Guardian

-:chapter 11:-

Abhimanyu remained in the temple, his knees pressed against the cold marble floor, hands still clasped. He had never felt so helpless, so utterly vulnerable. The tears that had long been held back now streamed freely down his face, his silent prayers filled with a desperation he had never known before.

It was only when he felt a gentle touch on his shoulder that he realized someone was beside him. He turned his head slightly and saw Adhya standing there, her eyes filled with unshed tears. Without a word, she knelt beside him and wrapped her arms around him, pulling him into a comforting embrace.

Abhimanyu stiffened at first, his body rigid with tension. But as Adhya held him, something in him began to break, the walls he had so carefully built around himself crumbling under the weight of his emotions. He buried his face in her shoulder, his tears soaking into her clothes as he finally let go of the pain that had been tearing him apart.

Adhya held him tighter, her own tears falling as she felt his pain, his fear, his love for the boy who meant everything to him. She didn’t say anything,there was nothing she could say that would ease his torment. But she was there, and that was enough. In that moment, they didn’t need words. Their shared silence spoke louder than anything else could.

After what felt like hours, the sound of approaching footsteps broke the quiet. They both looked up as the doctor walked toward them, his expression calmer than before.

Abhimanyu quickly wiped his tears, his heart pounding in his chest as he stood up. “Doctor,” he said, his voice hoarse with emotion. “How is he?”

The doctor nodded, a small, reassuring smile on his face. “He’s stable now. The surgery went well, and we were able to stop the internal bleeding. He’s still very weak, but he’s out of immediate danger.”

The relief that washed over Abhimanyu was almost overwhelming. His knees felt weak, and he had to brace himself against the wall to keep from collapsing. “Can I see him?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

“You can see him after some time,” the doctor replied gently. “He needs to rest, and we want to monitor him closely for a little while longer. But he’s going to be okay.”

Adhya let out a shaky breath, her hands trembling as she clung to Abhimanyu’s arm. “Thank you, doctor,” she whispered.

The doctor gave them a smile before turning and walking away, leaving the two of them alone in the hallway once more.

Adhya looked up at Abhimanyu, her heart aching as she saw the myriad of emotions playing out on his face. She could see the exhaustion in his eyes, the weight of the guilt he carried, even though it wasn’t his fault.

Without thinking, she wrapped her arms around him again, holding him close. “He’s going to be okay,” she whispered into his ear, trying to comfort him in any way she could.

Abhimanyu didn’t say anything, but he nodded slightly, his arms coming up to return her embrace. He was grateful for her presence, for the way she seemed to know exactly what he needed without him having to say a word.

They stayed like that for a while, holding on to each other as they processed the events of the day. Eventually, Aditya appeared, holding two cups of coffee. He paused for a moment, watching the scene before him, a small smile tugging at the corners of his lips. He knew that despite everything, Abhimanyu was still struggling with his emotions, but seeing him allow someone else to comfort him was a sign that he was beginning to heal, even if just a little.

“Coffee?” Aditya said softly, not wanting to startle them.

Adhya pulled away slightly, wiping her tears and managing a small smile. “Thank you, Adi.”Abhimanyu, however, shook his head. “I’m fine,” he muttered, though the exhaustion in his voice betrayed him.