When I walked into the ER Niharika was already up. The IV drip was finished and the nurse was removing the needle from her wrist.

"Do you feel better now?" The nurse asked her while wiping the little blood that came out after the needle was removed.

She gave her a weak smile and nodded her head. I walked towards her bed after the nurse left. She immediately tried to sit up and I helped her to sit straight.

She still looked tired and weak. Her lips looked pale and there were dark circles under her eyes and her eyes were swollen. Guilt washed over me. I should have waited a bit longer to tell her everything.

"I am sorry," I said hanging my head down.

She squeezed my fingers gently and I looked at her face. "You don't have to. Nothing is your fault." She said softly, holding my cheek in her palm.

We sat there in silence for a few moments before she spoke again. "Now I understand why he couldn't trust me." She said in a broken voice.

"Niharika." I was about to argue but she cut me off. "No Sid. I understand. He was betrayed by his own mother and after that, it is difficult to put your trust in someone else. You will always have that insecurity in you." She said with a sad smile on her face.

"He was ashamed of himself for not trusting you Niharika. He regrets it to the core of his heart. You should have seen him. He was just a shell of the man once he was. I haven't seen him this broken before. Not even when our father died. I have witnessed him lying in your bed and crying into the pillows silently. He didn't even let the maid change the covers. He was spending all his time inside that room like a ghost. You meant a lot to him Niharika. More than you know. I know he wronged you and I am not asking you to forgive him. Just give him a chance to explain himself. Please." I pleaded.

She looked a bit surprised and a prick of pain shadowed her eyes. But she kept her silence. I gave a light squeeze to her palm and left her there in her own thoughts.

I walked through the corridor towards the ICU. I was exhausted and was drained out of energy. Every one of us was suffering our own miseries and the only thing we could do was to wait, it says that time heals.

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

My throat was dry and my eyes were stinging when I looked at the bruised and battered form of Aami in front of me.

"Her whole body is covered in bruises and cuts. She was lucky that nothing was fatal and didn't cause any internal damage. She has a small concussion in her head which is not that harmful and that is why we have kept her in observation. Her vitals are normal now and we can shift her to a room soon." The doctor said and gave me assuring smile.

I nodded my head at her. I moved my hand to caress her bruised cheeks. It was all purple in color. The anger in me boiled. How I wanted to torture that bustard in a more painful manner but that son of a bitch had an easy death which he did not deserve.

My fingers caressed her swollen lips and cheeks while a tear ran down my cheeks.

A gasp left her mouth and suddenly she jerked in her bed. I was startled and took a step back.

She took a deep breath and her body started to jerk again vigorously.

I was shocked and stood there without knowing what to do. The doctor rushed to her immediately while calling for the nurses to help. Her body didn't stop moving. She kicked her legs and screamed while holding the bedsheet tightly in her fists. Her body curved upwards and the nurses were having difficulties holding her back.

The IV tubes on her wrist were out and they were bleeding. Four nurses held her back tightly while the doctor gave her sedation. I looked at the scene while holding my breath in horror. I would be lying if I say I was not terrified.

A few moments later her struggles lowered and slowly she fell back into a deep slumber.

I was still in shock when I heard the doctor's voice. "She was having a panic attack." The doctor said with a labored breath. My eyes left Aami's form and turned towards the doctor.

"She might be suffering from PTSD." She said while looking at the sleeping form in front of me.

"Wh... What?!!" I asked confused.

"PTSD. Post-traumatic stress disorder. It is a mental health condition triggered by a terrifying event like life-threatening accidents or witnessing something terrible. It causes flashbacks, nightmares, and severe anxiety. Sometimes even memory loss." She explained.

"Mem.. memory loss?!!" Even I couldn't hear my voice. It was a mere whisper.

"I was just telling. We will figure it out once she wakes up. She might need some help. She has been through a lot and it's not easy to survive all these without any harm. Let us wait till she wakes up. We are going to shift her to a room soon and she will wake up in a few hours. She needs rest, physically and mentally." She said in a serious tone and walked out.

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

I didn't mind the tears flowing down from my eyes. I kept looking at her. She is there because of me. I should have been more careful. And I was late to reach her. She wouldn't have suffered this much if I was a bit early.

I leaned back to the sofa and covered my face with my palms. Taking a deep breath I wiped my eyes.

I heard a knock on the door and soon it opened and Niharika walked in.

She looked at Aami for a few moments and then turned to me.

"How is she?" She asked.

"She. She is... I don't know. They said the injuries are not fatal." I said while getting up and trying to make my voice as normals as possible.

She nodded her head and sat on the bed and slowly took hold of Aami's hand. I could see the concern and worry in her eyes.

"She will be waking up anytime now," I said looking at both of them and she nodded her head again.

Silence surrounded us again, till I decided to break it.

"Ved... He woke up when you were sleeping." I said and she turned her attention to me. Her eyes looked surprised and were full of worry and care and her body tensed.

"Not for a long time. He is in and out of his consciousness. They told that it's because of the drugs and the doctors said he is out of danger. They will shift him to the room by tomorrow." I explained it to her.

She huffed closing her eyes and her body relaxed.

Our attention turned back to Aami when we heard her moan.

Her body moved slightly. She was waking up finally. I felt relaxed for a moment.

But then creases formed on her forehead and she pursued her lips as if she is getting aware of the pain her body is going through.

We both went close to her. I patted her hair and Niharika was still holding her hands drawing small circles on her wrist in a soothing way. I think the effect of the drug is wearing off from her system because she moaned again in pain and a tear left the corner of her eyes.

My eyes sting again and I patted her hair and said sweet things in her ear as if it will reduce her pain. I want her to open her eyes and see me. I want her to know that she is safe now and that no one will ever hurt her again.

A sob escaped her lips and her hold on Niharika's hand tightened. I pursed my lips together to hold back my tears.

"Aghhh........ ahh." Her sobs became a loud cry and it took everything in me to stop myself from breaking down right in there.

"Shhh... It's an okay sweetheart. You are safe now don't worry no one here will hurt you." I said and patted her hair slowly and cupped her cheek carefully with my other hand.

"Now will you please open your eyes, honey? Please. For me?" I said in a mere whisper.

Niharika was rubbing her palm softly and tears were rolling down her cheeks.

"Wake up Aami. Please. Wake up." I said again and I saw her eyeballs moving.

She was struggling to open her eyes. We both caressed her body softly to ease the pain and after a while, her eyes opened slowly. She struggled to keep it open and slowly her eyes adjusted to the room light and she kept her eyelids half-open.

A small smile crept up to my lips. I moved close to her face and patted her hair face slowly.

"Aami. You are safe now ok. Don't worry. We will make it through this together." I gave a weak assuring smile.

She looked at me with creases on her forehead for a moment and then her demeanor starts to change. Her eyes bulged and her mouth opened wide. Her breath became labored as she struggled to move her weak body away from my touch.

But the expression on her face was what squeezed my heart painfully.

It was pure blind terror.

My hands left her body as my heart hammered in my chest. I took a step back in panic.

Her body was trembling in fear. A loud screech left her mouth as she backed herself to the headboard of the bed. She sweated with fear and she was in a complete state of panic.

Her screams became louder and raw panic was in her voice.

"Sid, I think it's better if you go out. She is not in the right state of mind. She needs time." Niharika said to me and I looked at her in horror.

"Sid. Please listen to me okay. Just go. Please. She is struggling. And it is good for you both now. Let her settle her emotions. Go." She said coming near me and patted my shoulder.

I was in a state of shock. I looked at her with my teary eyes and terror stabbed my heart. She nodded and I nodded too in response. She went near the bed keeping a safe difference and started to speak sweet words to Aami. But her eyes were fixed on me and they held fear.

Pain pierced my heart and hesitantly I turned my back to her. I walked out of the room with my wobbly legs. My stomach clenched with hurt and guilt. Sobs left my mouth uncontrollably.

I wiped the tears blurring my vision and leaned back against the wall near the closed door of her room. My sobs became loud cries as I slide down the wall and sat on the floor.

I closed my mouth with my palms to muffle the cries. What have they done to her? Will she be able to cope up with all these? What if it scarred her for life?

All the thoughts were giving me a chill down the spine.

********************