A week later...

That week was incredibly fun for me-spending nights with Neha and making my first-ever male friends at college: Aryan, Abhishek, Karan, and Ansh.

I can hardly believe it, as I've never had male friends before, but I feel good and safe around them.

Aryan is teaching me to play an instrument-a childhood dream of mine-and Abhishek helps me with my notes; he makes me feel just like a brother would.

Karan is great too, though I get the feeling he likes Neha-the way he looks at her makes me wonder.

Neha talks about him constantly-"Karan this, Karan that"-but whenever I ask if she's starting to like him, she denies it.

And then there's Ansh; over this past week, I feel like what I have for him has grown beyond a mere crush-maybe it's love.

Those sudden moments of eye contact, the way he shows concern, and those unexpected touches that make my heart race... maybe I am in love with him.

Today, my parents are finally returning from the wedding.

Honestly, while I've had a great time, I've missed them terribly-Mom's home-cooked meals, Dad sitting on the sofa with his morning tea and the news... everything.

Meanwhile, Nia has been buried in her books, studying for her board exams.

It's Sunday, and I'm busy cleaning when I get a call from Dad.

I'm happy when I answer, but what I hear makes me sink to the floor; my face go pale and knuckles white with shock.

Seeing me, Nia asks, "Di, what happened? Tell me, what is it?"

She shakes me hard.

I hug her and say, "Nia... Mom had an accident."

Nia bursts into tears; I try to compose myself, and then we both rush to the hospital.

At the hospital...

Nia and I rush over and see Papa sitting on a bench.

We both run towards him; I call out, "Papa!"

He looks at me with tears in his eyes and hugs me tight. "Sia, my child,see what has happened?"

I offer him support and say, "Don't worry, Papa; everything will be fine."

Just then, a woman arrives....