“Mom, do you think I would do anything like this? Believe me, I don’t hurt kids,” Priyank spoke, his tone concealing the manipulation within it.
Of course, he doesn’t hurt kids, because until now, the situation has never arisen.
Now he’s facing a situation where he can achieve his desires by doing something wrong. According to him, his whole existence is wrong, so what’s the issue? Nothing.
He’s not directly getting his hands dirty or physically harming kids, so nothing seems bad.
“I know, son,” Daisy hesitated, continuing. “It’s not good; whatever you’re considering won’t end well. Think about it. If someone warned you about harming me, would you sit idly?”
“I’m going to ruin them all,” Priyank angrily replied, then it dawned on him what his mother was trying to convey.
She’s trying to make him understand the repercussions of his actions.
But he has the power; he can protect people. What about Priya? He’s already giving her time; even if she isn’t powerful, at least she would have the right mindset to think it all through.
He saw in her eyes how she was reconsidering everything, so it’s better if she doesn’t stick with rejection and accepts the offer he makes.
That way, he won’t have to do anything bad to anyone; in fact, he will help her, build a good future for her orphanage, and love her dearly.
“I don’t know what you’re thinking in this situation, Priyank, but I can say one thing: once you hurt someone or try to hurt someone’s loved ones, they can never look at you with the same eyes,” Daisy remarked.
Priyank’s lips curled into a small smile, knowing his mother had always been a softie. This was the first time in his life he had ever behaved so vigorously in front of her.
“Mom, I’m going to make sure we’ll be happy in the future. I really love her, I can’t imagine my life without her, and I really want to marry her, so maybe then she’ll give me a chance. You can see from her perspective, it’s hard for her to understand any other way,” Priyank faked his emotion-filled voice.
He knows exactly what can win over his mother.
“I can’t support you in this, Priyank, but I hope you won’t treat her like you treated her now. I know you’re not like your father, but please don’t make me regret my whole life’s upbringing in the future.” Daisy poured her heart out as she hugged him.
Priyank hugged her back as he closed his eyes in his mother’s warm embrace. ‘I’m sorry, mom, but I’m going to make sure I treat her much better than anyone in her life has ever treated her.’
He knows he’s taking advantage of his mother’s love, and the way his mother mentioned his father, he hates it, but one thing is for sure: he’s not going to leave Priya like his father did with them.
On the other side,
Priya and Mary reached the orphanage in silence without any conversation, knowing they didn’t want to broach the topic.
“Priya, can you tell me what you were doing at the cafe when I explicitly told you not to leave your college under any circumstances?” Mary asked as soon as they entered Priya’s room.
Priya’s whole body shivered, knowing exactly that she had broken her promise and ended up in Priyank’s arms.
“I went to eat something with my new friend,” Priya truthfully answered, fear gripping her.
“Have you lost your mind, Priya? What the hell were you thinking?” Mary’s voice rose upon hearing her answer.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go; it’s just that I made a new friend, and she wanted to eat with me,” Priya apologised, tears spilling from her eyes.
Mary had never raised her voice to Priya; this was the first time she had seen Mary so angry at her that she had to raise her voice.
“Your apologies won’t help you; you need to understand the gravity of the situation you’ve landed us all in, Priya. It’s not a joke,” Mary gritted her teeth.
She didn’t want to be angry at Priya, knowing how much she had suffered over the past three days, which Priya hadn’t disclosed, but Mary knew she was with Priyank, so nothing good would come from it.
But that didn’t mean she could forget Priyank’s warning; he would surely do something that would put the orphanage and everyone’s well-being in fatal harm.
“Please don’t be angry with me. Mother Mary,” Priya choked on her tears.
Despite Priya’s apologies, Mary couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that had settled in her stomach. She had seen firsthand the influence Priyank had over Priya, and she feared what consequences their association could bring to the orphanage.
As Priya stood before her, tears streaming down her face, Mary felt a surge of frustration mixed with concern. She wanted to protect Priya, to shield her from the dangers lurking outside the safety of the orphanage walls. But Priyank’s presence posed a threat that Mary couldn’t ignore.
Taking a deep breath to steady her nerves, Mary knew she had to tread carefully. Priya was vulnerable, and she needed guidance more than ever.
Due to her anger, Mary couldn’t abandon her now.
“Priya,” Mary said, her voice softening slightly, “I understand that you may not realise the gravity of the situation, but you have to understand, this is not going to end well.”
Priya knew exactly what Mary wanted to convey; she could see it in Priyank’s eyes. He wasn’t going to bring about a positive outcome; he was intent on causing suffering for everyone involved.
She couldn’t shake off the fear that gripped her heart.
The idea of marriage with him filled her with dread. How could she even consider such a prospect when he viewed her as inferior and treated her poorly?
Her fear wasn’t just for herself; it extended to everyone around her. She dreaded what harm Priyank’s actions could bring to their lives.
As Priya absorbed Mary’s words, a shiver ran down her spine, her mind swirling with a mixture of dread and uncertainty. She knew she couldn’t ignore the warning signs any longer. Priyank’s behaviour had become increasingly erratic, and his intentions were becoming clearer by the day.
“We need to leave from here.”