Shadows of Same Face

Chapter Eleven: The Silent War

The hospital corridors echoed with the sound of footsteps, but for Nandini, everything felt muffled, like she was trapped in a bubble of disbelief. The sterile smell of antiseptic stung her nostrils, and her legs felt like lead as she followed the gurney carrying Dhruv's unconscious form. Blood had soaked into his sherwani, the deep crimson marking where the bullet had struck. His breathing was shallow, labored, and the sight of him like this, fragile and motionless, twisted her heart in ways she had never imagined.

Abir was by her side, his hand gripping her arm, steadying her though his own face was pale with worry. The doors to the emergency room swung open, and the nurses rushed Dhruv inside. Nandini froze, her legs refusing to move any farther as they wheeled him away. A doctor glanced at them and said, "We'll do everything we can. Please wait outside."

Nandini's body sagged, and she collapsed onto a nearby bench, her face buried in her hands. Abir sat beside her, not speaking, knowing there was nothing he could say to ease the pain they were both feeling. His eyes darted towards the entrance, the image of Tarini holding that gun burned into his memory.

How had it come to this?

---

Several hours later, the doctor emerged from the operating room, his expression tired. "He's stable, but the bullet was dangerously close to his heart. We've removed it, but there's significant damage. His recovery will be slow."

Nandini's heart swelled with relief, but it was short-lived. The doctor hesitated for a moment, and she knew there was more. "There's a complication... He's lost his memory. It's too soon to say if it's permanent, but the trauma from the attack has affected his brain. He doesn't remember the shooting, nor who attacked him."

The words struck her like a slap. Dhruv had no memory of the most important piece of the puzzle. He wouldn't be able to identify Tarini. Her sister would remain free, and the danger would continue to loom over their lives.

Nandini's throat tightened. "Will he remember anything?"

The doctor gave a small, solemn shake of his head. "Only time will tell. We've seen cases like this, where memories resurface gradually. But for now, don't push him. Let his mind heal naturally."

---

Two days passed, and the hospital became a second home for Nandini and Abir. Dhruv was still in and out of consciousness, and every time his eyes opened, Nandini waited for a flicker of recognition. But each time, his gaze was distant, confused.

Abir, meanwhile, had been digging for answers. He had spent hours questioning the security staff, combing through the footage, and speaking with the police. But Tarini had been careful, slipping through the cracks like a ghost. Every lead came to a dead end.

One afternoon, as Nandini sat beside Dhruv's bed, holding his hand while he slept, Abir walked in, a deep frown etched on his face. "We have a problem," he whispered.

Nandini looked up, her voice hollow. "What now?"

Abir glanced at Dhruv before lowering his voice. "The police interviewed Dhruv this morning. They asked him if he remembered who shot him, and..." He paused, clearly struggling with the words. "Dhruv said he saw someone. But he's confused. He mentioned both your name and Tarini's."

Nandini's eyes widened in shock. "What? He... he thinks I could have done this?"

Abir quickly shook his head. "No, he's not accusing you, Nandini. But his memory is fractured. The faces are blurry for him. He remembers being attacked, but in his mind, you and Tarini are intertwined. The police don't know what to make of it."

Nandini felt a cold chill run down her spine. She knew this was exactly what Tarini had hoped for. She had created a rift of confusion, making it harder for anyone to believe the truth.

"What do we do, Abir?" she whispered, her voice trembling. "If Dhruv can't remember clearly, how will we prove it was Tarini? She'll get away with it."

Abir's jaw clenched. "We need to be patient. I'm not giving up. There has to be something she missed, some evidence we can use. But until then, we have to be careful. Tarini is still out there, and now, more than ever, she'll be desperate. She knows the walls are closing in on her."

---

Meanwhile, in a small, dimly lit apartment on the outskirts of the city, Tarini sat by the window, staring out at the rain-soaked streets. Her fingers traced the outline of the gun that still lay on the table beside her, its cold steel a reminder of how close she had come to getting what she wanted.

But it wasn't enough. Dhruv was still alive, and now the world believed he was confused about who attacked him. It wasn't the clean victory she had planned.

"You'll never take him from me, Nandini," she muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing with malice. "He was always mine. And now... now I'll make sure you never have him."

Tarini knew that Dhruv  had survived, and she suspected Abir was already on her trail. They were clever, but she was smarter. There were still cards left to play, and she would use every last one to ensure that Nandini lost everything.

---

Back at the hospital, Dhruv stirred, his fingers twitching against the sheets. Nandini leaned forward, her heart pounding as his eyes fluttered open. He stared at her for a moment, blinking as if trying to focus.

"Nandini?" he murmured, his voice weak.

She smiled through her tears, squeezing his hand. "Yes, it's me. I'm here, Dhruv."

His brows furrowed in confusion, and for a brief moment, his gaze darkened. "Where is she?"

Nandini froze. "Who?"

Dhruv's voice was barely a whisper, but the name that slipped from his lips made Nandini's blood run cold.

"Tarini."

---

The storm was far from over, and as Nandini stared into Dhruv's troubled eyes, she knew one thing for certain: the real fight was just beginning.