“Maa will be okay?”

Gauri asked in a trembling voice, staring at the closed doors of the operation theatre.
Hriday, standing beside her, felt a weight in his chest.

“She will be,” he replied quietly.

Just then, his phone rang. It was his mother.

Hriday stepped away to take the call, giving Gauri some space.

“Hriday! Where are you?”
Maithili's voice was filled with worry.
“Your cousin is asking for you—your Mausi too! Everyone is waiting. Where are you?”

Hriday sighed and rubbed his forehead.
“Mom, I’m stuck here. Something important came up. I’ll come when I can.”

Maithili sensed his seriousness.
“Okay, I’ll try to explain it to Saksham and your Mausi.”

“Thanks, Mom.”
Hriday ended the call and looked back toward Gauri.

Three hours had passed. Still no word from the doctors.

He called his driver and asked him to bring two tiffin boxes.

When they arrived, Hriday walked over to Gauri and gently called her name.

“Gauri.”

She looked up, her eyes hollow from worry.

“You haven’t eaten anything. Please, at least drink this juice.”

“I’m fine, sir. I don’t need anything.”

“Please. If your mother saw you like this, would she be happy? Drink it—for her.”

Gauri looked at the juice, then at him. Silently, she took it and began to sip. Hriday sat beside her, watching the closed doors in silence.

“Sir, you should eat something. I’ll stay here in case the doctor comes out.”

Hriday shook his head.
“We’ll eat after the doctor says she’s okay. Together.”

Gauri said nothing. She just kept staring at the door, silently praying for her mother’s safety.

Two Hours Later

The doctor emerged from the operation theatre. Gauri rushed toward him.

“Doctor, how is my mother?!”

The doctor hesitated, eyes filled with sympathy.
“I’m sorry. We did everything we could. But... she’s no more. Her injuries were too severe.”

Gauri stumbled back, eyes wide. The world spun.

“Maa...”

Her knees gave way, and she collapsed—right into Hriday’s arms.

Later

Gauri opened her eyes slowly. She was lying in a hospital bed.
Hriday was there, handing her a glass of water.

“Gauri, are you okay?”

She blinked. Then panic set in.

“Maa... Where is Maa!?”

Hriday tried to calm her.
“Gauri—please—”

“How can you ask me to calm down?! MY MOTHER IS GONE! Do you even understand what that means?! I want to see her!”

“Come with me.”

Hriday led her down the corridor. She stopped at a door where her mother’s lifeless body lay.

“Maa!!”

Gauri ran in and fell to her knees beside her.

“Maa, wake up! I’m here... your Sona is here. Please, Maa...”
She sobbed, holding her mother’s cold feet in her palms.

Hriday stood silently, watching the raw pain pour out of her.

Gauri turned to him, her voice breaking.
“Sir, please leave me. I need to be with her. My Maa...”

Hriday didn’t say a word. He pulled her close as she broke down into his chest, sobbing like a child.

Men arrived to take Kishori’s body for the final rites. Gauri ran after them.

“No! Where are you taking her?! She’s not gone... she’s not gone!”

Subhash uncle appeared and looked at Hriday with pleading eyes.

“Please, sir, help me. Gauri won’t let us complete the rituals.”

Hriday approached her gently.

“Gauri, samahalo apne aap ko...”
(Control yourself...)

Gauri collapsed into his chest again, whispering:
“My Maa...”

At the Ganga Ghat

The rituals were over. Gauri stood by the riverbank, staring at the water.

Subhash uncle walked over.
“Beta Gauri...”
She didn’t respond.

He turned to Hriday.
“Can I speak to you for a moment?”

They stepped aside.

“Sir, I misjudged you. You stood by her like a son. And when Gauri told me you were returning my land... I knew you were different.”

Hriday remained silent.

“Kishori was like a sister to me. I treated Gauri like my daughter. But now, I have to leave for Vizag for medical reasons... I can’t take her with me.”

He paused, then gently held Hriday’s hand.

“I want to ask you something. Will you take care of her?”

Hriday nodded.

“I will, uncle. I promise.”

They turned to look at Gauri—only to find her gone.

“Gauri!” Hriday called, panic rising.

“Gauri beta!” Subhash uncle echoed.

They asked around.

“Did anyone see a girl here?”

“No, sir,” a man replied.

Hriday pulled out his phone—only to remember her phone was still with him.

“Damn it, where are you, Gauri?”

He sat on the ghat’s steps, frustrated and worried.

A soft touch landed on his shoulder.

He turned around.

“Gauri!”

“Yes, sir. Let’s go back. You need to rest. Thank you... for everything.”

She spoke blankly.

Hriday followed her, still unsure of what held him to her—but something did.

The car stopped.

Hriday gently lifted the sleeping Gauri in his arms. The guards and staff watched in surprise.

“Open the guest room,” he told a maid.

He laid her down, ensuring she was comfortable before stepping away.

In his room, Hriday stood under the hot shower, thoughts spinning.

His phone buzzed—calls from home.

He finally called back.

“Dad.”

“Hriday! Where are you?”

“Dad... you always said humanity comes first. Please tell everyone I can’t come. Something important has come up. I have to stay... for someone.”

Shikar paused, then spoke with calm authority.

“Okay, son. I’ll handle it. Take care.”

“I will, Dad.”

Hriday ended the call, his mind racing with thoughts he couldn’t yet name.