4.
Riddhima’s POV:
My eyelids felt heavy as I tried to open them. My whole body ached as though I was run over by a truck. I took five deep breaths to summon all my strength and opened them. The first thing I saw was the blank white ceiling. I stared at the ceiling while trying to understand where exactly I was. The ceiling in my room was a light peach color so I was definitely not in my room.
I saw some movement in the periphery of my vision and slightly turned my head to the right and saw a blurry figure approach me. I blinked a few times to clear my vision and saw the face of the person clearly.
Mr. Raisinghania!
What was he doing here?
Then it all came crashing down on me.
Aahan being kidnapped and me following after him.
The blonde man who slapped and kicked me.
Aahan screaming and the man hurting him…
Oh no.
Aahan.
He was hurt!
I tried to sit up in panic but a sharp pain shot up through my abdomen due to my haste. I winced and lay back on the mattress with my eyes shut tight. Slowly I felt the head of the bed rise up and I opened my eyes and saw Mr. Raisinghania near the edge of the bed. He was adjusting the electric bed so that I could sit in an upright position. I felt slight pain in my stomach but it was nothing compared to the sudden sting that I had just experienced.
After adjusting the bed, he went to the table next to the EMR machine. He poured a glass of water and handed it to me. I held the glass and hissed as both my wrists were hurting. I drank a little water to moisten my dry mouth then handed the glass to him. He took the glass and kept it back on the table.
There was silence for about fifteen seconds where he stood next to the machine with his arms crossed over his chest and stared at me. I cleared my throat awkwardly and voiced the first question that came to my mind.
“Aahan?”
“He is fine.”
“I want to see him.”
“You are weak.”
He reasoned and I looked up to see his face. I parted my mouth to say something but I could not reason out with his excuse. I felt exhausted but I knew that I had to see him if I were to rest peacefully. I bit my lip as I contemplated asking him about the dozen other questions that were forming in my mind.
“Please.”
Instead I requested him. I just had to make sure that Aahan was fine. All the other questions could wait. I heard him sigh and then he shifted closer to the bed and held out his hand for me. I stared at his hand for a moment and then placed my hand in his.
This was the first time I was touching him. For the last three months that we were devoted to our project, we had never touched each other. We would meet at the college and talk only when required. There were no other normal greetings like goodbye or good-morning or anything. We would just talk about the problem related to the project and that’s it. I doubted if he even knew my name.
He clasped my hand in his firmly and helped me to get down from the bed. It took me a good three minutes to stabilize myself. After I was perfectly standing, he started to walk towards the door and I followed behind him. Once we were in the corridor, I saw a few people staring at me.
An older man nodded at Mr. Raisinghania and he nodded in return. I was confused seeing all this but had no time to process as I was gently pulled along the right side of the corridor. After walking past a supply room, we stopped in front of a room which was similar to the one I had just exited.
Mr. Raisinghania opened the door and I saw a man inside the room. He was in his twenties with slicked back hair and a good body physique.
“Thank you Angre.” Mr. Raisinghania said and the man, Angre, nodded and left the room. As soon as he moved out of the sight, I could see Aahan sleeping peacefully on the hospital bed. His rhythmic rise and fall of chest said that he was in a deep sleep. A sigh of relief escaped from my lips as soon as I saw him safe and sound. I stared at him for a few minutes and then turned to look at Mr. Raisinghania who was also staring at Aahan.
“He put up a good fight.”
I whispered as I saw Mr. Raisinghania turn to face me. He took a deep breath and buried his hands in the pockets of his pants.
“He is training in martial arts.”
His answer did not stun me. I knew that Aahan was physically stronger than the children of his age would normally be so I suspected that he must be undergoing some kind of training. I turned towards Aahan again and let out the question which was bothering me the most.
“Why?”
I was met with silence for a few minutes. I could feel Mr. Raisinghania’s form visibly stiffen and his hands tightly clenched in fists in his pockets. His jaw tightened a bit and he let out a harsh exhale.
“Some f**kers want to take revenge.”
I was confused if I should be shocked for the reason her gave me, revenge, or appalled for the rough use of his words. My eyes widened as I saw Aahan shift in his bed but he did not wake up. I turned sharply towards Mr. Raisinghania and took a few steps towards him.
“Firstly, you should not use improper words in front of children and secondly why would someone hurt a child for revenge? That is just sick!”
I whispered so as not to alert Aahan. He was moving a lot in his sleep but every time he would just settle in different position and continue to sleep.
We were disturbed by a soft knock. I turned around to see it was the old man who had given Mr. Raisinghania a nod in the corridor. He was smiling as he stepped into the room and left the door open. He approached me and held out his hand.
“Hello. My name is Adarsh Raisinghania and I am Aahan’s grandfather.”
I shook his hands and returned his smile even though moving my cheeks hurt me.
“I am Riddhima Shah, Aahan’s tuition teacher.”
“I know dear, you don’t have to introduce yourself. Now, would you mind if we head out of the room for a couple of minutes. I wish to talk to you.”
He offered me his arm; the way Mr. Raisinghania… oh I mean Vansh had done. I was confused but I complied none-the-less. He led me through the hallway and back into my room. Vansh followed and I saw Angre walk back into Aahan’s room. He helped me to get back on my bed and relax.
Once I was comfortable, I looked up and saw both the Raisinghanias staring at me. I could see the striking familiarity between them and Aahan. They definitely looked like a family. Mr. Raisinghania’s throat clearing brought me back from my analysis.
“I know that there are a lot of questions in your mind but before we begin with any of them, I would like to express my gratitude for your help. I don’t know what would have happened to my Aahan had it not been for your help. Thank you so much dear.”
“You don’t need to thank me. I have not done anything extraordinary.”
My cheeks heated from the comment. I was not that good when positioned on the receiving end of the compliments. He tenderly held my hand and moved his fingers over my wrist ever so lightly that I almost did not felt the movement.
“You are a very pure soul dear. I really appreciate your selflessness but I am afraid it has landed you in a very big trouble this time.”
His words confused me but before I could ask him any questions, he continued.
“The actual people behind Aahan’s kidnapping are very dangerous. You might have already sensed the depths to which they can go for revenge.”
“Why would they want revenge?”
I asked as I felt his hand tighten around mine.
“There is a history.”
Is all I got as an answer. I just stared at him to explain more but the explanation never came. I turned towards Vansh to see him staring at us intently but still he did not make an effort to describe the overview of an answer that I was provided with. Deciding that it was a sensitive subject for them, I just nodded and gestured Mr. Raisinghania to continue. He let out a long breath and continued.
“I am afraid that you are not safe here in Chicago all alone. You have been spotted with Vansh, even though it was work related, and Aahan. They are thinking that you are somehow related to our family and that is the reason they might come after you.”
I was speechless as I tried to soak in all the things that Mr. Raisinghania was saying. I was in danger? But I did not do anything wrong to anyone. Then why were these people behind me? Who were these people?
“I don’t understand. I have not done anything to them, then why am I in danger?”
“They think that you are connected to our family and they are barbaric people. They will hurt you the first chance they get just so they can get back at us.”
“But I don’t know you personally. Can’t you just clarify to them that I don’t mean anything to you all and that I don’t know you?”
“You see that will only create more room for their assurances. They will think that you are important and close to us so we are trying to protect you by giving invalid excuses. Might I remind you dear, you are really important to us. You have saved my Aahan!”
I remained quiet for a few minutes. No one spoke a word and only my harsh breathing was heard in the room. I stared at Vansh and his father with an open mouth as I processed what they were intending to say. A small frown formed on my forehead as I thought of the possible solutions.
“You mean… I have to return to India? But only three months are left for my graduation! I cannot leave after coming so close to completing my degree!”
I exclaimed at them. I saw Mr. Raisinghania shake his head as he gave me an explanation.
“No, you are not going anywhere my dear. You will stay here in Chicago till you complete your degree and then you will come to Italy with Vansh and Aahan.”
I stared at them in horror. I stopped breathing for a moment and saw Vansh visibly stiffen in his position and Mr. Raisinghania tightened his grip on my hand. I pulled my hand back out of instinct and he hesitated but let me go.
“I… I… I cannot do this! I don’t know you people and I cannot go anywhere with you!” I stuttered. These people are really crazy if they think that I would just do as they say.
“I know that you don’t trust us and I know that your reason is just but you need to understand…”
I cut off Mr. Raisinghania as he started to speak.
“Understand what? I think that you need to understand that you don’t take decisions in my life! You can’t just come here and tell me that my life is in danger and expect that I will accept everything you say and do as you bid!”
I ranted and my breathing became heavy. My stomach hurt and I start to develop a headache. I closed my eyes as I tried to take deep breaths to calm myself.
I heard some movements and opened my eyes to see Vansh make his way towards Mr. Raisinghania. He placed a hand on his father’s shoulder and motioned him to go outside. Mr. Raisinghania let out a deep breath and stood up from the stool. He gave me a glance, looked at Vansh and then exited the room quietly.
I stared wearily at Vansh as he took the seat his father had previously occupied and leaned forward. I instantly withdrew my hands to my chest and folded my legs which caused me to hiss in pain. He held the edge of the bed with his hands and let out a deep breath.
“I am not going to touch you. You can relax.”
I stared at him for a few minutes, then relaxed a little but shifted to the other side of the bed to keep enough space between us. He nodded and looked at me with his green eyes which I had never noticed before due to the lack of close proximity between.
“I know that you don’t trust us. That is absolutely okay. I know that what we are asking of you is also very absurd and you might think that we are crazy. I understand, but you need to know that you are not safe anymore. We just want to protect you.”
I heard what he was saying and that just increased my headache. I sighed and looked at him.
“I don’t want to be with anyone. Leave me alone. I want to go home, my home, please.”
He sighed but got up and complied with my wish.
“I am not going to force you but I must advice you: watch your back, you are not safe here anymore Miss. Shah.”
He headed towards the exit. As he was about to open the door, I remembered something.
“Wait.”
He turned around.
“How is the driver? Even he was injured.”
He gave me a brief look and then nodded his head.
“He is okay.”
With that he closed the door and I was left with my thoughts.
*****
Vansh’s POV:
I never knew that Ms. Shah could be such a stubborn girl. Even after explaining her and her first hand experience with kidnapping, she still does not understand that she is in danger? What sort of thickheaded girl is she?
My chain of thoughts is broken when father called my name.
“Did she agree?”
He asked and much to my displeasure, there was hope on his face. I shook my head and he appeared to be disheartened.
“At least the dinner with The Maestries has been canceled.” He stated much to my relief. I sighed and sat down on the chair and buried my face in my hands.
“What are we going to do, Vansh?”
Father sat beside me and placed an arm around my shoulder.
“We will give her protection from far. I don’t know why she is being so stubborn? Can’t she understand that we just want to protect her?”
I exclaimed as I turn my head to look into my father’s direction. He had a somber smile on his face.
“I know, but we need to think from her point of view as well. Can you trust someone easily?”
I shake my head and sighed as I got what he wanted to imply.
“We will keep her safe, Son. Don’t worry.”
I close my eyes and leaned back in the chair as I thought about the upcoming days.
**********
Hello Everyone,
Well this was a long one. Hope you all enjoyed!