SHADOWS OF THE BLOODLINE

Chapter 3

Rahul reached Hardik's penthouse. From outside, it looked good, but he knew what the condition of the house would be. He walked slowly inside. As expected, it was ruined. All photos of him and Hardik lay shattered.

Bumrah stood before him, a glare of hatred in his eyes. "Why are you here now, Rahul, after ruining everything?" he asked.

"Where is he?" Rahul questioned back, his voice tinged with anguish.

"In your room, where else?" Bumrah spat, his tone bitter.

"He asked me to let you in."

With the answer in hand, Rahul walked inside, his heart heavy with regret.

"Are you here to break him more?" Bumrah's voice cut through the silence, filled with accusation.

"No," Rahul replied softly, his words weighed down by sorrow. "I am here to break down more."

Bumrah wouldn't have allowed Rahul inside, but he remembered his earlier conversation with Kunal:

"If Rahul comes, don't stop him. Let him be with Hardik."

"But Hardik..."

"He's already drunk and exhausted. He won't remember anything. Rahul will take care."

"Why are you so sure he'll come?" Bumrah had asked then.

"Because Rahul loves Hardik more than anything in this world. Even Hardik's love is nowhere near Rahul's love."

"Then why did he take such a drastic step?" Bumrah asked, confusion evident in his voice.

"It's a mystery to me too," Kunal admitted, his heart heavy with the burden of unanswered questions.

Rahul entered the room, finding it exactly as he had left it. Hardik's hands were still bleeding, the sight piercing through Rahul's heart like a dagger. With a heavy sigh, he retrieved the medicine and carefully tended to Hardik's wounds.

"I'm sorry," Rahul whispered, his voice laced with a mixture of guilt and sorrow. "But I have to do this. It's for your own good."

Hardik stirred, his eyes fluttering open drowsily. "Rahul... my love," he murmured.

"It's alright, my love," Rahul reassured him, though his own heart was heavy with the weight of what he had to do. "Just rest."

"No, you'll leave me," Hardik protested weakly.

"I won't," Rahul promised, his voice wavering slightly. "I have to protect you."

Hardik reached out, pulling Rahul closer, their lips meeting in a passionate kiss. Despite the intensity of their embrace, Hardik succumbed to the sedation, drifting off to sleep. Gently, Rahul laid him down on the bed, wrapping his arms around him as if to shield him from the world.

As the first light of dawn crept into the room, Rahul reluctantly pulled himself away, slipping out before Hardik could awaken. Outside, he was met by Bumrah, who looked at him with concern.

"Rahul, what's going on?" Bumrah asked, his voice tinged with worry.

"Nothing" Rahul said.

"Why are you leaving your wife in the middle of the night to come here?"

Rahul shook his head, his expression pained. "Please, don't tell him I was here," he pleaded. "It's complicated."

Bumrah nodded understandingly, though his curiosity lingered. "Alright, Rahul," he said. "But whatever it is, I hope you know what you're doing."

Hardik awoke from his slumber the next day , his gaze falling upon his medicated arms. Downstairs, he found Bumrah waiting in the dining hall.

"Should I serve breakfast?" Bumrah asked.