Chapter - 93
Hello, beautiful people! ??
She was still lost inside herself. Her eyes were open — but she wasn't really seeing me. The only thought in my mind was simple — get her out.Alive.
I was about to lift her when a screen on the far wall snapped to life. I hadn't even realized it was there. A shadow filled the frame — a man in a long coat and cap, his face hidden in shadow, nothing but a silhouette.
"Welcome to my world, Rana sa," he said, his voice mocking, slow.
"Did you really think I'd let you walk in and take her away? That's where you're wrong."
I straightened up and fixed the screen with my gaze. "Show your face, coward," I said, my voice cut through the room — the only warning they'd get. "Then we'll see who leaves this place alive."
He chuckled. "What's the hurry, Rana sa? I'll grant you your last wish soon enough."
He tilted his head slightly, the smile in his voice widening. "But first I'll send her where she belongs — with her parents."
My jaw clenched. "Touch her again," I said quietly, "and I'll burn down every wall you're hiding behind."
Even through the screen, he felt the weight of my words. The man's smirk faltered for a second before he laughed again.
"First—save your wife, Rana sa," he said. "Then we'll see how far your power reaches."
The screen went dark, and for a second the room felt colder — like the air itself stopped breathing. Then, the sound came. Gunshots. Sharp, angry, too close.
I cupped Siya's face with both hands. Her skin was cold, her eyes wide and lost. "Trust me, jaan," I said softly but firmly. "I'll take you out safe. Don't look anywhere else, don't listen to anyone. Just me. Only me. Can you do thatfor me?"
She didn't speak. Just gave a small, trembling nod. That was enough for me. I pressed my lips to her forehead. "Good girl," I whispered, and took her hand.
We moved fast. My steps led, hers followed. I was her shield, her wall. Every noise — a gunshot, a scream, boots on the floor — sounded too close, but I kept my focus on her hand in mine. That tiny grip was my strength.
A man came out of the corner with a knife, eyes burning with hate.
He rushed toward Siya, ready to strike. I caught his hand mid-air, twisted it hard until I felt the bone snap, and turned his own knife against him — drove it deep into his stomach.
He collapsed, and I didn't wait to look back.
I pulled Siya closer and kept moving.
She didn't need to see this part of me.
She didn't need to see the monster the world had made me become.
Raghav and Arjun were everywhere — shouting orders, returning fire.
The sound was chaos, but we understood each other without words.
Raghav threw me a rifle, and I caught it without breaking stride.
We fired together — clean, controlled. Every bullet was a message: No one touches her. And get away.
We stopped behind a broken wall for a second. Siya's body trembled against mine, and I could feel her heartbeat racing against my chest. I brushed my thumb over her hand — just a small touch, enough to remind her she wasn't alone.
"Almost there," I murmured. "Few more steps, and we're out."
I looked around — scanning the area. The back exit was open. "There," I said quietly. "Raghav, cover me."
He nodded, already moving. Arjun took the side, clearing the path ahead. We started running again — closer and closer to freedom.
Then, everything slowed.
Just a few steps from the exit, I saw it — a flicker of movement from the upper floor of the next building. A shadow. A man, rifle raised. He was aiming — not at me. At her.
There wasn't time to think.
The gun fired.
I moved without thought, throwing myself over Siya.
The bullet hit me before the sound even reached my ears — a hot, tearing pain ripping through my back, just below the ribs.
The force pushed me forward, my body shielding hers completely.
Another hit followed — sharp, somewhere near my shoulder — and everything inside me burned.
Siya gasped under me, trying to move, but I held her tighter. "Stay down," I breathed, my voice rough. I could taste blood, feel it soaking through my shirt, but none of it mattered.
All I could think was — she's safe.
Her hands trembled against my back, her voice breaking. "Avi—"
I pressed my forehead against hers. Her skin was cold, her body trembling.
"Shh... I'm here," I whispered, my voice rough, almost breaking. My vision blurred, but I forced a small smile. "Told you, Angel... I'll take you out safe."
And even through the pain, even as everything around us blurred into noise and gunfire, the only thing I felt clearly was her heartbeat — fast, alive, real — beneath mine.
She clutched my shirt with shaking hands. "Avi... b-blood... Avi..."
I felt it — warmth spreading across my back, soaking through my shirt. My blood burned like fire, but I held it in — she didn't need to see me break.
Raghav's voice came from somewhere behind. "Aarav! We need to move—now!"
"Bhai!" Arjun's voice cut through the chaos, panicked but steady as he fired toward the window. "We've got you — just hold on!"
His footsteps echoed as he came closer, but I didn't hear what else they said. My eyes were only on Siya. Her face was pale, her lips trembling, eyes filled with tears and fear that cut deeper than the wound ever could.
I took a deep breath, trying to ignore the burning pain crawling through my body. My blood felt like fire, but I couldn't let her see that. Not her.
I cupped her cheek and said softly, "Relax, Angel... nothing will happen to me. You hear me? Nothing."
But she wasn't listening. She kept shaking her head, crying. "No... Avi, blood... Arjun bhaiya, see! Blood!"
Her voice was breaking apart, and so was I.
"Calm down, baby," I said, forcing the words through the tightness in my throat. "Relax, okay? I'm fine... it's nothing."
I don't remember much after that. Just flashes.
Raghav shouting orders. Arjun helping me walk. Siya's hand never leaving mine. Her sobs, soft but constant.
And then, suddenly, I was in the car. Raghav was driving fast, the tires screeching against the road. Arjun sat in the front, shouting into the comm and then turning back, voice breaking. "Bhai, stay with us! We're almost there!"
Siya was beside me, still crying, holding my face, shaking me.
"Avi, don't close your eyes! Please!" she screamed.
I tried to look at her, tried to say something. But my vision was fading—her face, her voice, everything slowly slipping away.
Raghav's voice came faintly. "Aarav! Stay awake, damn it!"
But all I could hear clearly was Siya's trembling voice. "Avi... please... don't..."
I wanted to tell her not to cry. I wanted to tell her I was fine. But my body stopped listening.
And then... everything went quiet.
"Avi!" His name tore out of my throat before I even realized I was screaming.
His eyes... they were closed. Too still. Too quiet. The world around me stopped. Blood covered my hands, his shirt, the seat — everything.
"Mr. Chauhan! Arjun bhaiya! Avi—he... he closed his eyes! Please drive fast! Please!" I cried, my voice shaking so hard I could barely breathe.
Arjun bhaiya turned around from the front seat, his own face pale. "Bhabhi, we're almost there! Please don't cry. Nothing will happen to bhai. He said to you himself, right? He'll be fine."
But how could I not cry? How could I stay calm when his blood was warm against my skin?
Every time I blinked, I saw his face — pale, silent. My heart felt like it was breaking inside my chest. I held his hand tightly against me, whispering, "Avi... please... please open your eyes. I'm right here. You promised you won't leave me, remember?"
The car stopped with a loud screech, and the world blurred around me. Arjun bhaiya jumped out before the car even stopped properly. Mr. Chauhan shouted, calling for help — "Doctor! Doctor!"
But I couldn't hear anything. Just my heartbeat, loud and uneven. I kept saying his name again and again, like if I stopped, he'd disappear forever.
Then the doctors came running. They lifted him onto a stretcher. I followed, not letting go of his hand. "Avi, please open your eyes," I whispered, my tears falling on his fingers. "I don't want to lose you. You are the only family I have. Please, Avi... are you listening to me?"
I tried to smile through the tears. "You always listen to me, right? So you better this time too, okay? Otherwise... otherwise I won't talk to you." My voice broke at the end, turning into a sob.
One of the doctors looked at me gently and said, "Rani sa, we have to take him inside. Please leave Rana sa's hand."
I shook my head. "No... I can't. Please just let me stay—"
But Arjun bhaiya came and held me by the shoulders. His voice was soft, breaking just like mine. "Bhabhi... bhai needs treatment. Let him go. Please."
I looked at Avi's face one last time. My fingers slowly slipped away from his. The warmth of his skin faded from my palm, and it felt like my soul went with him.
As they took him inside, the door of the ICU closed between us — and I just stood there, frozen, whispering his name under my breath. "Avi... please come back to me."
My eyes stayed fixed on the red light above the ICU door. I didn't even blink. I just kept staring at it, waiting for it to turn off — waiting for someone to tell me he was fine.
Arjun bhaiya came and gently made me sit on the chair beside the wall. "Don't worry, bhabhi," he said softly. "Bhai will be fine. I know he will. He has to."
I nodded, but how could I be calm? My Avi was inside that room, fighting for his life. And all because of me. The bullet was meant for me, not him. If it had hit me instead... maybe things would have been easier. At least I wouldn't have to see him like this.
I closed my eyes tightly, joining my trembling hands together.
"Please, Shivji..." I whispered, my voice breaking. "Don't take him away from me. I can lose anything — but not him. He's my only family... my home."
I've always believed in you — because Mom did. Whenever life hurt, she told me to pray and trust you. But right now, trusting feels impossible. My heart is breaking too loudly for faith to answer.
"You didn't listen when I asked you for a little brother," I whispered again, tears streaming down my face. "But this time... please listen. Don't do this to me again. I can't survive it twice."
My breath hitched, and my words came out as a sob. "Why is it always me? Why can't I ever be happy?"
Half an hour passed. Nothing happened. No one came out. The silence was unbearable — every minute felt like a year.
Then suddenly, a nurse rushed out of the ICU.
"We need more blood for Rana sa," she said urgently to Arjun bhaiya. "Please arrange it fast. His condition is critical — we need O-negative immediately."
My legs felt weak. I couldn't breathe for a second. O-negative — that was rare. What if they couldn't find it in time?
I turned to Arjun bhaiya, trying to say something, but my throat was too dry. Before I could speak, Mr. Chauhan said, "I'll arrange it," and ran out. Arjun bhaiya started making calls too, his voice tense but steady.
I sat there, helpless. My hands were trembling. I didn't know what to do — what could I even do? I couldn't give him my blood, I couldn't take away his pain, I couldn't even go inside. All I could do was wait and pray.
After some time, Arjun bhaiya came back. "Bhabhi, the blood's been arranged. Raghav bhaiya's men are bringing it now, okay?"
I just nodded weakly. "Okay..." My lips moved, but the words felt empty.
Minutes felt like hours as I sat there, waiting. When the men finally arrived with the blood, I barely noticed them—I was too lost in thoughts of him. Soon, hours began to pass like minutes, my heart never slowing.
Then the doctors came out. I jumped up so fast the chair almost fell. Their faces were serious — too serious.
"The operation was successful," one of them said carefully. "His vitals are stable, but..."
I felt my heart stop. "...but what?" I demanded, my voice trembling.
The doctor hesitated. "The next 24–48 hours are critical. Right now, his brain is resting. If he—"
"No! Don't say any 'if' or 'but'!" I cut in sharply, my voice cracking. "I want my Avi... fine. He has to be fine. Do you hear me?"
Arjun bhaiya caught my hands gently but firmly. "Bhabhi, please... listen to what the doctor is saying," he said quietly.
"I'm listening!" I cried, tears spilling down. "But he's talking nonsense! Tell him—tell him not to say anything bad about my Avi. He will be fine!"
"Okay... okay, calm down," Arjun bhaiya murmured, his voice steady even when his own eyes looked wet. "I'll handle it."
The doctor exhaled slowly and continued, softer this time. "If he doesn't regain consciousness within 24–48 hours, he may slip into a coma."
The doctor's words hung heavy in the air.
Coma.
The word echoed in my head, sharp and cruel. I felt my heart sink, my throat tighten until breathing itself became painful. My eyes blurred as tears filled them, spilling before I could stop them.
I clutched Arjun bhaiya's hand like it was the only thing keeping me standing.
"No... no, he can't..." I whispered, shaking my head.
"He'll wake up... my Avi... he has to. Please, God.
.. he has to..." My voice broke somewhere between a prayer and a cry.
"He's my life... please don't take him from me. "
Arjun bhaiya squeezed my hand gently. "Bhabhi, please... you have to take care of yourself. You have to stay strong — for bhai."
Strong. The word sounded so far away. How could I be strong when my whole world was lying behind those doors, fighting for his life? But I nodded anyway, because that's what Avi would have wanted.
I wiped my tears quickly and looked at the doctor, my voice trembling.
"Can I meet him? Please... just once. I just want to see him."
The doctor sighed softly, shaking his head. "Not right now, Rani sa. He's still under observation. We need to monitor his brain activity and keep him sedated for a few hours. Once he's stable, we'll shift him to a room — then you can see him."
He kept talking — explaining something about the bullets, how one had passed through his lower back, missing the spine but causing heavy blood loss, and another near his shoulder, close to a nerve. They'd removed both bullets and repaired the damage, but his body was still in shock.
But I didn't really hear anything. The words blurred together — observation, sedation, shock — none of them mattered.
All I could think was — he has to live.
My mind had gone blank, yet every thought in me screamed the same thing again and again.
He had to survive.
My Avi. My heart. My everything.
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