this colour suits you, Poons."

She had worn it only because he had chosen it.

She remembered him waiting for her before eating lunch.

"Sit."

"We'll eat together."

He never let her eat alone.

He always made space beside him.

Another sob escaped her lips.

She whispered to herself,

Poornima: "You still have to tease me..."

Her voice broke.

Poornima: "You still have to call me 'Poons.'"

She looked towards the closed treatment room.

Poornima: "You promised we would celebrate every festival together."

She wiped her tears.

Poornima: "You promised."

Haji quietly walked over and sat beside her.

He gently placed a hand on her head.

Poornima finally broke down.

She leaned against him like a daughter.

Poornima: "Abbu..."

Her voice trembled.

Poornima: "I can't lose him."

Fresh tears streamed down her face.

Poornima: "The children need their father."

She closed her eyes.

Poornima: "I need my Veer."

Haji's own eyes became moist.

He silently prayed,

"Ya Allah... protect him."

The corridor remained silent.

Every second felt like an hour.

Everyone waited...

Hoping that the next time those doors opened...

Veeresh would open his eyes too.