Saving My Childhood Saviour: A Tale From Ground Zero✅

Weight of Promises

The hospital's corridors were filled with the sterile smell of antiseptics and the low hum of activity. Dev paced anxiously outside the operating room, his mind a whirl of thoughts and emotions. The promise he’d made to Jai echoed incessantly in his mind, growing heavier with each passing minute.

He glanced at his watch, the ticking sound amplified in the tense silence. The hours seemed to stretch endlessly. Finally, a doctor emerged, her face a mask of professional concern.

“Lieutenant Dev?” she asked, her voice calm but serious.

Dev’s heart pounded. “Yes, how is Major Jai?”

The doctor took a deep breath. “We’ve stabilized him, but it was touch and go for a while. He has multiple internal injuries and severe bruising. We’ve done everything we can, but his condition remains critical. We need to monitor him closely.”

Dev’s shoulders sagged with the weight of the news. “Can I see him?”

The doctor nodded. “You can. But please be aware, he’s heavily sedated and in a fragile state.”

Dev entered the room where Jai lay motionless on a hospital bed, connected to various monitors and tubes. The sight of his friend in such a vulnerable state was almost unbearable. He took a deep breath and approached the bedside.

Dev talked to Jai as he lay silent “Hey, Jai. It’s me, Dev. I’m here. I... I’m keeping my promise, you know. I’ll look after Sanjana, just like you asked. But I’m not ready to say goodbye yet. I’m going to stay by your side until you wake up. We still have time, don’t we?”

Dev’s voice cracked as he spoke, the weight of the promise and the uncertainty of Jai’s condition sinking in. He held Jai’s hand gently, hoping that his presence would somehow reach his friend.

Meanwhile, in the waiting area, Sanjana arrived, her face pale and eyes red from crying. She approached Dev with a look of profound concern.

Sanjana enquired “Dev, how is he? I heard about what happened, and I—”

Dev looked up, his expression weary but resolute. “Sanjana, I don’t know how to tell you this, but Jai... he’s in critical condition. He’s fighting, but he’s asked me to promise him something. If... if he doesn’t make it, I need to look after you.”

Sanjana’s eyes filled with tears. “What do you mean?”

Dev replied with a heavy heart “He’s asked me to take care of you. To be there for you. I’ve promised him that I will. But right now, we need to focus on him. He’s a fighter, Sanjana. He’s not giving up without a fight.”

Sanjana nodded, her emotions a tangled mess of fear and sadness. “Thank you, Dev. I... I need to be strong for him, too. We need to believe he’ll pull through.”

Hours turned into days, and the hospital room became a place of quiet vigil. Dev and Sanjana took turns by Jai’s side, their conversations hushed, their hopes unwavering. Every beep of the heart monitor and every change in Jai’s condition was a cause for both relief and anxiety.

One morning, as the first light of dawn crept through the hospital window, Jai’s eyelids fluttered. Dev, exhausted but alert, noticed the small movement and rushed to his friend’s side.

Dev asked “Jai? Can you hear me? It’s Dev.”

Jai’s eyes slowly opened, though his gaze was unfocused. He blinked a few times, as if trying to piece together his surroundings. His voice was faint but audible. “Dev... did I... did I make it?”

Dev's heart glowed with joy “You’re awake. You’re going to be okay. We’re here, and we’re not going anywhere.”

Jai’s gaze shifted to Sanjana, who had been standing quietly by the window. Her eyes met his, filled with a mixture of relief and concern.

Jai said softly as whisper “Sanju...”

Sanjana held his weak hand “I’m here, Jai. We’re all here.”

Jai tried to smile but winced with pain. “Dev... thank you. I knew... I knew you’d keep your promise.”

Dev replied “Of course, Jai. I’ll always be here for both of you. Just focus on getting better. That’s the only thing that matters right now.”

Jai’s eyes closed again, fatigue overtaking him. As the doctors continued their work, Dev and Sanjana shared a quiet moment, their bond strengthened by the trials they had faced.

Sanjana as she sat outside Jai's ward said “Dev, I don’t know how to thank you for everything. For keeping your promise and for being here.”

Dev replied to Sanjana “Just being here for you, for Jai... that’s enough. We’re a team, and we’ll get through this together.”

As Jai drifted back into sleep, the room was filled with a renewed sense of hope. The promise had been made and kept, and now it was time to focus on healing and moving forward, together.