Chapter 4.
Soumya had woken to the evening shadows deepening in the room; she had moaned softly trying to acknowledge her surroundings. Her mind was groggy she could barely remember anything. A dull ache pulsated through her body and her head felt as if it would split any moment. She had tried to massage her temple in an attempt to soothe her head ache when she felt it encumbered. Her eyes had travelled to the source who at the moment was sitting right next to her, Soumya had let out a muffled scream was it the veiled woman she had wondered desperately trying to free her hand. Her actions had awoken Harman who had her arm in a loose grip. He had woken to find Soumya struggling feebly. Uthi nahin keh mahabharat shuru he had thought smirking, letting go of her he had taken to his feet. "Oh madam jee kithey chaley?" he had asked aloud to a visibly frightened Soumya, on hearing his voice Soumya had breathed a sigh of relief... so it was him. Harman had switched on the lights endeavoring to dispel her fears. "Aap..." Soumya had blurted, "Haan jee to kon Justin Trudeau ney aa ker bachana tha gaon waalon sey tujhko?" Harman was highly irked at her trust issues. He being the hero that he undoubtedly was had fought the villagers bare handed and had carried a crying and kicking Soumya to safety something he was definitely never doing again he had solemnly resolved. In his mind he should've received the national honor for this brave feat but here Soumya stared at him as a deer would to an encroaching lion.
"Woh main samjhi" she had tried to clarify "Tum samjhi woh gundiyan aa gayeen...haina" he had asked understandably to which she had simply nodded. Harman had yawned widely then, he hadn't been able to sleep at all, Soumya could see he had left no stone unturned in keeping her comfortable. The room they were in was large and decorated elegantly, white against the dull red with gilded borders and large bay windows. She noticed she had been resting on a comfy bed and Harman had tucked her in warm blankets. "Woh... aap... Main..." Soumya had tried to form a coherent sentence her eyes searching Harman's handsome face, she had no clue where she was and watching Harman in his current mood did not wish to irk him further. "Merey ghar main ho" he had provided her with her answer. It was amazing Soumya had thought that Harman could read her thoughts that well.
"Gulaabo doctor ney kaha hai tumko aaram ki zarurat hai, behter yehi hai tum so jao aur mujhey bhi soney do. Jitna aaj bhaaga huun utna to bachpan main kisi school race main bhi nahin bhaaga, sacchhi" he had confessed and Soumya had smiled at his childish thoughts. "Waisey auntyjee hospital main admit hain, teri behen hai unkey paas tujhey fiker kerney ki zarurat nahin" Harman had filled her in with the latest updates on her mother and Soumya's blood had run cold. Her mother, how could she forget her crimson shirt drenched with blood, her blood that she had shed to save Soumya the one being who had been a constant nuisance since birth. Soumya had turned her face away from Harman thick tears falling from her eyes, she could not believe she was enjoying these comforts while her mother lay on her death bed all thanks to her.
Harman who had been trying to find the softest pillow to lay his head on was immediately drawn to Soumya's heaving body, she had hidden her face in her palms sobbing noiselessly. Ab kiya naya siyaapa ho gaya Harman had groaned all he needed was sleep and that was the one thing that had evaded him. After his escape from Soumya's village he had trekked a long distance on foot cradling her dainty form in his strong arms. Initially Soumya had struggled wanting to run back to her mother and her own imminent death but Harman had played deaf gripping her with an iron hold and soon she had given in resigning to sob against his chest drenching his shirt front in the process. The stress and her wounds had taken a toll on her and she had conveniently passed out for the rest of her journey. Harman had known that his family was leaving that day for his cousin's wedding and he would in fact have the house to himself bolstering his resolve to house Soumya while she and her mother recovered.
Sitting next to her he had held her by her arms "Ro kyun rahi hai?" he had asked gently. Soumya had refused to comment wiping her tears as fresh ones left her eyes. Some part of Harman had felt uncomfortable watching her cry, her tears held a power over him an idea he disliked, he had not allowed anything as trivial as tears to disturb him in life but her's did and that was inexplicable. "Waisey agar tuu apne aansoo donate kerde to Africa key paani ka to masla hee solve ho jayega" he had suggested. "Jee?..." Soumya had asked incredulously. "Haa jee" he had reiterated "ab dasso kyun ro rahi ho" he wanted to know. Soumya's lips had trembled as her dewy eyes had met his and Harman had been spellbound by her beauty once again. "Maa meri wajah sey kitni takleef main hain... aur aap" her eyes had travelled to his bandaged arm. "Hmm" he had mused so she felt guilty "Main kitni buri huun... sab meri wajah sey pareshaan rehte hain. Aap ney kyun bachaya mujhey" she had whispered.
Harman's hand had inadvertently wiped away her tears her skin velvety soft to his touch. Soumya had looked up at him startled at his bold move yet Harman noticed she did not flinch which had made him surprisingly happy. "Tuu aisa kyun sochti hai keh tuu buri hai?" he had inquired and Soumya had laid her palm on his bandage "Iss key baad bhi puch rahey hain?" she had counter questioned. "Kis ney kaha keh teri wajah sey hua yeh sab" he had murmured "Jo qismat likhta hai na who rabb hai tuu nahin, to phir kisi ki takleef ki wajah tuu kaisey ho sakti hai..." he had stated plainly. Soumya had watched him keenly, his unshaven face gave him a brazen look a trait she found extremely attractive. His eyes were puffy due to lack of sleep his messy hair and weary demeanor made Soumya realize he was indeed extremely tired. "Aap so jayiye" she had suggested lowering her eyes causing Harman to step out of his trance. He had nodded picking up his pillow he had thrown it on the couch followed by his body and within minutes he was fast asleep. She though spent a large part of that night watching Harman sleep, tracing his contours with her eyes memorizing every detail till she too had drifted to a peaceful slumber.
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