Aarish picked up his phone and immediately dialled Saisha. He has to inform her. She wasn't safe with that man home.
Saisha was surprised seeing his call. She did not think he would call her after what he had said last time.
She was about to answer his call when she heard her uncle call her.
"Chachu? Kya hua?"
"Police se kuch pata chala beta? Wo keh rhe the unhone uss attacker ko pakad lia."
Saisha sighed and shook her head looking down at her phone still ringing.
"Abhi tak nhi. Lekin Aarish ka-I mean Aarish sir ka call aa rha hai. Ho skta hai unhe kuch pata chal gaya ho."
She said and just as she unlocked her phone to call him back she heard a soft click and looked up only for her eyes to widen seeing her uncle point a gun at her.
"Ch-chachu? Ye sab? Ye kya-kya kar rhe ho?"
"Nhi karna chahta tha mai. Lekin bhaisahab ne koi raasta nhi chhoda tha mere liye. Un par itna bharosa krke maine apne shares bhi unke naam kr diye the. Iss bharose pr ki sahi din aane pr wo mere bete ko uska hissa denge. Lekin unhone kya kia? Puri ki puri dukan tumhare naam kr di. Kuch nhi chhoda mere bete ka."
Saisha was shocked. Did that mean? Her doubt was confirmed with his next words.
"Isliye mujhe wo haar churana pada. Jisse sabko ye lage ki you are not capable of handling the shop. Jisse mai bhaisahab ko pressurize kr sku ki wo dukan wo aadha mere bete ke naam kre. Mujhe laga tha ki sab kuch mere plan ke hisab se hoga. Ki police bhi kuch time dhyan degi phir thak jaayegi. Lekin wo inspector toh tere pyaar mai pad gaya. Mera sara plan kharab kr dia. Koi aur raasta nhi hai mere paas."
Saisha looked at him in fear. What did he mean by that? She looked around trying to figure out a way to call someone to help her.
"Chachu. Aap gusse mai ho mai samajh sakti hu. Lekin aap please pehle gun neeche rakho. Lag jaayegi chachu please. HELP! OFFICER! HE-"
Her cries were cut short was a loud shot. Saisha looked at her uncle who had the gun in his hand. And then she looked at the right side of her chestbwhere a red patch of blood had started to form.
Her eyes started closing as she heard her parents and the officers come running towards her. One of the officers caught hold of her her uncle and one caught her before she could fall to the ground.
Aarish was continuously pacing around trying to contact her. When she did not pick up even on the third try he ran out of the station and sat in his jeep.
Just then he received the call of one of the officers posted before her house.
"Varun! Listen to me! The attacker was sent by Rakesh Sabarwal. He is the thief. Saisha is-"
"Sir! He has shot mam."
Aarish froze.
"Wh-what?"
He asked in a scared whisper.
"Rakesh Sabarwal has shot Saisha mam. We are taking her to the hospital."
Shot her. He has shot her. She was shot. He failed. He had failed to protect her.
Hearing the name of the hospital Aarish blared the siren and drove to the hospital in full speed. His heart was racing wildly.
He reached the hospital at the same time Saisha was bought in the other police car.
He ran to her and picked her up in his arms as tears ran down his eyes. He didn't remember when was the last time he cried.
He put her on the stretcher yelling for a doctor. She was being rushed to the OT. He didn't leave her hand even for once. Her eyes opened for a split second and he called her name.
"Saisha! Saisha! Look at me. Please open your eyes."
She did with much difficulty hearing his voice and smiled at with her face contorted in pain.
"Aa-Aarish!"
She whispered and he sniffed with tears still rolling down his eyes.
"Don't speak! You're hurting. I am so sorry. I couldn't protect you."
She shook her head slowly and whispered.
"I-I love you!"
He shook his head and said.
"No! You're going to say it when you come out of that room. Alive and healthy."
She smiled with her eyes drooping down.
"I love you-Aarish."
And then her eyes closed. Tears fell his eyes. Why did it feel like she was saying it for the last time?
He kissed her hand that was clutched in his before leaving her when she was taken to the OT. The door closed, curtaij pulled and the red light switched on indicating that the surgery had started.
Aarish completed the formalities while her parents sat in the waiting room crying silently.
His hand stopped at the space for 'relationship with the patient'. What relationship did he share with her? His hands moved without his permission and he ended up writing 'husband' at the place.
And it felt natural. Right.
He went to her where her parents were sitting and sat in front of them. Near their feet. With his head hung low.
"I am really sorry. I failed in my duty to protect your daughter. I am really sorry sir, mam."
He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to see her mother smiling.
"You did everything you could. Thank you. She is really lucky to someone like you as her protector."
She kissed his head and he burst out crying at her words and gestures.
He prayed for Saisha to wake up. She wasn't the lucky one here. He was. And he wanted to tell her that.
'Wake up Saisha! Please wake up love! I love you so much. Don't give up on me so easily.'
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