Two Brothers: Shadows of Deception

Chapter 68

Veiled Betrayals

Niharika

I took the hot cup of tea from Sid, and my gaze instinctively flew back to the doors of the operating theater. We had been sitting there for nearly three hours, waiting anxiously for any news. As I heard Sid sigh, I turned to look at him. He looked utterly exhausted, his eyes tired and adorned with dark circles.

In an attempt to offer some comfort, I gently squeezed his palm, urging him to meet my gaze. He managed to muster a weak smile, which I returned with a mixture of concern and support.

Bringing the cup of tea to my lips, I blew out the steam and took a soothing sip. The warmth of the liquid eased the dryness in my throat, but my nerves were still on edge. Closing my eyes, I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotions.

Suddenly, the doors of the operating theater swung open, and a stretcher rolled out from inside. Both Sid and I stood up quickly, our hearts pounding with anticipation. The nurses brought the stretcher near us, allowing us a glimpse of the person lying unconscious.

My eyes focused on the frail figure before me, and my heart sank. He looked so weak and vulnerable, hooked up to an IV drip and a blood bag. White bandages adorned his torso, and his bruised jaw and swollen lips were a painful sight to behold.

A knot formed in my stomach, and against my best efforts, tears welled up in my eyes. The sight of him in such a fragile state overwhelmed me with emotions – fear, worry, and a deep sense of helplessness. I wanted to reach out and hold him close, to protect him from any harm, but all I could do was stand there, grappling with my emotions.

"We have done everything within our power. Now, we must wait and see what happens. If he doesn't wake up in the next 24 hours, things may become more complicated. The bullet fortunately missed any vital organs, but he did lose a significant amount of blood. Let us hope for the best," the doctor informed us, offering a reassuring pat on Sid's shoulder.

Sid nodded, his face reflecting a mix of concern and determination, while he gently squeezed Ved's upper hand. The doctor then proceeded to walk away, accompanied by the nurses, as they took Ved to the ICU for observation. We followed them quietly, our hearts heavy with worry.

Sitting in front of the ICU, we found solace in the comfort of silence. There were countless questions racing through my mind, and I could sense that Sid had much to share as well. Yet, for the moment, we both sought solace in the quiet, allowing ourselves the space to settle our thoughts and sort through the overwhelming emotions swirling within us.

"Sid." The voice broke the stillness, and I turned around to see a man standing there, dressed in gray pants and a neatly tucked blue shirt. "Harsh," Sid greeted him, standing up, and I followed suit, curious about this unexpected arrival.

"How is he?" Harsh asked, concern evident in his voice.

"We have to wait for another 24 hours," Sid replied bitterly, frustration lacing his words.

"Hey, he will be alright," Harsh reassured, giving Sid's shoulder a comforting squeeze.

Harsh then turned his attention to me, offering a small smile. I nodded in response, still feeling a bit overwhelmed by the situation.

"You must be Niharika," Harsh said, addressing me directly.

I nodded again, feeling a mixture of curiosity and nervousness as I shook his hand, hesitantly accepting the introduction.