Tum Hi Ho

Chapter 23

Darshan was standing in the kitchen, frowning over something. If she hadn't been in such a grave situation, she would have found it funny to see Darshan standing in the kitchen in a Gucci outfit and frowning at something boiling on the gas. Darshan felt, rather than heard Paridhi come back to living room. He looked up to see her standing near the couch and was relieved to see that the T-shirt fit her comfortably. "Hey, Paridhi, do you like tea or coffee? I have never seen you drink either of these." He asked her and Paridhi shook her head. "I don't drink tea or coffee." She told him and went to sit on the couch. "Would you like some milk then?" Darshan shouted from the kitchen and Paridhi shouted back a "No, thanks." But a few minutes later, Darshan placed a glass of chocolate milk in front of her. "Drink." He ordered and Paridhi shook her head. "Darshan I really don't feel like..." "Pari...Please. Chocolate will help you. You need it right now. You are staying at my home so you are my responsibility now." Somehow, Paridhi just couldn't refuse him. She knew that even if he asked her to give her life, she would give it willingly. She picked up the glass and began to take a few small sips. Darshan sat in the chair, careful to keep some distance between him and her. He knew he had to ask this to her as quickly as possible. "So, Pari. I know you are going through a lot, but this is really important. I want to discuss two things with you." Paridhi kept her half empty glass back on the table and turned towards him. Thousands of questions running through her mind. "What?" She asked and Darshan leaned forward. "Do you want to file a police complaint? I personally want that bastard to get fair punishment, but this is your decision. It's your life and I don't know what will be consequences if we involved the police, that's why I haven't called them yet. So...what do you want?" He asked seriously and Paridhi immediately said "No." Darshan frowned at that. "But he assaulted you. He should get a punishment." Paridhi shook her head. "I can't. My family and his family are old friends. They didn't know about our relationship. If I file a complaint against this....let's say things will not end well for me. I will suffer a lot more than him. His family might ask my family to take the complaint back and I don't know how my parents will react. What if they harass me to take the complaint back? Also, they are going to be really angry at me for being in a relationship, that too with Nikhil. I already have too much to face. I don't know how I will handle the police interrogation and the court hearings. I just...don't have the strength to go through all of this. I need some time to recover." Paridhi tried her best to control her tears. Darshan just stared at her silently and then sighed, knowing that she was right. But he was going to teach that bastard a lesson. He just needed to wait patiently until Paridhi recovered. "Alright then. Though I don't agree with you, I respect your decision. Now the second thing. Do you want to tell the truth to anyone else beside me and Preeti? What are you going to tell the team when they come over?" He asked and Paridhi stared down, suddenly guilty of invading his house. Darshan instantly understood what was going in her mind. "Paridhi, I have already told you that I really don't have any problem with you staying here. In fact, I would get a companion as I stay alone here all the time and get bored on holidays. Also, it will be easier for my personal assistant to work." He insisted. Paridhi nodded, but the feeling of guilt didn't leave her. "I...err...don't want to tell anyone yet. I need some time to think this through." She said and Darshan nodded. He urged Paridhi to finish the milk then went to prepare for dinner as his maid was on a leave that evening. He worked in kitchen, giving some space to Paridhi, but staying close just in case. He knew that all she wanted was to stay alone, but he couldn't leave her alone. He had to stay near her, to keep her safe, to support her, to comfort and console her. What if she needed him and he wasn't there? Half hour later, Paridhi's phone rang and he could hear her giving directions to Preeti. Preeti walked in some time later with two bags and though Darshan wanted to give them privacy, he stayed in kitchen where he could hear them talking. He wanted to know more about Paridhi, what kind of relation she had with Nikhil and just how close Preeti was to Paridhi. He was curious.

//How's the story going guys? Please vote and comment as I really need your feedback.//