Night of 25TH

CHAP 62: Cuddling for Warmth

Past:

Shubman

I gazed at Siraj, already bracing myself for the storm of anger that I knew was coming. However, this time, I refused to leave Anya's side. With tears streaming down my face, I stood up and shouted towards them, "I am not leaving. If you don't want me near her, fine. I'll be sitting here."

Both Siraj and Anya exchanged glances, choosing to ignore me rather than escalate the situation further. Sanket  and Rahil, sitting at Anya's bedside, engaged in conversation with her about her health. The four of them spoke for hours, my presence in the room seemingly forgotten. Occasionally, Sanket and Rahil shot me sad glances, while Siraj and Anya deliberately ignored my existence.

As the clock struck seven in the evening, Sanket and Rahil decided it was time to leave. They hugged me, and Rahil whispered a warning in my ear, "Make sure she is okay. If you harm her now, we won't hesitate to take you down."

Anya's parents arrived a while later after my friends left, visibly distressed, and Ishan and Siraj did their best to console them. Chucky, in her typical fashion, cracked jokes about her own critical state, momentarily lightening the heavy atmosphere in the room. When Chucky's father noticed me sitting alone on the sofa, he questioned, "Why are you sitting here alone?"

Chucky, weakly puffing through her oxygen mask, huffed in response. Her mother sighed, looking at both of us, "You two fought again?"

I nodded silently. This wasn't just another squabble; it was a clash that had brought accusations and downgraded Anya's status.

By eight in the evening, Ishan escorted Anya's parents home. Despite their reluctance to leave their daughter's side, Ishan emphasized the need for them to rest, considering their age and the stress they had endured. Before departing, he turned to me with a stern warning, "I am letting you stay here because she needs you. But make one wrong move, and I won't hesitate to take drastic measures."

Lying down, exhausted from the events of yesterday and today, I observed Siraj. He was by Anya's side, gently feeding her soup as she struggled to drink it. A pang of disappointment swept over me. I had wished to be the one caring for her, but it seemed my decisions had once again led to a situation where I wasn't the one tending to her needs.

My heart ached witnessing her difficulty in completing the dinner. The girl who cherished food so much, my foodie companion, was now unable to enjoy her meal properly.

As the night wore on, fatigue took its toll on Siraj. He struggled to keep his eyes open, barely able to stay awake after having dinner.

"Siri, just go and rest. You have matches coming up," Chucky weakly muttered, concern evident in her eyes.

"I ain't leaving you in this state," he replied firmly, rubbing his face in an attempt to stay awake.

"Siraj, tujhe meri kasam, jaa. We have nurses and doctors here. Just go. If there's something, I will inform you through the nurses," she urged, emphasizing the need for him to go home and get some rest.

Sighing, he looked at her, his exhaustion evident. He nodded and kissed her forehead, bidding her goodbye. He informed the nurse to take care of her and gave thorough instructions. The nurse nodded, a bit confused as to why Siraj was instructing her so much when I was there, but she acknowledged the instructions nonetheless.

Before leaving, Siraj issued a warning, "Take care of her. I know what you did was wrong, but she needs you. One wrong move and I won't mind pushing you off the cliff."

I nodded wearily as Siraj left, leaving just the two of us in the room with the lights dimmed, only a bedside lamp casting a soft glow. Chucky lay on her bed, staring at the ceiling, while I kept my eyes on her. The fatigue weighed heavily on me, and eventually, my eyes closed, and I drifted into a restless sleep.

In the middle of the night, a sudden crash shattered the quiet. I jolted awake, fear coursing through me. As I looked over, my heart sank at the sight of Chucky, dangling off the bed, attempting to pick up glass. This woman was impossible.

Rushing to her side, I gently lifted her in my arms and carefully laid her back on the bed. Luckily, her oxygen mask was off, as she could breathe on her own, but her condition remained on the edge.

"You could have called me if you wanted to drink water," I scolded, frustration and concern lacing my words.

As I filled a glass of water and brought it to her lips, she turned away, displaying her stubbornness. This time, I was not going to tolerate it. Holding her jaw, I turned her face back, making her drink while she shot me an angry gaze through tear-filled eyes.

Dabbing her mouth the towel and making sure she was comfortable I was about to move when I felt her holding my hand I looked at her "Did you have dinner?".

I shook my head in disagreement, but Anya pressed the nurse button, summoning her to the room. The nurse entered, asking, "What do you need, ma'am?"

Anya, still holding onto my hand, requested, "Can you arrange dinner for him?"

The nurse sighed apologetically, "Ma'am, it's difficult late at night. Most of the staff must be asleep."

"It's fine, Anya. I will manage," I reassured, not wanting to burden the already stretched staff.

"Anything you could bring, please try," Anya requested earnestly, her grip on my hand softening as she spoke. The nurse nodded in acknowledgement and left the room, presumably to see if there were any available options for a late-night meal.

The nurse left, leaving Chucky still holding onto my hand. I blushed, feeling a mixture of warmth and gratitude for her care even in her weakened state. As I looked at her, she noticed my blush, and in response, she instantly let go of my hand, making me frown at the sudden disconnect.

After a few minutes, the nurse returned with rotis and some sabzi that fortunately was still available. I ate in silence while Chucky fiddled with her blanket, stealing occasional glances in my direction.

Once I finished eating, I sat on the sofa, feeling a bit awkward and wrapped myself in a blanket. I noticed Chucky shivering from time to time, and it was clear she wanted me to offer help. However, she hesitated, probably because she already had three blankets.

Her injuries and weakened state were the reasons she felt cold. The nurse had given her medicines for fever a few minutes ago, but they seemed to take time to work.

Finally, she asked for my help, "Can you hold me tight? I am feeling cold." I nodded, blushing inwardly. She shifted a bit on her bed to give me space. I brought her close, letting her head rest on my chest as I held her tightly. Her teeth chattered as she wrapped her hands around my waist. I couldn't help but kiss her forehead, but I froze, afraid she might pull away. Surprisingly, she snuggled in more, making me smile.

She looked up and softly muttered, "Thank you," expressing gratitude. The warmth gradually returned to her, and her head rested on my chin. I gently swayed, lulling her into a peaceful sleep. The quiet room, filled with the steady hum of medical equipment, became a serene haven, providing a momentary escape from the challenges that surrounded us.