Guardian

-:chapter 10:-

Abhimanyu sat in the hospital corridor, his back pressed against the cold, white wall. His shirt was drenched in blood, both his own and Avyansh's, the fabric sticking uncomfortably to his skin. There was a deep gash on his forehead, a constant stream of blood trickling down the side of his face, but he didn't notice it,or maybe he just didn't care. The pain in his body was nothing compared to the gaping wound in his heart.

He stared blankly at the floor, his mind a chaotic swirl of guilt and fear. The events of the last hour replayed in his mind like a broken record. The sound of the truck's screeching tires, the sickening thud of impact, Avyansh's fragile body crumpling to the ground,each image seared into his memory with brutal clarity.

This was his fault. His Ansh was lying in a hospital room, fighting for his life, and it was all because of him. He should have been the one to protect Avyansh, to shield him from harm. But he had failed, and now the only person who mattered in his world was slipping away from him.

The thought gnawed at him like a vicious animal, tearing him apart from the inside. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think beyond the sheer panic that gripped his heart. His hands, stained with dried blood, trembled uncontrollably as they lay limply in his lap. What if Avyansh didn't make it? What if he lost him forever?He should have protected Avyansh.

He should have been the one lying in that hospital bed, fighting for his life, not his Ansh. How could he have let this happen? Why didn't he see it coming? Why didn't he act faster?

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway, but Abhimanyu barely registered it. He was lost in his own world of despair, replaying the moment over and over again, each time wishing he could go back and change it, take Avyansh's place, do something-anything-to save him.

Adhya and Aditya rushed into the corridor, their faces pale with worry. When Aditya spotted Abhimanyu sitting there, he froze for a moment, taking in the sight of his best friend,bloodied, broken, and more lifeless than he had ever seen him.

Aditya quickly crossed the distance between them and pulled Abhimanyu into a tight hug, his own fear and anxiety evident in the way his hands clutched at his friend's shoulders. "Tu thik hai na?" he asked, his voice thick with emotion. He was terrified-terrified of losing his best friend.

Abhimanyu didn't respond. He didn't even acknowledge Aditya's presence. His eyes remained fixed on the floor, his expression vacant, as if he was trapped in a nightmare he couldn't wake up from.

Adhya's own eyes red-rimmed from crying, stood a few steps behind, her heart aching for the boy who had come to mean so much to her in such a short time. She had never expected to care for someone as deeply as she did for Avyansh, and the thought of him lying in that hospital room, fighting for his life, was almost too much to bear.

.She looked at Abhimanyu, her own tears spilling over as she saw the state he was in. He was shattered, utterly devastated, as if the very life had been drained out of him. She had never seen him like this-so broken, so lost.

Aditya pulled back slightly, his hands still gripping Abhimanyu's shoulders, trying to ground him in the present. "Abhi," he said firmly, his voice laced with concern. "Look at me, yaar. You need to snap out of this. We're going to get through this, okay? Your ansh is strong, he's going to fight. But you need to hold it together, for him."

But Abhimanyu didn't move, didn't blink. His gaze remained fixed on the floor, his mind miles away, trapped in a loop of guilt and pain. He couldn't hear Aditya, couldn't feel the comfort of his friend's presence. All he could think about was Avyansh's face, pale and bloodied, his eyes fluttering shut as he whispered his name.

Aditya felt a lump form in his throat as he watched his friend spiral further into despair. He knew Abhimanyu was blaming himself for what happened, and he also knew that no words could ease that guilt.