Shadows Of The Stumps

Chapter 20

"Ayan!" she screamed, jolting awake and clutching Arjun tightly. "I can't breathe!"

Panic flooded her eyes as her breaths turned shallow and rapid, the fear overwhelming her. Arjun tried to calm her, but she was lost in terror. "No! Ayan!" she cried, the memory of loss gripping her heart.

Ayan stepped closer, his voice steady yet filled with urgency. "Meera, I'm alive! You're safe!"

But the shadows of her nightmare tightened around her. Blood seeped from her injuries, and her breathing became more erratic, each gasp more desperate.

"Meera, stay with us!" Arjun urged a little sternly, noticing her face pale. "You're safe. You have to fight this."

"I can't—" she stuttered, her vision fading. With one last trembling breath, she slumped against Arjun, darkness enveloping her, the flow of blood trickling from her hands and pooling beneath her leaving Ayan and Arjun in stunned silence, the weight of their fears crashing down around them.

Panic surged in the room as Arjun held Meera's limp body, feeling the warmth of her blood seeping into his clothes. "Get the medical team!" he barked, his voice sharp and commanding. He pressed a hand against her wounds, trying to stem the bleeding.

In moments, the medical team burst into the room, their urgency palpable. They quickly assessed her condition, rushing to set up oxygen support. Ayan stepped back, his heart racing as he watched them work, every second stretching painfully.

As the medical team worked frantically to stabilize Meera, Arjun hit his hand against the wall, frustration coursing through him. "She had to keep it to herself!" he shouted, his voice echoing in the sterile room. "She never told me about the breathing issues!"

Ayan watched him, his heart heavy with guilt. "I didn't know either. I thought she was handling everything better than she actually was. I thought I was protecting her by staying away."

"Protecting her?" Arjun spat, shaking his head. "You should have been there for her. This is the result of your decisions! She needed you, Ayan, and now look at her!"

"I know!" Ayan shot back, his voice cracking with emotion. "I wanted to be there! I wanted to keep her safe from all this. But I thought she was better off without me."

Arjun stepped closer, his expression softening. "You need to understand that being away didn't protect her. It left her feeling alone. You need to be there for her now. She needs you more than ever."

Ayan swallowed hard, guilt flooding through him. "You're right. I need to be the person she can lean on. I can't let her fight this battle alone. I'll do whatever it takes to help her heal."

As the sun set, casting a warm glow over the surroundings, Rahul, Virat, Rohit, Siraj, Jassi, Ashwin, Jadeja, Shubman, Rishabh, Yashasvi, Akashdeep, and Arya returned from the match, their spirits high and laughter filling the air. Arya trailed behind, keeping a protective eye on them as they recounted the day's highlights.

"Did you see that catch by Jadeja? Unreal!" Rohit exclaimed, slapping his knee with laughter.

"And the way Yashasvi played? Absolute class!" Shubman chimed in, grinning ear to ear.

As they approached Meera's room, their jovial mood shifted. "Where's Meera?" Virat asked, noticing the door ajar and the room devoid of her presence.

Arya's brow furrowed. "She's not in her room. Maybe we should check on Arjun. Something feels off."

Exchanging worried glances, they made their way to Arjun's room. The scene that greeted them was shocking. Ayan stood, tension radiating from him, while Arjun's fists were clenched at his sides, his jaw set tight.