"Will Maa be okay?"

Gauri asked softly, her eyes fixed on the closed door of the operation theatre.

Hriday felt a pinch in his chest seeing her like this.

"She will be," he assured gently.

Just then, his phone rang. He glanced at the caller ID.

Mom.

He stepped a little away to answer it, giving Gauri some space. She noticed and quietly turned her face away. She knew he had his family too.

"Hriday! Where are you?" Maithili's worried voice came from the other end.

"Mom, I'm a little stuck. I'll try to come once things get sorted," he replied, trying to sound calm.

"What are you doing there? Don't you remember your cousin is asking for you? Your Mausi keeps asking. The whole family is asking where you are!"

Hriday closed his eyes for a second, controlling his frustration.

"Mom... I'm really stuck."

There was a pause. Maithili understood. If he was speaking like this, it had to be something serious.

"Alright. I'll handle Saksham and your Mausi. You focus on whatever you're dealing with."

A faint smile appeared on Hriday's face.

"Thanks, Mom."

He ended the call and turned back toward Gauri.

For the past three hours, they had been standing outside the operation theatre, not knowing what was happening inside.

Hriday had called his driver earlier and asked him to bring two tiffin boxes.

He walked toward Gauri holding them.

"Gauri."

She looked up slowly. "Yes?"

"Eat something. We've been here since morning and you haven't had anything. You'll fall sick."

"I'm fine. I don't need anything."

He looked at her pale face.

"At least drink some juice. When Aunty gets better and sees her daughter like this, do you think she'll be happy?"

Gauri slowly shook her head.

"Then drink this. For your mother."

She looked at him for a moment and then quietly took the juice. She knew he must be hungry too, yet he hadn't eaten because of her.

Guilt tightened in her chest.

"Sir... you should go and eat something. I'll stay here. If the doctor comes out and asks for anything, we can't take a risk with Maa's health."

Hriday shook his head firmly.

"No. When the doctor comes out and says your mother is fine, then we'll go together."

Gauri didn't argue further.

Her eyes stayed fixed on the door, praying to see her mother come out safe and smiling like always.

Hriday stood beside her, equally worried.

He had never met Gauri's mother.

But a part of him desperately wanted her to be okay.

Maybe because he knew how much it meant to have parents.

And maybe... because Gauri's pain was slowly becoming his own.

After two long hours, the doors of the operation theatre finally opened.

The doctor stepped out.

"Doctor... how is my mother?"

Gauri rushed toward him, her voice trembling.

The doctor looked at her with helpless eyes.

"I'm... sorry. We tried our best. But we couldn't save her. Her condition was very critical."

For a second, everything went silent.

The words didn't register.

Couldn't save her.

No more.

Gauri felt the ground slipping beneath her feet. Her ears rang. The hospital corridor blurred in front of her eyes.

She took a few slow steps back until her back hit the cold wall.

Images flashed in her mind—

Her mother braiding her hair.
Her mother feeding her with her own hands.
Her mother scolding her gently.
Her mother smiling tiredly after a long day.

"Maa..."

The word barely escaped her lips.

And then her body gave up.

She collapsed forward.

Before she could hit the ground, Hriday caught her in his arms.

"Gauri!"

Panic shot through him as he held her unconscious body close.

One hand supported her head, the other wrapped around her trembling frame.

Hriday felt completely helpless.

Because no matter how powerful he was, no matter how much money or influence he had—

He couldn't bring her mother back.

And all he could do now...

Was hold the broken girl in his arms..

When Gauri opened her eyes, everything felt heavy.

The white ceiling.
The faint smell of antiseptic.
The slow beeping of a monitor.

She was lying on a hospital bed.

"Gauri..."

She turned her head.

Hriday was walking toward her, a glass of water in his hand.

"Are you feeling better?" he asked softly.

Her mind suddenly snapped back.

"Maa... w-where is Maa?"

She pushed the blanket aside and hurriedly tried to get down from the bed.

"Gauri, calm down. Your mother—"

"How can I calm down?!" she screamed, her voice breaking. "MY MOTHER IS NO MORE! CAN YOU EVEN UNDERSTAND THIS PAIN? I want... I want to see her. Where is my Maa?!"

Her whole body was shaking.

Hriday swallowed the lump in his throat.

"Come with me," he said quietly.

Gauri followed him, her heartbeat racing painfully in her ears.

They stopped outside a silent room.

Hriday opened the door.

Inside, Kishori lay still... lifeless.

"MAA...!"

Gauri ran forward and fell beside her mother.

She touched her cold face with trembling fingers.

"Maa, please wake up... look, your sona is here... I'm here, Maa... please open your eyes..."

Her voice cracked into uncontrollable sobs.

"Maa, how could you leave me alone in this cruel world? Maa... please wake up..."

She held her mother's feet in her hands and cried loudly, as if her heart was being torn apart.

Hriday stood just a few steps away.

He had never seen grief like this.

He slowly stepped forward and wrapped his arms around her shoulders.

"Sir... l-leave me... I need to go to Maa... please... don't take me away from her..."

She struggled weakly.

Hriday didn't loosen his hold.

He gently turned her toward him.

The moment she faced him, she broke completely.

She clutched his shirt tightly and buried her face in his chest, crying like there was no tomorrow.

Her cries echoed in the room.

A few men entered quietly to prepare for the last rites.

They began to lift Kishori's body.

"No! Where are you taking my Maa?" Gauri rushed forward desperately.

Subhash uncle had arrived too.

He came near Hriday, his old eyes filled with helplessness.

"Sir... please help me hold Gauri. Otherwise, she won't let the rituals happen."

Subhash was the only person who had truly stood by Gauri and her mother through everything.

Seeing the old man plead, Hriday stepped forward again and held Gauri firmly.

"Gauri... sambhalo apne aap ko," he said gently, looking into her tear-filled eyes.

"My Maa...!" she cried again, her voice breaking into pieces.

She collapsed into his chest once more.

And Hriday felt something inside him shake.

Because in that moment, he wasn't just holding her—

He was holding her shattered world..

After the rituals were completed, the crowd slowly began to disperse.

Gauri stood alone at the Ganga ghat, staring blankly at the flowing river. The sound of the water moving endlessly felt cruel — as if the world continued, untouched by her loss.

"Beta... Gauri."

Subhash uncle called her gently.

She didn't respond. She didn't even blink.

He walked closer. "I know this is a very difficult time. But remember, your uncle is always beside you."

His eyes then shifted behind her. Hriday was standing a little distance away, silent and composed.

"Sir... may I speak with you for a moment?"

Hriday nodded, and the two of them walked a little away from Gauri.

"Sir, I don't know how to thank you," Subhash uncle began, his voice heavy with emotion. "The way you stood by Gauri... I truly appreciate it. At first, I thought you were arrogant and selfish. But when Gauri told me you would return her land, I realized you could be anything — but not selfish."

Hriday stayed quiet.

"You performed all the rituals... everything a son should do for his mother. I don't have words to express my gratitude."

"There's no need to thank me," Hriday replied calmly. "I just did what felt right."

Subhash uncle turned his gaze toward Gauri.

"She was only ten when I first met her. Kishori was like a sister to me. And Gauri..." His voice softened. "She is like my daughter."

He sighed deeply.

"I wanted to help her more. But I have to leave for Vizag because of my health complications. I can't take her with me."

Hriday instinctively looked toward Gauri.

Her face was empty.

No tears.
No expression.
Nothing.

"She's a young girl, alone in this world," the old man continued. "I want to ask you something, son."

Hriday looked at him respectfully.

"Yes?"

"You are like my own son. I want you to take care of Gauri."

Subhash uncle held Hriday's hand with trembling fingers.

Without hesitation, Hriday nodded.

"I will, Uncle. I promise I will take care of her."

He turned again to look at Gauri—

But she wasn't there.

His heartbeat skipped.

He pulled his hand away immediately.

"Gauri!"

Panic crept into his voice.

Subhash uncle grew tense. "Gauri beta?!"

Hriday rushed toward the ghat and asked the people nearby.

"Did you see a girl standing here?"

"No, we didn't see anyone," a man replied casually.

Hriday quickly took out his phone to call her.

Then he froze.

Her phone was still in his pocket. He had taken it from her at the hospital.

"Where the hell are you, Gauri?" he muttered in frustration, running a hand through his hair.

He sat down heavily on the steps of the ghat, fear tightening his chest.

What if—

A soft hand touched his shoulder.

He turned instantly.

"Gauri..."

She was standing there.

"Gauri!" he whispered, relief flooding his voice.

Her face was calm. Too calm.

"Yes, sir. Let's go back. You need to rest. You helped me a lot today."

Her tone was blank. Detached.

Hriday didn't like it.

But he followed her quietly.

The driver opened the car door.

Gauri stepped aside.

"Sir, please sit."

"You sit first, Gauri," Hriday said, confused.

"I'm not coming with you, sir."

His brows furrowed. "Then how will you go back?"

"I'll take a bus."

Hriday stared at her, annoyed and worried at the same time.

"Your condition isn't good. Let me drop you. Don't say no... please. I'm requesting you."

His voice softened at the last words.

Gauri looked at him for a moment.

Then she nodded faintly.

Without another word, she got into the car.

And Hriday followed — watching her carefully, afraid she might disappear again..

The car stopped in front of Hriday's house.

He stepped out first and walked to the other side. Opening the door carefully, he looked at Gauri.

She had fallen asleep — or maybe exhaustion had forced her body to shut down.

Without waking her, Hriday gently lifted her into his arms.

The guard and a few servants stared in shock. They had never seen him like this — carrying someone so protectively.

Hriday didn't spare them a glance.

He called out to a maid. "Open the guest room."

The maid hurried ahead and unlocked the door.

Hriday walked in and carefully laid Gauri down on the bed. He adjusted the pillow beneath her head and pulled the blanket over her.

For a few seconds, he just stood there.

She looked pale. Fragile. Completely drained.

After making sure she was okay, he quietly walked out of the room and closed the door softly behind him.

He went to his own room and turned on the shower.

The hot water fell over him, but it didn't clear his mind.

Everything felt chaotic.

Her screams.
Her tears.
The way she had gone missing for a moment at the ghat.

He ran a hand through his wet hair.

He had no idea what to do next.

After getting dressed, he picked up his phone.

Dozens of missed calls.

Family.

Relatives.

He exhaled and dialed his father.

Shikar picked up. Loud music blared in the background — the family function was still in full swing.

"Dad."

"Yes, Hriday. Where are you?" Shikar's voice sounded curious but calm.

"Dad... you always said humanity comes before anything."

There was a brief pause.

Shikar sounded slightly confused but replied, "Yes, son."

"Then please handle everything there. I know Saksham will feel bad. Mausi will be upset. But tell everyone I can't come right now. Something very important came up. I need to be here... for someone."

He whispered the last words.

The loud music drowned them out.

"Alright, Hriday. I'll manage things here. Don't worry. Take care of yourself."

"I will, Dad."

He ended the call.

For the first time in years, Hriday didn't choose family reputation, social presence, or business commitments.

He chose her.