Episode 3

Somya stayed in the hospital for two more days. Slowly, her condition began to improve. Her aunt and uncle were now out of danger and had moved out of critical condition.

That day, Rihan’s mother, Anamika Roy, came to the hospital.

She first spoke to Somya’s aunt and uncle and explained everything to them. After listening, Somya’s aunt folded her hands gratefully.

“How can we ever thank you?” she said. “You saved our lives. Thank you so much.”

Anamika smiled politely.

“Please don’t say such things,” she replied gently. “If anyone else were in Rihan’s place, they would have done the same. Please don’t embarrass us by thanking us like this.”

Just then, Rihan entered and greeted them.

“This is my duty, aunty,” he said simply.

Anamika then spoke again, “Somya will be discharged today, but she still needs a lot of rest. Yami is at the hospital with her husband, so I think it would be better if Somya comes home with us.”

Somya’s aunt looked apologetic.

“I’m sorry for troubling you so much,” she said.

Anamika smiled softly, though sadness appeared on her face.

“If my daughter were alive today, she would be Somya’s age,” she said quietly. “But leave all that. Somya is like my daughter too. Please don’t worry—she will recover soon.”

Later that day, Anamika and Rihan brought Somya home with them.

They took her to her room and asked her to rest.

As Anamika stepped out, she thought to herself, This child has suffered so much. Life has been very hard on her… and Yami’s life has never been easy either.

She sighed.

If only Rihan married Somya, she could stay with me forever, Anamika thought.

In her heart, Anamika had always seen Somya as her own daughter. Ever since childhood, she had wished that Somya would one day become Rihan’s wife.

Later, Anamika asked him casually, “Rihan, how do you find Somya? She’s very sweet, isn’t she?”

Rihan frowned slightly.

“Sweet?” he said. “She’s a question bank. She asks so many questions—even my teachers never asked me that many.”

Anamika laughed.

“Don’t talk like that,” she said. “At least she’s not a robot like you.”

Evening slowly arrived, but Somya was still asleep.

Anamika was preparing dinner when she called out, “Rihan, Somya hasn’t eaten anything since morning. Wake her up, beta. I’ll bring soup for her.”

Rihan went to Somya’s room and tried to wake her gently.

“Somya, wake up,” he said. “You should eat something.”