I pushed the wheelchair towards the opened door and the nurse followed us closing the doors behind us.

I could see Aami fidgeting her fingers in her lap. She is tense. Today is the day the police finally came to take her testimony.

Her therapy sessions were progressing in a good way. Even though the panic attacks have reduced the nightmares still happen. The doctor said that this is a slow process. It is not easy to make a tie-up mind.

Anyway, for some reason, she was more comfortable around me now. As if her mind knows I mean no harm. She allowed me inside her room and would talk a few words to me. And that gives me a little peace of mind.

They arranged a conference hall in the hospital for the questioning because she is hesitant to be in a closed room with many men.

As we entered her doctor waved at us from her chair and smiled at Aami. She gave her a weak smile in return. I pushed the wheelchair near to where the doctor was sitting.

She took Aami's hand in her and gave her a little squeeze.

"Everything will be all right. If you feel uncomfortable at any time let us know ok?!! We will stop."Aami nodded and kept looking at her lap.

The doctor nodded at me in acknowledgment and I did the same.

I pulled out another chair keeping a safe distance from her so that I won't make her uncomfortable.

After a few moments, the doors to the hall opened again and Harsh entered with two men and three women.

We greeted each other and they went to take the seats opposite us. They arranged the video camera and other necessary things that needed to be fixed.

After a good twenty minutes, they settled and Harsh came towards the chair opposite us and pulled out the chair leaving a screeching sound making Aami flinch.

"So shall we start?" Harsh asked

Aami went stiff. Her fingers were fisted hardly on her hospital gown. Her lips were trembling and her breath was labored.

I so wanted to hug her and give her the comfort she needed but I was helpless.

The doctor gave her an encouraging side hug. After a little prep talk finally, she relaxed a bit.Taking a deep breath she nodded to Harsh and thus began the questioning.

After a long five hours with many breakdowns and heart-wrenching cries from Aami the torture finally came to an end.

"Thank you for your cooperation Ms. Priyadarshini. There is one last question we have for you. Person you told who killed your parents is this same person right".

He asked pushing a photo towards her. She looked at the photo and her demeanor started to change immediately.

She took a sharp intake. Her fingers fidgeted the gown tightly. Her eyes bulged out and her lips quivered. She started shivering.

"Shit, she is going into another panic attack." The doctor shouted and tried to take Aami in her hands. But she pushed away and stood up from the wheelchair, but her eyes were never leaving the picture of that bastard.

Her breath became too labored.

"Aami, it is ok he is not here. Breathe. Take a deep breath Aami. There is nothing to worry about. You are safe."

The doctor was shouting but nothing seems to be going into her ears.

Everyone in the room was stunned and Harsh was having a guilty expression on his face.I stood there looking at her not knowing what to do.

The doctor slowly went near her.

"Priya." She placed her hand on her shoulder slowly.

A scream left her mouth breaking everyone's trance. Her eyes were streaming down and she pushed the doctor with the utmost force which made her fall to the floor.

She turned around in search of something and when spotted the door she ran out like a mad woman.

"Get her before she does something stupid." The doctor shouted and brought me back from my shock and I ran out of the room.

I searched her around the hallway but she was nowhere to be found.

I ran around the entire floor looking everywhere but she was nowhere. My heart was beating like a drum and an unknown fear was consuming me.

"AAMI"

I called with all my strength but there was no answer.

After running around the whole floor for a second time, I stood in the middle of the hallway disappointed. I ran my finger through my hair in frustration.

I was panting and I pulled my hair in worry.

"Did you find her?"

I looked up to see Harsh rushing towards me.I nodded my head a no.

"I am so sorry this happened but it was important. Don't worry we will find her soon. She will be here somewhere. Nothing will happen to her."

He said to me and instructed his men to look for her.

I felt so tired. My body was giving up. Slowly I moved towards the chair in the corridor. That is when I spotted blood stains on the floor towards the door leading to the staircase.

All my dizziness vanished as I ran toward the stairways.

"Aami," I called opening the door towards the staircase.

I looked around the dimmed lighted place.

Hearing sobs coming from downstairs took slow steps towards the sounds.

The sight before me made me feel like my heart's been ripped out.

She was sitting in the corner cowering in fear and sobbing uncontrollably. She was scratching her hands like she wanted to remove something from her skin. Her skin has turned red and there were some cuts bleeding but she did not stop scratching herself. I ran towards her and held her hands from doing worse.

She screamed and struggled to break free from me.

"Aami, stop it. You are harming yourself. Please stop it." I tried to speak to her but she was not listening.

She struggled more to break free. She bites my wrist and I hissed in pain.

I held her head with my other hand and freed my wrist from her mouth. Taking both her hands I held them behind her bringing her closer to my body.

She struggled to free her hands making it difficult for me to hold her.

"AAMI."

I screamed with every will in me to make her listen and she stopped struggling for once and looked at me.

"Aami. It's ok, honey. You are safe now. No one is going to hurt you now. Please calm down."Her body relaxed and loosened a bit.

She kept staring at me for a few moments and then her eyes again turned glassy.

"SID?!!"

She called my name as if she couldn't believe that I am there with her.

The tears flew down her cheeks and I couldn't ignore the pang in my heart.

Controlling the tears threatening to fall from my eyes, I brought my fingers to her face and removed the hair strands sticking to her face, and tucked it behind her ears.

"Yes. I am here. You are safe. Okay?!!!"

I told her cupping her cheeks in my palm.

"You came?!!"

She asked in disbelief. It looked like she was in some kind of trance.

Before I could say something she hugged me tightly and hides her face in my chest.She gripped my shirt tightly on my back and snuggled closely.

I was shocked and didn't know what to do. This was the first time in days we were this close. Slowly I brought my hands around her petite body and hugged her tightly.

I could feel my shirt getting wet with her tears. I brought my hand under her knees and lifted her and made her sit on my lap. Her sobs increased and her grip on me tightened.

The sobs soon become heart-wrenching cries. I let her do whatever she wants. I know whatever sweet words I know are not enough to calm her mind. I leaned back against the wall and held her closely.

Closing my eyes I draw small circles on her back I rocked her slowly in my lap, giving her as much comfort as I can.

I don't know how much time has passed but when looked down at her she was fast asleep in my lap.

My phone vibrated in my pocket and taking it out I saw Harsh's name flashing on the screen.

"Hello. Yeah, she is with me. We are on the staircase to the second floor."

I said and cut the call. A few minutes later Harsh came and help me up with Aami in my hands.The attendees were waiting with a wheelchair in the corridor but I didn't let them take her away. I don't how she will behave when she wakes up. I wanted to feel her as long as it lasts. It gave me some kind of comfort.

The lift opened and I slowly walked towards her room and placed her on the bed slowly trying not to wake her up.

The doctor was already there and she gave her a sedative and told us that she needs a good sleep.

An IV tube was attached to the back of her hand and the nurse changed the bandage on her leg which was ripped open and bleeding.

Everyone leaves the room and it was just me, Aami, and her aunt.

After looking at her sleeping figure for some more time I bid goodnight to her aunt and walked out of the room.

I have to check up on Ved. I haven't been to his room after morning.

When I was about to reach his room suddenly his room door opened and I saw him storming away in the opposite direction.

"Ved," I called him but he didn't hear me.

There is something wrong. I feel tense and was about to follow him when Niharika came out of the room.

She looked at me and sighed.

"What happened? Where is he going?" I asked her.

She pursed her lips and looked awkwardly inside the room.

Then she hurriedly went behind Ved's retreating back.

Confused I opened the door to his room and that is when I saw her standing there.

My mother was standing inside the room, holding to the bed. She looked pale and tired. Her always ironed saree was wrinkled and there were dark circles under her eyes. Her cheeks were wet from the tears and when she saw me looking at her she immediately wiped her face with her saree pallu.

I stood there looking at her for a few moments and then I took long strides towards her and hugged her tightly and hid my head in the crook of her neck.

That time I didn't care what she did or what her actions caused. I didn't think of what she has done to my father. At that time she was just my mother. Whatever wrong things she committed didn't matter to me at that time, she was always a good mother to me and I needed her. I was fed up carrying all the burdens.

I was so tired and wanted some kind of support. I wanted someone to share my weighing heart. I wanted to rely on someone. I wanted my mother desperately.

My hands around her tightened and I let my tears down and sobbed wetting her shoulder with my tears. She slowly rubbed my back and gave me my much-needed comfort.