Chapter 23:- You are Safe in my Heart.

'It's all because you convinced Armaan for this surgery and everybody is in pain. You will never be forgiven if he dies. He would've lived a few months which you have successfully snatched from him.' My subconscious bellowed in her grating voice clearly despised with what I did.

"I did all this because he had chances. I never wanted to snatch his life." I stood in dark, fighting my conscience. I never wanted bad for him.

'So what will you answer his parents if his chances fail. Will you be able to look at yourself in the mirror. What if he doesn't survive?'

There was no mercy in her voice. I could see my hands smeared in blood. Armaan's blood?

"No!!! He will survive. His parents also wanted him to undergo this surgery so how will I be solely responsible?" I retaliated, rubbing and cleaning my hands. This blood is not Armaan's. He will be fine.

'Because it was you who ignited the fire of hope in everybody's heart, in Armaan's heart. Whatever will happen will be just because of you.'

I could see hatred in my own eyes for myself. I hate myself for doing this to Armaan, his parents. But he was fine, sleeping. This is my illusion.

"No!!! You are wrong. He will live on. I know. Go away." I screamed and my subconscious vanished into thin air.

The sunrays hit me dragging me out of my horrid dream and I woke up startled. I was still in the ICU near him. My Armaan is fine. It wasn't real. It was just a dream.

A nurse was standing on the other side of the bed arranging his medicines for the day, the D- day.

"Good morning ma'am." She smiled politely at me finding me awake.

"Good morning . When will he wake up?" I asked rubbing my face.

"Very soon . Dr. Mittal asked me to inform y'all that he will examine the patient at ten thirty for the surgery and we will be taking him for the surgery around two 'o' clock." I nodded listening her instructions. "Thank you."

Just few hours left. My stomach did a backflip as my dream flashed forward. I can't lose you Armaan.

Please Jesus keep him fine.

"Hey!" I smiled hearing his voice and he was smiling back at me.

"How are you feeling now?" I asked pecking his palm.

"You didn't get a good sleep." He stated staring right at me. I looked down puckering my lips. Can I lie to him?

I stood up immediately and helped him as he tried to sit. "Stop burdening yourself Khwaab. Whatever happens will not be your fault. Even if I die, you shouldn't be guilty about it. Everything is not in our hands." He said each word emphatically rubbing my knuckles softly. I wonder how could he read through me so accurately. His touch, his words were soothing.

"You won't die. You are a fighter. You fought for three months and it's just about few hours. You've to come back, to me." I implored with my gaze stuck to his beautiful orbs.

"I want to come back, trust me. Want to live endless moments with you, create so many albums and I'll fight for it, till my last breathe. But for that you'll have to do something."

"What? I'll do anything."

"You will not cry and will say goodbye with a smile. If you will cry I won't come back." He negotiated raising his eyebrow, threatening me.

"I won't cry, I won't. Please come back I won't be able to survive without you. I love you." My voice was muffled as I buried my face in his neck hugging him tightly, my arms snaked around his neck. I know he wants to hug me back but is helpless.

"You know Khwaab I don't care anymore if I'll survive the surgery or not and do you know why?" I separated myself from him hearing his question. His eyes were moist and held tender emotions.

"Because now I know that I'll live in your heart forever and that's where I always wanted to stay. So I'm absolutely safe there, isn't it?" He continued, with his lips stretched into a beautiful curve.

"Yes, you are safe in my heart and will always be." I murmured back jiggling my head with a smile.

"You won't forget me, right?" I giggled hearing the question he asked, in the same way as he did when he left the boarding school. I nodded my head in negative but he waited for the answer I gave him back then.

"The day I'll forget you will be my last day on earth." I said it again and his eyes lit up with happiness. These lines were true, even if we weren't together he was always the one ruling my heart.

I don't know how and when my lips touched his'. We didn't move further and our wet cheeks were sticking together. A sob escaped my throat and my hold on his cheeks became firmer.

He took my lips in his mouth and kissed me softly. I tried following his actions but was too emotional to do so. We broke apart for air and I stared at his arms lying limp on his lap.

"I love you too." My eyes shot up listening his whisper and I found him smiling and for the first time in this week it reached his eyes. They were twinkling with love as he finally confessed.

I wish I could hold this moment forever and never let it go, iffy, if I'll be able to live it again?

Four hours and twenty three painful minutes have passed when Armaan was taken into the OT. Perturbation was coursing through my veins, my stomach developing a sudden queasiness with a feeling of foreboding engulfing my heart. The doors will open anytime, unbosoming the results to us.

I was staring at Mrs. Malik who was sitting with joined hands and eyes closed and hadn't utter a single word in these dreadful hours. And as promised didn't even shed a tear. Almighty will never let her prayers unheard. Please Jesus!

All of us stood up with the sound of door sliding. Three doctors came out in their scrubs and I could acknowledge Dr. Mittal. He has been very warm to us and had only given us hope.

We all looked at him expectantly and he blinked his eyes with a smile.

We were still staring at him without blinking our eyes. I don't want to believe anything till he says it himself.

"The surgery was successful and your son is out of danger." He said with a thumbs up and my eyes widened with happiness that gushed into my system. I couldn't believe it.

Our hope won. Thank heavens!!

"But..." The good doctor looked hesitant to say the next words.