13
I watched her small figure disappear through the ICU doors, her steps urgent, desperate, filled with a pain that even someone like me - heartless, ruthless - could feel burning in my own chest.
My fists clenched at my sides.
I had seen Katha fight the toughest court battles, stare down mafia lords without a blink, argue mercilessly against injustice - but today, she looked nothing like that powerful, untouchable queen.
Today, she was just a broken sister running to save her little brother.
My Katha.
I hated this feeling.
This tightness in my chest.
This sharp need to protect her, to shield her from a world that dared to make her cry.
I wasn't supposed to feel anything - but for her, I did.
For her, everything broke down inside me.
I stood there, silently watching the closed ICU door she had vanished through, my jaw locked painfully.
God, if I could - I would burn this whole city to ashes just to see her smile again.
Just to never see those tears again on her beautiful face.
I wanted to hold her.
Crush her to my chest and tell her she wasn't alone.
That I would make sure no one ever touched her family again.
That she didn't have to fight alone anymore.
But I stayed still.
Silent.
Because she wasn't ready for me.
Not yet.
And until then, I would stand back...
Guard her from the shadows...
And wait.
I moved silently toward Bhairava, who stood stiffly outside the ICU, arms crossed, his jaw clenched in barely restrained fury.
Without wasting time, I asked, "What happened?"
His eyes, sharp and burning, flickered toward me briefly before he answered, his voice low and heavy, "Someone drugged Utsav's drink at the party.
When he woke up, a girl accused him of rape.
And before we could even get there, the police - and her family - beat him up.
They locked him up without evidence, humiliated him.
My brother... my little brother broke down because of it. "
I listened, not interrupting.
I could feel his rage, simmering, barely contained - it was the same boiling feeling clawing inside my own chest now.
Utsav. That innocent kid.
Katha's heartbeat.
"I'll make sure you get everything," I said coldly.
He raised an eyebrow.
"Every CCTV footage from that party," I clarified. "The bar, the roads, even traffic cams if needed. Witness lists, phone records, any bribe trails - whatever you need to bury these bastards... I'll get it."
For the first time, Bhairava's face eased slightly. He gave a sharp nod, a silent thank you between two men who didn't need to say much.
"This city listens to me," I said, my voice turning lethal. "If they don't... they will learn."
He smirked slightly - it was a dark, bloodthirsty smirk - and clapped my shoulder once.
"Good," Bhairava said, his voice dropping to a whisper, filled with promise.
"Because no one touches My family and walks away breathing."
I only nodded once in response, and both of us turned our gazes toward the ICU where the most precious person in both our lives was standing - fighting for her brother... and maybe, unknowingly, for my already ruined soul too.
Just then, from the corner of my eye, I saw a woman rushing toward us.
Ah, I knew her - Arya Mittal.
Bhairava's soon-to-be wife.
She didn't spare a glance toward anyone else; she went straight to Bhairava, her steps desperate and shaky.
Before any of us could react, she threw her arms around him, hugging him tightly, as if anchoring him back to the ground.
"Bhairava," she whispered, almost brokenly against his chest.
He stiffened for a brief second before wrapping his arms around her, pulling her closer, whispering something low only she could hear.
The raw emotion on both their faces was something rare to witness - even for me. Bhairava Choudhury, the most feared mafia lord, standing there, simply a man - holding onto the woman he loved.
Arya pulled back slightly, looking up at him with tear-filled eyes.
"How is Utsav?" she asked shakily, her voice trembling.
Bhairava exhaled slowly, resting his forehead against hers for a second.
"Fighting... he's fighting, jaan," he murmured.
"But he'll be okay."
She nodded, but tears still rolled down her cheeks.
She turned then, finally noticing me standing there quietly.
Her expression shifted - wary, assessing.
But I simply gave her a small, respectful nod.
There was no war here. We were both standing for the same people.
Arya gave a tiny nod back before her arms tightened again around Bhairava's waist.
Both of them stood there, a fortress of strength for each other - just as I wanted to be for my Katha.
Without speaking, I shifted my gaze back toward the ICU window, where she stood by her brother's bedside - my little goddess, still fighting her silent battle.
And I silently vowed, no matter what, I'll burn this world down before letting any more harm come to her or her family.
Arya sat next to me, her sharp eyes practically drilling holes through my skull.
She wasn't even trying to hide the fact that she was observing every breath I took.
Finally, after a few minutes of unbearable silence, I asked in my usual cold tone,
"What?"
She didn't even hesitate.
"You like my little Katha, don't you?" she asked bluntly, her voice low but deadly serious.
I flinched - slightly - the tiniest movement. But knowing the kind of woman she was, she caught it immediately.
Still, I schooled my expression into my usual mask of emotionlessness and turned to look at her blankly.
"Why do you think so?" I said, voice flat and steady.
Arya leaned back, arms crossed, like she was preparing for war.
"I saw you stare at my little Katha in the stadium too," she said without blinking.
"You look at her like you worship her.
Like she's the only damn thing in this filthy world you believe in.
"
She narrowed her eyes. "What is the matter here, Agnivanshi? "
I simply continued to stare back at her, giving away nothing.
"You have got me wrong," I said finally, cool and composed.
Arya leaned closer, her smile sweet but her eyes pure steel.
"I better have gotten you wrong, Agnivanshi," she said calmly.
"Because I might be a doctor, but don't think I won't kill you without a second thought if you even breathe wrong near my Katha."
I blinked once.
God.
I thought the Choudhury brothers were mad... but the future Choudhury bahu was even madder.
Brilliant, I thought dryly and gave a simple nod.
Arya leaned back, satisfied for now - but her eyes never left me.
She was still watching.
Waiting.
And deep inside, I knew - if I ever hurt Katha, there wouldn't just be Bhairava to answer to.
Arya Mittal would personally carve me into pieces before anyone else even got the chance.
Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Katha came out of the ICU room.
She looked like a ghost - pale, trembling, her eyes bloodshot from crying.
The moment she stepped into the corridor, Arya bolted to her like a bullet and gathered her into a tight hug.
Katha broke down again, harder this time, clutching Arya like a drowning person holding onto a lifeline.
"I couldn't save him, bhabhi... he tried to leave me... I... I couldn't even protect my laddu..." she sobbed brokenly.
Arya gently cupped her face, wiping her tears.
"Shh, Katha... listen to me," Arya said softly but firmly.
"Utsav is alive because of you. You saved him, my brave girl. You hear me? You saved him."
She rocked Katha slightly like calming a child.
"But he was hurting so much... and I couldn't see it..." Katha choked out, guilt soaking every word.
"And now you will heal him," Arya said, pressing a kiss to Katha's forehead.
"You are his di, his whole world. He needs you now more than ever. You won't let him fall again, will you?"
Katha shook her head fiercely, still sobbing but more determined now.
"I won't... I promise... I'll fix everything, bhabhi... I'll fix it..."
Everyone stood around silently, giving her space, their faces tight with their own anger and helplessness.
But suddenly, Katha stiffened in Arya's arms and pulled back, panic flashing across her face.
"Sh-Sharaa!" she gasped.
"My baby - I left him at home! He's alone!"
Arya quickly held her shoulders.
"Relax, relax, little one! Gyan already called the guards at home - they're watching over Sharaa. He's safe, okay?"
Still, Katha looked hesitant, her body torn between staying by Utsav and rushing back home to her cub.
"You should go home, Katha," Bhairava said gently, walking closer.
"You need rest. Utsav's stable now. We'll stay here and keep you updated every second."
"I don't want to leave him..." she whispered brokenly.
"I promise, little star, he won't be alone," Bhairava said in his rare, soft tone.
"I swear it on my life."
I watched her, struggling with herself, looking utterly lost and exhausted.
Before she could sink deeper into her guilt and worry, I stepped forward calmly.
"I'll drop you," I said in a low voice, my eyes only on her.
She looked at me - her eyes vulnerable, raw - and for once, she didn't argue.
She just nodded weakly, too tired to fight anymore.
Without another word, I gently guided her out of the hospital toward my car, Arya pressing a soft kiss on Katha's forehead before letting her go.
Everyone watched us quietly, protective and worried, as we left.
I was driving through the quiet roads, the tension in the air so thick it was almost suffocating.
Every few seconds, my eyes flicked toward her.
Katha sat silently, hugging herself, looking so small and broken.
The strong, sharp woman everyone feared.
.. now looked like a little girl who lost her entire world.
I couldn't stay silent anymore.
"You should rest," I said softly, my voice lower than usual.
She didn't even look at me. Just kept staring out the window, tears silently rolling down her cheeks.
I tightened my grip on the steering wheel. "Utsav... he'll be okay. He's strong. And he has you."
Her lips quivered before she whispered, almost too quietly, "He's not just my little brother.
.. he's our baby."
She wiped her cheeks angrily, but more tears came.
"After Mama died... Papa, Bhairava bhaiya, Gyan bhaiya, Dyan bhaiya.
.. and me... we all found our happiness in him.
He's not just loved, Dattatriya... he's our heart.
Our family's little moon. Our charm," she choked out.
"I couldn't even protect him... I-I failed him. "
My chest tightened painfully seeing her like this. I slowed the car a bit.
"You didn't fail him, Katha," I said, my voice firmer. "You stood up for him when no one else did. You are his shield. You are his home. You did not fail."
She finally turned toward me, broken, vulnerable eyes meeting mine. "Then why does it feel like I lost him?"
I pulled the car to a gentle stop at a red light.
Without thinking, I reached out and carefully placed my hand over hers where it rested on her lap.
"You didn't lose him," I said quietly. "And you never will. Not while you're breathing."
For a long moment, she just stared at our hands... and then, so slowly, she gripped my hand back.
The light turned green, but I didn't move immediately.
For once, the world could wait.
For her... I'd let everything wait.
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