As they drove past the filling station, Priyasha sunk more into the seat, reclining her head aligned with her back and looked out the window. They hadn't talked since leaving the party. She, too determined to execute the plan and he as usual too busy to give it a second thought. Not that she had restricted herself entirely from taking a few stolen glances at him. But every time she'd done that only to find him looking so tensed, muscles taut, knuckles almost white from clutching the steering too tight.

She looked outside the window morosely and noticed the traffic whiz by their car.

The dilemma again hit her like a cannonball. Love Him. Did she really? Could she risk telling him that, while she didn't even know what he felt about her? Her inside wavered for an unknown fear.

This fear lingered in her heart. Because, truthfully, she didn't want to remain the same ruin from her past. She didn't anymore want to identify herself as a property of a criminal. She shuddered at the thought.

Her heart ached. But it was a different kind of ache.

She glanced at him.

Although he looked like an arrogant jerk, she lately realized that was his facade to hide those scars underneath. He was a man of secrets. Difficult to understand, but not entirely decipherable. And even after all the hell he had put her through, she felt differently for him. It was subtle yet had occupied a larger portion of her emotions.

Her eyes flickered as she averted her gaze on her hands holding the water bottle and the medicine foil.

It'd take three-four hours to reach Kolkata. If she took the medicine now, by the time they'd reach home, it'd be on its full effect. She unwrapped the foil, brought out the capsule and stared at it, thinking for the fiftieth time, was she really ready to do it? Was she ready to open up her heart to him? What if she got rejected? He still had connections with Zinnia's father and Zinnia definitely loved him. She wouldn't know if he still wanted to marry Zinnia. But then also, he told Priyasha he didn't want that anymore.

She groaned in frustration, as she wrapped the capsule in her hand tight. It unnerved her at the beginning. She slammed her eyes shut and concentrated on her heartache. She had to do it. She couldn't withdraw without even trying.

She opened her eyes, and they instinctively darted toward him and she panicked.

How would she be able to love a man like him who kept so many secrets? Could she really trust him? Her anxiety returned with full intensity and debilitated her determination. She took a last glance at the capsule as her lips wavered in anticipation. If she couldn't get a hold of her nervousness, how'd she be able to encounter her heart and him. She had to do it.

She took a deep breath and slowly uncapped the bottle, then popped the capsule in her mouth along with water.

Abhiraj looked at her sideways, concerned. "Why are you taking medicines? Aren't you feeling well?"

She kept quiet, torn between the urge of replying him and reminding herself of Jeet's advice. Ignore him. She looked out the car's window, instead.

Abhiraj asked again, "What is it?"

She bit her lower lip as she folded her arms. It was definitely difficult not to answer him, when his voice was so damn deep and demanding. She fought the urge with a great deal.

When she didn't reply for a long time, Abhiraj's voice rose higher. "Priyasha, I am asking you something."

She inclined her head on the seat, exhaled audibly. All of this was an attempt in trying to make him realize she was ignoring him.

For a few seconds he said nothing, but she knew he was studying her. Sure enough, he rebuked aloud after a moment, "Heaven's sake!" It made her flinch visibly, but she composed herself quickly. "You're avoiding me?"

When she didn't even make a move, he yelled again, "Fine! I also don't have enough energy right now to put up with your complaints." Then he went quiet.

She noticed from her peripheral vision, from clutching the steering too strongly, all of his knuckles had turned almost bloodless. Priyasha stole a few transitory wry glances at him. But now, he wasn't even paying attention to her. Instead, the speed of the car was increasing every minute that it literally scared her. She grimaced from time to time.

After that, she lost count of how many times she stole glances at him and he disregarded her presence altogether. At a certain point, drowsiness swept over her and she fell into a deep slumber.

It was then, she regained her senses, when Abhiraj called her in a gruff voice, "Priyasha, wake up. We're here."

She blinked open her eyes adjusting her vision, then rubbed them and focused outside of the car's windshield. They had reached. She blinked a few more times while Abhiraj got off the car. She reached for the door handle and pulled to release the door latch when her head swayed suddenly and she stopped moving for a second. Then she felt the heaviness in her head and sensed the drum beats inside, it felt like it was hammering down all her senses. Her eyelids felt extremely weighty and everything was dizzy. She slowly lifted her head up holding the temples with her fingertips. Oww! What the hell! Why was she feeling so tipsy?

Abhiraj rounded the car and met Jai, who had come running toward their car immediately after noticing it slid inside the parking lot. She blinked several times attempting to adjust her vision. It was blurry and her whole body felt like jelly. She shook her head twice then unlocked the door and got out the car. Her legs trembled as she leaned against the car to support herself.

Jai looked at her and beamed. "Di, how are you?"

She slurred, "Jai, it feels good to see you again."

Abhiraj's head turned toward her as soon as she spoke. The way she sounded, wasn't anywhere near to sober.

"Are you okay?" Jai inquired, fairly worried for her.

"I'm fine, yup." Priyasha nodded, then staggered ahead around the car and stood in front of Jai. "It must be the aftereffects of sleep."

Jai's eyes scrunched together. "Maybe."

Although thoughtful and perturbed, Abhiraj tore off his gaze from her before asking Jai, "Do you have any update from hospital?"

Priyasha looked between them contemplating. Who else was in hospital?

Jai replied, anxious, "Nothing after the attack. They are guarding him."

Abhiraj's brows furrowed.

"I'll meet him tomorrow."

Priyasha looked between the men, a little dazed, still trying to grasp their conversation.

Jai nodded then his gaze shifted toward Priyasha. He asked again in alarm, "Are you okay?"

Priyasha waved dismissively but kept quiet. When the men looked at her unconvincingly, she ignored their skeptical gaze and tottered ahead toward the elevator. Abhiraj and Jai followed her, both had a visible frown on their faces.

On reaching the elevator, Abhiraj dismissed Jai and told him to go get some rest. Priyasha leaned on the wall of elevator and tried to steady herself. She was extremely tipsy, and she feared it was due to the capsule Jeet had given her. She'd have to kill him tomorrow, she noted down, huffing. Abhiraj studied her from the corner of his eyes, but kept quiet.

Once entering the apartment, Abhiraj's frown deepened as she stumbled forward but soon recovered when he tried to catch her. Priyasha spun around to find him studying her, frowning silently. He grunted, then looked away. Discarding his suit, he turned to leave for his room.

Priyasha called after him, when she realized, he wasn't going to talk to her if she wouldn't start. "Abhiraj."

He halted, then turned around slowly. His brows furrowed as mouth turned grim. He looked at her wryly in strong disapproval.

Priyasha staggered forward and stood a few feet away from him. "I want to talk to you." she slurred.

Abhiraj tilted his head as one of his eyebrows rose questioningly.

"Who was you talking about downstairs?"

"Sanjay."

She raised her eyebrows reminding herself about the accident happened to Sanjay and nodded. "Oh, yes. How is he now?"

Abhiraj stared at her, distinctly annoyed now. "He got attacked a few hours ago."

Priyasha's mouth fell open as she stared at him, digesting the information. A few moments later she squawked, "What? In the hospital?"

"Yes. I was informed when I was still in the party."

She flinched. He was mad because of that?! Suddenly she regretted taking the capsule altogether. It was definitely not a good time to bring up about her insecurities. She couldn't be selfish to care only about her life. She should have tried to know the truth first. But when he abruptly asked her to leave the party, she had been too grumpy toward him. Moreover, Jeet's influence had almost blinded her to think otherwise. But it was now too late. She felt very much clumsy right now, and that too in vain. Because the plan would be unsuccessful straight off.

Abhiraj studied her squarely. "Why do I feel, you have something going on inside your head?"

Priyasha winced again. He was too good in contemplating situations. She immediately shook her head.

"Why did you take medicine?"

"I-" She tried to reason him with a made-up excuse. "I- I am late. I have my periods postponed. So, my stomach was hurting." She bit the inside of her cheek as her face flushed because of embarrassment.

Abhiraj's eyes went wide, realizing the discomforting situation. He cleared his throat as his gaze dropped on her saree pleats.

A moment of awkwardness settled in between them.

Priyasha lifted her chin once again before asking, "Why were you so mad at the party?"

Abhiraj shifted his focus back on her face, confused.

"Who were those people?" She inquired softly.

Abhiraj's jaws clenched once the realization crossed over his gorgeous face. It felt good to understand his expressions even though he wanted to keep it away from her. She took instant pride in figuring things out quickly and smartly with him. Not only that but also, she had acquired enough courage to encounter him. "I saw you looking at them and thereafter you acted absolute... furious." She looked at him fixedly. "Who were they?" She took a step ahead as her legs trembled a little. "I want you to tell me the truth." She paused before adding, "Please."

He focused his unrelenting stare at her as his jaws clenched. He slammed his eyes shut as she noticed his fists turned into rigid balls. Why was he again angry? Was it from her interrogation? Or... but before she could think of anything else, he gritted his teeth. "Debdutta Roy and two of his close mates. Your friend's fiancé is a Permabell employee. They too were invited."

She paused, digesting the news. Jatin was a Permabell employee. And Debdutta Roy was present in the party. Alright. Things could go much worse than she'd ever expect. That had just been proven.

She closed her eyes as a burst of dizziness swept over her again, before opening them again. She trembled while taking a few steps ahead. Abhiraj didn't notice her advancement. His eyes were still closed and he looked infuriated. When he raked a hand through his hair and exhaled audibly, she whispered softly, "Abhiraj..."

He opened his eyes as his intense gaze focused on her unwaveringly. Their eyes met. His dark, galaxy eyes with her hazel ones and her heartbeat quickened in a matter of seconds.

She whispered again, "What are you doing to me?"

His eyes gleamed in a flash as the air surrounding them seemed to be sizzling. It was evident from the look of his eyes that he definitely craved something fierce but couldn't express his desire. Before even realizing, Priyasha sucked in a deep breath and caught in an uneven breathing. He blinked trying to ignore the effect their closeness was sending. His breathing turned labored as he murmured. "What do you mean?"

"Why are you taking care of me like there's something..." she trailed off, biting her lower lip.

His gaze dropped to her lips which wavered at his close attention. Now... she had his attention. A muffled groan left his mouth. "You should take some rest now. It's enough late."

Priyasha took some steps ahead but due to her clumsiness she lost her balance, staggered and stumbled forward on him, instinctively clutching his shirt in her fists. Abhiraj quickly steadied her as his hand grazed down, stopping just above her hip. Priyasha inhaled his unique scent as her eyes darted up to his face and rested in his eyes. Her heart swelled inside her chest. God, she had indeed fallen for them and their owner. She mumbled, "You could have given up on me, you have more serious issues on hand, but..." She searched his eyes. "You keep coming back for me."

Abhiraj's labored breathing fell on her bare skin, shivering her. He kept quiet, but his eyes exposed secrets she wanted to decipher thoroughly. They glowed something fierce.

After a few moments of silence, he complained in a throaty voice, "You're ruining my shirt."

Priyasha looked down where her hand was clutching his shirt. She let go of it hastily and stepped back, mortified. She dropped her gaze down. But when she did, she saw the bulge down there. She exhaled, shuddering. God helped her! He- he was... her cheeks flared up as her eyes darted up toward his eyes. She witnessed the desperate raw desire in there. His hands were still on her hips which by the moment she looked into his eyes, started travelling up, restricting her further movements backwards.

She whispered his name, "Abhi..."

He pulled her closer and groaned. This time loud enough to turn her face a darker shade of crimson.

"What do you want from me?" she whispered inaudibly, but she knew he had heard her very well.

Abhiraj pulled her even closer. "You are precious, Priyasha. I don't want you to get hurt."

She stared into his eyes, searching for something yet unspoken. At one point her eyes wavered and welled up, and simultaneously, his eyes held such intensity, it made her weak at the knees. The sudden betraying adrenaline rush jabbed right at her heart. He kept telling her that but he wouldn't tell her the reason. "But why? Why do you care?"

But he remained silent. Their eyes locked and even after a long moment when he didn't say anything, tears streamed down her face. An uncontrollable sob erupted as she held her face in her hands.

"Priyasha, I'm sorry... for everything." He pleaded.

Those words broke her heart and shattered into pieces. She couldn't quite understand, why did it hurt so bad? It felt like all her hope washed away along with his words. She had fallen for someone who couldn't even reciprocate her feelings. She pushed him away. Hot tears streamed down her cheeks breaking her down completely. She felt like an emotional mess.

Even after building walls around her heart years after years with caution and determination, she had failed to protect it. Her heart was now so brutally wasted that she started doubting whether she even had one to start with.

Her voice broke as she mumbled to him as much as to herself, "Can't you see it? It's been tearing me apart. The simultaneous contradictory cues I have been getting from you... are hurting me!" Her voice rose a little at the end as a heart-wrenching sob erupted from her mouth again. "It hurts, Abhiraj. It hurts so bad."

He slammed his eyes shut as a pained look crossed his face. A few moments later when he opened them, they burned intensely with desire and longing. His embrace tightened around her while she wiggled in his arms to free herself. Her hands were still covering her face as she cried out. "Let me go."

He pulled apart then forced her hands down her face. When she attempted to push him away, he caught her hands tightly making her flinch. Priyasha's moist eyes darted up his face and stopped at his eyes. They mimicked an aesthetically twinkling night sky.

Abhiraj utilized this bewitched moment. He cupped her tears strained face, then brushed away the teardrops that were rolling down her face with the pad of his thumb. Completely numbed by the moment she instinctively placed her hands on his chest and stared at him, expecting something... anything... from him.

His heated glance dropped on her pert lips, that wavered slightly in anticipation. His eyes shifted to her eyes then back at her lips. His focus intensified on her fuller lips, parted and shaking in anticipation. He leaned forward as her breathing became uneven. But he stopped, right after his lips grazed lightly on hers. Their surrounding air grew heavy, she felt the desire running both ways, and she sensed the need, suddenly. A primal desire of two grown-ups. They couldn't stop now. She couldn't. She pulled her weight up on her toes and closed her eyes, desperate enough to pass the situation into oblivion.

"Kiss me!"

Words came out as a desperate whisper from her inside, and it was all he needed at the moment.

He leaned forward and closed the minimum gap between them. Their kiss tasted almost salty from her tears. But the way he kissed her it was obvious he didn't care about that. He kissed with such passion, it made her believe it was their last kiss and all they had was tonight.

One of his hands moved behind her neck to make the kiss steady. His desperation clearly giving out how much he wanted her. After a few seconds in the beginning, he almost lost control and his kiss became more demanding, more primitive, raw and it melted her in his arms. She sensed the high as well the tug down to her core. She kissed him back, with equal passion, forgetting all the complaints she had against him, forgetting all the hurt he had imparted on her. His other hand trailed down her back and rested on the small of her back as he pulled her closer. Their bodies remained perfectly aligned with each other.

Her hand raked around his neck up to his hair as she clutched a handful of his hair and tugged at them, first softly then the stress increased.

With each passing by moments, the kiss was becoming more urgent, more demanding. It felt like their entire life was depending on it. What they couldn't say in words, they could easily tell through their kiss. The more he was exploring her, the more she was becoming restless.

Sucking on her bottom lip, he begged her permission. She moaned as her hands traveled down to his shirt. She struggled to find the buttons and twisted the first one free when he caught her hands with one of his and bit on her bottom lip gently. She gasped at the abruptness as her lips parted, giving him access to slid his tongue inside. She whined when he started invading her mouth making her melt against him. Their tongues danced in harmony.

He grazed his other hand over her hair and cheeks earning several wanton moans from her. It made him let out a suppressed groan as well. Her satisfied heart fluttered inside her chest when she heard it before they broke the kiss and he whispered her name, "Priyasha!"

Both struggled to catch the air that had long left their lungs. He laid his forehead on hers as she panted softly. Her eyes still closed. It was a dream. She truly believed it was, and she didn't want to wake up from this dream.

After a few seconds of silence, she opened her eyes as they darted up to his. They glowed beautifully. It ached to look at them for longer. She dropped her gaze, then rested her head on his chest. Her heart flipped over and nearly stopped when he wrapped his arms around them and held her, softly, securely... safely.

She noted down this sensational moment on her heart's notebook, to cherish it in the time to come. After nurturing the silence for some more time, she whispered, "Take me to my room."

He walked her to her room. It was dark. Also, she didn't need light at the moment. She feared if she switched on the light, the dream would break. She wasn't, yet, ready to let go. She sat on the edge of her bed and he joined her.

"Do you really feel nothing?" She mumbled, expecting him to say something.

He remained silent at first, then took one of her hands in his and kissed her knuckles deliberately, then said, "I want to protect you from getting hurt. That's all I want right now."

Her eyes again burned with unshed tears. "Can't you do this some other way? Without hurting me the way you're doing right now?"

He paused for a prolonged moment, then mumbled quietly, "Give me some time."

She leaned forward and rested her head on his chest, wrapping her hands around him as he embraced her closely. She heard the pounding of his heart, and it was serene. She could hear this sound for a long time and wouldn't get tired. It was making her drowsy. She felt... safe in his arms. She always felt safe around him. The feeling was peaceful, beautiful.

"And if something bad happens before that?" She asked, softly.

"I'll figure out something else," he promised.

Her heart ached, but she knew, he'd fulfill his promise.

She nodded as her eyes drifted close.