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Author POV:

The hospital reeked of antiseptic, the air heavy with an unyielding chill that seeped into Abhimanyu's bones as he stormed through the doors, Avni cradled in his arms.

Her body was alarmingly limp, her face pale as porcelain, and her breaths shallow. Each step toward the emergency ward felt like trudging through quicksand, his heart pounding louder than the chaos around him.

His mind was a storm of questions, tangled with threads of fear and guilt.

What have I done? How did we end up here? A stranger he had lied about being his wife was now the center of a crisis spiraling out of his control.

Behind him, the screech of tires cut through the stillness of the night, followed by the hurried thud of footsteps. Rohit's familiar voice pierced the air, taut with urgency.

"Wait, Bhai! I'm right behind you!"

Abhimanyu didn't look back. His focus was razor-sharp on the lifeless woman in his arms, her delicate form stirring something unsettling in him-something close to guilt.

The bruises marring her pale skin, the fragility of her being, only heightened the storm raging within.

The moment they burst into the hospital lobby, the sterile buzz of activity enveloped them.

Nurses rushed to and fro, gurneys wheeled past with urgency, and the low hum of machinery formed a haunting symphony. But amidst the routine chaos, a small cluster of police officers stood out, their sharp eyes scanning the room.

Abhimanyu's chest tightened. Why are the police here? Do they know?

A nurse rushed to his side, her face a mask of shock as she took in Avni's battered state.

"Get a stretcher!" she shouted, snapping into action.

Within moments, Avni was taken from his arms and wheeled toward the emergency room.

Abhimanyu stood frozen, his arms still aching from carrying her, as if her weight lingered even after she was gone.

"Sir, what happened here?"

The question, sharp and probing, came from one of the officers now approaching him. His uniform, crisp and authoritative, only heightened the tension in the air.

Abhimanyu's jaw tightened, his mind scrambling for an answer that wouldn't unravel everything. His eyes flicked toward Rohit, who seemed just as startled, though a glint of understanding passed between them.

Rohit stepped forward, voice dripping with feigned indignation.

"This is outrageous! What kind of hospital lets this happen? My Bhabhi was attacked in daylight!"

Abhimanyu seized the opportunity, his voice rising to match Rohit's anger.

"Exactly! Where were your security guards when my wife was dragged away?"

The doctor flinched under their fiery accusations, stammering an apology.

"We... we tried to stop them. Some of our staff were injured in the struggle, but those men-"

Abhimanyu's heart sank. The truth was uglier than he wanted to admit.

This wasn't the hospital's fault. It was his. It was Deshmukh's fault-and mine for dragging her into this.

Taking a steadying breath, he softened his tone, his words deliberate.

"It's not your fault, doctor. The men who took her... they're my enemies. They've been trying to ruin me for months, and this was just another way to get to me."

The officer's sharp eyes narrowed.

"We'll need a full statement, Mr. Khurana."

Abhimanyu nodded curtly, unwilling to betray any hint of hesitation.

"You'll have it. But right now, I need to be with my wife." He lied.

..............

The doctor's words echoed in his mind like a death knell.

Dissociative amnesia.

The trauma had wiped Avni's memory clean, erasing not just her identity but the very foundation of the lie he'd crafted.

She didn't remember who she was-or worse, who he was supposed to be to her.

"She doesn't recall anything," the doctor explained gently. "Forcing her to remember could do more harm than good."

Abhimanyu sat in the doctor's cabin, his fists clenched against the weight of it all. Rohit hovered nearby, his worry palpable.

"Bhai," he began hesitantly, "what are we going to do? She... she thinks you're her husband."

"I know," Abhimanyu muttered, his voice low and dangerous.

"And now I have to make her believe it."

Rohit stared at him, bewildered.

"You're going to keep lying to her? Bhai, this-"

"This isn't about what I want!" Abhimanyu snapped, his voice cutting through the air like a whip.

"If the truth comes out, she'll be in even more danger. I dragged her into this, and now it's my responsibility to protect her."

Before Rohit could respond, a nurse appeared in the doorway, her expression a mix of relief and urgency.

"Mr. Khurana, your wife is awake. She's asking for you."

........

The room was dimly lit, the soft hum of monitors filling the silence. Avni sat upright in bed, her posture tense and uncertain. Her wide, tear-filled eyes locked onto Abhimanyu the moment he entered.

Her gaze was searching, desperate, and the vulnerability in it nearly brought him to his knees.

"Are you... really my husband?" she asked, her voice trembling.

The question hung in the air, heavy with implication. Abhimanyu hesitated for only a moment before stepping closer, his expression unreadable.

"Yes," he said softly, his voice steady. "I'm your husband. And I'm here now."

Tears spilled down Avni's cheeks, and she raised a trembling hand to her face. "I don't remember anything... not even my own name. But those men-they said terrible things. They said I'm your wife, and I don't even know if it's true."

"It's true," Abhimanyu assured her, his voice was firm but gentle. He leaned closer, his dark eyes locking onto hers.

"You're Mrs. Avni Khurana, my wife. And no one will ever hurt you again."

The lie tasted bitter on his tongue, but her fragile smile-tentative, hopeful-made him press on. This is for her safety. For both of us.

Avni reached out suddenly, her small hand gripping his sleeve. "Promise me you won't leave."

Abhimanyu froze, her touch sending an unfamiliar warmth through him. Slowly, he placed his hand over hers, his grip firm but comforting.

"I promise," he said, his voice low and steady. "I'll never leave you."

A small, broken sob escaped her as she leaned forward, wrapping her arms around him. The gesture was hesitant, almost shy, but it caught him off guard. For a moment, he stiffened, unsure how to respond.

Then, cautiously, he placed a hand on her head, the awkwardness of the gesture betraying the storm of emotions raging within him.

"I'll keep you safe," he murmured, more to himself than to her. "Even if it destroys me."

And in that moment, as the weight of his lie settled firmly on his shoulders, Abhimanyu knew there was no turning back.

"The battle wasn't just for survival anymore-it was for redemption. For her"He thought.

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