𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑹𝒐𝒍𝒍𝒆𝒓𝒄𝒐𝒂𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒓 𝑹𝒊𝒅𝒆

PART-31

Devar = Husband's younger brother

Satyanarayana ki puja = A Hindu ritual seeking blessings and prosperity from Lord Vishnu on special occasions or for gratitude.

Bhanja = The sister's son to the man and his wife.

-*-*-

Outside the hospital, the garden's tranquil atmosphere was disturbed by rows of cars parked on either side, their sleek bodies glinting under the soft glow of the porch lights. The scent of wet earth and blooming flowers wafted through the air, mingling with the distant hum of hospital machinery.

Siddharth stood tall, a hesitant smile flickering on his lips as he gazed at the person approaching him through the night. The urgency of stretchers rushing past, ward boys calling out, and nurses' sharp voices created a chaotic symphony around them.

Karan's sharp voice cut through the din, his face contorted. "You ra*cal! What the hell do you think of yourself?!" His fingers clamped around Siddharth's white collar, twisting the fabric. "And that fuc*er! Where is he?!"

Siddharth's eyes widened, but a soft chuckle escaped him. His hands wrapped around Karan's wrists, gently prying them loose. "It's not good to yell on your birthday, brother. Peace. Peace."

Karan's face reddened, eyes narrowing as his lips curled into a snarl. "Shove this peace in your mouth and flash it through your a*s!" With a swift motion, he stormed past Siddharth, his footsteps echoing on the pavement.

Siddharth followed, his long strides matching Karan's pace. "Karan! The doctor has suggested that he shouldn't take any stress!" He caught Karan by the shoulder, spinning him around. His filled with quiet urgency.

Kara's chest heaved, his breaths coming short and uneven. His gaze faltered, and he looked away, swallowing hard.

"Don't bring anything that might trigger the trauma again," Siddharth continued in a low, steady voice. "His state is very fragile right now, Karan. He's still recovering... from everything."

Karan's lips parted, then closed again before he finally asked, his tone softening, "How is he?"

Siddharth pressed his lips into a thin line, exhaling through his nose. "He's stable, but broken - both physically and emotionally." A small, dry chuckle slipped out. "But he's still smiling, joking, pretending like nothing happened. He's playing the part of playful Rudraksh... just covering up the real one inside."

He shook his head, eyes briefly shutting before reopening with quiet composure. The laugh faded, replaced by a calm, reassuring smile that softened his features. He reached out, patting Karan's back gently. "Come on, let's meet him... like buddies."

Karan's face finally relaxed into a warm smile, and the two friends fell into step together, walking toward Rudraksh's room with a shared sense of purpose.

💥💥💥💥💥💥💥💥

Karan's gaze swept across the room, his eyes lingering on the sterile white walls before coming to rest on Rudraksh's sleeping form.

Rudraksh's bandaged head was lolled to the side, and his casted hand rested on his chest, rising and falling with each slow, deliberate breath.

Karan's hand extended, his fingers gently caressing Rudraksh's hair. The soft strands, now dry, slipped through his fingertips. "Rudraksh..."

Rudraksh's eyelids fluttered before slowly opening, his gaze unfocused as he struggled to clear the blur from his vision. When his eyes finally settled on Karan's face, his expression relaxed, and his lips trembled as they curved into a weak smile. "Happy birthday, bro..."