Chapter-35

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Abhimanyu leaned over the basin, his body wracked with harsh coughs that echoed off the tiled walls, a sound that made my heart race. The sight of him, hunched and gasping, struck a nerve deep within me. I could feel the heat of panic pooling in my stomach, tightening like a vice.

"Breathe, please " I urged, rubbing his back gently, trying to soothe him as he struggled. "Take a deep breath."My voice trembled, but I kept my hand steady against him, hoping it would ground us both.

He finally stopped coughing, but the relief was short-lived. My gaze flicked to the basin, and what I saw made my blood run cold.

Red droplets speckled the white porcelain, bright and alarming against the starkness. "You... blood," I stammered, my words tumbling out in a rush, panic wrapping around my throat.

Abhimanyu turned his head weakly, his eyes widening as he caught sight of the crimson streaks. "What?" he rasped, confusion etching deeper lines on his forehead.He froze looking at the blood.

I felt the walls closing in on me, my chest tightening with fear. "Listen , hey let's go " I said, forcing his gaze back to me, my hands framing his face, willing him not to focus on what was there. "Let's go to the hospital now."

He swallowed hard, the lump in his throat visible as he tried to shake off my concern. "I-- Just... let's wait until morning."

"Are you mad?" I almost yelled, my voice cracking with raw emotion. "Can't you see there's blood in your vomit? Don't you care?" Tears threatened to spill, but I blinked them away. I needed to be strong for him. "We're going now and that's final. Let's go."

I grasped his hand, dragging him toward the door. His body felt like dead weight, and I could sense the reluctance in his movements. Was he scared? Was he too weak to care?

I slowed my pace, tightening my grip on his arm as he stopped mid-step, the strength in him waning.

"Baby" he murmured, his voice barely a whisper. "Its-"

"Shh," I interrupted, my heart racing in my chest. "Just hold on." I took a deep breath, trying to quell the rising tide of anxiety that threatened to drown me. I don't know , Am I trying to  convince myself or him?

We slowly made our way downstairs, the world seeming to tilt with each step. The dining room was filled with the quiet murmur of conversation, but it fell silent as we emerged.

Everyone's eyes turned to us, worry painted across their faces. I could see the concern in their gazes as I caught sight of my family seated around the table, their plates abandoned.

"What happened?"badi ma asked, standing up, her voice laced with alarm.

I felt the weight of their stares, but I had no time to explain. "We're going to the hospital. He's not well." My words rushed out in a single breath, the urgency palpable.

They looked at Abhimanyu, taking in his tired expression, the pallor of his skin. "Okay, let's go,"bade papa said, the authority in his tone making it clear that there was no room for argument.

I moved forward, pulling Abhimanyu along with me. As we stepped out into the cool evening air, I glanced up at him. His face was pale, and he struggled to catch his breath, each inhalation labored. I couldn't bear it.

"Calm down" I whispered, placing my hand gently on his chest, pressing down slightly in a futile attempt to help him breathe easier. "Take a deep breath"

He frowned, a flicker of pain crossing his features. "It hurts," he admitted, his voice strained, and my heart shattered a little more.

"I know," I said softly, my voice trembling. "But we're almost there. Just hang on."

The driver nodded, and I instructed him to drive fast, my grip on Abhimanyu's hand tightening instinctively. The car moved swiftly, but every second felt like an eternity. I couldn't shake the image of blood from my mind, nor the fear that clawed at my insides.

I glanced at him as he took a deep breath, and for a moment, I could see the struggle etched in his features, the effort it took for him to pull in air.

"It's hurting and i am feeling s-so tired" he replied, his voice barely above a whisper.

I felt a pang of helplessness wash over me. "You need to rest" I said, caressing his chest softly, wishing I could take away the pain. "Everything will be okay." But my words felt hollow, even to me.

As we approached the hospital, I felt a surge of panic. What if it was something serious? What if it is something deadly? The thought made me want to scream, but I couldn't. I had to be strong for him. I had to keep him calm.

The moment we reached the entrance, I was out of the car, helping him out as quickly as I could. "Stay with me,we are here" I urged again, wrapping my arm around his waist to support him as he leaned heavily against me.

After some time ~

The antiseptic smell of the hospital wrapped around me like an unwelcome blanket, its sterile edges stinging my senses.

I sat outside the VIP room, my heart pounding in rhythm with the ticking clock on the wall. Each tick felt like a countdown, and I was grasping for time, desperately wishing to rewind to a moment before Abhimanyu had started coughing.

I could hear muffled voices inside the room. The doctor and Abhimanyu were in there, and my mind was spinning with worry. I felt like I was in a tunnel, where every whisper of concern from my family echoed back at me, amplifying my anxiety.

The world outside continued to move, but I felt frozen in place, my heart a heavy stone in my chest.

Badi Ma sat beside me, her hand gently caressing my hair. "Doctors are inside. Don't think too much. Just wait for the reports," she said softly, her voice a balm over my fraying nerves.

I nodded, but my mind was a storm of what-ifs. What if the reports were bad? What if he was seriously ill?What if it was something deadly?The thought of him suffering sent shivers down my spine.

I tried to breathe, to calm the rising tide of fear, but as the minutes dragged on, it became increasingly difficult. My hands shook in my lap, and I fought back tears, blinking rapidly to keep them at bay.

After what felt like an eternity, the doctor emerged from the room, his expression unreadable. A chill crept up my spine. "We took all the tests. Reports will take some time. I can't say anything before seeing the report sir," he said, his tone clinical and detached.

Bade Papa stepped forward, his voice cold and demanding. "I want the report in one hour, doctor. I don't care what you have to do." There was no mistaking the authority in his voice, and it hung in the air like a heavy cloud.

The doctor nodded and left, and we all exchanged worried glances before heading into the room.

Abhimanyu lay there, his face pale against the stark white sheets. His gaze drifted toward me, and I felt the air rush from my lungs at the sight of him.

He looked so fragile, so unlike the strong, commanding man I knew. I wanted to rush to his side, but the sight of him made my legs feel like lead.

The family exchanged small talk before leaving us alone, but I couldn't focus on their words. My heart ached as I watched him struggle to hold onto the conversation, his usual wit dimmed by fatigue.

I wanted to scream, to shake him and demand he tell me he was okay. Instead, I pulled a small stool closer and sat beside him, my hands trembling as I reached out to hold his.

"Don't worry, it will be nothing serious," I said, forcing a smile that felt more like a mask than a reflection of my true feelings. Deep down, fear gripped me like a vice.

He studied me for a moment, and then a weak smile tugged at his lips. "You're saying that to me, but you're scared, jaan. Anyone can see it."

I shook my head vehemently. "No, I'm not. I know it will be nothing serious." My voice cracked, and I wished I could take the words back.

His brow furrowed slightly. "What if it will be?"

"Bhukhar dimag mai chad gaya hai kya , kaise bate ker rahe hui. Maine kaha na aise ku-kuch nahi hoga ," I snapped, the anger in my voice masking the desperation bubbling beneath the surface.

I didn't want to think about anything bad. He fell silent, his gaze unwavering as he searched my face.

I took both of his hands in mine, cradling them gently as I pressed a kiss to his palm. Holding his hand close to my chest, I felt the warmth of his skin against my heart, a fragile connection that served to anchor me.

"Please bhagwan ji, mai 100 nariyal chadaungi bas ye thik ho jaye " I whispered, my thoughts racing. I closed my eyes and prayed to God. Agar ye wahi hua jo mai soch rahi hu to......

The tears I had been holding back finally slipped free, rolling down my cheeks. Abhimanyu squeezed my hand, his eyes shutting tightly at the sight of my distress. "Jaan," he said, his voice raspy but tender.

I shook my head, tears flowing freely now. "Don't say anything, please. Just give me some time."

He exhaled deeply, his grip tightening around my hand as if he were trying to lift the weight of my fears. I cried silently, each tear a testament to the fear and helplessness clawing at my insides.

Time drifted, marked only by the slow beat of my heart and the occasional beeping of the machines around us. I slowly composed myself, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand as I pressed another kiss to his palm.

We locked eyes, and for a moment, I felt the world fade away, leaving just the two of us suspended in that space.

An hour passed, and the door swung open again. The doctor entered, flanked by family members, and my heart raced anew. "It's something serious but not serious," he began, and I held my breath, waiting for the blow.

"Hukum has pneumonia. That's why he's feeling fatigue, shortness of breath, and chest pain. The blood in his vomit and cough is due to a tear in the lining of his esophagus, caused by coughing too hard," the doctor explained, his voice steadying the chaos inside me. "All other reports are normal, but he has severe pneumonia, and he will need to be admitted here for at least a week."

A collective sigh of relief echoed through the room as the news settled in. It wasn't what we had feared.

He was going to be okay. I felt the tension in my body release, and I could finally breathe again. He would recover.

As the doctor instructed everyone to step outside for a moment while he administered some injections to help Abhimanyu sleep and lower his fever, I felt a strange mix of emotions wash over me. We moved outside from the room giving them space to work.

"I'll be right back," I murmured, almost to myself. I turned and walked away from the corridor, needing a moment away from the whirlwind of emotions.

I leaned against the wall, pressing my palm to my chest, feeling the rapid thud of my heart beneath my hand. "He will be okay, he will be all right," I murmured to myself, repeating the mantra until it began to settle my frayed nerves.

When had he become so important to me? How had those feelings crept in so quietly, until I found myself utterly lost without him? The thought of something happening to him was unbearable. I closed my eyes, trying to steady myself.

After a few minutes, I gathered my resolve and returned to the room. Abhimanyu looked like he was drifting off, his eyes half-open. I approached his bedside quietly.

"You should also go home, baby," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "The staff is here; you don't need to bother that much and I already caused you trouble"

I released a heavy sigh and wrapped my arms around him gently, careful not to jostle him. "I will stay with you, and no one can change my decision. So you better save your energy on this. Sleep, you're tired," I told him, pulling back from the embrace to look into his eyes.

He managed a soft smile, and I felt a flicker of warmth in my chest. "You're too stubborn for your own good love, you know that?"

"Maybe, but I'll be here with you, and that's all that matters," I replied, my fingers running through his hair in soothing strokes.

As the medication took hold, his eyelids grew heavier, and soon he was asleep, his breathing evening out. I felt a wave of relief wash over me as I watched him, his face finally calm, the tension easing from his features.

I pressed a soft kiss to his forehead, a silent promise that I would be there for him, come what may. I moved to the spare bed in the room, but my eyes never left him. I settled in, still close enough to hear his soft breaths, knowing that he would be okay. He had to be.

In that moment, I realized that no matter the trials ahead, I would face them with him. Our bond was strong, forged in moments like these, and I wouldn't trade that for anything in the world. I closed my eyes, surrendering to the exhaustion that tugged at me, feeling hope and fear intertwined like strands of a tightly woven fabric.

The hospital room buzzed with a tense energy, a blend of concern and relief. Abhimanyu lay on the bed, his chest rising and falling at a steady rhythm, which was a marked improvement from the ragged breaths he had taken just the day before.

The IV drip beside him hummed softly, a reminder of the pneumonia he was fighting. Around him, his family hovered, a protective circle woven with worry and love.

"Abhimanyu, how are you feeling?" Badi ma asked, her voice laced with an urgency that belied her calm demeanor.

"I'm-" he started, his voice a low rasp that barely made it past his lips. He cleared his throat, grimacing slightly. "I'm better."

Whereas Aarushi stood just outside the door, her phone pressed to her ear, the remnants of her conversation lingering in her mind.

She had just been on the phone with Priya, discussing about the work

"You know exams start tomorrow, right? We need every teacher on deck Aarushi, I don't think he will give you leave tomorow"

"Yeah, I know,"Aarushi replied "But my husband's health comes first and I am not sure if I will come tomorrow or not"

"As you say but Try to come, okay?" Priya urged gently. "He's already angry. I doubt he'll grant you another leave ever ,if you don't show up."

"Fine," Aarushi huffed, rolling her eyes. "I'll see"

Just then, Abhimanyu's phone rang, a sudden intrusion into the charged atmosphere. Aarushi glanced at it, recognizing Aakash's name flashing on the screen.

She had picked up his phone earlier today when she went home to grab some clothes and essentials for both of them . Without thinking twice, she answered.

"Good morning, sir! You didn't come to the office until now" Aakash's voice came through the line, cheerful and oblivious.

"Good morning, Aakash bhaiya," Aarushi replied, forcing a smile despite the tension. "Your sir is not coming to the office for a week. He's in the hospital suffering from pneumonia."

There was a pause on the other end, then a shocked gasp. "Mam, how is he now?"

"He's better than yesterday, but the doctor said he needs strict bed rest," she explained, her tone clipped.

"Sir ki kal pure din tabiyat kharab hi lag rahi thi per vo Ghar Jane ke liye mane hi nahi" Aakash continued, his voice filled with concern. "He was coughing non-stop and looked so worn out. But he didn't stop working.Vo to Rudra sir aa gaye or unhe jabardasti ghar bheja or aaram kerne ko bola..... Vo to Maan hi nahi rahe the" He told her everything not knowing that he dug his grave himself.

With each word, Aarushi felt her blood pressure rising. How could he push himself like that? What if Rudra bhai hadn't been there to intervene? "Okay, Aakash, I'll tell him to call you. Thank you." She hung up, seething.

Storming into the room, she glared at Abhimanyu, who was now looking sheepish, caught in the act of doing something he shouldn't have. He shifted uncomfortably under her intense gaze, and the air thickened with unspoken tension.

" I received a call from aakash bhai few minutes ago " she said, crossing her arms. "And you know what he said "

Abhimanyu shook his head and said "Oh, kya bol raha tha vo" Aarushi passed him a tight lipped smile and stepped in front of him. She forget that their family was also present there , looking at everything silently.

"He told me that you were feeling low and worn out all day but you didn't bother to rest . You were also coughing again and again but didn't stop working. Isn't it? " She asked glaring at him. Her smiling face turned into a serious face.

Abhimanyu looked at her with wide eyes feeling a little nervous. Shit she is angry with me he said in his mind.

"Unhone ye bhi batya ki aap to ghar aa bhi nahi rahe the vo to Rudra bhai aa gaye or unhone aapko jabardasti bheja, haina patidev" She added further, making Abhimanyu little scared.

Abhimanyu opened his mouth to respond, but the words caught in his throat."Is chugli aunty ko to baad Mai bataunga " he muttered under his breath. "I-- Aarushi didn't let him speak and said "Don't even start,"

"Aap kya hai, koi chote bache , jisse pata hi nahi ki usse Kam ki jagah rest kerna chahiye agar uski tabiyet kharab hai to? Aapko samajh nahi aata "She said pointing her finger towards him.

He swallowed hard, the nervousness evident in his stutter. "B-baby mai to bas--"

"Don't 'baby' me!" she said, glaring at him. The family watched in stunned silence, their expressions a mixture of surprise and amusement.

It was rare for anyone to dare scold Abhimanyu, the usually unyielding patriarch of the family, and yet here was Aarushi, an indomitable presence, holding her ground.

"You think you're some kind of hero for pushing through this?" she continued, her tone softer than before "What if something worse happened? You could have ended up in a much worse state, and for what? A few extra hours of work? You're not just letting yourself down; you're letting all of us down. We care about you, and this reckless behavior is unacceptable!"

"Sorry na jaan " he apologized giving her innocent looks.... " Ghar chalo aap thik ho ker, phir batati hu mai aapko. Waha ja ker aaram se sare sorry sunungi " she threatend making him gulp again.

Aaryan nudged Vivaan and snorted trying to hold his laughter back. He never thought that one day he would see his brother, The Abhimanyu Singh Rathore getting scolded by his wife. He is looking like a scared baby.

Abhimanyu passed a glare to Aaryan when he heard a snorting sound. Aaryan eyes widened and he started looking around the room, pointing towards different things and making impressive faces.

"Usko mat ghooro" Aarushi said noticing his deadly glares towards Aaryan. Abhimanyu scowled at her and huffed laying down properly and covered himself completely with duvet making aarushi smiled at his acts.

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