Page 61 of Forged By Fate

“Sufi, make it clear to his family that he was blameless in this accident. You know how the media likes to twist things around. And pay all his hospital and funeral costs. We’ll figure out a hefty settlement for his family after Sunaina’s surgery.”

Four hours later, we were still in the waiting room. Sunaina had been in surgery for over two hours, and it was going to take a lot longer before they could bring her out.

I sent Daima home with Sufi because she needed to be there when Aisha woke up to break the news to her.

“Get some rest, Mr Chaudhry,” said a nurse sympathetically as she brought me a cup of coffee. “She’s going to be in surgery for a few more hours.”

I leaned back in my seat and shut my eyes because when they were open, all I could see was Sunaina’s expression when I told her I could never love her.

I tried a few boxed breathing techniques Aisha’s therapist had taught her over the years, but as soon as I tried to relax, my brain suddenly threw up a flash of memory from the past. It wasquite hazy, which meant it was really old. I remembered Daima coming into my bedroom with tears rolling down her face as she explained to me that my parents had gone to heaven. And that they were never coming back.

I don’t remember ever having cried for them as a child because Daima had replaced my mother long before her death, and my father was more of an authority figure than a friend. But now my eyes welled up. Not in their memory but for the little boy who had just lost his parents.

I jerked open my eyelids and forced back the tears just in time, for Sunaina’s friend, Dhruv, came marching up to me, dressed in scrubs.

“Viren, I just heard about Sunaina’s accident as soon as I came out of another emergency surgery twenty minutes ago. I’ve spoken to her surgeons, and trust me, Sunaina is in good hands. I’m going into the OT now to observe her surgery from the viewing area, and I’ll keep you posted every thirty minutes. All right?”

I barely had the courage to nod. He clapped me on the shoulder and raced back the same way he’d come.

Sufi returned with another cup of coffee, and I downed it like medicine because I needed the caffeine right now.

“Her boy toy is going into the OT to keep an eye on her,” I said numbly.

Sufi gripped my shoulder in sympathy.

“She’s going to be fine, boss. You know that,” he said bracingly. As if he was trying to convince himself as much as he was trying to convince me.

“Any news about Ramesh’s funeral? And the truck that hit them? Did the police find it?”

“Ramesh’s funeral will be held in the morning around ten,” said Sufi.

“I’ll be there,” I promised.

“Boss, you need to stay here with Sue. I will go on your behalf,” he argued, but I shook my head.

“I have to go, Sufi. I owe him the courtesy of attending his funeral after everything he’s done for us.”

“All right, boss. As for the truck, cops stopped it halfway across the city after multiple bystanders called the police helpline to complain about the incident. The driver is in custody.”

I managed a nod and kept my eyes on the double doors in front of me. What did I even expect? That Sunaina was somehow going to walk out through the door?

“Why don’t you close your eyes for an hour while I keep watch? And then we can switch,” suggested Sufi.

I didn’t bother telling him that I couldn’t sleep until I knew she was fine because I owed it to him to try to get some rest. If I didn’t rest, he wouldn’t rest either, and we both needed to be alert tomorrow.

Again, I tried the same boxed breathing, and again, the same thing happened. Only this time, instead of my parents, I got a call about Deven and Disha. In my mind’s eye, I saw how I had identified their mangled bodies. And how I’d had to wake up little Aisha and tell her what had happened. And the aftermath. My body jolted at the memory of holding her as she screamed in terror every night for almost two months after her parents died. Again, tears welled up in my eyes. For Aisha, this time. And for Deven and Disha who would never get to see her grow into a beautiful woman who was the best mix of both her parents.

When I couldn’t take it anymore, I gave up on rest and opened my eyes to find Sufi weeping silently. I put my arm around him and held him as he cried.

“I know, Sufi Singh,” I whispered. “I know.”

He shed the tears I just couldn’t right now. Because crying for Sunaina meant I was giving up on her. And that I would neverdo. I would sit here and pray to a god I didn’t even believe in to save the woman I loved.I’ll do anything you ask, I chanted silently.Just let her live.

Three hours later, the team of surgeons came out looking as exhausted as we felt.

“The surgery went well,” said Dhruv, speaking for them. “We’re optimistic about the results, even though it’s too soon to say anything. She will be under observation in the recovery room for the next few hours before we move her to the ICU. God willing, we should be able to move her there by evening.”

I sent up a short prayer of thanks and thanked them all.

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