Chapter 53

The hospital room had fallen into a fragile quiet.

Not the suffocating kind.

Not the kind filled with fear.

But something softer.

Something… held together.

—

Ashvik’s breathing had evened out, though it still hitched every now and then-like his body hadn’t fully forgotten the storm it had just survived.

His fingers were still curled tightly in Dante’s hand.

As if letting go-

meant falling back into it.

—

Dante hadn’t moved.

Not even an inch.

One hand still wrapped around Ashvik’s, the other resting gently against his head, fingers occasionally brushing through his hair in slow, absent motions.

Grounding.

Reassuring.

Constant.

—

A soft knock broke the silence.

Dante’s gaze flickered briefly toward the door.

“Come in,” he said quietly.

The door opened slowly.

Abhimanyu stepped in first-hesitant, cautious, like he was walking into something fragile he didn’t want to shatter again.

Ansh followed behind him.

Neither of them spoke.

Their eyes went straight to Ashvik.

—

He looked… different.

Not panicked.

Not thrashing.

Just-

exhausted.

Small.

His lashes rested against his cheeks, tear tracks still visible, his breathing finally calm.

But what struck them the most-

was his hand.

Still tightly holding Dante’s.

—

Something twisted in Abhimanyu’s chest.

Something heavy.

Something… undeserved.

—

“…is he okay?” Ansh asked quietly, his voice lower than usual, stripped of its usual steadiness.

Dante nodded slightly.

“He had a panic attack,” he replied, his voice just as calm as before. “It passed.”

Abhimanyu swallowed.

His gaze didn’t leave Ashvik.

“…he said he doesn’t know us,” he said, the words tasting bitter. “He meant it, didn’t he?”

Dante didn’t answer immediately.

Because the truth?

Was already sitting between them.

Breathing.

—

“…yeah,” Dante said finally.

—

Silence fell again.

Heavy this time.

Not fragile.

Not soft.

But filled with things none of them were ready to say out loud.

—

Ansh ran a hand through his hair, exhaling sharply.

“This isn’t right,” he muttered. “He looked at us like we were-“

“Strangers,” Abhimanyu finished quietly.

The word landed like a blow.

—

Dante’s grip on Ashvik’s hand tightened slightly.

“Then don’t act like ones,” he said, his tone calm-but there was something firm underneath it now. Something unyielding.

Both of them looked at him.

—

“You don’t get to demand he remembers you,” Dante continued. “Not after what he’s been through.”

Abhimanyu’s jaw tightened.

“And you do?” he shot back, frustration slipping through. “He doesn’t even remember you either-“

“I don’t need him to,” Dante cut in.

That-

stopped him.

—

Dante finally looked up at them.

And there was nothing soft in his eyes now.

Only truth.

“He feels safe with me,” he said simply. “That’s enough.”

—

Neither of them had an answer to that.

Because they had seen it.

The way Ashvik had clung to him.

The way he had calmed down-

for him.

—

A quiet sound broke the tension.

A weak shift.

—

All three of them froze.

Ashvik stirred slightly, his brows knitting together, his grip tightening instinctively around Dante’s hand.

“…Dante…” he murmured faintly, voice barely audible.

Dante leaned in immediately.

“I’m here, jaan,” he said softly.

Ashvik’s lashes fluttered-but didn’t fully open.

“…don’t… go…” he whispered again, his voice fragile even in sleep.

Something in the room-

broke.

—

Ansh looked away first.

Abhimanyu clenched his fists.

And Dante?

Dante didn’t hesitate.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he murmured, his thumb brushing gently over Ashvik’s knuckles again.

—

Ashvik’s breathing steadied once more.

His body relaxed.

And just like that-

he slipped back into a deeper sleep.

—

Minutes passed.

No one spoke.

—

Then-

“…we almost lost him.”

Abhimanyu’s voice.

Low.

Rough.

Real.

—

Dante didn’t look up.

“I know.”

—

Ansh exhaled shakily, leaning back against the wall.

“…who did this?” he asked, his tone darker now.

Dante’s eyes flickered-just for a second.

Something cold passing through them.

Something dangerous.

—

“She’s handled,” he said quietly.

—

Neither of them missed the shift.

The calmness.

The certainty.

—

Abhimanyu narrowed his eyes slightly.

“…handled how?”

—

Dante finally looked at him.

And this time-

there was no softness left.

—

“Alive,” he said.

A pause.

Then, colder-

“For now.”

—

The message was clear.

This wasn’t over.

Not even close.

—

Across the city-

far from the quiet of the hospital-

Avery woke up cold , she saw around herself she was chained to the Chair ,

A moment caught her eyes a blurry shadow little away from her, because of darkness she cannot see the man clearly, but by looking at the built it was sure it’s a man ,

The Man Switched on the light and Avery Visibly paled seeing who it was ,

” Armaan “

She said slowly like realising the depth of the situation by herself…

Armaan: You woke up pretty quickly missy …. I am glad you did …. because the next time you won’t be able to…

Avery was scared inside but rather than letting it show on her face …she said

Avery : Ohh…try me …let me tell you one thing…I am not like your pathetic excuse of a Brother…to beg …pls….pls.ahhh…bachao..bhai..mummaaa…hehehehe..

She started laughing like a maniac and It was the last straw for Armaan he went there And punched her square in the face …

Armaan: You don’t get to talk about him like that…

Avery coughed and still said .

Avery : really….tsh…He really is pathetic little shit… always clinging to Dante and Ansh …like a little bitch he is …

This was the last straw for Armaan he signaled a guard who came in with a plier and started plunging her nails one by one
Avery was just Screaming in pain and terror..

While Armaan was sitting infront of her . After her all 10 finger nails was done , The guard left ,

Armaan: now..tell me why did you betray uss ? What made  you do that? Everyone loved you right? You were even like a daughter to Romano ‘s
Then why ?

Avery : Daughter? (Laughs) I was never a daughter to them , I WAS A FREAKING SLAVE TO THEM .No matter what happens I was suppose to save Luca and Amaira….what about me ? No one cares enough for me without any reason.

Armaan: why Ashvik? He didn’t did any of these to you…

Avery : because he is the easiest and most effective target to kill all the birds with one stone…and Honestly I hate how weak that boy is …if I get a chance I will do it all over again.

Hearing this Armaan again told the guard to beat her with a whip , and he did ,

Avery was Shouting painfully… when armaan’ s phone rang,  he saw it was Abhimanyu he picked it up ,

Abhimanyu: Are you sure you don’t want to meet Ashvik?

Armaan: yes bhai …not until he gains  his memory back …he will hate me otherwise…i was not actually the best before…

Abhimanyu: (sigh ) fine …but Make sure no one is out there after hurting our baby.  

Armaan: I promise bhaiya ..

To be continued 🔚