Love or Retribution?

Chapter 24

"Subhi ma, Subhi, look at me, come on", Bhargav tried waking Subhashini as he carried her from the walk in closet to his bed.

"Indira, Indira, Indira", Nikhil too called for her in panic, walking along with them.

Her mother followed them silently.  A pang of guilt hit her hard knowing her sudden appearance is also one of the reason for Subhashini to loose her consciousness.

"I know who you all are, so no need for any introduction",  Thomson's voice came from the monitor.

Bhargav looked towards the closet room and then at Subhashini helplessly.

Nikhil's eyes too went inside for a second.

"Place her flat on the bed, remove the pillow", her mother said looking at the two confused guys.

"Nikhil, you go and take care of things happening there, we will take care of Subhashini", she said looking at Bhargav who slowly placed her on the bed, flat, as he was told.

"How..? How do you know my name? ", Nikhil stammered with doubt.

"Later, I will explain everything later, I am her mother, so trust me and leave my daughter with me, please go and handle that", she said in a commanding voice which resembled Indira's a lot.

"Oh.. Okay", Nikhil said with hesitation as he looked at confused Bhargav.

"Brother, you please take care of Indira, I will handle everything there", he said in a comforting tone and walked into the room.

Bhargav felt like he couldn't comprehend anything anymore. The commotion from the inn's yard indicated that the party was winding down. He looked outside the window and then at Subhashini who was lying there motionless.

"You can go too if you want, I will take care of her", she said looking at Bhargav.

Bhargav stared at her for a minute and then sat on the bed next to Indira silently. He slowly started to run his fingers through her hair when he heard her mother's voice.

"Here", she said handing him a bottle of water.

He hesitated for a second but then got the bottle from her.

"Wipe her eyes and face slowly with water", she said as she waited for him to follow her instruction.

Bhargav did exactly as he was told with little water, but there was no reaction.

"More, wet her whole face but don't pour it on her", she again instructed.

Without speaking a word Bhargav did as he was told, but still there was no reaction, he looked at her mother, worried.

"Wait", she said as she continued to stay fixated on her daughter.

A slight movement in his hands caught his attention, that Bhargav changed his sight from mother to daughter immediately.

Subhashini slowly opened her eyes and tried to get up.

She looked confused for a second and scanned the room slowly, her body shivered as she saw her mother there that she almost fell back on the bed, but a hand immediately wrapped around her shoulder and pulled her into a hug, breaking her fall and slowly calming her down.

She comfortably dug her face into his chest without thinking twice.

He let her stay there and calm herself down for a minute. He placed a strong kiss on top of her head and slowly lifted her face.

"Are you okay?", he asked looking at her, while making her take a sip of water from the bottle.

She nodded her head and got the bottle from his hand.