Chapter 19( Intelligent)
Priyank gazed upon Priya’s unconscious body, her delicate form cradled in his arms as he swiftly carried her to the built-in cupboard in his bathroom. Gently laying her down on the slab, he retrieved his hoodie from the cupboard and carefully dressed her, tenderly tending to the injuries he had inadvertently caused.
“These wounds will heal,” he thought to himself, “I won’t let them mark her skin permanently. They may look beautiful now, but I want her to bear only my marks, not these ugly injuries. She’s an epitome of beauty, even in this state.”
After attending to Priya, he changed into his night suit, opting for a black hoodie and pyjamas. However, the red hoodie suited him so well, especially with her in his arms.
Emerging from the bathroom, he settled her on the bed and sat beside her, captivated by her flushed face. Her lips, despite being injured, held an alluring quality that he found irresistible. He leaned in, lightly tasting the lingering hint of blood, finding it strangely sweet against her lips. The sensation left him stirred, a desire to kiss her rising within him, though he resisted, knowing it wasn’t appropriate given her condition.
As the door creaked open, he quickly withdrew, turning to find his mother and the family doctor entering the room. “Come and check on her,” he instructed the doctor, relieved that it was the familiar female doctor attending to Priya.
The doctor, Misha, began tending to Priya’s injuries, including stitching a few cuts on her head. Concerned, Priyank questioned her, “Why are you stitching her?”
“These cuts are deep and need to be stitched to prevent further bleeding,” Misha explained.
“Be gentle,” Priyank urged, aware of Priya’s pain.
His mother interjected, “You were not gentle with her, and now you’re asking for gentleness?”
Taking a deep breath, Priyank responded, “You know she’s mine, and I can’t bear the thought of her leaving or getting close to anyone else. I had to make her understand that.”
His mother, shocked by his words, realised the depth of his obsession with Priya.Upstodatee from Novel(D)ra/m/a.O(r)g
Misha, too, was taken aback, having never seen this side of Priyank , who typically avoided interactions with women. She found it unsettling to hear him speak so possessively about Priya, the innocent girl now lying injured in his room.
After tending to Priya’s wounds, Misha advised, “She needs an antibiotic injection for her injured feet. It’s necessary for her recovery. Keep her away from water”
Priyank nodded in agreement, understanding the importance of the injection for Priya’s well-being.
Once Misha had finished, she took her leave, accompanied by Priyank ‘s mother.
Downstairs, she expressed her concern to Priyank ‘s mother,” What is happening, Aunty?”
Priyank ‘s mother could only shake her head, equally perplexed by her son’s intense feelings for the girl, “Only if I can explain”,
Misha responded to Priyank ‘s mother, “How can you say that, Aunty? Did you not see her injuries? Her face, her feet, her entire body-none of it looked good. And his behaviour towards her, touching her when he despises physical contact with women? He’s behaving like a madman, more like a psychopath.”
Priyank ‘s mother defended her son, “Don’t speak of him that way. I know he’s losing control, but there’s nothing we can do. That girl has to deal with him.”
Misha, with a puzzled expression, said, “I can’t comprehend what you’re saying, but her injuries are severe, and she needs help. I have urgent work. I’m leaving, but I’ll be thinking of a way to help her. If this continues, she won’t survive.”
With those words, Misha departed, leaving Priyank ‘s mother feeling guilty and helpless. She wanted her son to find love, but seeing him torment such a sweet, innocent girl left her conflicted.
In the room, Priyank continued to gaze at Priya, who lay unconscious. He felt no guilt, believing she deserved this for trying to leave him and provoking his temper.
As Priya stirred, he called out, “Angel.”
Struggling to open her eyes due to a pounding headache, Priya eventually managed to do so. In her dazed state, she murmured, “I’m in heaven, away from that devil. I must be a good girl. But that devil should go to hell.”
Priyank , taken aback, felt a pang of jealousy even in her imagined heaven.
“Shut up,” he snapped.
Priya, shocked, exclaimed, “How can you bring this devil to heaven? Why aren’t you dead? How can you be here?”
“Can you just be quiet for once?” Priyank retorted wearily.
Priya, undeterred, replied, “I should be able to speak in heaven and complain to God, but you’re still acting like the boss.”
Frustrated, Priyank said, “You’re trying to get away from me, but we’re both alive. Look around, you’re in my house, in my room, on my bed.”
Realising where she was, Priya felt foolish for thinking she had escaped. “I’m not in heaven. What’s happening? I thought I was dead, but I’m alive. Why didn’t God take me to heaven? I’m always a good girl. Why am I sad now?”
“You’re not dying, and even if you were, I’d be with you. If I’m not allowed in heaven, I’ll take you to hell with me. You can’t die without me,” Priyank declared, his possessiveness evident. “So forget your dreams and start thinking about our future together.”
Priya gazed at him with her large, bewildered eyes, exclaiming, “Why must I only think about you when I possess a mind that can entertain any thought I desire? My eyes should behold whatever I wish to see as well.”
Priyank felt like tearing his hair out upon hearing her. She was something he couldn’t tolerate, yet he couldn’t bring himself to leave her.
Priya then attempted to make sense of it all and declared loudly, “I’m in hell with you. Now witness how clever I am. But why am I in hell? I’ve always been a good girl, so what could have caused God to send me here? I’m such a good girl, yet here I am in hell with you. He’s so bad, so he deserves it, but what about me? Is it because I never ate my food like an obedient child that I ended up here?”
Before Priya could say anything more, Priyank ‘s mom entered the room and asked her, “How are you, dear?”
Priya looked at her, made an oval face, and then said, “You’re here too? Auntie, are we all dead? What are you doing in hell? I know you did wrong by supporting your son, but that doesn’t mean we’re all so bad that we belong in hell.”
Priyank ‘s mom was shocked to hear her and asked, “Did you injure your head? Priyank , look at what you’ve done. She’s speaking like this; we need to take her to the doctor.”
Priyank sighed and calmly replied, “Mom, please remain calm. Nothing happened. I didn’t do anything to make her this way. She’s always been like this. Don’t take her seriously; if you do, you’ll surely lose your mind too.”
Priyank ‘s mom now understood what he was trying to convey and calmly said, “Dear, we’re all alive, and you’re in our house, in Priyank ‘s room.”
Priya now understood and looked around to figure out where she was and, without thinking, as she always did, said, “This is no less than hell too.”
Priyank ‘s mom chuckled upon hearing Priya. “I don’t think it’s that bad, at least not as bad as hell, even if it is bad.”
“I can’t say how hell is, as I’ve never been there, but I’m here, so it’s bad,”Priya plainly stated.
“Haha!!! Hahaha!!”,
Priyank ‘s mom couldn’t contain her laughter at the way Priya was speaking and spilling things without fear. She couldn’t believe that anyone could be so innocent as to speak so directly in front of her son, who was calmly observing her childish ways without doing or saying anything, just watching her with his warm eyes.
Warmth that he never showed to anyone else, not even his mother.
Priyank asked his mom, “You haven’t slept yet? It’s not good for you to stay awake this long.”
“I tried to sleep, but I couldn’t, knowing that Priya is in so much pain. I just can’t sleep it off,”His mom replied.
“You don’t have to worry; I’m here with her,” Priyank answered confidently.
Before his mom could reply, Priya interjected, “She’s scared because of that only. With you, I’m not safe at all. How can you not see that?”
Priyank ‘s mom wanted to laugh at this, as Priya knew how to respond with her sweet, innocent voice, but her response was too savage and accurate to take lightly.
Priyank ‘s expression was the most shocking thing to see at that moment. He couldn’t believe how outspoken she was, freely saying these things without fear, despite everything he had done, which would scare anyone to the core. Yet here she was, completely unfazed, no matter what had happened.
This showed that she was perfectly fine speaking or behaving however she wanted with him. There was a kind of bravery in her that he despised when someone displayed it in front of him. Here she was, fearlessly being the bravest person he had ever met.
In frustration, Priyank said, “Can you keep your mouth shut? You’re really getting on my nerves. I really don’t want to deal with your stupid questions in the middle of the night. Just keep your mouth shut; I don’t want to deal with this.”
“I’m not stupid at all. You’re the stupid one. I’m not even talking to you. Why are you saying you have to deal with me? We’re not in any company to deal with each other. You’re just a big, dangerous man with no intelligence. Learn from me; I’m intelligent. Even if I’m younger, my mind thinks correctly.”
“I think you’re intelligent, but only from the bottom. You can be at the top in intelligence from the bottom. So keep your intelligence to yourself. I don’t need it.”