• seven

Word count: 2000

Contd.

NITI'S senses gradually returned to full awareness as the car came to a smooth halt. Momentarily disoriented, she struggled to process her surroundings, but soon her memory caught up with the situation. She glanced at the courteous guy who had helped her as he opened the door for her with a polite gesture.

Stepping out of the cab, she found herself in front of an imposing, grandiose building, oozing with antiquity and charm. The driver unloaded several bags from the car, and Niti noticed the masked man didn't directly pay him but had to make a call for the payment.

"I'll take care of the payment," Niti offered, realizing that she had forgotten her phone with Tara, which sent a pang of concern through her. Nevertheless, she promised to reimburse him later; she disliked being indebted to others.

As she stood there, a guard-like person hurried over, collected all the bags, and hurried back inside the majestic building. It was at this moment that Niti had the chance to fully appreciate her surroundings. The building's architecture was a breathtaking blend of classical and neoclassical elements, adorned with intricate carvings and statues that whispered tales of a rich history and illustrious guests.

Suddenly, her expression changed from awe to doubt. Confusion clouded Niti's face as she finally asked, "Why did you bring me to a hotel?"

The guy lowered himself closer to her, a playful glint in his eyes, and replied, "Where else would I be taking you?" The subtle, tangy scent from him reached her nose, causing her to momentarily hold her breath.

There's no doubt, he is the orange guy! Why did I think it was a good idea to trust a stranger? Her mind screamed as she started to limp backward, tensed.

As she tried to clear up the misunderstanding, Niti couldn't help but feel like she was in some kind of humorous mix-up. "Hold on, hold on," she said, trying to keep a straight face, "I'm not that kind of girl, really!"

He smirked in response, keeping up the mockingly puzzled expression, but after a suspenseful pause, he burst into laughter. "Oh, I was just pulling your leg!" he chuckled. "I can't handle crowded places, so I prefer to have my doctor make house calls. He's already inside, you know."

Relieved by his explanation, Niti's tension eased a little, but she still couldn't fully relax. Going to a hotel with a practically unknown person wasn't her idea of a typical day.

Niti's nervousness became evident, as if she were a canvas with a haphazardly painted masterpiece. She winced as she tried to come up with an escape plan, yet she found herself strangely drawn to the grandeur of the hotel's entrance at the same time.

Okay, calm down... she thought to herself, realizing that her fidgeting only made her look more vulnerable and caught the attention of the guards nearby who watched her suspiciously. 

Determined to not get into any more trouble, she mustered the courage to take a step forward. Niti especially didn't want anyone she knew to see her with a stranger at a hotel.

"Can you walk now?" she heard him call out after her.

"Yeah, yeah, I think I'm good," she replied with a shaky nod.

Once inside, Niti was awestruck by the opulent, palace-like interior of the reception area. The sight of the grand chandelier hanging from the ceiling, reflecting their tiny bodies in countless glass hangings, added a touch of surreal comedy to the situation.

Deciding to wait on the incredibly comfortable-looking couch, she watched as the orange-guy talked with the receptionist, occasionally throwing an eyebrow gesture her way before making an intercom call. The whole scenario felt like something out of a quirky comedy film.

As she pressed her fingertips against the swollen area of her foot, she couldn't help but wonder why the doctor was in a hotel. The pain made her wince, but she persisted in pressing on. A wild thought crossed her mind—could he actually be planning to kidnap me? What if he's part of an organ trafficking group? The fear of the unknown gripped her, adding to her already tense situation.

The fact that she didn't have her phone with her intensified her nervousness. She considered asking the orange guy for his phone to make a call, but the only numbers she had memorized were her family's and... Sammy's.

Sammy... She was instantly reminded of what had happened just an hour ago. Her eyes welled up at the memory, and she found herself caught between running away from one situation and seeking refuge in another. Perhaps disappearing from society for a while wouldn't be so bad.

Her attention was drawn back to the orange guy, who was making his way towards her. Uncertain of what she was getting herself into, she felt it was something she needed at that moment. "Can you take me for drinks after this?" she blurted out impulsively.

He stopped midway, his stance appearing almost animated, and Niti marveled at how fluid and graceful his movements were even while walking.

"You want me to take you out for drinks?" he chuckled, his amusement clear.

"Actually, I want to take myself out for drinks," she clarified, "but someone hit me with their car and brought me to a hotel." Her gaze locked onto his, challenging him subtly.

He waited for her to soften the glare before suggesting, "Let's see what the doctor has to say first, okay?"

Niti grunted, feeling like she was under parental supervision. Why is he acting like an old dude? She wondered to herself.

He settled down beside her, leaving a noticeable space between them. At first, Niti almost took offense, but she quickly dismissed the unnecessary thought. They weren't friends, after all, so he had every right to keep his distance.

In silence, they both sat, waiting for the supposed doctor to arrive. The air was tense with uncertainty and unspoken thoughts, like a silent scene in a play.



JIMMIE watched her limp, trying not to put weight on her left leg. Concern for her welled up inside him, and he found himself wanting to pick her up and carry her inside. However, he resisted the impulse, his muscles tensing at the conflicting thoughts. It wouldn't be appropriate, and he had already attracted enough attention for the day.

He had paid little attention to it when they were in front of the hospital because he just wanted to leave the place, but he had touched her without a second thought. He had exceeded the level of physical contact his therapist had suggested he initiate.

It's enough for today. He thought, considering the possibility that she might turn out to be a crazy person. He had encountered enough unpredictable individuals, especially women, to recognize the signs, but Niti's reactions amused him and left him intrigued.

After contacting the doctor and taking a seat next to her, Jim kept glancing at his phone while Niti just zoned out in complete silence. He kept peeking at her from time to time when he thought she wasn't noticing. He was observing her, trying to discern if she had any ulterior motive.

Her request for drinks triggered a flashback to an acquaintance who had asked him out for dinner. He didn't know her well, but he had seen her around Hana. She convinced him she had a message from Hana that she wanted to convey.

Hana... The memory saddened him.

He had naively agreed to meet that acquaintance, only to discover later that she had attempted to drug him. Thankfully, others at the location noticed her strange bottle and intervened before any harm was done, but Jim ended up unconscious by the time she was taken away.

Why did I drink so much? He asked himself that every day, albeit already knowing the answer— he was desperate to hear from Hana.

As he sat in the lobby of the grand hotel, facing the enigmatic girl, his mind drifted back to a past encounter, wondering if he was unknowingly embarking on a similar situation.

Her sudden question had caught him off guard, prompting a moment of hesitation before he responded. The fear of falling into some elaborate scheme nagged at him, but the longer he observed her, the more he convinced himself it was just his paranoia talking. It had been a spontaneous decision to help her, driven by a desire to lend a helping hand to someone, even a stranger, for once in his life. Perhaps it was his way of seeking closure or redemption.

His gaze shifted to her injured foot and then to her troubled expression. The thought of her scheming anything seemed unlikely. She appeared lost in deep contemplation, visibly troubled by something. Her quivering lips hinted at inner turmoil—was it pain or something else causing her distress?

Just as if their thoughts were synchronized, the doctor emerged from the elevator. He recognized Jimmie and acknowledged him with a small nod.

Jimmie stood up, gesturing for the doctor to approach the girl sitting quietly on the couch. Her eyes caught the movement in her peripheral vision, and she turned to the direction he was looking at.

A man dressed casually, in a simple t-shirt and pants, strode towards them. He seemed to be in his early 50s, an aura of experience surrounding him.

"This is the doctor I told you about," Jimmie said, moving closer to Niti, "Meet Dr. Sanjay. He is one of the most appreciated doctors around here."

She held a hand towards him for a handshake, trying to stand up properly without wincing. "Niti Prakash," she announced.

"Oh, sit, please," Dr. Sanjay asserted, "We don't want to worsen the state of your leg, right?" He smiled.

Jimmie noticed that his polite words and assuring tone instantly made her relax. "Do you think it's serious? Did I break my leg?" she asked.

Glancing at her leg and then at her footwear, he couldn't help but jest, "With those heels, it's a wonder you didn't hurt yourself even more."

Embarrassment flushed Niti's cheeks. Even Jimmie was well aware of what doctors typically thought of heels, and hers were particularly high.

"Well, Niti..." Jimmie suddenly said, "that's a very cute name by the way, shall we go inside now?"

"Inside? Why?" she questioned, looking from one man to another.

Jim didn't wish to prolong their stay outside any further. He had already attracted a lot of attention, and at that moment, he was only awaiting the doctor's arrival so that Niti wouldn't feel uncomfortable going to a hotel room alone with him. Additionally, the mask was getting on his nerves, and he felt the urge to throw it away. However, as long as she was there, he refrained from doing so, not wanting to make her uncomfortable.

"Is there any way you can take care of everything here?" she asked the doctor with a hopeful tone, "I'm really not comfortable going inside."

Jimmie let out a sigh, eager to get the situation over with.

At least I can rule out the possibility of her having an ulterior motive. He thought.

"Just do it fast," he told the doctor. "It's an unruly hour to be awake."

"Wait, what's the time?" Niti asked with urgency in her tone.

"Almost two am."

"Wha—? Where will I go at this hour? I don't even have my phone or wallet with me!" Niti cried. "What would Sammy think of me?"

"Who?" Jimmie asked, but the doctor promptly overruled him.

"I suppose we'll head to my room, then," Dr. Sanjay interjected, taking charge, "First things first, we need to apply a bandage, at least."

Niti appeared troubled, continuously shaking her head as if she was grappling with a decision.

Her fists balled up at her sides, and both men patiently waited for her reply. With time running out and limited options left, he could sense the weight of her choice.

Finally, he saw her nod slowly.

"Alright, I'll leave first thing in the morning," she said with determination, adding in an indistinct murmur, "Sammy won't know until I tell him."

Who is this Sammy? Jimmie thought to himself before helping her onto the elevator.

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A/N

We have crossed 100 votes, and I am so happy! Thank you everyone, it wouldn't have been possible without you guys! Let's reach 1k views too now (:

What do you think will happen? 
We got more of orange guy in this chapter. What do you make out of him?
Do you think Niti's decision will bite her back?

Let me know in the comments!

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Cheers!
~Aeon


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