Chapter 16
Ranbir carelessly entered a small, dusty room - smashing the door open. Startled a domestic help came running towards the agonized lad;
āBhaiya ji, do you need anything, I ā¦ā
āKeep your f*cking ears and eyes open when I call you!!ā
āForgive me, saab had asked me not to leave his side till he gets better.ā
āNo wonder heās always reluctant to get married againā¦ā
āSorry?ā - The domestic help looked puzzled.
āShut up! Where is that piece of sh*t?!ā
āIn the adjacent room - over there..ā - He pointed out the ray of light coming from a corner. Ranbir observed the lifeless body with utter disgust as it lay on the canned bed - bandaged from head to toe and hardly holding onto his consciousness;
āSo, the doctor needed a doctor eh?ā - The injured man looked up fidgeting in fright.
āDonāt - kill me please - I - b-beg you. Iāll do any - thing to survive.ā
āAnything? Is that right?ā - Ranbir raised an eyebrow in suspicion.
āY-yes sir, anything you ask me toā¦ā
āIn that caseā¦ā - Ranbir put his pistol on the plastered leg of the injured man, āYour murder is off the table...ā
āThank you sir - Iā
āBark it all out!!!ā
āYour elder brother Jai had been tracing you since that accident by the road and sent me to bring that girl to him.ā - Ranbir glared at the latter as he knelt down with the gun in hand.
āWhat else?ā
āJai - he, along with your mother, have plans to keep the girl hostage as an easy access to you and r -ā The bruised man stopped witnessing Ranbirās detached features.
āR*pe her. Is that it?ā
āAs far - as - as I know. Jai is waiting for a response from me. Heās already out in search of her.ā
āThank you.ā - Ranbir got up assembling his gun in hand.
āWh - what exactly are you doing?ā
āYour murder was off my list only till I extricated the necessary information from you!ā
āSir please, donāt. Iāll not keep any contact with your family - I - I swear!!ā
āYou were daring enough to play a bait for that son of a b*tch and stupid enough to think that I wonāt catch you. So how can your ending be any different from the previous ones? Above all, how could you even forget that you were dealing with Jaiās brother? Who would kill you a hundred folds more ruthlessly than him?ā
āSir please -ā
āNo? Well, I have got a better ideaā¦ā - He took out the wrecked cell phone and dialed the familiar number.
āIf your call was to delay for another couple of hours; I would have skinned you there and then!!ā
āHow adorable is this telepathic connection between us.ā - There was a sudden stillness on the other end of the call, āWho - who is this?ā
āTrembling with fear already? Itās your brother from another brothel Jai. I missed putting my ears to bleed with your zombie-like voice.ā
āIt should be - you - who needs to be worried about - about his life!ā
āAre you even for real? You rather sound like you immediately pooped in your underpants just by my mere presence on call. No wonder you attacked me undercover - scared like a woman wearing heavy bangles!!ā
āWait till I get hold of you! You son of a b*tch!ā
āYour execution can wait - for now I would like you to witness something extremely heartwarming.ā
āWhat do you mean?ā
āYou wanted to skin this man alive right? You wished for it, so you got it!ā - The next moment all Jai could hear was a loud gunshot.
āYou killed him!!!ā
āI shredded him into bits the second I saw him. And if you dared coming near Prachi again - you would face the same fate!ā
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Prachi woke up with a jolt; checking the time - it was almost evening. Her eyes fell on the covered food tray placed on the bed side-table. Raghu kaka might have sent the food while I was dead asleep - she thought. As much as she felt guilty for sleeping till late - it was possibly due to the medications she was taking. However, Prachi felt considerably fresh and relaxed.
The last bit she remembered before she went into deep slumber was, Dr Agarwaal constantly reassuring her not to freak out and that sheād be visiting again. And a slight glimpse of him. With Dr Agarwaalās exit - Ranbir had left the room due to his ringing cell phone - casting an unconvinced glance at her drowsy frame - she recollected dimly.
With so much time spent in the room already - she quickly freshened up wearing an umbrella cut blue cotton kurta, soft pajamas, doing her hair in a loose ponytail, grabbed her slippers and made her way out. Though, the loud volume of television guided her downstairs towards the lounge - Prachi couldnāt find anyone there; instead she found Raghuveer in his study room, standing on a moving staircase and struggling with the apparent mess of his book-shelf.
His coat was over the nearby sofa and she could see him in a loosened trouser, tie and vest with sleeves rolled till the elbow - unlike his usual prim and proper appearance.
āTrying you sort out your favorite spot?ā - Prachi smiled.
āYes but, my efforts havenāt been so successful, kid. I apologize in advance, for keeping my back towards you. Itās just that, if I turn, I might injure my spine and endorse Ranbirās judgement of how aged and weak I have become.ā
āMind if I help?ā - She asked amusingly.
āI am so glad you asked.ā - Prachi offered him a hand to get off the moving staircase. āDue to my packed schedule; I havenāt been able to clean those shelves. Damn this dust!ā - Raghuveer brushed the particles off his head, while Prachi let out a mild laugh.
āI look funny, donāt I?ā
āNo, not at all. Itās actually hard to picture you being all slacky and casual.ā
āI hate that too. If only Ranbir had arrived on time - I wouldnāt have messed up my suit.ā
āWas he actually going to assist you?ā - Prachi asked, surprised.
āYes. Although I do have domestic help for its cleaning; however, Ranbir doesnāt allow anyone to come near it. He cleans it himself - keeping in view how important this corner is for me.ā
āWh - what else does he help you with?ā
āMy medications. Thatās another aspect heās extremely strict about. And in case I manage to skip them, heād make sure to feed me those as if I am a baby.ā
The arrogant brat, doing house chores by himself, was something impossible for her to imagine. The kind of interaction she had with him till date; gave off an impression that he would just sit on his throne imposing orders and sanctions on the poor. Throne - thatās not so bad to think of him in that domain. Even in a casual outfit; he surely looks majestic - Prachi smiled to herself.
āDonāt worry kaka, I will rearrange this for you.ā
āYou would?ā - Raghuveer beamed.
āWith pleasure. In fact, I do it for Maa, at home - all the time.ā
āNo wonder, you have domesticated skills enriched in your blood!ā - The audience turned to find a familiar yet miffed figure, by the door.
āYou should be thankful. She offered me to help while you were away.ā
āIn that case, I have a better idea. Why donāt you call one of our domestic help who went on leave for his marriage; to come back and get hooked with this stunning lady instead? Like that, you wonāt have one but two cleaners at your disposal.ā - Without acknowledging the bruised young woman, Ranbir made his way upstairs.
āI am so, so sorry Prachi. Ranbir behaves like that when he -ā
āIāll just check on him.ā - She mumbled unevenly.
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Prachi lightly tapped on the half open door - when an ongoing telephonic conversation frightened her;
āWhen I had told you to keep an eye on that b***ar* then how the f*ck is that spineless creature on the loose?!! - I donāt care Aman! Next time If I even got a text from that, Iāll come and shoot you first!!ā - Ranbir flipped the phone on the bed. āYou can come in if you are done making notes.ā - Taken aback, Prachi entered, āDidnāt you previously attack me for overhearing conversations. Guess your double standards know no bounds!ā
āWell, you are so soft spoken that my intuitive sense already knew what you were talking about.ā - Ranbir looked up at once and instead of a classic comeback - he exhibited a combination of annoyance and embarrassment on his face, to which she chuckled.
āGo to hell!ā
āReally? What if I donāt?ā
āThen I will have to drag you out!!ā
āI have experienced that at your hands; countless times. So, definitely not - come up with something different.ā - Before she could sit, Prachi tripped on the rug; when he caught hold of her.
āYour walking balance is the same since the day you deliberately fell on me, in the corridors. Watch your steps before delivering these phenomenal comebacks.ā
āAt least you like something about me. Thank God!ā
āYou have no f*cking idea; what parts of you, I like the most.ā - Ranbir whispered, with a sly smile.
He was better off being rude and ill-tempered with me. Trying to hide a tint of redness on her face, Prachi moved away from his grip and seated at a distance - while the lad acknowledged her actions with amusement.
āUm so, brother trouble?ā - His face immediately darkened, as he registered her question. āIām sorry, I didnāt mean to step into your boundaries I -ā
āYou already have.ā - He mumbled, occupying the space opposite to her - glaring away.
Awkward silence filled the room and once again his emotions were locked inside of him. Prachi had been unsuccessful in developing a friendly bond with Ranbir - in fact she had been trying for nothing. And while his consuming urges to minimize physical proximity with her were deliberately kept out of control; it was safe for her to assume that he truly wanted to drag her in bed with no sentiments involved. Perhaps, if someday she completely lost her mind over him - sheād put her naked-self on display just to earn a corner in his heart and her mother could conveniently count her dead for good.
Disheartened, she stood up to leave.
āI have not asked you to get out - especially, when Iām not done.ā
āYou can finish your share of casting death glances and brushing off your sadistic comments on me tomorrow. I am not dying anytime soon - neither are you.ā - Prachi reached for the door knob, when he held her hand - swiftly turning her body to face him.
āYou will have to listen to me as part of my last wish.ā - Ranbir retorted.
āMaybe you should save it for someone else.ā
āSit down, now.ā - The assertiveness in his tone, left no room for her to argue. Letting out a sigh, she sat beside him.
āThough it wonāt make a difference but, -ā
āIt would! Next!ā
āJai is my half brother and Divya my step mother. Whatever you saw that day was - was their plan to reach out to me. The man who came here for your check up was disguised as a doctor.ā
āKaka told me bits of it.ā - Ranbir looked at her with a questioning gaze. āDonāt worry he knows well that you donāt trust me.ā
āItās not about trust. Itās about you being so stupid to get involved in something as severe as this!ā
āReally? Then why didnāt you leave me unconscious at the roadside that day?!
āBecause, Jai would have f*cked even your corpses to reach me!!! Donāt you have any freaking brains to understand this!!!ā
āWhat I donāt understand is that, why does it matter to you what happens to me! Whether you brother f*cks me to death or strips me in public!!!!ā - In the fraction of a second, Prachi found her hair locks tightened in his fist and his blazing gaze on her.
āThe same reason why you want to be around me, even though I am exhausted, humiliating you, all the time!!! But, seemingly enough you do not possess a single grain of dignity within you, to just lay off my back!!ā
Prachi could feel her eyes being clouded by hot tears, streaming down her cheeks, that she shut her eyes. Ranbir, slowly loosened his grip; yet to his surprise this time - not his words but, her existing injury moved her to tears. Horrified Ranbir observed her hand which was crushed under his thigh and blood had oozed out of the drip inserted on the top of her hand.
āPrachi⦠I didnāt mean to -ā
āI hope youāre happy to inflict on me! You frigging -ā - Ranbir was quick to grab a handful of tissues and cologne.
The entire process caused her to squirm. He could never be a human - and while cursing him under breath continued like chanting of Godās love; a sudden tingling sensation crawling over her skin forced her to open her eyes - wide open. With his blazing gaze fixed on her, his lips closely blew and kissed her wound in a repeated yet delicate fashion. Paying no heed to her constant fidgeting - he was rather driven by his ongoing activity - gently sucking the last bit of her flesh.
āPrachi!!ā - With a familiar voice echoing outside, Prachi hurriedly got up.
āKaka - he - heās calling me.ā - Completely unfazed by the chaos, Ranbir got up from his spot with her hand still in his grip and pulled her closer.
While Prachi looked away - reddened with embarrassment - the bratās eyes fell on her tied hair. Without a second thought he yanked open the locks of her fragrant hair which carelessly fell on her shoulders.
āRanbir! Give it back! Iāll -ā - In response he casually trailed his thumb from her silky strands to her bruised collarbone - sending shivers.
āYou wanted me to try something new isnāt it?ā
āI was jokingā¦ā
āBut, I donāt. Next time, I found you fidgeting on my touch - youāll have your lip gloss ruined in the worst possible manner!ā
"You would not dare to!"
"The more you warn me; the more I gain the motivation to cross all barriers with you!"
"We'll see about that!!!"
"Go ahead and challenge me, if at all, you have easily forgotten as to how close I was to stripe you off, in the afternoon!"
"I can't believe you just said that. Weren't you apologetic for your actions?"
"Weren't you enjoying my actions?" - Prachi stood blank.
"You're disgusting!"
"And you're irresistible!"
"No, it's you who is desperate! So, desperate that you won't let go off my broken hair band!"
"In the same way, in which you were desperate to sleep with my jacket!!"
Prachi stopped midway observing the devil in human form. The man who would loose his cool at the thought of anyone hurting her, enjoyed humiliating and messing with her. One second he'd pull off his sensitivity weakening her to her knees and in the next second he'd overpower her with his constant dominance.
Perhaps Neha was right about his aura - Ranbir was nothing but an enigma...
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