FF: Dark Ties - Note Page 129 (Thread 2 Link) - Page 68

This update actually only had one close scene between RishBala...but upon request (from my Zaru <3) I added in a bit more! I didn't get the chance to edit it though, so I'm just hoping there are no mistakes! If there are...ignore them please. :D

Chapter Eighteen – The Night

I stared at him and knew I had no chance of winning the argument over where I slept, so I lowered my eyes.

"Where…?"

"On my bed."

"And you…?"

"On that couch."

He pointed towards a couch on the side of his room and I followed his finger towards it. I turned back to stare at him and then down at my clothes.

"Adi, get her something to change into...and some painkillers too."

"Sure thing bro."

Adi left the room as RK and I stood there in silence. Then Adi returned a minute later with a blue and white Punjabi style salwaar kameez suit. I hadn't remembered seeing that in the bag of clothes he had given me before. He answered my thoughts as though he had read my mind.

"I had actually bought you more clothes at work when I though you had come back home, but…anyways, here you go."

"Thank you…"

I took a hold of the clothes and then looked around the room.

"The bathroom is to the left there Madhy. Oh and here, don't forget the painkillers."

"No…I'm fine…"

"Madhy, they'll kick in within 30 minutes and you'll fall fast asleep in no pain."

"Adi, I'm fine."

"Well alright then, goodnight. I hope you feel better."

I slowly nodded my head and watched as he turned around. I wasn't surprised when RK stopped him.

"Aditya, hand me the pills."

"But bro…"

"Give them to me."

Adi handed him the pills and then glanced towards me. As usual, he seemed apologetic before anything had even happened. Then he turned and walked out of the room. I looked towards RK who had his eyes on me and I sighed in defeat while placing my hand in front of him. I knew there was no way he'd let me get away with not taking the pills. He smirked and dropped the pills in my hand. He grabbed a cup of water off of his table and handed it to me. I swallowed the pills in front of him with the water and noticed him smiling oddly. He took the cup of water out of my hands and put it away as I wondered why he had been smiling.

"Why are you smiling…?"

"No reason."

"Hm…if you say so."

"Those will take effect soon, so you should get changed."

I nodded my head and then turned to walk towards the bathroom. I had forgotten that RK's shirt was over my shoulders until I felt it fall to the floor. I felt a cool breeze against my back as I froze in spot. I felt my dori strings hanging loose and I couldn't help but close my eyes. Then as I remained still as a statue in spot, I heard his quiet voice.

"Madhu…"

A chill ran down my spine as he spoke. Did his voice have an effect on me now too? Or was it something else? I felt him approaching me from behind in silence. Then my heart jumped out of my chest as I felt his warm fingers brushing against my back. I could feel my heart thrumming away as his fingers gently ran down my back.

"Your back…"

"My…back…?"

"It's scraped…"

I instantly turned around to face him. My heart didn't stop racing as I saw his concerned yet passionate face. His eyes spoke volumes and I fell silent at his sight.

"I'll get ointment…"

He turned to leave but I unconsciously grabbed his hand, stopping him. He slowly turned to look at my hand gripping at his and then up at me.

"I'm fine RK…just please don't leave me alone."

I didn't want to be alone. Not after the terrible night of running around alone. That's what I told myself to justify my act of stopping him. He stared at me silently and then turned to walk back towards me. I lowered my eyes and stared at our feet as he came to stand in front of me.

"Turn around Madhu."

I shook my head, not wanting him to have to see my scraped back; which probably happened when the men threw me to the ground. RK obviously didn't care about my head shaking as he grabbed my shoulders gently and turned me around himself. I felt nothing for a moment, absolutely nothing. Then suddenly I felt water running down my back. My back arched at the cold water but it felt soothing at the same time. I felt his fingers brush against my wet back and then he grabbed my waist. He slowly pulled me back into his chest. I kept my eyes closed as my pulse sped up. I felt my wet back touch his bare, perfectly sculpted chest and my heart skipped a beat. All I could hear was our heavy breaths as we both affected each other. Wait. We both affected each other? Was I having an affect on RK? There was only one way to find out.

I turned myself around and wrapped my arms around him quickly. I rested my head where his heart was and I heard it. His heart was racing just as fast as mine. Why? I could've sworn he hated me. I didn't even realize I had tightened my arms around him until he slowly pulled me away. I looked up at his face but he didn't even once glance at me. He stepped away from me slowly and then tried to look at me. As soon as our eyes met, his flickered and went to stare at the wall to his right.

"Go change."

His soft voice had gone cold. I continued to stare at him, hoping he'd at least look back, but he didn't. I sighed and then entered the bathroom to get changed. When I saw my condition in the mirror, it took everything I had not to cry. I was on the verge of tears as I changed out of my ripped anarkali and into the comfortable Punjabi style suit.

I walked out of the bathroom and saw RK lying on the couch. He seemed uncomfortable, but I didn't bother saying anything. He laid in a position so that he was facing his bed and had clear view of me. I slowly got into his bed and pulled the covers over myself. He dimmed the lights but didn't turn them off completely. I was still slightly frightened to sleep and refused to close my eyes. I knew he couldn't see my eyes from the couch but somehow he knew I wasn't sleeping.

"Close your eyes. You can sleep. I'm here, no one will hurt you."

It seemed odd to hear him trying to comfort me and reassure me that I was safe but in a way his comforting worked. I felt safer in his room than I ever had before. I decided to close my eyes. I managed to block out all thoughts of the night and fell asleep with the help of the painkillers. As soon as I was asleep though, I entered the land of nightmares.

---

I saw the five of them…chasing me. They chased me for what seemed like forever. But then I heard my name…it got louder and louder but then stopped as I bumped into someone's chest.

"HELP ME!"

I screamed into his motionless chest. Then I slowly raised my eyes to see his face and it was RK.

---

My eyes instantly shot open and I saw RK leaning over me as I clung to his shoulders. His eyes were wider than usual as he saw my condition. I instantly let him go as I felt water on my face. I touched my face and realized I was in tears. He went back to standing position and just stared at me. I glanced back at him as I remembered he was there.

"I was trying to wake you."

"I'm sorry RK."

I spoke quietly. I knew he probably didn't like how I had clung to his shoulders. I looked away but felt his eyes on me again.

"Move over."

My head shot back in his direction and I let a confused expression cross my face.

"I said move over."

I looked down at the covers and then back up at him as I attempted to comprehend what he was saying.

"Huh?"

"Do you not understand?"

"I do, but…"

"I'm sleeping beside you."

My eyes widened at his words. There was no way I wanted to sleep beside him, especially not after what had happened between us just hours earlier. I stared at him and shook my head no.

"Too bad. Move over or I'll pick you up and move you myself."

"No RK, I'm fine."

"Says the one who was screaming in her sleep a minute ago."

"I…I was screaming?"

"What else do you think woke me up?"

I turned my head to the left and saw the time, which read 3:37am. I looked back up at RK and noticed how tired he looked.

"I'm sorry."

"Just move over."

"No."

He sighed and then got onto the bed with his knees. He picked me up and placed me onto the left side of the bed.

"Hey!"

"I warned you."

"RK, I can sleep alone."

"I don't believe you. Now sleep."

He got comfortable on the right side of the bed and closed his eyes as I stared at him.

"Madhu, sleep."

"No."

"Why do you have to be so damn stubborn?"

He opened his eyes and turned his body in my direction to face me. He placed his elbow down onto the bed and rested his head on his hand.

"Sleep."

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"I don't want another nightmare."

"I'll wake you if…"

"No. I don't want to bother you again. I'm just going to g…"

He grabbed my arm as I was about to get out of bed.

"Stay. You can't avoid sleep forever. Just sleep."

"I won't be able to sleep RK."

"Alright, just lay down."

I looked into his eyes and figured I had nothing to worry about, so I sighed in defeat and rested my head back down on the pillow. He rested his head down on his pillow and we stared at each other for a moment.

"I laid down, now what?"

"Give me your hand?"

I watched as he placed his hand out on the bed. I looked at it and then back up at him. I was sure he wasn't going to cause me any harm, so I slowly placed my hand within his. He closed his warm fingers around my hand and I suddenly felt safe.

"Now sleep Madhu."

I wanted to smile, but I stopped myself. Though I felt safe, I still wanted answers to my questions. At the moment though, I decided to listen to him. So I closed my eyes and drifted into a deep sleep. I was actually amazed how just his presence managed to make my nightmares disappear. I didn't have another nightmare that entire night. Rather, reality became my nightmare. When I awoke, I was in his arms. I had my face resting on his bare chest and my arm around him. He had his arm around my waist and our proximity frightened me. At first I snuggled closer to him without realizing who he was, but as soon as I remembered, I instantly backed away and sat up. I awoke him with my sudden movement and he spoke in a tired voice.

"Madhu?"

I looked down at him as he began to sit up. As soon as he was in sitting position and he saw me, his usual serious face took place of the peaceful one I had seen seconds earlier. I didn't respond to him and looked in the opposite direction.

"Go freshen up, I want to talk to you afterwards."

I knew exactly what he wanted to talk to me about. I also knew there was no getting out of it. So I got out of bed and headed towards his bathroom to freshen up. Once I was out, he was already dressed and looked fresh. I figured he had gone to a different bathroom. He stood, leaning against his desk, staring in my direction as I walked out of the bathroom. I lowered my eyes and prepared myself mentally for the bombard of questions I knew was headed in my direction. I slowly walked towards him and he gestured with his eyes towards the bed. I turned to look at the bed and saw an anarkali suit. I was about to turn to pick it up until his voice stopped me.

"Not yet Madhubala. After we talk."