Standing at his window, ACP Randhawa felt the cool night breeze on his forehead. Usually a stay in the ashram helped him find a semblance of peace but this time with the presence of that woman here, his mental peace had gone for a toss. He had nothing but hate and contempt for her in his heart, and yet he had shown her concern. He wished he hadn't gone out in search of her when he saw she was missing from the prayer hall. Why had he done so? He had to be polite to her because she was a guest here but that did not mean he had to go out of his way to take care of her! And yet he had done it! And this was hardly the first time he had found his thoughts of her change shape in his mind. Where there should be only hatred in his heart, she had evoked emotions that were very different, very unfamiliar and very unwelcome.
Turning his head towards the dormitory building where he imagined she was now lying in peaceful slumber, he noticed a light at a window. Who was awake at this time of the night? His repeated visits to the ashram had made him familiar with the layout of the place. He located the exact source of the light. It was coming from the special guest chamber, the room which was currently housing one Priyanka Singh Oberoi. He felt a frisson of irritation spark through him. So she was awake too?
He didn't know what made him open his doors and stride down the corridor that connected the different dormitories. He walked through the dark passage knowing that he was going against his own wishes and yet unable to stop himself either. He padded across the wooden floor and soon was standing before her chamber. A thin sliver of light through the wood panelling showed that he had been correct in his assumption. While the whole ashram slept, Randhawa raised his hand and knocked softly on her door. There was a soft rustling sound within, followed by silence. He knocked again. The rustling sound started again and stopped. Then there was the sound of quick footsteps and the door was thrown open. At the sudden burst of light, Randhawa squinted. As his eyes grew accustomed to the light, he saw Priyanka stand before him in a frilly housecoat beneath which extended her pyjama clad legs. Her whole appearance was so homely that a tendril of something akin to affection rose within him. Her eyes looked startled to find him here.
Unsure as to how he would explain his arrival, Randhawa cleared his throat once and said,
"Would you have an aspirin with you?"
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