009

They say time slows when things become hard and tough, Niyati now can guarantee anyone that.

She has no idea, but the waiting for the morning to come was killing her. No idea, of how he is? What happened to those men? Thus he reached the hospital on the time? God, she has so many questions but no answers.

She not even has Achintya's number to call and inquire about him. How foolish of her.

Truth be told, Niyati doesn't even remember when she reached near the college campus, if anyone saw her hopping out from Achintya's jeep, missed all of her class because she stay rooted on the side of the road after he left her with "forget what happened today, take care of yourself."

All she remembered is that she flagged the rickshaw and reached home and after giving excuses of having a headache stayed in her room for the whole day.

And now the night has come and Niyati was restless, restless to know about his whereabouts. What will be happening at the Chaudharys?

Praying to the lord for the hundredth time, she folded her hands "please.. please..let him be safe and sound. I won't ask for anything else."

She has to wait for the morning, only then will get any information regarding him.

Controlling herself to not shed more tears, -she has cried in the shower, then in her bedroom too whole afternoon - she closes her eyes tightly willing the sleep to come to her.

The cream coloured suit that was special to her, now laid discarded under the bed. Niyati does not wanted to see the dots of his blood on the kurta, ever again.

__

Durga Devi thanked her family God for the hundredth time today, lightning the lamp under the alcove of the Tulsi, Rukmani, Nupur and Gayatri standing behind her.

"Jiji.. Achintya is fine now. He wasn't even in the danger-"

"I know Rukmani. My mind understand that but my heart has gotten old and get afraid easily for the children, what face would I show to Mala, she left her children under my care and I let her son die. You are aware right, that Achintya was mala's heart and soul. "

Durga Devi even shudders thinking about it.

Nupur put her arms around her grandmother, "Amma, Achintya Babu is okay now. Our blessings will always protect him, you and I we both know that. " Durga pats her hand smiling at her encouraging words. Nupur was really the perfect match for the family, she was strong and not that vulnerable, she understands the position of the family and the violence that takes place in their.

Durga must find a perfect girl like Nupur for Achintya too. Only then that boy's recklessness would be in control.

"Exactly dadi. It is not Achintya Bhai we should worry about but that man he has captured. I saw Mithilesh bhaisahab in the hall when he left with Papa and I can assure you that he has gone for the blood." Nupur looked at Gayatri's side, her husband indeed has left the house swearing and abusing at top of his voice, ready for the blood to taste.

Sighing, she follows Durga Devi and Rukmani inside. It was going to be a hard night.

The blood and gore might have become part of her life, but she still would have appreciate a life without it. But God has compensated that fault with a loving husband, caring family and lovely people.

It reminds her of the girl, the Brahmin girl, on whom her brother -in -law was crushing not long time ago-

The poor soul would die the next day if she saw what Nupur has seen in all these years.

__

"The doctor said the wound was deep, and it was a blessing that Achintya reached the hospital in time for them to stitch it. Otherwise—"

"Bhaisahab, what hasn’t happened is not worth mentioning. What matters is, I’m here, safe and sound. Nothing else matters," Achintya drawls. Lying on the hospital bed, surrounded by his family, he takes a bite of the chicken leg Nupur bhabhi sent for him and chews lazily, as if nothing concerns him.

"You keep your mouth shut!" Mithilesh barks, and Achintya makes a zipping motion on his lips. "He's still joking around, Papa. If he survives this, I’ll be the one who kills him."

Achintya's eyes twinkle with mirth, chewing his dinner loudly to further provoke Mithilesh. Phoolan stops him before he can go any further. "Achintya, don't. Mithilesh, calm down."

Both of his sons obey as soon as the words leave their father’s mouth.

"Bhaiya, Kulbhushan is outside the office, pleading with the guards to let him in. I told them to keep him there for now," Lokesh informs.

At the mention of Kulbhushan, a string of colorful words pours from Mithilesh's lips. "I'm gonna kill him… wipe out his whole bloodline. No one gets to touch my brother and stays alive."

He takes a step, but Phoolan grabs his wrist. "Calm down, son. Achintya has already taken care of that. Kulbhushan’s son will never wake from his head injury. He has no son left to carry his name anymore."

"Still, Papa, I must kill him with my own two hands. How dare he show his face after everything his son planned and did?"

"I support Mithilesh, bhaiya. People seem to forget the ruthlessness of the Chaudharys. It's time to remind them," Lokesh adds, watching his elder brother deep in thought.

"Hm." Phoolan turns to Achintya. "What do you say? It was, after all, you who was attacked."

"I say we do not kill Prasad," Achintya responds. Mithilesh, about to object, falls silent, noticing the twisted expression on his brother’s face. Achintya always looks so much like their father when he gets serious. Phoolan, already nodding, seems to understand Achintya’s thoughts without hearing them.

"Then what do we do?" Lokesh asks.

"We give him his son back."

"No, absolutely not. I forbid it," Mithilesh snaps. "Return that bastard to his family? No. He will die in the basement of our godown and rot there."

"While I share your sentiment, bhaisahab, we must think strategically. We need to mold this situation in our favor," Achintya turns to Mithilesh. "We must return Abhishek. That way, the whole of Begusarai will see that death is not the worst case scenario when they go against us. Our cruelty doesn't stop with the culprit; their whole family suffers."

"It will send a clear message," Phoolan concludes.

"Prasad will see his son hanging between life and death, neither dead nor alive. Watching him suffer will be the true joy." Mithilesh is often considered the most violent one in the family, but he sometimes forgets that the same ruthlessness runs through Achintya. His brother, who says the most disturbing things with a smile, is the one the enemies should truly fear.

_

An hour later, after Phoolan and Lokesh leave, Mithilesh brings up the topic he’s been holding back. "I heard there was a girl present?"

Achintya’s expression hardens, all playfulness gone. "Yeah."

"Who was she?"

"Someone very important to me."

Mithilesh stares at him, trying to understand. His brother changes girls like he changes clothes. Achintya has never called anyone important before. Could someone have finally claimed his heart?

"I won’t ask further, because clearly you don’t want to talk about it. But Achintya, you better have chosen someone worthy of the family. Otherwise—"

"Of course, bhaisahab. Have I ever disappointed you before?" Never. But Mithilesh has always thought Achintya would be impossible to chain down. Yet, here he is.

"Is she from a good family, then?"

"Absolutely. Now, I don’t need you breathing down my neck. Go back to Laxu, Nupur bhabhi, and your dear son. I’ve seen enough of you for a day."

Mithilesh leaves but can’t shake the feeling that Achintya has made a mistake.

_

Later, in a different part of town, Niyati is bombarded with gossip about Achintya.

"He's in the ICU with an oxygen mask," one voice says.

"Yeah, he's hanging between life and death," another chimes in.

"It was 10 men."

"No, 14."

Niyati feels like her head might burst from all the noise. Even her friends Asha and Reecha are gossiping about it. Though some of the exaggerated details make her chuckle, others bring her to the brink of tears.

He wasn’t at their stop that morning. Niyati knows it’s selfish to expect him to be there after suffering such an injury, yet her heart isn’t listening. She wants to see him, badly. It’s consuming her.

Her heart knows the answer to what she’s feeling, but her brain refuses to accept it. She can’t fall for him—not without knowing what place she holds in his life. Is she just another fling, or something more?

"Which hospital is he in?" she hears herself asking.

"Lal Bahadur Shastri Hospital. It's one of the best in Begusarai."

"Are you sure?" Reecha asks.

"Definitely. My boyfriend works at the garage where they brought Achintya Babu's car for servicing," Asha says. "He told me the front seat was soaked in blood, and the servants were talking about the hospital."

The coil in her stomach tighten, her breakfast coming to her throat, Niyati left the hall for the washroom. "Niyati...you fine?"

"Oh god..she is such a weak heart person-" Asha tsk.

_

She drafts an application for leave, which Madam Suhasini, her botany teacher accepts without question, noting her pale complexion and dark circles.

Niyati looks sick. It would be better if she leave for home and  rest.

_

But as soon as Niyati arrives at the hospital, she realizes this was a terrible idea. The place is enormous—like a shopping mall with so many gates, wards, and patients. How is she supposed to find him without any information?

She’s a fool for coming here empty-handed.

Still, she gathers her courage and approaches the reception. The receptionist, a stout woman with thick glasses and red lipstick, eyes her up and down.

"I’m here to see Achintya Chaudhary," Niyati says after the two men in front of her leave.

The woman snorts. "You're not the first one to ask. Sorry, strict orders from above."

"Please! I'm his friend. You can ask him yourself. It’s urgent."

The woman looks at her again, this time with a little more sympathy. "Let me call. If he says yes, you can go up."

The receptionist dials the number for the VIP ward on the 11th floor and asks Niyati’s name.

"Niyati Mishra." The dial was put down as the receptionist turned to her. "Go wait near the waiting area..if I get the response I will call you."

She choose a seat near the old man, sitting there she crosses her fingers praying to the lord that she get to have her way inside

_

Meanwhile, Achintya was in no mood for visitors, half lying on the bed, reviewing the share market on his MacBook, his face shows boredom.

"Excuse me, sir," a nurse peeks into the room, she has already checked herself in the small mirror by the table before coming to the door "can I come in?"

The patient was a very handsome man. Even with bandage covering his shoulder and small wounds on his knuckles, he still looked majestic sitting on the bed, half laying, leaning against the headboard, his skin ivory, and messy hair covering his forehead.

Infact not only him, but his family and friends all has that incredible charm that attracts everyone attention on them. The man that left the cabin few minutes ago also looked like the regal film star.

"Yeah?" Achintya enquires, he was busy looking at the share market on his MacBook. If it was on him, he would be at home, in the comfort of his family but the stupid doctor told his father to let him stay here for another day under observation.

And what he could do, if Phoolan Chaudhary say something, Achintya will have to follow it.

The nurse almost forget what she came here for, the piercing gaze now fixed on her with the expression of utmost boredom.

Someone chuckled, face red in mortification the nurse closes her eye, willing herself to not embarrass herself further more.

"Achintya, stop intimidating everyone," his friend Mayank jokes.  He was thinner on the average side, hair tied behind him in a man bun and a easy smile on his lips. "You have done a great job on that since the morning."

"Oh, fuck off, Mayank. I don't need your advice," Achintya rolls his eyes at his friend's sly smile.

That fucker knows he hasn't been in a good mood since morning. First, because he didn't get to leave this damn place, then his dearest brother Vijay paid him a visit, and now the stock market is going down the drain.

"Sure, sure." Mayank turns to the nurse who stood frozen in the doorway, "What brings you here, ma'am?"

The nurse opened her mouth, only to close it again. Oh no, she forgot the name of the visitor. "Oh... someone requested a visit—"

"No." The command was barked at her, and knowing there was nothing more she could do, she closed the door behind her.

Mayank sat down on the sofa, taking a bite of his apple while watching his friend. He and Achintya go way back. Their families were well-acquainted with one another, they both went to the same college, were batchmates, and very good friends.

And so he knew Achintya better than Achintya would ever admit. He could tell that his friend’s agitation and anger were due to something more than the reasons Achintya had already mentioned.

"Why are you sulking?"

Achintya didn’t say anything, too focused on his screen.

"Hey, I'm talking to you—"

"Maybe it would be better if you didn't."

"Oh, okay. Sure. But first answer my question: why are you sulking this much?"

He finally looked at Mayank, eyeing him for a second before sighing and sliding his MacBook away. Covering his eyes with his forearm, he laid down on the pillow.

How could he tell Mayank that he was sulking because he didn’t get to see his favorite person? That his morning felt dull without her presence.

"Mind your own business." Mayank knew a lost cause when he saw one, and right now, Achintya was being one. The friend of his who was always remains composed, today had shown more emotion than he had all year.

Just as Mayank was about to speak again, the door opened. The timid nurse peeked in again, looking flustered and embarrassed, her eyes on the man lying on the bed who hadn’t moved an inch. "I'm so sorry, but... there's a visitor—"

"Was I not clear the first time I said no? Do I have to repeat myself?" Mayank shook his head, pitying the poor nurse. If she didn’t leave soon, Achintya’s words would tear her apart.

"I'm sorry, sir, but the visitor is very insistent. She said it is urgent to see you."

Achintya frowned. Which of his past mistakes had come knocking now? He really didn’t want to see anyone except for the one person he knew he couldn’t see right now.

Fuck.

"What's her name?" Mayank inquired, trying to save the nurse from more of Achintya’s wrath.

"Niyati Mishra, sir."

Achintya’s ears must have been deceiving him. It couldn’t be possible. "Come again..."

"Niyati Mishra."

Before he could blink, Achintya’s infamous smirk lit up his face, his sour mood suddenly gone.

Who the fuck is this Niyati Mishra?

_

He shouldn’t have come here.

Watching that bastard's smirking face, lying in bed with bandages around his shoulder and tubes connecting to his veins, yet Achintya still found the energy to taunt him.

If it were up to Vijay, he wouldn’t even attend Achintya's funeral, but his father—his caring, family-loving father—kept pressuring him to visit the hospital.

As if Achintya is on his deathbed. Vijay thought, though the idea of meeting him on his deathbed did bring some satisfaction.

Vijay jabbed the elevator button, tapping his foot impatiently. He had gone to the bathroom to take a much-needed cigarette break after the fiasco of his meeting on the upper floor, and now he was late for his deal.

When the elevator doors opened, his eyes locked with the softest shade of brown, shining under the artificial light.

She glanced at him once and then moved to the side of the elevator. It was just the two of them. His feet were rooted to the ground as he took in her soft green coloured suit, her braided hair, her oval face, big eyes, and pouty lips.

"Are you coming or not?" Her soft voice, laced with impatience, snapped him out of his trance.

Fuck... what was he doing?

He hurriedly stepped inside the elevator, jabbing the golden "G" button. In the reflection of the elevator's mirrors, he saw her checking her watch repeatedly. Vijay, for once in his life, wished he had better communication skills just to ask her name, at least.

Lost in his thoughts, he cursed aloud when the elevator gave a dangerous jerk, his hand instinctively grabbing her wrist as she lost her balance and almost fell on him.

"Thanks," she murmured, quickly stepping forward to press the red emergency button. "I think we should use the stairs. Something’s wrong with the lift—"

She turned to him, and all he could do was nod. He had always been weak for pretty things, and her soft expression and big eyes made him weaker still.

The lift stopped, the doors opened, and just like that, she was gone, leaving an astonished Vijay behind.

Fuck... what just happened? Did he really just meet the most beautiful girl of his life and fail to even ask her name?

He hurried out of the elevator, but she was gone. He looked left and right, hoping for a glimpse of her, but there was no trace of her...

Except for the lingering scent of coconut.

_

By the time she reached the top floor, Niyati was panting. Sweat ran down her face, and her lungs burned from the effort of climbing so many stairs. Her throat was dry.

In her rush, she hadn’t checked her appearance. Now, sweating like a horse, she probably looked like a dying whale.

Oh, Lord...

Dabbing her face with the corner of her dupatta, she approached the reception desk where a nurse sat. "Excuse me, ma'am, I'm Niyati Mishra."

Niyati couldn’t understand why the nurse gave her a full-body scan, nor why she received such a sharp glare as the nurse pointed toward a door. "That room."

"Oh... thanks." Hesitation made her steps slower. Time was ticking, and soon she would need to head home. The hospital was on the other side of town from her college, and it had taken two bus changes and an auto ride to get here.

But none of that mattered at the moment. What mattered was him.

What would she say to him? Was he alone, or with his family? His family, who were so close to him, would surely be there. What should she do now?

"Are you here just to stand around?" the nurse snapped. Nodding hastily, Niyati walked toward the door.

What she will say to him ? Is he alone there or..with his family? His family, who are so closed to him, it would be foolish of her to expect none of them would be there. Oh no..what she should do now?

What happen, will happen. At the worst, she will just take a glimpse of his and run away at the full.speed. That's it.

__

Achintya slid a white t-shirt over his bandaged body, hissing at the slight pain. Knowing she isn't gonna appreciate his majestic body covered in the bandages.

When the door opened, Achintya held his breath-

She came in parts: a glimpse of the back of her hand on the door, her sandal, the netted dupatta, her wide eyes, and then her whole self. It would have been a comic scene if only it was some other time.

Because just a glimpse of her face reminded him of the wild rage that took over him—he really would have liked cutting that bastard's tongue out for even uttering that disgusting word to her. In the end, the guy got less punishment than he deserved, Achintya thought.

Niyati looked like she was seconds away from bolting out the door, but gathering her courage, she closed it behind herself silently. The room was enveloped in quiet, no one else present except the two of them, and she breathed a sigh of relief.

Her eyes scanned his body. He was sitting on the bed, wearing a loose white t-shirt, and she could see the bandages peeking from underneath, along with a cannula inserted into the back of his left hand.

"Come here..." It was as if she had been waiting for this—the confirmation to come near—and she did. She stopped beside his bed, her hands gently tracing his shoulder as tears welled up in her eyes.

"It's not as bad as it looks," he consoled her, gently wiping the tears from her cheeks as he made her sit at the edge of the bed. "Stop crying."

How could he simply demand that of her? If she could, she would have long stopped her eyes from leaking every time the thought of him came to her mind. But it was not that easy. Not at all.

Because if it were, she would have done it already. She wouldn’t have let herself cry under the cover of the blanket. She would have simply admired him in this moment.

"It's your fault," he heard her say.

"How come?" He gently traced his palm over hers, ever so delicately, slipping his fingers into the gaps of hers and simply holding her hand.

"How come? Don't you already know the answer to that? I'm crying because you—a stupid, idiot—decided to get yourself injured. Because I didn’t get to see you first thing in the morning. Because I was worried sick for you—" she hit him lightly on the arm with her free hand. It held no force behind it, yet he hissed.

Her eyes widened, and her hand froze mid-air. "Oh no... I'm sorry. I'm sorry... Oh God," she panicked, coming closer to him, patting his shoulder as if to soothe him, more flustered than the situation called for.

He let her do what she was doing, quietly enjoying the mollycoddling. It wasn’t every day that she came close to him willingly, and on her own terms.

At the first onslaught of fresh tears, he intervened—those damn tears would be his downfall. "I was joking—"

"It-is-not-funny," she gritted out. "I'm going." She hadn’t risked herself, put herself in such a situation, just so he could joke.

"Yeah... it is." He slipped his arm fully around her narrow waist and pulled her closer. Now it was better. This close, he could see the signs of damp tears on her cheeks, the mole near her nose, and her pretty eyes wide open.

She felt him lean back on the headboard of the bed—it was automated, adjusting according to his will. Her elbow supported her above his chest, and her other hand was still clasped in his. Her breath hitched, and she blinked, "Uh..." she said, very intelligently.

What was it with him always manhandling her? Her brain felt wiped clean of all thoughts as she looked into his brown eyes, at his pale skin and the messy hair on his forehead.

"Now... tell me all the reasons. I'm listening."

Tell him? The reasons? What reasons?

She wouldn’t be able to form two sentences together, and he wanted to discuss reasons. It was a blessing she even remembered her name; anything else shouldn’t be expected of her.

His palm sneaked its way from her waist to the back of her neck, and horrified—yet excited—by what he was about to do, she closed her eyes but soon felt the hardness of his chest beneath her and his face resting above her head.

He hugged her close to himself, a smile breaking out on his lips. They stayed like that for another minute, with him running his hand over her head, and her simply lying in his embrace. "Please... do not do that ever again," she said a moment later.

"I was so afraid. Afraid when... when that man stabbed you. You—" she pushed him gently, and he allowed a bit of space between them. The tears were back, her whole face contorted in such deep sadness that it pained him more than the wound in his shoulder. "It-it felt like my whole world collapsed. The whole night I kept picturing that same scene, and I didn’t want to. I wanted to see you—I just wanted to see you."

More tears fell, one after another, and she hid her face in his neck, clutching his t-shirt in a tight grip.

And yet, Achintya was smiling.

Niyati was afraid, that much was clear. He knew it and felt responsible for dragging her into a situation she was never meant to be a part of.

But his heart, his treacherous heart, was beating faster inside his chest. So fast that if not for the ribcage, it would have spilled onto the floor.

She was here, frightened and afraid and worried for him. She wasn’t scared of what she had witnessed yesterday; she didn’t even mention it. No, what concerned her most was him—his well-being.

Him getting stabbed was the nightmare that disturbed her.

Achintya was simply on cloud nine.

Until now, he had thought that his feelings couldn’t be matched by hers. They couldn't be. He had always been the one who felt things deeply. His mother’s death affected him the most out of everyone in the family. His anger was the worst in all of Begusarai. His rage ran hot—so hot it turned cold.

"Now you see me," he murmured, and she nodded.

And so it was decided—everything else could go to hell.

Niyati already owned his heart. Now, she owned his body and soul too.

____

Uff... Achintya and his thought process.乁⁠[⁠ ⁠◕⁠ ⁠ᴥ⁠ ⁠◕⁠ ⁠]⁠ㄏ

.

.

Just so to know, I do not support love at first sight at all. It is the attraction that Achintya felt first for Niyati and vice-versa.

What they felt now..is definitely more than that.

.

.

The much awaited meeting of the Vijay and Niyati happened, would very much like to know everyone's thoughts on that.

.....

Like||comments||follow