40.
Aarav stood with his arms folded, watching silently as Ravi helped Shaurya sit up.
A private doctor—a long-time friend of Aarav—had been called for a thorough check-up. Shaurya's leg was already set in a plaster, the wounds on his body carefully bandaged.
Aarav's gaze hadn't left Shaurya for a single moment. Unblinking. Intense. So much so that it was starting to creep out Ravi, though he decided to pretend he hadn't noticed.
They were at Shaurya's place now. He had been released from the council's cell just yesterday.
"Sorry to say, Sir," the doctor began, inspecting the fresh notes on his clipboard, "but you're in terrible condition."
"As if we didn't already know that," Roy muttered from the corner. "Can you say something more useful?"
Aarav shot him a sharp look. Roy immediately scratched the back of his neck and attempted a sheepish smile.
"I've written down all your medicines with proper timings," the doctor continued, "Please follow them strictly. And—no solid food for at least a week."
Shaurya finally looked up at the man, eyes narrowing. "You sure you're even a doctor?"
The doctor turned to Aarav for rescue. Aarav stepped closer, his presence filling the room. Shaurya opened his mouth to speak—
"Shut up," Aarav said, his tone calm but absolute. "You can continue," he added, glancing at the doctor.
Shaurya closed his mouth without protest.
"As I was saying... avoid oily foods. No alcohol for a few months, and I'd recommend quitting smoking as well. Mr. Shekhawat is, after all, getting older," the doctor finished with an awkward laugh.
"No alcohol. And no cigarettes," Aarav repeated, his tone pointed, dragging out the last word for emphasis.
"Anything else?" Ravi asked, shifting his weight.
"Just... we'll need to change the dressing on his hand," the doctor said, already preparing fresh bandages.
Aarav stepped aside to give them space. A moment later, Yug entered the room. Aarav reached for the file in his hands.
"Was it too hectic today?" Aarav asked, concern softening his voice as his fingers brushed against Yug's arm.
"No, all fine. You can check the data," Yug replied with a smile.
From the bed, Shaurya cleared his throat—a dry, deliberate cough that instantly drew both their attention.
"Oh—right. Sorry." Yug shifted uncomfortably. "How are you, Shaurya? I mean... Sir. Shaurya Sir."
Shaurya's expression didn't change, but the look in his eyes made Yug visibly regret every word.
"I'm all broken, as you can see," Shaurya said flatly, letting out a slow sigh.
The doctor carefully unwrapped the bandages on his arm. The wound beneath was raw and angry, blood still seeping through torn flesh. Yug flinched at the sight, his hand instinctively covering his mouth as he stepped back toward Aarav's side.
Shaurya's eyes flicked to him, catching the discomfort. Then his gaze shifted to Ravi, who was leaning toward Roy, murmuring something under his breath.
"Ravi," Shaurya called.
Ravi looked up.
Shaurya tilted his chin toward Yug—a silent instruction.
Ravi mouthed, Why me?
Shaurya's stare didn't waver.
With a dramatic sigh, Ravi rolled his eyes. "Fine."
He turned to Yug. "Hey, I need to talk to you about something. Can you step outside for a moment?"
Yug looked confused. "Uh... should Aarav come too?"
"Do you know what personal space means?" Ravi snapped.
"Alright, fine," Aarav said, his tone laced with sarcasm. "Yug, if he says something weird, tell me. I bite."
Ravi's face twitched—he knew that wasn't a joke. Aarav had, in fact, once bitten him when he'd blocked him from meeting Shaurya.
Yug snorted and followed Ravi out. The doctor finished cleaning the wound and began rewrapping the fresh dressing, his movements precise.
Soon, the doctor left, and with Ravi and Yug gone, the room held only Aarav and Shaurya.
Roy, sensing the tension brewing, excused himself quickly—he had no interest in being present for whatever was about to unfold between the two.
Silence settled, heavy and awkward.
Shaurya finally lifted his gaze, finding Aarav already looking at him. Aarav's eyes flicked away instantly.
"Aarav," Shaurya called softly.
"Hm?"
"Come here," Shaurya motioned with his uninjured hand.
"Why?" Aarav asked before he could stop himself. Shit. Why did I say that? he thought, pressing his lips together. He moved toward the bed anyway, but instead of sitting beside Shaurya, he pulled up a chair and settled into it.
"Do you need anything? Is it hurting somewhere?" Aarav's voice was flat, his eyes avoiding Shaurya's.
"Aarav... will you trust me if I tell you something?" Shaurya asked.
Here it comes. He's going to tell me to leave him alone. Aarav braced himself.
"Six years ago—" Shaurya began, but Aarav cut in.
"I don't think we should talk about this now. You should rest. I'll come back later—Aarya must be back from school." He started to rise, but Shaurya's grip, weak yet determined, caught his wrist.
"Shaurya, what are you doing? God, don't move," Aarav scolded, quickly sitting back down.
"You need to hear me, Aarav. You wanted answers—I'll give them. Just... stay a while."
Something in Shaurya's voice—fragile, almost pleading—made Aarav's eyes soften.
"I'll listen to you," Aarav said quietly. "Par jaldi kya hai, Shaurya? We have time, okay? Focus on yourself right now."
"I don't want more regrets," Shaurya admitted, eyes locking with his. "I'm scared it'll be too late before I can fix things."
"It's already too late, Shaurya," Aarav replied, his tone stripped of emotion. The words hit Shaurya like a stone to the chest.
"I don't think I can go through this all over again," Aarav continued, sighing as he rubbed his forehead. "I'm... tired. I'm confused."
Shaurya stayed silent.
Finally, Aarav met his gaze again. "But... for our daughter's sake, let's heal together." His voice softened as he reached out, taking Shaurya's hand gently, his fingers brushing over the thread tied around Shaurya's wrist.
"When can I meet her?" Shaurya asked.
"Soon. But you need to heal first," Aarav replied with a small, tight smile.
"You said she doesn't want to meet me," Shaurya's voice dipped, tinged with sadness.
Aarav's chest tightened. He regretted the way he'd spoken to Shaurya that day—regretted every word that had cut him down. But that day he got scared be Vaani's words. And also Aarav was still mad about Shaurya's impulsive decisions. But he didn't want to bring that topic now.
"Forget about that, Shaurya. Aarya's just... confused about a few things. But she needs to see you. She talks about you every now and then," Aarav said softly.
Shaurya's lips curved in the faintest smile. "What does she like? Anything in particular?"
"Oh, she loves food," Aarav chuckled. "Just like you." His eyes softened at the thought. "But her likes and dislikes change every other day. I'm always confused about what's going on in that little brain of hers."
Shaurya found himself lost in the warmth of Aarav's voice. The way he spoke about Aarya—it made Shaurya ache to meet her even more.
"Hm. By the way, I told you I'd come back alive," Shaurya said with a faint smirk.
"That's because you were in there for just ten days. Stay any longer and—have you even looked at yourself?" Aarav shot back, rolling his eyes.
Shaurya chuckled under his breath.
"Hello there again," Yug's voice cut in from the doorway. Aarav instinctively shifted a little away from Shaurya.
"Um, sir, about the reports—" Yug began.
"You can call me Shaurya," Shaurya interjected.
"Well... okay, Shaurya. Have you considered rehab?" Yug asked, his tone turning serious. Aarav glanced at him, curious.
"I know there are no traces of drugs in your system now," Yug continued, "but I'm talking about your mental health. Sometimes, after what you've been through, people develop post-traumatic depression. I can recommend a therapist if you'd like."
"To be honest, I think I'm fine," Shaurya replied.
"But you didn't sleep all night," Ravi protested from the corner.
"That was just the pain," Shaurya countered before adding, "But... thanks for your concern." He looked at Yug. "You saved me from getting worse. I'll always be grateful for that."
"That's alright," Yug said with a small smile. "But I'd still recommend you change your bodyguard, you know." His eyes slid toward Ravi. Aarav gave a short, approving nod.
Shaurya smiled faintly. "Sorry, but I can't let go of Ravi."
Ravi straightened and gave a small bow.
"Get married already", Aarav muttered.
"Well then, I think we should leave now. Aarav, it's getting late," Yug said.
Aarav nodded and rose from his seat.
"Hey... can't you stay a little longer?" Shaurya asked, his voice softer than he intended.
Aarav glanced at him, then at Yug, who pressed his lips together in silence.
"Shaurya" Aarav sighed. "Take care." He simply said and turned to leave. Because he shouldn't be staying here for too long.
Shaurya's eyes followed him—and caught how Yug's hand almost slipped around Aarav's waist. Aarav, in turn, rested his hand briefly on Yug's arm with a small smile before walking out together.
"Stop staring at them like that, Shaurya. Your eyeballs are about to fall out," Ravi muttered.
Shaurya's gaze lingered on the doorway long after the two figures had vanished from sight. The silence in the room pressed down on him, heavy and suffocating. All he wanted—all he had ever wanted—was Aarav's love. To feel Aarav's arms around him, steadying him, grounding him.
But that embrace never came.
Yug's words echoed in his mind, cruel in their truth. Perhaps he really wasn't fine. Perhaps he never would be. Because Shaurya knew—without Aarav, he was nothing more than a hollow shell trying to survive in a world that no longer had meaning. Because Shaurya meant nothing without Aarav.