Her Nightmare | 18+

|| Chapter 38 ||

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PARINIDHI

The weight of taking a life settled heavily on me, squeezing my heart with an unbearable guilt. I felt frozen, unable to move, each breath a struggle as if the air had thickened around me.

In this fog of despair, one thought pounded relentlessly in my mind: "I've taken Devansh's life." The gravity of those words wrapped around me, leaving me in an impenetrable darkness.

A sudden knock on the door jolted me from my thoughts. Trembling, I opened it to find Mukul standing there, a welcoming smile on his face. "Bhabhi, come on, let's join the..."

His words faltered as he saw Devansh lying motionless on the floor. Shock crossed Mukul's face, and he rushed to Devansh's side, kneeling down to wake him, his voice full of desperation. "Dev, Dev, open your eyes," he pleaded.

I stood paralyzed, watching as Mukul checked Devansh's pulse. My heart raced with fear. I barely managed to ask, "Is he... dead?"

Mukul's eyes turned to me, anger flaring. "This is what you wanted, isn't it?"

Tears welled up at his accusation. I looked down, hiding my emotions as Mukul carried Devansh into the bedroom. Devansh hung limply in his arms, a sight that left me feeling helpless.

Driven by some instinct, I followed Mukul, each step echoing in the tense silence. At the stairs, everyone froze, staring at Devansh's lifeless form. Anshika, Rahul, and Reshma rushed over, their faces etched with shock. We all followed Mukul into Devansh's bedroom, where he gently laid Devansh on the bed.

Anshika sat at the edge of the bed, near Devansh's head. Tears streamed down her face as she whispered, "Mukul bhaiya, what's happened to bhaiya?"

"Ansh, please, stay calm. Dev needs us right now," Mukul's voice cracked with emotion as he spoke.

The sight of Devansh lying still, combined with Anshika and Mukul's tearful faces, Reshma's worried gaze, and Rahul's anxious look, weighed heavily on me, pressing down like a heavy burden.

Mukul quickly removed Devansh's shirt, revealing a distressing sight that left me speechless. Devansh's chest and arms were covered in angry red, swollen hives, and dark patches of rash marked his neck. It was clear he was having a severe allergic reaction. His shallow breathing only added to the alarm, indicating serious respiratory distress.

"Reshma, where's the injector?" Mukul's urgent voice cut through the tension. His eyes were fixed on Reshma as she rushed to Devansh's cupboard. She opened it but found the inner locker locked. "Sir, it's locked," she said, worry evident in her voice.

Mukul quickly started entering the code on the locker's keypad. Each failed attempt was met with a sharp beep, heightening his frustration. He muttered, "Why would he change the passcode now?"

Turning to Anshika, Mukul asked urgently, "Ansh, did Dev give you the new passcode for his locker?" Anshika's tearful shake of the head confirmed the grim reality—Devansh hadn't shared the new code.

Mukul, now visibly frustrated, turned to me. "Bhabhi, what's your birth date?"

The sudden question threw me off guard. My confusion was clear, but Mukul's frustration grew. "Bhabhi, what's your birth date?"

"Huh? It's October 22nd," I replied quickly. Mukul dashed back to the locker, entering the digits I provided. The lock clicked open, offering a glimmer of hope.

Mukul grabbed the injector and, murmuring, "Hold on, Dev," administered the life-saving medication to Devansh.

As we waited anxiously for any sign of improvement, Mukul instructed Reshma to notify the guests that the party was over and to urgently call a doctor. Reshma nodded and hurried off, leaving us in tense silence by Devansh's side.

After what felt like an eternity, Devansh's fingers twitched, and his breathing began to stabilize. Hope flickered as he slowly regained consciousness. When his eyes opened, the room seemed to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

"Pari," Devansh whispered, his voice barely audible but filled with an intensity that made my heart race. I struggled to meet his gaze, feeling a tight knot in my stomach.

As Devansh reached out weakly, everyone's attention shifted to me. Still in shock, I looked at him, overwhelmed by the whirlwind of emotions.

Anshika and Mukul moved away from the bed. Anshika gently took my hand and guided me to sit beside Devansh. "Bhaiya, are you feeling better?" she asked, her voice trembling as she touched Devansh's forehead.

Devansh took Anshika's hand and kissed it gently, nodding faintly.

"Bhaiya, you should rest now," Anshika said softly, placing a kiss on his forehead. Tears fell onto Devansh's face, but she wiped them away with a small smile before leaving the room with Rahul.

"I've called the doctor. He'll be here soon. Until then, rest," Mukul said, his voice filled with concern. His gaze, however, shifted to me with a flash of anger. I quickly looked away, unable to meet his eyes.

With Mukul gone, the room felt quieter, the weight of the moment pressing down on Devansh and me. Watching his gradual recovery stirred conflicting feelings—relief at his improving health and lingering guilt over the near-tragedy.

As Devansh struggled to cover himself with a blanket, I hurried to help. I grabbed a blanket and carefully draped it over him, ensuring he was warm.

We sat in silence, the tension between us palpable. I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze, my fingers fidgeting nervously. When Devansh's hand touched mine, I looked up to see him smiling at me, a warmth in his eyes that eased some of the tension.

"Pari," Devansh started, but I interrupted, unable to contain my guilt. "Devansh, I never imagined your allergy would be so severe. I thought it was just a mild reaction; I never meant to endanger your life."

Devansh, still smiling, reassured me. "I know, Pari. You would never hurt anyone."

His words hit me hard, a mix of comfort and pressure. Despite my fears and mistakes, his trust remained steadfast.

Slowly pulling away from his grasp, I tried to get up, but Devansh's hand stopped me. He gently pulled me back onto the bed, holding me in an unexpected embrace. His grip was firm, as if afraid I might slip away.

With his face against my neck, Devansh held me tightly, whispering, "Pari, please, let go of your anger and stay with me. Just for a moment."

His vulnerability was surprising, a side of Devansh I hadn't seen before. Unable to respond verbally, I gently pulled away and nodded in agreement.

Devansh reluctantly released me, his hand still holding mine. I could sense his lingering fear of losing me.

"Did you feel afraid?" Devansh asked, his eyes searching mine for reassurance. It struck me how fear surfaces in such dire situations.

I nodded, acknowledging the fear I felt seeing him in such a state.

After a long silence, Devansh spoke softly, "I was scared too."

His admission hung in the air, reflecting the universal dread of facing one's mortality.

"It's not just the fear of dying," Devansh continued, "but the fear of never seeing you again."

His words cut through me, a mix of longing and apprehension that shook me deeply. Despite my inner turmoil, I remained silent, engaged in a silent struggle with my feelings.

"Pari," Devansh's voice called softly, bringing me back to the present.

Before I could respond, Arnav burst into the room, looking disheveled and anxious. "Boss, Sid... Siddharth has taken his own life," he stammered, his voice breaking the silence like shattered glass.

The news hit me like a physical blow, leaving me reeling. Devansh looked equally stunned, his expression reflecting disbelief. Struggling to compose himself, he murmured, "But I had already set him free then why?"

The revelation left me grappling with its implications, the shock rendering me speechless. Arnav stepped forward, handing Devansh a letter. "Siddharth left a note for you," he said solemnly.

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