Just A Friend?

chapter Thirty-Four

4.06 A.M 

The corridor was eerily silent, the kind of silence that amplified every small sound—a distant hum of machinery, the soft shuffle of a nurse's shoes, and the quiet, unsteady breathing of two souls drenched in turmoil. Sweety and Rakesh sat there, side by side, yet oceans apart in their thoughts.

The heavy tension in the air was palpable, the sort that presses down on your chest and makes each breath feel like a struggle. Outside, the world was asleep, but within them, a storm raged on.

Sweety's mind was a battleground. Each thought was a double-edged sword, cutting through her resolve and leaving behind scars of guilt and regret. She couldn't bring herself to look at her reflection in the polished window; the face staring back would only be a cruel reminder of the pain she had caused, of the suffering that now lay on a hospital bed because of her.

Her fingers trembled as she clasped them together, her nails digging into her palms, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the torment in her heart. She felt like she was drowning in a sea of regret, each wave pulling her deeper, threatening to engulf her entirely. Her mind kept replaying that fateful moment, the words she wished she could take back, the look on Prabhas's face when she turned away.

And then, the door to the ICU ward swung open with a soft creak, shattering the oppressive silence. The doctor stepped out, his expression a mask of professional detachment. He had the kind of smile that didn't reach his eyes, a smile that was meant to reassure but only served to deepen the pit in her stomach.

Both Rakesh and Sweety stood up abruptly, rushing toward him as if he were the lifeline they'd been waiting for.

"Doctor, how is Prabhas? Is he... is he alright?" Rakesh's voice was laced with desperation, his usual calm demeanor nowhere to be found.

The doctor, still busy giving instructions to the nurses, turned his attention to the worried man before him. He studied them for a moment, as though weighing the gravity of the news he was about to deliver.

"You are?" the doctor inquired, his voice neutral, clinical.

"I'm his brother, doctor. Please, tell me! Is he okay?" Rakesh pressed, the urgency in his voice growing by the second.

The doctor took a deep breath, his words deliberate, "There's nothing to worry about, young man. Fortunately, he is safe. It was a close call, though. You brought him in just in time—another fifteen minutes, and it might have been too late. He lost a significant amount of blood, but we had his blood group on hand, and he's stabilized now."

Rakesh exhaled a breath he didn't realize he'd been holding, his heart lifting as the crushing weight of fear began to ease. Beside him, Sweety let out a small sob of relief, tears streaming down her face in a bittersweet cascade.

"But," the doctor continued, his tone more somber now, "he has sustained a minor neck fracture. His nose was broken in the impact, and it will take time to heal. His left hand is fractured as well, but with proper care, it should be fully functional in two or three months. His face is bruised and swollen, but thanks to the airbags in the car, he was spared from more severe injuries. If not for those airbags... well, let's just say it would've been a much bigger challenge to save him. His legs have some minor injuries, but they are strong enough to recover. He needs rest, a lot of it."

The relief was almost overwhelming, like a tidal wave washing over them after a long drought. Rakesh's shoulders sagged, the tension that had kept him wound tight for hours slowly dissolving.

"When can we see him, doctor?" Rakesh asked, his voice still tinged with concern.

"He should regain consciousness in about three to four hours. The nurses will inform you when that happens, and he will be moved to a normal ward shortly after. However, even after he wakes up, he will need to stay here for another nine to ten days. His body is fragile right now, and he needs constant care. I suggest one of you stays with him until he's discharged," the doctor advised before disappearing back into his office, leaving them in the silence of the corridor.