Better Together | ✓

76 | revelation

Chapter 76 : Revelation

Ruhaani sat still on the stool in the silent room, the only sound being the rhythmic beeping of the heart rate monitor. Her gaze remained fixed on Aadarsh's face as he lay on the hospital bed, clad in a light blue gown and positioned on his front.

He had received a mild sedative and local anaesthesia to alleviate the pain while the doctor stitched him up. The physician assured her that he would regain consciousness in a few minutes.

Her mind was a cacophony of loud, ugly chaos at the moment. All she desired was for everything to return to normalcy. She yearned for Pari to be okay, for her husband to be okay, for them all to be safe and...happy with each other.

Devashish's words echoed in her ears.

"... or take a stand as his wife and defend him. Cause that's the least he deserves."

Devashish was right. She should have spoken for him, defended him. However, all she thought was in that moment that if only Aadarsh hadn't got involved in someone's brother's death, Pari wouldn't have been kidnapped, wouldn't have got hurt, and wouldn't be battling for life.

Pari was her lifeline, her life-force, her little angel, it pained her physically to see her hurt.

Her gaze drifted to Aadarsh's face. He was the other lifeline. She hated to see him like this. She hated the feeling of hurt and anger she felt for him. Aadarsh deserved better.

He didn't deserve a brother who refused to sign a hospital form because he was angry. He didn't deserve a sister who spoke badly about him while he was hurt. He didn't deserve a wife who kept quiet through it all.

She wiped her silent tears of regret.

However the grief and anger she felt as a mother because her child was manhandled, hurt, bleeding and battling for life overpowered the regret of a wife.

It was perplexing how she could feel anger towards him yet be consumed with worry for his well-being. She wanted to fight with him, be mad at him and at the same time wanted to shower him with all her care and hold him close.

Tears blurred her vision as she grappled with the internal turmoil. It felt unjust, him leaving her stranded amidst this storm of conflicting emotions.

She despised how she found herself in need of him at the moment, realizing she had become relentlessly dependent on him. All her life, she didn't have someone to depend on, but now that she had him, she could hardly cross the ocean on her own. She wanted him to get up and tell her Pari would be okay, that he was okay, that they would all be okay; that it was just a terribly dark night that would pass.

As his finger stirred, she blinked, her body instinctively straightening, her hand poised to grasp his. With bated breath, she waited, every moment stretched taut with anticipation. Gradually, his hand inched once more, and his eyes slowly fluttered open, as if awakening from a long, deep slumber.

"Hey," she murmured softly, her voice a gentle caress in the quiet room. He was okay, her brain told her hyper-active heart. He was okay.

His expression betrayed a hint of confusion as he blinked, struggling to adjust his eyes to the light.

With tenderness, she placed her hand on his, the touch a silent reassurance, while her other hand brushed against his cheek, mindful of the bruise marring his skin—a cruel reminder of the violence he had endured.

"Pain," he managed to utter, his face contorting with discomfort as he attempted to move.

"Stay still," she urged, "the stitches will hurt," her voice was a soothing whisper. Her finger pressed the button on the wall to summon the nurse, as she had been told to do when he regained consciousness.