HUKUMAT : WAR FOR THRONES

Betrayal

Her body was drenched in blood, a vivid reminder of the violence that had shattered their lives. Manali sat alone on the cold, sterile floor of the hospital, her head resting against the hard surface of a nearby bench. The sharp scent of antiseptics and the low hum of fluorescent lights filled the air, but all she could feel was the heavy weight of isolation pressing down on her.

Once again, there was no one to comfort her, no familiar face to lend her strength. The one person who truly understood her-the one she loved with every fiber of her being-was lying unconscious in the ICU, fighting a battle she could only pray he would win.

Tears streamed down her cheeks, hot and relentless, as the memories of the past few hours flooded her mind. The chaos had erupted in an instant. The gang member's gunshot rang out, piercing the air like a thunderclap, and everything she had known spiraled into darkness. Anika had come to their rescue, a fierce warrior with her team, dispatching the assailants with a swift efficiency that left Manali in awe. But the victory had come at a cost; Anika had collapsed, her strength giving way under the weight of the violence they had all endured.

Now, the hospital felt like a cage, sealing her inside with her despair. She was lost in her thoughts, her heart aching with each passing moment. Time blurred as the hours stretched from noon into the dark of night, and then into the early morning.

Everyone around her was consumed by their prayers for Ishaan. Vikrant sat in vigil outside Anika's ward, his face etched with worry and determination, while Akshat, Shivi, and Shivay tried to maintain a semblance of normalcy, bringing food that nobody had the appetite to eat.

"Baccho, tumhare bhuka rehne se Ishaan aur Anika thik nahi honge na," Varsha said gently, her voice filled with concern. "Agar woh tum logon ki is halat mein dekhenge toh unke upar kya guzregi, socha hai kabhi? Aap sab log kuch kha lijiye." Her eyes swept across the room, filled with anxious faces, all caught in a web of worry for their loved ones.

Shivay and Shivi moved through the crowd, offering simple fare-bread, fruit, and water-hoping to coax their friends into eating something, anything, to stave off the hunger that gnawed at their insides. Reyansh and Varsha settled in front of Akshat and Vikrant, each trying to encourage the others to take a bite.

"Shivi, just a little bite, for Ishaan's sake," Shivi urged, her voice soft yet firm.

Akshat reluctantly accepted the food, his hands trembling as he took a small bite, but the taste was lost on him. It was impossible to focus on anything other than the uncertainty that hung over them like a dark cloud.

Time dragged on, and the atmosphere in the waiting area was thick with tension. Geetanjali, who had been pacing anxiously, eventually left for home, her health deteriorating under the strain. Mrinal, Reyansh, and Ranvijay had been forced to attend to urgent matters at the office, their absence a reminder of the chaotic world beyond the hospital's walls.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, the head doctor emerged from the operating theater. The waiting room fell silent, a collective breath held in anticipation.

"Doctor, how is he?" The question echoed, breaking the silence.

"He is out of danger," the doctor replied, his voice steady yet lacking the warmth everyone yearned for. He turned and retreated to his cabin, leaving behind a room filled with tentative hope.

Manali's heart soared for a moment-a flicker of relief amidst the anguish. A smile broke on her tear-streaked face, reflecting her inner turmoil. But as she sat on the cold floor, lost in her thoughts, she couldn't shake the feeling of isolation that threatened to engulf her once again.

Resting her head on the corner of the bench, she let the tears flow freely, pooling at her feet. She wished someone would notice her, but everyone seemed too absorbed in their own fears and prayers to recognize her silent suffering.