My Nepenthe

Chapter 8

"Omkaraji...," called Gauri as he dragged her into his room, his grip tight on her wrist.

"Omkaraji... stop... you are hurting me," she said struggling harder and he loosened his hold, stopping in his tracks.

"Where are you taking me? Leave my hand," she frowned at him.

One of the reasons why he wanted to take her away to the safety of his room was to buy some time to make up an answer for his behavior. The other of course, was to get her away from Karan.

"Umm... I.. sorry" he mumbled as he examined her hand and gently rubbed her reddened skin.

Gauri's heart bet rapidly as he softly blew air onto the area, her gaze fixed on his lips which formed a cute O while his eyes concentrated on the task at hand.

Did he not know the effect he had on her?

His 'Nandi' form she could tolerate, reciprocating the hate he showed her. But his softer side was what she has always been afraid of.

She tried to extricate her hand but he refused to let her go and looked straight at her, his eyes speaking an emotion he failed to put into words.

Her breath hitched and she looked away while he spoke next.

"I... uhh... want to talk to you,"

"About what?"

"Can we go to our room... I don't want to talk here in the middle of the living room."

If she noted 'our room' in his statement, she did not correct it.

"Okay," she said and he nodded before turning around and walking his way up, her hand still securely held in his.

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"You wanted to talk," she urged once in the confines of the room which held so many memories of them... both good and bad.

"Shivaay is planning to get Anika married to Vikram."

"What?" she shrieked and he sighed nodding in confirmation.

"But... why? And Anika Bhaujai?"

"She is tightly gripping on to her ego."

"Oh God... what now?"

"I don't know and that is why we need your help"

Gauri raised her eyebrows and he knew what came next.

"You want my help in your family issues?"

The jibe rightly hit his stomach but he chose not to respond to it with anything other than a head nod.

"You could have told me this in Rudy bhaiyya's room... why did you drag me here?"

"Umm... I ..."

"Hmm?"

"Anika Bhabhi said you did not want to involve yourself in..,"

"She said right but I did not say I will not help when she needs me."

"I thought I need to apologize and convince you for it."

"You have apologized enough Omkaraji... nothing is going to change things between us but I will not say no to people who ask me help," she said firmly.

Gauri couldn't help but feel guilty as she noted the pain in his eyes though he merely nodded his head.

Why do things have to be this way between them? Why couldn't he spell it loud and clear that he wanted more?