Guilty

Chapter 1 - A desperate race

In the frenzied whirlwind of chaos and urgency, the piercing wail of ambulance sirens cut through the air. Within the sterile confines of the hospital, a ballet of urgency unfolded as doctors and nurses orchestrated a symphony of preparation in the operation theatre. A stretcher raced through the corridors, the rhythmic thud of footsteps echoing the urgency of the moment. With every fleeting second, my vision blurred and darkness closed in, my hand dripping with crimson echoes of a dire ordeal. Amidst the clamor, the symphony of hospital staff and the relentless beat of the ambulance, a desperate voice cut through, clinging to a flickering hope, pleading, "Please, Aadhya, please stay with me."

My eyes started dimming, surrendering to the relentless pull of unconsciousness, the world slipping away like sand through my desperate grasp. The clamor of the surroundings began to muffle, fading into a distant hum. Yet amidst the encroaching darkness, the voice persisted, etching itself into my mind with an almost spectral insistence. It echoed through the corridors of my consciousness, a plea so raw and laden with emotion that it defied the fading boundaries of my weakening senses. "Please, Aadhya, please stay with me," it reverberated, a lifeline in the abyss, desperately urging me to fight the encroaching shadows.

In that frenetic moment, time seemed to warp and bend, clinging to the precipice of life and hope. Aadhya, the resilient soul fighting an unseen battle, had lost an alarming amount of blood, her consciousness slipping away like elusive smoke. Vikram, a man tormented by helplessness, paced the sterile hospital corridor, anxiety etched into his every step. Each second felt like an eternity, a relentless drumbeat of fear echoing in his chest.

As Vikram anxiously traversed the corridor, a nurse, her demeanor a blend of concern and efficiency, approached him. "Excuse me, sir," she inquired gently, "are you family? Her husband, perhaps ?"

Vikram, grappling with the weight of the situation, responded, "I'm... I'm her...", he couldn't find his words.

The nurse nodded, her eyes reflecting the empathy she felt for the turmoil that now colored Vikram's world. "We need to reach her parents for consent," she explained, "but it seems the call isn't going through."

Panic surged within Vikram as he fumbled with his phone, trying to reach Aadhya's parents. The phone seemed to betray him, no connection finding its way through the harrowing uncertainty that gripped the hospital.

"Sir, we can't wait," the nurse urged, understanding the urgency of the situation. She presented him with the consent form, a stark reminder of the weight of decisions he needed to bear. "We need your consent for the surgery. It's a matter of time."

Gazing at the form before him, Vikram steeled himself. The tumult of emotions, the love for Aadhya, the fear of losing her, all converged into a singular purpose. He took a deep breath, his hand steady as he signed the consent form, a silent promise to fight for her life, a covenant to their friendship. In his mind, he vowed, "I won't let anything happen to you, Aadhya."

Vikram picked up his phone and dialed a familiar number. On the other end, a voice answered in a cheerful tone, "Hey, look who's calling me! What a surprise! What's up, Vik?"

He hesitated, struggling to find the right words in this dire moment. Pushing through the initial banter, he kept his voice low, a solemn undertone breaking through the casual facade. "Prerna, could you come to GK Hospital immediately?"

Prerna's voice shifted to concern, "GK Hospital? What happened, Vik? Is everything okay?"

Vikram took a deep breath, his voice quivering slightly, "Get here as soon as you can, please. It's Aadhya."

A palpable pause lingered before the urgency in Vikram's words cut through the line, conveying the gravity of the situation. Prerna's response was swift, "I'm on my way. Don't worry, I'll be there soon." The call ended, and Vikram clutched the phone tightly, his hope leaning on the support that was racing to reach Aadhya.

Prerna's heart raced as she burst into the hospital, scanning the bustling scene for any sign of Vikram. Spotting him in a corridor, she hurried over, her face etched with concern and confusion. "Vikram, what's going on? Why did you call me to the hospital?"

Vikram's expression was a somber mask of worry and anxiety as he began to recount the harrowing events of that fateful morning. "Prerna, I called Aadhya earlier today. We were supposed to meet in the evening, but when I reached her place, she didn't answer the door. I kept ringing and calling, growing more and more anxious. In a state of panic, I broke in and started searching her apartment. And in the kitchen..."

Prerna's eyes widened with horror and disbelief, her hand instinctively covering her mouth. "Oh my God," she gasped, her voice barely above a whisper. Tears welled up as she grappled with the terrible reality unfolding before her. "What did you find, Vikram? Is she...?"

Vikram swallowed hard, the memory still vivid and painful. "She was lying there, half-conscious, blood flowing from her hand. I can't even describe how I felt in that moment."

Prerna struggled to hold back her tears, her mind racing with worry for their dear friend. "We have to stay strong for her," she said, her voice a mix of determination and sorrow. "We'll be there for her, no matter what."

Prerna, her concern deepening, asked Vikram, "Can I see her, Vikram? Is she stable?"

Vikram hesitated, his eyes reflecting the worry that gnawed at him. "The doctors are still checking on her. They haven't given any updates yet."

A wave of frustration mixed with concern washed over Prerna. "Have you at least informed her parents?" she asked, choosing her words carefully.

Vikram, feeling the weight of the truth, admitted, "I tried calling her parents, but all my efforts went in vain."

Understanding the difficulty of the situation, Prerna asked gently, "Did you at least tell him?"

Vikram, struggling to contain his rising frustration and panic, snapped, "Are you out of your mind? Him, really? This is not the time to think about him!"

Prerna, undeterred by Vikram's outburst, placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder and said firmly, "Vikram, we can't hide this from him. He deserves to know what's happening to Aadhya."

Vikram, feeling the weight of the responsibility, ran his hand through his hair and let out a heavy sigh. "Prerna, it's just... It's complicated. I don't know how he'll react."

"He has a right to know," Prerna insisted, her voice resolute. "You very well know who Aadhya is to him. Keeping him in the dark won't help anyone."

Vikram, torn between his fear of his reaction and the need to do what was right, finally nodded. "Alright, I'll tell him. But please, let's be prepared for whatever comes next."

Prerna nodded in agreement, her gaze unwavering. "We'll face this together, Vikram. For Aadhya's sake."