Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters and places mentioned. All the places are fictional and any resemblance is a mere coincidence.
Abhijeet stumbled down the cracked sidewalk, a bleeding and nearly unconscious Daya held protectively in his arms. Daya was quite heavy because of the tall height and good built.
This was a lonely part of the city. Literally, the loneliest part of the city was here, where Abhijeet and Daya were. Abhijeet mentally cursed. It only made sense. Of course the only time they needed civilization – like a hospital or safe shelter, was when there was not any to be found.
This was a low part of the city for sure. There were no cars to be seen, nor were there any civilians striding down the narrow sidewalks other than Abhijeet and Daya. There were small buildings that had definitely seen better days, and scuttling and scratching of rats and rodents could be heard almost everywhere.
After coming along some distance, he ducked into an alley, knelt down, and gently set Daya against the side of the building. Daya coughed a bit, but other than that, the didn't move.
Abhijeet: Okay Daya… mjhe please zakaham check krny do…
Daya muttered: mai… th…theek…hun... (waving his hand, pressed Abhijeet's shoulder, but he was not strong enough to make Abhijeet let go of checking wounds, so he really didn't have a say in the matter. Abhijeet unwound his makeshift coverings and lifted Daya's shirt just enough to see the entrance wound piercing his torso).
Abhijeet sucked in a deep breath.
Abhijeet POV: abhi bhi khoon nikal raha hai… ab kiya karun…
Daya followed his gaze and chuckled hoarsely: lagta hai… haalaat… theek nai hain…
Abhijeet: tumhe lagta hai?
Abhijeet leaned Daya forward and checked the exit wound. It was the same story on either side; there was blood and lots of it.
Daya pressed his Forehead in Abhijeet's shoulder: sir… cauterize it… mai… maine… apky… pass lighter… dekha tha… use… it…
Yeah… Abhijeet could cauterize the wound, he learnt that in a training program. He could cauterize both of Daya's wounds. That would stop the bleeding… but still he did not know.
Abhijeet started: Daya…
Daya snapped: sir you… have… to do it… warna… mai aap… pr… bojh… aap… yahi… chor… jayein mjhe…
Abhijeet sighed and agreed to do it. Realizing that, despite what he would have wanted, this was the only way. Without proper supplies, means of transportation, communication devices, or a hospital, Daya would bleed out unless he cauterized the wounds.
Abhijeet took lighter and his pen knife out, took a deep breath: just relax Daya… alright…
Daya sucked in a deep breath and nodded: bs… aik dafa… warn… kr diye… ga pehly…
Abhijeet lit the lighter and heated the knife, and got to work. This was not the first time he had cauterized a wound. There had been other occasions, with other subordinates from different crime branches, but this young lad is something else. Don't know why but he can't see him in pain. Abhijeet carefully controlled the heated knife on his wound, sealing it shut in the only way they could, the only thing Daya did was grimace and clench his teeth, nothing more.
By the time both wounds had been cauterized, the bleeding coming to a halt,. Daya was slumped against the wall of the alley, eyes shut. Abhijeet removed sweat from his own face and snapped fingers in front of Daya's face.
Abhijeet: Daya… tum hosh mai ho?
Daya blinked his eyes open and released a long breath: mmmaai… th…theek… hun… th…thank you…
Thunder and lightening further disturbed the already ominous sky, and this time, it was accompanied by few raindrops that started making their appearance. Abhijeet looked up for a moment or two, and then back down the alley. Finally, his eyes returned to the wounded, exhausted Daya before him.
Abhijeet started re-tying the jacket around his torso just in case the wound started bleeding again: hum yahan nhi ruk skty… agar baarish shuru ho gai to mushkil ho jaye gi…
Storms were unforgivable this time of year. Abhijeet supported Daya by shoulders and picked him up. Daya hissed a bit, one could tell from his face that he is in pain. But relaxed after some time.
The rain was picking up again, and Abhijeet headed down the alley, looking between abandoned buildings. Without proper supplies, they were as good as goners.
Abhijeet: jald sy jald is baarish sy bahir nikalna hoga.
Daya nodded but didn't open his eyes. The rain was getting heavier, Abhijeet was growing desperate. It was cold, Daya was hurt, and there was no way they would be getting back to Mumbai any time soon… So where to go?
Abhijeet thought it over for a second, then went into the only place he knew. The first abandoned building he saw. The door was rotting, so all he had to do was kick it, and it caved in on itself, giving Abhijeet a clear entrance. He headed inside instantly, finally getting out of the cold storm.
The house was definitely abandoned but it was still in surprisingly decent condition, considering how the outside of it looked. There was a tiny kitchen crammed in with the somewhat less-tiny living room. A threadbare couch with tears and holes were placed along the far wall, beside a crumbling grandfather clock.
It was not much… but it would have to do…
The first thing Abhijeet did was head over to the couch. He carefully laid Daya down on his side, so he would not aggravate either of his wounds. Daya did not even protest to being move around, which proved how deeply asleep he was.
After making sure his coat was wrapped securely around Daya's shoulders, Abhijeet got up and started searching anything he could use as bandages or blankets. He wanted to keep Daya's wounds wrapped.
As he rummaged through a cabinet, he glanced over at the couch. Daya was ridiculously pale, and he shivered despite the coat around his shoulders.
Abhijeet thought: iss waqt Daya ko hospital ki zaroorat hai… (as dragged numerous blankets from the cabinet and grabbed the first aid kit in his hands) pata nhi yahan landline hai k nhi…
He traded out Daya's blood-stained jacket previous used to staunch the bleeding for bandages, then threw multiple blankets over him. Both officers had not come out of the storm particularly wet, but Abhijeet did not to take chances with Daya catching a cold. Their condition was bad enough as it was, so sickness would just be adding logs to the fire.
Abhijeet used the lighter to lit the lamp and wood furnace and sat down at the end of the couch Daya was sleeping on. After checking Daya's bandages one final time, just to make sure they were still in place, he leaned back, his own fatigue finally catching up with him. He leaned back and was asleep as soon as he shut his eyes.
When he woke up again, he didn't know what had woken him right away, or how much time had passed. He felt somewhat more rested than before, but still tired. Glancing at the window told him that not only was it still dark, but the storm was stronger than ever, lightening and thunder and rolling throughout the sky.
It took him a moment, but he finally remembered where he was and why he was there. He sighed heavily, as long as that storm kept up, there would be no going outside and going to Mumbai was like impossible right now for them.
This was all very unfortunate.
Abhijeet glanced over at his subordinate. Daya was now sprawled on his back, breathing hoarsely through his parted lips, the blankets Abhijeet had thrown over him earlier still wrapped around him. He seemed to be sleeping soundly, cheeks red and eyes shut –
Wait…
Cheeks red?
Abhijeet leapt up from his seat instantly and knelt by Daya, panic beginning to overwhelm him.
Abhijeet: oh no… please nhi… jesy pehly he km problems hain…
Abhijeet put his hand on his Forehead…
Abhijeet sighed…
Daya was burning up…
A/N:
Thanks to all those who read and reviewed...
The number of reviews didn't reach the target, still I'm updating next.
So next update would definitely be updated after 25 reviews.
It depends upon you guys as third chapter is also already done, even whole story is completed. I can even update daily if I get desired number of reviews.