Page 73 of Shattered

“I am sorry, ma’am,” Karan stammers, his face full of regret.

I look at him with teary eyes, struggling to comprehend the news. My chest tightens, making it feel as if a heavy weight is pressing down on my lungs, leaving me gasping for breath.

“Ma’am,” he says quietly, but I shake my head, feeling the pain intensify like a vise tightening around my heart.

“No...” I whisper, my voice barely audible. The world spins, and I lose my balance, but Karan quickly catches me before I hit the ground.

“Ma’am, let’s get you home,” he says gently.

As if on autopilot, I let him guide me away from the hospital and help me into the car. I sink into the seat, my mind numb with anxiety. With one last look of concern, he pulls the car away.

I close my eyes, leaning my head against the headrest while clutching my stomach. Struggling against the crushing pain around my heart, I attempt to pull myself together, but the shock, grief, and fear prove too overwhelming, drowning out all other thoughts except for one. I need to let go of Reyansh. I have to cut ties with him before it’s too late.

Chapter 36

Reyansh

“What the hell?”I groan, wincing as a sharp pain shoots through my head. Blinking my eyes open, my hands instinctively press against my forehead, feeling as though it’s been split wide open.

“Thank God, you’re awake!” Mom cries, bending over to hug me, her body shaking with sobs. “Your dad and I were worried sick.”

“I’m fine, Mom,” I assure her, though my head is still pounding.

“Honey, do I get to see my son now?” Dad jokes, standing beside Mom, his eyes full of concern.

She looks at me again,her eyes still brimming with tears, but she takes a step aside to let Dad move closer.

“How you feeling, son?” he asks,placing a comforting hand on my shoulderand gazing down at me with red-rimmed eyes and dishevelled hair.

“My head hurts like hell,” I say, breathing through the pain.

“That’s understandable, considering the hit to your head,” Dadsays with a small nod, and then squints at me. “How many times have I told you to keep the speed limit in check? But you never seem to listen.”

“These discussions can wait. Can’t you see our baby is in the hospital? We need to focus on that,” Mom scolds Dad.

Dad nods solemnly, “Honey, I am just as worried as you are.”

“Dad, to answer your question, I was within the speed limit,” I frown, sitting up slowly and looking around the hospital room until my eyes land on the ring, and I freeze.

“Kavya?” I ask, turning back to look at Mom.

“She was here yesterday and said she’d come again. She seemed really shaken to see you like this,” she says softly.

I squeeze my eyes shut. Damn, she must have been terrified. I can imagine the hell she would have gone through on hearing about the car accident.

“How long was I out?” I ask, opening my eyes.

“It’s been twenty-four hours, son,” Dad answers.

“Twenty-four hours?” I repeat. Shit. I need to go to Kavya. I need to tell her I’m fine.

“I have to go,” I say, trying to get up from the bed, but Mom’s firm hand on my shoulder holds me back.

“You’re not going anywhere until the doctor checks on you and gives you the all-clear for discharge.”

“Mom, you don’t understand. I—” I begin, but Dad cuts me off before I can finish.

“Young man, you’re not going to argue with your mom on that,” Dad asserts as he presses the buzzer to call the nurse.

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