Both their forehead touched for a long time . A string of tears rushed out as her heart kept praying to her, 'sorry . . . don't die . . . . don't die please . ' She was her mother, father her entire family .

She didn't know how long she stayed in such a position crying and venting .

"Ambulance is here . " Aunt's call came from the hall .

She stood up, wiped her last tear and brushed Amma's face, "I won't let anything happen to you . "

"Are we taking Amma to the hospital?" Her cousin Praak looked at her .

"Yes . " She looked him in the eye .

"Good . " He came over and Reeya rushed forward to block him .

"I'm helping . " The usual smug face showed grief . They got her Amma on a stretcher . Reeya followed like a spiritless soul and got in an ambulance that drove her to Hospital .

In the fifteen minutes drive, her whole life flashed before her . Reeya was only nine when she entered the house . When you live under someone's roof you act according to their rules . She was obedient and docile .

Two years older than her, Praak used to bully her . There was a time that the cheerful and courageous Reeya was docile and fearful . She would go and complain to her grandmother about it . In the poor situation, Aunt made her do some housework . which she did with a smile .

Uncle was good with her but he didn't live with them . But since her Uncle worked far away, he used to visit only once or twice a month . Before him, they acted differently with her . It was a pity he never knew the real circ.u.mstances she suffered .

Only Amma being her s.h.i.+eld wasn't enough . With time she realized her Amma won't protect her always, she had to stand for herself . And thus became her journey to train her body and mind .

She slowly got to fight back .

As positive as she was, she took everything with a smile . Her tears had already dried up . Now she had decided to never cry and show her weakness . A promise she made to herself .

At least she got her Uncle who paid for her education till college . That was enough . As for her cousin she had to thank him for making her strong . Her att.i.tude toward life became carefree .

She never complained about her current situation because she held hope for the future . A warm family was all she desired . Now her life fell in an abyss .

They arrived in the hospital . Maybe her cousin's brother matured with time, he followed them and got arrangements in hospital . She and Praak were called in office by Dr . Rane .

Worried about her grandmother's condition she was every nervous .

"Sit . " Dr . Rane said .

She clenched the armrest . Dr . Rane placed Amma's report on the desk . His face was heavy, "Miss your grandmother's condition is bad . Her condition deteriorates with time . . . "

"Doctor, didn't you say we can still operate?" Praak asked . Though the doctor wasn't that hopeful about her he still had a way some days ago .

"I have already told your family . She is in stages of liver failure . Liver transplant surgery is the only thing we can do . One we need a match . Two, the patient is old . We can't guarantee that she will recover after surgery . Three it is expensive surgery . " Dr . Rane gave them no false hope .

"I can't bear to see her like this . I can't give up . . " Her voice was trembling .

"Looking at her age, we can't guarantee how long she will survive or if she can accept the new donor's liver . "