Strings Attached ✨

27. The Confrontation

"Have you lost your senses? If you draw any more attention than you already have, both of us are doomed." .....she scolded, glaring at him with her eyes.

This time, his eyes widened as he scoffed sarcastically.

"You're allowed to tug at my wound and I'm not even allowed to express my pain?"...he questioned.

She raised a brow, glaring at him.

"Did I tell you to run a blade through your finger for fun?" ...she questioned mockingly.

He was silenced now.

She pulled him towards the bed, and sat him down before she went towards a cupboard to retrieve a small wooden box.

She brought it and sat beside him, opening it to take out a small ball of cotton. She cleaned the blood carefully with a bit of water. Now the cut was visible clearly and its depth was considerable. She went towards the balcony and bent down to pluck a few leaves of the plant growing in a small vase.

She crushed it between her palms to extract a little of its fluid content as she walked back towards him.

She applied the extract to the wound.

" owww...its burning." ....a small whimper left his mouth, but he shut his mouth as soon as he looked up to see her glaring even more intensely.

She finished treating it and sealed the wound with a small piece of clean cloth taken from the wooden box.

Now she stood up straight to see him staring at her with a smile plastered on his lips.

"Really? Is it that enjoyable?"

The smile on his face dropped, but his eyes were still sparkling.

Ruh shook her head once again.

All this while, jihan who kept lying on the bed despite of everything, jumped into Agastya's lap. He snuggled and made himself comfortable.

Ruh kept looking at him with disbelief.

Agastya chuckled, patting his head.

"He clearly likes me more than you." .....this irked Ruh very much.

She went ahead and took jihan from his lap, and turned back. Whatever her plan was after that, it flopped miserably when Agastya pulled her into his lap.

Now she was in his lap, and jihan was in her lap.

"Solved. No one is jealous now." .....he said as he wrapped his hands around jihan over Ruh's hand and leaned on her back.

"Is it fun?" ...she questioned.

"I'm going to need more than just that. What is fun?" ....he questioned as he continued to hold her like that.

"Getting yourself in danger and trespassing just to meet me?" ......she said slowly this time.

He chuckled.

"Maybe, but definitely not more than getting pampered by you." ...he said as he laughed lightly.

"Stop me, Ruh, before I cut myself more frequently just to see you worried for Me." ....this time his voice was deep, conveying his unfiltered feelings.

She kept silent, and he picked up the hint to keep speaking.

"If I ever end up committing something wrong, please stop me, and forgive me. Know that I did it for you. Most importantly, be there to tell me the wrong and help me overcome it with right. Just be with me, never leave Me." ....his hold tightened around her.

She was confused, but his vulnerability didn't allow her to question anything.

"How did you get the cut?"......she diverted the topic.

She felt him tensing up.

"You already know it, I was playing with the blade of the sword." ........he closed the topic.

She turned towards him.

"What is it?" ...her voice was stern now.

He smiled briefly, almost a sad one before he left her. As she stood up, he followed.

He looked at jihan in her lap, and ran a hand through his head lovingly.

Without saying anything, he turned back, going towards the balcony.

"You didn't answer me."

"Just remember what I said. I don't know what fate has planned for us, but I need you to stay with me if hard times arise."

She was left confused as he took a swift look downwards before going over the balcony on the opposite side. As he jumped, Ruh felt her heart thump against her chest. She ran towards the balcony instantaneously and looked down only to see him looking up with a smirk.

She was looking at him wide-eyed. "It's really fun." ...he mouthed as he laughed slightly.

*****************************************************************************

(outside the boundary walls of Rajvanshi fort) 

As Agastya emerged from within the trees covering the boundaries of the palace, Aksh stood waiting on his horse.

"They really need to focus on their security system first before trying to expand territories." ...Aksh said as he shook his head.

Agastya looked back at the fort.

"indeed." ...he worded before he turned back again and climbed on avneesh.

Aksh noticed the wound on his fingers wrapped by the cloth when pulled the lead rope to urge avneesh to move.

He smiled slightly, pulling the lead rope of his own horse as the two of them rode back.

As they crossed the forest, the galloping of another horse was heard at a distance.

"Stop here!" ....Agastya said as he stopped avneesh.

The two of them concealed themselves within the thick belt of trees, waiting to discover who it as.

After a few minutes, the galloping turned even louder.

Soon, they saw the horse riding back towards the fort.

"It's Aadhrit." ...Aksh said as soon as he recognized the person riding the horse.

His speed was way above usual. So much so that he crossed the place in less than a minute.

"It doesn't seem like he'll surrender." .....Aksh said slowly as Aadhrit passed by.

"Doesn't concern us." ......Agastya said as he pulled on the lead rope of avneesh once again, catching speed.