The Quill Part 3 - Page 38

To imagine what could've happened is terrible!

It was plain luck that he chose to drive by at this time, that he chose to wait for a while..

If the men were the sorts to kidnap women from inside a store, they could very well have been armed.. could've had a gun!!

This could've gone so bad, it's disturbing.

It'll be hard to get over this one..

How can she work at the store freely now? She'd just shifted, it's not like she can just go elsewhere again..

How will he go back to Delhi now? How to stop worrying over the baby and the woman.. more importantly, how to keep them safe when you're separated!

They didn't need this. Especially her, with everything she's been dealing with.. I wanted them to enjoy the baby but they're both so troubled!!

Angel’s apathy

Dushyant insisted Pradyut drive Taaruni home in his car. Pradyut introduced her to Dushyant, she was too frozen to acknowledge or react.

The cops were all over the two men, Pradyut locked up the store for her and drove her to Tushar’s after requesting the address from him.

Tushar discreetly walked out so Nidhi wouldn’t find out, he was horrified to see Pradyut injured

The men argued endlessly and Tushar had to give up finally

He was hugely upset with Taaruni, he thanked Pradyut profusely, praised him for rescuing his sister, and was amazed how he even decided to go tonight

Pradyut wanted to excuse himself

“Andar nahi aaoge?” she asked him between tears

“Umm.. no” he shook his head somberly

He hadn’t yelled at her or scolded her, there was no shouting match, there was no argument. There was no crackle or pop. Just traffic sounds and some odd remix hindi songs on Dushyant’s music player.

“thanks” was all she said when she got off

“Ek second ke liye to aa ja yaar” Tushar begged

“I have to go wrap up” he promised

“thanks thanks thanks” Tushar hugged him and choked up

“Sure man”

“Kal call karta hu tujhe”

The men shook hand and left

She waited on the sidewalk watching him drive off

He looked at her when he was about to pull away

She stopped him with a wave

“Harold ko leke jaaoge?” she offered

“No thanks” he declined

It was a huge blow to her he wouldn’t even fight over the pup

She wanted to know how he showed up there even.

There was no answers

Tushar waited for her by her

“Chalo” he muttered

He locked all doors and checked

“Baitho chup chaap, Pallu ko bulata hu”

Pallavi appeared with a tray of warm dinner

“Ma so gayi?” Taruni asked

“Hmm” “Fast asleep” Pallavi sat by her

“So ja abhi subah baat karta hoon” Tushar left her

He returned to ask Pallavi to sleep by her tonight

Pradyut went to the nearest hospital and got himself cleaned up and medicated and bandaged, went back to the location first, looked around, went to the police station

The men were scoping Taaruni since the day she moved in

Petty criminals who had previously been accused of assault in buses

He wanted the entire book thrown at them

He chatted with the ACP and left

He called his Site security and asked for plain clothes security outside Tushar’s and a couple men at the store during all hours of operation

Taaruni’s fetish to always stay up late unmindful of the safety threat? He didn’t know what to do about that

He drove over to Dushyant’s and hung out for a while

He needed company tonight…

Taaruni texted him

“Have u seen a doctor?”

He exited chat and put his phone away, and started talking to Dushyant’s friends

She would send him many texts

“Get a tetanus shot

“Your broken arm is where he hit you, dikha do please doctor ko”

Pradyut, why would she worry so much? Only because you rescued ? Maybe. But she remembers even the earlier injury. She needs to have reason for that one.

Speak up man.

Angels apathy it is

Nisha, need to get into your head to know what are you planning for these two 🤔.

We know how Taruni feels but what about Pardyut. We need to get into his head.

I'd been wondering if they had been stalking her for a while now... because how else would they have known she stays alone at the store, until late.

I wish they're charged with all sorts of real and imaginary crimes with a long, long jail term.

Prad did everything by the book.

Chanced upon his estranged wife being in a bad situation, saved her, got injured in the process, was kind enough to not blast her, dropped her home safely and left.

He even arranged for all round security!

His conduct has been blameless. Nevertheless, it still feels weird..

Ummm yeah, it feels impersonal, indifferent.

Like how he'd help a stranger. Feels as if he cares about her and the baby, just like he would for anyone else - but he has well and truly given up on their relationship.

The worst bit is.. the way things are going, Taroo might start reading it as - he cares only for the baby, not me. 💔

Angel's apathy, indeed.