We live in a cynical world, and life isn't always fair... infact, it never was and perhaps never will be. But, still it's fairer than death... it's fairer than the dark endless abyss of hopelessness and nothingness. And hence, inspite of all odds, we still hope for life... we still hope to live, we still hope to dream!

It's been three days since the incident. Although the blow was not fatal, but for Mira it was probably one extra nail in the coffin. Her freshly recovered, weakened, fragile body was unable to cope up with another injury, and hence it resulted her being in a deep state of unconsciousness, that engulfed her for almost the next seventy two hours.
Bondita, Suresh and Koeli sat by her side all day long, with tears in their eyes and anxiety in their face, tending her wound with utmost care. And as for Anirudh... Anirudh was staggered to his core!
It was he, who had promised Mira her safety. It was he, who agreed to protect her... Then why couldn't he? Inspite of his presence, why was the girl still lying unconscious for hours?
These questions shook him to a state of immense contemplation.
Also, the fact that Mira sacrificed herself to protect the one person whom he truly loves, made him feel indebted to her beyond his conscience.
At that moment, there was nothing that he won't do for Mira... And, he ensured to put his thoughts to action.
He telegramed renowned doctors and specialist from Delhi, seeking their medical assistance. He wired money mindlessly to pharmaceuticals in exchange for their advanced medicines... In a way, he left no stones unturned to seek Mira's treatment in the best possible manner.

It was on the third evening that Suresh got an emergency call from the hospital. A government driver came to pick him up with an urgent note from the medical board.

"Suresh Da... Don't worry. I'm here. Your work is equally important." Anirudh had remarked.

After Suresh had reluctantly left for the hospital, Anirudh walked back to the guest room where Mira lay unconscious on the bed. Bondita sat beside her, wiping her arms with lukewarm water.

"The fever isn't going down." Bondita's voice was shaky.

Anirudh was silent... He hasn't conversed much with anyone for the last two days. He had been calm and composed throughout, screening everyone else from their emotional outburst.
He slowly came near the bed and rested his hand on Bondita's shoulder, making her burst out into tears.
"It was for me...." She couldn't continue as the fat tears choked her voice.

"It wasn't your fault Bondita." Anirudh replied calmly. "The person who did this... I'll find her and I'll make sure she pays for it."

Bondita looked up to face him.
There was a strange determination that made his weary face look extraordinarily severe.

Anirudh didn't pursue Kshitija after she had ran away from their banglow, as at that moment he felt it to be more important to tend to Mira than to chase the culprit. But, in his mind, he had already resolved to seek a befitting revenge for this crime.

It was late night when Anirudh re-entered Mira's room. Bondita was still seated at her place, tending Mira relentlessly. The dressing had been changed and saline was replaced.

"Bondita..." Anirudh called out softly.
"Please get up, have food and get some rest. You haven't rested for the past few days."

"So haven't you." Bondita replied as her eyes were fixated on Mira's unconscious body.

"I rested a little... Let me sit here." Anirudh came closer as he held Bondita's shoulder urging her to get up.
"I don't want you fall sick Bondita... Please!" He requested earnestly.

Bondita nodded her head silently before she left the room, as she saw Anirudh occupying her seat instead.

It was dimly lit and a air of melancholy prevailed in the room. Apart from the soft sound of Mira's troubled breathing and the slow dripping of the saline water, the room was devoid of any resonance.

Anirudh slowly took Mira's limp hand in his as he held it up, pressing it lightly to his forehead. Silent tears rolled down his eyes as he saw Mira's comatose face.

"I'm sorry Mira.." He sobbed silently. "I'm so sorry. I have failed you.."

His warm tears rolled down his jawline and fell on Mira's inert arms.
He sat there with his eyes closed for the next countless minutes, fatigue compelling him to doze off a little, before he felt a soft movement of Mira's fingers trapped in his hands. It was a sudden moment, as for a second he couldn't fathom whether it was his imagination or reality, but then he saw Mira straining her eyes to open.

"Mira!" Anirudh quickly brought his face near her to make her aware of his existence.

"Water..." She uttered faintly as Anirudh quickly grabbed the glass of water kept beside the bed and poured a few drops in her mouth.

"You were crying for me?" She asked inaudibly as Anirudh moved closer to understand her words.

"You had scared me Mira..." He replied softly.

"No one... had ever cried for me..." Mira spoke slowly.

"You are precious Mira." Anirudh smiled faintly with his tear stricken eyes looking tenderly towards her.
"I'll call Bondita at once.." Anirudh said as he tried to get up from the seat. But a soft tug held him back.
Mira had lifted her hand a little to tug at his fingers.
"Please stay a little longer. Don't leave me." She requested.

Anirudh sat down again.
"How are you feeling Mira." He asked instead.

"Better.... " She paused. " Is my baby..." Mira couldn't complete her sentence as her hand slowly moved towards her belly.

"Your baby is a fighter, just like the mother." Anirudh smiled at her.

"How could I have not fought... I had promised you!" She replied forcing a smile on her pale face.

Anirudh touched her forehead lovingly brushing her unkempt hair with his fingers.
"I'm proud of you Mira." He remarked as Mira took a deep breath closing her eyes back into a deep drowsiness.

Anirudh got up slowly. He left the room asking Koeli to replace his round.
The imminent danger was evaded for now. He took a deep breath but felt his heart getting choked with an unknown emotion. He wanted to shout... he wanted to cry out loud... He wanted.....

It was midnight when he had walked out of the guest room, climbing straight up the stairs, as he found himself standing infront of Bondita's room... It was like a reflex for him. He didn't plan to come here... But his entire being made him do so.
He walked inside the room as he saw Bondita sitting on the couch with her head rested on the mahogany centre table. Beside her lay a food plate, untouched and cold.

His head asked him not to wake her up, but his heart wanted otherwise. He wanted to hold her and bury his face in her chest and cry, and after a brief moment of self debate, Anirudh complied to his heart.

"Barrister Babu..." Bondita looked up the moment she felt his hands on her head.
"Mira... " She got up immediately as her anxious eyes searched for an answer in Anirudh's tear-striken face.

"Mira is fine. She's awake!" Anirudh replied slowly as he inched forward and wrapped Bondita's worn out body tightly in his arms.
"Bondita..." Burying his face in her shoulder, he whispered a soft sob.
"I'm so scared Bondita... So so scared."

Bondita felt Anirudh's body shaking convulsively as his silent tears dampened the exposed skin of her shoulder.

"Sshh... don't be scared." Bondita tried to comfort him. "Mira is awake you said.. she'll be good."

In reply, Bondita felt Anirudh's grip tightening around her body as he whispered again.

"What if she wouldn't have come infront of you... What if..." Anirudh's hands lightened his hold as they slowly moved forward to cup Bondita's face.
He looked into her eyes with intense emotion as he sobbed his words.

"Not for her... I'm sacred for you Bondita... I know I'm selfish... But... But I can't live without you... Not a day, not a minute, not a second."

He pegged a soft kiss on her forehead before tightening his arms around her once again.

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