Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter 2 - Silent Vigil

---

Care Hospital

10:30 PM

"Do you think he will come?" Arjun asked, glancing anxiously at the door. Arya, absorbed in the wallpaper on Meera's phone, hesitated before responding. "I hope he does; I don't know how else we can go about this." The weight of their shared worry hung in the air, heavy and unyielding, as they fell into an eerie silence.

After a moment, Arya rose and walked out of the corridor. She returned a minute later, bursting into Meera's room. Arjun, who had been lost in thought, was jolted back to reality by the sudden commotion. He stepped into the ICU, his heart aching at the sight of Meera, adorned in a bright orange Garfield-printed T-shirt.

"I couldn't bear to see her in those obnoxious pale hospital dresses," Arya murmured. "At least this way, we can find some peace in it."

Arjun managed a faint smile, grateful for her small gesture. "Coffee?" he offered, needing a distraction from the grim atmosphere.

"Yeah, maybe. But we need to go out to the parking before they come through the reception," Arya replied, her tone tinged with urgency.

"Hm." Arjun nodded, still staring at Meera, who lay motionless on the bed, the vibrant shirt a stark contrast to the sterile environment.

"I wish he was here," Arjun said, his voice cracking as he fought back tears.

Arya squeezed his hand gently. "Feelings mutual, Arjun. I just don't know why we are the ones who lose the most. And out of everybody else, it's Meera." Her voice trembled, betraying the vulnerability they both felt.

The silence that followed was thick with unspoken grief, amplifying their shared sense of helplessness. Arya glanced at the medical machines beeping softly around Meera, their rhythmic sounds a haunting reminder of life hanging by a thread.

With a heavy heart, Arjun walked out toward the parking lot, each step a struggle against the torrent of emotions swirling within him. He stole one last glance back at Meera, wishing desperately for her to wake up, to smile, and to tell them that everything would be alright.

Outside, the cool night air greeted him, a stark contrast to the oppressive atmosphere inside. As he leaned against the car, he tried to steady his breathing, replaying memories of their time together—training missions filled with laughter, late-night strategy sessions, and Meera's unwavering spirit.

Just then, Arya stepped outside, joining him in the dim light of the parking lot. "Do you think he'll understand? Will he even want to see her after all these years?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Arjun sighed, grappling with his own doubts. "I hope so. She needs him now more than ever."

With that shared hope and a flicker of resolve, they both turned back to the hospital entrance, ready to face whatever came next for Meera—and for themselves.