In the shadows of fate

**Episode 13: In the Shadows of Fate**

Armaan slowly regained consciousness, his surroundings unfamiliar. The faint beeping of machines echoed in his ears as he blinked through the haze. The sterile smell of antiseptic filled his nostrils, and when he looked down, he saw the bandages wrapped around his torso. He was in a hospital bed.

His body ached, and he could feel the dull throb of pain from his side where the bullet had grazed him. He tried to sit up, but the effort was too much, and he collapsed back onto the pillows.

"Take it easy," a voice said softly.

Armaan turned his head, and there, sitting beside him, was Rudra. His usual calm, unshakable demeanor was gone. In its place was a look of worry and exhaustion.

"Rudra…" Armaan’s voice was weak, barely above a whisper.

Rudra immediately leaned closer, his hand reaching out to gently brush Armaan's hair from his forehead. "You're awake. Thank God."

Armaan could see the relief in Rudra's eyes, but beneath it was a flicker of guilt. "What happened? How long have I been here?"

"A couple of days," Rudra replied quietly. "You lost a lot of blood, but the doctors say you'll make a full recovery."

Armaan’s mind raced, trying to piece together the events that led him here. He remembered the gunfight, the masked men, the feeling of panic… and then, darkness.

"I’m sorry," Rudra said, his voice filled with remorse. "This is all my fault. I never should have involved you in my world."

Armaan shook his head weakly. "It’s not your fault, Rudra. You saved my life."

Rudra looked away, his jaw clenched. "I brought this danger to you. You’re hurt because of me."

Armaan’s hand reached out, gently gripping Rudra’s arm. "I chose to stay with you. I knew the risks."

For a long moment, neither of them spoke. The weight of the situation hung heavy between them. Armaan could see the internal battle Rudra was fighting, the war between his feelings and the reality of the danger surrounding them.

Finally, Rudra broke the silence. "I’ve made arrangements to keep you safe, Armaan. Once you’re healed, I’m going to take you somewhere far away from all this. Somewhere they can’t find you."

Armaan’s heart sank at the words. "And what about you?"

Rudra’s gaze was intense, filled with a determination that both comforted and frightened Armaan. "I’ll take care of things on my own. I won’t let them hurt you again."

The thought of being separated from Rudra filled Armaan with dread. Despite everything, he couldn’t imagine being away from him now. "I don’t want to go without you."

Rudra’s expression softened, and he cupped Armaan’s face in his hands, his thumb gently tracing his cheek. "You don’t understand how dangerous this is. I can’t let you stay in harm’s way."

Tears pricked at the corners of Armaan’s eyes. "But I’m already in this with you, Rudra. We’re in this together."

Rudra’s grip tightened for a moment before he sighed, lowering his head. "You don’t know how much it means to hear that… but I can’t lose you, Armaan."

Armaan swallowed, his throat dry. "You won’t lose me. Not if we face this together."

The intensity of the moment was interrupted by a knock at the door. Aarav stepped into the room, his usual easygoing smile absent. His face was grim, his eyes darting between Rudra and Armaan.

"How is he?" Aarav asked, his voice low.

"Stable," Rudra replied, not taking his eyes off Armaan. "But we need to get moving soon."

Aarav nodded in agreement. "I’ve been keeping an eye out. The men who attacked us haven’t given up. It’s only a matter of time before they find us here."

Armaan’s pulse quickened, the reality of the situation sinking in. He was still in danger. They all were.

Rudra stood, his expression hardening. "We need to leave the city. I have a place we can go, but we have to act fast."

Armaan tried to sit up again, ignoring the sharp pain that shot through him. "I’m coming with you."

Rudra hesitated, his protective instincts warring with his feelings. "You’re still injured—"

"I don’t care," Armaan interrupted, his voice stronger now. "I’m not going to hide away while you face this alone. I’m coming with you."

Rudra’s jaw clenched, but after a moment, he nodded. "Alright. But we move carefully. No risks."

Aarav moved to the door, checking the hallway. "I’ll get the car ready. We should be gone before anyone realizes."

As Aarav left to make the preparations, Rudra helped Armaan out of the hospital bed, supporting his weight as he stood on shaky legs. The pain was still there, but Armaan pushed through it. He had to. There was no turning back now.

Together, they walked out of the room, the looming threat of danger hanging over them like a dark cloud. But as long as they were together, Armaan felt like they could face anything.

As they made their way to the exit, Rudra leaned in close, his voice low but filled with promise. "I won’t let anyone hurt you again. I swear it."

Armaan nodded, holding onto that promise, even as they stepped into the unknown.

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