Doctor had treated his wounds, he was laying on his bed in his room. Ronald was standing in the corner waiting for Mr Oberoi to get conscious.

"Does he arrives home this damaged?" I inquired, staring at his sleeping figure.

"Not always but on some days!" Ronald muttered, his orbs staring in between us.

"How did he ended up like this?" My orbs were fixed on Mr Oberoi face, glancing at his exhaustion as his palms were wrapped around my finger.

"I had met him like this," he expressed. "I don't know the cause behind the damage."

"Then what's the reason behind your damage?" I looked at him, "why had you turned into a monster? Why you're adamant to hide the human within you?"

"Life isn't easy for all!" He muttered, "some things are better if left untold."

"You were connected to Rishabh Kapoor? You worked for him?"

"I was his slave," he continued. "I told you, I was born in this darkness, I didn't choose it for myself." He looked away, avoiding eye contact. "My father was slave so was my grandfather, a loan which we couldn't repay caused us our freedom." He passed a sad smile in my direction.

"Why didn't you tried to get out of it? Pay them back, get out of the slavery!"

"As a child I believed that one day I would be able to get that freedom but as days flew, I got the reality check. There was no way out! I could never pay them back. The amount kept increasing with each passing day, that interest." He stared at me in sadness, first time I was rewarded to glance at his raw emotion. "Boss allowed me with the freedom, he brought me from the Kapoor. I work for him but I am not his slave. I listen to his orders not due to fear but respect."

"People who works for boss are mostly such slaves whom he had provided with freedom, even offer them with salary. Money! Which never was offered to us under the slavery!" Ronald passed a smile, "he tries to act like monster but the heart within him doesn't allow him to act as one."

•••

I sat there staring at Mr Oberoi, not having the courage to leave him alone. A bandage was wrapped around the abdomen, he was asked to rest. I laid beside him, my orbs getting heavy as I allowed myself to sleep.

The cold winds made me shiver as I nuzzled into the warmth of a human. The sudden realization forced me to open my orbs in horror, his warm breath were fanning my cheek as his black orbs were staring at me in amusement.

"I am sorry..." I mumbled as I attempted to move from his naked chest, my fingers touching his mascular chest but his hands were wrapped around my waist, pulling me closer.

"I would love to wake up at such a sight," he smirked. A playful glint visible in his emotionless orbs.

"You're injured," I attempted to reason out pointing the cloth wrapped around his stomach, red patches of blood was yet visible. "You shouldn't stress it up," I was staring at the bandage with concern.

"So should you," he mumbled. His orbs descending to my growing bump. "You have a child within you," he pressed, his orbs staring at me in displeasure. "You shouldn't put yourself in risk."

Before I could open my mouth to argue, he continued. "Visiting your parents isn't wrong but you can ask them to visit you rather than walking there." His fingers moved to caressed my cheek. "I don't want any harm to reach you," he whispered, softly.

"Why?" I stared at him. Why was he showing so much concern? The father of the child, my ex-husband hadn't voice a word against the safety of child. He cared less about its existence! A stranger was almost pleading me to take care of my child, of me. What was he upto? Was he trying to earn my trust? He might break me, betray me once I had develop trust towards him. Maybe male in general, adored the game!

"I can't see you in pain," he whispered. His orbs averting from my lips towards my orbs. Our orbs meeting eachother. Sparkles flying in the sky! "Fuck..." He whispered as he leaned towards me.

"Mr Oberoi..." I was going to object, argue but he kept a finger on my lips, his orbs staring at me in softness.

"Shlok," he whispered. "It was always Shlok for you," he mumbled as he pressed a kiss on my soft cheeks.

"Mumma!" There was a knock on the door. "Mumma!" She was banging on the door.

"Mr Oberoi..." I attempted to move from his grip but his arms were tight around me. "Riddhi is at the door," I was pleading with him.

"Shlok," he warned, his orbs glaring at me.

"Mr Oberoi don't act stubborn," I was struggling to get out of his grip.

"You're acting stubborn," he pressed a kiss on the corner of my lips. My heart racing while I was gasping for breath. I widen my orbs, staring at him in disbelief. "Just one word, Shlok..." He whispered in my ears, nuzzling his face in the crook of my neck.

"Shlok..." I breathed, I heard him sigh. As if he had waited it for so long.

His grip around me loosen, I could have pushed him and moved from the bed. I could hear the sight disappointment in Riddhi's voice but I felt the inner urge to stay. I felt as if he needed me. It was strange! I was allowing him to manipulate my mind but I was enjoying the moment with him. I was finding peace in his protective arms as if I could finally rest, I no longer had to pull the stunt of acting strong, I could just breathe.

I closed my orbs allowing my desiring heart to win. He moved from the crook of my neck, I could feel his gaze yet I kept my orbs shut.

"Rose," his fingers were drawing pattern on my soft cheeks. "I had waited for so long, so long." He sighed, his lips showering kisses. "You took so long to return," he mumbled before pulling me towards his chest. "Don't you dare leave me again." He grunted as I was pressed towards his chest. His rough skin pressed to my soft one. I was feeling weird things! I knew it was wrong! I shouldn't allow myself to get attracted towards him but it was getting difficult, very difficult!

•••

Mr Oberoi was sleeping and I had walked into the kitchen to prepare something for him. He had cared alot about me. When a bullet had injured me, he had looked after my needs and I was trying to pay him back. To return his favour!

"What does Mr Oberoi likes to eat?" I inquired to one of the cook. It was next to impossible to remember the names of individuals working in Oberoi mansion. I could remember their faces but not their names! There were thousands of people working for him.

"His usually eat less calories food items," the senior man muttered, his stern orbs fixed on me. He wasn't liking my presence in his kitchen. "Boss only like food prepared by me," there was confidence in his voice.

"Fine," I hesitated. "Just make anything and please make it early, he hadn't eaten anything from night."

"He usually don't eat," his expression stern. "Unless he orders for his dishes to be prepared I am not allowed to make him anything. That are the rules!" I stopped myself from glaring at him. What kind of rules are this?

I shook my head as I moved in mansion in search of Ronald. Riddhi had walked to school. I kept moving in search of Ronald until I was informed that he was in Mr Oberoi's room.

I walked into the room, Mr Oberoi was on the verge of getting up from the bed.

"Boss try to understand, you're not in a position to walk." Ronald was pleading with him.

"You're not the one to order me. I know that I still have energy left to finish incomplete work."

"Yeah, by finishing yourself on the way." I moved inside, glaring at Mr Oberoi. "Was your boss born stubborn?" I passed a glance at Ronald. "He is so difficult to handle. Rather than Riddhi, I guess he needs a nanny to look after him."

I could feel his glare but I avoided him. Ronald was staring at his direction, his head bowing in fear. "Ma'am..." He warned, "please..." He almost pleaded.

"I am not intimated by him," I mumbled. "He can..." Before I could complete the statement, I was turned and pulled towards his chest. "Kill me.." I forced my orbs from his mascular chest towards his stern face.  What was wrong with me? Why was my heart beating so loudly?

"I would love too," he whispered moving his lips towards my face. "But I have some unfinished business to attend." He was going to leave but I grabbed his wrist. I wasn't sure what came upon me? Why was I behaving weird! What had gotten in my head but the sight of him covered in blood scared me. I couldn't afford it again!

"No," I pleaded. He frowned staring at me. "Please don't..." Tears accumulated around my orbs.

He moved a step forward, I lowered my head in embarrassment. Why was I allowing him to glance at my vulnerable side? He would only use it against me!

"What's the matter? Is something troubling you?" He sounded concerned with my change in behaviour. I shook my head not having the courage to glance at his face.

"She wanted to meet Mayur," Ronald voiced his suggestion.

"Why?" Mr Oberoi's voice groaned in annoyance. Silence prevailed around us, I kept my orbs casted downwards.

"She deserves to meet him," Ronald was talking in my behalf, attempting to plead with him.

I heard him sigh, "fine..." He grunted as I felt a peck on my forehead. "She can meet him but you're not leaving her alone in his presence," he warned.

"Rose," he whispered softly in my ears. "Leave..." He addressed as I glanced at my grip on his wrist. I didn't wanted to! But I had no right to stop him. "Take care of you and the baby," he mumbled before pressing a kiss on my cheek and soon I heard his fading footsteps.

I wish he is going to be safe! Those wounds hadn't yet recovered!

"He will be fine," Ronald assured. I passed him a smile before walking towards the bed and setting it up.

•••

"This boy is never going to take care of himself," Buba groaned as she walked into the dinning area. She passed me a smile as she noticed my presence. "I heard that Shlok is injured," she stared at me in question.

I gave a slight nod. I wasn't in a mood to talk about it. My heart was heavy from the minute Mr Oberoi had walked out. What was wrong with me?

"He won't ever learn to take care of himself," she was talking to herself.

"Was he always that stubborn?" I inquired, Buba stared at me in interest as if she hadn't expected for me to interrupt.

She gave a small nod, "from the minute I had known him, he was always the stubborn one." She passed a smile at me, "most difficult to understand. He never heard, always walked on the paths he wanted to. I never admired his ways. His arrogance, his violence. He used to always fight with those in orphanage, I used to always hear those complains.  I was having hard time handling the situation in the orphanage until you arrived." She mumbled, "he used to call you rose and do you remember why?" She inquired, a sweet smile playing on her cheeks.

I shook my head. Why my brain wasn't processing? Why everyone except me could remember the childhood?

"This pendant..." She mumbled, "do you remember it?"

I nodded, "it is of my mother."

"He kept it safe because he knew the value it held for you." She smiled, "I wish if you had never left us he would've not turned into a monster." She sighed, "but you were offered a beautiful life."

°°°

Aachal's view is changing do you think so? Will it be good for her or bad?