Unwanted [COMPLETED]

Chapter 37

Nandini

"I have injected the painkiller, Nandini. The blood I drew earlier will be taken to the laboratory, where they will investigate it and find what drug was injected into you. That will help us know if you'll have any lasting side effects of the drug.

"For now, I have thoroughly done your physical examination and didn't find any serious effect of the drug on you. I'll call Vikrant after I get your test results," the doctor says, and I nod at her.

Sitting on the bed with my back leaning against the headboard, I keep staring ahead, too shaken to say anything.

I hear low murmurs around me, and I know Vikrant and his parents are currently gathered around me and talking about me. Although I'm trying to phase out what they are talking about, I do realize that they must be discussing my condition with the doctor.

The pain from that drug is still in my body.

My head is still throbbing, although it has decreased much in intensity after the doctor injected the painkiller earlier.

But what about the pain I feel from what happened after Aastha hid me inside Rishabh's secret room?

What about the raw angst jolting my entire being because I'm unable to erase the heart-wrenching screams of Aastha when Rishabh slashed her body repeatedly with the belt?

How do I lessen the overwhelming hurt and guilt about Aastha having to suffer so much at the hands of Rishabh and his men because she helped me hide?

No painkiller can lessen the angst I feel due to it.

Nothing in the world will ever be able to lessen it.

Closing my eyes, I recall what happened an hour back before Vikrant reached Rishabh's place to rescue me.

Still slumped on the floor of the hidden room where Aastha had pushed me earlier, I felt guilt overwhelm me.

I knew I needed to go after Rishabh to the basement and try to stall him so Vikrant could reach him and get him caught.

But no matter how much I tried, I was unable to stand up and punch the damn buttons on the wall to get myself out.

Such a coward you are, Nandini. My inner voice mocked, and I curled my body into a ball, sobbing as I pathetically waited for Vikrant to come and get me out of there.

"Nandini, you are safe now. You are in your house," Vikrant's soothing voice brings me back to the present.

Looking around, I see we are now alone in the room.

The doctor, as well as Mom and Dad, are nowhere to be seen.

"Everyone left," Vikrant tells me. "The doctor has advised you need—"

"Need to find Aastha." I interrupt him, my voice barely above a whisper.

My throat is still hurting due to whatever drug Rishabh had injected into me before abducting me.

His thought sends a chill down my spine, my mind transporting me back to those few moments when I had been in his house.

I was still curled up on the floor, sobbing as I remembered how Rishabh had beaten Aastha for letting me get away when I heard Vikrant's voice coming through the television.

"Nandini, are you here? Nandini?"

Never had I ever felt such overwhelming relief hearing his voice as I felt at that moment.