His Captive 21+

55

That evening, Anum returned with his dinner, only to stop in her tracks, eyes wide with horror at what she saw.

Irtaza was sitting on the couch, deeply engrossed in his work on the laptop, so focused that he hadn't noticed the dark stain spreading across his white button up shirt. His wound had reopened, and blood was slowly seeping through the bandage.

Anum quickly rushed to him, panic rising in her chest. "Irtaza apka khoon nikal raha hai!" (Irtaza, you're bleeding!)

Irtaza glanced up, startled by her alarmed voice. Confusion crossed his face as he looked down at his chest. "Oh."

Without wasting a second, Anum put the dinner tray aside and hurried to the bathroom to grab antiseptic and bandages. When she returned, her heart was pounding as she stood in front of him, frantically cleaning the wound.

"Maine apko mana kiya tha na ke kaam mat kijiyega? Itni zyada bleeding ho rahi hai!" Her voice was sharp, bordering on frustration. (I told you not to work, didn't I? There's so much bleeding!)

"Ap ko aisa nahi karna chahiye tha," she whispered, her guilt bubbling to the surface. (You shouldn't have done that.)

But Irtaza remained calm, even amused by her frantic care. "Anum, it's fine. Mujhe bilkul takleef nahi horahi hai, pata bhi nahi chala ke khoon beh raha tha." He chuckled softly, trying to lighten the mood. (Anum, it's fine. It's not hurting me at all. I didn't even notice the blood.)

"Nahi, I mean..Apko mujhe nahi bachana chahiye tha." Her voice trembled as she was on the verge of breaking down. (No, I mean... You shouldn't have saved me.)

His face softened as he tilted her chin, gently lifting her head so he could meet her eyes. "Anum, tum kya keh rahi ho?" (Anum, what are you talking about?)

"Mujhe goli lag jani chahiye thi." Tears welled up in her eyes, and her lower lip quivered as she tried to hold back her sobs. (I should have been shot.)

Irtaza's demeanor shifted to stern as he stood up from the couch and gently guided her to sit down in his place. "Baitho idhar." (Sit here.)

"Nahi, mujhe bandage karne den." she protested, but he gripped her shoulders firmly, stopping her from getting up. (No, let me finish the bandage.)

"Stop, and listen to me." His voice was rusty.

"I don't regret it, okay? I don't regret saving you, I don't regret getting shot, and I wouldn't mind doing it again. What I did was my choice. It wasn't your fault at all. In fact, I would give up my life for you in a heartbeat if it means keeping you safe."

Anum stared at him, speechless. She had been expecting him to blame her, to tell her that it was her fault that he got shot that day. But instead, he was reassuring her that he had no regrets.

Irtaza wiped away the tears she hadn't realized were spilling down her cheeks. "Aj ke baad kabhi mat aisa sochna, samajh aya?"

She nodded, still too overwhelmed to speak. As he stood back, she quickly wiped her face and stood up. "Khana—" she began, reaching for the food tray. (Dinner-)

He interrupted her, "Usko wahin rehne do. Main aj neeche jaake khana khaunga." (Leave it. I'll eat downstairs tonight.)

"Okay, me help karti hun." (Okay, I'll help you.)

"Nahi, me khud jana chahta hun." (No, I want to go on my own.)

She hesitated, her brow furrowing. "Ap khud kaise chalenge? Doctor ne mana kiya hai ke zyada chalne se bleeding ho sakti hai." (How will you walk by yourself? The doctor said too much movement could cause more bleeding.)