*The next morning*

[Zoya was busy helping Tara out with her homework when she suddenly heard a loud noise.

She rushed to the sound and found Nani collapsed on the floor with broken cups strewn besides her.]

Zoya: (Crying) Ya Allah! Ya Allah!

Tara: (Screaming) Nani!!

Zoya: (Shouting) Ramu Kaka! Meena Khala! Jaldi aayein! Jaldi!

[They rushed into the kitchen, and Zoya, who was panicking, didn't know what to do.]

Zoya: Meena Khala, Tara ko lekar kamre mein jaayein, Ramu Kaka Jaldi se Aditya ko bulaakar laayein! Jaldi!

[Zoya placed her hand on Nani's wrist, checking for the pulse, and continually monitoring her breath.

A few seconds later, Aditya ran into the kitchen.]

Aditya: Nani! Zoya...

Zoya: (Crying) N-Nani...Aditya...Nani...Unki saansein chal rahi hai, Humne ambulance ko bhi——-aa Gaya! Aa gaya!

Aditya: (Running) Main lekar aata hoon

[A few seconds later, Nani was carried on the stretcher to the ambulance.]

Aditya: Kissi ko Tara ke paas rehna hoga...Tum Yahaan raho, Main Nani ke saath rahunga

Zoya: (Crying) H-Haan...Hume baar baar phone kijiye...Please...

[Zoya quickly wiped her tears and rushed to Tara's side, to console her, whilst Aditya stood by Nani's side.]

Tara: (Crying) Kya Hua N-Nani ko?

Zoya: Kuch nahi tara, woh Bass aaraam kar rahi hai, theek hai? Shaam ko hum dono dekhne chalenge, theek hai?

Tara: (Crying) T-Theek hai...

Zoya: Chalo yeh khaao Aur phir thodi der so jaao, shaabaash, Chalo

[Zoya fed Tara and then put her to sleep, but her mind was a mess.

She dialed Aditya's number, but after not picking up, she rushed to the hospital herself.]

*In the hospital*

[Zoya ran into the hospital, and ran towards the ICU, where she saw Aditya stood outside.]

Zoya: (Crying) Aditya...Nani...Kya Hua? Woh theek toh hai?

Aditya: Nani ke sar pe chot lagi hai...Doctor ne kaha tha ki unhe mild Attack hua tha jisski wajah se woh neeche giri

Zoya: Ya Allah...Par unnki sehat Itni acchi thi...toh phir yeh Attack? Achaanak se?

Aditya: Doctor Jab ICU se baahar aayenge tab pooch lenge, Tara kaisi hai?

Zoya: Kuch samjhaakar usse sulaaya hai...Bass, Nani theek Ho jaayein...Warna Tara...

Aditya: Kuch nahi hoga, Nani ko, tum tension mat lo

[After waiting for a few hours, Aditya went home to get Tara to the hospital, and a few hours later, at around 7 pm, Nani finally gained consciousness.]

Doctor: Aap Log andar jaa sakte hai, unhe hosh aa gaya hai. Please try to not say anything that'll cause undue stress or harm

Aditya: Yes Doctor

[Aditya and Tara entered the room whilst Zoya waited outside, patiently.]

*Inside Nani's ward*

Tara: (Hugging Nani) Nani!!

Nani: Aa Gayi meri bacchi? Kaise Ho?

Tara: (Crying) Nani jaldi ghar waapis aa jaao, bass

Nani: Haan Beta, Aaongi, tum chinta mat karna

Aditya: Tara ekdum sahi hai, Nani, Aapko jaldi Ghar aana padega

Nani: Thank you Beta, Tara ka khyaal rakhne ke liye...Tumhaara Aur Zoya ka Shukriya...

Aditya: Arre Nani, issme thank you ki Kya baat hai?

Nani: Main Ghar Kab jaa sakungi?

Doctor: Ek ghante mein hi, Zoya ji ko lagta hai ki Ghar mein aap zyaada behtar mehsoos karengi

Nani: Haan, woh toh hai...Mujhe Yahaan ka mahaul Accha nahi lagta

Aditya: Waise bhi, aapki jagah Ghar par hai, kahi aur nahi! Chalein, Ghar chalte hai!

[Around 4 hours later, It was 11 pm.

No doubt, the house was unusually tense.

Tara was fast asleep, whilst Aditya was watching over her.

Zoya was feeding Nani her medicines.]

Zoya: Chalein, ab jaldi so jaayein

[Zoya was about to get up when Nani placed her hand on Zoya's, to which she looked at her.]

Zoya: Kya baat hai Nani? Sab theek toh hai?

Nani: Beta, Aditya ko bulaana Zara

Zoya: Ji, bulaate hai

[Zoya got up and walked to Tara's room, where Aditya was watching over Tara who was fast asleep.]

Aditya: Kya Hua?

Zoya: Nani, aapko bula rahi hai...

[Aditya and Zoya entered Nani's room. While Aditya sat besides Nani, Zoya picked up the empty glass and was about to leave the room until Nani stopped her.]

Nani: Zoya, tum bhi Yahaan aao...Mujhe tum dono se baat karni hai

[Zoya looked at Aditya hesitantly, while he looked at her with the same expression.]

Aditya: Nani, yeh saari baatein hum Kal bhi toh kar sakte hai...Aap aaraam karein

Zoya: Haan Nani, Aap araam kijiye...

Nani: Nahi, Mujhe yeh baat abhi karni hai

Zoya: Kya baat hai Nani?

Nani: Tum dono jaante Ho ki meri Umar Kya Ho gayi hai...Aur Aaj ki ghatna ke baad toh yakeen Ho Gaya ki meri sehat ka koi bharosa nahi hai...

Zoya: Allah na karein, Nani! Kaisi fizool baatein kar rahi hai aap? Allah Aapko lambi Umar dein!

Nani: Kaash Yehi hota, Beta, lekin haqeeqat se
Ko inkaar bhi toh nahi kar sakte

Aditya: Kya baat hai Nani?

Nani: Beta, Mujhe Bass Tara ki fikar hai...Aaj tum dono ne bahut acche tareeke se usska khyaal rakha, Shukriya

Zoya: Nani, Tara humaari beti ki tarah hai, aap jaante Ho Na?

Nani: Isliye toh fikar nahi hai, lekin meri ek khwaaish hai...

Zoya: Kaisi khwaaish?

Nani: Main chahti hoon ki mere jaane ke baad, tum dono Tara ka khyaal rakho

Aditya: Yeh toh obvious baat hai, Nani!

Nani: Tum dono samjhe nahi...Main chahti hoon ki tum dono Tara ki custody lo...kaanooni taur pe

[Aditya and Zoya looked at each other hesitantly. They had a rough idea of what Nani was on about, but they didn't want to understand what she was saying.]

Aditya: Woh kaise?

Nani: Tara ke kabhi Maa-Baap nahi the...Ladki hone ki wajah se, puri duniya ne usse thukraaya hai...Sivaai tum dono ke

Zoya: Nani...

Nani: Seedhi baat kahun toh main chahti hoon ki tum dono Tara ke Maa-baap bano...Woh abhi bahut choti hai, toh usse yeh sab samajh nahi aayega, lekin tum dono ko saath dekhkar woh samajh jaayegi.

Woh tum dono ko ek samaan pyaar karti hai...Aur Mujhe yakeen hai, tum dono bahut acche se Tara ka khyaal rakhoge

Zoya: Nani...hum dono...Humaara matlab hai...

Nani: Jaanti hoon. Tum dono ke pati Aur Patni zinda nahi hai, lekin agar Main jo keh rahi hoon...bada soch samajhkar keh rahi hoon. Maine dekha hai...Jiss tarah tum dono ek dusre ke saamne hote Ho...Pata nahi kyun, lekin Mujhe sahi lagta hai...

Aditya: Nani, hum dono ke beech Aisa kuch nahi hai, jaise aap soch rahe Ho

Zoya: Haan Nani, Aditya Bilqul sahi keh rahe hai

Nani: Main jaanti hoon, Beta, lekin phir bhi, mera dil Yehi kehta hai...Khair, isse tum meri darkhaast samjho, ya majboori, Main Bass tum dono ko yehi bataana chahti thi.

Kya tum dono kar paaoge?

[Aditya and Zoya looked at each other, tension plastered on both their minds.

What would they tell Nani?]

——————————-

Uffffff yeh Kya?!

Thank you so much for reading! Hope you guys liked it and where the story is going!

Love youuu

Chandni ❤️