“I know you’re strong, Priyank, but that doesn’t make it any easier to see you like this,” Priya said, her voice wavering slightly. “I just wish there was more I could do to help.”
Priyank smiled softly, his thumb gently wiping away a stray tear from her cheek. “You’re already doing more than enough, Angel. Just having you here, taking care of me, means the world to me.”
As Priya finished dressing the last of his wounds, she helped him into a clean set of clothes. Priyank grimaced as he moved, the pain still raw and intense, but he tried to hide it from Priya.
“We should get some rest,” Priya suggested, helping him out of the bathtub and into the bedroom. “You need to give your body time to heal.”
Priyank nodded, exhaustion finally taking its toll as he sank onto the soft mattress. Priya hesitated for a moment before climbing in beside him, careful not to jostle his injuries.
As they lay there in the dim light of the room, Priyank reached out and took her hand in his, intertwining their fingers. “Thank you, Priya,” he whispered, his voice heavy with emotion. “For everything.”
Priya squeezed his hand in response, a small smile playing on her lips. “I should be the thankful one, Priyank. Now, get some sleep. I’ll be right here if you need anything.”
As Priyank closed his eyes, Priya watched over him, her heart filled with worry.
“Why are you looking at me like that, Angel?” Priyank asked. Even with his eyes closed, he could feel her gaze on his face.
He hadn’t expected her to come and lie beside him. He wanted to hug her, but his wounds prevented it, so holding hands was the best he could manage for now. Still, it was better than nothing.
He almost wished he could get injured more often if it meant seeing her so careful and sweet.
“I never thought you would want to protect me.”
“Same. I never thought I would fall so much in love. At the same time, I hate it, knowing you don’t,” Priyank’s voice was hoarse.
Priya felt a shiver run down her spine at Priyank’s words. She had heard him profess his love for her before, but tonight, it seemed to carry a deeper meaning, a raw honesty that she couldn’t ignore.
“Priyank, I…” she began, her voice trailing off as she struggled to find the right words. “I don’t know what to say. This is all too much for me.”
Priyank opened his eyes, his gaze locking with hers in the dim light of the room. “I know, Angel. I don’t expect you to feel the same way, not after everything that’s happened. But I need you to know that my feelings for you are real, and they’re not going to change.”
Priya’s heart raced as she held his gaze, the intensity of his emotions nearly overwhelming her. She knew she couldn’t fully reciprocate his love, not yet.
“I do care a little,” she said softly, her free hand reaching up to gently brush a stray lock of hair from his forehead. “More than I ever thought I would.”
Priyank nodded, a flicker of understanding in his eyes. “For me your care is all enough.”
Priya felt tears prick at the corners of her eyes, moved by his unwavering devotion.
“You know, I don’t know how I will forgive whatever happened, but today you changed my perspective about you. That’s all I have to say,” her words were heavy, her voice breaking a bit.
“I’m not going to lie. I never even expected you to forgive me or think about it in any way. I will never regret what I did with you, even though I know I did wrong,” Priyank admitted.
Priyank’s words hung in the air between them, raw and honest. Priya felt a mix of emotions swirling within her – the remnants of anger and betrayal, but also a growing tenderness and understanding.
She squeezed his hand gently. “I know you’re not a bad person, Priyank. Despite everything, I’ve seen the goodness in you. The way you’ve protected me, cared for me… It doesn’t erase the past, but it does make a big difference, without any denial.”
Priyank’s eyes sparkled. “I want to be a better man, Priya. I may not be the person you want, and never can be one, but I still love you more than my life.”
Priya’s heart clenched at the raw emotion in his voice. She knew he meant every word. “Sleep.”
A soft smile played on Priyank’s lips. “Okay.”
As Priyank’s eyes drifted closed, Priya watched over him, marvelling at the unexpected turn their lives had taken.
With that comforting thought, Priya allowed her own eyes to close, letting the exhaustion of the day overtake her as she drifted off into a dreamless sleep by Priyank’s side.
After a few minutes, Priyank opened his eyes. The pain was too intense for him to sleep, but Priya’s presence brought him peace.
He looked at her face, shining like the stars he never liked to gaze at. She was the only star he needed. His mind and eyes never tired of her face; she lit up his world. Her forgiving nature today touched him deeply. Just a few injuries, and she melted. Why did he feel like he needed to get more, so things could be better between them?
The psychotic thought crossed his mind.
Priyank shook his head slightly, trying to clear the unsettling thought. He didn’t want to think about getting hurt just to see her like this, but the idea lingered, a dark temptation in the back of his mind.
He knew it was a bad idea, but somehow he was so obsessed with seeing her care and maybe even forgiving about what had happened before, though he didn’t regret a single bit of it.
Because if he hadn’t done it, there was no way he would have gotten close to her. So it was worth it. He would never regret those actions, even though he wanted to be the best man for her and remove all his flaws- which seems like a tough thing to do.
‘I really love you, I really do. I just don’t know how to show it.’