Chapter 32

Sidharth clutched Shehnaaz tightly as the police dragged Shikhar away, her body trembling with the weight of emotions she could no longer hold back. Her tears fell freely, a mixture of pride, frustration, and deep-seated guilt that twisted her heart. The anguish of being linked, even indirectly, to Uttara’s tragic death was unbearable for her. She sobbed into Sidharth’s chest, her body shaking as she let out the cries she’d been holding in for too long. Sidharth’s heart ached as he felt her slipping, her strength waning as she lost control and teetered on the edge of darkness.

Fear clawed at Sidharth’s insides. He could feel her slipping away, not just emotionally but physically too, as if she were on the verge of collapsing from the sheer weight of everything that had happened. “Shehnaaz,” he whispered, his voice thick with fear and dread. “Please, stay with me… babyyy..”

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Meanwhile, Mayank clung to Ranbir’s hand, his grip firm yet trembling. Ranbir lay there in ambulance, groaning in pain, but a small smile managed to find its way to his lips. “Did they… get that…bb… bastard?” he asked, his voice weak, every word a struggle against the darkness that was closing in on him.

Nisha was beside, crying uncontrollably as Ankita held her close, trying to offer comfort. “Haan… woh sab chhod tu… aaram kar,” Ankita urged Ranbir, her voice thick with emotion as she tried to soothe him, her hand gently stroking his hair in an attempt to calm the storm of pain and fear that surrounded them.

Mayank turned his head away, unable to hold back the tears that were now freely falling down his cheeks. Ranbir, despite the pain shooting through his body like needles, managed to chuckle softly. “Lambi chhuti milne wali hai… lagta hai…” he murmured, a sad yet playful glint in his eyes.

“Just shut up… will you…” Nisha cried out, her voice trembling with pain and fear as she almost glared at him. “Kyu bol raha hai aise…” The thought of losing him was too much to bear.

Ankita, tears streaming down her face, brushed his hair back tenderly. “Tuze kuch nahi hone denge hum… me kuch nahi hone dungi tuze kamine…” she promised, her voice breaking as she tried to hold back the sobs that were threatening to escape. Her words were a desperate plea, a vow that she would do anything to keep him safe, to keep him with them.

Ranbir grinned weakly at her words, closing his eyes as another wave of pain shot through him, sharp and relentless. It felt like a needle was being continuously pierced into his body, yet his thoughts weren’t on his own pain. “Shehnaaz… woh… woh thik hai..?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper, concern for Shehnaaz overshadowing his own suffering.

Nisha looked down, the pain in her heart mirrored in her eyes, but it was Mayank who spoke up. “Sab thik hai… aur tu bhi jaldi thik ho jayega…” he assured him, though his own voice was strained with worry.

The medical personnel attending to Ranbir couldn’t help but be surprised by his spirit. “Aap bahot strong hai sir,” they remarked, clearly impressed by his resilience despite the grim circumstances.

“Yeah…” Ranbir managed to say, a proud yet tired smile tugging at his lips. Ankita couldn’t help but giggle through her tears, finding some solace in his unyielding spirit. Nisha, who had been holding his hand so tightly, rested her head against it, feeling the soft caress of his touch. Every breath he took seemed to shake her to her core, each one more labored than the last as the darkness threatened to consume him completely.

“Mayank… I will miss you yaar…” Ranbir’s voice broke through the quiet, each word filled with a mix of sadness and acceptance. He was fighting, but he knew the reality of his situation.

“Ranbir, aise mat bol… please…” Mayank’s voice was almost pleading as he looked at his friend, desperation in his eyes. “Tuze kuch huva toh Ankita jaan le legi meri… usse sirf tu hi sambhal pata hai…” His voice wavered, knowing just how much Ranbir meant to Ankita, to all of them.

Ranbir managed a soft chuckle despite the pain, “Aur toh nahi kya… bhootni hai meri…” he teased, his words bringing a fresh wave of tears to Ankita’s eyes as she hugged him tightly, not caring about anything else in that moment. The realization that she might have hurt him made her pull away suddenly, her heart pounding in fear and regret.

Nisha, unable to hold back her tears, cried out, “I hate you for doing this…” Her voice was laced with anger and pain, a desperate attempt to hold onto him, to keep him from slipping away.

The medical staff continued to monitor his heartbeat, which was becoming increasingly irregular. They could see the fight in Ranbir’s eyes, his spirit strong even as his body struggled. “Jane se pehle ek baar toh I love you bol de..” Ranbir’s voice was faint, a final plea as he looked at Nisha, his eyes filled with a mix of love and resignation.

Nisha looked at him, astonished, her tears flowing freely as she tried to smile through the pain. “Tu thik hoja.. fir bolungi…” she promised, her voice trembling.

Mayank, unable to keep quiet any longer, asked the question that had been on his mind. “Tune Sidharth ke liye apni jaan khatre me kyu dali yaar…?”

Ranbir closed his eyes, his breath coming in short, uneven gasps. “Sidharth ke liye nahi… sana ke liye…” he whispered, his voice barely audible as the darkness finally began to close in on him.

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Sidharth was terrified, his heart pounding in his chest as he rushed into the hospital, cradling Shehnaaz’s lifeless body against him. The moment she had lost consciousness, it felt as if his entire world had come crashing down. He had cried out desperately for her to wake up, to return to him, but she had remained still, her body limp in his arms. He could hardly bear the sight of her like this, so fragile and unresponsive. Rita ji had done her best to stay composed, trying to manage the chaos and calm everyone down, but even she was shaken by Shehnaaz’s condition. Jasbeera ji stood nearby, her eyes wide with shock, unable to process what had happened to Sana.

They all knew that Shehnaaz needed medical attention immediately.

Sidharth held her close, his arms wrapped protectively around her as he walked through the hospital corridor. His eyes were bloodshot, a storm of emotions swirling within him—anger, frustration, pain, and unshed tears. The weight of it all bore down on him, but he refused to let go of her, clinging to her as if his life depended on it. Behind him, the Gill family and the Shukla family followed, their faces etched with worry and fear.

As Sidharth walked, his eyes landed on Shehnaaz’s friends who were sitting anxiously in the corridor. Ranbir had been taken in for immediate medical attention, and the tension in the air was palpable. As they spotted Sidharth approaching with Shehnaaz in his arms, all three of them rushed towards him, their faces pale with fear and concern.

“Did he hurt her too?” Ankita was the first to speak, her voice trembling with tears as she took in Shehnaaz’s state.

Sidharth could only nod, his throat too tight with emotion to respond properly. He continued walking, his steps hurried as he headed towards the emergency room, determined to get Shehnaaz the help she desperately needed.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly as Sidharth waited beside Shehnaaz’s hospital bed. It had been over an hour since they had brought her in, and she was now resting, her face pale against the stark white of the hospital sheets. Sidharth sat by her side, his heart heavy with worry. His eyes never left her, staring at her as if willing her to wake up, to give him some sign that she was still there with him. Tears, which he had been holding back for so long, finally began to spill down his cheeks. His fingers trembled as he brushed through her messy hair, carefully removing the pins one by one until her hair lay free and loose. He gently caressed the bruises on her face, each touch sending a sharp pain through his heart as if he were being punched in the gut.

How had he failed her so badly? He was supposed to protect her, to keep her safe, and yet, he had let her down. He had failed to protect the one person who meant everything to him. The thought of someone daring to hurt Shehnaaz, to look at her with ill intent, made his blood boil. And now, as he sat there, the guilt gnawed at him, bit by bit, consuming him from the inside. He had been so careless, so blind to the dangers that had been lurking around them. How could he have let this happen?

“Ab bahot ho gaya na, Naaz…” His voice cracked as he spoke, the words barely escaping his lips. “Galati ho gayi tumhare jana se… I am so sorry, baby…” He had made sure that no one else was in the room, wanting to give Shehnaaz the quiet and peace she needed to rest. But inside, he was anything but peaceful. He was begging her, pleading with her to wake up, to open her eyes and look at him again. “Uth jao na, mera bachha… mujhe nahi ata tumhare bagair jeena…” His voice was raw with emotion, the tears flowing freely now as he held her hand tightly, willing her to come back to him, to give him back the life that seemed to have slipped away with her unconsciousness.

As if by some strange and wonderful magic, Sidharth felt her fingers gently curl around his. The touch was so soft, yet it sent a powerful wave of relief through him. A small, tender smile broke through his tears as he held onto her hand, bringing it up to his lips to kiss her fingers softly. “I love you, Shehnaaz…” he whispered, his heart pounding in his chest. The words felt heavy with emotion, a deep confession he realized he didn’t say nearly enough. But Shehnaaz had never complained; she had always accepted his love in whatever form it came.

He noticed her stir on the bed, and without a moment’s hesitation, he moved closer, cupping her face gently. She mumbled his name, “Sidharth…” her voice soft, almost fragile.

“Haan, mera bachha… yahi hun me… tumhare paas,” he replied, his voice filled with affection and reassurance. He watched as her eyes fluttered open, blinking slowly as they adjusted to the light. She looked around, her gaze unfocused at first, before finally resting on his. For a few precious seconds, they simply stared at each other, but then her eyes welled up with tears as the memories of what had happened came crashing down on her.

Suddenly horrified, Shehnaaz tried to sit up, panic clear in her every movement. Sidharth quickly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace. “Jaan… main hun na… shant ho jao…” he murmured, trying to calm her down.

But Shehnaaz shook her head frantically, tears streaming down her face as she began to cry uncontrollably. “Ranbir… woh kaha hai… Uttara… did she…?” Her voice trailed off as fear gripped her, and she pushed herself out of the bed, slipping out of his hold. Sidharth didn’t resist her; he knew she needed to move, to do something, anything to feel a sense of control again. He kept his arms around her, though, gently guiding her back, his voice filled with a soft plea, “Thodi der aaram karo, jaan… please… I promise I will listen to everything you say…”

But she just cried harder, her body shaking with the intensity of her sobs, shaking her head in disagreement. Sidharth sighed in defeat, feeling helpless because he knew she would not rest without seeing her friends. He couldn’t bear to see her like this, so broken and afraid. “Then promise me you will not cry anymore… please, mera bachha…” he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.

Shehnaaz nodded softly against Sidharth’s chest, her tears flowing freely, soaking through his kurta. He held her tightly, feeling her tremble with the weight of her emotions. His heart ached for her, wanting nothing more than to shield her from all the pain she was enduring. But he knew she needed to see her friends, to feel their support. So, giving in to her silent request, he gently guided her to where her friends were sitting, their faces etched with worry and fear.

As they approached, the door to the emergency room opened, and the doctor stepped out. Ranbir’s mother, who had been sitting with her face buried in her hands, looked up, her face drained of color. Her voice trembled as she managed to whisper, “Doctor…?” But she couldn’t find the strength to ask the question that weighed heavily on her heart.

The doctor sighed, his expression serious. “We’ve removed the bullet, but there’s been a significant loss of blood. He’s still under observation,” he explained, his tone cautious but not without hope.

The words hung in the air, heavy with the uncertainty of the situation. As the doctor walked away, Shehnaaz felt a deep sorrow settle over her. She slowly made her way to Ranbir’s mother, who was still hiding her face behind her palms. “Aunty…” Shehnaaz whispered, her voice trembling with concern and guilt.

Ranbir’s mother didn’t react, lost in her own world of fear and worry. Before Shehnaaz could say anything more, Nisha’s voice cut through the silence, laced with bitterness, “Are you happy now, Shehnaaz?”

Shehnaaz, already overwhelmed with guilt and grief, looked at Nisha in shock and confusion. The harshness in Nisha’s bloodshot eyes made Shehnaaz instinctively lower her gaze, feeling the weight of blame being placed on her shoulders. She didn’t understand why Nisha was saying this, but the words pierced her heart, deepening the guilt she already carried.

Sidharth, seeing the distress on Shehnaaz’s face, felt a surge of anger rise within him. He couldn’t stand to see her being blamed, especially after everything she had been through. His glare was fierce as he looked at Nisha, silently telling her that this was not the time to heap more pain onto Shehnaaz. She had endured enough.

Despite the coldness in Nisha’s voice, Shehnaaz instinctively reached out, hugging her tightly, desperate for some semblance of comfort. But Nisha didn’t hug her back. Instead, she turned her face away, her pain evident in the way she held herself. The rejection was like a slap to Shehnaaz, and she quickly pulled away, stunned by Nisha’s behavior. The shock was mirrored in the faces of Ankita, Anu, and Mayank, who couldn’t believe what they were witnessing. Sidharth, too, felt his anger bubbling just beneath the surface, struggling to keep his emotions in check.

Shehnaaz, her voice trembling, looked at Nisha with pleading eyes, “Tu aisa kyu keh rahi hai, Nishu?” Her words were soft, almost broken, as if she couldn’t bear the thought that Nisha might truly blame her for what had happened.

Nisha’s bitter smile only deepened the ache in Shehnaaz’s heart. “Kyun? Kuchh aur kehna chahiye tha mujhe? Kuchh galat keh diya maine?” Nisha’s words were laced with a pain that cut through Shehnaaz like a knife. Shehnaaz could barely meet Nisha’s gaze, her own eyes brimming with guilt and sorrow as she looked down, feeling the weight of responsibility crushing her.

Sidharth couldn’t bear to see Shehnaaz like this. He immediately stepped forward, wrapping his arms around her, pulling her into his embrace. Shehnaaz clung to him, burying her face in his chest as her sobs grew more intense. She was breaking, and all he could do was hold her, shielding her from the world even as her tears soaked through his shirt.

Nisha, unable to watch their despair any longer, turned her face away, her own anguish evident. Mayank, sensing the tension, placed a gentle hand on Nisha’s shoulder, trying to console her. “Nishu, yahan sab dukhi hain… isme Shehnaaz ko—” he began, his voice calm but firm.

But Nisha snapped, her voice sharp and filled with raw emotion, “Sab dukhi hain yahan… Agar tumse tumhara pyaar chhin jaaye, toh tumhe kaisa lagega?” Her words were like a dagger, cutting through the fragile peace in the room.

Ankita, unable to stay silent any longer, shouted, “Nishu, shut up! Kya bol rahi hai tu?” Her voice was filled with disbelief and frustration at Nisha’s outburst.

Shehnaaz, caught in the whirlwind of emotions, cried out in pain, “It’s all because of me… Sab meri wajah se hua…” The guilt was too much for her to bear, and her words came out in a broken whisper, as if admitting them out loud would make them true.

Sidharth, desperate to stop her from spiraling further, immediately placed his hand over her mouth, gently but firmly silencing her. “Jaan, it wasn’t your fault, please… Stop blaming yourself,” he pleaded, his voice thick with emotion. He couldn’t stand to see her tearing herself apart like this.

But Nisha, still consumed by her own pain, mocked in anger, “Exactly, Shehnaaz… It’s not your fault… It’s all my fault… I loved Ranbir madly, even knowing he would never love me back…” Her voice cracked as she spoke, the bitterness giving way to the deep hurt she had been hiding.

Anu, sensing Nisha’s breaking point, quickly moved to hug her, trying to calm her down. Nisha collapsed into Anu’s arms, her anger dissolving into tears as she realized how harsh she had been. “Mujhe maloom hai, Shehnaaz ki koi galti nahi hai… Tere liye, Ranbir mein toh kya, mein bhi apni jaan de sakti hoon…” Nisha’s voice was barely above a whisper now, filled with regret and self-loathing. She had lashed out in her pain, but deep down, she knew that Shehnaaz wasn’t to blame.

Shehnaaz stood there, utterly stunned, as the weight of guilt began to suffocate her. She felt as if every word spoken was a dagger to her heart—blaming her for Ranbir’s condition, for Uttara’s death, and for the pain etched on everyone’s faces. She couldn’t shake the feeling that she was the cause of all this sorrow.

Nisha, desperate and trembling, rushed to Shehnaaz and clung to her tightly. “Agar usse kuch ho gaya toh… tu bol na usko ke woh thik ho jaye… woh teri baat manta hai na… main nahi kho sakti usse…” Her voice was a mix of fear and pleading.

Shehnaaz, overwhelmed with guilt, hugged Nisha back, her own tears flowing freely. “Usse kuch nahi hoga… I am so sorry, Nishu… I am so sorry…” She repeated, her voice breaking with every word, the guilt consuming her.

Before Nisha could respond, Leher stormed in, her face a mix of grief and fury, with Baaz trailing worriedly behind her. “Kya galat kaha Nisha ne… meri shadi ke din meri behen ki jaan li gayi… kya is baat ki safayi koi de sakta hai? Shehnaaz, tumhe kya haqq tha meri behen ki jaan ke sath khelne ka? Kyun usne apne bare mein nahi socha… mere bare, maa-papa ke bare mein nahi socha… ab kaise vapas lau usse…” Leher’s voice cracked with pain, her eyes filled with tears.

Sidharth, who had been silently seething, couldn’t take it anymore. His anger boiled over as he pulled Shehnaaz into his arms, shielding her from the onslaught. “Enough is enough… no one, and I mean no one, will blame my Shehnaaz anymore. How can you all be so cruel to her after everything she’s been through? Isme Shehnaaz ki kya galti hai ke uski achhai ka kisine galat faida uthana chaha?” His voice was firm, filled with a protective fury that left no room for argument.

Leher, still crying, retorted, “Uski achhai… aur mahanata ke dikhave mein meri behen chali gayi na…”

Baaz, unable to stay silent any longer, shouted, “Enough, Leher! You know it’s not Shehnaaz’s fault!”

Leher sobbed, her voice cracking with despair, “I know it’s not her fault… but what am I supposed to do now? In sab me meri behen ki kya galti thi?” Her words hung heavily in the air, leaving Baaz looking away, unable to meet her eyes, his own face twisted in restless pain.

Shehnaaz couldn’t bear it anymore. The guilt, the accusations—they all felt justified. Each word was like a sharp knife, cutting through her resolve. She abruptly pulled away from Sidharth’s protective embrace, her movement startling him. “Shehnaaz, please… it’s not your fault, mera bachha,” Sidharth’s voice was filled with desperation and worry.

But Shehnaaz couldn’t believe him. She couldn’t trust herself not to bring more pain to those she loved. As Sidharth tried to reach out to her, she instinctively stepped back, as if fearing that even her touch might harm him. Her retreat wounded Sidharth deeply, his heart aching as he saw the anguish in her eyes. “Jaan, please… come here…” he pleaded, his voice breaking with emotion.

Shehnaaz shook her head, her face a mask of pain and regret. Without another word, she turned and dashed away, her sudden departure leaving Sidharth frozen in shock for a moment before he snapped out of it and sprinted after her. “Shehnaaz… stop, baby, please!” he called out, his voice filled with desperation as he chased after her.

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