The soft beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound in ICU-3.
Mahi sat beside Ahaan, her fingers lightly wrapped around his bandaged hand. His face was still, lips pale, a deep cut on his brow. Machines breathed for him now.
She sat in silence. Not crying. Just... empty.
Mahi (whispers):
"You left me once... and now you're here like this. Why, Ahaan?"
Her eyes drifted shut, and the present blurred into memory...
---
🌫️ Flashback – Four years ago
Julika's recovery ward – 3rd Floor
The sun spilled into the room where Julika lay, pale but breathing on her own again. Her eyelids fluttered open — and standing at the doorway was Ahaan, his eyes filled with silent relief.
He stepped forward, holding a bouquet in his hand.
Ahaan:
"You scared the hell out of all of us, Officer Julika."
Julika managed a weak smile.
"You were there, weren't you... when I got shot?"
He nodded.
Julika:
"Thank you, sir... for saving me."
They shared a quiet look — a bond of survival, of battle.
But outside this hospital room… something else was unraveling.
---
🏚️ Meanwhile – Orphanage (Same Time)
The sky outside the orphanage was turning gold. Children ran around with paper planes and crayons, laughter echoing in the courtyard.
Mahi stood at the center, her hair tied up, her white coat removed, smiling softly as she handed medicines to a sick child.
A sudden screech of tires cut the laughter.
Two black vans skidded to a halt at the orphanage gate.
Before anyone could react, masked men jumped out.
Caretaker Woman:
"Mahi!! Run!!"
Mahi turned — too late.
A strong hand grabbed her from behind, pressing a cloth to her mouth. Her screams were muffled. A child cried out, "Didi!!"
She struggled, her eyes wide with terror, but the world began to blur. Her knees gave way.
The last thing she saw…
was the sky fading into darkness.
---
🕯️ Back to Present – ICU-3
Mahi gasped, her hand tightening around Ahaan's.
Tears now streamed down her face.
Mahi (shaky voice):
"You weren't there… when they took me… Ahaan… you were with her."
Her head dropped forward onto their entwined hands.
> "But I still waited for you."
The machines beeped on.
Unaware of the storm brewing inside her heart.
Unaware… that the past had finally caught up with them both.
Setting: The Orphanage – Just Minutes After the Kidnapping
---
The black car came to a halt, its tires crunching over the gravel path of the orphanage driveway.
Ahaan stepped out, holding a bouquet of white lilies — Mahi's favorite.
He looked around, confused.
Children stood in the yard, crying.
A few clung to each other. Others sat motionless, shocked.
The usually cheerful place was drowned in silence and sobs.
His heart thudded.
Ahaan (urgent):
"What happened here?"
No one answered. Until the familiar old caretaker lady — trembling, eyes wet — walked up to him.
Caretaker (choked):
"Sir… w-where were you?"
Ahaan (confused, stepping closer):
"What are you talking about? Where's Mahi?"
The woman broke down in tears.
She pointed toward the courtyard, where a few crayons still lay on the ground — one still scribbled with Mahi's name by a child.
Caretaker (sobbing):
"They came… masked men… black vans… before we could even understand... they took her. Just like that. We couldn't stop them."
Ahaan felt the world tilt beneath his feet.
Ahaan:
"Took her? What do you mean took her?!"
Caretaker:
"She was with the kids… helping them… and then they came… and—"
"She struggled… we tried… but they were armed. And fast."
Ahaan's fingers curled into fists.
The flowers in his hand dropped, crushed under his boot as he turned away, panic taking over logic.
His chest heaved. His eyes scanned the courtyard like she might still be there.
Ahaan (in a whisper):
"No... no, no… I was just with Julika… just an hour ago…"
His hands went to his head, eyes wild.
> "I told her I'd protect her… and I wasn't even here."
Caretaker (in crying voice): she is such a good girl why she faced so much ?
Ahaan's throat tightened. His jaw clenched.
Ahaan (cold and deadly now):
"Whoever did this… they'll regret touching her."
He turned, already reaching for his phone.
Ahaan (commanding tone):
"Officer Jack. Lock every road out of the city. Check CCTV feeds around the orphanage. She was taken just 20 minutes ago. I want every black van tracked. NOW."
As the call ended, he looked up at the crying children.
And whispered to himself:
> "I'm coming, Mahi. I swear… I'll bring you back. Or I'll burn the world down trying."