She was eating her sub, looking outside the window. Her eyelashes were still teary. Another bite was on it’s way when someone loudly cleared his throat from behind her.
“Is there nothing for this poor fellow? I am starving.” Arjun made a sad face. Triss tried to smile but couldn’t manage. “Here..” She said politely. “Please have some, I am already full.” Though he didn’t say anything, it was not difficult for Arjun to understand she was miserable. “ Thanks a lot, your highness.” She smiled at him and turned her face back to the window. “ I am really sorry that I got busy with the other patients, as you can see I am on my shift already.” She nodded her head slowly and said, “it’s okay Arjun. You, Mr. Nagpati , you both are doing more than what I deserve. Thank You, really.” At this he placed his hands on her upper arms and turned her towards him. “You know what, I cannot see you like this. Tell me what can I do for you? Whatever it may be.. I’ll try.” She remained silent for a second and then said, “just bring her back to me, I don’t want to loose her.” Tears trailing down her cheeks. “I am all alone, I-I am all alone. I just want her to be alive, to be healthy. Please do something.” The dam broke and Arjun felt his hand pulling her against his chest instinctively. He was patting her head as he said, “ I will bring her back. Trust me.”
They were busy, busy enough to notice the hand that was holding the side of the door, tightened its grip. The man's eyebrows furrowed. He was standing there with one of his hands inside his pant pocket and the other controlling his increasing rage. But he could feel it loosing.
“Dr. Hembram!” He yelled at Arjun. His voice vibrated through the empty corridor. “Is something wro..” before Arjun could complete his sentence, he was pinned to the wall. He was choking and striving to breathe due to the hands that gripped his throat with a deadly strength. Triss was striving hard to pull his hands.
“ What are you doing? Mr. Nagpati, you need to stop. You are killing him. What’s wrong with you?” She was not getting any idea that could stop him. All of these events overwhelmed her. She was clueless as to what was going on.
"Nobody touches what is mine!" His cold and composed voice startled Triss. His eyes were furious, he wanted to rip him apart, tear him into pieces but in front of this little fragile thing even the Satan inside him was taming down.
She took a deep breath and collected herself. She had to do something.
“DEV!.. You are leaving him right now! Do you hear me? You leave him or see me doing something crazy that you might not like!” She was adamant and would have seriously done something. That confidence hit his nerves.
Arjun fell on the floor. He was shocked to the very core and was striving to breathe. She kneeled beside him. “Let’s go down to a doctor. You are hurt Arjun.” Arjun shook his head. “J-just bring me a bottle of water, will you?” Triss looked at him with genuine worry. “ You sure that will do?” He nodded and she stood up to leave. She turned her face to see the man who caused all these and was not surprised to find him as emotionless as usual. She couldn’t help but glare at him and left.
“Why? Why did you do that?” Arjun asked Dev. There was a long pause and finally it was broken. “I don’t know.” He was looking at the ceiling, both of his hands inside his pockets. His head hung behind.“Mr. Nagpati, it has been long since I know you. I know what you go through when this happens to you. It is not new to me. But do not do something in front of her. She is hurt and if I am guessing correctly you would not like to hurt her too.” To this he smirked and lowered his face to look at Arjun as he whispered, “do not touch her again and there will be no fuss, trust me.”
“You feeling okay now?” Triss was sitting on one of the benches facing Arjun beside him. “Yes ma'am." Smiled Arjun as he continued, "listen, you need to leave now. Go and take some rest.” She shook her head as she said, “ I cannot, I need to see her wake up.” Arjun knew this already. “ She might take some time to wake up Triss. I am here, I will call you the very moment she wakes up. You can come down immediately. But for now I want you to go back. Please.” She looked at him with disapproval. “Trust me, I’ll call you immediately.”
“I am not going back with you at any cost.” She shouted making Dev raise an eyebrow and start dragging her with her hand. “ I don't remember telling you that you have a choice.” He said with his usual coldness. She was trying hard to jerk his hand away, but that seemed impossible.
“ I don’t want to go with you. Can't you hear me? Let me go Dev! How could you be so relaxed after almost killing a person. What sort of a monster are you?” To this he gave an evil smirk. “The worst sort, Ms. Brown. Remember how you said you respect me just today morning. Don't you regret saying that now?” His eyes gave a hint of guilt but that turned back into the usual coldness immediately.
“No, I don’t. I feel pity for you that you strive so hard to prove yourself to be a monster.” He stopped midway and left her hand. “ What did you say? You pity me?” He turned around to face her. For the first time she felt nervous in front of this unpredictable man. She couldn’t look at his eyes. He was advancing towards her slowly. “Why are you looking at your shoes Teressa? You are a brave girl as far as I have sensed.” He was closing the remaining gap between them. “Look at me.” He said in his husky voice as he leaned closer, but she didn’t. She was frightened of his reaction. “Look at me, dammit!” He yelled and she flinched. He furrowed his eyebrows in surprise and took a few steps back. “D-did I just scare you?” He paused. Now she looked at him with her eyes filled with tears. “Fuck! What the hell did I do?” He ran his hand through his hair, he was panting. “This is what I have always feared. I should have never come closer to you. Fuck!” He turned around.
He heard slow footsteps behind him and then the car door opened. He turned his head to see Teressa climbing up on the seat.