The room was too quiet.
Vihaan was still unconscious.
Machines beeped steadily, the only sound in the room.
I sat by his bedside, fingers still wrapped around his hand.
Waiting.
Thinking.
Trying not to overthink.
I stepped outside the room, leaned against the wall, and closed my eyes.
And that's when I heard it—running footsteps.
"MEHUL!"
Before I could react—I was nearly tackled.
Arjun.
And behind him—Riya, looking like she was about to murder someone.
"Where is he?" she demanded.
I sighed. "Inside. He's still unconscious."
They pushed past me, storming inside like they owned the place.
I followed, already mentally preparing for chaos.
And I braced myself.
Because Vihaan's family had arrived.
The second she stepped inside, I stood up.
Vihaan's mother—Mrs. Malhotra.
I had seen her a handful of times before.
Photos on Vihaan's phone.
Stories he told in passing.
Once, at an office event, where she had come as a guest.
But this?
This was different.
Her eyes immediately landed on Vihaan.
And I saw it.
The relief. The fear. The overwhelming emotion of a mother seeing her son in a hospital bed.
I swallowed.
Took a step back, giving her space.
She rushed forward, touching his face gently.
Whispering something I couldn't hear.
And then—her gaze lifted to me.
I tensed.
But she didn't look angry.
She didn't blame me.
She just exhaled shakily.
"You were with him?"
I nodded. "Not when it happened, but… I was the first person the hospital called."
Her lips pressed together.
And then—a soft, tired sigh.
"Thank you for being here."
…Oh.
Something in my chest eased.
Because for a second—I thought she would blame me.
But instead?
She just looked grateful.
And somehow—that made it worse.
More people came.
His father. His younger sister.
Each of them worried, tense, but relieved when they saw he was stable.
I mostly stayed quiet.
Because what could I say?
That I had let him leave that night?
That I had woken up expecting him next to me, but instead got a call saying he was here?
That I had spent hours gripping his hand, wondering if he'd wake up and make a joke about it?
I had no right to say any of that.
So I just stood there.
Until his sister—Naina—turned to me.
"He's going to be okay, right?"
Her voice was small.
Like she was waiting for someone to promise her everything would be fine.
I looked at Vihaan.
At his stupid, reckless, infuriatingly unconscious face.
And I nodded.
"Yeah."
Even though I had no idea if that was true.