Chapter 9

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Vansh was still asleep in the effects of the medicines when Riddhima walked into the room.

She quietly sat on the chair and took out her notepad.

She quickly revised the previous notes and made the column for the new one. She wrote his name and then all the symptoms, his red eyes, nature, quick reaction, his unaffectiveness to the climate, everything. She was busy scribbling details when her eyes felt on his wounds, she noticed one at the salon but he has more of it she knew.

His head was bruised slightly and there was cut at his neck , his hands were swollen mostly due to the cold but it looked more liked crushed under something . She shook off her thoughts and noted the time of the last medicines. She held his wrist to check the pulse when he suddenly woke up throwing her hand away.

She looked at him in surprise,

"Sorry ,I .......... I was just checking the pulse."

He looked at her and then slowly calmed his breath .

"O...k...",he wispered and streched out his hand to her.

She held it slowly hoping not to be jerked off again . She noted down his pulse and then proceeded to the B.P.

"Good.....it's normal now.",she forced a smile at him.

He nodded and uncovered the blanket from himself. He got seated and entalgeled his fist into one another escaping her sight.

Riddhima looked at him, she could easily read his anxiety from his non blinking eyes. He was struggling with fist and sweat still dripping off his forehead in this cold.

Riddhima got up and sat on the bed helding his fist.

"You have wounds , don't make it more severe.",

She kept the notepad and untangled his fist , he looked at her .

She backed a little sensing how close she was sitting to him.

There was silence in the room, she was looking at him and he at the leaves fluttering in the wind outside.

"Did you remembered when you came here?"

He looked at her the water in his eyes reflected how he didn't wanted this topic to come up.

"One week ..."

Riddhima nodded this was his first proper reply.

She stood up and sat on the chair and noted it.

Vansh looked at her hand as she lengthen her notes a bit more.

"Can I ask you more.....if...if you are comfortable."

Vansh nodded slowly and stood up from the bed.

"What's your age?",

Vansh looked at her.

Riddhima was busy in the notes.

"Twenty six probably....".

Riddhima noted it down. Vansh strolled around the room slowly and sat again on the bed in front of Riddhima.

"Ok..... So finally , Why are you here I mean in Shimla".

There was no answer , Riddhima looked up at Vansh who had a blank expression on his face.

Riddhima sensed that she was too quick to put up the question.

"I .....I mean...."

"I am a criminal...", Vansh looked at Riddhima,"I am not a good person."

Riddhima's expression changes into bewildered.

Vansh forced a smile.

"You all should have left me to death."

Riddhima was blank .

How to react to such an unexpected answer she became uneasy and stood up slowly. Her anxiety grew , "criminal" was the word.

Vansh noticed how the lady whose eyes had only care just drowned into fear.

"Criminal...",Pihu shouted standing at the door.

She ran to Riddhima.

"This ...this ..... Mr. Unknown is a criminal ..",Vansh was still.

"Riddhima .........", Riddhima came out of her thoughts and looked at Pihu.

Her heart was  drowning not in fear but in guilt. If he is a wrong person then why she never felt it. How can she be so wrong in her judgement. When every situation was conspiring against him , she choosed him........................... always.

How can he break her trust. Ok, she had expectations but this was a simple one, an unknown trust. A tear ran down her eyes , She would never be able to trust anyone, never.

She looked at him ................ But still her heart was against her, his eyes has tears , what if there is something more. Why was she not able to accept what he just said.  She closed her eyes in frustration.

Ok.......................... Fine , she took a deep breath ,

Can he be wrong? She asked to her heart .

"No", there was a simple reply, what so quickly,

quieting her fearful mind , she walked up to Vansh.

" Criminal ............. ",she wispered tears blocking her words , he  turned away to escape her eyes.

"But I know eyes don't lie....",

Vansh turned to Riddhima is she serious.

" Criminal are those who don't care about there sin, who cry over are just in guilt...".

A tear felled down his eye. She was weakening his belief.

"I believe you... "

Riddhima words were blank but her eyes spoke that how much she wanted her trust to survive.

Vansh wiped his tear and turned to the window.

"Guilt......or sin , I should be punished for it......".

" you have already suffered  .....", She said holding her heart.

No, he didn't wanted this , Never. When everyone said he was wrong why is she not saying it, his mind was disturbed , he has been called a criminal so many times that it became his belief. She can't shake his belief , no , he won't allow her to do this.

Vansh turned and grabbed her shoulder, she shrieked in this sudden reaction.

"I am a criminal " he shouted,

"can't you understand that I am a criminal.".

His fingers gripped harder and a tear ran down her cheek.

Pihu ran and pushed him off.

"Are you in senses."Pihu turned and held Riddhima.

She looked at her shoulder and then at Vansh.

His eyes brodened , what he did just now , he hurted her , he looked at his hands . How can he hurt her. Everyone was right , he is a criminal and today he proved it. His anger changed into regret.

How can he hurt her......

"Sorry....... Riddhima.......",he looked at her hands , " I....am psycho.", He stepped back in regret.

Pihu turned in anger but Riddhima held her hand.

She walked to him slowly and  smiled,

"Don't worry I am a pshycologist."

This was never what he expected from her.

Pihu had blank expression ,"He can't stay here anymore."

Vansh downed his head.

"Vansh go and rest ."Riddhima smiled at him and then held Pihu hand and walked out of the room.

As the door closed, Pihu threw her hand off,

"No Riddhima he can't, didn't you see what he just did. He can't stay here ,he.....he is dangerous."

Riddhima caressed her shoulder which were left red after his tight grip.

"He is disturbed and we will help him",

"We won't",

"I will".

Pihu looked at Riddhima.

"I won't."

This was the first time they had a true fight and that to for a man whom neither of them knew properly.

Pihu went up to the door and banged closed it and left .

Riddhima looked as the door closed.

Pihu never denied her anything , Never. She only has always hurted her. In every decision even if Pihu was correct. She was emotional and Pihu practical , she never said but she needed Pihu , everytime , she was her strength , she is her strength.

She went to the fireplace and sat tears rolling down her eye. When she felt a hand on her shoulder she turned in joy that Pihu had returned but it was Vansh. She stood up.

"I will go...... I only create problems ..." Riddhima gave a look of disinterest and then asked him to sit.

"You are suffering because of me , you don't even know me........

.......".

"I know Pihu ...... " She looked at Vansh ,"you don't worry about her."

Vansh was frustrated but she was like......... What made her so trustful for every person.... Or maybe for the one she never wanted to loose.

"You both just had a fight.....", He said in confusion.

"And who are you to judge it..",Pihu exclaimed standing at the door with a chocolate in her hand.

Riddhima turned and her lips curved into a smile. She ran and hugged her.

Vansh stood up.

"Ok ......... Riddhi ....... Are you in mood to crush my bones."

Riddhima released her breaking into laughter . Vansh looked at them with a smile.

"So this Mr. Unknown knows to smile also........ Good......."

Riddhima looked at Vansh . Pihu approched him .

"You ...... firstly we don't have fights and secondly If you tried to harm Riddhi I.....I.... Will kick you out of this house ...... Understand."

Vansh nodded.

"Better."

Riddhima came and held her.

"Vansh don't mind her she is like this only......"

"What like this...... You...... Mr. Unknown..... I may look weak but I know every karate move I, have watched karate kid 16 times so don't....you ...dare.."

Riddhima sighed at her drama and Vansh nodded at the "dangerous" warning.

"I was thinking tommorow we will go to high point...." Riddhima interupted.

"Good , I am ok ." Pihu exclaimed biting the chocolate as she walked to the kitchen.

Riddhima looked at her "Drama........".

Vansh stood there still smiling.

"So ...........  You didn't answered Mr. Unknown , you know smiling....".

She asked smirking.

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