𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟗|𝐈'𝐦 𝐒𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐲 𝐉𝐚𝐚𝐧

Rajveer Pov:

My heart pounded in my chest as I gathered her fragile body into my arms, her warmth slowly fading against me. Her blood stained my hands, my white shirt was now fully drenched with her blood, and the very air around me felt suffocating.

My breaths came out ragged as I called out to Abhimaan my most trusted men, my voice thick with urgency.

"Get the car. Now!" I barked, my hold on her tightening.

Abhimaan didn't waste a second, rushing to open the car door. I slid into the back seat, cradling her in my lap as if shielding her from any more pain. Her eyes remained closed, her face pale, except for the crimson gash on her forehead. I swallowed the lump in my throat, my fingers brushing away a stray lock of hair from her face.

I bowed my head, pressing a trembling kiss to her forehead. My voice came out as a raw whisper, laced with an unshakable promise.

"By my honor, I vow... whoever dared to harm you will plead for mercy, but I'll ensure their suffering is so painful, the mere memory of you will scorch their soul."

My jaw clenched as Abhimaan speed toward the hospital, the tires screeching against the pavement.

I dug into my pocket with one hand, pulling out my phone and dialing Aditya's number. The moment he picked up, I didn't let him speak. My fury exploded through the line.

"Find that bastard , I don't care where he is, don't let him escape. I want him alive. I want him breathing until I get my hands on him!"

Aditya gave a curt nod before hanging up. But I couldn't focus on anything else. My gaze dropped back to my jaan in my arms the woman who was my everything.

Her face was so peaceful, as if she were simply asleep. But the blood seeping into my shirt told me otherwise. I ran my thumb over her knuckles, bringing her hand to my lips. A shudder ran through me as I whispered against her skin.

"I'm sorry, jaan... I failed you." My voice broke, my chest tightening with unbearable guilt. "I was supposed to protect you. I should have been there. And today, of all days... the day I finally confessed how much I love you..."

A sharp breath left me as I buried my face into her hair, holding her as if she would disappear if I let go.

"Please... open your eyes for once Sweetheart," I murmured, my words barely audible, my grip tightening around her lifeless body.

The car raced through the streets, but time had never felt so painfully slow. I didn't care about the blood on my hands, the wrath boiling inside me, or the hunt that was about to begin.

All I cared about my jaan , my wife.

And I would burn the whole world to keep her alive.

I gritted my teeth, my jaw locked so tight that it ached. My eyes burned, but I refused to let a single tear fall. She needed me strong. She needed me furious.

"Drive faster, Abhimaan!" I barked, my voice raw with desperation.

Abhimaan pressed down on the accelerator, the car swerving dangerously through the empty streets. My grip on her tightened as I held her closer, my fingers trembling as I brushed a strand of hair from her face. Her skin was growing cold too cold.

"Jaan, stay with me," I whispered, my voice cracking. "You hear me? Just hold on a little longer."

Nothing.

No response.

No movement.

Her face was so peaceful, her long lashes casting faint shadows against her pale cheeks. But she wasn't asleep. No, this was something far worse.

My throat tightened, my chest heavy with an unbearable weight.

How did this happen?

How did I let this happen?

I was supposed to protect her. She was supposed to be safe in my arms, laughing, teasing me with that fiery attitude of hers, driving me insane with just a single look.

And yet, here she was lifeless, bleeding, slipping away.

The thought sent a violent shudder through my body, a sharp pain stabbing through my heart. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I fought the raging storm inside me.

I would find the one who did this.

And when I did, there would be no mercy.

And then after some time we reached the hospital.

The car screeched to a stop in front of the hospital, and before Abhimaan could even reach for the door, I had already thrown it open, stepping out with her limp body cradled against me.

"Call out a fucking doctor" My voice echoed through the silent night, raw and desperate.

Doctors and nurses rushed toward us, their expressions shifting from confusion to alarm the moment they saw the state she was in.

"She's lost too much blood!" one of them shouted, signaling for a stretcher.

I laid her down carefully, my hands shaking as they tried to pull her away from me. But I didn't let go.

"Sir, you need to step back!" a doctor urged, trying to guide me away.

I snapped my head toward him, my glare murderous. "Touch me again, and I'll break your hands."

"Sir you need to calm down!" Abhimaan's voice cut through the haze of my fury. "Let them do their job , even Mrs Rajawat already lost so much blood!"

I clenched my jaw, my entire body rigid, but I forced myself to step back.

The stretcher disappeared behind the double doors, taking her away from me, leaving me standing there helpless, furious, and drowning in an agony I had never known before.

A nurse approached me hesitantly. "Sir... she will need a blood transfusion. We need a family member to sign the forms."

I turned to her sharply, my voice ice-cold. "She's my wife. I'll sign whatever you need. Just save her."

She gave me a quick nod before hurrying away.

I stood frozen, my fists clenched so tightly my nails bit into my palms. My phone vibrated again, and I forced myself to pull it out.

Aditya.

"Tell me you found him," I growled.

"Not yet, but we have leads," he said, his voice cautious. "He won't get far."

"That's not good enough," I hissed, my patience wearing dangerously thin. "I want him found. I want him breathing until I get my hands on him."

"Rajveer----"

"I don't want to hear it anything!" I snapped, ending the call.

I dragged a hand down my face, my body trembling with barely contained rage.

But underneath all that fury... was fear.

A fear I had never known before.

I wasn't afraid of death. I wasn't afraid of war, of blood, of losing battles.

But I was terrified of losing her.

I sank onto the cold metal chair outside the emergency room, elbows resting on my knees, hands clasped together.

"Please..." My voice was barely a whisper, my heart aching. "Come back to me, jaan."

I didn't care what it took. I didn't care what had to be done.

I would burn the whole damn world if that's what it took to keep her alive.

Seconds stretched into minutes.

Minutes felt like hours.

The cold hospital hallway swallowed me whole, the fluorescent lights overhead buzzing faintly, adding to the deafening silence that pressed against my ears. The only sound I could focus on was the rhythmic pounding of my own heart, each beat a painful reminder that she was fighting for her life beyond those cold, steel doors.

I sat there, motionless, elbows resting on my knees, my fingers threaded through my hair as I stared at the ground, lost in the torment of my thoughts.

I had failed her.

I Rajveer Singh Rajawat, a man who had built his empire on fear, a man who had never once let his enemies get the upper hand, had let the one person who mattered the most slip through my fingers.

Her blood was still on my hands drying, crusting against my skin like a cursed reminder of my helplessness. My throat was tight, my chest heavy, suffocating under the weight of an agony I had never experienced before.

"Sir..."

A hesitant voice broke through the fog of my despair.

I looked up, my sharp gaze locking onto a trembling nurse clutching a clipboard to her chest.

"The doctors are doing their best, but she's lost a lot of blood. We need a donor match immediately."

"Take mine." The words left my mouth without hesitation.

Her eyes widened slightly, but she nodded quickly. "We'll need to confirm if your blood type-"

"It matches." My voice was steel. "Take as much as you need."

Without another word, she gestured for me to follow.

I moved like a man possessed, my steps firm, my mind solely focused on one thing keeping my jaan alive.

Inside the small donation room, a nurse prepared the IV, but my hands never stopped trembling. My jaw locked, my fists clenched as the needle slid into my vein, draining the blood that I would willingly trade for her life.

I'd give her every last drop if that's what it took.

Every second I spent in that chair felt like an eternity wasted. I needed to be outside, near her. I needed to see her, touch her, reassure myself that she was still breathing.

But all I could do was sit there, my blood flowing into a bag that would soon flow into her veins, as if my very essence could tether her back to me.

As soon as the process was over, I yanked the needle out before they could even stop me, ignoring the sting, ignoring the nurse's protests as I stormed out of the room and back into the hallway.

The wait was unbearable.

I paced in front of the operating room, my muscles coiled with restless energy. Every few minutes, my hands would twitch toward my phone, my fingers itching to dial Aditya again, to demand updates, to unleash my fury upon the bastard responsible for this.

But I forced myself to wait.

Because right now, nothing mattered more than her.

I turned my gaze toward the door, my heart clenching at the thought of her fragile body lying on a cold operating table, surrounded by doctors fighting to save her.

She had to survive.

She had to open her eyes.

She had to come back to me.

I didn't realize how much time had passed until I heard the sound of hurried footsteps.

"Bhai sa !"

I turned sharply, my eyes blazing as I saw Kiara running toward me, tears streaming down her face. Behind her, Tanvi and Ishika followed, their expressions equally stricken with worry.

The moment Kiara reached me, she grabbed my arm, her grip tight, desperate. "Bhai... how is bhabhi sa ?"

I swallowed hard, my voice hoarse. "Still inside."

A choked sob escaped her lips as she clutched my sleeve, as if holding onto me would somehow make this nightmare disappear.

Tanvi placed a hand on my shoulder, her own eyes glistening with tears. "She's strong, Raj.

She'll fight."

I nodded stiffly, but my throat burned.

She had to fight.

Because if she didn't...

No.

I couldn't even let my mind go there.

After some hours,The doors to the operating room suddenly burst open.

I straightened instantly, my entire body tensing as a doctor stepped out, his surgical mask still on, exhaustion visible in his eyes.

" Dr Sharma," I demanded, my voice sharp. "How is my wife?"

He exhaled heavily, pulling down his mask.

"She's stable... for now," he said cautiously. "The injuries were severe. She lost a lot of blood, but we managed to stop the bleeding. However..."

I stiffened. "However, what?"

He hesitated before continuing. "She hasn't regained consciousness yet. We need to monitor her for the next 24 hours. The next few hours are critical."

The ground beneath me felt unsteady, the doctor's words ringing in my ears like a cruel echo.

Stable... but unconscious.

She was still fighting.

Still holding on.

I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as I forced myself to breathe.

"Can I see her?"

The doctor hesitated but eventually nodded. "One person at a time."

Without another word, I pushed past him, ignoring Kiara's tearful pleas and the worried glances from Tanvi and Ishika.

I needed to see her.

I needed to be with her.

Inside the dimly lit ICU room, the steady beeping of the heart monitor filled the air.

And there she was.

My jaan.

Lying on that hospital bed, her face pale, her body connected to wires and IVs. The sight of her like this was a dagger straight through my heart.

I took slow, measured steps toward her, afraid that if I moved too fast, she would disappear like a cruel illusion.

Lowering myself into the chair beside her bed, I reached for her hand, cradling it between my own.

"Jaan..." My voice was barely a whisper, filled with anguish. "I'm here."

I brought her hand to my lips, pressing a lingering kiss against her soft skin, my eyes closing as I exhaled shakily.

"I'm so sorry," I murmured, my voice breaking. "I couldn't protect you. I let this happen... and I hate myself for it , I hate because I didn't protect you."

Silence.

Only the beeping of the machines and the quiet hum of the ventilator filled the space between us.

"You have to wake up," I whispered fiercely, my grip tightening on her hand. "You have to open your eyes and yell at me for being overprotective. You have to scold me for not eating on time. You have to tell me that you're okay. Because I can't do this without you, jaan.

I won't."

I leaned closer, pressing my forehead against the back of her hand, my entire body trembling.

"If you don't wake up..." My voice dropped to a raw whisper. "Then I swear to God, I will hunt down the man who did this and make him regret the day he was born."

A tear slipped down my cheek, but I didn't move to wipe it away.

For the first time in years, Rajveer Singh Rajawat the man feared by many , the ruthless mafia king felt powerless.

And I hated it.

But more than that... I was terrified.

Terrified of losing the only person who had ever held my heart.

"Come back to me, jaan," I murmured, brushing my lips against her knuckles once more. "Please."

And as the night stretched on, I sat there, holding onto her, refusing to let go.

The rhythmic beeping of the machines echoed in my ears, a cruel reminder that she was still fighting barely. I held her fragile hand in mine, my thumb brushing against her cold skin, willing some of my warmth into her.

Her face was pale, her lips slightly parted as the oxygen mask covered her mouth. Bruises marred her once flawless skin, a deep scratch on her forehead stark against her porcelain complexion. My heart clenched painfully at the sight.

She looked so small, so fragile, like a delicate flower caught in the midst of a raging storm.

And it was all my fault.

I clenched my jaw, trying to contain the fury and helplessness boiling inside me. My other hand trembled as I brushed away a stray strand of hair from her face, my touch featherlight.

"Jaan," I whispered, my voice raw. "You have to wake up, love. You promised you'd never leave me alone. You said you'd always be by my side."

My throat burned with the words, my vision blurred as I swallowed down the suffocating weight pressing against my chest.

If anything happened to her...

No.

I refused to think that way.

The sound of the door creaking open barely registered in my mind, but I didn't look up. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her.

"Rajveer..."

Aditya's voice was quiet, cautious. I knew he was holding back his own worry, his concern for me evident in the way he hesitated before stepping closer.

I exhaled sharply. "Did you find him?"

There was a long pause.

"No," he admitted, his voice tight with frustration. "But we're close. He won't escape."

I finally looked up, my gaze sharp and deadly. "I want him alive, Aditya. Do you understand me?"

Aditya swallowed but nodded. "I understand."

"I want him to suffer," I continued, my voice low and lethal. "I want him to beg for mercy, and I want to watch the light fade from his eyes when he realizes he will never get it."

Aditya remained silent, knowing there was nothing he could say to lessen the rage burning inside me.

But my anger was nothing compared to my fear.

I turned my gaze back to her, my fingers tightening around her hand as I brought it to my lips.

"Bhai sa listen..."

This time, it was Kiara's voice soft and hesitant, filled with unspoken sorrow.

I didn't look at her.

"Doctor wants to speak with you," she whispered, her voice shaking.

My heart stilled.

Slowly, I turned toward her, my entire body rigid.

Kiara's eyes were red, her face pale as she refused to meet my gaze.

Something was wrong.

Something was terribly wrong.

Without a word, I stood up and walked past her, my movements stiff, mechanical. Each step toward the doctor felt like an eternity, dread settling like a stone in my stomach.

When I reached him, the exhaustion on his face was evident, but it was the pity in his eyes that sent a chill down my spine.

"How is she now any process?" I demanded, my voice harsher than I intended.

The doctor sighed, rubbing a hand down his face. "Mr Rajawat, we did everything we could, but..." He hesitated, and for the first time, I felt real fear slither through my veins.

"But what?" My voice dropped, dangerously low.

He exhaled heavily before finally meeting my gaze.

"She has only a 10% chance of survival."

Everything inside me froze.

The world tilted on its axis.

For a moment, I couldn't hear anything just the deafening roar of my own heartbeat pounding in my ears.

No.

No.

That wasn't possible.

She couldn't...

she wouldn't...

"You're lying Dr Sharma," I said hoarsely, my fists clenching at my sides. "You're fucking lying , I said na to keep her alive."

The doctor flinched slightly but didn't back down. "Her internal injuries are severe. Her body is weak, and we don't know if she has the strength to fight through this."

"She will fight," I growled, stepping closer, my entire body shaking with barely restrained fury. "She's stronger than any of you think. She will wake up!"

The doctor sighed, his face filled with sympathy. "We're doing everything we can. The next few hours will decide everything."

I didn't hear the rest.

I turned away, my mind spiraling into a storm of emotions.

Only 10%?

What kind of cruel joke was this?

How could the woman who fought through everything, who had survived every storm, now be reduced to a mere 10% chance of survival?

No. I wouldn't accept that.

I wouldn't let her leave me.

I stormed back into her room, slamming the door shut behind me.

My knees hit the ground beside her bed, my hands trembling as I reached for hers once more.

"You hear that, jaan?" I whispered, my voice barely audible. "They think you won't make it. They think you'll give up."

A humorless chuckle escaped my lips, but it was empty, hollow.

"But I know you better than them. I know you won't leave me like this. Because you love me, don't you?" My fingers tightened around hers. "You promised to always stay by my side. Are you really going to break that promise now?"

Silence in the room.

Nothing but the cruel beeping of the machines and the distant murmur of voices outside.

My vision blurred, my breath shuddering.

"I can't lose you," I admitted, my voice barely a whisper. "I won't survive it, jaan. I don't know how to exist in a world where you don't."

A single tear slipped down my cheek, landing on the back of her hand.

"I've done a lot of bad things in my life," I murmured, pressing my lips against her knuckles. "I've hurt people. I've killed. But if there's a God out there, I will beg on my knees if that's what it takes to keep you with me."

I pressed my forehead against her hand, my entire body shaking.

"Come back to me, love. Please. Just open your eyes... even for a second."

I stayed there, waiting, hoping, praying.

But she didn't move.

And for the first time in my life... I felt truly helpless.

The sharp ringing of my phone broke the heavy silence in the room. At first, I ignored it, my mind too preoccupied with the swirling thoughts of today events .But when the name flashed on the screen, a cold wave of realization settled in my chest.

Abhimaan.

I picked up the call immediately.

"Hello?" My voice was firm, laced with authority.

"Sir... your warehouse is on fire."

For a moment, everything around me stilled. A dangerous silence took over as my fingers tightened around the phone. My jaw clenched, and my heartbeat picked up, pounding furiously in my chest.

"What the fuck?" I asked, my voice low and deadly.

"Someone set it on fire, sir. We're trying to control it, but the damage is severe."

A deep, simmering rage took hold of me. My fists curled tightly, my knuckles turning white. My vision blurred at the edges, not with shock, but with uncontrollable fury.

"Who did this?"My voice was eerily calm, the kind of calm that came before a storm.

Abhimaan hesitated for a second before responding, "We're looking into it. But whoever it is... they must have a death wish Sir."

I exhaled harshly, my patience hanging by a thin thread. "Find the fuckers," I ordered coldly. "Find out who the fucker is, and make sure they regret ever breathing."

Abhimaan didn't argue. He knew I wasn't the type to give second chances. He was about to say something else when he suddenly hesitated.

"Sir... actually, we also found out something else."

I frowned, sensing the tension in his voice. "Speak,"I demanded.

There was another pause, and then he finally said, "The person who was in the hospital that day... he is your S-"

Before he could complete his sentence, the call cut off.

I pulled the phone away from my ear, my frown deepening.

What the hell?

The network had gone out.

And just then, Maa and Chachi entered the room, their worried expressions barely registering in my mind. My thoughts were already racing.

Who was in the hospital that day?

What was Abhimaan trying to tell me?

And why the hell was my warehouse set on fire?

The rage inside me grew stronger, threatening to consume everything in its path. Someone had dared to challenge me. Someone had dared to mess with what was mine.

And now, they were going to pay.

But first I need to find the fucker who hurt my jaan.

_____🌷

After 24 hrs later ~

It had been almost 24 hours.

Twenty-four hours of waiting.

Twenty-four hours of hoping.

Twenty-four hours of helplessness.

She was still lying there, motionless, surrounded by beeping machines and tubes that I had come to hate. The oxygen mask covered her delicate face, her chest rising and falling steadily, but there was no movement no sign of her waking up. It was like she was trapped in some cruel, never-ending sleep, and I had no way of pulling her out of it.

I had been here since the moment she was brought in. I hadn't moved from my spot beside her bed, hadn't eaten, hadn't slept. My fingers were still entwined with hers, holding on tightly as if my grip alone could bring her back to me. She looked so small against the stark white sheets, and it made something inside me shatter.

A deep ache spread through my chest, suffocating me. My mind kept replaying the last few moments before everything went dark the way she looked at me, the fear in her eyes, the pain in her voice. I should've protected her. I should've done something. But instead, here she was unconscious, vulnerable, and fighting for her life while I sat here, useless.

I swallowed the lump in my throat as I gazed at her pale face. A tear escaped my eye before I could stop it, sliding down my cheek and landing on our joined hands. My grip on her tightened.

"Come back to me jaan please I'm requesting you to ," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

The sound of the door opening broke the heavy silence. Footsteps approached, and I didn't need to look up to know who it was.

"Rajveer," Aditya's voice was soft, but firm. "You've been here for 24 hours. You need to go and freshen up."

"Bhai, at least eat something," Dhruv added, his tone laced with concern. "You haven't had anything since yesterday."

I didn't move.

I didn't respond.

They didn't understand.

How could I leave her?

How could I walk away, even for a second, when she was lying here like this?

What if she woke up and I wasn't here?

What if-

I clenched my jaw, my hands balling into fists as I struggled to keep my emotions in check.

"I'm not hungry," I finally said, my voice cold and detached. "You guys go."

The silence that followed was heavy, thick with unspoken words. I could feel their eyes on me, full of concern and frustration.

"Raj-"

"I said go, Aditya,"I cut him off, my tone sharp.

I heard him sigh, and Dhruv muttered something under his breath before they both exchanged glances. They didn't argue further, knowing it was pointless. A few seconds later, I heard their retreating footsteps and the soft click of the door closing behind them.

And then, it was just me and her again.

I exhaled shakily, running a hand through my hair before leaning forward. My lips brushed against her cold fingers, and I closed my eyes for a moment, pressing a lingering kiss against her skin.

"Please, love... wake up just for once Sweetheart for me , for your Raj," I whispered, my voice breaking.

I waited.

But there was nothing.

Just silence.

And the haunting sound of the machines filling the emptiness.

Minutes blurred into hours, and I stayed in the same position, my fingers never leaving hers. The room was quiet except for the steady hum of the machines and the occasional beeping that reminded me she was still here, still breathing. That should've been enough to ease the storm inside me, but it wasn't.

Not until she opened her eyes.

Not until she called my name.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice the door opening again.

"Rajveer beta..."

My mother's soft yet firm voice made me lift my head slightly. She walked in, her eyes filled with unshed tears as she took in the sight of her unmoving daughter-in-law and her broken son beside her. Chachi followed closely behind, her face mirroring the same concern.

They had been worried about me and her I knew that. But right now, I didn't have it in me to care about anything other than her laying on this hospital bed.

"Rajveer, come and eat something," Maa said gently, stepping closer to me. "You've been sitting here all day without a single bite of food."

I shook my head, my grip tightening around her hand. "I'm not hungry, Maa sa."

Chachi sighed. "Beta, please. You need your strength too. What will happen if saanvi wakes up and sees you like this?

Huh?"

Her words struck a chord in me, but I still refused to move.

"I'll eat later then," I mumbled, barely audible.

Maa, however, wasn't having it. Her expression hardened, and I could see the familiar glint in her eyes the same one she had whenever she was about to scold me.

"Rajveer Singh Rajawat," she said, her voice laced with warning.

"If my daughter-in-law wakes up and finds out that you haven't eaten anything for an entire day, do you know what she will do?

Huh?

Do you want her to wake up and start worrying about you instead of herself?"

I didn't respond.

"I swear, Rajveer, if you don't eat something right now, I will personally tell her that you starved yourself, and you know what that means," Maa threatened, crossing her arms.

I exhaled sharply, rubbing a hand over my face.

If there was one person in this world who could handle my stubbornness, it was my mother. And if there was another person who could challenge her, it was my wife. I could already imagine the scolding I'd get once she woke up and found out I had neglected myself like this.

Maa must've sensed my hesitation because she softened her tone. She cupped my face gently, her warm touch grounding me for a moment. "Beta, she needs you to be strong. You can't break down like this. At least eat a little, for her... for us."

I swallowed hard, my gaze shifting back to the woman who had my entire heart.

She still looked so peaceful... so unaware of the storm brewing inside me.

I exhaled deeply and finally gave a small nod. "Fine."

Maa let out a relieved sigh and turned to Chachi. "Bring the food in here. He won't leave her side."

Chachi nodded and quickly stepped out of the room while Maa pulled a chair closer, sitting beside me. She placed a hand over mine, squeezing it gently.

"She will wake up soon, beta. She's strong," she whispered.

I nodded absentmindedly, my eyes never leaving her face.

I could only pray Maa was right.

I sat there in silence, my mother's warm hand over mine, her presence the only thing keeping me from completely falling apart. The weight in my chest refused to ease, no matter how many times I reassured myself that she was still breathing, still with me.

Chachi returned a few minutes later, carrying a tray of food. She set it down on the small table beside me and exchanged a quick glance with Maa before sighing.

"Raj, eat now,"she said firmly, pushing the plate closer.

I hesitated, my eyes flickering back to my wife.

How could I even think about eating when she was lying here like this?

The thought of swallowing a single bite felt unbearable. But then Maa's voice echoed in my mind.

"If she wakes up and finds out you haven't eaten, she'll scold you first before even thinking about herself."

I clenched my jaw, inhaling deeply before reaching for the spoon. My movements were slow, mechanical, as if my body was functioning on autopilot. I barely tasted the food as I forced myself to chew, my mind still trapped in the same endless loop of worry.

Maa and Chachi watched me silently, relieved that I was at least eating something. The room fell into a strange stillness, the only sounds being the faint hum of the machines and the occasional clinking of the spoon against the plate.

But then... something changed.

A shift.

A sound.

A beep.

A long, continuous beep.

I froze.

My blood ran cold.

Maa gasped beside me, standing up abruptly.

"Rajveer-

The spoon fell from my hand, clattering onto the plate, but I didn't hear it.

All I could hear was that sound.

That godforsaken, terrifying, continuous beep.

Noooo.

Noooo.

Nooooo.

I turned sharply, my heart slamming against my ribs as my eyes locked onto the monitor. The green line that had been moving steadily just moments ago tracking the soft, rhythmic beats of her heart was now... flat.

A straight line.

A deafening sound.

A nightmare unraveling right in front of my eyes.

"N-No... this can't-"My voice cracked as the reality of what was happening hit me like a freight train.

Doctors and nurses suddenly rushed in, their voices overlapping, barking urgent instructions, but I barely registered any of it. My body refused to move, my mind unable to comprehend what was happening.

Someone pulled me back Maa, Chachi, I didn't know but I fought against them, my eyes locked on her lifeless form.

"Sir, step back please-"

"Get him out-"

"Rajveer, beta-"

No,No.

This wasn't happening.

She couldn't leave me.

She wouldn't leave me.

And then, just before they pushed me out of the room, just as the doors slammed shut in my face...

I heard the words that shattered my soul.

"She's going into cardiac arrest"

"She's crashing!" a nurse shouted.

"Get the crash cart now!" another voice barked.

My feet felt glued to the floor, my body frozen in place as I watched them surround her. Someone maybe a doctor, maybe a nurse, I didn't care tried to push me away, but I fought against them.

"No... NO!" I roared, my voice hoarse. "She's not-She CAN'T-"

"Sir, please step back we need to do something fast," one of the nurses pleaded, but I wasn't listening.

How could I?

How could I stand there, watching helplessly as the love of my life slipped away right in front of me?

"Charge to 200!"

My pulse pounded in my ears as I saw them place the defibrillator paddles on her chest. Her fragile, unmoving chest.

"CLEAR!"

A jolt ran through her body, but she didn't move.

The machine still screamed.

Flatline.

No heartbeat.

"No, no, NO!" My vision darkened as I lunged forward, desperate to reach her, to hold her, to do something anything but strong hands grabbed me, pulling me back.

"Rajveer, stop", Maa's voice broke as she held onto me, her sobs shaking her entire frame.

"Charge to 300!"

I felt like I was drowning, suffocating in the horror of the moment.

"CLEAR!"

Another violent shock. Another jolt of her body.

Still... nothing.

The doctor's face was grim as he checked her pulse. His eyes flickered to the monitor, and I could see it the hesitation, the doubt. The moment he started losing hope.

"No... Please,"I whispered, my knees buckling beneath me. "Don't you dare give up on her!"

The doctor ignored me and continued.

"Push one more round of epinephrine. We are NOT losing her"

But the seconds dragged on like hours, the minutes stretching into eternity.

Everything blurred the beeping machines, the flashing lights, the muffled voices of the medical team. I could hear the panic in their tones, see the urgency in their movements, but nothing registered.

Nothing except her.

Still.

Pale.

Silent.

A whisper of death hovering over her like a cruel shadow.

Tears burned in my eyes, but I didn't blink them away. I didn't care. I couldn't care.

She wasn't leaving me.

She couldn't leave me not like this.

Because if she did...

If she slipped away into the abyss...

Then I wouldn't survive it either.

A nurse suddenly rushed in, handing the doctor a syringe. "Another dose of epinephrine, doctor."

"Administer it now,"he ordered, his voice steady despite the desperation in his eyes.

I held my breath.

My heart thundered in my chest.

Please... Please, God.

Just bring her back to me.

Then, in the midst of the chaos, the doctor's voice cut through the air.

"She's slipping into a coma."

The words struck like a blade straight to my heart.

The world tilted.

Maa let out a strangled sob, collapsing beside me.

"No... no, this can't be happening my child,"Chachi whispered, her hands clasped together as if in silent prayer.

My entire body went numb, a chilling cold spreading through me.

A coma.

The thought of it clawed at my insides, tearing me apart.

Days?

Weeks?

Years?

How long would she be gone?

Would she ever wake up?

Would she ever look at me again, smile at me, say my name?

Or would I be forced to spend the rest of my life speaking to someone who could never answer?

The door slammed shut as the doctors continued working on her, their voices fading into the background.

I fell to my knees.

I had survived bullets, betrayals, wars in the underworld.

But this?

Watching her fade into nothingness?

This was the one battle I wasn't sure I could survive.

_____🌷