Shadow of redemption

Anger

Hello everyone welcome to the new chapter ☺️☺️☺️

As the first rays of dawn illuminated the hospital room, Rakshit sat steadfastly by Aaravi’s bedside, his hand gently clutching hers. His eyes, swollen and weary, bore the signs of a sleepless night, yet his focus never wavered from her serene face. Each tear that fell from his eyes spoke volumes of his fear, guilt, and unyielding devotion.

Aaravi’s fingers twitched faintly, and a soft groan escaped her lips. Slowly, her eyelids fluttered open, and her hazel eyes struggled to adjust to the light. Rakshit gasped, leaning closer, his emotions spilling over. “Aaravi… you’re awake,” he whispered, his voice trembling with relief.

Aaravi blinked at him, her gaze slowly sharpening. Despite her weakness, a faint smile tugged at her lips. “You… you look terrible,” she managed weakly.

Rakshit laughed softly, brushing a tear from his cheek. “And you, Doctor Aaravi Kapoor, look as radiant as ever,” he replied, his voice filled with tenderness.

Before he could say more, Aryan stormed into the room. His eyes narrowed at the sight of Rakshit. “What are you doing here?” Aryan barked, but his anger dissipated when his gaze fell on Aaravi.

“Doctor! She’s awake!” Aryan shouted, dashing out to summon the medical staff. Within moments, a team of doctors entered, efficiently checking Aaravi’s vitals. The monitors beeped steadily as one doctor measured her blood pressure while another examined the healing of her wounds. They ensured her oxygen saturation levels were stable and noted the gradual return of motor responses in her injured limbs.

After a thorough check-up, the lead doctor addressed the family. “She’s stable now, but extremely weak. Her injuries are healing, but there’s still a risk of infection. She needs plenty of rest and a stress-free environment.”

The Kapoor family poured into the room, their relief mingled with surprise at Rakshit’s presence. Aryan’s temper flared. “How dare you show your face here after everything?” he growled, grabbing Rakshit by the collar.

Ignoring Aryan’s fury, Rakshit turned to Aaravi, his voice breaking. “Thank you, Aaravi… for coming back. You don’t know how much I prayed for this moment.”

Aaravi, her mind still foggy, murmured, “You stayed… you didn’t leave me?”

“I will never leave you,” Rakshit vowed, his voice resolute.

Aryan, overwhelmed with emotion, knelt by Aaravi’s side. “You scared me, Aaru. I thought I’d lost you,” he said, his voice cracking as he hugged her tightly. Tears flowed freely as each member of the Kapoor family shared their anguish, their love surrounding Aaravi like a protective cocoon. Priya Kapoor wiped Aaravi’s tears, whispering, “We’re here for you, beta. Always.”

Aaravi’s memories began to resurface—flashes of her kidnapping and the devastating revelation about Rakshit being a mafia king filled her mind. She turned her tear-filled eyes toward Rakshit, her emotions too overwhelming to express.

Rakshit stepped forward, his voice trembling. “Aaravi, I—”

Before he could finish, Aaravi interrupted, her voice weak but firm. “Bhai… I want to sleep.”

Aryan immediately understood her unspoken wish to avoid Rakshit. Glaring at him, Aryan escorted Rakshit out of the room. Once outside, Aryan’s voice was cold and sharp. “Stay away from her. She’s lying in that bed because of you. You’ve done enough damage. Don’t come near my sister again.”

Rakshit’s head bowed, guilt etched into his features. “Please, Aryan. Let me speak to her just once. I’ll explain everything.”

Before Aryan could respond, Dr. Rajesh intervened. “Let her rest. She needs peace, not more stress.”