Chapter Two Hundred and Eighty.

Chapter Two Hundred and Eighty.
Jhanvi set the last stitch, cleaned the ragged wound, and worked quickly to staunch the bleeding.

Shaurya’s eyes slid shut for a moment, lashes trembling. He breathed through it.

She sighed once, tired, exasperated, with a hint of pity, and continued to dress him, smoothing bandages effortlessly.

\~~~

“How’s he holding up?” Ravi’s voice broke the quiet as he and Zayn stepped into the dim living room.

The air smelled faintly of antiseptic and iron. Shaurya lay half-slumped on the couch, his bare torso now wrapped in clean white bandages, though spots of red had already begun to bloom through the fabric.

Jhanvi sat beside him, removing her blood-stained gloves with a sigh.

Her face looked softer now, exhaustion flickering beneath them.

“I managed to get the bullet out.” she said, tossing the gloves onto the tray.

“He’s lucky, damn lucky. It missed anything vital by inches. I cleaned the wound, stitched it up, and gave him something to help with the pain. But he needs rest. A lot of it.”

Her gaze drifted to Shaurya, whose breathing had steadied, shallow but alive. “He should’ve been dead, if the bullet went any further.” she murmured, more to herself than anyone else.

“Thank you, Jhanvi.” Zayn said quietly.

She turned to him with a faint smirk. “I’m your guys doctor for a reason, remember?” But the warmth in her tone faded quickly.

Her expression hardened, eyes narrowing at Shaurya’s unconscious face. “When this idiot wakes up, you two need to do something about him.”

Ravi frowned. “About what?”

She crossed her arms. “This obsession. This... fixation with another man’s woman. It’s going to destroy him, and maybe all of you, too.”

Her words hung in the air. Zayn’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing.

“It’s not that easy.” Ravi muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. “You know how he is when his mind’s made up.”

“Then make him unmake it.” Jhanvi snapped, gathering her tray.

“Cage him, drug him, talk sense into him, I don’t care. Just stop him before he drags everyone down with him.” she said

She started toward the hallway, heels softly on the tiled floor.

Then she paused and glanced over her shoulder, her tone quieter now, almost pleading.

“Make him stop.” she said again, and walked out, disappearing into the shadowed corridor.

For a moment, only the sound of Shaurya’s uneven breathing filled the room.

Ravi and Zayn exchanged a heavy look, a silent acknowledgment that it wouldn’t be that simple.

Their eyes drifted back to the man on the couch. Even unconscious, his hand twitched slightly, fingers curling.

Ravi exhaled slowly, rubbing his temples. “If Meera’s what’s keeping him alive… he’s never going to stop.”

♤♤♤

Meanwhile, back at the hospital…

Meera sat at the edge of the waiting room chair, her eyes fixed on the door still.

Every minute felt like an eternity.

The corridor was filled with silence until the operating room doors finally opened.

She shot up instantly, her heartbeat quick.

“Doctor!” Meera rushed forward.

“Hello, ma’am.” he said gently offering a polite smile before his eyes met Mr. Madhav’s. “Mr. Madhav.” he greeted with a respectful nod.

Mr. Madhav moved forward. “Doctor… how’s Arjun?”

The question trembled in his voice, and Meera stood right beside him, her eyes wide and pleading.

The doctor exhaled, pulling off his mask. “We were able to get the bullet out. He lost quite a lot of blood, but…” he paused, offering a small, reassuring smile, “…he’s stable now. He’s going to be fine. He’ll need rest, but he’s out of danger”

A collective breath of relief escaped everyone, Meera, her father, Siddhartha, and even Karan who had been standing stiffly at the corner.

Mr. Madhav let out a long breath, closing his eyes for a second.

“Thank God.” he whispered.

The doctor’s gaze drifted back to Meera. “Sorry, who’s Meera?”

“I..I am.” she said softly, wiping her tears.

The doctor nodded, his expression softening. “Before we began the surgery, Mr Arjun Madhav asked me to tell you something.”

Meera’s heart skipped. “What?”

The doctor smiled faintly. “He said, ‘Tell her not to cry.’”

Her lips trembled as a small, shaky laugh escaped her. and then the tears came freely.

Her father reached for her, pulling her into his arms. “See? Arjun is fine.” he whispered, kissing her head.

Meera nodded against his chest, her voice barely a whisper. “I told him I wouldn’t cry… but he still knew.”

She pulled back slowly, looking toward the doors that led to the recovery room.

He was alive.

And that was all that mattered.

She wiped her tears and smiled faintly through the exhaustion, her fingers trembling as the weight that had crushed her chest finally loosened.

She glimpse of the corridor where the nurses wheeled patients in and out. Somewhere behind those sterile white walls… Arjun was breathing. Alive.

Siddhartha exhaled deeply beside Karan, finally feeling his shoulders ease. “Thank God.” he muttered.

Karan nodded, “He’s not out of danger yet. We’ll wait till he’s conscious.”

Mr. Madhav spoke softly, “You all should get some rest. You’ve been through enough for one day.”

But Meera shook her head instantly, her gaze still fixed on the hallway. “No. I’m not leaving him. Not until I see him.”

Siddhartha gave a faint, knowing smile. “You’re just like him… stubborn as hell.”

"I'm not surprise there." Her father said.

That earned the smallest laugh from her, broken but genuine.

She sat back down on the cold metal chair, her wedding lehenga now crumpled.

The golden threads that once shimmered in joy now looked dull under the hospital lights.

Karan excused himself to take a phone call, and Siddhartha turned toward him. “Call me if there’s any change.” he said.

“I will.” Karan replied quietly, stepping away.

Siddhartha then looked at Meera again, she was leaning forward, hands clasped tightly, whispering something softly.

Maybe a prayer. Maybe a promise. Her father sat beside her.

Outside the ICU room, the night deepened. A silent drizzle began to fall, falling streaks across the glass windows.

♧♧♧

Back at the villa, Jhanvi walked into the washroom, Her reflection in the mirror above the sink looked tired…and wary.

Ravi and Zayn walked into the kitchen.

Ravi leaned against the counter, arms folded. “He could’ve died today.”

Zayn poured himself a drink, eyes distant. “He should’ve stayed gone after what happened last time. But no, he came back for her. His definition of Love.”

“Love?” Ravi scoffed, shaking his head. “That’s not love. It’s a sickness.”

Zayn’s jaw tightened. “You’ve seen the way he looks at her. It’s not something he can turn off, Ravi. He’s drowning in her.”

Ravi sighed heavily. “And he’ll drag all of us down with him.”

The place grew quiet again, the only sound was the faint groan from the room where Shaurya lay unconscious.

The storm outside rolled closer, thunder echoing in the distance.

And even in his sleep, Shaurya’s fingers twitched, his lips parting in a hoarse murmur, one word escaping his lips like a ghost.

“Meera…”

The thunder cracked again, echoing through the villa as Jhanvi froze in place, her pulse skipping.

It was far from over.