24. Through the Darkness

Author's POV

They rushed into the hospital, the sharp scent of antiseptic assaulting their senses, mingling with the faint aroma of fresh linen and sterile equipment. The corridor buzzed with urgency- nurses hurried past with clipboards, doctors barked orders, and the soft beeping of monitors created a steady, nerve wracking rhythm. Ishika's heart pounded in her chest, each beat echoing louder in her ears as she pushed through the chaos, Aditi close behind

Her eyes darted frantically across the emergency room, taking in the scene-the rows of occupied beds, the muted hum of conversations, and the occasional cry of pain from behind closed curtains. Then, through a glass partition, her gaze locked onto a figure that made her breath hitch. Abhi.

He lay motionless on the hospital bed, a ghost of his usual self. His face was unnaturally pale. a stark contrast to the dark red streaks of dried blood that marred his skin. His hair usually neatly styled, was matted and damp. The sight of the oxygen mask covering his mouth and nose sent a chill down Ishika's spine. Bandages wrapped around his forehead and arms hinted at the extent of his injuries, while the faint rise and fall of his chest was the only sign that life still clung to him.

His clothes-once vibrant and full of life-were now torn and soaked in blood, the fabric clinging to his battered frame. The crimson stains told a silent story of the accident, each marking a testament to the trauma he had endured. Beside him stood two boys, likely classmates. They looked shaken, their faces pale and drawn, eyes red-rimmed from either exhaustion or suppressed tears. One of them held Abhi's hand, as if willing strength into him through sheer willpower, while the other shifted nervously, glancing at the monitors every few seconds.

Ishika's legs felt like lead as she took a hesitant step forward, her mind racing. How had this happened? When had everything gone so horribly wrong?

She wanted to run to him, to ask what had happened, but before she could move, a nurse approached her.

"Are you Abhinav Singh's sister?" the nurse asked, urgency lacing her tone.

"Yes," Ishika managed to say, her voice shaking.

"We need you to sign these consent forms and pay the deposit immediately. The surgery is critical," the nurse continued, handing her a clipboard.

Without hesitation, Ishika grabbed the papers, her hands trembling as she scribbled her name. She barely registered what she was signing. "Where do I pay?" she asked in a daze.

"Reception, down the hall," the nurse directed.

Aditi placed a reassuring hand on Ishika's shoulder. "I'll come with you," she said softly.

They hurried to the reception desk, and Ishika handed over the payment, her mind a whirlwind of fear and helplessness. Once the formalities were done, they returned to the waiting area, where the operation had already begun.

Ishika sank into a chair, her body shaking uncontrollably. The sterile white walls seemed to close in around her. Tears streamed down her face as she buried her head in her hands, sobbing.

"I can't lose him," she whispered, her voice breaking. "He's all I have left, Aditi. How will I face... how will I face our parents? I promised them I'd take care of him. I can't let anything happen to him. I can't..." Her voice trailed off into quiet sobs.

Aditi knelt beside her, wrapping her arms around her friend. "Ishika, listen to me," she said firmly, her own eyes glistening with unshed tears. "Abhi is strong. He'll fight through this. You have to believe that. He's going to be okay."

Ishika shook her head, still lost in the storm of her emotions. "I should've protected him. This is my fault," she whispered.

"No, it's not," Aditi said gently but firmly. "You've always done your best for him. Right now, what he needs is for you to stay strong. You have to trust the doctors. He's in good hands."

Ishika clung to Aditi, her sobs slowly quieting. But the fear lingered, gripping her heart in a vice as she silently prayed for a miracle.

***

The doctor stepped out of the operating room, his expression calm and reassuring. "The surgery was successful," he informed Ishika. "He's unconscious for now and will remain under observation for the next 24 hours. After that, we'll move him to a regular ward."

A wave of relief washed over her, and she let out a shaky breath. "Thank you, doctor," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion.

Ishika made her way to the emergency ward. Standing by her brother's bedside, she gazed at Abhi's pale, still form. The steady beep of the heart monitor was the only sound in the room. She reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from his forehead, her heart aching at the sight of him so vulnerable.

Her phone buzzed, breaking the heavy silence. She glanced at the screen-it was her uncle. Hesitating for a moment, she answered. "Hello?" her voice barely above a whisper.

"Ishika," her uncle's voice came through, smooth and concerned. "How is Abhi?"

"He's in the emergency room, unconscious," she replied, her voice trembling as she fought back tears. "The surgery went well, but... he's still not awake." A silent sob escaped her, and she wiped her eyes quickly.

There was a pause on the other end. Then, her uncle spoke, his tone oddly detached. "Oh, okay. Don't worry. Everything will be fine."

Ishika clenched the phone tighter, her mind racing. His words were meant to comfort, but they felt hollow, like the calm before a storm.

Next Day,

Ishika sat quietly with Aditi, lost in her thoughts, when two of Abhinav's classmates walked into the room. She recognized them immediately and straightened up, her eyes narrowing with concern.

"What exactly happened yesterday?" she asked, her voice steady but tense.

One of the boys sighed heavily before speaking. "We were on our way to the mall on our bikes. Suddenly, out of nowhere, a man on a motorcycle swerved into Abhi's path. Abhi lost control and fell hard onto the road. The other guy... he hit the divider and died on the spot."

As the boy finished, Ishika's stomach churned. Something about the whole incident felt off. Her mind replayed the events, and a nagging thought surfaced. Why did this feel too convenient?

She recalled the phone call from her uncle the previous evening, asking about Abhi. At the time, she hadn't mentioned the accident. Her brows furrowed as suspicion crept in.

Turning back to the boys, she asked, "Besides you two, who else knows about Abhinav's accident?"

They exchanged glances before one of them shrugged. "I think the news spread pretty fast. The whole college probably knows by now."

Ishika nodded slowly, though the unease in her chest remained. Maybe Uncle heard it from someone at the college, she reasoned. But the thought refused to settle.

In the back of her mind, a troubling thought took hold, like a shadow creeping closer. Could Uncle have planned this? The idea made her chest tighten. Her thoughts raced, piecing together recent events in a new, unsettling way.

It all fit too perfectly-the timing of Abhi's sudden accident. What if this was a calculated move, a veiled threat meant to manipulate her? Uncle had always been a man who thrived on control, pulling strings from the shadows, ensuring everyone danced to his tune. Was this his way of forcing her hand with Sahil?

The very thought made her stomach churn. If Uncle had indeed set this in motion, the danger was far from over. Her breath hitched as the implications sank in. Uncle's influence stretched further than she had ever imagined, and if he was willing to manipulate Abhi, what else was he capable of? What would he do next if she didn't comply? The walls seemed to close in around her, the weight of invisible chains tightening with each passing second.

But she couldn't afford to panic-not now. She needed clarity, a plan. Taking a deep breath, she tried to stay calm. She had to be smart and careful if she was going to deal with Uncle. She thought.

****

Aditi walked into the hospital room and quietly sat beside Ishika, her eyes filled with concern. She glanced at her friend, noticing the tension in her posture and the shadows under her eyes. Placing a comforting hand on Ishika's shoulder, she spoke softly.

"Hey, don't worry. Nothing will happen to Abhi. He's strong, and the doctor said he'll regain consciousness soon."

Ishika nodded mechanically, but her expression remained clouded with worry. The fear in her eyes lingered, and it wasn't just about her brother. Aditi noticed it right away. She studied Ishika carefully, sensing that something else was troubling her-a weight far heavier than the fear of losing Abhi.

Gently taking Ishika's hand, Aditi squeezed it for comfort and sat down next to her. "Ishika, talk to me. What's going on? I've been watching you since yesterday, and something's not right. You seem...distant. Please, tell me. Maybe I can help."

Ishika looked at her friend, her eyes filled with uncertainty. She hesitated, then sighed deeply, the tension in her shoulders easing just a little. "There's a lot on my mind, Aditi. Maybe I'm just being paranoid... or maybe it's real. I don't know."

Aditi squeezed her hand again. "It's okay. Whatever it is, I'm here. Just tell me."

After a moment of silence, Ishika began, her voice low and hesitant. "Uncle asked me for a favor-a big one. He wanted me to talk to Sahil and convince him to help with some business matters. I refused. I ignored his calls because I was fed up with him always trying to control things. And then... the next day, Abhi had this accident."

Aditi's eyes widened as she listened, a worried frown forming on her face. Ishika continued, her voice trembling slightly. "I know it sounds crazy. Maybe it's just a coincidence. But it feels too... convenient, you know? Seeing Abhi like this-lying in a hospital bed-it's messing with my head." She let out a dry chuckle, but it lacked any real humor.

Aditi leaned closer. "Why do you think Uncle might be behind this? I mean, accidents happen."

Ishika's gaze hardened. "Because Uncle always manipulates people to get what he wants. And whenever I say no, he threatens me-using Abhi. He knows how much Abhi means to me. This isn't the first time he's tried to use him against me."

Aditi sighed, understanding the gravity of the situation. "If you're right, Ishika, then what are you going to do? How will you handle this?"

Ishika's eyes flickered with determination as she turned slightly, her voice firm. "I can't afford to be emotional right now. If Uncle orchestrated all of this to make me vulnerable, I need to protect Abhinav. But... how?"

She fell silent, lost in thought. After a few moments, a name surfaced in her mind-Sahil. He was the only one she could think of who had the power and resources to stand up to Uncle. The only one she trusted enough to help.

A slow resolve settled over her. Ishika met Aditi's gaze, a newfound determination in her eyes. "I know what I have to do."

Aditi nodded, sensing Ishika's resolve. "Whatever it is, I'm with you."

Ishika gave her a small, grateful smile.

***

Ishika wandered in the garden, her thoughts swirling around. The only problem now was convincing Sahil to help. After some thought, she decided to invite him over for dinner tonight. It would be strictly business-no emotions, no feelings, and definitely no love.

With her plan resolved, she picked up the phone to call.

Ishika dialed Sahil's assistant first, needing to confirm his schedule. Once she learned he was in the office with no meetings that evening, she took a deep breath and called him directly. The phone rang only twice before he answered.

"Hello?"

"Will you come over tonight? I'm making dinner," Ishika asked, trying to keep her voice light and nonchalant.

Sahil paused, caught off guard by the unexpected invitation. "Dinner? What's the occasion?" he asked, his tone laced with suspicion.

"Nothing special," she replied, forcing a casual tone. "I just thought, since we have to live together for six more months until the divorce is finalized, it would be better if we didn't hold grudges. Maybe we could... get along and make things a bit more peaceful."

There was a long silence on the other end, and Ishika's heart pounded in her chest. She hoped her explanation sounded convincing. Deep down, she knew the truth: she wasn't doing this out of kindness. She needed Sahil. He was the only one powerful enough to protect her and Abhi from her uncle's clutches. These next six months were crucial. If she played her cards right, she could escape with her brother and finally live in peace.

But for now, Sahil was her only hope, no matter how much she resented him. She couldn't afford to be selfish-not when Abhi's safety was at stake.

After what felt like an eternity, Sahil finally spoke. "Alright. If you're insisting this much, I'll come tonight."

Before she could respond, the line went dead. Ishika sighed in relief, leaning back against the wall. Step one: complete. Now, all she had to do was convince him once he arrived.

Meanwhile, Sahil leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. Something didn't feel right. Ishika wouldn't make dinner for him out of the blue, not after everything that had happened. What is it this time, Ishika? he wondered.

_______________________________

End of the chapter.

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