Rebel Hard (Hard Play #2)(77)

“Sad to see a grand romance come to this,” Nayna had said afterward.

“I remember you telling me about the proposal with the plane and the picnic.” Yawning, ísa had stretched out her body. “All that is nice, don’t get me wrong, but it doesn’t sound like the two actually ever had any talks of substance—I mean, she seems completely surprised by who he is.”

Nayna couldn’t disagree with her friend there.

Once she’d dropped ísa home and made her way to her apartment, Nayna went to call Raj, she was missing him so, but decided against it at the last minute. He was getting up at the crack of dawn to take advantage of the summer light, and she didn’t want to interrupt his sleep. She’d messaged him from the shop earlier, giving him a rundown of events.

He’d been doing paperwork for the business but had paused to send back a sexy photo featuring his face and naked upper body. The sight of his lightly furred chest lovingly caressed by the desk light had curled her toes, but what had made it even sexier was the smile creasing his cheeks. Only Nayna ever got that smile.

She’d all but sighed into a melted puddle… then had to hurriedly hide the photo when her mother sat down next to her. Hugging the memory close, she’d just kicked off her shoes when her phone rang in her hand.

“Raj,” she said, answering at once. “I thought you’d be in bed by now.”

“I’m at the hospital.” A strain in his voice she’d never before heard.

Nayna was already shoving her feet back into her shoes. “What’s happened? Are you all right? I’m on my way.”

“My father’s had a heart attack.” Other sounds behind him, machines beeping and the echo of an intercom summoning a doctor. “He collapsed while he and my mother were watching TV. I got him in the ambulance with Ma, and I just arrived at the hospital with Aditi. We don’t know anything yet.”

“I’m getting in my car. I’ll see you soon.” Her heart thundered; Raj was as close to his family as she was to her own. If anything happened to his father, it would devastate him.



* * *



Raj was waiting for her near the elevators; Nayna had messaged him when she got into the parking lot, to find out if they were in the ER or had been moved to a cardiac ward. Going straight to him, she hugged him tight. His arms squeezed her with crushing strength, but she didn’t care. She was ready to give him anything he needed.

“How is he?”

“In surgery,” Raj told her, his voice rasping. “It’s bad.”

Nayna just held him and let him hold on to her until he was ready to draw back.

“Ma and Aditi are in the waiting room,” he said. “Komal was on shift in another ward, but she got her charge nurse to replace her, and she’s helping make sure we’re kept updated. I haven’t been able to reach Navin—he went out for a friend’s bachelor party, probably isn’t paying attention to his phone.”

“I’m sure he’ll be here soon.” Nayna ran her hand down Raj’s back.

He leaned into her for a second before leading her to the waiting area.

Sangeeta Sen took one look at her and burst into tears. Enclosing her in her arms, Nayna rocked the older woman while Raj took care of his baby sister. More family arrived as time passed—Raj’s father had two younger brothers, and Raj’s mother had an older sister. All but one came with their spouses.

Jitesh Sen’s remaining brother was based in Taupo, several hours south of Auckland, and was already on his way—with his wife and Raj’s paternal grandparents. Depending on traffic, they’d reach the hospital in about two and a half more hours.

The only one still in the wind was Navin.

Komal, dressed in the dark blue of a nurse’s scrubs, had a pinched look about the eyes when she walked in to give them the news that the surgery was progressing well. “Navin’s not replying to my messages,” Nayna heard her whisper to Raj. “He’s probably drunk. That’s what he does when out with that group.”

“I’ll keep trying to track him down,” Raj said. “Give me the numbers you have for his friends. Nayna, do you have a pen?”

Digging one out of her purse, Nayna walked over. He took the pen and pressed a kiss to her temple before returning his attention to Komal, who gave Nayna a jagged look. Then the other woman was passing on the numbers, and Nayna went to sit with Sangeeta and Aditi again. When Raj’s sister curled against her side, Nayna threw her coat around the teenager and hugged her close.

Aditi fell asleep for about forty minutes, woke fuzzy-eyed and in need of the restroom.

As she wandered off in the right direction, Sangeeta Sen, her face wan, said, “Raj beta, Nayna bitia, can you find some strong tea?”

The two of them left to see what they could rustle up. Once away from his relatives, Nayna took Raj into her arms again, running her hands up and down the powerful column of his back. She’d noticed how everyone leaned on him, the older adults as well as his younger sister. They all looked to Raj as if expecting him to have the answers.

Even the cardiac nurse who was liaising with the surgical staff spoke to Raj, so the immediate family must’ve nominated him as their lead contact. Twice, after speaking to the nurse, Raj had taken his mother aside and talked to her alone. Decisions being made, Nayna had realized, the doctors asking for Sangeeta Sen’s approval of certain actions.