Love Me

43

"Check her cut now," Daksh mumbled, making Roshni lie on her back. She hesitated and held his hand, shaking her head slightly to tell him not to tell Ayaan about the injury.

"It’s bleeding too much, Roshni," Daksh whispered, caressing her hair.

"Where is the cut? And how did she cut herself? Roshni, be careful with knives, and if you can’t, then let Daksh handle all the knife work," Ayaan said nonchalantly, pulling a chair by the bed and sitting down, ready to examine her cut.

"It’s on her thighs," Daksh whispered. He carefully lifted her kurta, but Roshni grabbed his hand to stop him. Ayaan frowned when his eyes fell on the big red spot spreading on her pajama.

"Wait… where did she exactly get hurt and how?" Ayaan asked, looking between Daksh and Roshni.

"I will explain later—"

"No, Daksh. I want my answer now. What case is this?" Ayaan’s tone shifted, his demeanor turning serious.

"Self-harm," Daksh answered quietly, not meeting Ayaan’s eyes. He pulled the blanket over Roshni to cover her upper body, then carefully slid her pajama down.

"Cover her properly," Ayaan ordered, scanning her thighs where multiple cuts were visible. Almost without realizing, his fingers brushed against one. His eyes snapped to Roshni, who had her eyes closed. Anger bubbled inside him, but he composed himself and then roughly pulled the blanket away.

"Can’t you see the blanket is touching her cuts?" Ayaan snapped at Daksh. He pressed cotton against one wound, making Roshni hiss.

"It’s okay, Roshni," Daksh said, rubbing her arm.

"Ayaan, don’t press it like this it’s hurting. Leave me, this will heal in a few days," Roshni protested, trying to free herself, but Daksh placed his palm firmly on her knees, not allowing her to move.

Ayaan ignored her and kept working. When the bleeding finally slowed, he sighed in relief.

"Give me some space. I need to wrap your thigh with a bandage," he said. Pulling out white bandages from his bag, he applied the medicine and began wrapping the wound carefully.

"Don’t let water touch it. I’ll change the bandage in a few days," Ayaan instructed Daksh, then started packing his bag.

"So I’m leaving," he said, looking only at Daksh.

"No, at least stay for dinner, Ayaan. Aren’t you tired?" Roshni asked. He didn’t even glance at her and answered Daksh instead.

"I’m not hungry. Daksh, I’ll see you later." With that, he left.

Roshni bit her lip, struggling to hold back her tears.

"He must be going out with his friends. Don’t worry, let me bring food for you," Daksh said gently. She shook her head.

"I just want to sleep," she whispered, stretching her hand before closing her eyes and turning to the other side.

Daksh lay down beside her. An hour later, when he thought Roshni was asleep, he turned her to face him and kissed her lips softly, over and over.

"What should I do to make you stop hurting yourself? I can’t think of any way. If this continues, I won’t talk to you anymore go talk to your blades," he murmured bitterly, before moving lower to her belly.

Gently lifting her kurta, he caressed her stomach.

He lay down with his head resting against her tummy, his hand splayed protectively over it.

"Baby, you have to go… don’t worry, just come back after some years. Your mumma is not ready yet, and I love your mumma too much to compromise. It’s not like we don’t love you we do, so much. But your mumma is more important right now. Remember, your dad loves you, but his love for your mother is just a little too much."