Season 2: Part 31

                                    

                                          
Mallika rushed to the hospital, worry written all over her face. As she got to Sumedh's room, she flung open the door to see Sumedh on the bed, talking to some officials about Dev and other formalities of his official arrest. 
                          
As soon as he saw Mallika, he dismissed the officers. Mallika ran to his side and crashed right into him, crying. "O-ouch," Sumedh said. 
                          
Mallika quickly retreated, lines of tension etched into her face. "S-sorry," she said through her tears, glad to see him ok. "Zyada lagi toh nahi na? (You didn't get hurt much, did you?)" Mallika continued, quickly scanning her eyes over Sumedh's body, looking at all of the bandages. 
                          
"Nahi nahi main thik hoon. (No no I am fine.)" Sumedh replied, gladly absorbing Mallika's care for him. 
                          
This time, Mallika carefully hugged him. "You did all of this for me?" she asked, still tense about the whole situation. 
                          
"No no I did it for everyone. All of Jaipur. In fact, all of India. Actually, leave that. For the whole world," Sumedh teased, trying to lighten up the mood. 
                          
Upon hearing this response, Mallika hit him in the shoulder to which Sumedh faked being hurt. "OUCH!" he dramaticized, earning him another hit from Mallika. "Aise bartav karte hain hone wale pati ke saath? (Is this how you act with your to-be husband?)" he teased again, but this time the smile from Mallika's face slipped. "Kya hua Mallika? (What happened Mallika?)" Sumedh said, noticing the immediate change in her mood. 
                          
"It's just that...do you think..." she started, not able to form her words into sentences. 
                          
"Go on...I'm listening..." Sumedh encouraged.
                          
"It's just that, do you think my parents will accept you now?" Mallika proceeded in a low voice. "I mean, whatever happened that day...do you think that even after you did so much for me, for them, that they will accept you for who you are? Will they be able to trust you?" 
                          
After a moment of silence between them, Mallika started again," You know that I can't live without you...but if they don't accept this relationship, what will we do? Where will we go? I don't want to go against their wishes, but I can't leave your side either..."
                          
At this, Sumedh finally responded. "Mallika, true love always wins. We will get them to understand one way or another. Don't worry about it for now. When that time comes, we will face the problem then. For now, just relax and be worry-free."
                          
Listening to Sumedh's comforting words brought hope and ease to Mallika. She cuddled up beside Sumedh on the hospital bed, sleeping soundly. 
                          
~ Next Morning ~
                          
Mallika had already woken up and gotten fresh. As she was giving Sumedh his morning medicine, the door to the room opened, and in came both sets of parents. Mallika's parents went towards her immediately, hugging her tight. "We were so worried about you! When you didn't pick up your phone, we called your friends, but they told us there was no such camp! We tried to reach you after that, but you wouldn't pick up your phone! Where were you?"
                          
"Mumma, Papa, calm down. See, I am perfectly fine." Mallika reassured her parents. 
                          
Mallika's parents turned around to look at Sumedh. Sumedh, seeing the look on their faces, started speaking, "Aunty...Uncle...trust me. This wasn't my intention..."
                          
"No Mumma, Papa," Mallika interrupted. "It wasn't his fault. I was the one who lied to you. He even told me to go back but I didn't listen to him. Pleas-" Mallika stopped speaking, seeing her Papa raise his hand, as if to signal stop. 
                          
"If Mallika made up her mind to lie to her parents..." he said in a threatening tone. "That means something about you is really special to her," he finished, smiling at Sumedh. He looked over at Mallika's mother, who turned to face Mallika and hug her. 
                          
"I'm sorry! I really am." Mallika broke out in the hug. But that made her mom hug her even tighter. "No, don't be. I'm proud that I raised you in a way to fight for those you love."
                          
Mallika's mother turned to face Sumedh's mother. They both communicated words through their eyes and ended up sharing a hug. What a day this turned out to be... Sumedh smiled while thinking.
                          
Short one...sorry! But the next one has an amazing surprise!
                          
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