Drugged Love (On Hold)

23, part 1

"I didn't expect to see you here, " Ishan said startled by her presence. In the past few weeks, Myra had been confined to the back of his head. Sure, he thought about the time she tried to force herself on him and that they had shared an awkward kiss but not more than that. He had been silently hoping every time he had come to the mansion, that Myra had gone back to the US.

But here she was. She was still the same, but even the slight amount by which she used to turn him on when he looked at her was completely gone.

"Neither did I. So you're still working for my dad. I thought you would have quit." she said in a mocking tone as she moved the knife hap-hazardly over a cucumber. Ishan started to pour himself water in a glass, not sure what to say.

When he didn't reply, she continued, "So how has Elena been, lover boy?"

"What are you saying? I don't understand."Ishan was completely flushed.

"I knew why you ran towards her at her birthday party. I saw how you look at her. "she said moving closer to Ishan leaving the vegetables and the knife on the shelf.

Ishan stood in silence. Was it that obvious? He wanted to deny it but before he could say anything she continued.

"Look Ishan I know when we met, I tried to force myself on you. I don't know what it was. Maybe that I had been lonely for a long time, but it was totally wrong. I want to apologise for it, "she said staring into Ishan's eyes."I'm really sorry".

What was this all about? Ishan thought. Was she really apologizing or was it her way of getting something else?

Ishan sighed. He thought the situation he had wound up himself in was making him doubt everything. He could feel the sincerity in Myra's eyes. For a moment he could see, behind all the straightened hair and makeup and hot clothes that she was simple.

"It's okay Myra", he said. "I understand."

Myra shuffled her feet nervously, quite embarrassed by the exchange between them.

Ishan remembered that the manager had told him to hurry up. He gulped down the glass of water and started to leave, when Myra stopped him.

"Hey so tell me about you and Elena?" she asked getting back her excitement.

"Yes. We're together." Ishan said not realising that his cheeks had turned crimson by the time he said it

"Ohh my God. Really? When did this happen?" she jumped in excitement.

"Today," Ishan muttered under his breath not knowing if he should be letting out as much as he was.

"Myra, I really have to go. We can talk about this later." he said and started walking not waiting for Myra to answer back.

"I really didn't think she would be ready for this after what our dad does to her." Myra's voice hit Ishan as he was in the doorway of the kitchen. He stopped and reeled back in surprise.

"What do you mean?" Ishan asked sounding more urgent that he ever could be.

Myra tried to escape his eyes and turned back into her work, "Nothing" she said.

Ishan moved closer to her, and snatched the knife from her hand. He wondered for a second if to a third person, he was look like a cold blooded psychopathic killer and so he set the knife back on the shelf.

"You know what her father does to her and her mom?"Ishan said it clearly wincing a little at how disgusting it sounded.

"Yes, I know Ishan." Myra admitted with her brows tensed.

Ishan felt a pang of frustration hit him again. Myra had known for so long yet she chose to do nothing about it?

"Ohh please save the judgy looks" she said pointing a finger at him. "I feel guilty for it. What can I do? I am helpless. He's a tyrant. I don't think you can even begin to estimate the amount of power he has, " she cried.

Ishan saw some truth in Myra's argument and calmed himself down.He had heard time and again from different mouths the power of the man. They all talked about him in fear, like even thinking about defying him would get them in big trouble.

Ishan knew that Myra was helpless, even if she wasn't he felt that maybe he resented her sister too much to go out of her way to do something. Besides, what could she possibly do from the opposite side of the globe when she was in US leading a different life far separated from all of this. This was not her war.

"I wish I could do something," he whispered.

"Are you crazy? Don't tell me you want to get back at him. He can make you disappear without a trace", she said glaring into Ishan's eyes. Ishan didn't know what he saw in those eyes? Was it concern or something much more? He had never seen Myra widen her eyeballs with such intensity that it contorted her face.

"Well, I can't just let it go? Can I?" Ishan argued.

"Ohh Ishan, you are too naive, "Myra sighed.

"Be careful, Ishan. Don't do something foolish. The most important thing Elena would want is to be with her, not disappear overnight, "she rolled her eyes.

"I know. Thanks Myra, I'll see you around, "he said and took her leave.

"Hey are we cool now?" Myra asked with a smooth grin on her face,

"Yes, we're cool, " Ishan smiled back.

#

On his way back, Ishan thought about her meeting with Myra. She seemed weird today, her previous smugness was gone. Ishan thought she was nice to her, and maybe just maybe he could even trust her. He wondered when he would go against the drug lord if Myra could play a part in it, or if he even wanted to drag her in the middle of the mess, when he knew it was not her fight and she had nothing to do with it.

He wanted to end all of Elena's troubles desperately. Every time he thought about her suffering he felt uneasy in his chest and his heart let out a sigh at his inability to do something about it. He had to do think of something, fast. He never knew when the drug lord might go crazy and hurt her again and how long she and her mother would be able to handle it.

As he reached a busy intersection on his way back he saw a group of beggars squatting near a tea stall. Instinctively it hit him, the money in his pocket was of no use to him now. He regretted spending the money he had earned earlier on himself. It had once belonged to honest businessmen and dedicated workers whose children were spending it on cheap highs. It was money made from gang wars and extortions and murder to an extent. He had no right over it.

He reached the tea stall and gave handed the tea stall owner the envelope, telling him to feed the beggars and homeless who would come there everyday for a week. The tea stall owner could only stare in disbelief as Ishan was relieved to see that he was heart touched by this seemingly kindness from him and he would not keep the money to himself. He stood there for a while watching the beggars munching away happily on their food and sipping steaming hot teas. Ishan had never felt so satisfied.

As he returned to his home, after a grueling day, a text greeted him on his phone.

Elena: Chill after school tomorrow, handsome?        ~your new girlfriend

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Elena wants to chill after school. Calm down people it's not Netflix-and-chill type chill xd