Chapter-43

Author's POV,

Suddenly, the scene erupted into chaos as a gunshot rang out, shattering the tense silence. Rudransh roared in pain and anger as a bullet struck him, staining his white shirt with blood. The pain on his shoulder caused him to loosen his grip on Pihu, and she took the opportunity to break free and scramble away.

With her heart racing, Pihu looked around frantically, searching for somewhere to hide from the chaos and violence that had erupted. With a whimper, she found refuge between two parked cars, her body shaking with fear and adrenaline.

The gunshot that echoed through the alley was like a starter's pistol in a deadly race. Rudra and his men, appearing with a roar at both ends of the alley, transformed the tense silence into a cacophony of gunfire.

The narrow alley became a warzone. Bullets ricocheted off brick walls, showering sparks. The stench of gunpowder filled the air, choking Pihu as she huddled between the cars, her ears plugged with her hands in a futile attempt to shut out the deafening cacophony.

The gunfire continued for what felt like an eternity, a maddening dance of death. Each flash of a muzzle seemed to illuminate Pihu's terror, each deafening boom resonating through her bones. Minutes bled into one another, a relentless symphony of violence.

Then, as abruptly as it began, the shooting died down. An eerie silence descended, broken only by the ragged gasps of wounded men. Pihu peeked out from her hiding place, her heart hammering a frantic tattoo against her ribs.

The sight that greeted her was a scene from a nightmare. The alley floor was slick with blood, bodies sprawled like grotesque marionettes. Rudransh's men lay strewn about, their faces contorted in eternal grimaces. And in the center of it all, Rudransh himself writhed on the ground, clutching his shoulder and howling in pain.

Through the haze of smoke and gunpowder, Pihu saw a figure moving towards her from the other end. It was Rudra, his face etched with a chilling calm that sent shivers down her spine. He surveyed the scene with a practiced eye, his gaze lingering on the crumpled bodies of Rudransh's men.

Relief washed over Pihu, a weakness in her knees almost buckling her. It was over. They were safe. Fueled by this newfound hope, she pushed herself out from her hiding place, her eyes searching for Shaurya. There, amidst the carnage, she spotted him slumped against the brick wall.

His face was pale as death, a crimson stain blooming on his chest.Ignoring the tremors in her own body, she knew she had to get to him.

A flicker of triumph sparked in Rudra's eyes as he saw Pihu emerge from cover. Relief battled with a cold calculation in his gaze. But then, his focus shifted. He saw the desperation in her movements as she rushed towards Shaurya, his form slumped against the brick wall, a crimson stain blooming on his chest.

"Shaurya!" Pihu cried out, her voice raw with fear.

But before she could reach him, a gunshot shattered the fragile quiet. Pihu's scream ripped through the air, a sound of pure terror and surprise. Pain, a white-hot poker jabbed into her lower back, stole her breath and her vision. Her cry became a choked gasp as her legs gave way, crumpling her to the blood-slick pavement beside Shaurya.

Rudra's chilling calm shattered in an instant. His head snapped towards the source of the gunshot, his eyes zeroing in on the culprit. Rudransh, a twisted grin splitting his bloodied face, the smoking pistol clutched in his hand like a macabre trophy. A primal roar erupted from Rudra's throat, a sound that sent shivers down the spines of even his most hardened men. It was a sound that spoke of a bear robbed of its cub, a predator about to unleash its fury.

"You son of a-" The curse died on Rudra's lips as he launched himself forward. It was a blur of controlled chaos, a whirlwind of rage and purpose. He didn't need to shout orders. His men, witnessing the raw fury in their leader's eyes, knew exactly what was expected.

Before Rudransh could even consider another shot, a wave of Rudra's men crashed into him. They were a human tidal wave, fueled by adrenaline and a silent vow to protect their queen – Pihu. They wrestled the gun from his grasp, the clatter of metal on pavement a hollow punctuation mark amidst the symphony of violence.

Rudra reached Pihu's side in a heartbeat, the roar in his throat morphing into a low, guttural growl. His heart hammered a frantic tattoo against his ribs, mirroring the frantic rhythm of the blood blooming on Pihu's white blouse. Ignoring the tremors in his own hands, likely from the suppressed urge to strangle Rudransh with his bare hands, he scooped her up bridal style.

Her body, once brimming with defiance, was now alarmingly light in his arms. Panic clawed at his throat. "Pearl! Stay with me," he rasped, his voice rough with a raw emotion he couldn't decipher. "We'll get you help. Don't you dare close your eyes."

His words were a desperate plea, a lifeline thrown across the chasm of fear threatening to engulf him. Pihu, her vision swimming, managed a weak nod, a choked whimper escaping her lips. The world tilted on its axis as Rudra sprinted towards his waiting car, his men flanking him like a protective shield.

The car roared to life, tires clawing at the asphalt as the driver sped towards the hospital. In Rudra's arms, Pihu lay limp, her breaths coming in shallow gasps. Her white dress, once a symbol of a stolen freedom, was now a horrifying canvas of crimson. Panic gnawed at Rudra, a relentless predator now caged by fear.

He held her close, willing his own strength into her frail form. Gone was the cold calculating leader, replaced by a man stripped bare, his vulnerability a stark contrast to the steely persona he usually projected.

"Stay with me, Pearl," he rasped, his voice raw with desperation. "Don't you dare..." The words caught in his throat, the terrifying void of losing her threatening to consume him whole.

Through the haze of pain and fear, Pihu felt the frantic beat of his heart against her back, a strange comfort amidst the erratic drumbeat of her own pulse. She wanted to offer reassurance, but a searing pain flared with each shallow breath, stealing her voice. A choked whimper escaped her lips, tears stinging her eyes.

The hospital loomed ahead, a stark white beacon against the inky night sky. The car screeched to a halt in the emergency bay, tires smoking. Rudra was out of the vehicle before it even came to a complete stop, cradling Pihu like a priceless porcelain doll.

Memories flickered through his mind – a harsh reminder of his failure to protect her. Images of her walking in his garden while he watch her from his office window, the way her eyes lit up when she laughed, the warmth of her hand in his – all fueled a fierce determination that burned brighter than the fear.

He wouldn't lose her. Not on his watch. Guilt, a serpent coiling around his heart, tightened with every labored breath she took. But amidst the storm of emotions, a new resolve solidified. He would fight for her, with every fiber of his being. He would move heaven and earth to ensure the best doctors treated her, the most advanced procedures saved her life.

The emergency room doors flew open with a pneumatic hiss as Rudra barged in, Pihu cradled protectively in his arms. The sterile air crackled with a tension that mirrored the storm brewing inside him.

"Help her!" he roared, his voice a primal command that echoed off the gleaming white walls. Time seemed to warp as nurses materialized around him, their practiced efficiency a stark contrast to the raw panic clawing at his throat.

He laid Pihu gently on the gurney, his gaze never leaving her pale face, searching for any flicker of recognition. A young doctor, his face etched with a concern that couldn't quite mask the underlying urgency, approached them.

"We need to get her into surgery immediately," the doctor said, his voice calm yet firm. "Bullet wound to the lower back. We'll need to assess the damage."

Rudra's face hardened. This wasn't a request, it was an order - an order he intended to enforce with every ounce of his power and influence. He grabbed the doctor's collar, his voice a low growl. "You will save her. Get the best team in there. Whatever resources you need, they're yours. Just make her well."

The doctor, surprised by the raw desperation in Rudra's eyes, stammered, "Sir, we'll do everything we can."

Reluctantly, Rudra released his grip, the echo of his threat hanging heavy in the air. A nurse, her smile strained but reassuring, placed a hand on his arm. "Sir, you'll need to wait outside. We'll keep you updated."

He nodded curtly, his gaze glued to Pihu as they wheeled her away. The sterile whiteness of the waiting room pressed in on him, suffocating. He ran a hand through his hair, the carefully styled facade now a mess, mirroring the chaos within him.

Rudra sank into the hard plastic chair outside the OR, the sterile white walls doing little to quell the inferno raging inside him. His eyes, usually sharp and calculating, were bloodshot, the whites tinged with a terrifying red. His fists, usually instruments of precise control, were clenched so tightly his knuckles shone white. Each ragged inhale seemed to scrape against a raw nerve, each exhale a silent prayer.

His mind, a once well-oiled machine, was now a chaotic storm.The silence in the waiting room was a physical weight pressing down on him. Every tick of the clock hammered a nail into his coffin of fear.

Every beep from a distant monitor sent a jolt of terror through his system. He imagined the worst – the cold, emotionless pronouncements of a doctor, the sterile sheet draped over a still form.

Just then, the doors of the elevator whooshed open, and Claire and Laurent emerged. Claire's hand instinctively cradled her slightly rounded belly, a reminder of the new life growing within her. Her eyes, usually sparkling with mischief, were clouded with worry as they landed on Rudra's hunched form.

She recognized the look in his eyes- the same look which she saw in the barely eigteen year old boy, when she saved him.

Without a word, she crossed the room and placed a hand on his shoulder, a silent offering of comfort.He whipped his head around, his eyes blazing with a feral intensity that made Claire flinch. But then, recognition dawned.

Claire stood before him, her usually confident posture replaced by a tremor of concern. Her hand, heavy with the weight of their fragile truce and the burgeoning life within her, rested tentatively on his shoulder. Her normally bright eyes held a well of empathy, reflecting the turmoil he felt within.

They sat in a tense silence, united in their worry for Pihu. The hours crawled by, each one an eternity. Finally, after six agonizing hours, the doors of the operating room swung open. Rudra shot to his feet, his voice a rough rasp barely containing his rage.

"She's stable," the doctor announced, relief washing over Rudra like a tidal wave. "The bullet missed her spine by millimeters. She's lucky to be alive after so much blood loss. But she'll need extensive rest for several weeks.

The doctor's words were like a balm to Rudra's tortured soul, offering a glimmer of hope in the darkness. He nodded, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, and waited impatiently for Pihu to be moved to a room where he could see her.

As the medical team transferred Pihu to a recovery room, Rudra stood by her side, his hand gently clasping hers. He watched over her like a guardian angel, his gaze never wavering from her peaceful face.

Once Pihu was settled, the doctor approached Rudra. "She needs rest and observation for the next 48 hours. You can stay with her, but please allow her to rest."

Rudra nodded, his expression stoic yet filled with a silent promise to protect her at all costs. As the doctor left, Rudra turned to Claire and Laurent, his voice firm and determined.

"Claire, you should go home and rest. Laurent, I need you to increase security around the entire hospital. No one should be allowed on this floor except us and the medical staff. Is that clear?"

Claire nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Of course, Rudra. We'll make sure she's safe."

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To be continued......

When I wrote this chapter, I suddenly realized that I am writing Pihu's life like mine, where she can't have one peaceful moment. Whenever Pihu enjoys herself, all her enjoyment is flushed down the drain in the next moment. Just like mine. 😅😅

So my dear readers, please tell your thoughts on this too.