The days after that night felt like a dream.
A quiet, beautiful dream neither of them wanted to wake up from.
Meera laughed more.
Aarav smiled more.
And for a while…
They both forgot about time.
But life doesn't forget.
That morning started like any other.
Aarav woke up early, checking his phone out of habit.
No messages.
He smiled slightly.
She's probably still sleeping.
By afternoon, he sent her a text.
"Café at 5?"
No reply.
Evening came.
5 PM.
Aarav sat at their usual table.
Waiting.
6 PM.
Still nothing.
His chest tightened.
This wasn't like her.
Even on bad days… she would send something.
Anything.
He called her.
Once.
Twice.
Five times.
No answer.
A strange fear started growing inside him.
The kind you can't explain.
The kind that makes your heart race for no reason.
By 7 PM, he couldn't sit anymore.
He stood up and left the café.
His steps quick.
His mind racing.
Something's wrong.
He didn't know her exact address.
Only the area she mentioned once.
But he didn't stop.
He searched.
Street by street.
Asking people.
Looking around desperately.
Finally—
He saw it.
A small crowd gathered near a roadside.
An ambulance.
Flashing lights.
His heart dropped.
"No…"
He pushed through the crowd.
Ignoring the voices.
Ignoring everything.
And then he saw her.
Meera.
Lying on a stretcher.
Unconscious.
"Aarav?" one of the hospital staff asked. "You know her?"
But he couldn't speak.
He just nodded.
"What happened?" he managed to ask.
"She collapsed," the man said. "Looks like a heart episode. We're taking her to the hospital."
Everything went silent.
Except one thought—
I'm going to lose her.
The ambulance doors closed.
Aarav jumped in without thinking.
Inside, machines beeped softly.
Meera's face was pale.
Too pale.
Her breathing uneven.
"Meera…" he whispered, holding her hand.
But she didn't respond.
For the first time—
Aarav felt completely helpless.
At the hospital…
Time slowed down.
Doctors rushed her inside.
Doors closed.
And Aarav was left outside.
Alone.
Minutes felt like hours.
Hours felt like days.
His mind replayed every moment with her.
Every smile.
Every word.
Every promise.
"Don't fall in love with me…"
He clenched his fists.
"I should have stayed with her…" he muttered.
"I should have known…"
Guilt.
Fear.
Pain.
All at once.
After what felt like forever—
A doctor came out.
Aarav stood up immediately.
"How is she?" he asked, his voice shaking.
The doctor sighed.
"She had a serious cardiac episode."
Aarav's heart dropped.
"Is she…?"
"She's alive," the doctor said quickly.
Aarav closed his eyes in relief.
For a moment.
"But," the doctor continued, "her condition is getting worse."
The relief disappeared instantly.
"What do you mean?" Aarav asked.
The doctor looked at him seriously.
"Her heart is very weak. Episodes like this… they're dangerous."
Aarav felt like the ground beneath him was breaking.
"How much time does she have?" he asked quietly.
The doctor hesitated.
Then said the words Aarav feared most—
"We can't say exactly… but it may not be long."
Silence.
Aarav didn't cry.
Not yet.
He just stood there.
Frozen.
Because reality had finally caught up.
After some time, the doctor spoke again.
"You can see her when she wakes up."
Aarav nodded slowly.
When he entered the room…
Everything felt different.
The machines.
The quiet.
The smell of medicine.
And Meera—
Lying there.
Still.
Fragile.
He walked closer.
Sat beside her.
Gently held her hand.
"You scared me," he whispered.
For a long time, nothing happened.
Then…
Her fingers moved slightly.
Aarav looked up.
"Meera?"
Her eyes slowly opened.
Weak.
Tired.
But still… her.
She looked at him.
And managed a faint smile.
"You… found me."
Aarav let out a shaky breath.
"Of course I did."
She looked around.
Then back at him.
"Hospital again, huh?"
Aarav tried to smile.
But couldn't.
"Why didn't you tell me it was this bad?" he asked softly.
Meera looked away.
"I didn't want… this."
She gestured weakly around.
"I didn't want you to see me like this."
Aarav's voice broke slightly.
"I'd rather see you like this… than not see you at all."
That hit her.
Deeply.
"I'm sorry," she whispered.
Aarav shook his head.
"No."
He leaned closer.
His voice firm, but soft.
"Don't apologize for something that isn't your fault."
Tears slipped from Meera's eyes.
"I told you not to stay," she said.
"And I told you I wouldn't leave," Aarav replied.
Silence filled the room.
Then Meera said something that made his heart stop.
"Aarav… what if next time… I don't wake up?"
He froze.
For a second—
He didn't know how to answer.
Then slowly…
He held her hand tighter.
"Then I'll still be here," he said.
Her eyes filled with tears again.
"You're making this so hard," she whispered.
Aarav smiled faintly.
"Good."
She looked confused.
"Because if it's hard…" he said softly,
"it means it matters."
Meera closed her eyes.
Tears slipping down silently.
For the first time—
She didn't try to hide her fear.
And for the first time—
Aarav didn't try to be strong.
Because sometimes…
Love isn't about fixing things.
It's about staying…
Even when everything feels like it's falling apart.
🌧️ End of Chapter 5