"I knew Saksham was desperate, but this?" Priya shook her head and bit down on her trembling lips to stop the sobs gurgling in her throat from escaping her lips.

Nisha placed a hand over the despaired friend and gave a reassuring squeeze. "She'll be fine! And she will make sure that the man regrets this till his last breath!"

Priya's tears threatened to spill over at Nisha's words, her heart aching for her best friend. Avantika had come so far, and the courageous woman was never the one to back down from a fight.

Priya's mind was consumed with thoughts of Saksham, the man responsible for orchestrating this tragic event. She knew without a doubt that he was behind the hit-and-run. The pungent stench of hospital disinfectants only added to her overwhelming nausea, while the potent astringents used for air purification seemed to mock her heartache and prevent her tears from stopping.

"We need to focus on what matters now," Priya whispered, her voice barely audible amidst the chaos that surrounded them. "Avantika needs us, and she's going to need all the support we can give her."

Nisha nodded in agreement, her eyes filled with determination. "You're right, Priya. We've got to be strong for her."

Their eyes snapped towards the man, who stood like a statue watching the unconscious form of the woman through the glass door. He remained immobile, his body tense with anticipation as the doctors frantically rushed in and out of the room, seeking and relaying information.

Priya's footsteps echoed off the walls as she strode towards Abhay with determination. She was all too familiar with the turmoil that churned inside Avantika, torn between her love for the tech co-founder and the pain of his betrayal. Priya could see the torment etched on Avantika's face, the agony of heartbreak and humiliation at the hands of Abhay. But there was also a reluctant and regretful longing in Avantika's eyes, a deep-seated desire that she couldn't shake off despite everything that had happened.

But in that moment, when she locked eyes with him, she saw the weight of his guilt and desperation etched into his slouched shoulders. His blood-stained shirt hung like a grim reminder of the burden of the storm raging in his chest. She knew that his feelings for Avantika might have been a passing concern or a fleeting attraction in the past, but then, under the piercing hospital lights with her blood staining his shirt, it was an all-consuming devotion.

As Priya approached Abhay, the rage and hurt that had once fueled her burned out like a fading ember. In its place grew a new fire; one of understanding and compassion. She could see the man before her, not as the betrayer and scoundrel, but as the devoted lover who would do anything to save the woman he loved.

"Abhay," she whispered, her voice barely above a whisper amidst the cacophony of hospital sounds. Her eyes softened as she reached out and gently touched his shoulder, feeling the tension in his muscles beneath his shirt.

He looked up at her, his eyes bloodshot from tears and stress, but also filled with an unspoken plea for forgiveness.

"It must have been so tough to witness what you did," Priya said softly, her voice a gentle melody in the chaos that enveloped them. "You should sit down and rest for a while."

Abhay's eyes seemed to darken as he replied, "I can't rest, Priya. Not until I see her awake and safe. Not until that man is brought to justice."

Priya nodded, understanding the depth of Abhay's determination and the turmoil he must be going through. She could see the fierce resolve in his eyes, a resolve born out of love and guilt intertwined in a precarious dance.

"I know you won't rest until Avantika is safe," Priya said, her voice filled with a quiet strength. "But you need to take care of yourself too. Avantika would need us to be strong to fight for her and InnoVault."

Priya's words cut through Abhay like a blade, reminding him of the reality they were facing. He knew she was right, but the need to watch over Avantika was compulsive and consuming.

What if he had not insisted to walk her home?

What if he had walked by the road and had stood between the car and Avantika?

What if Saksham made another attempt at her life while he looked away?

The overwhelming tide of guilt dragged Abhay under, his heart wrenched with the weight of his mistakes and missed opportunities. He couldn't help but berate himself for the countless times he'd let Avantika slip from his grasp, as if his grip on her was slipping away like sand through his fingers.

"Priya," he started, his voice barely a whisper, "I should have been there for her. I should have... I should have..."

But before Priya could respond, Nisha interrupted, her voice steady as she tried to calm them both down. "We can't change the past, Abhay. But we can control the future. We need to focus our energy on taking care of Avantika and InnoVault."

Abhay took a deep breath, feeling the words wash over him like a cold shower. He knew Nisha was right, but it was easier said than done. He had to stay strong for Avantika, and for InnoVault, and for himself. But more than anything else, he had to stay strong for the woman he loved, knowing that her life's hardwork was hanging in the balance.

As the hours ticked by, Abhay paced back and forth in front of Avantika's hospital room, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. Remorse for the past, fear for the present, and hope for the future. He tried to block out the chatter of the other patients, the beeping sounds of the machines, and instead focused on Avantika's still form lying on the bed.

In his mind's eye, he played back their last moments together. The tension, the anger, the hurt. But also, somehow, a glimmer of hope. A spark of something more. He knew he had to find a way to reach her again, to make things right, to let her know how deeply he regretted his past mistakes and how fiercely he loved her now.

He wished he could take back the words that tore them apart, but it was too late for that. Regret was a bitter pill to swallow, but he knew he had to swallow it and move forward. There was no time to mull over self-loathing.