“I hesitantly open the lawn gate. It only takes 15 to 20 steps to reach our main door but it seems the longest distance to cover today. Aditya will be discharged by the evening. Ayan and Abhiroop Agnihotri have taken all the responsibilities and now I am a bit relaxed. As the doctor insisted on 24x7 supervision, I have taken the adverse decision to stay with him for some days. During that gun battle, I realised that I can’t see him suffering like this. I can’t leave him to die. I know this is my love for him but I can’t deny it anymore. Simultaneously, I know that I can’t live with him forever. My mind and logic don’t permit it. I will stay there for a certain period and will do my duty. After that, I shall leave him forever. If my parents won’t accept me anymore then I will leave this city. I will find my place somewhere in this big world. I make up my mind. I have come here to tell Papa and Maa that I will stay at his house until he gets well. I have to tell them what happened at the court after Papa left. I hope they will understand. I try to convince my dubious mind. After mustering courage, I press the doorbell and Maa opens the door. Her eyes have mixed feelings as she was expecting me though there are anger, suspicion and anguish. I take a deep sigh to confront her.”

“Whom do you want? I think you don’t have anyone here. Please go.”

Jaya Basu’s words lash on Nandana’s face. She gathers her courage and replies,

“Maa, I have come here to tell something. Please listen to me. After that, I won’t request you to forgive me.”

Now, Vivek’s voice is heard from behind,

“So, you have admitted that you have done a mistake and for that you need forgiveness?”

Nandana looks at Jaya’s behind and meets Vivek’s piercing eyes.

“Yes, Papa I have done a mistake by letting my parents’ hope down. I have made a mistake by not listing to them but I have not made any mistake to take this decision because you told me to go with my heart and I did that. Papa, Aditya’s life is in danger. He was attacked in police custody and even today at the court premises, some gunmen shot him. Though the police suspect that it was for me. But he saved me and got injured again. He is in hospital, Papa and the doctor said he needs extra care. Someone has to be with him for 24 hours.”

Nandana tells in one go. She is still standing on the threshold. However, Jaya nears her with worried eyes when she heard that she was aimed at by someone.

“Why did they shoot you? What have you done? These all are happening because of that rich brat. He won’t let us live peacefully.”

Jaya mouths restlessly and skirts her worried eyes all over her daughter’s body if she got hurt anyhow.

“Let her come inside. I don’t think she has come here to inform us only about this.”

Vivek affirms with a stone grave tone. Jaya stands aside and Nandana enters with a slow gait. She stares up to connect her timid eyes to her father.

“He needs 24 hours care and I think you are going to nurse him…isn’t it?”

Vivek’s rigid words make Nandana ball her fingers in fear and worry. But before she replies anything, Jaya chides,

“Impossible! How could you take this decision? I still can't understand why have you withdrawn your case against him. Perhaps you want to forget all things and want to move on in life. But how could you think that you will live with that monster once again and we will permit that? He is rich and powerful. He must have many servants to take care of. Why are you taking this responsibility? It can’t be…no, it simply can’t be.”

“He doesn’t have anyone, Maa who can take care of him as per the doctor’s instruction. And this is not only about his health, instead, about his life. He can be attacked again…anytime. Someone has to attend to him 24x7.”

Nandana helplessly tries to prove her point. This time Vivek replies,

“And you have decided that this someone is you. Nandana, I have told you to listen to your heart but I never told you to shut your mind. You are again putting yourself in a situation where it will be very difficult to come out from. As hard you try to call it your duty, you know that you still love him and that is a matter of concern. I don’t know if he feels the same for you or not but mark my words, this path won’t be easy for you.”

“I know, Papa; it won’t be an easy path for me. I have to battle with my emotions and I am ready for it. After he gets well, I will leave him. Yes, I love him. I won’t deny it. But I can’t be with him.”

Nandana utters with determination. Jaya looks at her husband and her daughter with hurtful eyes and mouths,

“And how will we face society after that? What will people say? Why are you staying with him and why have you left him again? They won’t understand your so-called love or responsibility for him. Nor I will allow it. Nandu, this time you have to choose between your family and him. And this is for the last time I am giving you this chance and option.”

Vivek turns his face as this time he doesn’t have the right to convince his wife. Nandana nears Jaya and utters in a painful tone,

“Maa…I know you all have suffered a lot for me and I promise I won’t give you any reason in future to be ashamed because of me. But don’t say that I have to choose between my heart and mind. I can’t.”

She turns at Vivek and continues,

“Forgive me Papa…for the last time. I don’t know what lies in my future but I know that I will be in peace in that.”

She bends and tries to touch Jaya’s feet before leaving but Jaya exits the place without saying anything. Nandana looks at her father and mutters with a trembling voice,

“Papa..”

Vivek meets her moist eyes and mouths in a grave tone,

“Sorry, Nandu…this time I can’t say that I am with you because your mother is not wrong. I can only say that if you have taken this strong decision then God gives you the strength to fulfil this.”

....................

“My eyes are heavy like stones. The images inside my head are hazy. I try to touch the side of my head and a sharp pang is felt on my shoulder. A wail lets out of my open mouth. Suddenly something soft touches my forehead. Ahhhh…it is so soothing. I try to unfurl my heavy eyes. Gradually, a worried yet beautiful face becomes clear in front of my eyes. I know those doe orbs, I have seen those pulpy lips, I have touched these rosy cheeks. My gaining consciousness yells in my mind. I forcefully bring a smile to my lips and utter in a feeble voice...Nandana…Angel..”

Nandana was gazing into Aditya’s eyes for a while but his call breaks her reverie. She withdraws her hand from his forehead and stands straight again.

“Good you are awake. I have to inform the doctor.”

She hastily says and picks up the mobile to call the doctor. Only then, Aditya tries to sit but again plummets his head on the pillow with a suppressed moan,

“Ahhhh…”

Nandana immediately nears him and rests her palm on his chest so that, he can’t try again to rise. Simultaneously, she admonishes him,

“Why are you even trying to move? You had surgery on your shoulder, damn it! Keep straight. I have to feed you after this.”

Aditya fixes his spellbound eyes on her seraphic face and mutters confusedly,

“You here? What are…you doing…here?”

Nandana efficiently peels out a tablet from a strip and picks up the glass of water.

“I will be here until you won’t get well. And before you start your plethora of enquiries, I want to tell you that I got permission from my parents. Now, have this medicine. I have to give you soup after that.”

She lies about her parents’ permission as she doesn’t want to make the matter more complicated. Coming closer, she supports him to rise a bit to gulp the tablet. Aditya swallows the pill without any further question; however, his eyes are still fixed on Nandana as he is trying to fathom her every word. His penetrating eyes give unease to Nandana. She again helps him to lie down and turns on her heels to leave the room. She has to get the soup from the kitchen. But Aditya halts her by his words,

“So, I have to be sick for a long to keep you here!”

Nandana flips and smirks,

“It won’t be easy as I will make sure that you get well as soon as possible.”

She retorts and departs. Aditya mischievously smiles looking at her back and mumbles,

“We will see, Angel. I like to achieve hard things. It will be fun to prove you wrong.”

.....................

It’s 10 o’clock at night. Nandana has already fed Aditya and made him asleep. Because of painkillers and heavy antibiotics, it doesn’t take too much effort to make him sleep. But the problem is, Nandana has to monitor him after every hour as the doctor instructed so. The bullet lacerated some of the tissues of his neck and it may turn too complicated if the wound won’t get healed and dry very soon. For that, every one-hour Nandana has to take his temperature and keep track. And because of this, she has to stay in this room only. This room is very familiar to her as it was her and Aditya’s bedroom. However, this place also reminds her of all the bad memories she wants to forget. A night lamp is illuminating the room. Aditya is sleeping peacefully on the bed. The tranquillity on his face indicates that after a long time, he got this peaceful slumber. Nandana takes a deep sigh and nears the balcony door. Slowly she slides open the glass door and comes out to the balcony. A cool breeze touches her face making her stiff nerves relax. She looks up to behold the starry sky. Nature is as beautiful as it was. The turmoil of humans’ life doesn’t affect its serenity. If mankind could be like nature. It bears and absorbs every pain and still, remains beautiful and inviting. She silently wishes. Suddenly, her eyes fall on two obscure figures moving in front of the bungalow gate. Right now, besides two of them, only the cook, servant Raghu and the guards are there in this bungalow. SP Bhosle has appointed two plain dress officers out of the house who surveillant the place for 24 hours. He is confirmed that someone can attack Aditya or Nandana very soon and he doesn’t want to take any chance. Nandana strains her eyes in the darkness to observe the movement clearly. Only then, Aditya’s sleepy voice hits her ears,

“Don’t kill her…I am here…shoot me…but…dare to touch her!”