Taking her to the hospital

Very soon the car entered into the parking lot of a well-known hospital in Mumbai and Atharv walked into the hospital holding Navya’s hand. He directly went to the emergency ward and one lady doctor was there on duty. The doctor checked Navya and asked, frowning “How did you burn like this?”

Navya’s face turned pale. Lowering her head, she said, “I accidentally burnt while cooking.” Her voice was low and shaky.

The doctor cast a suspicious gaze at Navya and creasing her brows tight, she looked at Atharv, who was busy doing something on the phone. Her expression was unpleasant. Pulling back her eyes from Atharv, she concentrated on Navya. She removed the dead skin, cleaned her wounds, and after applying the ointment, she wrapped her hand with a gauge.

Shooting a cold gaze at Atharv, the doctor said “She is suffering from second-degree burn and it will take two to three weeks to heal. She needs to apply some ointments and her dressing needs to be changed on daily basis. She can change at home but it will be good if she comes here for a checkup.”

Atharv’s gaze shifted momentarily to the doctor from his phone and said “OK, she will come here for check-up daily.”

The doctor was casting a disgusting look at Atharv and her face darkened. Unaware of this, Atharv continued working on his phone. Navya was also sitting quietly, looking down on her lap.

Sighing, the doctor said, looking at Navya “Don’t worry, you will get well soon. The scar will also fade away after some days but the scar that curved in the heart won’t fade easily, so don’t always bear quietly. Sometimes you need to protest also. Do you understand what I am saying?”

They both looked up at the doctor instantly. Navya understood what she meant, so she nodded and said in a low voice “I understand.” Then she lowered her head and continued looking down on her lap.

On the other end, baffled, Atharv cast a puzzled look at the doctor, who was shooting back a hot glare at him. His expression turned perplexed and shifted his gaze at Navya. “OK, I will bring her tomorrow again.”

The doctor then said “Tomorrow come to my chamber. Tell the reception that you need an appointment with Dr. Shruti. They will arrange everything and don’t forget to take the medicines.” She then passed the prescription to Navya. With a faint smile, Navya took the prescription.

After saying “thank you” to the doctor they came out of the emergency room and Navya went to the reception to take the appointment while Atharv was busy buying the medicines from the hospital pharmacy.

Atharv’s expression was thoughtful and his eyebrows were knitted tightly. When they reached the parking lot, he couldn’t help but ask “Why did the doctor say that you need to protest? Is any one troubling you?”

Navya was speechless. How could she tell him that the burn was the result of her aunt’s torture? Her face turned as white as paper and a wave of chill ran through her spine up and down. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she said, looking up at him “It was just a normal conversation. She might have thought that someone tortured me. Don’t think too much.”

After saying this she walked past him. Atharv stood there motionlessly, narrowing his eyes, mouth slightly opened. Nodding slightly, he cocked his head on one side and looked at her back. Creasing his brows, he asked, “Did she think that I tortured you?”

Navya’s steps froze in the track and turned back to look at him instantly. Dumbfounded, she questioned back without replying to him “What are talking about?” Her gaze was fixed on his eyes, brows tightly knitted.

Walking towards her, he said, “The way she was looking at me shows that she thinks I am torturing you.”

He was standing just in front of her, looking down at her indifferently.

Opening her mouth wide, she looked up at him in bewilderment. For a few moments, their eyes were locked and no one was making a sound. ‘Is this man gone crazy? Why the doctor should think like this?’ Inhaling shortly, Navya said “You are overthinking. I think we should leave now.”

With that, she shifted her gaze from him and walked to the car.

He also followed her and asked “No, tell me one thing… Do I look so inhuman?”

Navya stopped walking and looked back at him speechlessly. She heard him saying “No… I mean… How can she think that I burnt you? Am I looked that cruel?”

‘Mr. Ahuja, you look like a ferocious lion.’ She muttered in her mind but she said “You shouldn’t bother what other people think about you. You know who you are better than anyone else. Then why do you care?”

After dropping these words, she turned and continued walking again. This time Atharv didn’t say anything and walked to the car. Opening the door, he got in the car. Navya also sat down on the passenger seat and tried to fasten the seat belt, but she heard his cold voice “I will do that. You need to take care of your hand.”

Navya was touched deeply by his words. Other than her brother, no one said such caring words to her. She felt warm in her heart and tears pricked her eyes.

Atharv extended his hand to pull the seat belt leaning on her. The faint smell of the cologne hit her nostrils and her heart thumped loudly. Lowering her head, she shrunk back on the seat.

Atharv’s movement froze and his head turned to look at her. Her face was so close to his. Her pink lips were catching his attention and for a few seconds he couldn’t tear off his eyes from her lips.

Navya’s breathing quickened and her face turned completely red under his sharp gaze. She clasped her skirt tightly and tried to remain calm.

Atharv sensed her uneasiness and pull back his gaze. He fastened the seatbelt quickly and started the engine. Then only Navya heaved a small sigh secretly and stole a glance at him. His full concentration was on driving. Navya then looked outside. Her heart was still beating wildly. The environment inside the car was awkward and no one uttered a single word.

After around an hour of drive, they entered her locality and as usual, she asked him to drop there. Atharv parked the car on the roadside and said indifferently “Tomorrow I will come to pick you up in the evening. Be ready.”

Shaking her head, Navya denied instantly “No need. I can go by myself. You don’t need to worry.”

Frowning, he asked, looking coldly at her “And who will clear the misunderstanding?”

“What?” Astounded, Navya’s brows furrowed and cast a puzzled look at him.

Annoyed, Atharv’s expression turned gloomy and said, casting an unpleasant look at her “Why are you so shocked? I am very cautious about my image. I need to clarify that I am not an uncivilized and a barbaric person.”

Helpless, Navya only looked at him. After sometimes she said, “Well, thank you for dropping me.”

She tried to smile a little and opened the car to leave. Atharv drove away immediately, once she got off the car. Shaking her head, Navya started walking to her apartment. But she didn’t notice that when she was coming out of the Mercedes, a taxi crossed from there and one pair or prying eyes were shooting a stern glare at her.