Minnie POV
I saw Sara's name on the screen and smiled softly before answering the call.
Sara. "Good morning, my dear bestie! I missed you so much. There's no signal in my native place. I'm really sorry... now tell me everything that happened while I was away!" she said in one breath.
I stayed silent for a moment.
So many things had happened... my mom, the hospital, Will, the fear, the tears. I wanted to tell her everything, but the words got stuck in my throat.
Sara: "Minnie? Are you there? Are you okay?" she asked, her voice suddenly worried.
I swallowed hard and finally said, "Sara... Mom is in the hospital."
She didn't ask anything else.
Sara: "Which hospital? I'll be there in ten minutes," she said firmly and cut the call before I could reply more.
I sighed and sent her the hospital name.
When I turned around, I saw Will sitting on the sofa with his eyes closed, looking exhausted. I walked towards him slowly. As I stood in front of him, he opened his eyes.
"Will... you should go home now. It's already morning. You didn't sleep the whole night," I said softly. "Thank you for everything."
Will: "Are you sure you can handle everything alone?"
"Yes," I nodded. "My friend is coming and you need rest now."
He looked at me for a second, then said quietly, "Okay... but if you need anything, call me immediately."
I nodded again.
I watched him walk out of the room, and for the first time since last night, the room felt strangely empty.
Sara came inside the room and hugged me tightly.
Sara: "You scared me, Minnie... why didn't you tell me earlier?"
"I didn't want to worry about you," I said softly.
She held my hands and looked into my eyes.
Sara: "How is aunty now?"
"She's still unconscious... the doctor said we have to wait for 24 hours."
Sara sat beside me and said gently, "Now tell me everything, from the beginning. I missed it so much."
Sara held my hands tightly. "So tell me everything. Don't skip anything."
I took a deep breath. "Will's mom invited me to his birthday party. I was nervous but I went. When I reached there, his uncle's daughter started insulting me because she likes Will. She made me feel so small... I wanted to leave the party. But Will saw everything. He came and stood beside me in front of everyone. He told her to stop and said I was his girlfriend and no one had the right to hurt me."
Sara's eyes became wide. "Wait... girlfriend?! Minnie, did I hear correctly?"
I looked down and nodded slowly. "It's a fake relationship, Sara. Before the party, Will asked me to pretend to be his girlfriend because his parents wanted him to marry her. I agreed because I thought... maybe I could change him. He doesn't trust love anymore."
Sara sighed. "You and your big heart."
I continued, "After some days he asked me to visit Chennai together. We had breakfast, watched a movie, ate ice cream, and went to the beach. We laughed like normal people. For some moments, I forgot it was fake. It felt real."
My voice broke.
"After dinner, he dropped me home. I was still smiling... and then I saw my father push my mom. She hit the pillar and fell down. There was blood everywhere, Sara."
Sara gasped and hugged me.
"I thought I lost her. Will took us to the hospital. He stayed with me all night. He didn't leave me alone even once."
Tears rolled down my cheeks.
"My mom is everything to me. If something happens to her... I don't know how to live."
Sara wiped my tears.
"And Will?"
I don't know what he is to me now," I whispered. "It started as fake. But the way he held me yesterday... the way he stayed... it didn't feel fake at all."
Sara smiled gently.
"Sometimes the heart doesn't understand the word 'fake'. Minnie."
I whispered between tears, "Right now, I don't care about love or fake promises. I only want my mom to wake up Everything else can wait."
Sara wiped my tears and said softly, "And you don't have to face this alone anymore. I'm here"
Will POV
I stood outside the hospital room, watching Minnie through the glass window.
She was sitting beside her mother's bed, holding her hand like if she let go, the whole world would fall apart.
I never planned for this.
A fake relationship. A small lie to escape my parents' pressure.
That's all it was supposed to be.
But when I saw her crying in my arms last night... something inside me broke.
I remembered the way she tried to be strong even when her voice was shaking.
I told myself again and again: This is not real. I don't feel anything but my heart didn't listen she trusted me, She leaned on me and without knowing when, I started wanting to protect her... not as a fake boyfriend, but as someone who couldn't bear to see her hurt.
If love once destroyed me, I thought, why does this girl make me want to believe in it again?
I turned away before she could see the fear in my eyes.
Author POV
After Will reached home, Parkar looked at him with concern.
Dad: "How is Minnie? And her mother?"
Will: "Her mother is still unconscious. Minnie is trying to stay strong. Her friend is with her now."
Will went to his room quietly. Mia and Parkar remained in the hall, the silence heavy between them.
Mia : "That poor girl... she faced so much in one night. No child should see her mother like that."
Parkar: "Will stayed there the whole night. I've never seen him so responsible before."
Mia nodded slowly.
"Yes... he didn't leave her side even for a moment."
Parkar: "He cares about her more than he admits."
Mia sighed softly.
"After everything he went through in the past, he's afraid to trust love again. But Minnie is different. She doesn't force him... she just stands beside him."
Parkar placed his hand on Mia's shoulder. "Maybe that's what he needs. Someone who understands pain, not someone who adds to it."
Mia looked toward Will's closed room door. "I pray Minnie's mother wakes up soon. Minnie is holding herself together only for her."
Parkar said quietly, "And I hope Will realizes what his heart is already choosing"
Minnie POV
Sara pushed the spoon closer to my lips. "Minnie, you have to eat. You'll fall sick if you don't," she scolded softly, like only a best friend can.
I shook my head. "I'm not hungry, Sara... I can't eat while she's like this."
She sighed and forced a small bite into my mouth I swallowed with difficulty, my eyes never leaving my mother's face.
Suddenly... I saw it.
Her fingers moved.
My heart skipped a beat. "Sa... Sara..." my voice trembled before Sara could turn, I dropped the spoon and ran to the bed. I held my mom's hand tightly.
" Mom.... mom...can you hear me?" I whispered, my voice breaking.
Slowly, her eyelids fluttered. Her eyes opened just a little.
Tears rushed into mine instantly. I bent down beside her, unable to stop crying.
"Mom.... you're awake... please don't scare me like this again... I'm here... I'm here..." She tried to move her lips, weak but alive, Sara gasped and ran out of the room. "I'll call the doctor"
The doctor came, checked my mom carefully, and then said,
"She is stable now. After two days, we will check her condition again and decide when she can be discharged."
Hearing those words, my heart finally felt light. I let out a long breath I didn't know I was holding.
When the doctor left, I took a glass of water and gently helped my mom drink.
Her hands were still weak, but she tried to smile at me.
"Mom... slowly," I whispered, afraid even my voice might hurt her.
I sat beside her on the bed, and Sara sat on the other side, watching us quietly.
For a few minutes, no one spoke. Only the sound of the machines and my mom's breathing filled the room
Then I gathered all my courage and asked softly, "Mom... do you remember what happened yesterday?" Her eyes moved toward me, and I saw pain and sadness inside them.
She touched my cheek with trembling fingers. "I didn't want you to see all that, dear.. I'm sorry."
My throat tightened.
"Why do you always suffer in silence, Mom? Why didn't you tell me anything?"
Tears slipped from my eyes and fell on her hand.
She said in a weak voice,
"I stayed strong because of you. You are my only strength, Minnie."
I held her hand tighter and cried, "Please don't scare me like this again. You are my whole world. I can't lose you."
Sara placed her hand on my shoulder and said gently,
"You won't lose her, Minnie. She is here. And you are not alone anymore."
I leaned my head near my mom's arm, closing my eyes.
___________________________________________
Author Note
Hello my dear readers 👋 If you're enjoying the story, please support with Power Stones Your support helps this story grow. 💓 🥰