Chapter 85

The Part Where I Had to Say It Out Loud (Mehul's POV)

Vihaan was still unconscious.

Still lying there, bruised and bandaged, looking like he could wake up at any moment and say something stupid.

But he wasn't awake.

And I?

I had to do the one thing I wasn't ready for.

Tell people.

Tell them Vihaan had been in an accident.

Tell them he wasn't invincible.

Tell them I had almost lost him.

And somehow—saying it out loud made it worse.

I stepped out of the hospital room, my hands trembling as I pulled out my phone.

Arjun.

I pressed call.

He answered on the second ring.

"Mehul? What's up?"

I exhaled sharply. "It's Vihaan."

Silence.

Then—"What happened?"

"He—he had an accident. His bike. He's in the hospital."

More silence.

Then—a sharp inhale.

"Where?"

I gave him the hospital name, and before I could say anything else—Riya was on the phone too.

"We're on our way."

I nodded, even though they couldn't see me.

And just like that—it became real.

Because now, it wasn't just in my head.

Now, other people knew.

Now, I wasn't the only one who was scared.

I stared at my phone.

Vihaan's mother's number was right there.

I had seen him call her a hundred times.

He always complained about how she worried too much.

Always rolled his eyes when she told him to be careful.

But now?

Now, I had to tell her she had been right to worry.

I took a deep breath.

Pressed call.

It rang once. Twice.

Then—she answered.

"Mehul? Is everything alright?"

I swallowed hard.

"Aunty... it's Vihaan."

The second I said his name—her voice changed.

"What happened?"

I gripped the phone tighter.

"He was in an accident. He's stable, but—"

I didn't get to finish.

Because the panic in her voice broke something in me.

She asked for details. I gave her what I could.

And by the end of the call—she was already on her way.

And I?

I felt like I had been punched in the chest.

By the time I walked back into the hospital room, Vihaan was still asleep.

Still the same.

But now?

Now, the weight in my chest felt heavier.

Because I had told everyone.

Because soon—this room wouldn't be quiet anymore.

And because, for the first time—

I realized just how many people cared about Vihaan Malhotra.

And somehow—that made me want to protect him even more.