The Cancer

The front door slammed open with a force that made the walls tremble.

Vidhwan stormed into the house, his footsteps heavy and furious as he walked straight down the corridor. The servants froze in place, lowering their eyes as he passed. No one dared to stop him. No one dared to speak.

He pushed open the bedroom door with a violent shove.

Before Sakshi could even react, he crossed the room in long strides and grabbed her by the throat, his fingers tightening around her neck.

“Why didn’t you tell me,” he shouted, his voice echoing through the room, “that my son has cancer?!”

Sakshi’s breath hitched, her eyes widening in shock. For a moment, the room around her blurred as the memory she had been trying to bury came rushing back.

The hospital corridor had smelled of antiseptic and silence. She had been sitting across from the doctor, her hands trembling in her lap as she waited for him to speak. Rutvik had been growing weaker day by day—losing weight, falling sick again and again. A mother’s heart had already feared the worst, but she still prayed she was wrong.

The doctor had removed his glasses slowly, his expression grave.

“Mrs. Sakshi… the reports are back.”

Her voice had trembled as she asked, “What is wrong with my son, doctor? He will be fine, right?”

The doctor paused for a moment before speaking carefully.

“I’m afraid the tests show that Rutvik has cancer.”

The word had struck her like a thunderbolt.

“N–No… that’s not possible,” she whispered, shaking her head as tears filled her eyes. “He’s just a child… there must be some mistake.”

“I understand this is difficult to hear,” the doctor said gently. “But the diagnosis is clear. We will need to begin treatment as soon as possible. There is still hope if we act quickly.”

Hope.

That single word had been the only thing keeping her from collapsing right there in the chair.

The memory faded as Sakshi returned to the present, Vidhwan’s grip still tight around her throat.

She looked at him, fear and bitterness mixing in her eyes.

“Would you have cared for him?” she asked hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper.

For a second, silence filled the room.

Then his hand moved.

The slap echoed sharply against the walls as her face snapped to the side.

“He is my son,” Vidhwan growled, his eyes blazing with anger. “Why wouldn’t I care for him?”