The call came at 7:18 p.m.
Aarvi had just placed her bag on the chair and kicked off her shoes when her phone buzzed. She glanced at the screen, already tired but calmer than she had been in weeks.
Unknown Number.
Her chest tightened for reasons she couldn't explain.
She answered anyway.
"Hello?"
"Aarvi Sharma?" a woman's voice asked, professional, clipped.
"Yes."
"This is City Care Hospital. We're calling regarding your mother."
The calm she'd built all day cracked instantly.
---
Reality never waits politely
Her fingers tightened around the phone.
"What happened?" she asked, already standing up.
"There's no emergency," the nurse said quickly. "But the doctor wants to adjust her treatment plan. Some results came back… inconclusive."
Inconclusive.
That word again.
Aarvi closed her eyes, breathing slowly.
"Is she okay?" she asked.
"She's stable," the nurse replied. "But the doctor recommends starting the next phase sooner than planned."
Aarvi's throat tightened.
"And… the cost?"
A pause.
Not long.
But long enough.
"I suggest you come in tomorrow," the nurse said gently.
The call ended.
---
The familiar weight returned
Aarvi sat down slowly on the edge of her bed.
This was the part of life that didn't care about courage or truth or standing tall.
Bills.
Decisions.
Waiting rooms.
She pressed her palm to her forehead.
She had just learned how to stand without fear at work.
And now life was asking her to carry everything again.
---
She didn't want to tell him
Her phone lay beside her.
One message.
That's all it would take.
But she didn't pick it up.
Not because she didn't trust him.
But because she was afraid of leaning too much — of turning strength into dependence.
She stared at the screen, conflicted.
---
Riyan felt it anyway
He was pouring himself a glass of water when his phone buzzed.
A missed call notification from her.
No voicemail.
He frowned.
She never called unless she needed something.
He didn't overthink it.
He called back.
---
The choice she didn't make — he did
"Aarvi," he said when she answered, his voice steady.
"You okay?"
She hesitated.
"I was just going to call you back," she said quietly.
He waited.
She sighed.
"My mom's hospital called."
His grip tightened on the glass.
"What happened?"
"Nothing urgent," she said quickly. "Just… changes. More treatment."
"And you're going alone," he said, not asking.
She didn't deny it.
Riyan exhaled slowly.
"Tomorrow," he said.
"I'm coming with you."
She closed her eyes.
"You don't have to—"
"I know," he interrupted gently. "But I want to."
Silence stretched.
This time, she didn't push him away.
"Okay," she whispered.
---
The test wasn't about staying this time
It was about how they stayed.
Not rescuing.
Not controlling.
Just showing up — again.
As Aarvi hung up, she felt the familiar fear still there… but lighter.
Because life wasn't done testing them.
But for the first time, she wasn't facing it alone —
and she wasn't losing herself to accept help either.
She was choosing balance.
And maybe…
that was the hardest lesson of all.