Page 51 of Protect my Heart
“Aarav...” Aditi’s voice wobbles. She's crying—and Aditi never cries. Not like this, at least. My pulse thunders in my ears. Whatever it is, it’s bad. Really bad.
“Aditi, please,” I choke out. “Just tell me what’s going on. Is Anika hurt?” There’s a pause, a heavy, suffocating silence on the line.
"There was an... attack on her," she finally manages. My mind goes blank. Attack? What kind of attack?
"Acid attack, Aarav," she whispers, and her voice breaks completely. For a second, everything inside me just... stops. I can’t breathe. I can’t think. Acid attack. Those words don’t even make sense—they’re too monstrous, too horrifying to be real. A wave of nausea rolls through me. Anger, fear, helplessness—it's all there, crashing down on me so fast I can barely hold it together.
I somehow find my voice back. It's broken and low, but still there. “Where are you?”
She gives me the name of the hospital, and the call ends. I don't waste a second. I bark at the driver to drive fast, weaving through traffic like a madman. Every red light, every slow car feels like a personal insult. My fists clench and unclench at my sides. I can't sit still. I can't think of anything but Anika. Her smile. Her laugh. Her stubbornness. The way she used to pull myhair when she got mad at me. I can't lose her. I won't. I just got her. By the time we screech to a stop outside the hospital, I’m already out of the car, sprinting towards the entrance.
"Anika Malhotra," I tell the receptionist, barely keeping my voice steady. The panic on my face must be obvious because she quickly points me to a room number. I take off down the hall, my shoes pounding against the floors. It feels like forever before I reach her room. I don’t even knock. I just barge in.
The sight inside almost knocks the air out of me. Anika’s lying on the bed, looking so small, so fragile. Aditi is sitting beside her, but she jumps up the second she sees me.
“Her left leg took most of the acid. A little on her hand too,” she says quickly, her voice tight. “The doctors gave her painkillers. She won’t be able to walk properly for a while.”
But I barely hear her. My eyes are locked on Anika. Watching her chest rise and fall. Making sure she's breathing. “And it’s going to scar, Aarav,” Aditi adds in a whisper, tears gathering in her eyes. “She’s very scared.”
She gives me a sad look and slips out of the room, closing the door softly behind her. I walk slowly to the bed and sit down beside Anika, my heart in my throat. I reach out and take her hand gently in mine, my thumb brushing lightly over her knuckles. She feels so delicate, like she might shatter if I’m not careful. Her eyes flutter open. The moment she sees me, she flinches, pulling her hand away.
"Shh, shh," I say quickly, scooting closer. "It’s me, Anika."
I take her hand again, not letting her pull away this time. Recognition flickers in her wide, frightened eyes. She blinks rapidly, her breath catching. And then, suddenly, she throws her arms around me, burying her face in my chest. I hold her tight,feeling her tremble against me. "It’s okay," I murmur against her hair, stroking her head gently. "You’re safe. I’m here. I’m not going anywhere."
She clutches at the back of my shirt like a lifeline, gasping for breath. I press a kiss to the top of her head, guilt eating me alive. I should’ve been there. I should’ve protected her. I pull back slightly, tilting her chin up so I can see her face. Her eyes are wet with unshed tears.
“Would you tell me what happened?” I ask softly. "Please, Anika. No lies this time. Don’t leave anything out. I need to know." She hesitates, her gaze darting away. Her whole body is tense.
"Grab my phone," she whispers.
I frown but do as she says, handing it to her carefully. She scrolls with shaking fingers, and when she finally hands it back, my blood turns to ice. Threatening messages. So many of them. Each one is worse than the last.
I look from the screen to her, my chest burning with anger. "Why didn’t you tell me, Anu?" I ask, my voice cracking.
Her head snaps up, her eyes wide with shock. "What did you call me?" she whispers.
I shrug, trying to keep my voice casual, even though my heart is breaking. "Don’t look so surprised. You were, are, and always will be Anu for me."
She stares at me like she’s seeing me for the first time. For a second, neither of us says anything. "You can’t keep avoiding this forever, Anika," I say gently.
After what feels like an eternity, she finally speaks, her voice barely above a whisper, "I didn’t want to cause you trouble." My heart twists painfully.
"Anu," I say, squeezing her hand, "you are never trouble. You’re my wife. And before that, you were my best friend. We promised, remember? That we’d face everything together." Tears pool in her eyes, and she looks away.
"I’m not your best friend anymore, Aarav," she says bitterly. "We’ve grown up. We don’t even know each other now. Everything’s changed. And—and I’ve caused you so much pain. Even if I didn’t mean to... it was because of my mother, which means it was because of me. You don’t owe me anything, Aarav. You don’t even have to be here. You should hate me. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry."
The frustration, the helplessness—it's too much. "Shut up," I snap without thinking. She flinches, eyes wide in shock. "Why don’t you get it, you idiot?" I let out a long, shaky breath, trying to calm the storm raging inside me. "Can you change what happened?" She stares at me, dazed, and shakes her head. "So why are you punishing yourself for it?" I ask, my voice soft but firm.
I cup her hand between both of mine, trying to anchor her, trying to anchor myself. "And you're right," I continue, my voice gentler now. "We don’t know each other anymore. Not the way we used to. But so what? We have time now, Anika. Let’s not waste it crying over the past. I meant it when I said I want to get to know you again."
I lean closer, our foreheads almost touching. "So please, Anika. Forgive yourself. Move on. Stop pretending you’re annoyed by me when you’re clearly not. Talk to me. Drive me crazy with your endless talking like you used to. Please."
She takes a shaky breath, her eyes searching mine. Vulnerability shines in them. "But what if... what if I’m not the person you need me to be anymore?" she whispers, her words broken.
I let out a soft laugh. "Are you serious right now? I survived teenage Anika; I’m pretty sure I can survive grown-up Anika too," I tease, bumping her shoulder lightly. She gasps and swats at me weakly. It’s the smallest, tiniest spark of the old her—and it’s everything.
"Now, you should rest," I say, smoothing the hair back from her face.
