The Billionaire's Bride [ Rewritten]

Part 29 | And Suddenly

beep... beep... beep...

A distant, rhythmic sound was the first thing that anchored me back to the light, slowly dragging me out of the suffocating black void. My eyelids felt heavy, fluttering open only to be instantly blinded by a harsh white light.

Against the cold ache of my body, there was a gentle, familiar touch caressing the back of my hand.

"Naira..."

A groan caught in my throat. My body ached, heavy soreness settling deep in my muscles. As the haze in my vision began to clear, the sterile room focused, revealing a face deeply etched with worry.

"Dhruv," I croaked. My throat burned, dry as ash, leaving a bitter taste on my tongue. "What... what h-happened?"

"God, Naira. You're awake." The sheer relief in Dhruv's voice was obvious as he leaned down, pressing a soft, lingering kiss against my temple. "You were in an accident."

The word triggered a violent spark in my brain, but before I could piece the shattered memories together, I instinctively tried to shift.

Dhruv was there instantly, his hands gentle as he helped lift my aching body upright. He guided a plastic cup to my lips. "Here, drink. Slow sips."

I swallowed the water greedily, the cool liquid soothing the fire in my throat. As the fog in my mind continued to lift, my eyes drifted down to the IV line taped to the back of my hand.

A dull, pulsing throb radiated from the back of my skull. When I reached up, my fingers brushed against a thick plaster on my forehead, and I hissed, flinching from the sharp spike of pain.

Before I could ask the question burning in my chest, the heavy hospital door swung open. Aditi rushed in, her face pale, followed closely by Arjun.

" Naira, you scared me to death." Aditi choked out, throwing her arms around me. She held me in a tight, fiercely protective hug, her voice trembling with a raw emotion I had never heard from her before.

When she finally pulled back, her hands remained locked around mine, refusing to let go. "I completely lost my mind seeing you like that. Bleeding. Unconscious."

Arjun stepped closer to the edge of the bed. His sharp gaze swept over my face, "How are you feeling, Naira? Any pain? Discomfort?"

I managed a weak nod, but before I could speak, a doctor in her late forties stepped into the room, a reassuring smile on her face.

"Mrs. Oberoi, it is very good to see you awake. Let's quickly check those vitals."

Dhruv shifted on his feet, practically vibrating with anxiety. "How is she, Doctor?"

"Mr. Dixit, she is going to be just fine," the doctor replied smoothly, draping her stethoscope around her neck after a quick assessment. She turned her attention back to me.