She had no qualifications to be compared with Tina.
Navya continued looking at him. She was in surprise. Actually, she wanted to say ‘no’ but after recalling how violently he reacted just now she swallowed all the words that she wanted to say. He was angry because she refused him and if she again dared to oppose him then only God knew how he would behave.
Atharv grimaced and asked disdainfully “Why are you staring at me? Don’t look at me like that.” He said those words without glancing at her.
Navya immediately looked away from him. She was so embarrassed that her face turned crimson red and she wanted to hide somewhere. Biting her lower lip, she dug her nails on her palm and didn’t dare to lift her head. She continued looking down on her lap. Atharv didn’t pay any attention to her and continued driving looking only on the road.
After more than half an hour of drive, they reached the hospital and directly went to Dr. Shruti’s chamber. Dr. Shruti’s duty was over and she was about to leave when they barge into the chamber. Stunned, she looked up at them and didn’t react for a few seconds. “Why did you come so late?”
Atharv mustered a smile and said “Sorry doctor for coming.” He then looked down at the woman standing beside her and said “Please check her. Blood is coming out from her injury.”
He gestured Navya to go-ahead for a check-up. Navya glanced at him before she sat down on the chair for the patient. Atharv also sat down beside her.
Dr. Shruti frowned and looked down on her hand. Sighing, she removed the gauge and checked the injury. Her wounds opened up and it looked more severe than last time. Annoyed, Dr. Shruti cast a sharp look at Navya and asked “How did it happen?”
Navya lowered her head and replied, “I accidentally tripped off and fell on the ground.”
Dr. Shruti was angry this time and snapped “You accidentally burnt, you accidentally tripped off… how many things you do accidentally to injure yourself?”
Her sharp gaze shifted at Atharv momentarily and continued looking coldly at Navya. The look that Dr. Shruti cast at him just now, didn’t escape from Atharv’s sight. Pasting a crafted smile, he looked at Navya and said “She is a careless woman. But don’t worry doctor. I will make sure that she won’t get hurt further.” He then pushed a few strands of hair that were falling on her face behind her ear.
Navya skipped a beat and turned her head slowly to look at him, mouth agape. He was looking at her generously and Navya was casting a surprised look. After meeting his tender gaze, her heart started hammering inside her chest. Her ears turned red and her cheek where his finger brushed just now was itching slightly. She didn’t look away from his eyes and neither did he. The smile on his face was still there. She thought he was not only ruthless and cunning but also a good actor.
Dr. shruti’s face contorted to see the drama and said “OK, I got it. You need to be careful. If you continue injuring yourself like this then the healing process will be delayed and it may get infected.” They both looked at her.
Navya: “I will be careful.”
Atharv: “It won’t happen again.”
They both said at the same time and instantly looked at each other.
Shaking head, Dr. Shruti started cleaning her wound. Fifteen minutes later, they came out of the chamber after thanking Dr. Shruti and headed to the parking lot. It was almost ten at night and Navya panicked. She came out hurriedly without saying anything to Pushpa and now when she thought of going back home, she couldn’t help but shiver in fear. Her flustered face was not hidden from Atharv and he asked “Is anything troubling you?”
She nodded and said “Yes. I didn’t say Chachi that I am going out.”
Atharv held her arm to stop her and asked “Did you scared of your Chachi?” He frowned deeply and shot a questioning gaze at her.
Navya looked up at him but very soon she lowered her gaze and said in a low voice “She may be tensed. After all, it’s getting late.”
“If anything bothering you then you can tell me.”
Surprised, Navya looked up at him again. His intense gaze was fixed on her. For a few moments, she lost in those attractive eyes. At that time, she wanted to lean on him, share her problems that she was facing daily, and also wanted to forget all her sorrow, but very soon she came to the earth. She pulled off her gaze from him and sneered in her mind, thinking that how unreasonable was her wish. She and Atharv were from two different worlds and they would never meet together. He was someone that she couldn’t reach even in her dreams. She shouldn’t crave such a thing that would never come true. Shaking her head, she said “No… It’s nothing. Please drop me home.” She said those words without lifting her head.
Atharv wanted to know the reason for her injury but as she didn’t want to tell, he didn’t pursue further and strode out of the hospital. Navya followed him lowering her head. There was a deep silence inside the car. Navya looked out through the window in a daze. She didn’t know what could happen to her when she reached home but at that moment she didn’t want to think about all those unpleasant things. She was enjoying the night view of Mumbai. It was very rare for her to come out at night like this.
Atharv glance at her and his desire to know her more increased a bit. He was eager to know what type of problems she was dealing with. Initially, he only doubted that someone was torturing her but after seeing her wound, his all doubts cleared. Definitely, there was someone who was creating problems for her. But at the same time, another contradictory thought appeared in his mind which elevated his restlessness. Why should he care for her? Who was she? He shouldn’t indulge with a lowly waitress just because she was similar in look to Tina. How could he compare her with Tina? Compare?... No… She was not eligible to be compared with Tina.
Anger burnt his body when he thought of this. In the flow of emotion, he lost his mind and tried to look at Navya in the place of Tina. How could he do such an unfair thing to Tina? He was irritated and his expression turned gloomy. He was also feeling disgusted to think that Navya was sitting inside his car where Tina should be seated. He wanted to throw her out immediately, but he controlled his anger and drove the car at high speed.
Unaware of all these, Navya continued looking outside without a word. Very soon the car stopped in front of her apartment and she turned her head to say ‘good night’ to him, but before she could open her mouth to say it, Atharv’s cold voice sounded “Get out.” His expression was somber and his solemn gaze was fixed ahead.
Dumbfounded, Navya looked at him statically, eyes wide opened. When they were in the hospital, he was showing care for her and now he was behaving coldly as though he never bothered her. What happened during half an hour of the journey? Just as she was dazing, she heard him shouting “Get the fu*k out of here.”
Startled, she flinched and immediately opened the door. She got off the car and rushed to the apartment. Turning her head, she looked back only to see the car running away from there, speedily. Placing her hand on her chest, she tried to calm down her rapidly beating heart and walked inside, but someone was shooting a doubtful look at her who was sitting on a bike, opposite the apartment.