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“Who would want to hurt you?” Aaryan asked. “Does he have enemies?”
“I…d…don’t know. He thinks the mine explosion was a deliberate attack.”
“I’ll look into it right away,” Aaryan said. “Where’s Neil?”
“He’s at home. Dev has some trusted staff. They’re watching over him. He knows what’s happened. He is also worried and scared. But I couldn’t bring him here to the hospital. I’m afraid for his safety.”
Aaryan was silent for a short second before he said, “I’ll ask Myra’s dad to go fetch Neil. He will ensure he’s safe.”
Om Gupta, Myra’s father, was Dev’s immediate neighbor and one of the few people she knew Aaryan trusted with the safety of their family. Besides, the man was obsessed with his rifles and knew how to wield them too.
She agreed with Aaryan.
Myra’s dad would keep her son safe. She knew him, and he was reliable. She ought to have thought of this solution herself, but she’d lost her ability to think the second Dev had fallen lifeless in her arms.
“I’m scared, Aaryan,” she wept. “I can’t lose him. I…I love him.”
She’d battled with herself for days. But now, she could no longer deny what she felt for Dev. She was in love with him. She’d never stopped being in love with him. And seeing him lying there covered in blood, his life dripping out of him, she realized she’d never be able to love another man. She loved Dev, and she hadn’t told him that. And now he lay in an operation theatre, battling for his life because he’d saved hers.
Her heart ached.
“Fuck!” Aaryan cursed. “That’s what I was always worried about.”
“I love him,” she said firmly.
“Hang in there, Avi,” Aaryan said. “I’m taking the next flight out. I’ll be there soon.”
She hung up the call, recalling her words to Aaryan. A sense of conviction washed over her. She loved Dev, and he loved her. She’d battle with God and everyone else to ensure they had a chance to live their life. She wiped her eyes. He was going to live. He had to. She wasn’t losing him. Not when she’d finally admitted aloud what he meant to her.
He was going to live. She manifested that thought over and over in her head.
* * *
Afternoon changedto night as she paced the corridors of the hospital. The surgery, she’d been informed, was a success, but Dev was still in the ICU and hadn’t woken up yet. She turned and found Sanjana running toward her, Aaryan and Vihaan following behind. Sanjana grabbed her in a hug.
“How is he?” Sanjana asked, tears gathering in her already puffy eyes. “How’s Dev? Tell me he lives, please.”
“He’s in the ICU. He’s not awake yet. They’re monitoring him.”
“What are the doctors saying?” Sanjana pressed.
“The bullet went right through his upper chest, but didn’t hit any major organs. A little lower, and he could have died.” Avantika shuddered. “The surgery was successful. But he’s lost a lot of blood.”
Sanjana swallowed, her face twisted in worry.
“How are you?” Aaryan asked, holding her close.
“I’m fine.”
Vihaan took her from Aaryan and held her for a long moment before he shifted to look into her eyes. “I need to ask this Avi and so I will. Do you think he planned this incident to gain favor with you? To ensure you believe him and whatever he had to say to you about the past?”
“How dare you?” Sanjana fumed. “My brother nearly died trying to save Avi, and you are still asking this?”
“I’m sorry,” Vihaan said. “But I don’t trust him.”
Her brother’s words were like acid on Avantika’s skin. They burned through to her heart. She glared at him. “What more favor would he want to gain with me? You already know I was sleeping with him.”
Aaryan’s lips pursed, but thankfully he didn’t say anything. She was glad. She was already wild at Vihaan.
