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The hospital corridor was a place of tense anticipation, filled with the quiet murmur of prayers and the faint hum of medical equipment.

Raghav, his face etched with worry, paced restlessly while others sat or stood, their hands clasped in silent supplication. The sterile white walls seemed to close in around them, amplifying the uncertainty and fear that hung heavy in the air.

After what felt like an eternity, a nurse emerged from the operating theatre, her face drawn with urgency. The sight of her caused everyone's heart to skip a beat.

Raghav, feeling a sudden surge of panic, stepped forward, his voice trembling as he asked, "What happened, sister?"

The nurse's reply was quick but grave.

"The surgery is still ongoing. The patient has suffered severe blood loss. We need immediate blood. If anyone has the same blood group-"

Before she could finish, Shreyansh, who had been sitting with his head in his hands, jumped up.

"My sister and I share the same blood group. You can take mine.

"With a nod of urgency, the nurse guided him to a nearby room.

Raghav gave a quick nod of approval, trying to mask his anxiety with a semblance of control.

An hour later, the doctor emerged from the operating theatre, a smile playing on his lips.

The tension in the corridor broke slightly as he announced,

"We've managed to remove all the poison from Ritu's body. She is now out of danger."

Reema, overwhelmed with relief, burst into tears and hugged her husband tightly.

Raghav and Shreyansh exchanged a glance, both men's eyes glistening with tears of gratitude and joy.

"Doctor, can we meet her?" Raghav asked, his voice still shaky from the emotional rollercoaster.

The doctor shook his head gently. "She is unconscious right now. Once we move her to the normal ward, you can meet her one by one. But please, ensure she isn't stressed; she's very weak."

The collective sigh of relief was palpable, but it was tinged with the knowledge that Ritu still had a long recovery ahead.

Just then, the light above the operating theatre switched off, signaling the end of another surgery.

Raghav's heart raced, his hands turning cold and clammy.

The door opened, and the doctor stepped out, pulling off his mask.

"The operation was successful, Mr. Singhania. She received two gunshot wounds, but fortunately, they hit her shoulder. If they had struck near her chest, it would have been much riskier for both mother and child."

Raghav's exhausted face lit up with a smile of immense relief. He murmured "thank you" over and over, his mind struggling to process the full meaning of the doctor's words.

When it finally dawned on him, he froze in place. "Mother... child?" he stammered, his throat tight with emotion.

The doctor looked at him kindly. "Yes, Mr. Singhania. I assumed you didn't know. Your wife is pregnant, in her second week."

A collective gasp of joy rippled through the corridor. Raghav stood there, a mix of disbelief and elation swirling inside him.

Doctor when can we meet her ? Shreyansh asked eagerly.

'As its a major operation,right now she is unconscious. It will take time. Once she wakes up,then you all can meet her one by one'.

The doctor pats Raghav back and leaves from there.

His mother, Reema, cupped his face with a tearful smile. "My little boy is going to be a father," she said, her voice trembling with happiness.

"Mumma... am I really going to be a father?" Raghav asked, his voice cracking with emotion.

Reema nodded, her smile broadening. Shreyansh clapped him on the back, grinning widely.

"Congratulations, soon-to-be dad! Thanks for making me an uncle."

Reema chuckled, "And thank you for making me a grandmother."

Rahul added with a proud smile, "And me a grandfather."

Raghav blushed, overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and joy from his family.

It was a moment of pure, unadulterated happiness that shone through the earlier hours of fear and uncertainty.

After a few hours,

Shreyansh quietly entered Ritu's room. The sight of her, connected to various machines and looking so fragile, made his heart ache. The oxygen mask obscured part of her face, but he could still see how pale and tired she appeared.

He remembered her laughter, her endless chatter, and her vibrant spirit. Seeing her like this was almost unbearable.

He sat down beside her, taking her hand gently, careful of the wires and bandages. He placed a tender kiss on her bandaged wrist and softly caressed the red marks there.

"How long are you planning to sleep, huh?" he asked, his voice choked with emotion.

There was no response, only the steady rhythm of the machines. "Please wake up and talk to me.

I want to hear your voice, my love," he pleaded, his thoughts returning to her confession of love.

Ritu's fingers twitched slightly at his words. "Don't you want to know what my feelings are for you? I'm dying to tell you," he whispered, his voice breaking.

Her eyelids fluttered, struggling to open.

Shreyansh leaned in closer, his heart pounding with hope. "Ritu?" he called softly, stroking her hair.

Slowly, her eyes opened, and she looked around in confusion. The sterile hospital room was a stark contrast to the terror she remembered.

The memories of the man who had assaulted her flooded back, making her shudder.How that man tries to touch her private parts and she was struggling in his clutch..she could feel his dirty hands on her thighs.

But amidst the chaos, Shreyansh's soothing voice broke through, anchoring her to the present.

"Ritu, you're safe now. You're in the hospital. Nothing can harm you here," Shreyansh murmured, his voice a gentle reassurance.

Through her tears, she recognized him. His familiar face brought a sense of safety and comfort.

"Shh, calm down. It's all over. He can't hurt you anymore," he whispered, wiping away her tears.

One person has heard and saw all this from the door. The person smiles and left from the door.

A silent figure stood at the door, watching the tender moment before quietly leaving, a small smile on their face.
Ritu calmed down, her eyes fixed on Shreyansh.

She remembered her confession and felt a wave of uncertainty. Did he feel the same way?

"What are you thinking so deeply about, hmm? I want to know," he asked, his voice filled with gentle curiosity.

She shook her head, her voice barely a whisper. "How is bhabhi now?"

"The doctors removed the bullet. She hasn't woken up yet, but she's out of danger. Once you feel better, I'll take you to see her, okay?" he reassured her.

She doesn't tell anything but only nods her head lightly.

Ritu's feelings of guilt were overwhelming, a storm of emotions that left her heart heavy and her mind troubled.

As she lay in the hospital bed, surrounded by the steady beeping of machines and the faint antiseptic scent of the room, her thoughts spiraled into a deep chasm of regret.Her body ached, not just from the physical wounds but from the emotional burden she carried.

Every breath felt like a reminder of her perceived failure, a weight pressing down on her chest. She replayed the events over and over in her mind, each scene more painful than the last. The image of her brother's anxious face, the worry lines etched deeply into his features, haunted her. She couldn't shake the feeling that she had let him down, that she had brought this chaos upon their family.Ritu's thoughts were clouded with self-recrimination.

She remembered the touch of that man's hands, the violation, and how powerless she had felt. But even more piercing was the memory of her family's faces, their concern, and their suffering. Her guilt was a relentless tide, washing over her in waves, making her feel like she was drowning in her own remorse.

Shreyansh frowns seeing her dull response,to see her happy face ,he said.

'You know above all this,there is a good news..do you know what it is?' he smiles ..

Ritu looks up..

'You are becoming bua ... Pihu is pregnant..she is going to have a baby'

Ritu gives a faded smile,' I know , bhabhi is going to be a mother'.

She thought about Pihu, her beloved bhabhi, who had always been a source of warmth and support. Knowing that her bhabhi was pregnant added another layer to her guilt.

The joyous news, which should have been a cause for celebration, was now tainted by the fear and pain they had all endured. Ritu couldn't help but think that if she had just stayed silent, if she had just endured the harassment in silence, none of this would have happened.

Her mind tormented her with these thoughts, despite knowing deep down that she was not to blame for the actions of a vile man.Tears welled up in her eyes, blurring her vision. She turned her head slightly, looking at Shreyansh, who was sitting beside her, his face a mixture of concern and love.

She wanted to tell him everything, to confess her guilt, but her voice felt trapped in her throat. How could she put into words the depth of her sorrow, the weight of her regret?

In her mind, she envisioned the happy moments they should have been sharing right now - the joy of her pregnancy announcement, the laughter, the excitement. Instead, they were in a hospital, and she felt responsible for stealing those precious moments from her family. The guilt gnawed at her, relentless and unyielding.

This is only thing which is making her feel more guilty. Only because of her ,her bhabhi and her child has fallen into danger. Only because of her,all the family members suffered so much..her bhaiya suffered so much.

On that day if she had kept her mouth shut and endured everything like her professor ask her..then all this wouldn't have happened and they would have celebrating this big news in their home. Thinking all this ,she now doesn't have the courage to meet her bhabhi and bhaiyaa .Her guilty is killing her from inside .It would be best if she stays away from her.

"Something's bothering you, Ritu. I can tell," Shreyansh said, his tone more serious.His words pulled her out of her dark thoughts.

"I'm just tired and sleepy," she replied weakly.

He sighed, knowing there was more she wasn't saying. "Okay, then rest. Your body needs to heal. Don't stress, just sleep. I'll stay here with you," he said softly, massaging her head gently.

She nodded, clutching his hand tightly. Within moments, she drifted into sleep, comforted by his presence.

Shreyansh kissed her forehead, murmuring,

"I know you're waiting for my response, but this isn't the right place. Get well soon, my love. A big surprise is waiting for you."

A faint smile played on her lips, as if she understood his words. Shreyansh continued to watch over her, his heart filled with a mix of love and hope, waiting for the moment when he could finally share his feelings with her.

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