Lost but Not Forgotten

PART 50

The police rushed to tackle Rupesh, disarming him and dragging him away, but all eyes were on Rohit now. Ritika let out a strangled cry as she rushed to her husband, kneeling beside him, tears streaming down her face. Moksh and Sammy clung to her, terrified, their little hearts unable to process what had just happened.

"Rohit! Stay with me, bhai!" Virat shouted, his hands pressing against Rohit's wound, trying to stop the bleeding. His voice trembled, panic flooding his veins as blood seeped through his fingers.

Rohit gasped, struggling to breathe. His face was pale, but he forced a weak smile as he looked up at Virat. "I told you... I'd always protect you..."

"No, no, no! Don't you dare talk like that!" Virat's voice broke as he shook his head, refusing to accept what was happening. "You're going to be fine, okay? You're going to be okay!"

Ritika sobbed quietly, holding Rohit's other hand, her fingers trembling as she gripped him tightly, as if her love could somehow keep him with her. "Rohit, please... please don't leave us..."

Mahi crouched beside them, his face etched with grief and disbelief, his voice barely above a whisper. "Rohit... come on, you're strong. You can fight this."

Rohit's breaths were shallow, his vision blurry, but he managed to glance at his family—his wife, his children, his brothers. And then he looked at Virat, his best friend, his brother in every way that mattered.

"You take care of them... okay?" Rohit's voice was faint, but the emotion behind it was clear. He squeezed Virat's hand weakly, his eyes filled with love and loyalty. "No more fighting, Virat... just... just be happy."

"Shut up! You're not going anywhere," Virat replied angrily, his voice cracking as tears threatened to spill. "You'll be fine. We're going to get you help. Just hold on, Rohit!"

But as Rohit's eyes began to close, the world around him fading into darkness, he felt a profound sense of calm. "I...love you... Mahi bhai," he managed to choke out before slipping into unconsciousness.

The sirens wailed louder as the paramedics arrived, rushing to assess the situation. Virat's heart raced as they worked to stabilize Rohit. "He's going to be okay!" he insisted, though doubt crept into his mind.

"Get him to the hospital! Now!" a paramedic shouted, and Virat stepped back, watching helplessly as they loaded Rohit onto a stretcher.

As they wheeled him away, Virat felt a deep ache in his chest, the realization of what was happening sinking in. "I'm right here, Rohit! You have to fight!" he shouted, his voice cracking under the weight of fear.

The drive to the hospital was a blur. Virat could barely breathe, his heart pounding in rhythm with the sirens. All he could think about was the moments they had shared, the laughter, the brotherhood, and the love that had been forged over years of shared triumphs and tragedies.

Once they arrived, doctors hurried Rohit into the operating room, leaving Virat standing in the waiting area, panic clawing at him. The rest of the group had arrived too, eyes wide with fear. Ritika clutched Sammy tightly, while Mahi leaned against the wall, his expression a mask of concern.

"Is he going to be okay?" Mahi asked, voice tight with worry.

"I don't know!" Virat snapped, frustration boiling over. "He has to be okay! He just has to!"

Hours passed, each minute stretching into eternity. Finally, a doctor emerged, wiping sweat from his brow. The sight of him sent the group rushing forward, hearts pounding with anticipation.

"Rohit is stable," the doctor said, relief washing over them like a wave. "He lost a lot of blood, but we managed to stop the bleeding. He'll need time to recover, but can't say if he will be safe or not.....His condition is crucial."