An Inconvenient Flame

Chapter 25

My fingers are shivering as I stare at the calendar. Tomorrow Bashar's men will come searching for me. Threatening to steal away the one thing I rejoice the most- My freedom.

Even after selling some of my gold ornament I am still short of four lakhs. What will happen if I fail to repay him? will his men forcefully drag me away as Ivaan watches? Or will Bashar himself come knocking?

I shake my head violently, No no no, I can't let that happen. 

Should I tell Abhiraj about the situation, will he help me? But then I'll have to explain him the whole dimension of my relationship with my sister.

I take a deep breath, trying to calm my frenzied thoughts. No, I cannot involve him in my mess. He has already done too much by accepting Ivaan. And secondly I cannot let him know about my negligence and ask him to save me from it.

Digging my fingers into my hair, I sink onto the bed. I rack my brains, trying to think of anyone who can help me.

Wiping furious tears from my eyes, I stand up and begin pacing. There has to be somewhere I can get the money. I cannot lose myself to Bashar. Ivaan needs me. I need me.

In my disrupted state, I knock a glass off the side table. It shatters loudly on the floor. The noise startles me from my panic for a moment. 

"Tinkerbell! Are you alright? I heard a crash..." I jolt and turn around as he stands across the room.

His eyes fall on the shattered glass and he frowns.

I open my mouth but no words come out. How can I explain any of this to him?

"Tinkerbell."

"I am sorry." I come out of trance. "I was picking up the glass and I-I..." My words taper off as he steadily moves towards me.

Why is he coming near me? Did I do something wrong?

"I-I'll clean it up." I mutter, but he's already standing in front of me.

He furrows his brows at he stares. His eyes shift to my hand.

"What's troubling you?" He grasps my fist, prying open my fingers, which were mercilessly digging into my skin.

"Nothing...I was thinking about something and this silly accident happened." I force a tight smile and bend down to pick up the jagged pieces, avoiding his gaze. I wish you could see my suffering.

I feel his gaze on me, prying on my actions. But how can I burden him with the ugly truth? This mess is of my own making.

My hands tremble as I gather the broken shards, blinking back tears. Suddenly a sharp jagged piece catches me off guard and slices into my skin.  

"Ouch!" I wince, feeling warmth spreading where the glass has cut into me. Warm blood begins to ooze from the fresh cut.

"Ishika!" Abhiraj's sharp voice makes me flinch. He grabs my wrists stopping me from trying to pick up the glass. "That's enough." His eyes flash with anger as he knocks the glass from my hand.

"What do you think you're trying to do? Do you want to hurt yourself further with your carelessness?"

He pulls me up, and inspects my bleeding palm. His frown deepens as he sees how deep the cut is. Without a word, he drags me to bathroom sink and shoves my hand under the tap, rinsing away the blood. 

I bite my lip tightly to keep me from crying, the cold water hitting my raw wound. It hurts like a bitch. He squeezes my wound to stop the blood from flowing. His jaw is clenched, muscles in his cheek ticking.