| Dark Devotion |

23

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A B H I M A N

I couldn't take my eyes off her as she lay on the hospital bed. Needles were injected into her arms, while her forehead, legs, and feet were all bandaged. Her feet were badly cut up from running through the woods barefoot. Her entire body was bruised and slowly showed discoloration.

She looked almost... lifeless.

"When will she wake up?" I asked Janvi while she changed Ira's blood-soaked bandages.

"It's hard to tell. Her body shut down and is trying its best to recover after experiencing extensive trauma. And with the blood loss, too, I wouldn't be surprised if she needed another day or two." Janvi sighed, and I gave a short nod.

I couldn't help but look down at Janvi's small baby bump and then glance at Ira's flat stomach. My chest tightened at the sight. I averted my eyes and looked out the window, trying to shut down from feeling anything at the moment.

But fucking hell, it was hitting hard.

I was happy for Aditya and his wife. Still, the universe was laughing in my face by doing this to me. I knew I was being punished for every sin I had committed; punishing me for every single life I had killed and taken pleasure in doing so.

I was being punished through the one I loved, and the universe took away our baby.

"There's something else I need to discuss with you." Janvi said carefully. "I'll need to perform a dilation and curettage to remove the remains from the uterus."

"Janvi."

"Yes?"

"Get out."

"Of course; however, it's urgent to minimize the risk of infection and toxicity. I'll be back in a bit." Janvi closed the door behind her, and my gaze returned to Ira.

I let out a breath as I slowly approached her, taking a seat beside her.

"What have I done to you?" I whispered as I cradled her in my arms. I promised to protect her, and I failed.
"I'm sorry, baby, I'm so sorry."

.

"I've brought you a change of clothes bhai" Amaira said as she walked in, carrying a garment bag with her. Janvi and Gautam followed right after, his fist clenching as he looked at Ira. He didn't want to leave her side. The furthest he would go was right outside the door.

The entire area was heavily guarded with my armed men at every entrance. I couldn't risk another surprise attack while Ira was trying to recover.

"Bhai, you need to get some rest. It's been two days." Amaira sighed.

"I'm not leaving her." I snapped. I refused to leave her. I felt like if I move my sight, she would die.

"She's going to wake up soon, and you won't be of any help if you pass out from sleep deprivation." She spoke softly.

"We'll be here." Gautam assured me.

"Or at least take a shower. You don't want her to freak out when she wakes up." Amaira said, and after a while, I agreed.

"Let me just have a look at your arm first." Janvi said once she was done changing Ira's bandages. I got slashed pretty deep on my arm and had to get stitched up. "Are you feeling better?"

"It's fine." I replied. I had a high pain tolerance, and it didn't bother me much.

"I mean, are you still experiencing any symptoms of food poisoning?" She asked, making me look at her with a frown.