Reyansh nods, then shifts the topic. “Kavya’s worried sick. She’s been asking every half hour if she can see Nisha. It was hard enough keeping her glued to her room. The only reasonshe hasn’t rushed in here yet is because the doctor made her promise to wait till morning.” He drags a hand through his face, frustration clear in the small gesture. “But you know Kavya. That ‘minute’ won’t last very long. She’s barely holding it together as it is.”
I don’t respond. I just turn my eyes back to the woman lying in the bed.
Reyansh places his hand on my shoulder. “You should go home, man.”
“I’m not going anywhere,” I say, my eyes still fixed on Nisha. “I need to be here.”
He lets out a sigh. “You need to rest too. She’s got doctors, nurses…”
“She has me now,” I snap, not turning to face him.
“Sidharth, listen—”
“No,” I cut him off, turning towards him. “You need to be with your woman. She needs you right now. Go to her. Don’t waste your energy giving me lectures.”
His brows pull together, his gaze flickering between me and Nisha.
“I’m not leaving,” I repeat firmly. “So don’t ask.”
He studies me for a long moment. I can see it, the words forming. He wants to say something, probably to remind me that I’m toeing a line I shouldn’t, not with his girlfriend’s sister.
But he doesn’t say it. Instead, he just nods, then turns and walks out without another word, the door clicking softly shut behind him.
I take a deep breath, steadying myself before looking back at her. Even in sleep, she looks haunted, restless. I don’t know how long I sit there, minutes, maybe more, until I see the smallest flicker in her lashes.
Her eyes flutter open as she turns to the side to face me. But instead of a smile, there’s caution in her eye, a wariness slowlycreeping in, like she’s trying to place me… trying to figure out if I’m a threat or a lifeline. And that fear in her eyes is enough to mess with my head.
“Who… who are you?” she breathes, her voice hoarse.
I straighten slightly, watching her closely as I keep my voice low. “I’m Detective Sidharth, the one who brought you here.”
She nods. “Right. Sunita Aunty mentioned you.”
I offer the faintest smile, though it feels forced. “How are you holding up?”
She blinks at me, like she’s searching for the right words. But before she can say anything, I speak again.
“I’m aware that Inspector Viraj filled you in on everything.”
She nods slowly, but doesn’t say a word. Instead, her silence, her pain, and the sadness in her eyes say it all.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, my throat working around the words. “You shouldn’t have heard it like that. Not so soon.”
Her lips part like she might say something, then press together again.
“He should’ve handled it differently,” I murmur, my gaze steady on her. “Eased you into it. And not just dump it all on you like that.”
“I’m… I’m… okay,” she stammers, her voice rough and uncertain, like she’s trying to convince herself more than me.
I shake my head. “No, you’re not.”
“To be honest, I don’t even know what to feel,” she admits quietly, her eyes fixed on a point just behind my back. “I feel so numb.” She pauses, her fingers clutching the blanket a little tighter. “It’s like my mind knows what happened, but my heart hasn’t caught up. Or maybe it has, and it just doesn’t want to acknowledge it.”
“I get that,” I say, my voice low. “Sometimes the heart creates illusions to protect itself from truths it doesn’t want to accept. It’s a kind of survival.” I keep my gaze on her, hopingmy words reach her. “I know it’s not going to be easy.” I pause, desperately wishing I could take her pain away. “But you need to know that I’m not going anywhere. You don’t have to go through this alone. I’m here with you.”
She finally looks at me, her eyes narrowed in confusion. I get it. I probably sounded like an obsessed lunatic. I know I said too much. Made her more uncomfortable than trying to reassure her. But that wasn’t my intention. I just didn’t want her to feel alone in this mess. Maybe I handled it wrong. Maybe my words backfired. But I don’t regret saying them. I meant every damn word, and I’m not taking any of it back.
Before I can ease her, she shakes her head. “Can I… have a few minutes to myself?”
