Six hours.

It had already been six long hours.

Six hours since Ruhi had been taken into the ICU.

Six hours since the antidote had been administered.

Six hours...

And not one of them had seen her.

The hospital corridor had become painfully familiar.

The same white walls.

The same antiseptic smell.

The same beeping monitors from distant rooms.

The same red light outside the ICU.

Nothing had changed.

Except...

The five men waiting outside.

Abhimanyu hadn't moved from his place.

He stood exactly where the doctors had left him six hours ago.

Not once had he sat down.

Not once had he complained.

His eyes remained fixed on the ICU doors.

As if looking away would somehow mean abandoning her.

His phone had been ringing continuously.

Board members.

Clients.

Business associates.

Every call...

Rejected.

Nothing mattered.

Not today.

Rehan sat in one corner of the corridor.

The white bunny plush still clutched tightly against his chest.

He hadn't let anyone touch it.

Not even once.

His gaming friends had called him several times.

He ignored every call.

Usually...

He couldn't stay away from his phone for ten minutes.

Today...

He hadn't even unlocked it.

Every few minutes, he looked toward the ICU doors.

"...Wake up, Bhabhi..."

he whispered under his breath.

"I still have to beat you in Ludo."

Advik returned from the hospital cafeteria carrying five cups of coffee.

He placed one beside everyone.

None of them touched it.

He sighed.

"You all need something."

Silence.

He looked at Abhimanyu.

"Abhi..."

"You haven't had water since morning."

No response.

"Please."

Still nothing.

The untouched coffee slowly turned cold.

Just like the previous one.

And the one before that.

Shaurya walked out of the doctor's cabin after reviewing another set of reports.

His face remained unreadable.

But his eyes carried exhaustion.

He had read every report himself.

Cross-checked every medicine.

Reviewed every blood parameter.

Yet...

There was only one thing left to do.

Wait.

Rudra quietly sat beside Rehan.

Neither of them spoke.

For once...

The corridor was free of jokes.

Free of teasing.

Free of laughter.

Rudra looked at the bunny in Rehan's hands.

but did not say anything.

Another hour seemed to pass in complete silence.

Finally...

The ICU doors opened.

Every one of them stood instantly.

The senior physician walked toward them.

His expression was calmer than before.

Abhimanyu was the first to speak.

"Doctor?"

The doctor looked at all five anxious faces.

"The antidote has worked."

Five hearts finally beat again.

"The poison is no longer spreading."

Relief washed over their faces.

"But..."

They froze once more.

"Her body is still extremely weak."

"The poison, fever, dehydration, and exhaustion together have taken a heavy toll on her."

"We've stabilized her condition."

"But she's still unconscious."

"These medicines are strong."

"She may take some more time to regain consciousness."

Rehan stepped forward.

"...Can we see her?"

The doctor nodded.

"One person at a time."

"But don't try to wake her."

"She needs complete rest."

Without waiting another second...

Abhimanyu looked toward the ICU doors.

For the first time in six hours...

He was finally going to see her again.

Not because she had opened her eyes...

But simply because...

Seeing her breathe had become enough to keep his own heart beating.

One of the nurses stepped forward carrying a neatly folded set of sterile ICU scrubs.

"Sir..."

"You'll have to change before entering."

Abhimanyu silently took them from her.

His hands felt strangely heavy.

He disappeared into the changing room.

A few minutes later...

He walked out wearing the pale blue hospital scrubs, a surgical mask covering half his face, a disposable cap over his hair and shoe covers.

The nurse sanitized his hands once more before opening the ICU door.

"You can stay for a few minutes."

"Please don't touch any medical equipment."

He gave a silent nod.

The door slowly opened.

A blast of cold air greeted him.

The steady rhythm of monitors echoed through the quiet ICU.

Beep...

Beep...

Beep...

Every sound pierced his heart.

His eyes searched the room...

Until they found her.

Ruhi.

His Ruhi.

She lay motionless on the hospital bed.

An oxygen cannula rested beneath her nose.

An IV line ran into the back of her hand.

Another monitor continuously displayed her heartbeat.

The white sheets almost swallowed her tiny frame.

She looked so small.

So fragile.

Nothing like the girl who filled an entire mansion with laughter.

Abhimanyu felt his feet refuse to move.

For a moment...

He simply stood there.

Unable to believe this was the same Ruhi who had been arguing over soup just hours ago.

The same girl who laughed until tears rolled down her cheeks.

The same girl who called him...

"Devil."

His throat tightened painfully.

He slowly walked toward her bedside.

Every step felt heavier than the last.

Finally...

He reached her.

Her face had lost its usual glow.

The rosy cheeks he loved had turned pale.

Her lips, though no longer blue, still lacked their natural color.

There were faint dark circles beneath her eyes.

She looked exhausted.

As though she had been fighting a battle all alone.

Abhimanyu carefully pulled the visitor's chair closer and sat beside her.

His gaze never left her face.

For the first time in years...

He felt helpless.

Completely helpless.

He had built an empire.

Protected countless people.

Defeated enemies who feared his name.

Yet...

He couldn't take away the pain of the one person who mattered the most.

His fingers slowly reached for her hand.

Careful not to disturb the IV cannula.

He gently held only her fingertips.

Afraid that even the slightest pressure might hurt her.

Her hand felt colder than usual.

He rubbed it softly between both of his palms.

Trying to pass a little warmth to her.

A tear escaped before he could stop it.

It landed gently on the back of her hand.

"I'm sorry..."

His voice was barely a whisper.

"So... so sorry, baby."

"I should've noticed sooner."

"I should've brought you here the moment you said your head was hurting."

"I promised I'd protect you..."

"...and I still let this happen."

He lowered his forehead until it rested lightly against the edge of the mattress beside her hand.

For the first time...

The man who had never bowed before anyone...

Sat completely broken beside the girl who unknowingly held every piece of his heart.

The monitor beside her continued its steady rhythm.

Beep...

Beep...

Beep...

It was the most beautiful sound he had ever heard.

Because every single beep whispered the same thing...

She was still fighting.

And as long as she was fighting...

He wasn't going anywhere.

Two days later...

The private hospital room no longer carried the terrifying silence of the ICU.

Ruhi had regained consciousness the previous day.

The antidote had worked.

Her fever had disappeared.

But her body...

Was still terribly weak.

The doctors had made one thing crystal clear.

"Complete bed rest for at least one month."

"No stress."

"No college."

"And absolutely no junk food."

Those last three words...

Would soon become Ruhi's biggest nightmare.

Third day.

9:30 a.m.

Sunlight streamed softly through the large windows of the private room.

Ruhi sat propped up against several pillows.

Her hair was loosely braided.

She looked much healthier than before...

Except for the adorable pout on her face.

Beside her bed...

Advik was sitting.

In front of him sat the world's grumpiest patient.

The nurse had just delivered breakfast.

One large bowl...

Of vegetable soup.

And a plate of healthy steamed snacks.

Advik picked up a spoonful.

"Open your mouth, bacha."

Ruhi stared at the spoon as if it contained poison.

"Bhai..."

"Please..."

"I almost died."

"At least let me eat something tasty."

Advik smiled sweetly.

"This is tasty."

Ruhi looked at the soup.

Then back at him.

"Bhai..."

"If this is tasty..."

"Then I'm the Queen of England."

Rehan, sprawled lazily across the sofa near the window, almost choked on his chips.

"hfffft..."

He started laughing uncontrollably.

"Good one, Bhabhi!"

Ruhi proudly nodded.

"I know."

Advik remained completely unfazed.

"Nice joke."

"Now open your mouth."

"No."

"One spoon."

"No."

"Half spoon."

"No."

"Bacha..."

"I'll count to three."

Ruhi crossed her arms.

"I'll count to four."

Rehan laughed harder.

"This negotiation is getting interesting."

Advik sighed dramatically.

"You know..."

"When you were unconscious..."

"I prayed that you would wake up."

Ruhi smiled innocently.

"I did."

Even the nurse standing nearby covered her mouth to hide a laugh.

Advik narrowed his eyes.

"So funny?"

Ruhi nodded proudly.

"Very."

Just then...

The room's door opened.

Abhimanyu walked inside after getting fresh from the mansion.

Simple black T-shirt.

Grey trousers.

Still carrying a small overnight bag.

His eyes immediately fell on the scene before him.

Ruhi...

Making offended faces.

Advik...

Holding a spoon in midair.

Rehan...

Comfortably eating chips from a family-sized packet while enjoying the live entertainment.

Abhimanyu understood everything in one glance.

Without saying a word...

He walked straight to Rehan.

Rehan smiled nervously.

"...Good morning, Bhai?"

Abhimanyu calmly took the packet of chips from his hand.

Rehan blinked.

"...Bhai?"

Abhimanyu walked to the dustbin.

Dropped the entire packet inside.

Thud.

Silence.

Rehan stared at the dustbin in disbelief.

"My chips..."

Then Abhimanyu turned toward everyone and announced in his usual calm tone,

"From today..."

"No fast food."

"No chips."

"No burgers."

"No pizza."

"No cold drinks."

"No chocolates."

"Until Ruhi completely recovers."

The room became silent.

Ruhi slowly looked toward Rehan.

Rehan slowly looked toward Ruhi.

Their eyes widened together.

"Nooooo!"

Both shouted at exactly the same time.

Advik burst into laughter.

The nurse couldn't control herself anymore.

Even she laughed.

Rehan jumped from the sofa dramatically.

"Bhai!"

"I am perfectly healthy!"

Abhimanyu nodded.

"I know."

"Then why am I being punished?"

"Because..."

Abhimanyu looked at him calmly.

"If Ruhi isn't allowed to eat it..."

"No one will eat it in front of her."

Ruhi immediately pointed at Abhimanyu.

"See!"

"That's exactly what I keep saying."

"You people are so bad."

Abhimanyu folded his arms.

"No."

"We're removing temptation."

Rehan held his heart dramatically.

"My temptation just went into the dustbin."

He slowly walked toward it.

"I think..."

"I should at least say goodbye."

"Rehan."

That single word from Abhimanyu froze him mid-step.

He immediately turned around.

"...I wasn't actually going."

Ruhi covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing.

Advik quietly brought another spoonful near her lips.

While everyone was distracted...

She obediently ate it.

Advik smiled victoriously.

"Abhi..."

He looked at Abhimanyu.

"Mission successful."

Abhimanyu raised an eyebrow.

"How?"

Advik pointed at the empty spoon.

"She forgot she was eating."

Ruhi suddenly realized what had happened.

She looked at the spoon.

Then at Advik.

"...Bhai!"

"You tricked me!"

Advik grinned proudly.

"Chef's strategy."

Rehan sighed dramatically.

"My chips are gone..."

"Bhabhi got tricked..."

"This family has become a dictatorship."

Abhimanyu looked at him.

"It always was."

The room echoed with laughter.

For the first time since the nightmare had begun...

The hospital room sounded less like a place of illness...

And more like home.

continue💕