Mr. Lexstur's POV

My phone buzzed at around 2 in the night.  First i thought it would be Alex but seeing John call me at night surprised me a little. I picked up.
"You better have something important to say young man."
"Yes. She is here alone. You should come here as soon as you can."
"I am on my way."

It was quite late. On my way to the Palace i called John and got the full picture.
Something terrible has happened for sure.
I need to keep my promise to a friend. 
We reached the location which John had confirmed. He was standing there as I had requested him to look out for Ananya until the time i reach there.
"Thank you John. I appreciate. You haven't told Alex right?"

"No Mr.Lexstur. You had asked me not to. Do you need me?"

"No. I will take care from here. Where is she?"

"There. A block away." He pointed me in the direction where Ananya was sitting.

I decided to walk to her.
As I reached closer I saw her getting up and walking towards the road. From the far end of the road I saw a source of bright light coming closer and closer.

'Oh God NO!! She isn't trying that.'

I ran towards her and pulled her off the road right before she plunged in front of the speeding car.
"Are you out of your mind?"

"Let me die. Please let me die. I don't wish to live anymore. I give up."

I hugged the poor girl. I did not know what had happened with her that night but her eyes gave away the helplessness she was drowning in.
And she had no clue what had happened with her mother.
"Don't worry Ananya. We are all here for you."
She clutched onto my shirt and screamed her heart out.
"What happened dear? Tell me. I might be able to help. Did Nathan say anything to you? Do you want me to talk to him?"

"No. No. No. Please don't. I don't wish to see him ever. Please take me home. Please. I beg Mr.Lexstur."
Her pleading eyes confused me. My heart feared the worst. I couldn't tell her what has happened to her mother yet.

I pulled her back in my arms patting her head gently when she suddenly passed out.
"No.Ananya. open your eyes."
I quickly called onto my driver and headed towards the hospital.

"John. I need you at the hospital. Alex doesn't know and I don't want him to know. Be there soon son."
I called John for help. I knew what had happened. She didn't have to tell me anything now. The bite marks I could see on her neck gave away the story of her torment.

We reached hospital and I asked Doctor to have Ananya treated with utmost care.
I requested them to have her room on a different floor than Mrs.Donavan.

"John. There you are. Thank you son for coming.."

"Oh No problem at all. Isn't Alex also here?"

"You know we can't tell him yet. Something bad has happened with Ananya and Alex will blow a gasket. He already has a bone to pick with the Swornwell boy."

"Why are we not filing a police complaint?"

I took a deep breath. Never did I want to tell this to anyone. I promised her safety.
But I needed help now.

"Son. You need to understand that what i am about to tell you doesn't reach anyone else. I am trusting you with this."

John shook his head, still a little confused.
I told John how Ananya was attacked and how her friend Raj was killed. I told him how Ananya belonged to a very influential Royal family in India.
And they might try to attack her again if they realised she was still alive.
Mr.Donavan was a dear friend of mine. He had asked for my help when we sorted out this gruesome attack and tried to hide it well from public that someone had survived the attack.
Filing a police complaint name the son of a billio billionaire will get a lot of new coverage and will threaten Ananya’s life.

"But letting go off Nathan is not fair to Ananya. Isn't it uncle? What he did is unforgivable."

"I know. And I will not spare him. I swear.  I promised my friend that i will always protect his daughter. She is like a daughter to me and no father will ever be able to rest for a moment when his daughter's tormentor us roaming free."
I tried to control my rage.
"We can protect Ananya uncle. We can provide her with security."

" Don't you think I know that. But she never wanted that kind of a life. My friend promised her a normal life and I will do everything in my reach to give her that.
But I will let her decide. Lets wait for her to wake up. She has something more to deal with at the moment."

"I will not tell Alex anything for now. I am with you. Now I feelbad for behaving rudely with her."

I placed my hand on his shoulder and waited for doctor to give me an update on her condition.

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Ananya’s POV

I was standing in a heavily lit passage. The light was hurting my eyes.
I could see someone standing at the other end of the passage.
I tried to look closer but the lights were flashing on my eyes.
The other person started walking towards me.
"Stay back. Who are you?"
No one responded.
I tried to move back but there was no way out.
"I am telling to stay back. Stay away from me."
My heart was beating like a drum now. Little beads of sweat rolled down my forehead.
Suddenly all the lights went off.
I could hear the sound of feets mov in my direction.
"Who is it?" I begged them to confirm.
It was dark. I wanted it to be a dream. Why was I not waking up?
Suddenly two hands grabbed my arms and shook me. I screamed as loud as I could.
I closed my eyes in horror.
The other person strengthen the grip on my arms. It hurt.
I opened my eyes but it was still dark.
I could feel the warm breath but my fear sewed my mouth shut in those moments.
I was trembling when suddenly the lights came back on.
My eyes struggled to see anything but i wanted this horror to end.
I widened my eyes to look at my tormentor.
I saw a pair of blue green eyes staring at me with venomous rage.
Realising it to be Nathan I screamed loudly not feeling safe and i woke up with a jerk.

My heart was pounding in my chest. I ws drenched in sweat.
I looked around and it didn't look like any place I have been before. The memory of what happened with Nathan came flooding back and I feared it was Nathan who brought me here i got off the bed and rushed towards the door.
My feet hurt and I could see bandage wound around it but it wouldn't stop me from running away from him.
As i opened the door I saw Mr.Lexstur standing in front of me.
A feeling of security relaxed my nerves and i couldn't hold it any longer.
I hugged him and broke into a  continuous streak of tears.
"Its alright my dear. You have nothing to worry about. I am here."
I remembered how i ran out from the hotel and how Mr.Lexstur had pulled me off the road just before I...

"I want to go home. Please take me home and don't tell Maa about this. It will break her heart."

I begged for him to take me home.
"You need to relax first dear. Come lets sit."
He tried to guide me through the door towards the bed.
"I cannot stay here. She must be waiting for me. Please take me to her. I need to be with her."
I was unable to contain my emotions.
"Ananya. You need to relax."
A nurse had walked in. John was with her. Who else was with him? Did they tell Maa?
No. No. They shouldn't have.
I tried to compose myself. I had to. I couldn't be weak in front of Maa.

"Mr.Lexstur, you haven't told Maa right? I don't wish to cause any trouble to her."
The nurse was trying to give me some medicine to which i declined without even looking, i wasn't worried about myself anymore.
"I don't have my phone. No. I Don't. Can I use your phone please. Maa must be worried that I have not reached home yet."
Mr.Lexstur moved a little away from the bed.
He signalled the nurse to leave. "I will give her the medicine. Thank you."

I looked at him with hopeful eyes.
"Can I? Please."

"Ananya, i am not sure if this is even the right time to tell you considering your condition, but i don't want it to be too late in case.."
"I am sorry. I don't get it. What's wrong?"

"Mrs.Donavan had a heart attack last evening and she is in this hospital, and is in a critical state. We tried calling you but.."

I couldn't hear the rest of it anymore. I could see his lips move but his words didn't reach my ears anymore. What has happened.!! It was as if my heart has stopped. Everything started to blur out in front of my eyes. I tried to stand but my legs, my legs? i couldn't feel them anymore.

She needed me and I wasn't with her. I needed to see her. My world came crashing down in just one night. But she taught me to be strong. I wasn't going to let myself go in darkness again. I needed to be strong for her.
I looked at Mr.Lexstur who stood near my bed with John, both wearing a worried look.
"I need to see her. Can you please take me to her?"
"Sure my dear. But you are not alright yourself. Are you sure you will be able to handle ?"
Will I be able to handle? Ofcourse not.
She is my everything.  But I had to be there for her, standing strong like she did when i needed her the most. Everytime i needed her.
"I am alright. I should change first. She doesn't need to know anything that has happened. You have not told her anything right?"
"No." I could see the look of concerned surprise on their faces.
Alex was not here. I bet he didn't care.
"Alex doesn't need to know either. I request. Please."
I went to change.

****************************
Alex's POV

I have tried calling Ananya almost the entire night. But no response.
No response to even my messages.
She hasn't even reached home it seems, or else she would have known.
She spent the night with him. I have to get over this if I want to be in Ananya's life even if it's just as a friend. I should be happy that she is happy. She deserves it more than anyone else.

Mrs.Donavan was still critical. She had opened her eyes once and asked for Ananya, but she has again lost consciousness.
I sat on the chair outside her room waiting for Ananya to come.
I closed my eyes for a moment when I heard my Dad's voice.
"Slowly my dear."

I opened my eyes and there she was with my Dad. What was John doing with them and why was Ananya limping?
Is she OK?
Oh good lord.
"What happened Ananya?" I looked at her in disbelief as she just went past me without even looking at me.
May be I deserved it!!!
"Hey John. What happened?" I held onto John's arm.
"She just had a small accident and hurt her foot."

"Its more than a foot that seems hurt John. Don't leave, you have some explaining to do."
I went in and what I saw there was heart breaking.
Ananya sat beside Mrs.Donavan holding her hand in hers.
Mrs.Donavan had an oxygen mask put on but i could see she had a smile on her face seeing her daughter.
Dad left the room and signalled me to leave. I looked at Mrs.Donavan and shook my head but she shook back at me callinh me near her.
Ananya didn't even look at me even when I stood next to her. Ah.!! The hurt. I did deserve it after what I did to her.

Mrs.Donavan tried to remove her oxygen mask, she wanted to say something but Ananya stopped her.
I went to the other side of the bed and held Mrs.Donavan's hand in mine.
"I am here. Ananya is also here now. Just get well soon and we will go home."
My heart was breaking seeing the two ladies trying to hide their emotions. Ananya was unbelievably calm. Her face devoid of any expressions of sorrow or worry.
Mrs.Donavan let her hand go from Ananya's and removed the mask. She was visibly uncomfortable but she wanted to say something.
She then brought Ananya's hand and put it in my hand.
"Take care of her will you Alex, after me?"
I was speechless. I did not know how to react to it.
She couldn't leave just like that. She had to get better for Ananya. I couldn't hold onto my emotions and my eyes became moist.
I shook my head agreeing.
"you are not going anywhere Mrs.Donavan."
But she had already closed her eyes before I could finish.