Part 13
It hadn't been long when Harman realized that she might fall asleep without yet having her medication the faster she healed the faster he could dispose her off he had returned to the room to find her indeed in a deep slumber. "Soumya" he had called out to her "Soumya" he repeated when she did not stir he had shaken her arm lightly. Soumya had woken up to see him stand beside her, her anger had still not subsided and she had turned her face away yet again this time though he was not going to let her off the hook easily. He was in no mood to stand hand and foot on her while she threw her childish tantrums in his opinion. "Get up" he had ordered in a voice that betrayed his agitation and she had been compelled to gaze at him, his commanding figure standing impatiently beside her. When she still showed no signs of movement he had in a fit of burning temper snatched the blanket off her and picked her up in his arms. "Till you're in my house you are going to do exactly what I want you to do" his tone though low was menacing kicking the washroom door open he had made her stand beside the basin. "Five minutes and I want you down at the table" he had held up his open palm his fingers numbering the minutes he had granted her as an act of absolute generosity on his part.
He had turned then leaving her alone and upset she had wept desperately sitting on the side of the bath tub what had she done to deserve such criminal treatment if he despised her to such an extent why did he just not get rid of her. Tears streamed through the gaps in her fingers as she covered her face crying pitifully her head hurt and all she wanted then was to curl up into a ball under the covers but she knew disobeying him was not an option. Standing up with a herculean effort she had splashed cold water on her face in an attempt to awaken her still asleep mind. She stared at her haggard form in the mirror afore her, her eyes were puffy there were bits of red in them indicating their tiredness. Rinsing her mouth thoroughly she had closed the tap wiping her face clean she had run a casual brush through her hair and had pulled it into a loose braid taking a deep breath she had stepped on the staircase and descended it slowly. Pulling out a chair she had sit opposite him feeling his intense gaze on her avoiding eye contact with him she had concentrated on the soup Kaka had placed before her staring at it disappointedly. "Drink!" had come a sharp command from across the table and Soumya had dipped the spoon in the thick and scalding hot mixture immediately. She would've placed it in her mouth next had Harman not held her hand "Its too hot" he had remarked and she had looked up at him then unable to understand his actions. She felt her hand sizzle under his strong hold and their eyes had collided. In that moment she had felt softness grace his gaze then "Let it cool" he had instructed her before unfolding his napkin and placing it on his lap. She had resigned to watching him for the next ten minutes trying her best to comprehend his thoughts though it seemed to be quite an impossible feat. After his first words to her he had busied himself in eating rarely glancing at her. She had delved herself in the mundane exercise of placing food in her mouth without any intentional effort to register the taste or texture.
Harman had looked up to find her eyes focused on her plate shuffling rice with her spoon "I asked you to eat not play around with the food" he had drawled. "I'm done" she had remarked highly strung pushing her chair back she had wished to retreat to the safety of her room when she had felt a heavy hand on her waist and in a smooth motion he had her in front of him captive, attentive and very much at his disposition. "You finish when I say you finish" he had breathed heavily on her face despite the primary wish to free herself Soumya had in that one moment been aware of a nagging yet disturbing feeling of being drawn to him. She had gasped then as he looked within her soul interpreting the cold sweat that had broken on her brow and she had lowered her gaze afraid of giving herself away in an instant. Releasing her Harman had noticed her tremble slightly was it due to fear or the extreme proximity he had just let her be subjected to he had wondered whatever the cause it had tamed her considerably crushing the furor and angst he had witnessed in her being earlier. Kaka had yet again been a silent observer of this encounter he had certainly been caught off guard when Harman had stopped Soumya from supping the hot soup, such concern was not known of him yet he had succumbed to the moment allowing himself to actually and for once care without having to think of what benefit he could extract out of it. Soumya sat silent as Kaka scooped ice-cream for her in a crystal bowl she had smiled then her eyes twinkling "Ice-cream" she had squealed and Harman had felt something stir within him. Soumya had thanked Kaka for being so kind as to treat her to such a delicacy and had dug in the rich creamy dessert relishing it her anguish had vaporized and she sat as happy as a lark licking the contents off her spoon like a two year old. A small smile had formed on Harman's lips as he saw her immersed in the activity he had left the table then his portion untouched maybe if he stayed he might ruin the perfect moment and with that thought he had risen. As they finished the meal the nurse had entered for her nightly vigil and Harman had given her explicit instructions to make Soumya have her medication before putting her to bed.
That night Soumya had tossed and turned in her bed the rigorous snoring on the nurse's part had her wishing she could get ear plugs and finally when the snores were beyond her bearing she had sit up in bed wide awake. Pushing away the covers she had stood up and walked to the doorway opening it wide she had stepped out in the corridor unable to decide what to do she made up her mind to check on her husband if luck was smiling she might be able to sneak a good night's sleep on his bed. Tiptoeing towards his room she had peeked in to find him burning the midnight oil working furtively on the laptop his eyes glued to the screen taking breaks in between to puff on an occasional cigarette. She screwed up her nose as the heavy waft of smoke reached it. He seemed pensive and Soumya had smiled to see him that way she had come to understand that he was quite a good human being, beneath his rough exterior there was a generous man. Making her way to the kitchen she had snapped on the lights brewing two cups of strong coffee for the both of them, minutes later she had strained the liquid and had ascended the stairs. Harman had proceeded to finalize the document when he heard a soft knock on the door looking up he was puzzled to see Soumya stand there, leaning back in his chair he had frowned however he had nodded in reluctant encouragement granting her permission to step in.
Approaching him she had offered him the aromatic coffee and he had smiled admonishing himself harshly the very next minute. Putting it to his lips he had supped in relief closing his eyes savoring the sweet bitterness as it slid down his throat. "Thanks" he had mumbled and she had smiled in acknowledgement "Why are you working so late?" she had questioned him her fingers tracing the lip of the cup "Have a meeting tomorrow" he had replied briskly rubbing his eyes leaning in on the appliance again. She had taken her seat on his bed and out of the corner of his eye he could see she was mustering up courage to ask him another question. "Why are you still awake?" he had inquired eyes still trained on the screen. "That nurse won't let me sleep" she had complained softly "Snoring again?" he had asked plainly though Soumya could swear his eyes had twinkled and she had merely nodded her head. "You can sleep here I'll be working as it is" he had offered her respite and she had sighed in much awaited relief. "Who was that girl that you kissed this evening" she had finally asked her voice though soft was laced with moisture and he could see she had blinked her eyes countless times to keep her tears at bay. "A friend" he had answered calculatedly "Do you have many friends like her?" she had questioned him next "Yes" he had answered truthfully making her gaze at him with an undoubted inebriation etched over her face. The revelation in itself was too much for her to handle and she had placed her half-drunk coffee on the bedside table before curling up on the bed shivering beneath the sheets. Try as she would she not stop the continual flow of tears that threatened to expose her otherwise calm demeanor, she tried to shush herself telling herself that it was his life and she was but a mere association to him. He had watched her with a feeling of grim satisfaction maybe it was better this way that she build no hopes around him and chain his otherwise carefree spirit though part of him knew he had wronged he could have lied told her that she was a colleague deranged and a lunatic. But then nearly all his acquaintances would have to be labelled as lunatics he himself was not a sane man either in his opinion having lost his balance of mind when he was fifteen life had after that turned into a ghoulish nightmare that had dragged him within a deep mire of shame and guilt. He had tried to concentrate on his report but failed to find the interest that could harness his otherwise dispersed thoughts, clicking his lap top shut he had trudged over to her side to see her tear stained face deep in slumber. Had he been a vicious beast again hurt someone because he himself had found no peace, his fingers had involuntarily caressed her cheek wiping away the remnants of fresh tears that graced them. Smoothing her errant strands he had tucked them behind her ear pulling the blanket up to her waist he had retired to the couch in the room tomorrow was yet another day.
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