Chapter - 2

In The Hospital

Standing outside the OPD ward, his gaze tries to peek inside, attempting to catch a glimpse of her figure lying lifeless on the bed, surrounded by a professional team of doctors working tirelessly.

After a few hours, the door opens, revealing a doctor. The head doctor steps forward and begins to inform him about her condition.

"Mr. Rathod, we've done our best, but..." The words catch in his throat, his voice faltering under the fear of the man standing before him.

Receiving a death glare from the man, the doctor forces himself to continue. "Due to excessive blood loss, she is unconscious. We've tried everything, but it seems like she has lost the will to live. Her pulse is dropping, and if she doesn't wake up within 24 hours... we might not be able to do anything, sir. She could slip into a coma or, perhaps..." His voice trails off, and he looks down, unable to meet the man's furious gaze.

Before he can finish, the man delivers a hard punch to his jaw, grabbing him by the collar.

"What did you just say? Nothing will happen to her, got it, bastard? What am I paying you all for if you can't save my wife?" he growls, his voice dripping with anger.

Still gripping the doctor by the collar, he pulls out a gun from his waistband and presses it against the doctor's temple.

"You have 24 hours. Make her fine, or I'll burn this hospital down with you inside it," he warns, his tone deadly serious.

With that, he lets go of the doctor, steps back, and storms into the ward.

As he enters, his gaze lands on her. His wife lies motionless on the hospital bed, her face pale, her breathing shallow. The beeping of the monitors fills the room, each sound piercing through his heart. He walks closer, his knees almost giving out as he reaches her side.

He gently takes her cold hand in his, his thumb brushing over her lifeless fingers. "You can't leave me like this," he whispers, his voice cracking. "I won't let you go. Do you hear me? You're going to wake up... you have to."

For a moment, his rage softens, replaced by a desperate vulnerability he rarely shows. But as he looks at her fragile form, determination steels his features once more. He straightens, his fists clenched.

Turning back to glance at the door, his voice is firm, a promise both to himself and to her. "You'll come back to me. No matter what it takes."

He moved out of the ward, took out his phone from his pocket, and dialed someone's number. The call was answered within a single ring.

"Yes, Sir!" came a voice from the other side.

"Raghav, tell the doctor to shift her to the VIP room and also inform Rajni to pack the necessary items for her," he instructed firmly.

"Done," came the quick response from the other end. He disconnected the call and slid his phone back into his pocket. Without wasting another moment, he returned to the ward and sat beside her, holding her hand gently in his. Leaning closer, he planted a soft kiss on her forehead, his heart heavy with emotion. A lone tear escaped his eye, but he quickly wiped it away when he felt someone's presence behind him.

Turning around, he found the doctor standing there. The doctor spoke respectfully, "We should shift Madam from here now."

He simply nodded in agreement.

Soon, two nurses approached, ready to help lift her onto a wheelchair, but he stopped them with a firm voice. "I can do it myself," he said.

With utmost care, he lifted her in his arms and gently placed her on the wheelchair. After a short while, she was shifted to the VIP room, where everything had been perfectly arranged for her comfort and care.

---

Time passed agonizingly slowly. The steady beeping of the machines echoed in the quiet room as he sat by her bedside, refusing to leave. Every second felt like an eternity as he watched her pale face, willing her to wake up. He clenched her hand tightly in his, his other hand occasionally brushing her hair away from her face.

Hours turned into night, and the room was bathed in the soft glow of the bedside lamp. The sound of nurses entering and checking her vitals barely registered with him. His eyes were fixed on her, his heart heavy with desperation and hope.

As dawn broke, the faint light of morning began to seep through the curtains. Exhausted, he leaned his head against her hand, his eyes heavy but refusing to close. Suddenly, a faint movement under her eyelids caught his attention.

He straightened up immediately, his heart pounding. Her fingers twitched slightly in his grasp, and her eyelids fluttered.

"Come on... wake up," he whispered, his voice trembling with emotion.

Slowly, her eyes opened, blinking against the light. But instead of relief, a strange fear flickered in her expression. Her eyes darted around the room frantically before they landed on him.

"Rudraksh..." she murmured, her voice shaky and filled with unease.

Her breathing quickened, and she instinctively tried to pull her hand away from his, her entire body tensing.

She backed off a little from him but because of weakness she couldn't move that far. She gulped down her dryness then spoke in a low voice "Why are you here?" fear of facing his anger but still raising her voice. against him.

She backed away slightly from him, but her weakness prevented her from moving far. Swallowing to ease the dryness in her throat, she spoke in a low voice, her fear of his anger evident, but she still tried to muster the strength to raise her tone.

"Why are you here?" she asked, her voice shaky but determined.

Her words struck him like a blow. Rudraksh's expression darkened instantly, his jaw tightening as anger surged within him. He stood abruptly, towering over her, his fists clenched by his sides.

"Why am I here?" he repeated, his voice dangerously low, yet laced with fury. He took a step closer, his intense gaze locking onto hers. "You almost died, and you're asking me why I'm here? After everything I've done for you?"

She flinched at his tone, but her eyes didn't waver. "I didn't ask you to," she replied weakly, but her words only fueled his anger further.

His hands slammed down on the bedside table, causing her to jump. "You didn't ask? I've been running around like a madman, threatening doctors, pulling every string to save you, and you didn't ask?" he growled, his voice shaking with a mix of hurt and rage.

Her lips trembled as tears welled up in her eyes. "I didn't want this... I didn't want to live," she admitted softly, her voice barely audible but cutting through the tension like a knife.

Rudraksh froze, his anger giving way to disbelief. "What did you just say?" he asked, his voice dropping dangerously.

"I didn't want to live," she repeated, her gaze dropping to the blanket covering her. "I was ready to leave... I didn't want to come back to this-"

Before she could finish, he grabbed her by the shoulders, forcing her to look at him. "Don't you dare say that again," he hissed, his voice trembling with a mix of anger and desperation. "Do you have any idea what it would do to me if I lost you? If you even think about leaving me, I swear-"

Her eyes widened in fear, and tears spilled down her cheeks. "Rudraksh, please..." she whispered, her voice breaking.

He let go of her abruptly, stepping back as his chest heaved with heavy breaths. For a moment, he looked away, running a hand through his hair, his mind spiraling out of control.

Looking at her trembling figure, he said softly, "Why can't you just stay with me? I can give you anything you want, anything you desire," his eyes searching hers for an answer.

But her response was unexpected, cutting through him like a blade. "Why can't you understand? We aren't meant to be together. If you truly want to do something for me, then do one thing," she said, her gaze steady despite her frailty.

He straightened slightly, bracing himself. "What is it?" he asked, his voice cautious.

"Divorce," she said firmly, her voice barely above a whisper but carrying a weight that made his heart stop. "Give me a divorce and free me from your life."

That was it. His composure shattered. His expression darkened, and without a word, he grabbed the flower pot from the bedside table and hurled it to the ground, the loud crash echoing through the room as it shattered into pieces.

The noise brought the doctor and nurses rushing into the room. They froze momentarily at the scene-her pale figure trembling on the bed, his towering form radiating fury, and the broken shards scattered across the floor.

"She's awake," one of the nurses whispered, glancing at the doctor, who quickly approached the bed to check on her.

The doctor turned to him, his voice firm but calm. "Sir, please step outside. We need to examine her."

Rudraksh hesitated, his fists clenched at his sides, but eventually, he stormed out of the room without a word.

Inside, the medical team began checking on her, while outside, Rudraksh stood against the wall, his chest heaving with frustration and pain, trying to process what had just happened.