Hrudayam-part 2

Path crossed

Aditya's Pov

Its day 16th in Seattle, and I still haven't informed the King about her as I still craved for some answers that were bothering me since I got to know that she looks like Siya and also why did she run away all of sudden? At first, I thought, maybe she's one of those spoilt princesses who like to do whatever they wanna do without caring about others. But somewhere I felt that I could be wrong about the last past. She cared for me and in the last 16 days what I have seen or noticed about her shows that she cares...about others.

____________________________________________________

I have been standing near the college building gate for more than an hr while waiting for her. My eyes caught a red car coming toward the parking lot and I alerted myself and stood there pretending to be one of the college students, even though I am 33 and a father of 5 years old child, but with my attire, I was disguised very well. She got out of the car and waved toward it before entering the building but I wasn't able to see the person inside the car.

'Could he be the reason why she ran away?'

With steady steps, I followed her, suddenly, she stopped and turned around. Quickly, I hid behind the corridor wall, until I heard her heels tabbing on the wooden floor as they fade away in distance.

Later in the day...

Abruptly my phone started to ring and I immediatdely answered the call.

"Hello Nancy, is everything alright?" I asked the nanny.

"Yes, Sir. I just wanted to ask you about when are you coming home, actually I have an emergency at my home....if you could—

"Don't worry, I will be there by an hr, then you can go," I said hurrying toward my car.

Out of nowhere, someone bumped into me.

A relieved smile formed on my lips when my eyes met her eyes.

She was breathing heavily, as she mumbled my name softly. "Karan?"

I smiled softly, a low chuckled left my mouth as I nodded whilst. "Yes, is this your habit of yours that you always find your way to run into me?" I asked.

I looked at her, she looked like she has seen a ghost.

"Are you okay, Avni? Why are you breathing so fast? Is everything fine?!" I touched her face, inspectingly.

'What am I doing?!'

I asked her again but she looked zoned out.

"Are you listening to me? Are you okay?" I looked into her eyes in worry.

"Y-Yes, I am fine, just a little shaken up," she replied with a nervous laugh.

"Shaken up? What happened?" I held her by the shoulder, gently pulling close to me.

"N-nothing happened...so are you following me?" she rested her hands on my arms as she took few steps away from me.

For a fraction second I was held back by her question, how does she know? until I noticed it was a trick to change the subject.

"No, it's fate, I guess," I replied.

"I guess you're right."

Suddenly, two men appeared behind her in the dark alley, but they ran away as they noticed me.

"Did they hurt you?" I asked hiding my anger.

"W-Who?"

"Those creeps." I pointed at them.