Chapter 3 - Afterlife
As per instructions Aryan left the room without even uttering a single word. Abhay looked at the girl, he touched her forehead... burning with temperature. She was shivering in fever. He was hesitant to reduce her temperature through his own cold body. It means he will build a connection to the human and he's unwilling to do it. He's not human and he's not supposed to have any feeling, emotion or connection with them. He failed to understand himself why he was worried for her to this extent. He doesn't wear his heart in sleeves and hates himself whenever he feels anything for a human. It's wrong.
He massaged her feet and palms for quite a few minute and saw her fidgeting has reduced. He called Aryan to come from outside.
Aryan entered the room and gave a "I knew it" expression to Abhay.
Abhay (making poker face): "I won't do it."
Aryan just rolled his eyes and said, "FINE. Any better ideas to save her?"
Abhay: "Yes and much better then yours. We don't have medicine but our servants have. Go and wake Mahendra and ask him for some medicine.
Aryan's jaw almost dropped on the floor. "It's 3.30 am bhai."
Abhay (without changing his expressions): "I know but it's an emergency situation, they won't mind. Tell him I'm sick!! GO"
Aryan went to without even changin his black vest and pajamas and ran to the servants quarter behind the main Villa.
Abhay brought a bowl of cold water, a white cloth and started giving coldpack on her forehead. It helps in reducing the body temperature. The girl was having delirium, she was constantly calling her mom and pleading for someone to save her, again she started accusing someone. Abhay knew her health condition was getting worse every minute and she needs medicine or treatment.
Piya was unconscious but she could still feel a cold touch rubbing her palms and feet. It was comforting. She was still in her trance. Her brain was in a total contradictory situation. She once again found herself running. Her feet were bleeding because of jumping from the window, her head dizzy and she has no idea where she was going. 1 minutes she thought of calling Jeh, next minute she thought she's a sinner and need to kill herself for ruining her mother's life. (the dose of slow-poison Prabeen gave her was working on full toll) She was going from a short cut way which eventually took her to jungle after hours. Her saree was ripped at several places clashing with bushes and trees. Her delicate porcelain skin was hurt by the harsh touches of bushes and trees inside the jungle added with the manhandling she faced by her mamaji. The darkness scared her and she started calling her mom. She was almost at the edge of the river and a flash of her mother screaming and the some people forcing her to enter the ambulance of mental-asylum came into her mind. She started crying, "mamma..mamma...take me with you...I don't want this life anymore... I'm so sorry mamma... It can't be true... it can't be..." and she jumped. Her body was engulfed by the cold river water, the high current was pulling her and her head hit a stone. She understood she was dying and death seemed much peaceful and easier then life. Her nerves were freezing and then she felt something touching her body inside the water. Her brain told her, death has finally came to set her free from the miserable life. She opened her eyes and saw a dark figure. The water and darkness didn't allow her to see the face of death but she saw a pair of icy blue eyes.. so beautiful...eyes of an angel.. Piya again thought, "It can't be death. An angel from heaven came for me... And she drifted into deep sleep..."
Abhay heard Piya muttering, "Angel" and Aryan entered at the same moment to his attention sided to Aryan.
"Here...medicines. wow.. you are giving her cold compress" (raising his eyebrows)
Abhay (still expressionless): "If you wish to help me, bring a glass of water. She's still cataleptic so we might have to mix the medicine into the water and make her drink that."
Aryan obediently brought a glass of water, broke the tablet and mixed with water. They made Piya sat on the bed while Abhay put the pillow behind her back for support and very carefully made her drink the medicine with spoon while Aryan was carefully holding her head. After feeding the medicine, Abhay carefully made her lie on the bed again and covered her with the blanket.
Aryan touched Piya's forehead and hand. "I think the coldpack worked, her delirium has stopped for now. We should let her sleep." (with a smile)
Abhay nodded, "you go to sleep. It's almost dawn. I will stay here." (he was standing infront of a window right now, watching the moonlight"
Aryan came and stood behind him, "Bhai.. may I say something?"
Abhay turned (looking surprised), "ha.."
Aryan, "That's why I love you so much.. you are better then even humans..just think of the leach who done this to the poor girl and look at you. You call yourself monster."
Abhay gave a smile to his brother, he would have argued in this topic on any other day but right now he didn't feel like doing that considering the respectful, loving look Aryan was giving him right now. He patted on his head, "Now go and sleep. You need that. ok?"
Aryan gave a broad smile and left.
Far away from Manali, Arnab Dobriyal woke up with a terrible nightmare in Dehradun. He saw his long dead daughter Piya calling him. He drank two glasses of water and felt he's sweating. He didn't understand why after so many years he felt her like this.. As she needs him. He went back to sleep unable to comprehend the dream.
In the morning:
When Aryan entered the guest room again, he saw Abhay sleeping on the couch and Piya is now peacefully sleeping under the blue blanket. She looked like an angel while sleeping. He slowly went to her and touched her forehead to check the temperature.
"Fever is gone for now." Abhay said from behind. Aryan looked back and smiled, "Good morning."
Abhay replied: "Morning. I have a very important meeting today so I can't be here for long. Can you please tell Maria that she needn't do any other work today then looking after her?"
Aryan looked at his brother's expressionless face. Being a wizard he can sense emotions very well and understood he was worried to leave her alone. "Don't worry bhai, I will convey your message to Maria and off course I will be home today so I will take care of her myself. You can go to your meeting peacefully. And do you think we should inform the police now?"
Abhay was lost in thoughts for a moment and shook his head, "I don't think so. Yesterday she said many things in delirium. I think someone from her family attacked her. No doubt, her mother is dead and she keeps saying I didn't kill her. Like someone was accusing her and then she started screaming. If she is lost her family will report to police cause it's more then 12 hours now she has been missing. Wait till she wakes up."
Aryan nodded agreeing, "I think you are right. And if she seems physically stronger today I will be able to charm her. But I can sense that she's going through immense emotional turmoil and my assumptions are she won't come to consciousness so soon."
Abhay looked worried, "alright. Let's see and she needs to feed. If fever catches her again, call a doctor. I will be home within afternoon."
"No problem."
They both left the guest room.
Till afternoon there was no sign of consciousness in Piya. Aryan got worried but this time he arranged all kind of necessary medications for Piya. Maria was in 24/7 supervision of Piya. Aryan checked tv and newspaper for missing person's news but there wasn't any. He assumed as 24 hours haven't passed so nobody reported about her absence. It was almost 4 pm in the evening and Maria came running that the girl is talking.
Piya Jaiswal half opened her eyes and didn't recognize anything around her. She could feel the soft bed underneath her, the warmth of the blanket, her eyesight was hazy but she could see the wood panelled roof and a sweet fragrance in the air but she wondered, "Wasn't she supposed to be dead? Or that angel brought her to heaven?" She was semi-conscious but she could remember the pair of icy blue eyes in the water. She tried to move but her entire body ached, she could hear someone calling her, "how are you feeling? Can you hear me?"
She tried to open her eyes completely but was unable to do it. She could see a good looking man hovering over her with anxious face. he has deep drown eyes, but he wasn't the angel. He called her again, "can you hear me? What's your name?"
Piya tried to talk but she left her lips were dry. She mumbled, "piya" and closed her eyes again.
Aryan sighed and looked at Maria, "can you feed her the soup? She looks pale and weak." Maria asked, "can she eat? "I think she can, cause she's in semi-conscious state right now. but talking seems hard for her.too weak. bring the soup. will try."
Maria nodded and went to kitchen to get the soup she prepared for the girl. Aryan carefully took Piya in his arms to make her sit supporting by the pillow and waited for Maria. He looked at the beautiful face, "Piya" he muttered.
Night time:
After the heated argument Jeh had with his mother. He called one his friends in a coffee shop and left the house for some real important discussion. Dipannita watched him left and wished his son won't do anything stupid that would cost his mother as well.
Jaiswal House:
Shurbhi Jaiswal was irritating her husband with series of questions. "Are you sure she won't come back?"
She asked for the umpteenth time to her husband. This time Prabeen Jaiswal was extremely irritated and replied, " you dare ask me this question once more.." His phone rang, Dipannita calling. He immediately went outside and answered the call.
D: (worried): "Prabeen it's been 24 hours Piya's missing. Any news?"
Prabeen (not so worried): "No and No one saw her Dipannita. I have my people around outside. They will report me as soon as the see her. Why are you so worried? I told you the poison started working and I have filled her brain with more poison. She should commit suicide by now."
D (not convinced): "Uff Prabeen, I can't be sure. What if she goes to Police?"
P (laughs): "She's hurt physically and mentally. I know her and she will never do it. We can't report anything to Police right now as we have presented everything like she ran away and degraded this family."
D (trying to calm down): "I donno Prabeen but I can't lie to Jeh anymore. I'm sure he will look for her and I have a feeling she's alive and will create danger for us."
P (assures D): "Nothing like this will happen. You just handle Jeh alright?"
D (sighs): "Okey and what about the papers?"
P (smiles): "if she doesn't come back within 1 month. She will be consider as dead and everything will be mine."
D (smiles back for the first time): "Superb. Aisa hi hona chahiye. Goodnight Prabeen."
P : "Goodnight"
AR Villa:
It was almost around 10pm and Abhay and Aryan are talking in their leaving room.
Abhay (sipping blood from a tall glass): "So she said anything except her name?"
Aryan (rolled his eyes): "You have asked me this question 8 times over the phone since afrernoon. I have answered you each time NO. me and Maria fed her soup and medicine cause her body has still high temperature. She didn't open her eyes ever again. 1 hour ago we fed her some liquid again and gave medicine for fever. Her temperature is close to normal right now. Delirium has stopped for now. Do you want me to repeat it?"
Abhay (looking slightly embarrassed): "I just want to get rid of the human as soon as possible. That's why I asked again. It's not safe for her to be in a house of a vampire."
Aryan (gave a sarcastic smile): "Humor me. If whatever she said in fever is true then apparently it's the safest place for her cause there must be someone outside ready to harm her. (pause) do you think we should perform the incantation tonight?"
Abhay (still unsure): "We will.. let's have a look at first how is she."
Both went to the guest room where Piya was sleeping. Abhay sat beside her on the bed and unknowingly touched her hand. Piya could recognize the cold touch even in her semi-conscious state, it was the same touch that comforted her when she was in pain.
She could hear a voice calling her, a deep and heavy voice but still sounded like some beautiful rhythm to her. No one called her in such beautiful rhythm for ages. Her brain wondered, "Is this afterlife? Ain't I dead? But there is no pain after dead then why she her head is throbbing in pain..." Against the rule of nature, against the rule of science and medicine, she fought with her body and soul to open her eyes.. To see the owner of the cold touch. Abhay could feel her hand moving under his touch and he was surprised. She slightly opened her eyes and saw an unbelievable beautiful face looking at her. But the eyes, not to be mistaken...the pair of icy-blue eyes she saw inside the water. She called in her fragile but sweet voice, "Angel.. angel..." and drifted to sleep once again.
Abhay looked at Aryan behind him in confused state. Aryan was unable to stop himself cracking a joke even in this situation, "Aap ko bula rahi hai lagta hai!!"
Abhay gave a stern look at him and said gravely, "get the room ready. We are performing the incantation tonight. I will bring her soon."
Precap (Memories): Aryan uses his memory charm to get information from Piya's head and to know about her identity. Both the brothers are touched to see the painful situation Piya has gone through. Strangely Piya's life somehow reminded Abhay to his long lost life when he became a vampire and he decides to protect her against his own rules. Meanwhile, Jeh hires a efficient private detective to locate Piya.
Edited by princess_xeelan - 14 years ago
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