Second Chance

Chapter 26 The Return and The Reunion

Dev sighs off, closing his eyes as he tightens his arms around her. Everyone just watches the duo silently and lets them have their moment.

Within the next seconds, Mahi also gives in to the sedatives and loses her consciousness in Dev's arms. Dev feels her hands dropping on the sides. He, immediately along with others, becomes alarmed as he cradles Mahi's head in his hands. He calls for the doctor standing away from the crowd.

'It is alright. Mahi is just resting. I gave her the sedatives,' says the doctor.

Dev places Mahi's head on his shoulder as he protectively wraps an arm around her. He tenses up as he caresses her face as it rests on his shoulder, closer to his neck.

'Looks like she just allowed the medication in her system to take over her,' says the doctor thoughtfully.

Dev looks at him confusingly. 'I injected the sedative around 20 minutes ago. Usually, it takes just a couple of minutes for them to work. But, she was holding them back,' answers the doctor to Dev's confusions.

'She was waiting for you,' says Savitri standing, watching Dev's concerned face. 'Take her up and let her rest in her bed.'

Dev nods as he gently picks Mahi in his arms and moves towards the stairs for their room. Shree, along with Savitri, also follows them.

Maan tells everyone to get some rest, while Vikram thanks the couple who helped Mahi get back to her family. He quickly catches up with them and soon sees them off. Then he leaves for Mahi's room to see her.

When Vikram enters the room, he sees Savitri seated at the end of the bed close to Mahi's feet. Mahi is resting in the middle of the bed as Shree is on her one side. Vikram notices Dev seated on the other side, holding Mahi's hand in his. Vikram joins them silently.

'Dev. We all are here. Why don't you go and freshen up a little,' Savitri speaks up.

Dev looks up at his mother for a second. And then he realises that Shree and Vikram are also here. He just realises the presence of Mahi's parents. Shree speaks up,' It's okay. I am right here.' She tells Dev to go ahead, assuring him not to leave Mahi's side while he is away.

Dev simply nods, smiling. He then looks down at sleeping Mahi. He caresses her hair once and places a soft lingering kiss on her forehead before he gets up. Shree and Savitri just smile contently at Dev's small gestures towards Mahi.

Meanwhile, Vikram also silently takes notice of Dev's movement concerning his daughter. He could clearly see the difference between the two from the last time he saw them. The time when they just got married for optics. They looked more like some strangers than two people getting married. Vikram remembers that too clearly. He vehemently opposed Mahi's decision to sacrifice herself for the sake of her Saavi Maa. He knew how much she loved Savitri. But, her decision to marry her son was something Vikram could not come to terms with. He felt as if his only daughter has no expectation from her life in terms of love or a loving life partner. He could never understand her stubbornness to go ahead with her decision. So he did what any father would have done, being upset with his only child sacrificing her chances of happiness. Stubbornness was in the DNA. That's why he never made an attempt to talk to her for a year, protesting her step. However, he didn't care about his protest when he heard his only child's life might be in danger. As much as he regrets not speaking to Mahi for this past year, he also somewhat discovers something is changed. The very reason he was upset with his daughter might no longer exist. It wasn't like he didn't like Dev. He has known Dev since he was just a boy. With passing years, he became more like a friend of the same calibre. But, he also knew that Dev was heartbroken at the time of their wedding. And he possibly is not the one with whom Mahi would ever be happy.