Austerity

. f i f t e e n .

CONTINUED-

Author's POV

Pushing aside all other thoughts, Avinaash's instincts took over as he sprinted towards Roohi, urgently calling out, "Roohi, wait! You're not okay!"

As Roohi's headache began to subside, she glanced behind her to see Avinaash rapidly approaching. Sensing his proximity, she quickened her pace, descending the stairs of the temple with determination. Avinaash, seeing her hasten, matched her stride, closing the gap between them.

Reaching her sandals, Roohi hastily slipped them on, her heart pounding with urgency. Just as she turned to make her escape, Avinaash's hand closed around her wrist, preventing her from fleeing any further. His grip was firm, determined to halt her retreat.

"LEAVE ME ALONE, YOU MONSTER!" Roohi's voice echoed through the temple, drawing the attention of passing devotees.

Some of them stepped forward to offer help, but their efforts were prevented by Avinaash's imposing bodyguards, who had been waiting outside the temple all along. Forming a protective circle around their boss, they barred anyone from intervening.

As the crowd looked on, a sense of pity washed over them for the girl who seemed to be in the clutches of someone they perceived as a devil incarnate.

"Monster!?" Avinaash chuckled darkly, his voice dripping with menace. "You haven't seen my monster side yet, Roohi."

Leaning in closer, Avinaash's intense black eyes bore into Roohi's hazel brown ones, sending a chill down her spine. Each word he spoke carried a weight that seemed to suffocate the air around them. "And what made you think I am a monster!?"

Roohi refused to cower, her resolve steeling her against the fear threatening to engulf her. She held his gaze steady, her voice unwavering as she emphasized each word. "You. are. a. monster. who. abuses. little. children. taking. advantage. of. them. being. orphaned."

Avinaash's expression flickered, a shadow of confusion crossing his features as Roohi's accusation hit home. He stood straight. 

Maintaining his icy demeanour, Avinaash narrowed his eyes at Roohi, his voice retaining its cold, authoritative tone. "Children?" he questioned, his words sharp and cutting. "What nonsense are you spouting now, Roohi? Speak sense, or don't speak at all."

"I am speaking nonsense!? Seriously, Mr. Oberoi" Roohi scoffed and a sarcastic chuckle left her mouth "Ohh sorry, you might have forgotten because of numerous of bad deeds you've committed" 

She looked into his eyes, "Itne saare paap karne ke baad, saare thodi yaad honge aapko"

(After committing so many sins, you might not remember all of them)

Avinaash's eyes darkened. Unconsciously, his grip on her wrist tightened, causing Roohi to yelp in pain. Avinaash's expression remained stoic, his jaw clenched tightly as he struggled to contain the tempest of emotions raging within him.

Roohi yelped in pain, "Leave me, it is hurting." 

Avinaash loosened his grip on Roohi's wrist without a word, though his expression remained cold and impassive. In his characteristic icy tone, he demanded, "Care to elaborate Lieana, which children are you talking about"

Roohi, trying to free her wrist from his clutch, stopped her attempts and looked towards him. Anger fuelled her words as she retorted, "Little Sunshine Orphanage. Ring any bells, Mr. ACF!? Or you have already forgotten" 

Hearing this, a small chuckle escaped his mouth as if mocking her, "I see Roohi, you have misunderstood.....like always"

A shiver ran down Roohi's spine as she heard her name roll off Avinaash's tongue in such a cold, dismissive manner.