Her Piercing Gaze

23

Khuhsi's POV

I woke up with a pounding headache. I look at the clock only to realise I've probably slept for hours and hours. I quickly got off the bed and ran downstairs. Everyone is in the dining room with a serious expression on their faces. I cleared my throat to get their attention. Everyone looks at me at once and starts bombarding me with questions, especially maa. Not knowing what to say I look at Mr. Agarwaal, just to find him looking at me. I try to tell him to save me through my eyes and thankfully he gets it.

"Arey woh abhi toh uthi hain. Baad main jitne sawal puchne hain, puch lena, lekin abhi usko ko khane do" 

(she's literally just woken up. Ask her all the questions you want later but let her eat right now)

Grateful, I took a seat at the dining table. I was about to serve myself but Mr. Agarwaal sets a plate in front of me and serves me breakfast. Well, lunch really. Shocked and touched I smile slowly but I wonder if he's doing this out of pity. I was about to eat but then I realised something. I glanced at my clothes then at everyone around me. I'm not wearing the clothes I was wearing before. Whoever changed me, had to see all the scars. I start to freak out and ask Mr. Agarwaal in a hushed whisper "who changed my clothes?"

"Zoya bhabi and Nidhi were the ones who changed you and cleaned your injuries' 'He said easing some of my worries but I still stiffened at the thought that they saw my scars. I'll talk to them after lunch, I thought. Lunch was delicious as always. There was rajma chawal, chole and shahi paneer. Bade din baad pet bhar ke khaya hain. 

(I've eaten to my heart's content after a long time)

Satisfied with my lunch, I get up and take the dishes into the kitchen and start to help clean the dishes. Before I could even do anything dadi stopped me and said "tum rehne do. Tabait tumhari theek hai nahi to phir hamara aur nuksan kar waigi"

 (you leave it, you're not feeling well so you'll just make things worse)

Angered by her words I was about to reply but then thought better of it, especially, seeing Zoya bhabi pleading in the corner not to say anything. Sighing, I leave the kitchen and go find Mr. Agarwaal. He was in his study with papa, dadu, Jai and Veer bhaiya. Surprisingly his study was bright unlike our room.

I was getting tired from standing up so I sat down in the closest chair not realising it was Mr. Agarwaal's. I was about to get up when he said "It's fine love, I know you're tired"

I start to blush at 'love'. He's never called me that before. Ignoring what he said, I got up and immediately started telling them what happened.

"How badly were you injured? Nidhi and Zoya haven't told us anything yet" Dadu asked with a concerned tone.

"Not that much. I'll be fine"

"That's why it took you almost 12 hours to wake up, right?," Mr. Agarwaal said

Not replying I start to tell them about what happened, leaving out the gruesome details of course. I also told them about the part where he offered me to work for him.

"NO!" I hear three voices saying at once.

"You are not going to risk your life and go undercover just to confirm that they are the ones sending us threats" Mr. Agarwaal said in a fury

"I agree, khushi this is too dangerous" Jai bhaiya said

"My job is to protect you guys by all means necessary even if it means risking my life.'"

"We can figure out something else," Veer bhaiya said.

"We could but that would put all of you guys in even more danger,"