Vaidaksh pushed the door open with his shoulder, his arms protectively cradling an unconscious Siyanshi against his chest. The moonlight filtering in through the small window cast pale silver streaks over her still face, making her look even more fragile. His breath was uneven, not from the weight he carried, but from the panic still surging through his veins. The way she had stumbled into his sight minutes ago, disheveled, trembling, barely able to keep herself upright, had carved a deep, raw fear into his heart.

He laid her down on the charpoy with a tenderness that betrayed the turmoil in his mind. For a moment, his gaze lingered on her face, so pale, so lifeless, that a dull ache spread in his chest. It took every ounce of willpower to remind himself that right now, he wasn’t just the man who loved her beyond reason. He was her doctor, and she was his patient. If he let his emotions take over, he might miss something crucial.