Chapter 10: Chapter 10

*Satish Pov*

We both stared at the closed door for a few seconds before turning to stare at each other. He just shook his head when I opened my mouth before getting up and walked towards the kitchen.

“I need to know the reason, Mr. David. Something must have happened for you to behave like this.” I commented following him while he opened the cupboards one after the other.

“Like what?” he asked, moving towards the small refrigerator present at the corner.

“You suddenly lost a race which was an easy one and even rejected a new commercial before that. I never saw you drinking more than one glass during these five years, but you were completely drunk that day and even got into a fight.” I pointed out and he finally turned to stare at me.

“I didn’t get into any fight. He was the one who beat the crap out of me.” He pointed back and I just shook my head.

“That’s not the point. Do you really want to stay here? Is that why you are not wishing to see my face?” I asked him directly after checking whether the door is closed or not.

“No! I don’t want to stay here at all. I don’t know why am I even here away from Mumbai.” He mumbled glancing at her door.

“You asked me to bring you here after getting drunk.” I pointed out frowning.

“You should have ignored the drunken man’s words.” He stated shaking his head.

“You were threatening me to drive here yourself. What else could I have done?” I asked not believing that we are even having this argument.

I still remember how stubborn he was to come here. I tried my best explaining how drunk he was and it is not right to meet her in this state but I couldn’t stop him.

Who would have thought all this mess wouldn’t have happened if I was more strict to oppose his decision? I sighed, rubbing my forehead.

“Anyway, I don’t want to leave this place.” He mumbled, taking out his phone and started typing something on it.

“Did something else happen when you met your family last week?” I finally asked, not able to stop myself and he paused typing, but didn’t glance at me and after a few seconds he continued to type.

Now I am sure it is something to do with his family because of which all this happened. Does he really want to hide here from all that?

“Just think how uncomfortable Ms. Palak will feel if you stay here. And how long do you want to stay here, Mr. David?” I asked him trying another tactic.

“She will be uncomfortable.” He nodded, accepting my words.

“See? Now, why don’t we go back?” I asked, smiling at him finally feeling he will accept my words.

“I don’t want to leave this place. I will make sure she will not feel uncomfortable if that is the only problem.” He replied, placing his phone back into his pocket while my phone vibrated.

“Check that message.” He added when I ignored my phone.

I took it out hearing his words and found a message from him. I opened it to see a list of things which I didn’t expect him to send me.

“What is this?” I asked him frowning.

“Just help me out with that last task before leaving.” He replied, giving me a nod and walked off towards the couch while I continued to check the message.

“Some food items to eat directly and also to cook. I can understand this, but why do you need a bed?” I asked following him.

“I am trying to make her feel comfortable.” He pointed out and I couldn’t help but roll my eyes.

“The stuff that is present here is already enough to reduce the space and you want to add a bed on top of that, Mr. David.” I mumbled shaking my head.

“I can’t sleep on this and making her do the same will be nothing but a rude thing. So, a bed is a better option. Should I make her shift to a bigger house or what?” he asked frowning in a sarcastic tone.

“No! I will think of something.” I immediately stated.

I am sure Miss Palak will kill me for getting her involved in all this stuff. I don’t know what is he even thinking about right now.

I thought everything was back to normal when we left this place and he continued his work to get back into racing and he managed to shock everyone with his early recovery but then after meeting his family everything went down once again.

“What will you do if she still rejects the idea of you staying here?” I asked him frowning.

“I will think of something. Anyway, she is actually my guardian.” He explained which doesn’t feel like any proper answer at all.

“You really don’t want to talk about your work or something else. You don’t even want to have a word with me to explain what is wrong. Is it just until you get better or until you wish to?” I finally asked staring at him.

“I will give you a call after I collect my thoughts. But at present I don’t want to hear a single word about my work or commercial and I don’t even want to meet you until I decide what to do.” He replied and I don’t have any words after that.

Decide on what? What actually happened when he met his family? Should I go and meet them? But then he will kill me if he finds out that I met them. Giving him a nod I walked out of the house to finish the task he just gave me and also think of a reason to give my agency.

*Palak Pov*

Will there be something for me to eat? I thought sitting on my bed when I found it is already quite late for me to go out and buy something.

But why didn’t they wake me up before leaving? I would have gone out at that time to buy a few things. I am sure there is noodle packet, somewhere in the cupboard.

I walked out of the room, yawning only to close my mouth abruptly, looking at the person standing in my kitchen right now. I opened my mouth to ask him what is he doing here, but closed it again when I found that there are a few things around me right now which shouldn’t be here.

“Why are you still here? Didn’t I ask you to knock on my door before leaving?” I asked him frowning while walking towards him.

“I didn’t want to disturb your sleep.” He replied, turning around while holding a tray in his hands.

When did that enter my home? I thought, staring at it for a few seconds before concentrating on the person who is the first one to enter before these new things and also the one who is behind all these changes.

“If that was your concern, then you could have just locked it by yourself. Didn’t you know that you can automatically lock it by pressing the knob like I did yesterday?” I asked, folding my hands.

“Aren’t you hungry?” he asked, glancing at the tray and calmly walked towards the couch passing me.

“And we both decided it’s best if I stay here.” He added when I didn’t move an inch.

“You both decided or you threatened him?” I asked this time following him to sit on the couch beside him not able to stop myself after glancing at the food he is carrying.

“You think too highly of me.” He mumbled while passing a plate into my hands.

“Did you prepare this?” I asked him frowning.

“No! Satish bought it from the nearby hotel along with all this stuff. I made him to fill the refrigerator and also the cupboards with all the needed things. But the items will be as per my preference as he didn’t know what you would wish for.” He explained in a completely normal tone.

For a second I felt I am being completely unfair in nagging him for staying here without my permission and buying all this without asking me. How does he manage to get other people think this way?

“I didn’t ask you to do any of this. And what is this mattress doing here?” I asked, gesturing to the major item at present in my vision.

“He thought a bed would be too much. So, this was the best option. And we did this to not make you feel uncomfortable.” He explained.

Why does he have a reply for each and every question? Doesn’t he feel awkward to be here like this when I am opposed to his stay?

“Can I honestly ask you whether you are feeling any awkwardness with this situation?” I asked him, frowning in a completely serious tone placing the plate back on the table.

“What do you mean?” he asked, frowning back in a confused tone.

“A few months back, I was your physiotherapist and that’s it. How can you just demand to stay here, Mr. David?” I asked, realizing I need to give out the words to make him understand.

“I think we were something more than just that.” He pointed out without a moment of hesitation.

“I don’t think so after the way you left the hospital. I think all my other patients were more friendly than you while leaving which makes you, a complete stranger to me.” I pointed back completely ignoring the fact that I didn’t want to let him know his behavior didn’t sit well with me.

“Oh! I guess that was a mistake on my part and I didn’t know it would affect you so much. But you are my guardian now.” he mumbled without glancing at me and got himself busy with serving the food on our plates.

“I am not affected by that part and I am not your actual guardian. You know why I had to do that. And stop this right now.” I raised my voice at the end when he just continued his actions.

“Fine! I will leave right now.” saying that he suddenly stood up.

“Shall I give a call to Mr. Satish?” I asked, standing up, but he just shook his head.

“No! He already left for Mumbai and I really don’t want to have anything to do with him. I was not talking like that because of you, Palak. I have my own reasons for that. And I don’t need him to leave this place.” He walked towards the main door throwing those words.

“Where will you stay? And what about the transportation to Mumbai?” I asked following him not able to stop my questions.

“I will stay in some hotel here itself. I don’t want to go to Mumbai too right now.” he replied opening the door.

“And thank you for all the help you gave me until now. It was stupid of me to even come here in the first place.” He added, staring at my face and I stared back.

His face didn’t get normal in any sense, but I can recognize him right away. I can imagine how the people who knows about him even more will realize who he is for sure.

“Medicines?” I asked, not knowing what else to say.

“He bought them, but I thought of taking them after having some food.” He replied, gesturing the food on the table and I bit my lip feeling completely crazy right now.

I can just imagine how crazy I will be after he leaves from here while thinking whether someone caught him and how is he hiding his identity. And somehow from his words, I am sure he is not going to ask Satish help.

No! It doesn’t matter to me. I mean it shouldn’t matter to me where he will go and how he will manage. I stared at his back when he took a step out of the house and started walking towards the stairs.

“Fine! You can just stay here.” I uttered those words and immediately covered my mouth not believing that I just did that.

“Are you sure? I can really go and stay at a hotel.” He asked turning around.

“Yes! Just stay here until your face gets normal.” I mumbled, taking a step back when he took steps to walk towards me.

“It will take a few weeks for that to happen.” He pointed out finally standing before me.

“Two weeks will be more than enough.” I stated and he frowned for a second but gave a nod.

“Okay! I will stay here as you want me to.” He sat down while I stared at him in shock with the way he just uttered those words.

“It’s okay! You can leave right now.” I said, pointing the door and he just chuckled before passing the plate which is filled with food now.

“Do you know how to cook?” he asked after a few minutes of silence.

“Yes! But I am lazy to do anything.” I replied and he gave a nod but frowned slightly.

“You can do all the chores as a payment for your stay.” I added raising my eyebrow.

“I wish I can do that, but I don’t know how to do any of these chores.” He mumbled taking a bite.

“It’s okay! You can learn in these two weeks. Just follow my instructions and we will think of something regarding the food. I will skip breakfast most of the times and I have lunch at the hospital itself. I can arrange dinner for you, but not other things.” I explained and he just gave a nod that he is listening.

“I don’t know how you will entertain yourself, but it is better if the people in his building don’t know about your stay. I don’t want to lie to them.” I added and this time he frowned.

“How do you entertain yourself?” he asked, staring at me.

“I have my laptop and most of the time I just sleep whenever I get free time.” I replied, enjoying the food finally able to fill my stomach.

“I will manage with my laptop too. I guess I have to feel that I am staying at a hospital again.” He mumbled but I shook my head.

“I have enough tasks to get the time pass for you. You need not worry much about that. This will definitely not be like a hospital stay.” I promised with a smile and he gave a doubtful look but nodded.

After finishing the food, I made him wash his own plate while I washed the remaining ones. I did a quick survey of all the things they bought and they are majorly instant items than the ones that need too much work.

“He is very thoughtful to get a single bed mattress.” I commented staring at it.

“I am very thoughtful to ask him to get one in the first place. Otherwise, it would have been a trouble for both of us.” He pointed out.

“Why for both of us?” I asked him frowning.

“As a concerned person you wouldn’t have let me sleep on this small couch and your bed is too small to share too.” He explained.

“It is not that small.” I stated ignoring the situation which is at present being discussed.

“That means you want us to share it?” he asked raising his eyebrows.

“No! I was just defending my bed.” I replied, walking away to move the couch.

“I will do it by myself.” He followed me, but I just waved him off.

“You are not in a good condition to all this right now. You must have got bruises on your body too. Just apply the oil my senior must have written on the prescription tonight without fail.” I explained after arranging the needed space, but the bed will be straight on the way to the door and we need to shift it everyday for sure.

“You are talking like my doctor right now.” he commented, holding my hand with which I am holding the mattress cover.

“I will be like your doctor only. And I think it is better if we place this in the bedroom itself instead of this room. I don’t want this work of lifting it up and down every day and to top of that this is not convenient.” I mumbled, taking my hand away from his hold while looking around and finally started dragging it to the bedroom before placing it far away from my bed towards the wall.

“Okay! You can just take the bed for today as you need proper rest to get well soon. This bed is very hard for you to get any proper rest right now.” I pressed my hand on the bed to check it once again.

He suddenly took hold of my hand and turned me around before I can comment and he is staring straight at me with an angry face.

“Don’t behave like my doctor ever again.” He threw the words with complete force and I took a step back in surprise only to step on the mattress.

“Then… then as your guardian?” I asked, frowning, but he just closed his eyes without giving a proper reply.

“You shouldn’t put much stress into your expressions. Aren’t you in pain?” I asked when he continued to give the same expression and it’s just gone worse after hearing my words.

“As your… as your friend.” I immediately added before he can open his mouth.

And he finally relaxed a bit before taking a step back after releasing me while I shook my head at his actions. I walked towards the cupboard to get a blanket to make my bed.

“I don’t know why you are so sensitive about me acting as your doctor. It is not something illegal or something and I was just stating the obvious concerns.” I commented not able stop myself.

“I am tired of being your patient.” He commented which I completely ignored and finished arranging the bed while he sat on my bed.

“You know you are being too weird and I tried to ignore it, but I don’t want to anymore. You were kind of like cold or shall I say tough personality most of the time in the hospital, but that went worse when you were leaving. Now, you are so friendly that I have to check once again whether you are the same person I met all those months back. What happened to you?” I asked him, frowning, not able to stop myself.

“How can I be the same like your patient? I was being respectable towards you as my doctor, but now I need not think about my behavior much.” I snorted hearing his words.

Respectable towards me? Is he serious? I have never met and I am not going to meet a patient like him again for sure. And here he is acting as if that was his proper behavior, but not his real one.

“There are a lot of things I am confused about right now, but I am sure I will be more confused if I hear your explanations right now. Actually, I don’t even need to think about any of that stuff as you will be leaving within two weeks.” I don’t know whether I was explaining to him or to myself but it was enough of an explanation for everyone.

“I will be out for some time. Apply the oil in the meantime.” I mumbled, walking towards the door.

“I may need your help.” I ignored his words and closed the door behind me after passing the medicine bag to him.

What is actually going on in my home? I thought his chapter is over when he left the hospital, but then all this happened and now we are going to stay together. Does it seem logical in any sense?

“Did you actually leave him here?” I asked the moment Satish lifted my call.

“I didn’t have any other option, Ms. Palak. He was very stubborn regarding this matter.” He replied sighing.

“But why? I can’t even let him leave my place until no one can know about his injuries.” I pointed out before glancing at the door to see it still closed.

“Exactly! I wish he had given me some explanation. But all I know is that it relates to his family. So, I can’t help but let him do whatever he wants to. I will try to be in contact with him, but if he cuts it, please let me know any news regarding him. It will be a huge deal for me.” He pleaded and I couldn’t help but agree with his words.

How much work his manager is doing for him, but he is acting in this way. Was the problem related to his family is too much? And why is he acting as if we are too close right now. He is the one who cut me off completely while leaving otherwise who knows what would have happened, but I can’t just go back to the time we were somewhat close.

“Is it done?” I asked, knocking on the door, but there is no reply from his side.

I opened the door to see him already asleep on the bed. I shook my head stepping in and closed the doors behind me before glancing at him only to look away.

“You should have covered yourself with the blanket if you were not going to wear your shirt.” I mumbled, walking towards the bed to do it for him but stopped looking at the bruises covering his body.

This is just cruel in every sense. Without confirming whether his wife is getting attacked or not, how can he beat someone like this? I can’t believe that man just escaped the punishment just because they don’t want any news covering this.

What if he needs some tests? Dr. Rohit would have got them done if needed, right? I frowned, still staring at his bruises and glanced at his face only to pause when I found him staring back at me.

“I know you were just worried about me. In no right mind I would imagine that you are checking me out.” He commented before I can say a word.

“Do you want to go to hospital once? I can try to not let anyone know about this incident and get you a good check up.” I offered but he shook his head.

“Your senior already did some tests before you came I think. My skin is just more sensitive than others and that’s why it looks worse than what it is.” He assured me and I sighed giving him a nod before turning to leave.

“Are you not going to cover me with a blanket?” he asked, holding my hand and I turned back to stare at him.

“You are very fond of holding hands, aren’t you?” I asked gesturing his hold.

“I think I had to do it only for you otherwise I don’t know when you will escape from my view I don’t know.” He replied shrugging and I coughed hearing those words.

“Right! And I can understand you would wish to be free of any garment touching at least for some time because of your wounds. If you feel cold, then cover yourself.” I tried to get my hand from his hold but he pulled me more towards him, which made me sit on the bed beside his laying form.

“Didn’t I ask you to not treat me like your patient?” he asked frowning.

“But why? This is my natural instinct to handle the situations in this way when someone is in pain or suffering from something.” I asked not understanding his words.

Like a broken record, he is asking for the same. He did the same kind of thing when he was in the hospital too and I don’t know why is he so obsessed over that request.

“Because in my mind, I don’t think of you as my doctor, but just as a woman. And I want to be just a man in your eyes too.” I felt a slight tremor hearing those words in such an unexpected way that I couldn’t move at all.

I know I should move away from him right now and go to bed as I need to go to hospital tomorrow, but it felt like his words just glued me to that spot.

It’s not like this is the first time he ever expressed his views regarding dating me, but with all my heart this is the first time I felt the sincerity behind those words. Why? Why am I so moved right now and not much before?

Was it because of the place where he uttered? No! He was the same person, right? The emotion wouldn’t have been based on the location, but then why is it right now the main shift in me.

“You should go to sleep.” His voice brought me out of my thoughts.

“Yeah!” I mumbled, standing up and walked towards the mattress before switching off the light and lay down.

It was completely an automatic moment with the way I am moving. I groaned, realizing how I am behaving and covered myself with my blanket before closing my eyes tightly.

Sleep? Yeah, right! I don’t think I will be able to sleep anytime soon and this is all because of this uninvited room mate. Wait! Didn’t I ask him myself to stay here? Great! I can’t even blame anyone right now. Damn it!