Aanya hated fasting.
Not because she was particularly hungry.
Because being told she couldn't eat made her suddenly aware of every possible thing she could have eaten.
The first few hours were easy.
She was busy.
There were forms to finish, instructions to reread, messages to answer.
She even managed to convince herself that the whole thing was slightly exaggerated.
Then the fasting period actually began.
And suddenly, every thought seemed to return to food.
She stared at the clock.
Then at Sagnik.
Then at the bottle of water sitting on the table.
"I don't understand why I can't even have water."
"Because they told you not to."
"I know."
"Then don't."
Aanya glared at him.
"You are enjoying this."
"No."
"You are."
"I'm making sure you follow the instructions."
"I can follow instructions."
Sagnik looked at her.
She looked back.
Aditi, sitting across from them, quietly moved the bottle of water farther away.
Aanya noticed.
"Traitors."
Neither of them answered.
She sighed and leaned back.
For the rest of the night, they kept an almost ridiculous watch over her.
Not because Aanya couldn't take care of herself.
Because they knew she would eventually convince herself that one tiny exception wouldn't matter.
It wasn't one tiny exception.
It was the fasting instruction before surgery.
So they made sure she followed it properly.
When she complained, they distracted her.
When she became restless, they talked to her.
When she asked whether one sip would really make a difference, Sagnik simply looked at her until she stopped asking.
Eventually, even she gave up arguing.
She followed every instruction.
Not happily.
But diligently.
And when the time came to leave, she was ready.
The hospital was quieter than it had been the previous day.
Aanya walked between Aditi and Sagnik.
She looked tired.
Not frightened.
Just tired of the anticipation.
At the entrance, she stopped for a moment.
Sagnik noticed.
"Ready?"
"No."
He smiled.
"Fair."
Aanya looked at him.
"You're supposed to say something reassuring."
"You'll be fine."
"That's better."
Aditi smiled.
"Come on."
They continued inside.
The admission process was completed.
The final checks were done.
The surgical team spoke with her again.
Everything was reviewed.
There was nothing unexpected.
No new symptoms.
No last-minute complication.
Just a procedure that had been planned.
Aanya eventually lay back.
The room seemed strangely ordinary.
The lights.
The sheets.
The quiet movement of the staff.
She looked toward Sagnik.
He was standing beside her.
Aditi was on the other side.
Aanya looked between them.
"I'm coming back."
Sagnik smiled.
"Obviously."
Aditi squeezed her hand.
"Go."
Aanya took a breath.
Then let herself be taken in.
After that, time became difficult to measure.
There were doors opening.
Footsteps.
Quiet conversations.
The occasional movement of staff through the corridor.
Sagnik remained outside.
Aditi stayed with him.
Neither spoke much.
There wasn't much to say.
They had already done everything they could.
The procedure itself passed without complication.
The surgical team came out afterward with the answer they had been waiting for.
Everything had gone as planned.
No unexpected difficulty.
No emergency.
Just a successful operation.
Aditi exhaled so deeply that Sagnik looked at her.
"She's okay?"
The surgeon nodded.
"She's doing well."
That was enough.
For the first time that day, Sagnik's shoulders relaxed.
Aditi closed her eyes briefly.
Then smiled.
"Okay."
When Aanya finally began to wake, the world came back in pieces.
Light first.
Then sound.
A faint awareness of the bed beneath her.
Something cool against her skin.
She tried to move.
A sharp ache immediately travelled through her abdomen.
Her face tightened.
A small sound escaped her.
She stopped.
Her breathing became slower.
The pain was there.
Definitely.
But it wasn't overwhelming.
The lingering effects of anesthesia softened its edges, leaving her caught somewhere between discomfort and sleep.
Her eyelids fluttered.
She opened them slightly.
The ceiling was unfamiliar.
For several seconds, she simply stared.
Then closed her eyes again.
A voice came from somewhere nearby.
"Easy."
She tried to focus.
Everything still felt blurred.
She swallowed.
Her lips felt dry.
She shifted her head slightly.
The room came into focus little by little.
She was awake.
The surgery was over.
And for now—
That was all she needed to know.