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“No, I need to stay here,” Garima refused.
“Aisha and I are here with Maya. She won't want you worrying and making yourself sick over this,” Ranveer reasoned.
Pammi understood and explained the same to Garima. “If you fall ill from the stress, who will care for Maya then? I think Ranveer is right - we should go home and return in the morning.”
“But...” Garima began uncertainly.
“Please,” Ranveer insisted, uncharacteristically using soft words and gestures to handle the sensitive situation.
“Okay,” Garima finally relented. Aman escorted the two women back to the Bajaj apartment for the night.
************
It was a terrible night. Ranveer Malhotra shifted uncomfortably on the small couch outside Maya's room, laptop open but not focused on work. Aisha was inside the room, presumably asleep, but he didn't disturb her. She had cared for Maya in his absence, after all.
Ranveer replayed Garima's words, about Maya's habit of safe driving. If that was true, this accident likely involved external factors, not just driver error. Could that be possible? His phone buzzed - it was Aman, also awake at this late 3:30am hour.
“Boss?”
“Any updates on analyzing her car?” Ranveer asked urgently.
“We took it for servicing and analysis. It’s clear Maya's car was rammed from behind by another vehicle. This was an intentional crash,” Aman reported.
Ranveer clenched his fists, shutting the laptop in anger. “Goddammit.”
“I think we should get the police involved and treat this seriously,” Aman suggested.
Ranveer thought for a moment then agreed. “Do it. I want every resource we have searching for who did this, understand?”
“Yes boss,” Aman acknowledged before hanging up.
Hearing Ranveer's raised voice, Aisha emerged from the room looking startled. Ranveer glared heatedly at her.
“I pay you to protect Maya and even then, this happened!” he barked.
Aisha looked taken aback. “What's wrong, sir?”
“Someone did this to her intentionally,” Ranveer shouted.
“I'm sorry sir, but when I arrived, there was no one else at the scene,” Aisha insisted nervously.
“You were too late, and I don't pay people to fail at their duties like this,” Ranveer yelled.
Aisha gulped anxiously.
“Get out. You're fired,” Ranveer roared.
A nurse hurried in, admonishing them for the noise level. But Ranveer was beyond reason.
“Get out of here,” he ordered Aisha again. She reluctantly left, stunned by the sudden dismissal.
Morning
Maya's eyes slowly fluttered open. Her head throbbed with pain. She reached to touch her forehead and felt the bandage there. Her whole body ached and felt numb.
The door unlocked and Ranveer came in, looking surprised to see her awake. Maya blinked at him - was he really here? She tried to sit up but failed, still too weak. Ranveer came over and gently laid her back against the pillow.
“You can't get up yet,” he said.
