Lotus among the Roses

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Kumud's body felt like lead, exhaustion weighing her down as she pressed a trembling hand to her side. The sharp pain beneath her ribs had returned with a vengeance, reminding her of her previous knife wound. Blood seeped through the fresh bandages, staining her palm as she pulled her hand away.

"Damn it!" he cursed softly, as she swayed slightly but forced herself to remain upright. There was no time for weakness. She had already wasted enough energy on..... Vyom.

Her thoughts faltered.

His cold voice still rang in her ears, his rigid back turned away from her, his words sharper than a dagger. "....... For the first time, I'm being exactly what you asked me to be."

Kumud clenched her fists, as her heart filled with an unfamiliar pain..... a pain she never experienced before... and this wound was caused her.....

He was right.

She had built the walls between them herself. She had told herself that attachment was dangerous, that she could not afford to be vulnerable.

And yet, it seemed to have attached herself to this person...... and it hurt. It hurt so bad.

Just then, a sharp knock on the door broke her from her thoughts. Renuka entered swiftly, her expression tight with worry. " Miss! Are you okay? You're bleeding again. Please sit down quickly...... Let me help you....."

Kumud exhaled sharply, exhaustion seeping into her bones.

"I'll change the bandages myself....." Kumud said in a monotone voice.

Renuka clicked her tongue, stepping forward with determined hands. "Can't let that happen. Can I now? I'll help you anyways.... you're my miss..."

 Without waiting for permission, she helped Kumud out of her saree, unwrapping the bloodied cloth with careful hands.

  The room was completely silent except for the rustling of fabric and the soft clink of a small brass bowl as Renuka dipped her fingers into the herbal salve.

"You push yourself too hard Miss, Sometimes it is good to take a step back....." she murmured as she applied the medicine with light, practiced touches.

Kumud exhaled, her lips curling into a faint, sad smile. "And yet, I'm still standing..... "

Renuka said nothing at first as her fingers working deftly while she rewrapped the bandages. But after a moment, she spoke, her voice thoughtful. "Standing is one thing, miss... but should you always stand alone? Can't you let the person in your heart stand together with you? ..... Holding your hand? "

Kumud stiffened, before smiling and shaking her head. 

Renuka's words were spoken with the utmost care, but their meaning was unmistakable. She did not press further, simply adjusting the bandages with precise, steady hands before stepping back. "It is done Miss," she said softly. "Please take some rest."

Kumud merely nodded.

 As Renuka turned to tidy up, Kumud's gaze landed on the small metal tube resting on her bedside table. Her brow furrowed. She seemed to have seen that pattern somewhere..... But where?

Think, Kumud! Think!

Kumud slowly stood up and paced her room, her mind tangled in a web of thoughts she couldn't yet unravel clearly. The memory of her seeing the metal tube's pattern felt so familiar yet distant, that it started to gnaw at her with every passing moment.

She knew she had seen it before, and it was very significant.....  but her mind was trapped in frustration as it refused to yield her the answer. 

She let out a huff, as the room felt stifling. The walls seemed like they were closing in, and Kumud could only pace, clenching her fists in her silent battle against the memories she couldn't seem to access.