So far:
Shivani takes Shakthi into the car and drives toward her home.
Now:
While driving, Shivani notices Shakthi losing consciousness and leaning to one side. She drives carefully, supporting his head on her shoulder with one hand as she continues steering with the other.
When Shivani reaches home, she parks the car and rushes to lift Shakthi out. Seeing her carry him, her parents hurry toward her in panic.
"Shivani! What happened to Shakthi?" they ask anxiously.
She lays him down gently on her bed.
"Pa, please stay with Shakthi for a minute — I'll be right back," she says and runs to her clinic to bring the medical kit needed to stitch his wound.
Even in his unconscious state, Shakthi keeps murmuring, "Appa… Appa…"
With her father's help, Shivani carefully stitches his wounded hand and dresses it.
She then explains everything that had happened to her parents.
Her mother sighs with sympathy. "Even at the shop's function, his mother spoke about him with so much pain. Poor boy… he still hasn't recovered from his father's accident."
Her father nods thoughtfully. "Shivani, you must find out who can best help him. He needs proper treatment soon."
"Yes, Pa… I didn't realize how serious it was until today. He's truly suffering," says Shivani, feeling emotional.
Her mother asks softly, "Shivani, shall I bring something for him to eat?"
"Just some juice, Ma. I'm not sure if he'll drink it… Bharathi said that whenever he falls sick like this, he barely eats or drinks anything."
"Don't worry, dear," her mother assures her. "I'll look after him."
"Pa, please stay with Shakthi till Ma comes. I'll just check on the patients waiting at the clinic and come back," says Shivani before leaving.
Her father sits beside Shakthi, reading through his case file. Suddenly, in his delirium, Shakthi grabs his hand tightly and pleads, "Appa, please… don't leave me, Appa."
Moved, Shivani's father gently pulls the boy onto his lap and strokes his hair. Gradually, Shakthi calms down and drifts into a quieter sleep.
A while later, Bharathi arrives at Shivani's house. Thinking Shakthi might be at her clinic, he goes there first.
"Shivani, how is Shakthi now?" he asks nervously.
"Come, Bharathi. After I stitched the wound, the bleeding finally stopped. He's still unconscious and keeps crying for his father. I left him with my parents while I attended to a few patients. I was about to close the clinic when you came — perfect timing. Let's go," she says, leading him home.
She opens the bedroom door and says, "Come in, Bharathi."
When Bharathi steps in, he's stunned to see Shakthi lying with his head on Shivani's father's lap, holding his hand tightly, while her father gently strokes his hair. Instantly, Bharathi remembers the drawing of Shakthi's dream — the same exact scene — and stands frozen in shock.
"Pa, did he say anything?" asks Shivani.
"Yes, dear. He suddenly started crying and said, 'Appa, please don't leave me.' He held my hand tightly and wouldn't let go. When I laid him on my lap and comforted him, he finally became calm," explains her father.
"Come, Bharathi. Don't just stand there — he'll be fine soon," her father adds kindly.
"I'm sorry, Uncle… we've troubled you all so much," Bharathi says.
"Oh no, son, don't say that. Poor Shakthi… it hurts to even think about what he's going through. I've told Shivani to find a good specialist for him," replies her father.
"Pa, did he drink anything?" asks Shivani.
"Your mother just fed him some juice with a spoon — he managed to drink half a glass," says her father.
Just then, Shivani's mother walks in. "Bharathi, when did you come, dear?"
"Just now, Aunty," he replies politely.
"Shivani, he finished only half a glass of juice," says her mother.
"His blood loss was quite a lot, Ma. We'll have to give him IV fluids soon," says Shivani.
"That's right, Shivani," agrees her father.
"Shakthi's scared of drips, isn't he?" asks Bharathi anxiously.
"He's unconscious, Bharathi. It's better to do it now," replies Shivani.
"Alright, dear. Bharathi, you both go and have some dinner," says her mother.
"It's okay, Aunty. I'm not hungry," says Bharathi.
"Don't worry about Shakthi. We're all here. Go eat," insists her mother gently.
"Come on, Bharathi," says Shivani softly. "Nothing will happen to him."
She takes him to the dining room, and they both eat quietly.
As they finish, Bharathi's phone rings — it's Raji.
""Shivani, my mom called. What should I tell her?" asked Bharathi.
"Don't tell her anything about Shakthi," she says. "She'll panic and rush here. Tell her something else."
"Yes, tell me Ma, how is everyone there?" asked Bharathi, answering Raji's call.
"Mmm… everyone's fine. They were just asking about you two. Anyway, did you both have dinner? Where's Shakthi? I called his phone, but he didn't answer," asked Raji.
"We both had dinner. Shakthi must have left his phone downstairs — he's asleep now. I'll tell him to call you in the morning," says Bharathi smoothly.
"Alright. You sleep in his room tonight till I get back, okay? I'll hang up now," says Raji.
Bharathi ends the call with a sigh of relief. "Phew… that was close."
"Come, Bharathi, we need to set up his IV," says Shivani.
Both of them go to the clinic, gather the necessary supplies, and return.
Shivani's father tries to stand up, but Shakthi still grips his hand tightly.
"Pa, please stay like that — I'll manage," says Shivani.
She slowly inserts the IV needle into Shakthi's arm.
Her father notices tears welling in Shakthi's eyes. "Shivani, go easy… his hand's already hurt. The IV might be painful — he's tearing up."
"I'm being as gentle as I can, Pa," she says softly.
After a while, the two IV bottles are empty.
When Shivani removes the needle, Shakthi mutters in his sleep, "Appa…" and holds onto her father's hand again.
"That's enough, son," says her father kindly, soothing him.
"You all go and rest — I'll stay with him," he offers.
"No, Uncle, I'll look after him," says Bharathi firmly.
"Go sleep, Bharathi. Shivani take him with you," insists her mother.
"No, Aunty. I can't sleep. I'll stay here with him," says Bharathi.
"Fine, if you get sleepy, just rest here," she says, then turns to Shivani. "What about you, dear?"
"I'm not sleepy either, Ma. If I doze off, I'll stay here too," replies Shivani.
They all sit around Shakthi, talking quietly — and one by one, drift off to sleep.
The next morning:
Shakthi slowly opens his eyes, his mind clearing. He finds himself lying with his head on Shivani's father's lap, still holding his hand. Remembering the dream he had drawn, he's astonished — it has come true so soon.
As her father wakes up, he notices Shakthi is conscious again.
"Shakthi, how do you feel now? Any pain? Shivani, Bharathi — he's awake!" he calls out.
Bharathi rushes to him, his eyes moist. "You scared me so much, man," he says and hugs him tightly.
"Sorry, da," says Shakthi, hugging him back.
"Yes, Shakthi. We were all so worried — none of us knew what to do," says Shivani.
"Alright, enough worrying," says her mother kindly. "I'll go make coffee for everyone."
Once he leaves, Bharathi grins. "Hey Shakthi, your dream came true, you know?"
"What dream?" asks Shivani curiously.
"That dream — the one where Shakthi was lying on your dad's lap. When you came home, I showed you the paper where he had drawn it. Seeing that, both of us wondered how it could ever happen, since Shakthi had never even spoken properly with your dad," said Bharathi.
"Really? That's unbelievable," says Shivani's father with a smile.
"Yes, Uncle. When I saw him lying on your lap last night, I was stunned," admits Bharathi.
As Shakthi sat there confused, not understanding what had happened, Bharathi explained everything to him.
To be continued…