He stayed behind, giving her some time before he followed.
Though his face depicted no emotion, inside, her tears had chipped away at the wall of his anger.
He hated to admit it, but her pain still affected him deeply.
He had lied when he told her he no longer had feelings for her. The truth was, he loved her now more than ever.
He's never felt more loved and more hurt by the same person until he met her.
But no matter how much he tried to convince himself otherwise, he couldn't erase the memory of her doubt.
What she had thought and believed of him continued to haunt him.
That thought diluted his love and moulded it into anger. Not just anger at her, but at himself for still caring so deeply.
It was the honest truth of how she viewed him deep down, and he couldn't wipe it off his mind.
As they reached the hospital, he glanced at her stealthily, catching the sadness in her expression.
For the first time in his life, he felt completely lost.
Confusion clouded his mind like a storm he couldn't navigate.
What did he truly want?
Should she stay with him, or should she leave?
Despite the turmoil raging within him, there was one certainty though that no matter what happened, he still wanted to protect her.
Even if his love remained unacknowledged by her, he would continue ensuring her safety.
And as for his love, he decided to conceal it forever.
It didn't matter anymore because he felt she would never appreciate it.
A nurse was passing by, and she whispered faintly, "My head is spinning. I feel very dizzy."
Her voice was so weak it barely reached the nurse, but the woman noticed her pale face and stepped closer.
"Let me help you," the nurse said, holding her up gently.
He, who was walking closely, immediately stiffened when he saw her stumble.
He followed them to the ward and his pulse quickened with worry.
The nurse helped her onto a bed and began checking her vitals.
Moments later, she looked on alarmed. "How come? Your blood pressure is very low. You need to be admitted immediately."
She rushed out to get assistance and he became frozen in place.
Was this his fault? Was it because of the words he had hurled at her earlier?
He moved closer, his eyes scanning her pale, trembling form.
Her eyes blinked closed and her breath became shallow, and then she began to shiver uncontrollably.
"D-Doctor! N-Nurse!" his voice cracked with panic and it echoed through the ward while terror gripped his heart.
His hands trembled as he reached for her, his throat tightening with helplessness.
She didn't respond.
The color in her face faded further with her lips turning pale.
To her, the room was gone.
A loud, oppressive tone echoed in her mind repeatedly, drowning out everything around her.
It was continuous, like a storm raging in her head.
And then, darkness.
Her body went limp as she fell unconscious on the bed.
"Anita!" he shouted and he lunged forward, catching her before her head hit the mattress.
He cradled her in his arms, his heart pounding as his worst fears clawed at him.
"Anita, please don't leave me," he whispered, his voice breaking.
His fingers brushed the cold sweat on her forehead.
He no longer cared about his anger, his pride, or even her doubts about him.
All that mattered now was keeping her alive.
The doctor and nurses rushed into the ward.
"Step back!" the doctor ordered and started assessing her condition.
He refused to let go of her hand, clutching it afraid if he lets it go, she'd slip away from him forever.
"Sir, please let us do our job," the nurse urged, prying his hand away.
He stumbled back, his heart thundering in his chest as they worked around her.
An oxygen mask was placed over her face, and the doctor called for IV fluids.
"What happened to her?" he mandated.
"Her blood pressure is very low," the doctor replied without looking up. "We need to stabilize her immediately. Has she been under extreme stress? Is she eating or drinking properly?"
He opened his mouth to answer but froze.
He didn't know.
"I-I think..." He swallowed hard. "She hasn't been eating much. And... she's been through a lot of stress, yes."
The doctor glanced at him with a frown. "Her body is shutting down from exhaustion and malnourishment. Stress like this can be life-threatening. If she doesn't stabilize, we'll have to transfer her to the ICU."
His chest tightened like an iron fist was squeezing the air out of him.
He paced back and forth and the minutes stretched into an eternity.
Every beep from the monitor made his anxiety heighten.
He ran his hands through his hair, muttering under his breath, "This is my fault. It's all my fault."
"Sir," the nurse said gently after a while, "you should sit down. She's stable for now, but she needs rest."
He turned towards her, watching her fragile frame hooked up to wires and monitors.
She looked so small.
He sat by her bedside, his elbows on his knees, and clasped their hands together protectively.
"Anita..." he whispered and kissed her hand softly. "I... I didn't mean it. I was angry. You didn't deserve those words, not after everything you've been through."
His gaze softened and he quietly watched her chest rise and fall rhythmically.
"I don't care what you think of me. Just... just don't leave me like this." His voice broke and he lowered his head, his grip tightening around her cold fingers.
Hours passed, and the continuous beeping of the monitor became the only sound in the room.
Then, finally, her eyelids flapped open.
"Akash?" Her voice was barely above a whisper, but to him, it was the most relieving sound he had ever heard.
He leaned forward immediately, his face alight with happiness. "I'm here, Anita. I'm right here."
Her lips curved into a small smile, "You stayed?"
"I'll always stay," he murmured, his voice filled with sincerity. "No matter what."
"You'll stay because you still love me, right?" she whispered, her voice trembling while she gripped his hands tightly.
His expression softened, but a storm brewed in his eyes.
He stayed silent and his hands twitched wanting to pull away, but she held on, refusing to let go.
"I will not come to your house if you don't love me, Akash," she muttered weakly. "I know you still do. Just tell me, and I promise—I will never let anyone come between us again."
"I..." His throat tightened.
For a moment, he almost wanted to confess he still did. Almost.
But the wounds of her distrust reappeared fresh again in his mind.
"Get some rest," he muttered instead in a cold tone. "We'll talk when we're back in Mumbai."
Her grip on his hands tightened. "I cannot rest knowing you're upset with me. What do you want me to do? Should I get down on my knees and beg for your forgiveness?" she whispered.
She lowered her gaze when tears slid down her cheeks, dripping onto his hands. "I know I've hurt you. I know I doubted you. But if you look at it from my perspective..." Her voice broke, and she struggled to continue. "I was right to think what I saw with my eyes. I should've trusted my heart instead, but I didn't. I didn't bother to find the truth, and for that, I am truly sorry. Please..." She swallowed hard, her tears blurring her vision. "Please don't shun me away completely."
He looked at her and his heart started aching at the sight of her so broken and vulnerable.
He wanted to hug her to reassure her, but her words, he could still hear it fresh in his mind.
"Do you know how it felt," he began in a whisper, "to have the person you love believe the worst about you? To have no chance to explain? To be judged and abandoned so quickly?"
"I know," she replied, nodding, and her tears continued to fall. "I know, and I regret it every single second. I regret not believing in you, Akash. I regret letting my anger cloud my love for you. But please, don't give up on us."
He exhaled slowly, closing his eyes to gather his thoughts. "Anita, trust isn't something you can fix overnight. It's not a promise you make. It's something you prove. I'm not saying I'll never forgive you, though it is very hard to, for me. I can't shut the voice in my head..." His voice softened. "Sorry, but I can't pretend like everything is fine. I can't." he shrugged tiredly.
Her chest tightened at his words, but she nodded, knowing he was right. "Then let me prove it to you. Let me earn your trust again. Just... don't shut me out completely."
He sighed, pulling his hands free at last, but this time it wasn't to push her away.
Instead, he reached out, brushing a stray tear from her cheek. "Rest now. We'll see where this road takes us. One step at a time. Maybe the relationship is not completely dead, maybe."
Her lips quavered, but she managed a small nod, "It will never be over."
••••
The next day dawned with a quiet calm in the hospital ward.
Akash sat in a chair beside Anita's bed.
His head was tilted back and his eyes were closed with exhaustion etched into his features.
He had stayed with her all night and refused to leave her side while the drip replenished her strength.
A soft knock on the door woke both of them, and the doctor stepped in with his clipboard in hand. "Good morning. We can discharge all of you now," he said, glancing at Anita before adding, "Your mother and sister are also stable enough to travel."
"Thank you," she answered back.
She turned her head towards the door and her gaze landed on her sister who was standing hesitantly in the hallway.
Her chest compressed from her betrayal, but she quickly looked away, focusing on Akash, who had now fully stirred awake.
"I want to return to Mumbai now." she whispered.
He met her eyes, his face unreadable.
After a moment, he gave a short nod and replied in a calm but firm voice. "Alright. We'll leave as soon as they're ready."
••••
"Be careful, Mother," Anita murmured as she gently laid her mother back against the soft pillows of her bed after they returned to their home in Mumbai.
"Thank you, dear," her mother replied with a tired smile, her voice weak but grateful.
She smiled back, then glanced over her shoulder at Akash, who stood quietly by the door.
"I've prepared some soup," Divya said while she entered the room, carrying a tray.
Her eyes flickered briefly to Akash before she focused on Anita's mother and sister. "It will help you recover faster."
She approached Anita's mother and handed her the bowl, then gestured toward Anita with a smile. "Feed it to Aunt. I'll serve Sister," she said softly.
Anita nodded, taking the bowl and spoon while Divya moved towards her younger sister.
Sitting beside her mother, she leaned in gently. "Mother, drink the soup," she said, her voice filled with tenderness as she lifted the spoon to her lips.
Her mother took a sip, resting her head back on the headboard. "That man is very cruel, Anita," she said after a pause, her voice trembling. "How did you escape him? He said he'd marry you off to a fifty-year-old man, and then he drugged us so we wouldn't intervene. How did you handle it all alone?"
A small smile formed on her lips, but before she could respond, Divya spoke up. "She wasn't alone," she blurted. "Akash reached her like an angel. I gave him the address of the Mukhiya's house, and he got there just in time."
"Yes," he added from the doorway, his deep voice breaking the silence. "I reached before the wedding could take place. And instead, I married her."
Her mother's eyes widened and she noticed the vermillion in Anita's hair and the mangalsutra around her neck for the first time.
Tears welled up in her eyes as she cupped Anita's face, her joy evident. "But you told me everything was over between you two," she said, her voice shaking with happiness.
Anita shook her head, turning briefly to Akash before looking back at her mother. "Our bond is unbreakable," she said firmly. "Father wanted to destroy it, but he couldn't. We'll never be separated—not in this lifetime."
Her mother hugged her tightly, her tears falling freely while Anita closed her eyes, her heart swelling with both relief and hope.
Akash watched them silently, his own expression softening with relief.
"My son," Anita's mother then said, gesturing for him to come closer.
He stepped forward and she took Anita's hand, her frail fingers trembling slightly, and placed it gently in his.
Her eyes were filled with both hope and joy as she spoke. "Promise me you'll take care of her forever. She has faced so much pain in her life. Discrimination, cruelty, hate, but she's endured it all. Promise me, my son, that you'll make her forget all the bitterness of her past. That you'll bring her the happiness she deserves. Please, promise me."
He looked down at Anita and their eyes met for a long moment.
Turning back to her mother, he replied, "I promise you, she will never cry again. I will never make her cry, and I will not let anyone else hurt her either."
Anita's lips curved into a wide smile, her heart warming at his words. She looked at him, and he turned his gaze to her, offering a small, reassuring smile in return.
Her mother exhaled in relief and a few tears slipped down her cheeks. "It's late now," she said, her tone lighter but still affectionate. "Take your wife home. She needs to rest too. I hope you both have a happy and fruitful married life."
He nodded, gently tightening his hold on Anita's hand. "Thank you, Ma," he said with respect.
Anita glanced back at her mother, her own emotions overflowing from her eyes welling up, but her mother simply smiled at her and gestured for them to leave.
After they stepped out of the room, she halted in the hallway, her heart pounding heavily in her chest.
She glanced at him, who was walking just a step ahead.
Something inside her broke and she was unable to hold it back any longer, so, she called softly. "Akash..."
He stopped and turned to look at her, his brows lifting slightly in question.
She ran and threw her arms around him, pulling him into a tight embrace.
She buried her face deep into his chest and her tears flowed freely. "I can't... I can't hold it in anymore," she sobbed. "I was so scared. I thought I lost you forever. I thought everything was over. I thought I'd marry him, and then..." she paused, sobbing uncontrollably.
He stiffened at first, caught off guard by the suddenness of her gesture.
His hands hovered in the air, unsure of what to do. But when her tears soaked into his shirt and her body trembled against his, he too softened.
Slowly, tentatively, he wrapped his arms around her and hugged her back tightly.
His hold on her grew stronger and he lowered his head, pressing his face into her hair, inhaling her familiar scent which was uniquely hers.
"You're mine now," he thought silently, his heart swelling with a strange, overwhelming happiness.
For the first time in a long time, he felt complete.
Whereas, she clung to him like a lifeline, her sobs gradually softening into muffled sniffles. "I'm sorry for everything," she whispered. "I will never doubt you again. I'll do everything to make this work again, I promise."
He closed his eyes, his cheek resting against the top of her head. "I can't forget it. It's very hard moving on," he murmured and pulled back instantly.
••••
"What?" his mother and father exclaimed simultaneously, their shock evident after he told them everything—what Anita had endured, what her father had done, and that they were now married.
"Yes," he confirmed simply.
Their eyes shifted to Anita, who stood quietly beside him, her head bowed in respect.
"My dear," his mother rose from the couch and approached her with open arms, pulling her into a warm embrace.
Tears welled up in Anita's eyes as she returned the hug.
"I promise you," his mother said firmly, "you will get the justice you deserve. Your father will be punished severely for what he has done to you."
Anita pulled back slightly and her face became clouded with anguish. "I will punish him myself. I want to bail him out so that I will kill him with my own hands."
His mother immediately stepped back and shook her head firmly. "No, you will not do such a thing. The court will sentence him to death, I promise you. Justice will be served immediately, and you will witness him breathing his last. He will regret every single thing he did to you and your mother. That will be my wedding gift to you."
Her lips trembled as she forced a small smile. She nodded slowly and replied, "He deserves to feel the pain he inflicted upon me and my mother. He should suffer the same torment."
His mother cupped her face gently. "He will feel it, my dear. He will feel much more than that. I promise you."
Akash's father, who had been silently observing, spoke up with an authoritative tone. "This is not just about punishment. It is about making sure he knows the full extent of his cruelty and shame. He will beg for forgiveness before he dies. I guarantee it."
Anita looked at him, her gaze softening as she saw the sincerity in his eyes.
"Well, let's keep that aside. We need to organize your wedding at the earliest now. Our people need to attend it; otherwise, they'll be upset that our only son married without their presence," his mother shared, her tone filled with so much excitement. "I'm sorry, but even though you're already married, I cannot permit you to live together just yet."
Anita glanced at Akash, who looked back at her, visibly surprised.
But to his astonishment, she smiled because she was genuinely happy their wedding would be celebrated properly.
"I agree," she replied softly, turning back to his mother.
His face shifted to one of shock.
He raised a brow, unsure whether to protest or accept it, but eventually shrugged. "If that's what you want. My friends would like to be part of it too," he added.
"Then it's decided," his mother declared with a satisfied smile. "We'll have the engagement in two days, and the wedding events will begin the day after. The official ceremony will take place in five days. Agreed?" She clapped her hands together sealing the decision. "Shopping and preparations will commence tonight. I'll call my assistant to start planning immediately. I never wanted it to be so rushed, but under the circumstances..." She sighed.
Anita nodded, her excitement tempered with a touch of nervousness.
"Yes," Akash chimed in. "And please make sure Sister can attend as well. She shouldn't miss this."
His mother nodded approvingly. "Of course, she'll be here. She wouldn't miss her brother's wedding for the world."
"Of course, Sister-in-law would come to our wedding. I'm very curious to meet her too." Anita added, her gaze fixed on him.
He frowned at her unasked response but didn't respond.
"Well, leave the planning to me," his mother interjected. "Akash, take her to one of the rooms. Let her get some rest. And you too, will you be staying here tonight, or going home?"
"My home is already here," he replied absentmindedly, his eyes briefly meeting Anita's.
Her cheeks flushed and she smiled shyly, her gaze dropping immediately to the floor.
Realizing what he uttered, he cleared his throat quickly and stammered, "I-I mean, it's late. I shouldn't be driving so late at night. I'm tired too."
His mother nodded knowingly with a smile on her lips. "I understand," she said. "You can stay here. But remember, take her to the room, and you're not allowed to stay there with her. Not until we officially recognize the marriage."
"I had no plans of staying!" he exclaimed, throwing a quick glance at Anita, who bit her lip to suppress a grin.
He gestured for her to follow him. "Let's go," he said in a gruff tone.
She followed him quietly through the corridor and he led her to a room.
It was spacious, luxurious, with a king-sized bed draped in pristine white linens.
He turned to leave, but she reached out and grabbed his hand and her fingers curled around his.
He stopped abruptly, his back stiffening, and slowly turned to face her.
"Enough of the pretense already," she whispered.
Her eyes searched his face before she spoke. "Please admit that you still love me. I miss hearing you say it."
His gaze swept over her, hanging back just long enough to make her heart race.
"Do you want your BP to drop again?" he asked sternly, his tone graded with irritation. "If yes, fine. I don't love you. There. I've admitted it."
"Mr. Akash Kapoor," she began,
But he cut her off, his voice rising slightly. "I used to build dreams about you, yes. I used to think about a life with you. But not anymore. That's all in the past."
Her lips parted in shock.
"I'm only going to marry you again in front of the world because my family doesn't know the truth. They have no idea we broke up. If they knew, even they wouldn't push for this wedding. Because they'd see what I've already seen." He took a step closer, his dark eyes burning with suppressed emotion. "That your love isn't strong enough. You doubted me. You doubted me based on half-truths."
Her lips tightened and she only stared back at him, her vision blurring from the tears that wanted to fall.
"I apologized. I'm sorry. I've also promised never to do it again..."
She paused as his phone started ringing.
"Who's calling you at this hour?" she asked, her brows furrowing.
He glanced at the screen, then replied casually, "Priya."
Her face hardened, and she turned quickly, walking towards the window.
The cool night breeze brushed against her face while she tried to calm the storm rising in her chest.
"I'm certain you wouldn't like it if I start to mention Rajiv repeatedly. But go ahead, talk to her. Though I know, it is not her. You only mentioned her name to hurt me."
After she turned to face him again, her eyes conveyed her irritation.
Where as, he was staring at her, clearly confused.
"I have a limit too, Akash," she continued, "Priya and you had a past. Please, let the past stay in the past. Stop bringing her up over and over again. I can only take so much. It is enough."
He replied with a short, humorless laugh. "At least you've learned that the past should stay in the past. That's progress."
She clenched her fists, her sadness flashing in her eyes, but before she could respond, he added, "It's my sister. Priya is my sister. Mother must have already told her about the wedding, so I'm sure she's calling to confirm it with me."
Her anger vanished instantly, and her lips parted slightly in surprise, but before she could speak, he added. "Get some rest. It's late."
Without waiting for her reply, he went out of the room.
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