Acceptance heals everything

Part 61. Friendship's Anchor

KL and Shreyas entered Virat's room and saw Jaddu resting his head on Virat's bed sitting on the chair while Ash had occupied the couch. 

"Are you okay?", Ash asked KL, he could not say anything. He looked at Virat and saw stitches on his stomach, the bandages were visible. 

Then he noticed the blood on his shirt, he traced and all he could see was blood on his hands, he knew he was imagining it but it was difficult to not remember that moment every single time he sees Virat. He just went outside to the bathroom and washed his hands repeatedly. 

Shreyas who had followed him rubbed his back to calm him down. After 10 mins, KL was not stopping at all, so he closed the tap and made him sit on the chair. Shreyas dried his hands softly  and passed him a fresh shirt. 

"Calm down, it's over. He is safe and you did your best Rah", Shreyas said, "Wear this, okay?", he added gently. 

KL nodded to it and changed the shirt, "just throw it somewhere please", KL requested and Shreyas threw it in the bin. 

"Shrey?"

"Ha?"

"I cannot see him Shrey, I cannot. It's really difficult. I know he needs me but I am sorry. Atleast today I cannot, please", KL said burying his face in his hands. Shreyas took him in a hug where KL  just cried helplessly. 

"It's okay, you dont have to see him today. Jaddu bhai, Ash bhai are there with him. You be in Rohit bhai's room, okay. Shush now, don't cry-- you will hamper your health. Come let's have something and then get something for others too", said Shreyas rubbing his back and calming him down. 

Shreyas made him eat a little and took him to Rohit's room, where KL sat on the chair beside Rohit's bed and put his head on his palm, it was comforting him. 

Jassi eyed what's going on to which he just followed Shreyas outside for the conversation and eat something himself. It was almost morning and they haven't slept so needed the caffeine. 

"Rahuliya?", Rohit called softly to which he immediately looked up, "Virat used to--"

"call you that, I know kiddo", Rohit said softly. 

"You got to sleep Rohit bhai"

"Rah, talk to me kiddo what is it?"

"He needs me but even after trying so hard, I cannot see him today-- all that blood, I can't. What if he wakes up-- it will affect his health if he doesn't find me. What if he thinks I am also not with him. But I cannot stand there without panicking you know, it's really fresh in my mind. I can still smell blood on my hands", KL confessed whatever he was bothered with. 

Rohit just felt too bad at that moment seeing KL like this, he caressed his hair, "it's fine KL, others are there with him-- he is not alone. Jassi and Shreyas will give us updates about him, don't you worry. Try to get some sleep okay, you have to be strong for Virat, right?", he said softly. 

KL nodded and rested again his head near Rohit and he just kept caressing his hair softly so that he gets some rest. 

In Virat's room, Ash and Jaddu just had another coffee when they heard painful groans from Virat's side. They rushed to him only to see him sweating and tears flowing through his side. Ash called the staff. 

"Veer calm down please", Jaddu caressed his hair, it was not working. 

The Doctor arrived and gave him an injection which calmed him down to some extent.  Once they left Jaddu took seat beside him, wiped the tears and sweat off his face. 

Virat opened his eyes after half hour feeling disoriented as ever. He turned his head and saw Jaddu beside him and Ash too. 

Virat tried to raise his hand to touch and see if he was real, Jaddu went closer so that Virat's finger touches his cheek, "Kya hua?", Jaddu asked softly. 

"Real?", Virat asked whispering as he had zero energy to even move a bit or talk. 

As Jaddu knew about the hallucination thing, "Yes, real-- with you, by your side", said Jaddu holding his hand gently. 

"Sorry", whispered Virat again with moist eyes which he could hardly keep open. 

"It's okay", Jaddu replied softly. 

"Ro?", Virat asked as he did not see him, "he is resting Virat, don't you worry", Ash said, it was not complete lie or the truth. 

Ash went outside to talk to the doctor while Jaddu was there in the room as Virat was still not so aware or in sense where he was and what had happened. 

"Not okay-- I ruined-- ruined everything", whispered Virat trying to explain Jaddu so that he doesn't leave again, "your-- anger-- right", he said. 

Jaddu had to listen it so carefully because Virat was having difficulty to talk due to weakness and exhaustion. 

"Veer, don't talk-- you have to get better. You will make your health worse, you need proper rest",  Jaddu said calming him down. 

"No-- listen-- please", Virat tried to grip Jaddu's hand but he was too weak to do that. 

"I am listening, don't panic. I am here only, I am not going anywhere, okay?", Jaddu said gently. 

Virat nodded slowly trying to understand and acknowledge. 

"So much-- pain", whispered Virat holding his stomach. 

Jaddu carefully removed his hand so that he doesn't aggravate his wound, "I know-- it will get better. Trust me, okay?", he said softly. 

"When? am-- tired", Virat said and his expression was so childlike it made Jaddu feel like Mahi bhai for a moment. 

"Soon Veer, just do not give up, okay?", Jaddu said caressing his hair. 

"U-- here-- now?", Virat asked to which Jaddu tried to connect and saw his eyes, only to see uncertainty in his eyes, even scared expression. 

"I am gonna be here, you can sleep-- you need it", Jaddu said answering his question which felt like that and then Virat closed his eyes holding Jaddu's hand. 

"Rah?", Virat whispered opening his eyes again. 

"He is sleeping in another room, he was awake whole night sitting by your side. Dont worry he is okay", Jaddu said and Virat dozed off listening to that. 

Jaddu sighed, suddenly feeling tired with all the assurance he was giving Virat and emotions he was feeling at the same time.