Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy Seven.

Chapter Two Hundred and Seventy Seven.
Varun’s jaw tightened the moment his eyes caught the sight, Arjun’s body jerking back, the sharp crack of a bullet still ringing in the burning air.

He saw Arjun stumble, knees giving way, Meera clutching him desperately as her voice cracked with panic.

A rage rippled through Varun’s chest, but when he turned his gun to fire back, Shaurya was gone.

“Coward..” Varun spat under his breath, tossing aside the heavy machine gun with a clatter before striding toward them.

His boots thudded against blood as he closed the distance, his eyes narrowing on the pale face of Arjun.

“Arjun, please…hold on, please, I’ll help you–” Meera’s voice broke, her eyes glossy with tears as her shaking hands pressed against Arjun’s side.

“Let me help,l.” Varun’s deep voice cut through her sobs.

His tone was hard, but his gaze softened a fraction when it met hers.

Meera hesitated only a breath before nodding quickly, too frantic to care.

“Thank you…” Arjun groaned, voice rough, forcing the words out through gritted teeth.

With Meera on one side and Varun on the other, they half-dragged, half-carried him toward the collapsing entrance.

Heat and smoke licked at their backs, debris raining down, but they didn’t stop.

They burst through the massive front doors just as another explosion shook the ground beneath them.

Karan and Vikram, weapons still in hand, head toward them.

“Boss!” Vikram barked, eyes widening at the sight of blood soaking Arjun’s side.

“Please… please, we need to get him to the hospital!” Meera cried, her hands red, trembling as they refused to leave Arjun’s body.

“On it.” Karan said as he and Vikram took Arjun’s weight, hauling him quickly to the waiting black car.

Meera was close, her tears streaming as Arjun groaned in pain with every movement.

They settled him in the back seat, his body slumping against the leather.

Meera climbed in beside him and make him fall on her laps, clutching his hand.

Varun lingered at the window, staring in at Arjun, at the man who everyone called untouchable, now bleeding out in his woman’s arms.

Arjun forced himself to look back at him through the haze of pain, his jaw tight, but his eyes still steady.

“You’re a mafia boss..” Varun’s voice was stern, “prove that and don’t die. If not to the world, then to her.”

Despite the agony ripping through his side, Arjun let out a low, broken chuckle. “I’ll keep that at heart. And…thank you…for your help.”

Varun’s face remained unreadable, a hardened mask. He gave a stiff nod, then his gaze shifted to Meera.

Her tear-streaked face turned toward him, desperate and fragile.

“He won’t die, okay?” Varun’s voice dropped rough, eyes boring into hers. “But if he does...stab his heart for betraying you like this.”

Meera froze, her chest heaving, the words hitting deep even through her grief.

Her eyes blinked back at him, trembling.

Varun held her gaze for a long moment before he finally turned, walking away into the chaos with heavy, unhurried steps.

“One heartless Lord..” Karan muttered from the driver’s seat, shaking his head before starting the engine.

The car roared to life. “Hold on, Boss. We’re getting you to the hospital.” Karan called out firmly, his hands tight on the wheel.

Meera bent over Arjun, cradling his face with trembling palms. “Arjun, please…hold on, okay? Just hold on…we’re almost there.”

Arjun forced his gaze up at her, blood staining his lips but a faint smile tugging at his mouth.

“Don’t…cry, Meera. I’m still here.” His voice cracked, pain slicing through him, and he groaned low in his throat.

“Drive faster, Karan!” Meera’s scream echoed in the car as she held him tighter, her heart shattering with every weak breath he took.

Her fingers trembling as she unbuttoned Arjun’s shirt, desperately peeling the fabric away from his blood-soaked side.

Her eyes stung with tears but her hands moved quickly, clumsy but determined.

She pressed the cloth hard against the wound, her heart racing with every fresh wave of red that seeped through.

“Arjun..” she choked, her voice barely holding together, “please..please don’t close your eyes. Look at me. Just look at me, okay? We’re almost there. The hospital is close.”

Arjun’s lids fluttered, his lashes heavy, his breath ragged.

He groaned faintly before his lips curved in a weak smile.

“Meera…I can see everything. I can see my life with you… our home, our two beautiful children running around.” His voice faltered, breaking, and it terrified her.

“No, stop talking, Arjun.” she begged, her tears slipping faster.

She pressed harder on the wound, desperate to keep him anchored. “Save your strength. Please, just hold on.”

Karan’s knuckles turned white against the steering wheel as he pushed the car faster, swerving past honking vehicles and blasting through red lights without a second thought.

Arjun coughed, a faint laugh escaping, though it was laced with pain. “You’re so beautiful, Meera. Don’t…don’t cry. Not for me.”

Her vision blurred completely now, her tears falling onto his chest as she shook her head. “I can’t help it. I don’t want to lose you, Arjun. Please, don’t you dare leave me.”

Karan glanced at the rearview mirror, his jaw tightening at the sight.

His boss, his unshakable, ruthless boss, looked fragile, clinging to life, and the woman beside him was crumbling just as fast.

Arjun let out another broken chuckle, his hand twitching before he slowly raised it, weak fingers brushing her cheek.

“I remember when you wouldn’t even look at me, when you swore you wanted nothing to do with me. And now here you are…” His voice was faint, almost fading. “…crying because you can’t lose me.”

Meera held his hand against her face, kissing his palm through her tears.

“I was scared, Arjun.” she whispered, her chest heaving. “Your love was…too much, to dark. Overwhelming. Dangerous. I didn’t know how to handle it back then.” Her tears streamed harder, her voice breaking as she whispered, “But I love you. God, I love you so much. And I can’t–” her throat tightened, “–I can’t lose you now.”

Arjun’s lips curved again, weak but certain, his breath brushing against her skin.

“I won’t die, Meera. You hear me? I’ll be your only husband. In this life…and the next.”

She let out a broken laugh through her sobs, pressing her forehead to his, her tears slipping onto his lips.

“You’re insane.” she whispered. “My insane husband.”

Karan’s voice cut through. “We’re here!”

The car screeched to a stop at the hospital entrance.

Karan jumped out, yanking the back door open. Together with Meera, they carefully pulled Arjun out, his weight heavy between them, his groans slicing her heart open all over again.

“Help! Somebody help us!” Meera screamed as they stumbled into the bright-lit lobby.

Nurses rushed forward immediately, gurney wheels screeching against the floor.

Meera clung to his hand as long as she could while they tried to take him. “I won’t let go! Please, let me stay with him!” she begged, her cries echoing.

The nurses exchanged urgent looks, their voices rushing commands as they tried to separate her from him.