Chapter 42

“You scared us,” said Neil, rubbing the sides of his temple. “At least you don’t have a concussion.”

Letting out a deep sigh, he slumped into the cold metal chair beside Shanaya. They were seated in the brightly lit waiting room of the hospital and the air was thick with the smell of antiseptic. Shanaya tried to avoid acknowledging the smell. Instead, she pressed the back of her head, the part which was now sore from the recent fall. She had fainted. She had actually fainted.

Shanaya recalled the last time it had happened—about eight years ago, on the day of her mother’s funeral. She had put in too much of her to hold back tears and when she could not anymore, she had collapsed.

It had been a while since she had regained consciousness. Kirti had then left to get her some coffee, and Suhala was inside the room where Ahail was admitted. And all Shanaya could think of was how she had fainted.

Her family had needed her then and instead of being there to support them, she had ended up b