Hearts Chained Together

Chapter-4

Parth Agnihotri

Drained from the drastic workout, I fell off that night. The doctors were called in immediately and mom showed up quite uninvited.

"How is he doctor?" She asked.

I wanted to ask her to stop her show, but couldn't. My mind was already left scattered with thoughts, and over that, she was here with some fake concern.

"Don't worry. He was exhausted more than required so he fell off unconscious"

"Thank you doctor"

She sat next to me. I kept my eyes closed while she sat there for another few moments and finally left. I breathed out hard as I opened my eyes.

I logged into my app, where there was a text from Ishika. She said sorry but I blocked her right away. After what she did with me, there was something worst waiting for her.

I regretted myself from comparing her with Susan. Love was never for me and I knew it well this time. The more I think about her, the more does it enrage me. How could I be that stupid to fall into her words? Why did I forget how love is an illusion that wears the clothes of reality? I promised myself to rectify what I did wrong this time. I dialed her number and she answered at the first go.

"Thank god you called sir. I..."

"At my place, now"

"What?"

"Do as I say"

I disconnected the line. I knew she would come, after all, she was guilty. A guilty person would do anything you ask him/her to cover up what he/she did. I smiled with contentment and checked the time. In less than 30 minutes she will probably be at my gate, huffing, and tired.

I walked towards the window and stared outside. The night was glowing with the full moon shining at the horizon. I missed everything I did to Susan. Did I break her heart much in the same way as Ishika did to me today? was I repaying what I did?

The thoughts kept ricocheting within me and kept me paralyzed. I took a sip of the beer from the fridge and walked outside towards the swimming pool. The ambiance was freezing with slow wind. I sighed and took a place on the reclining chairs. I was lost for a moment when she called out,

"Sir..."

Probably, I had the brightest smile possible. I looked behind to find Ishika much in the same way as expected. She was breathing heavily as she stood there looking at me. I took a few steps towards her and stopped when I held her hand.

"You...are freaking warm," I said looking at her face.

"It's okay...I am all good" she said with a weak smile.

I thought for a moment and picked her up.

"What are you up to Mr. Agnihotri? Why? Please keep me down" she was blabbering but Ishika Sharma had everything to bring me down for her. I didn't understand her charm yet but after all those flings of mine, she felt pious to be loved. As though she was a muse, a beautiful muse whom I desperately wanted to pour out in a story. Not just any fiction, but something that's real and too close to me.

I took her inside and placed her on my bed. Calling for a warm cup of coffee, soup and some fever-reducing medicines I made her lie down. She was freezing under the ac which was set to 21 degrees by then. I turned it off and touched her forehead while she looked on at me with weak sight.

"How did you...um fall sick?" I asked taking a look away from her.

Her gaze was disturbing. I wanted to punish her for what she did but here I am taking care of her as though she is my responsibility. I was losing it in real.

"Um...I..."

The door unlocked and Mrs. Maria walked in with a tray filled with medicines, and food. I asked her to leave once she fed her all that and she agreed. I smiled at her while she gave me a i-know-it-all look. Closing the door I found Ishika trying to stand up.

"What are you up to?" I asked all of a sudden.

"Um...I am leaving...Aditi will be worried" she said.

I took her phone and dropped a message for Aditi saying she will be here with me. Yes! I was behaving like a teenage kid who lost in front of love. Wait! love? Is it? No way. How can I fall for the girl who made me taste hell? I hated losing, more than that I hated being toyed. And Ishika Sharma did both those sins.

"What are you doing? I can't stay here" she argued.

"Why? Don't worry I don't eat people" I said taking a seat in the reclining chair.

"But..."

"Follow your boss's orders okay?"

She was too weak even to move. She fell back to sleep feeling dizzy. I sat there till late that night. I observed her face. She didn't appear like someone who did it intentionally. She didn't appear so even when she apologized. Had it been intentional, she could have kept it a secret for as long as she wished to. But she showed herself up herself, despite knowing how she will be in danger.

I sighed. This girl was toxic to me. Was she some miracle down to earth such that she changes the world I live in? Should I treasure her, before someone else claims her to be theirs?

Ishika Sharma

It was almost 11 when I woke up to some unseen ambiance. I got up and sat over the bed which appeared double than mine, and even softer. I looked around when I saw the surrounding filled with Parth Agnihotri's photos.

"Why are there so many of devil?" I asked myself,

"Because it's the devil's kingdom"

He came outside half naked. With his black shirt which was unbuttoned from top to bottom and his pair of trousers fitting well to his manly sculpture. I closed my eyes in a reflex and cursed myself to even speak all that. I pulled out a square shaped pillow and covered my face until I remembered how I fell sick, and he took me here, inside his bedroom.

"Are you fine now?" he asked.

I took a glance at him. He was showering in his whole bottle of deo which was filling up my nostrils with a strong smell. I could say, it was the same fragrance which lingered whenever he came closer.

"Peeping at me huh?" he asked with his smirk as usual.

"Um...I will leave sir..."

"Stop," he said.

He came behind me while I was standing with my back against him near the door. He pulled me in towards his strong sculpture and I was able to feel his perfume a bit deeper this time. I pressed my hands into a fist while his husky voice whispered near my ears,

"Don't you dare spill out the words that you were in my room, at my place all night. You are dead if you do"

He pushed me forward and closed the door behind him. I sighed. It was like I breathed out for the first time after that short moment which felt like it won't ever be complete.

I rushed outside when my phone rang. Devil, it flashed up.

"Yeah...sir"

"Call me Parth while we are away from work, let's start afresh"

He disconnected and disconnected the line. I ran as fast as I could. Hiring a cab I breathed out in relief.