Dilbar

2

Krunal rushed into the hospital, anger and worry all over his face. He was furious, yet the sight of his younger brother lying so fragile on the hospital bed made him pause. Hardik stood up, stepping in front of Krunal to stop him from going any closer.

"Krunal, calm down," Hardik whispered, gripping his arm. "Ishan's been through enough already."

Krunal clenched his jaw, looking past Hardik at Ishan's weak form. "How did this happen, Hardik? How could he get so involved with Mayank that it pushed him to this?" His voice was tight with hurt and anger.

Hardik sighed. "We'll handle Mayank later. Right now, we need to focus on Ishan. He's barely holding on."

Krunal's gaze softened slightly as he looked at Ishan. The once cheerful, bright boy now looked so small and defeated. It hurt to see him like this, knowing he was in pain because of someone he trusted. Krunal took a deep breath, trying to hold back his anger for his brother's sake.

Just then, the doctor came in. "I have some updates," he said carefully. "Ishan is in a fragile state of shock and mild depression. For an omega, emotional distress like this can be very serious. I recommend avoiding any plans that could cause him more stress."

Hardik nodded, glancing at Krunal, who was clearly struggling to hold back his frustration. But as he looked at Ishan, he seemed to make up his mind.

"Alright," Krunal said quietly but firmly. "The marriage plans are off. We won't put him through anything more right now."

Hardik sighed in relief, giving his brother a small nod. "Let's focus on helping him get better," he said. "We'll protect him and make sure he doesn't go through this pain again."

Together, the brothers turned their attention back to Ishan, whodrifted into a calmer sleep.

When Ishan arrived back home, he felt an uneasy tension in the air. The house was bustling with whispered conversations and hurried footsteps, voices overlapping in worry. As he stepped inside, he could feel everyone's eyes on him, all going quiet at once as Krunal raised a hand, signaling them to stop.

Ishan's heart raced. He could sense the concern, the unspoken anger, and the deep hurt filling the room. His eyes lowered, unable to meet anyone's gaze, feeling the weight of disappointment around him.

Just then, Rahul, Hardik's omega, stepped forward, his face full of worry yet softened by love. "Ishu," he said gently, his voice trembling slightly as he reached out, pulling Ishan into a warm embrace. "My poor boy..." he whispered, his fingers softly brushing through Ishan's hair as he held him close.

Ishan felt his eyes sting with tears, but he kept his head down, unsure if he deserved the comfort. "I'm sorry..." he murmured, his voice barely audible.

Rahul tightened his embrace, holding him a little closer. "Shh, you don't have to say anything right now," he whispered, his own voice thick with emotion. "You're home, and that's all that matters."

Hardik and Krunal stood close by, watching the scene with unreadable expressions. Hardik had his arms crossed, but his eyes softened as he saw the way Rahul tended to Ishan, brushing back his hair and wiping away the silent tears that slipped down his cheeks.

"Come, sit down, you must be tired," Rahul said, guiding Ishan gently to the sofa, fussing over him as if he were made of glass. "Are you hungry? Do you need water?" He looked at Ishan with such tenderness that it almost broke the boy's heart.

"I... I don't deserve this," Ishan whispered, his voice shaky. "I've disappointed everyone."

Rahul knelt in front of him, taking his hands gently in his own. "Don't say that, Ishu. You've been through something no one should ever go through. We're not disappointed; we're just worried about you." He gave Ishan a small, comforting smile. "We only want you safe and happy."

Ishan's tears spilled over again as he clutched Rahul's hands, his fingers trembling. "I thought... I thought running away would make things better. I trusted him... I thought he loved me." His voice broke as he choked out the words.

Rahul's eyes softened even more, his own heart breaking for Ishan. "Oh, Ishu," he whispered, pulling him into another tight embrace, gently rocking him. "Love isn't supposed to hurt you like this. You deserve someone who values you, someone who would never leave you feeling like this."

Krunal, who had been silently watching, stepped forward, his expression firm but gentle. "Ishan," he said, his voice steady. "You're not alone in this. Whatever happens, we're here. You're family. Nothing will change that."

Ishan looked up at Krunal, the unspoken strength in his brother's gaze giving him a sense of comfort he hadn't felt in days. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice a little stronger. "I didn't mean to hurt any of you. I just... I didn't know what else to do."

Hardik, who had been quiet until now, took a step closer, placing a reassuring hand on Ishan's shoulder. "We know, Ishu. It's over now. You're safe, and we'll make sure no one ever puts you in that position again."

Rahul wiped the last of Ishan's tears with his thumb, giving him a soft smile. "Let's get you to bed. You need rest, and tomorrow is a new day. We'll take it one step at a time, together."

Ishan nodded, feeling the warmth of his family surrounding him. He let out a shaky breath, finally allowing himself to lean on them, knowing he was safe, loved, and not alone. The pain of the past few days was still there, but with each gentle word and comforting touch, the burden felt a little lighter.