Blood And Blossoms

Chapter VII

8:30 pm on the same day:
Mr. D'Souza came out of the shop, while someone was keeping an eye on him. That person waited till the right time. As soon as Mr. D'Souza entered an empty lane,he was attacked by that anonymous person. He tried to escape before loosing his consciousness by attacking that person on his hand but failed.

That person took him to an old basement where he was tied to a chair under a single yellow bulb hanging. The person put a tape on his mouth to silent his weeping cries.

Tears were rolling from Mr. D'Souza's eyes as he saw his death standing in front of him. He tried very hard to set himself free. Tried to beg for his life in muffled voice. But that person was cruel. He took out a nail and hammered it into his hand. He screamed his lungs out but his voice wasn't heard by anyone.

After setting Mr. D'Souza's another hand on flame and pouring alcohol on his hand, the person broke the bottle and banged his face on the glass pieces. His face that was once covered with wrinkles, was now covered in blood. The man in his 40's who was planning for his 60's was no more, after his throat was opened up by the anonymous person.

Mr. D'Souza was dead at 9:00 pm on 15/06/23
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9:30 pm
"You are home so early?" Anaya asked Ishika as soon as she opened the door with the keys and saw Ishika moving towards her room.
"Yeah. I just came 15 minutes ago, Parth had to leave early due to family emergency."
"Sad!"
"Did you get the book?"
"No. It was out of stock."
"Sad part 2."
While Anaya was closing the door behind her, she saw Ayaan moving towards his house. His shirt was covered in blood.
"Oh my God! What happened? Is that blood?" Anaya asked Ayaan.
"Yes. While I was on my way back, I saw a dog was injured and bleeding. So I took him to the veterinary. It's his blood."
"That's so kind of you. And what about that wound on your hand?"
"The same piece of glass that injured the dog gave me a cut."
"Ohh. Come in and I'll do the first aid treatment for you." Anaya felt resentful seeing his wound.
"It's okay. I'll manage. Thank you" he replied politely.
"Just come inside already!" Ayaan made a small laughter and raised his hands in surrender before entering.

Anaya took a cotton swab and applied Dettol to it. She held Ayaan's hand and started cleaning the wound.
"Does it hurt?" Anaya asked while cleaning it carefully with full focus.
"Not anymore" Ayaan replied as his eyes stayed on Anaya.
Anaya looked up and their eyes met. They were lost into each other's eyes and unintentionally their fingers entwined. Holding hands is purest for of intimacy, right?
Yeh moh moh ke dhaage teri ungliyo se jaa uljhe started playing in background. (It must be Ishika in her room.)
Anaya was unaware of what she is doing
That she was holding AYAAN'S hand. She just knew that she is liking whatever is going on and never wanted it to end. She wanted to stay there. As it is. She felt different. She felt new. She-
"Ese mat dekhiye, pyaar ho jaayega" Ayaan said bringing her attention back.
(Don't see me like this or else you'll fall in love with me)
What was I thinking. Rubbish. I guess I need to sleep. The dizziness is making my head heavy leading me to think inappropriate things. I should just stop over thinking. "Me? In love? With you? Neverr!" she uttered but couldn't hide the slurry in her voice.
"Well it seems the quiet opposite to me, or else why would you hold my hand for so long?" Ayaan smirked.
Anaya's gaze travelled from his face to their hand and again on his face. "I.. it was.. " I should take my hand away! Yes I should. But she was mortified.
She then took her hand away slowly and was dishearten. She regretted letting go his warm embrace. Their fingers had locked with each other so perfectly, as if their hands were made for each other. The softness of her hand against his rough one seemed heavenly to them.
Anaya looked in the opposite direction trying to hide her face that just turned pink and then turned two tones darker.
"Aap sharmati bhi hai?" he tried to tease her. (So even you feel shied?)
Listening to him, she couldn't stop blushing, her pink cheeks were turning red.
"It's done. You must be getting late. Good night." she said hurriedly and half smiling.

Hey readers! I hope you liked this chapter. Now keep on guessing who murdered Mr. D'Souza and why? And to know the answer, stay tuned.