Rishik and his father Pinkesh were on a bike at Pulgate, on their way to Rishik’s school on Wednesday morning, when they were knocked down by the ST bus. They were rushed to Sassoon Hospital, where Pinkesh was declared dead on arrival. Rishik suffered multiple fractures and a head injury. He was operated upon at the hospital and was said to be critical. The family decided to shift him to Jehangir Hospital on Thursday. On Friday evening, Rishik was semi-conscious and still on ventilator. “He responds when we call his name. The doctors say his recovery will be slow,” said Rishik’s uncle, Akash Khandelwal.

Dr Prashant Khandelwal, neurosurgeon at Jehangir Hospital, said, “We have to wait and watch. Our plan is to put him off the ventilator on Saturday morning. He is still in a critical state.”

Rishik’s mother Vaishali was in no condition to talk. Her brother, sister and friends have become her pillars of support. Said a family friend, “I studied with Vaishali in Nasik. As soon as I heard about this, I rushed here.” The family resides in Maharshinagar. Rishik’s elder sister is in Class III.