Rishi held Aisha close as the storm raged around them, his arms wrapped protectively around her trembling frame. Her sobs had wracked through her for what felt like an eternity, her cries piercing through the sound of the falling rain. And then....
Silence.
Her body suddenly went limp in his arms. The frantic grip on his shirt loosened, her hands falling weakly to her sides. The absence of her cries was so sudden, so jarring, that Rishi's heart clenched with dread.
"Aisha?" His voice was urgent, his hands gently cupping her face, tilting it upward so he could see her.
Her eyes fluttered, unfocused, and then shut completely.
"Aisha!" he called again, shaking her lightly, but there was no response.
Panic surged through him as he pressed his palm against her forehead. She was burning up. Her skin was scorching against his own, and the realization made his pulse hammer in his ears. The rain had drenched her completely, and she had been sitting in the cold for too long.
"Shit! You have a fever," he muttered under his breath, his protective instincts kicking in.
Rishi wasted no time. He scooped her up into his arms effortlessly, her head falling limply against his chest. Holding her securely, he hurried towards his car, shielding her as best as he could from the relentless downpour. He could feel the faint rise and fall of her chest, but it did nothing to calm his racing heart.
"Just hang in there, Aisha," he whispered, his grip tightening around her. "I won't let anything happen to you."
Reaching the car, he carefully placed her in the passenger seat, brushing wet strands of hair from her face. Her lips were slightly parted, her breathing shallow. He could see the exhaustion on her face, the toll of everything finally catching up to her.
He turned on the heater, setting it to a warm temperature before grabbing a dry jacket from the backseat and draping it over her shivering frame. He took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, but his hands were still shaking as he reached for his phone.
He needed to get her out of here. Fast.
Without wasting another second, he started the car, the tires screeching against the wet pavement as he drove off into the night, desperate to get her somewhere safe.
And as the rain poured down, drumming against the windshield, Rishi kept glancing at the fragile woman beside him, his heart aching at the sight.
"You're not alone, Aisha," he whispered, more to himself than to her. "Not anymore."
His phone was already in his hand before he even realized it. Without hesitation, he dialed the family doctor, his fingers trembling slightly as he held the device to his ear.
"Dr. Mehra, I need you at Aisha's place now. She's burning up with fever," he said hurriedly, his voice thick with worry.
"How high is the fever?" Dr. Mehra asked, instantly alert.
"I don't know, but she fainted. She's barely responsive."
"I'll be there before you arrive," the doctor assured him.
Rishi exhaled, his grip tightening on the steering wheel as he sped through the empty streets. Every few seconds, he stole worried glances at Aisha, still curled up in the seat beside him, lost in fevered unconsciousness.
He pressed his foot harder against the accelerator.
"Hold on, Aisha. Just a little longer."
The city lights blurred past, but his mind was clouded with guilt.He felt like crying.He should have stopped her, should have protected her from all this pain. But his love for his brother had held him back. He had let Ranvir have her because, in the beginning, it had seemed like Ranvir truly loved Aisha. Back then, Rishi had convinced himself that stepping away was the right thing to do.
But not anymore.
Ranvir had destroyed her. Broken her in a way no one should ever be broken.
Rishi's jaw clenched as he looked at her pale face, his heart twisting painfully. He thought of all the years he had silently loved her, all the moments he had swallowed his feelings just to see her happy. He remembered every stolen glance, every time he had stepped aside to let Ranvir be the one to hold her.
And for what? To see her in this state? To see her love, trust, and self-worth shattered beyond repair?
Guilt wrapped around his chest like a noose. He should have fought for her. He should have told her the truth before she got too deep, before Ranvir had a chance to ruin her. But he had been a coward. He had chosen his brother over his own heart. He had convinced himself that Ranvir was the better choice, that Aisha would be happier with him.
And now, she was here....broken, lost, drenched in pain and betrayal.
Rishi took a sharp breath, his hands gripping the wheel so tightly his knuckles turned white. He would never forgive himself for this. But one thing was clear now....
He wouldn't let her go again. Never again.
Rishi's car screeched to a halt in front of Aisha's house. Without wasting a second, he stepped out, rushing to her side. He gently lifted her into his arms again, holding her close as he carried her towards the grand entrance.
The door opened before he could even knock....Dr. Mehta was already there, waiting, his medical bag in hand.
"Bring her inside quickly," the doctor instructed, stepping aside as Rishi carried Aisha through the doorway.
He made his way upstairs to her bedroom, carefully laying her down on the bed. The warmth of the room contrasted against her cold, damp skin. Rishi felt an unexplainable pang in his heart as he watched her, so lifeless, so vulnerable.
"She has a high fever," Dr. Mehta said, placing a thermometer under her tongue before checking her pulse. "She must have been exposed to the cold for too long. I'll give her an injection to bring the fever down. She needs rest and care."
Rishi nodded, barely able to take his eyes off her. His hands curled into fists at his sides as the doctor worked.
Aisha had always been full of life, the center of every room she walked into. And now, because of Ranvir, she was here....broken, sick, fragile.
As Dr. Mehta packed up his things, he looked at Rishi. "She needs someone to watch over her. She shouldn't be left alone tonight."
"I'll stay," Rishi said immediately, his voice firm. "She won't be alone."