The door of his room creaked open. His vision was blurred. He didn’t knew if it were from the dizziness he felt or the the tears that were threatening to spill out of his eyes. Even through his blurry vision he could still see the panicky figure of his brother.
Rudra.
He smiled and soon black dots started clouding his vision. And then everything went black.
Shivaay felt water droplets on his face. He batted his eyelashes and stirred. Slowly, he opened his eyes with difficulty and saw a vaguely familiar white ceiling.
Yesterday’s event started flashing in front of his eyes. The frustration, the memories, the note.
The world slowly came into focus as he blinked his eyes a few times.
He looked around and saw a petite figure of a woman, a nurse to be precise.
“Miss” he called out to the woman. “Do you know where my brother is? ” he said solemnly. The first thing he wanted to do was assure Rudra that he was safe and wasn’t going anywhere.
Shivaay knew his brother too well. He would probably be somewhere crying his eyes out and Shivaay didn’t blame him. After Anika had went missing, his brothers became overprotective of him. They certainly didn’t want anything to happen to their brother after their Bhabi went missing.
After all, he was the heart of the O’bros.
The nurse beamed at him, “He just left the room to calm the doctor when he saw you stirring. Must be coming” the words were hardly out of her mouth when the door opened and the doctor entered with Rudra in tow.
Shivaay smiled weakly at Rudra, who had red eyes. He was obviously crying. Rudra tried to return the smile but failed.
The doctor checked him up and smiled politely at him.
“You just have a low blood pressure Mr. Oberoi. That’s why you passed out. Nothing too serious. You’ll be fine but please do take the medicine on time” he said. “And do not starve yourself. I see you haven’t been eating much lately ” he chuckled softly and walked out of the room, closing the door softly behind him.
Once he was out of sight, Shivaay felt himself getting crushed. Rudra had enveloped him in a bone crushing hug. Shivaay felt tear droplets in his face and suddenly realized that it weren’t water droplets earlier but Rudra’s tears instead.
“It’s fine Rudra-I’m OK” he said. He knew he was fine physically but his heart was bleeding each second. It was getting crushed.
After Rudra let go of his brother, he wiped his tears. He looked somewhat guilty and Shivaay couldn’t see why. Rudra took Shivaay’s hands in his own.
“We are going to find her, I promise ” he said sincerely. After all, he was missing his dear bhabhi, more like a big sister to him.
“It’s OK Rudra, I-I have lost hope” his voice wavered.
“Bhaiya? What are you saying? ” Rudra looked up and stared at him as if he had grown another head. “Didn’t Bhabi teach you to hold onto hope no matter how slime it is? ” Rudra almost yelled at Shivaay.
Shivaay closed his eyes and rested his head on the headrest, letting his tears fall. The tears spilled out of his eyes but he made no attempt to wipe them.
Fate had played with him when he least expected things to go wrong. It was perfect. They were a happy family and then it all crashed.
“You just can’t give up. No, Shivaay. You need to understand that we don’t give up but we fight until the end. That we hold onto hope no matter how slime it is. Shivaay, don’t think that you will be alone. I am always here for you. I promise you”
She had taught him to hold onto hope even if it was very slime but the truth was he held onto her because hedge was his light. She was his hope.
Finally not able to handle his brother’s breakdown, Rudra decided to excuse himself, “I will be right back” his voice had a little shiver.
Shivaay opened his eyes and looked at the empty stool beside him. Six months back whenever he used to end up in hospital, he would find Anika by his side.
His head was throbbing. He opened his eyes slowly.
“Oh my gosh! You are awake” Anika panicked. “How many time I have to tell you not to drown yourself in work? Huh? Couldn’t you have called me? And who told you to go to work when you had a fractured arm? Is that necessary? Couldn’t you have listened to me? For god sake, it will be good if you just put your ego aside and listen to your wife” Anika blabbed, forcing the medicine down his throat.
Shivaay really didn’t care, he was busy checking out his wife. She looked beautiful in her white doctor’s coat, her hair pulled into a messy bun and the locks that kept falling out. The sun peered through the window and radiated her face.
“You don’t need to get so worked up” he told Anika.
She sighed. “I’m sorry. How are you feeling? ” Anika finally asked, settling down on the stool beside him.
“Just a little dandy for a man who has a fractured arm” he deadpanned without meaning too.
“Hey! You know that I get worked up when it’s about you” she said softly, entwining their fingers together. “don’t you? ” she slowly kissed his forehead.
“I know Anika but look I’m fine, ain’t I? So just breathe, OK? ” she just slowly nodded her head in return.
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