Chapter 24: Where the Heart Still Belongs
662 Words
After several days, Lina finally went to the hospital during the day.
Not at night. Not in secrecy. Not hiding from her own heart.
Arjun was sitting upright now, his color slowly returning, irritation already replacing weakness—the clearest sign he was truly recovering.
“I thought you had forgotten about me, love,” Arjun said the moment he saw her.
Lina stopped near the door, arms crossed, lips curved into a faint smile.
“Who is your love?” she asked calmly.
Arjun smiled, unapologetic. “The only woman who managed to steal my heart… and then return it broken.”
“Hm,” Lina hummed, unimpressed.
“I missed you,” Arjun continued dramatically. “You were the only one who cleaned me properly all day.”
“Hm,” Lina repeated, pretending to check her phone.
“Believe me,” Arjun said, leaning forward. “I was unconscious, but I was aware of everything.”
Lina glanced at him briefly. “Really?”
“Yes!” he said eagerly. “Look at me. I’m dirty. My family comes, stays five minutes, then leaves. They don’t even know I’m supposed to be clean.”
Lina finally laughed softly. “Hmm.”
“Believe me, dear,” Arjun insisted.
She sighed. “Fine. I believe you.”
Arjun beamed like a victorious child.
Just then, the doctor entered with a chart.
“Mr. Malhotra, you’re recovering well. You can be discharged today.”
Arjun immediately turned to Lina. “Take me home.”
“Your home?” Lina asked.
“No,” he said seriously. “Mother’s home. I miss her cooking terribly.”
Lina raised an eyebrow. “Who is your mother?”
“Mrs. Sharma,” Arjun replied without hesitation.
“You are shameless,” Lina said, shaking her head—but smiling.
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They arrived at Savriti’s house just in time for lunch.
As Lina opened the door, she called out loudly, “Someone begged shamelessly for me to bring him so he could eat your food.”
“Who?” Savriti asked from the kitchen.
Before Lina could answer, Arjun stepped inside carefully.
“Your dearest son, Mother.”
Savriti froze, then rushed forward. “Son-in-law! You’re here!” she exclaimed. “I was so worried when I heard about the accident.”
“I’ve recovered well, Mother,” Arjun said warmly. “Besides… if I had died, someone would have dug up my grave to bring me back to life.”
He glanced at Lina.
Everyone understood instantly.
Laughter filled the house.
Lunch was served, and everyone sat together—Savriti, Lina’s father, her younger brother, Lina, and Arjun.
The warmth felt unfamiliar… and deeply comforting.
“Son,” Lina’s father said suddenly, “where is the watch I gave you? You always wear it.”
Arjun sighed dramatically. “Ah… that.”
He leaned back. “There was a thief who came to the hospital every night. She took care of me, cleaned me, talked to me. One night she got angry because I wasn’t waking up, so she stole my watch and told me I could now die in peace.”
Lina’s brother burst out laughing. “I saw that watch in my sister’s room yesterday.”
Arjun pointed triumphantly at Lina. “Finally! We’ve caught the thief.”
Lina threw a napkin at him. “You talk too much for someone who just survived death.”
Everyone laughed again.
The house felt alive—louder than it had been in months.
Since Lina and Arjun’s divorce, the house had never been this warm.
And for the first time, Lina realized something dangerous:
She wasn’t just letting Arjun back into her life.
She was letting him back into her home.
Her heart… was already open.
And neither of them knew it yet—but this fragile happiness was standing on borrowed time.
Because some storms wait patiently…
Before they return twice as strong.
- Writer
