Chapter 162
The atmosphere in the hospital's corridor was silent and heavily filled with the unspoken tension.
It had been three hours and Abhishek was still laying lifelessly inside the ICU.
The doctors were not ready to say anything, the nurses were doing inside out occasionally and were only giving hope not assurance.
Shreya was sitting on the bench outside the room crying her heart out.
Simran and Tripti were sitting on each side of her, rubbing her back consoling her but Shreya's condition was worsening.
Arush's condition was no better, his eyes were filled with tears mixed with the fear.
Vanya was engulfing him in a side hug, providing him the silent assurance.
Aditya was standing clenching his fists so tightly that his nails were digging in his palm.
He was barely controlling the bubbling rage inside him.
Reyansh was standing at the far corner, his eyes were misted.
His heart was clenching looking at his buddy in this condition.
His eyes were fixed on Advait who was sitting on the bench, pressing his palms to the face.
His shirt was drenched with the Abhishek's blood.
He was sitting still, not even moving slightly.
Raj was sitting beside him silently grounding him amidst the storm brewing inside his chest.
Amrit walked to Reyansh's side and gently placed his hand on his shoulder, "Khud ko sambhalo, beta. Advait ko iss waqt tumhari jaroorat hai, tum bhi aise toot jaoge to usey kaun sambhalega." Amrit said in a low voice.
Reyansh slowly nodded his head, wiping off his tears.
He walked to Advait and settled himself beside him.
Advait didn't look up but Reyansh pulled him in a tight hug, breaking the dam of his tears.
Advait tightly clutched his arms around him and Reyansh started making slow circles on his back.
Advait kept crying like a child clinging to Reyansh, his each sob was piercing through Aditya's heart.
"Kuch nahi hoga Abhi ko." Reyansh whispered assuringly, "Shaant ho jaa." He said.
"Kaise shaant ho jaun?" Advait asked, pulling back, "Jis bacche ko maine paala hai usey apne saamne marta hua dekh kar kaise shaant ho jaun?" He broke down into sobs.
Reyansh rubbed his shoulders to calm him down, "Aaj khud ko bohot kamjor mehsoos kar raha hoon yaar.
" Advait whispered, "Aaj se pehele kabhi khud ko itna majboor mehsoos nahi kiya.
" He said helplessly, "Mera baccha meri aankhon ke saamne apni zindagi ke liye lad raha hai aur mai kuch nahi kar paa raha hoon.
" He choked on his tears and buried his face in his palms.
Reyansh didn't say a word, he couldn't. He pulled him in a tight hug as he knew no matter what he said but his words could not assure him.
Advait needed to see his child safe, only Abhishek's smiling face could bring him relief.
Reyansh kept caressing his back, letting him let out all his tears when a guard entered the corridor.
"Boss, jisne goli chalayi thi usey pakad liya hai." The guard informed in a low voice, reading the room.
Advait looked up, his eyes darkened instantly but before he could say anything the guard knocked to the floor with a punch on his jaw.
Aditya punched his face making him fall down to the floor.
He pressed his knee against the guard's chest pinning him to the floor and again threw a punch to his face making everyone gasped.
Everyone quickly stood up, trying to pull Aditya back but his grip only got tightened.
The guard was trying to wriggle out of Aditya's hold but it was futile.
Aditya's eyes were blazing with fire. Reyansh grabbed Aditya's shoulder and tried to pull him up off the guard but he was not ready to leave him.
"Adi, chordo usey." Raj commanded but it went to deaf ears.
"Iski wajah se mere bhai ki aisi haalat hai." Aditya said through gritted teeth, "Kisi kaam ke nahi ho tum log." He yelled.
"Ye karne se Abhi theek ho jayega kya?" Reyansh scolded him, "Chord usey." He said.
The doctors and nurses gathered around them. A nurse came out of the ICU before strictly saying, "Ye kya kar rahe hain aap log? Ye sab hospital me allow nahi hai." She said in panic.
"Adi, leave him. Right now." Advait's voice tore through the room, silencing everyone and pausing Aditya's hand mid air. He put his hand down but his grip around the guard's collar didn't lose.
Advait pulled Aditya up in a swift move, "Chord usey." He said, making the distance between Aditya and the guard.
The guard took a sigh of relief and slowly stood up on his feet. Everyone slowly slipped away from there, the guard was panting heavily while adjusting his clothes. But before anyone could take a sigh of relief the police officers came into the view.
"We're really sorry, Mr. Malhotra. Hum jaante hain ye sahi waqt nahi hai par aapke bhai ko goli lagi hai aur ye ek police case hai. Humein investigation start karne ke liye aapse kuch sawaal karne hain." The head officer said.
"Go ahead." Advait said before glancing at the guard making everyone confused as the culprit had already been found.
The police officer asked a few questions to Advait and left from there before assuring him that they would find the culprit soon.
As soon as the police left the place, Advait stood in front of the guard, "Uss aadmi ko pakadte huye tum logo ko kisi ne dekha?
" Advait asked in a low voice so that only he could hear.
The guard shake his head, "Nahi, boss."
"Good." Advait nodded his head, "Jaa kar uski acche se khatirdari karo, lekin wo marna nahi chahiye. Ek baar Abhi theek ho jaye phir uss aadmi ki jaan mai apne haathon se nikalunga." Advait said through gritted teeth, his eyes were glinting dangerously.
"Yes boss." The guard left from there, bowing his head.
Reyansh stepped behind Advait and made him turn towards himself, "Tu kyun apne haath gande kar raha hai, Advi?" He told him, "Abhi ke saath jisne bhi ye kiya hai hum usey saza dilwayenge but legally. Ye tareeka sahi nahi hai." He gently tried to make him understand.
"Jis waqt mere bete ko goli lagi thi usi waqt mai saare sahi galat bhool gaya tha, wo aadmi ab mere haathon se hi maarega." Advait's voice settled in the air like a verdict.
~________________________________________~
A room was filled with the heart wrenching sobs.
Sia was sitting in a dim quiet of the room, her tears falling on her cheeks.
Her heart was stabbing from inside witnessing the love of her life in this terrible condition.
She couldn't manage herself to come out of the room and asked about Abhishek's health update.
Her heart was hammering from inside, fearing the worst. Her Abhishek was laying in one of the rooms of the same hospital.
The distance between them was not measured in corridors or floors, but in fear.
Her every sob carried the weight of unanswered prayers, every single tear was a silent plea for his return.
Tia was holding her sister and her grief in her arms, engulfing her in a comforting hug.
"Bas kar, Sia." Tia whispered gently, "Abhi bilkul theek ho jayega." She said.
Sia hiccupped catching her breath, "Agar usey ku-kuch hua to mai mar jaungi, di." She cried.
"Shhh kuch nahi hoga usey, doctors haina sab theek kar denge." Tia assured, "Tujhe chal kar dekhna chahiye, Siyu. Abhi ki wife hone se pehele tu ek doctor hai, aise himmat nahi haar sakti tu." Tia gently said.
"M-Mai apne Abhi ko aise nahi dekh sakti." Sia sobbed, "Doctor ne kaha goli uske seene me lagi hai, uski condition bohot critical hai." Sia said looking up at her, "Usey kitni takleef ho rahi hogi aur mai kuch nahi kar paa rahi hoon." She whispered.
Tia tightened her grip around her and caressed her back, "Sab theek ho jayega. Tujhe bhagwaan par bharosa haina, wo kuch nahi hone denge Abhi ko." She said softly.
Sia's body was shaking with sobs, she somehow managed herself and wiped off her tears. She slowly glanced at Tia with blank eyes before vigorously nodding her head, "Mujhe bhagwaan par poora bharosa hai wo kuch nahi hone denge Abhi ko." She said more to herself than Tia to assure her own heart.
"Chal ab Abhi ke paas usey jaroorat hai teri." Tia said, getting up and gently pulling her up.
Sia nodded her head and they both made their ways outside her cabin to the ICU on the third floor.
The elevator of the third floor opened and the Kapoor sisters stepped out of it, inhaling the tensed atmosphere.
Sia hadn't glanced at anyone and walked straight inside the ICU room.
Tia stood outside with the others, waiting for any news of Abhishek.
After an hour Sia stepped out of the room and looked at everyone.
"Abhi, kaisa hai?" Shreya was the first one to asked.
"Doctors ne bullet bahar nikaal li hai magar condition abhi bhi serious hai." Sia informed with a heavy heart but she tried to sound as professional as she could.
A wave of relief washed over on everyone's faces at the positive news but Sia's last sentence brought back the tension and fear on their faces.
Sia took a breath, "Raat bohot ho gayi hai aur sirf do log hi yahan hospital me allow hain. Aap me se koi do log ruk jaiye aur baaki sab ghar jaa kar rest kariye. Abhi theek ho jayega." She said in a comforting voice.
Reyansh nodded his head and Sia went back inside the room. Raj turned towards Advait before gently saying, "Tum sab ghar jao, mai aur Reyansh yahan hain."
Advait looked at him shaking his head, "Mai Abhi ko yahan chord kar kaheen nahi jaunga." He said.
"Mai bhi bhai ke bina ghar nahi jaunga." Arush said with teary eyes.
Reyansh gently wiped off Arush's tears, "Aru, doctors ne bola na Abhi theek ho jayega. Aise khud ko pareshaan karega to teri tabiyat bhi kharab ho jayegi. Tu sabke saath ghar ja, Abhi ko jaise hi hosh aayega mai sabse pehele tujhe call karunga." He said to coax her.
"Par...
Before Arush could complete his sentence, Reyansh gestured to Vanya to make him understand and she did. She made Arush understand and everyone quietly left for the mansion except Advait and Aditya.
"Adi, tu hi samjha Advait ko uske aise zidd karne se Abhi jaldi theek nahi ho jayega." Reyansh said in a disapproving tone.
Aditya slowly walked to Advait's side, "Ghar chaliye bhaiya, aapko rest ki jaroorat hai please." He requested.
"Tu jaa jab tak mera beta theek nahi ho jata mai yahan se hilunga bhi nahi." Advait said stubbornly.
"Mai bhi to aapka beta hoon, aapka beta aapse request kar raha hai please ghar chaliye. Bhai ko aise dekh kar toot gaya hoon mai, aapki tabiyat kharab huyi to khud ko sambhaal nahi paunga." He said in a heavy voice controlling his emotions.
Advait looked away, he hadn't wanted to leave Abhishek's side even for a moment but he couldn't forget that he had responsibilities of his two other sons too.
He had to keep his emotions in check to provide comfort and warmth to his sons.
Reluctantly he nodded his head and he and Aditya made their ways outside the hospital leaving Reyansh and Raj.
They all reached the mansion but sleep was far away from their eyes.
Simran sent Tia to Khurana residence as her body had needed rest and she herself stayed with Shreya to comfort her.
Advait made Arush sleep or you could say Arush kept crying until his body gave in to sleep.
Aditya was pacing in his room back and forth in worry mixed with fear.
Advait hadn't even closed his eyes for a moment, the fear of losing his loved ones was gripping his heart making him anxious.
~________________________________________~
The next day, Everyone made their ways to the hospital where they spotted Reyansh and Raj who were sitting on the bench.
Their eyes were drooping, indicating they needed a good sleep.
Advait told them to rest but they firmly denied but he managed to send Raj back to Khurana residence to take some rest and Reyansh stayed back.
"Kal se aaj ho gaya ye doctors kar kya rahe hain?" Shreya said in anger but her eyes were filled with the fear.
"Doctors apna kaam hi kar rahe hain, Shreya. Tum shaant ho jao." Reyansh calmed her down.
After two hours, doctor Raghav came out of the ICU and let out a long exhale, "Patient is out of danger now." He informed and everyone exhaled a sigh of relief simultaneously, "We're shifting him to another room." He told them.
"Mujhe Abhi se milna hai." Advait said.
"Aap abhi unse nahi mil sakte...
But before Raghav could complete his sentence, Advait took long strides entering the room. Raghav looked at his retreating figure dumbfounded, "He wasn't asking." Aditya told him.
Advait went inside and something broke inside him looking at the medical equipments, machines and wires attached to his kid. His eyes turned teary before he could control himself a lone tear fell down on his cheek.
"Aapko pata haina mujhse dard nahi saha jata phir bhi mujhe itni der tak kneel down karwaya." The little Abhishek's complaining voice echoed in Advait's ears, breaking his heart.
His child who could not even bear the slightest bruise was now suffering with so much pain.
The child who used to fear even having a fever was now laying on a hospital bed attached to the wires.
The vision in front of Advait's eyes turned blurry and he started getting difficulty in breathing.
His chest had started heaving up and down irregularly.
Advait gripped the edge of the bed to support himself but nothing was helping.
Abhishek's face was reminding him of his mother's hanging body.
He could imagine himself standing in a dark room, his mother was leaving his hand and running away from him and Abhishek was following her.
Abhishek walked behind Priya's running figure with a smile on his face leaving a crying Advait alone.
"Bhaiya." Before Advait could drown in his nightmare, Sia's voice jerked him back from the thoughts.
Advait looked at her with difficulty and she was quick to sense that he was about to get a panic attack. But she handled the situation calmly, she quickly made him walk outside the room and made him sit down on the bench.
"Bhaiya ko kya hua?" Aditya asked without missing a beat, looking at Advait's pale face.
"Relax." Sia said calmly, "Give him space. He was about to get a panic attack." She said in a low voice and gestured them to make distance with him.
Reyansh quickly offered him the glass of water and made him drank a few sips.
Sia assured him that Abhishek was fine now and he would get consciousness in the next few hours.
Advait ignored all the negative thoughts coming in his mind and focused on Sia's positive words.
It helped him a bit to relax. The doctors shifted Abhishek to another room and as Sia said in next two hours Abhishek regained his consciousness.
Abhishek slowly opened his eyes, adjusting his view with the lights of the room.
He looked around himself and a growl left out of his mouth when he tried to shift on his place.
His gaze fell over on his upper left side where he was feeling an immense pain.
He roamed his gaze everywhere but there was no one in the room so he put his head down back against the pillow letting out a tired sigh.
But before he could do anything to call someone, Sia entered the room.
The moment their eyes met with each other, they both froze on their places.
The world around them had stopped revolving for a moment.
Theair in the room was suffocated with the silence but before Sia could turn her back towards him Abhishek spoke up.
"Siyu." He whispered in a barely audible voice.
The only word was enough to break the dam inside her heart. She quickly turned her away from him as she hadn't wanted him to see her crying. She hushed herself and made her way to his side before wiping off her tears.
"You okay?" She asked, her eyes locking into his.
Abhishek nodded his head, "Bas thoda sa dard hai." He whispered.
"You'll be fine." She replied.
Abhishek stretched his hand out for her, she noticed the silent plea in his eyes and reluctantly she put her hand down on his. Abhishek wrapped his fingers around her hand as if she would disappear.
"Mujhe pata hai mere koi bhi words...maine tumhare saath jo kiya hai usey theek nahi kar sakte.
" He said, his eyes turning watery, "But trust me, Siyu.
Jab se humari shaadi huyi hai maine kabhi apne past ke baare me socha tak nahi hai, mujhe nahi pata maine nashe me aisa kyun kaha.
Mai safai nahi de raha hoon, Siyu. Mai jaanta hoon mujhse galati huyi hai aur tum mujhe jo saza dogi mujhe wo manzoor hai magar please meri galati ki saza khud ko mat do.
" He requested, tears fell down off his eyes, "Tum bohot acchi ho, tumhare aage tumhari poori zindagi hai.
Mere jaise insaan ke peeche usey barbaad mat karo.
Mujhe tumhare har faisle ki kadar hai, tum hum dono ke liye jo faisla logi mujhe wo manzoor hai.
" He completed his sentence but his grip on Sia's hand remain tightened.
Sia controlled herself in front of him and shakily nodded her head, "Iss waqt tumhe aaram ki jaroorat hai, ye sab baatein hum baad me karenge." She said and slipped her hand out of his hold.
"Bhaiya kahan hain?" Abhishek asked.
"I'm sending him inside." She said and walked out of the room.
Abhishek looked down at his empty hand where Sia's hand was resting a moment before. He looked up when Shreya barged into the room. She ran to Abhishek, hugging him tightly. Her tears were not stopping, Abhishek felt bad for making her crying.
"Bhabhi, chup ho jaiye. Dekhiye mai bilkul theek hoon." He said.
"Kya theek hai?" Shreya snapped, "Goli lagi thi tujhe, jaan nikal gayi thi meri." She said, cupping his cheeks, "Mere khud ke bacche nahi hain Abhi, tum teeno hi mere bacche ho agar tujhe bhi kuch ho jata to mai kya karti?" She asked, her face was streaked with the tears.
"Lekin kuch hua to nahi na, bas ab shaant ho jaiye." Abhishek said to calm her down.
She gently combed his hair back before pressing a kiss on his forehead making him smile. Aditya and Arush followed by others entered the room. Aditya, Arush and Vanya squeezed Abhishek between them making him laugh a little.
"Kya baat hai, mujhe pata nahi tha tum log mujhse itna pyar karte ho." Abhishek said, "Lagta hai itna pyar paane ke liye roz goli khani padegi." He joked.
Reyansh whacked Abhishek's head not so gently making him rubbed the spot instantly, "Hospital bed par leta hoon mai kam se kam abhi to nahi maarein." Abhishek said.
"To phir faltu bakwaas karna band kar de." Reyansh scolded but Abhishek opened his arm for him to hug him which Reyansh happily obliged. They shared a warm hug before pulling back.
"Ab kaisa feel ho raha hai, Abhi?" Tia asked, caressing his hair.
"Much better, just thoda sa pain hai." Abhishek replied, "And why are you here, Tia? You should have resting at home." He said, worrying for her.
"I'm good." Tia said to dismissed his worry.
Abhishek roamed his gaze over the room, "Bhaiya kahan hain?" He asked again in worry as he should be with him at this time.
"Koi important kaam aa gaya islie usey jana pada, thodi der me aata hoga." Reyansh replied.
"Iss waqt mujhse jyada jaroori kaam kya aa gaya?" Abhishek asked out loud, feeling a bit insecure.
"Kuch jaroori hi hoga bhai tabhi to bhaiya ko iss waqt jana pada." Aditya stepped in.
Abhishek nodded his head, Sia told everyone to move outside as it was the time for Abhishek to take rest. He had his medicines and closed his eyes to sleep.
~________________________________________~