Determined was never a word Ranveer had thought he could use to describe Priyanka. Naive, vulnerable and gullible, maybe, but never determined. However, at this moment, that was the best adjective to describe her. She refused to budge as she stood with her chin out, challenging him to refuse her request. Ranveer relented.
"Very well, Miss Oberoi," he met her challenging gaze with his own, "You asked for it."
He spun around and opened the door with a flourish as he called out, "Dev!"
Priyanka gasped as she saw Dev halt in his tracks. Before he could turn, she jumped and dragged herself beyond the door, effectively hiding their cuffed hands too. Ranveer smirked while she glared at him from her hiding place. Dev turned and was at their door in a few quick strides.
"Yes, ACP Randhawa?"
"Can I ask you a favour?"
Dev was a bit surprised at the request but replied in the affirmative, "Sure, how can I help you?"
"I have a terrible headache and don't feel comfortable joining everyone for lunch in the dining hall. Can you grab me a tray, please?" Randhawa requested the man. If he found the request odd, Dev didn't show it. He nodded and headed off in the direction of the dining hall while Randhawa shut the door.
"He could have seen me!" exclaimed Priyanka as soon as Randhawa turned back.
He shrugged, and replied, "That was the easiest way to cater to your request. It's the least your boyfriend can do."
"He's no-," Priyanka began, then decided to shut up. She didn't owe this man any explanation about her personal life.
"There was no need to ask Dev to bring us lunch here," she said instead.
Ranveer was amused, "Miss Oberoi, you'd rather we walked down to the dining hall for lunch, hand-in-hand?" He lifted their cuffed hands for dramatic effect as he spoke.
"When I asked for lunch, I expected you to open this," she said gesturing towards their cuffed wrists.
"But you forget, Miss Oberoi, I said neither of us leaves this room till you spill your secrets," he retorted.
"You're insufferable," she sighed.
"Be that as it may, but now whatever you do -eat, drink, sleep- we're in it together," he said, wriggling his wrist.
"YOU - "
"Sshh!"
A knock at the door put an end to all conversation.
Ranveer opened the door and accepted the tray of food from Dev with his right hand. However, the man refused to move and seemed to be staring past Ranveer and into the room.
"You need something?" Ranveer asked Dev.
Dev shook his head but said, "I thought I heard a voice. Is someone in there with you?"
"Oh, yeah!" he laughed. "A wild cat. I'd left the window open for some fresh air and didn't realise when she got in."
Dev seemed unconvinced but smiled and took his leave, "Okay, I'll leave you to have lunch now."
Ranveer thanked him and shut the door. He placed the tray on the small table across bed.
"There you go, Miss Oberoi. Lunch is served," he said as he sat on the lone chair opposite the table, leaving her to sit on the bed.
She didn't say anything but continued to look at him, annoyance flashing in her eyes.
"What?"
"You called me a wild cat."
He laughed, "Did I now, Miss Oberoi? But you're far from a wild cat. Maybe a mouse. Yeah, a cute little, timid little mouse. But not a cat, never a wild cat."
Priyanka flushed crimson at that. She couldn't win with this man, she decided, and so picked up the spoon and dipped it in the bowl of dal. With clumsy left-handed movements, she added dal to the plate of rice and lifted the spoon for a bite. But clumsy being her second name, eating with the left hand was a feat and so Priyanka gave up after two bites.
"I'm done."
Ranveer was watching in silence as she struggled to eat. He picked up the spoon, dipped it in her plate of rice and offered her a bite. Priyanka stared at him in horror.
"Eat," he offered, but when she shook her head and continued to look at him in horror, he sighed.
"Eat, Miss Oberoi, because I want my answers and you're not going anywhere till I get them."
He saw her gulp before she accepted the offered bite. As he helped her eat the food, she continued to stare at him. Her eyes held a mix of surprise and gratitude, and Ranveer was forced to look away.
Priyanka noticed a faraway look in his eyes, as if he was reliving a memory. She wondered how was she going to keep the messy secrets of her life from him? Given his relentless pursuits, it was going to be impossible to keep pushing it. And was it even fair to him? He had a right to know the secrets of that night as much as her because on that night, he had lost his most prized relationship - his beloved sister. He had a right to know and she would not keep that right from him.
~*~*~
About time things turned a little serious?
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