30.
"Shit... where are my keys?" Aarav muttered, patting down his pockets.
Nothing.
His stomach sank.
Of course. He must've left them in Shaurya's room.
God really hates me, huh?
The last thing he wanted was to go back and face him. But his house was miles away, and there was no choice. With a reluctant sigh, Aarav turned back toward the apartment.
He stepped into Shaurya's room—only to freeze.
"Shaurya?!" Aarav's heart dropped.
Shaurya was on the floor, knees pulled to his chest, fists tangled in his hair. His entire body trembled, sweat soaking his shirt. His wide, frantic eyes met Aarav's—and without a word, he lunged forward and clutched him tight, like a drowning man clings to a lifeline.
"I don't remember anything, Aarav," Shaurya gasped, voice trembling.
"I didn't know you came back. I swear—I'm not lying."
Aarav's breath hitched.
"Shhh, it's okay. We'll talk about that later," he whispered, rubbing soothing circles along Shaurya's back. But then Shaurya's breathing became uneven, erratic.
Panic. His chest was heaving, fingers digging into Aarav's arms.
Aarav's heart began pounding. This wasn't just a breakdown—Shaurya was spiraling.
"Shaurya? Hey—hey, what's happening?" Aarav's voice broke. "Shit, come on, talk to me!"
He remembered—Shaurya had mentioned this once. Quietly. In passing. That the attacks started after his mother's death. Maybe once in a decade.
But this—this was worse.
He's getting worse. Why? Why now?
With shaking hands, Aarav fumbled for his phone and dialed Ravi.
"Ravi—please come! It's Shaurya—he's having an episode—"
He looked down. Shaurya was crying now, shoulders trembling violently in his arms.
"I don't know what to do! Just come, fast!" he cried into the phone, then hung up.
Aarav turned back, cupping Shaurya's face gently. He pressed his forehead against his, trying to steady him.
"Shaurya... look at me," he said, trying to match his breathing.
"Listen to me carefully , okay? We have a daughter."
Shaurya's lashes fluttered, but his breathing still stuttered.
"Yeah," Aarav said, voice softer now, choked with tears. "Her name is Aarya."
He smiled weakly through the ache in his chest.
"I know, I know—it's cliché. I merged our names."
He stroked the back of Shaurya's neck gently.
"She's beautiful. She has your eyes... and your heart. She's the best thing that ever happened to me."
Shaurya blinked slowly, chest rising and falling, less sharply now.
"She's an angel. Our angel. She wants to meet you, Shaurya."
Aarav leaned closer, whispering now like it was a secret the world shouldn't hear.
"So you have to be okay. For her. Please."
Shaurya's grip loosened slightly. His body had stopped shaking. He didn't speak—but his forehead remained pressed to Aarav's shoulder, his breathing steadier now.
Aarav closed his eyes, holding him tighter.
They stayed there in silence. Waiting. Breathing. Holding on.
Slowly, Aarav helped Shaurya to his feet, supporting most of his weight as they made their way to the bed.
Shaurya collapsed onto the mattress, still gripping Aarav's hand like a lifeline.
Aarav sat beside him, torn—part of him wanted to leave, to escape this storm, but another part.
.. the deeper part... couldn't. Not when Shaurya looked so fragile.
Aarav's fingers threaded gently through Shaurya's hair—longer now, unkempt, curling at the edges. His heart ached, but he kept his tears at bay.
Moments later, the door burst open.
Ravi entered, with Yug right behind him.
"Shaurya? Are you okay?" Ravi hurried to the bedside, eyes scanning his boss's pale, trembling figure.
"He was shaking, Ravi," Aarav said, his voice tight with emotion. "He couldn't breathe. What's happening to him?"
Without a word, Ravi opened Shaurya's bag and pulled out a small bottle of pills.
"Here," he said quickly, unscrewing the cap. "Shaurya, get up. Take this—it'll help."
"Wait."
Yug's voice cut through the tension. His gaze was locked on the bottle in Ravi's hand.
"If he's stable now, he doesn't need those," Yug said. "Are those anti-anxiety meds?"
Ravi nodded.
"I don't think we should risk it," Yug said, taking the bottle from Ravi. "We'll call a doctor first. Just trust me."
Ravi didn't argue, just nodded, tension written across his face.
Aarav stayed silent, his hand still cradling Shaurya's face as if he were something fragile and precious—something that might break if touched too harshly.
That's when Vedansh Shekhawat arrived.
The door swung open again, and the head of the Shekhawat family strode in, sharp and stern as ever.
"What the hell is wrong with him?" Vedansh muttered, eyeing his son's weakened state.
"Shaurya," he barked, "This isn't the time to be weak. You have a trial coming up."
Shaurya didn't react. He just lay there, silent, broken.
"Are you fuckinginsane?" Aarav snapped, spinning around to face Vedansh, disbelief etched on his face.
Vedansh held his composure. "He has to go, Aarav. If he doesn't show up, the charges could escalate. He might even be sentenced to death. I can't allow that."
"No," Aarav said, shaking his head furiously. "I will not let you drag him into that hell again—not like this. Your son is barely breathing, and all you care about is the damn trial?"
"Aarav, I do care," Vedansh said, voice tighter now. "He's my son. But you don't understand the consequences if he doesn't—"
"No," Aarav snapped. "Don't give me that. If you cared, you'd see what's happening to him. He's broken, and if you force him into that torture room like this, you might as well sign his death certificate yourself."
Then he turned to Ravi, eyes blazing.
"If I find out later that he ends up there behind my back, I swear to God, Ravi—I'll make you pay. I'll make you regret it for the rest of your life. I'll make sure you rot in hell".
"Aarav—calm down," Yug interjected, gently gripping his arm. "Shaurya's not going anywhere. Not until he's better. I promise."
Yug took the bottle of pills from Ravi's hand, his expression unreadable. Without saying a word, he stepped out of the room. Ravi, watching him with a frown, followed quickly.
"What do you think you're doing?" Ravi's voice echoed in the hallway, sharp with suspicion.
Yug, who had just ended a phone call, turned around slowly—expression calm, almost too calm.
"Where are you taking those pills?" Ravi asked, confused but clearly on edge.
"I'm getting them tested," Yug replied coolly, his voice even and firm.
Ravi's jaw clenched. He stepped closer, grabbing Yug by the collar and gripping his jaw tightly. "If you're playing any kind of game here, I swear—it won't end well for you. Do you understand me?"
Yug didn't flinch. His eyes held Ravi's with defiance. "You people really are full of yourselves, aren't you?" he scoffed, shaking off Ravi's grip.
"What are you so scared of? Or are you hiding something?" Yug smirked.
He turned on his heel and walked away, the bottle still in his hand.
Ravi stood there, a flicker of unease crawling up his spine.
Something didn't feel right.
Not at all.