Sakshi ran through the hospital corridor, her breathing ragged and heavy. She was clutching Satvik tightly to her chest, her arms trembling from the weight and the sheer terror coursing through her veins.

Satvik was crying, his small face buried in the crook of her neck. He didn't understand why his mother was running, or why she was sobbing so hard that her whole body shook, but he could feel her fear. 

"Mumma...? Papa kaha hai?"

(Where is papa?)

Satvik sobbed, his tiny hands fisted in her dupatta. Sakshi couldn't answer. Her face was completely drained of colour, her eyes red and overflowing with hot tears that she didn't bother to wipe away.

Every time she closed her eyes for a second, the voice from the phone call echoed in her head, dragging her back to that horrific moment in her kitchen just hours ago.

"Mrs. Sakshi, hum base camp se bol rahe hain. Ek attack hua tha kal raat ko..."

(Mrs. Sakshi, we are calling from the base camp. There was an attack last night.)

The words had felt like physical blows.

"Major Advik is injured. Unhe kaafi chotein aayi hain. He was near the blast zone during the ambush. Filhaal unhe military hospital shift kiya gaya hai. You need to come as soon as possible."

(He is very injured….For now he is shifted to the military hospital.)

"Attack? Woh... woh theek toh hain na?"

(He…he is fine right?)

She had managed to whisper, her voice sounding like it belonged to someone else.

"Condition critical hai, ma'am. Please reach the hospital."

(The condition is critical, ma’am.)

The phone had slipped from her hand, clattering onto the floor. She hadn't screamed. She hadn't fainted. She had simply stood there as the reality sank in.

"Excuse me! Major Advik? Room number 402?"

Sakshi gasped as she reached the nursing station, her voice cracking. The nurse looked up, her expression softening with pity as she saw the distraught woman and the crying child.

"Aage se left, last room, Ma'am."

(Last room, left from ahead.)

Sakshi didn't even say thank you. She pushed forward, her legs feeling like lead. When she reached the door of 402, she stopped. Through the small glass window, she saw him.

Advik looked so small on that large hospital bed. His head was wrapped in thick white bandages, and there were bruises all over his face. He was hooked up to a dozen machines that beeped and whirred.

She pushed the door open slowly. The doctor, a middle-aged man in a white coat, was checking a chart. He turned around as she entered.

"Doctor... Advik?"

She choked out, unable to say more. The doctor stepped toward her, gesturing for her to sit, but she remained standing, clutching Satvik as if the boy was her only anchor to reality.

"I am Dr. Khanna. Relax, please breathe."

The doctor said gently.

"Operation successful raha hai. We have removed the shrapnel, and the internal bleeding is under control. He is stable. Major Advik is out of danger for now."

(Operation was successful.)

A sob of pure relief escaped Sakshi's lips, and she sank into a chair, her knees finally giving out.

"Thank God... thank you, Doctor. Thank you so much."

"But..."

The doctor added, his face turning serious.

"He has suffered a severe concussion. The next 24 hours are very critical. He needs to regain consciousness within this window. We need to see how his brain is responding to the trauma. If he wakes up soon, we'll know he's on the path to a full recovery."

"Aur agar nahi uthe toh?"

(And if he doesn’t?)

Sakshi asked, her voice trembling.

"Positive sochiye."

(Think positive.)

Dr. Khanna replied kindly.

"He is a fighter. Just stay with him, talk to him. Sometimes, hearing a familiar voice helps more than medicine."

Satvik, who had finally stopped wailing, looked at the bed. He saw the bandages and the tubes, and his lower lip started to quiver again. He pointed a shaky finger at the bed.

"Pa-pa? Mumma... Pa-pa so gaye?"

(Pa-pa is asleep?)

He asked, his voice small and confused.

"Pa-pa... utho! Chalo!"

(Pa-pa…wake up! Come on!)

Sakshi pulled him closer, kissing his temple.

"Haan baby, papa thak gaye hain na... isliye so rahe hain. He is resting. Hum yahan hain unke paas."

(Yes baby, papa is tired…so he is sleeping. He is resting. We are here with him.)

"Pa-pa... ouchie?"

Satvik asked, reaching out toward the bed but staying back, scared of the machines.

"Papa ko chot lagi?"

(Papa is hurt?)

"Thoda sa, mera baccha. But he will be fine. Aap strong boy ho na? Shh... rona nahi."

(A little bit, baby. But he will be fine. You are a strong boy, right? Shh…don’t cry.)

She whispered, though her own tears were falling onto his hair. She realized she couldn't handle this alone.

Her hands were still shaking so much that she could barely hold her phone. She stepped out into the hallway for a moment, leaning against the cold wall as she dialled her mother's number.

The call was picked up on the first ring. "Mummy..." was all she could say before she broke down completely.

"Sakshi! Kya hua beta? Tu ro kyun rahi hai? Advik theek hai? Humne news dekhi attack ki, hum bas nikalne hi wale the!"

(What happened? Why are you crying? Is Advik fine? We saw the news of the attack, we were about to leave.)

Her mother's panicked voice came through.

"Mummy, please jaldi aaiye. Hospital... City Military Hospital. Advik hosh mein nahi hain. Doctor keh rahe hain 24 hours... Mummy mujhe bahut darr lag raha hai."

(Mummy, please come soon….Advik is not conscious. Doctors are saying 24 hours…Mummy I am really scared.)

"Hum aa rahe hain beta, bas aadha ghanta. Himmat rakh. Hum bas pahunch gaye."

(We are coming, just half an hour. Be brave. We are just there.)

True to their word, Sakshi's parents arrived within forty minutes. Seeing her father's face was like finding land in the middle of a stormy ocean. Her mother ran to her, pulling both Sakshi and Satvik into a tight embrace.

Her mother looked at Satvik, whose eyes were puffy and red. The poor child looked exhausted, his small body drooping with fatigue and fear. Every time a monitor beeped loudly, he would flinch and hide his face.

"Sakshi, bacche ko ghar le jaana hoga."

(Sakshi, we have to take the child home.)

Her mother said softly, stroking Satvik's cheek.

"He is terrified, beta. Yeh hospital ka mahaul, yeh awaazein... uske liye theek nahi hai. Main ise apne saath le jaati hoon, isko khana khila kar sula dungi."

(The atmosphere of the hospital, the voices…these are not good for him. I will take him with me, feed him and make him sleep.)

Sakshi looked at her son. He looked so fragile. She didn't want to let him go, but she knew her mother was right. This was no place for a two-year-old.

"Satvik, Nani ke saath ghar jaoge? Mumma yahan Papa ke paas rahegi."

(Sakshi, will you go home with Nani? Mumma will stay with Papa.)

Sakshi said, trying to keep her voice cheerful.

"Nahi! Mumma... papa... saath!"

(No! Mumma…papa…together!)

Satvik protested, clinging to her kurta.

"Beta, Papa jab uthenge toh unhe chocolate chahiye hogi na? Aap ghar jaake Papa ke liye chocolate lekar aana? Please?"

(Papa will need a chocolate when he wakes up, right? Get a chocolate for papa? Please?)

Sakshi coaxed, her heart breaking at the lie. Finally, after much coaxing and a few more tears, Satvik allowed his Nani to pick him up. He waved a tiny, sad hand toward the hospital bed as they walked away.

"Bye-bye papa... jaldi aana."

(Bye-bye papa…come soon.)

Once they were gone, the room felt even quieter. Sakshi's father sat down on the bench outside the room for a moment, then came in and placed a hand on Sakshi's shoulder.

"Beta, tune kuch khaya? Kuch mangwau?"

(Did you eat something? Should I get something?)

He asked, his voice thick with emotion.

"Nahi Papa. Bilkul bhook nahi hai. Main bas yahi rahungi."

(No papa. I am not hungry. I will just stay here.)

She said, pulling a chair right next to Advik's bed. She took Advik's hand in hers. It felt cold, so different from the warm, strong hand that used to hold hers. She began to rub his palm, trying to bring some warmth back into it.

Her father watched her for a moment, his heart aching for his daughter.

"Main bahar hi hoon. Agar kuch bhi chahiye ho, ya doctor aayein, toh mujhe bulana."

(I am outside. Anything you need or if the doctor comes, call me.)

"Thik hai papa."

(Ok papa.)

The door clicked shut, leaving Sakshi alone with the man she loved. She leaned forward, resting her forehead on the edge of the bed, right next to his hand.

"Advik..."

She whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Aapne promise kiya tha. You said you'd always come back to me. Satvik aapka wait kar raha hai. Please uth jaaiye. Sirf ek baar apni aankhein kholiye aur mujhe dekhiye."

(You promised me….Satvik is waiting for you. Please wake up. Open your eyes once and look at me.)

She closed her eyes, praying with every fibre of her being. The clock on the wall ticked away, starting the countdown of the twenty-four hours that would decide the rest of her life. 

She settled in for the night, her hand never letting go of his, waiting for a sign, a flicker, or even the slightest movement to tell her that her Advik was still in there.