NOT EDITED

Parth's whisper echoed through the silent room as he found Laila unconscious on the floor, her frail body laid out stray. The sight momentarily froze him, his eyes widening in surprise and confusion. The initial rage that had been brewing inside him faded and got replaced by a flicker of something unrecognizable even to himself. He stood there, staring at her, taking in the subtle signs of her struggle, the sweat-soaked strands of hair clinging to her forehead. It was evident she had pushed herself to the brink of exhaustion and the realization stirred a complicated mixture of emotions within him.

He walked closer and his steps were cautious, almost hesitant. He knelt beside her and reached out, his fingers lightly brushing against her cheek. Her skin was burning hot, a clear indication of a high fever. He could see the dark circles under her eyes, the lines of pain etched on her face even in unconsciousness. For a moment  the mask of the cold and calculating husband, slipped. A trace of concern flickered in his eyes as he gazed at Laila. He shook his head, pushing those thoughts away. She deserved everything she's been dealt with, then why this concern?

"Laila," he called her name softly, his voice  absent of its usual harshness. There was no response, only the shallow rise and fall of her chest. Parth cursed under his breath, his mind racing for a solution. He needed to get her help but that would mean admitting she was in this state because of him. The idea of exposing his cruelty, even indirectly made his stomach churn but actions has consequences, She's in this state because of hers and he's in this position because of his. He stood up and was pacing around the room as he weighed his options. 

Parth took a deep breath, He walked over to his phone and dialled a number. The phone rang twice before a familiar voice answered. "Dr.Mehta, it's Parth Manvik" he said in a blunt tone. "I need you to come to my house immediately, It's an emergency" He continued. Dr.Mehta, Their Family friend and doctor responded with concern, "Parth, what happened? Is everything okay?". "No" Parth replied, "My wife, Laila, She's unconscious and I think she has a high fever. I need you to come here urgently". "I'll be there as soon as I can" Dr.Mehta assured him, "Hang in there".

Parth hung up the phone and looked back at Laila, his emotions a swirling storm inside him. He knelt beside her once more, Then he picked her up and placed her in the bed. He sat next to her, his fingers gently brushing her hair away from her face. He stayed like that until he heard the doorbell ring. He quickly stood up and rushed to the door, opening it to reveal Dr.Mehta standing there with his medical bag in hand. "Thank you for coming, Doctor," Parth said. Dr.Mehta nodded with a serious expression and spoke out, "Show me where she is."

Parth led him upstairs to the bedroom, where Laila lay motionless on the floor. Dr.Mehta immediately knelt beside her, checking her pulse and temperature. He frowned, his concern deepening as he examined her. Parth led him upstairs to the bedroom, where Laila laid motionless on the bed. Dr.Mehta immediately went beside her, checking her pulse and temperature. He frowned and his concern deepened as he examined her. "She's burning up, We need to get her fever down immediately" Dr.Mehta said in a serious tone. Dr.Mehta opened his bag and began preparing a fever-reducing injection and Parth watched with concern.

"How did this happen, Parth?" Dr.Mehta asked as his eyes flicking up to meet Parth's. "She looks exhausted" he continued. Parth's mind raced searching for an explanation that wouldn't reveal the incidents occurring behind closed doors. "She hasn't been feeling well lately. I think she overdid everything, Especially with Yesterday's client meeting". Dr.Mehta nodded not pressing further. He administered the injection and instructed Parth to fetch a damp cloth. Parth hurried to the bathroom, He soaked a cloth in cold water and returned to the bedroom, handing it to Dr.Mehta. "This will help bring her fever down" Dr.Mehta said

He gently placed the cloth on Laila's forehead, Parth watched as the doctor worked, his emotions a turbulent mix of something he couldn't quite identify. As the minutes passed by, Laila's fever began to decrease and her breathing becoming more even. Dr.Mehta looked up at Parth with a serious expression and said, "She needs rest and she needs to be taken care of, this kind of exhaustion doesn't happen overnight so you need to make sure she's eating properly, staying hydrated, and not overworking herself" Parth nodded while his mind held a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts, "Thank you Doctor" He replied

Dr.Mehta stood up and packed his supplies and simultaneously said, "I'll check in on her tomorrow and If her condition doesn't improve or if she gets worse, call me immediately. "I will" Parth replied reassuringly. Dr.Mehta gave him a long, hard look before leaving the room. Parth stood there, staring at Laila as she lay on the bed. He couldn't afford to let her deteriorate further, not without raising suspicion. Parth sat down beside the bed, watching Laila as she slept. The hours passed slowly, the room filled with the soft sounds of Laila's breathing. Parth stayed by her side, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. 

He couldn't shake the image of her lying on the floor, the sight of her suffering. It was a harsh reminder of the man he had become, a man he barely recognized. The sun started to rise and Laila began to stir. Her eyes fluttered open and she looked around the room, disoriented. Her gaze settled on Parth and she stared at him disbelief. "Parth?" she whispered in her weak voice. "I'm here" he replied, his voice surprisingly gentle and she was shocked, "How are you feeling?" he continued. 

Laila closed her eyes for a moment in attempt to gather her thoughts, "Tired, Everything hurts" she answered genuinely. "You need to rest, Dr.Mehta said you need to take it easy" He informed. Laila's eyes opened again and her gaze searching his. She could see the turmoil in his eyes, the flicker of something human beneath the cold exterior. For a moment, she wondered if he truly cared, if there was a part of him that regretted what he had done. "Parth," she began, her voice trembling aware of that she's walking on thin ice but she continued when his attention fell on her, "Why are you doing this?"

His eyes hardened at her question and the mask slipped back into place, "I'm not answerable to you". Laila's heart sank at his words, the brief glimmer of hope extinguished. She closed her eyes feeling the weight of his cruelty press down on her once more. She knew better than to push further to risk his wrath when she was already so vulnerable. "Just rest," Parth said, his voice cold again. With that, he stood up and left the room, leaving Laila alone with her thoughts. She stared at the ceiling, her mind a whirlwind of confusion and pain. 

The brief moment of vulnerability she had seen in Parth's eyes was gone, replaced by the harsh reality of her situation. Laila remained in bed as the day passed, her body too weak to move. The fever had taken its toll on her, leaving her exhausted and in pain. She knew she had to regain her strength, to find a way to survive in this nightmare. Her mind still in a haze and numb state, Eyes closed then nightmares rush to play like an unending movie and open eyes to remind her of the nightmare reality.

Parth returned later with a tray of food, setting it down on the bedside table with an uncharacteristic gentleness. Laila turned her head slightly, her eyes widening in surprise at the gesture. It was a rare moment of civility from the man who had become her tormentor. "Eat" Parth instructed, his tone lacking its usual harshness, "You need to regain your strength". Laila looked at the tray and she knew better than to refuse. She nodded slightly and reached for the bowl of soup. Her hands trembled as she lifted the spoon to her lips, the simple act of eating felt like a task.

Parth watched her silently, He remained standing by the bed with arms crossed over his chest, as if guarding her. Laila couldn't shake the feeling that this sudden change in behaviour was temporary, a brief respite before the storm would inevitably return. As she ate, her mind wandered to the events that had brought her to this point. She thought about Purvi and Karan, the puzzle pieces that still didn't fit together. She needed to find a way to uncover the truth, to understand why Parth had turned into this monster but first she needed to get back to health.

In her current state, she felt powerless and trapped in a web of cruelty and manipulation. After a few spoonful's, Laila set the bowl down with her energy spent. "Thank you," she whispered and Parth nodded acknowledging her gratitude without a word. He picked up the tray and left the room, leaving Laila alone once again. She sank back into the pillows, She couldn't afford to let her guard down, not even for a moment. Laila drifted in and out of a sleep, Her fever had subsided but the exhaustion remained and the nightmares stayed a constant.

As the day turned into evening, Laila's mind kept circling back to her need for answers. She had to find a way to reach out to her friends to gather information about Purvi and Karan. They might hold the key to understanding Parth's behaviour and the reason behind her suffering. When Parth returned later, he found Laila sitting up in bed and he was relieved seeing her better. "Feeling better?" he asked in a neutral tone, In contrast with his usual cold tone and the newly seen Warm tone. Laila nodded, "Yes, thank you". He examined her to make sure of it himself.

The next morning, Dr.Mehta arrived promptly at the Manvik mansion, Parth met him at the door and ushering him inside where Laila lay resting. Her fever had subsided further and she appeared more alert than the previous day. "Good morning, Laila," Dr.Mehta greeted her with a warm smile and continued, "How are you feeling today?". Laila managed a weak smile in return and said, "A bit better, thank you Doctor but Still tired, but not as feverish". Dr.Mehta nodded, setting down his bag and beginning his examination. He checked her pulse, temperature, and blood pressure.

"Your fever has gone down, which is a good sign," he said, adjusting his stethoscope and continued, "But you need to take it easy for a while, Your body has been through a lot and rest is crucial for your recovery". Laila nodded and said, "I'll try my best". Dr.Mehta turned to Parth with a serious expression, "She needs proper care Parth, Good nutrition, hydration, and plenty of rest". Parth's expression remained neutral and replied, "I'll see to it, Doctor". Satisfied with Laila's progress, Dr.Mehta packed up his things and gave her a reassuring smile. 

"I'll check in on you again in a few days. If you need anything before then, don't hesitate to call" said Dr.Mehta and Laila smiled, "Thank you, Dr.Mehta" Laila said softly. After the doctor left, Parth lingered by the door, There was a moment of silence before he spoke, "You heard the doctor so rest and take care of yourself". Laila nodded with a feeling  mix of relief and anxiety, "I will". Parth turned and left the room, closing the door quietly behind him. Laila lay back against the pillows, her mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. The brief moments of kindness from Parth were confusing.

"What the hell are you Mr.Parth Manvik" whispered Laila

Authors note
So longer updates are being delivered and weekly updates too. Count it as bribes and pray for me, my plans are drowning and it urgently need resuscitation so I'll appreciate prayers.
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