It was way lot worse.

Priyasha's gaze dropped down on her lap. She visibly shuddered looking through her watery eyes at her bloodstained hands. Jai was sitting right next to her, a shadow of fear had veiled his face, while Vijay was sitting on the opposite side, equally disturbed, throwing a hand around her to stop her from shaking visibly.

The whole ambience around her was terrible. Strong smell of medicines, the muffled rumbling of the crowd, everyone's fear sheathed face - had been making her even more nervous. She couldn't even tell whether she had stopped crying for even once! The uncontrollable freely falling tears had stained her face, and she knew she looked awful. Everyone had been comforting her, telling her to stop crying. Despite all of their support, she couldn't stop blaming herself for the accident. She held herself responsible for the accident and for that her heart had been falling apart in pieces since it took place.

Soon after Jai learned from her about the accident, he turned around his bike immediately and headed for the spot. It took him nineteen minutes to be exact to reach the spot considering how fast he drove. The whole time on the way, Priyasha cried. Jai never once complained when she had practically clung to his back, crying a river. Because of her tears, a huge wet spot had emerged on the back of his t-shirt, which looked exactly like someone had thrown a water balloon aiming at his back.

By the time they reached the spot, it appeared like a wreckage with all those ambulances, police cars and forces and the crowd. They had to wait several minutes before they convinced the officer present at the spot to get to Abhiraj. Jai made a great effort in convincing that he knew the victim to the officer who was tackling the incident. Priyasha, on the other hand, wasn't in such a state to cope with anything happening around her. Her eyes were glued to the ambulance workers who were greatly struggling to take Abhiraj out of the car. She had to wipe her eyes every few seconds from keeping them from welling up and making her vision blurry. But it was to no avail, tears kept falling freely down her face.

His car was a total wreckage, tumbled over on its side. The front windscreen was shattered along with the bonnet entirely smashed and distorted. The collapsed roof made it even difficult for someone to get into or out of it. Just beside the car, a Mahindra truck was positioned facing the car. It was which hit the car. The traffic behind the spot was still stuck there, and the noise everywhere was making the situation even worse.

From the position she was standing, she could barely frame out Abhiraj inside the car.

As soon as the officer permitted them near the car, she ran toward Abhiraj without delay and held onto his body which now had been placed on a stretcher. She could only witness the red color all over and around him. His entire body was covered in thick blood. The deep cut on his head almost revealing the skull underneath. One of his hands fell outward as the ambulance men tucked him inside the ambulance.

She screamed his name several times through her tears but he was gone to response. As the ambulance started rolling in, one of the paramedics did some first aid on him and consoled her that there still was a feeble pulse in Abhiraj. It somehow enkindled the ray of hope in her as she sat beside him holding his hand the entire time until reaching hospital. When Abhiraj was taken inside the Operation Theatre and she was told to stay outside, she instantly collapsed on a nearby empty seat, outside the OT door.

All of it happened because of her. The thought kept pounding in her head as a constant alarming tone.

The thing was, at some point, he had taken up a huge space in her heart unknowingly. It was unknown for both of them, and whenever she thought it could be that kind of loss which couldn't be replaced, it was scaring her to the rock bottom.

The fear of losing someone you love and never see them again in your life can be very terrifying. It can haunt you in your deepest of sleep. You can blame it on fate but it will always linger at the back of your mind. But loss never comes alone. Loss always gets followed by grief trailing behind it. The saddest part is, once you've lost it, it will never return, doesn't matter how much you mourn for it.

It is the hardest truth of life. Life never returns what it takes away from you.

Her fear was exactly dwelling on that part.

Shortly after, Jai arrived and another twenty minutes later Vijay, Ravi and Sachin came running to the hospital. At some point, Jai must have informed them. But Priyasha was too lost to care for anyone or anything else happening around her. She grieved for the probable loss. She was feeling as if the heavy burden on her shoulder was trying to bury her into the earth forcibly and her guilt conscience was smothering her equally cruelly.

~~~

Five hours had passed away since doctors began operating on Abhiraj in the emergency and still everyone was in vague about his condition. One thing for sure, he was tremendously injured and everyone was scared for his dear life.

Although, surrounded by grief and pangs of remorsefulness, inside her head, she kept repeating, 'It couldn't be bad. He was doing fine. He had to. He promised her something. How could he not keep his promise and leave her amidst this cruel world? He had to be alright. He had to be alright.'

She wasn't ready to accept the fact that anything bad could happen to Abhiraj. She only knew he was a fighter, and he was right now fighting the life and death situation. He had to win no matter what. She would accept nothing otherwise. Her heart bled inside her chest but her mind had other words to say.

Meanwhile, Ravi had gone to take care of the last deeds regarding Sanjay. But Vijay, Sachin and Jai stayed with her.

Later at some point, Jeet came running worriedly.

"Priya?"

Still too disoriented and miserable, she looked up and spotted him. Vijay quietly stood up leaving the space for Jeet to sit down beside her. Jeet hurriedly sat beside her and hugged her from side. Priyasha dug her face in his chest and the tears returned with full intensity. "See, what I've gotten into. It was because of me, Jeet! All of it happened because of me. Everything I have ever wanted... they go away from me. I am tired, Jeet. I'm tired of losing. And now, he is suffering because of me! Because of my stupidity!" Hot tears fell from her face soaking Jeet's shirt.

Jeet shook his head and cooed in her ear, "It was not your fault. Calm down, Priya. The truck that hit his car broke the red light on the opposite road and took the wrong lane. The driver is missing."

"What?" Everyone said in unison except Priyasha after hearing that.

Jeet motioned toward them still holding a very heartbroken Priyasha to his chest. "Yes. We are guessing the accident was pre-planned. Otherwise, there was no way the truck would have come opposite to his car. Because it was a one-way lane."

"Oh, yes! How come it never occurred to me?" Jai exclaimed while frowning.

Jeet looked over at Jai and nodded, then asked quietly, "Have you heard anything from the doctor?"

Jai frowned, then shook his head in worry.

"Don't worry. Everything's going to be fine."

He looked down at Priyasha who was still crying. "Priya, stop blaming yourself. It was not your fault."

She shook her head in denial, "But it was."

"It was not." He emphasized on the last word, and continued, "Talk to Maya aunty. She probably is worrying for you."

Priyasha pulled apart then eyed him. "How come you're here in Kolkata?"

"I came yesterday, around afternoon."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

"My work doesn't always permit me to giveaway my whereabouts Priya."

She wiped away her eyes then asked again, "How do you know about the accident?"

His eyes softened at that. "Isn't that obvious?"

"I don't want to talk to Maa now. She'll worry and I don't want any of them get stressed and sick because of me."

Jeet nodded then patted on her head. "Everything will be alright, Priya. Have faith."

Which is when they heard an anxious voice directed toward Vijay. "Vijay sir!" Someone's anxious voice made all of them to snap their head at the person. It was Ravi. He came hurriedly toward them and stood before Vijay. Sachin joined them, who was pacing back and forth restlessly.

Vijay asked in concernment, "What is it?"

Ravi was panting slightly. "Permabell... Debdutta Roy..."

"Permabell, Debdutta Roy...?" He stared at him, unable to grasp what he was saying. "What are you saying Ravi?"

"Debdutta Roy has transferred his eighty percent of shares to Vishwa Senapati and Kabir Nanda."

"What?!" Both Vijay and Sachin cried out in unison.

"But he couldn't do that without holding a meeting beforehand." Sachin added, "And I have no information of such meeting."

"Could Satyamohan Uncle know about this?" Vijay inquired to no one actually.

"How could we know that? It is Roy Sir who deals with issues like this. He probably has contacted Satya Saahaab. We wouldn't know until..." Sachin said, "Roy Sir, himself, confirms what has happened."

"But one thing is for sure." Vijay thought aloud, "Debdutta Roy have done something illegal. Transferring shares would require a lot more legal procedures and I'm certain, he has gone through none. At least not something in my knowledge. Roy would have told me otherwise. If I cannot talk to him right now, I can call to Satyamohan Uncle and..." He paused momentarily before adding, "maybe, that tout, Aslam can do something in our favor in exchange for money. I'll contact him."

"Yes, you must do something. Roy sir won't be pleased to hear this," Sachin said, frowning.

Priyasha noticed Jeet. He was silently listening to their conversation. As far as she could tell, the men were unaware of his real identity. They only knew he was Priyasha's friend, and they gave out important bits of information in front of him unaware of his true identity. Abhiraj wouldn't be pleased once he knew this. Priyasha focused her gaze on Jeet to ask him whether she should reveal his identity to them, but Jeet immediately refrained her from doing so, shaking his head and throwing a meaningful glance at her. Priyasha despondently nodded and kept quiet, which was when one of the nurses came out from the OT. She saw her and immediately sprang on her feet, followed by Jeet and Jai. Vijay turned toward the nurse and asked anxiously, "How is the patient, Nurse?"

"We cannot say immediately. He got his left elbow and collarbone fractured and received a difficult blow on his skull. We are hoping it is not a severe TBI (Traumatic Brain Injury). If within 24 hours he doesn't get his consciousness back, he might slip into a coma. And, please clear this space, you cannot create a crowd in front of the operation theatre. Now, please excuse me." After saying that, she walked away hastily.

Priyasha heard that and her world spun altogether. She collapsed on the seat benumbed. This couldn't be. This couldn't happen to him. Tears streamed down her face. Everyone present there exchanged glum stares with each other, then focused their attention on her worriedly. Finally, Jeet stepped in front of her and crouched down, "Priya, you need to be strong." But his words fell on deaf ears. It felt like she was sitting there but not really present there. As if a dark veil had covered her entire personal space, and she was drowning in it.

This could not happen to him. She shook her head furiously. No, no, no. He had to be fine. He would be fine. He couldn't leave her like that among evils. He made a promise to her. How could he not fulfill it? He had to be alright. She refused to think otherwise. She swayed back and forth and kept chanting internally. No. No. No. No.

~~~

During the night, everyone wanted Priyasha to go home, but she refused. So, Jai reluctantly brought her a clean pair of outfits and a blanket for the night. He and Ravi stayed with her in the hospital during the night while Vijay, Jeet and Sachin left as the hospital authority wouldn't allow more than three family members/friends of the patient.

As Jeet had promised earlier, he had arranged for guards. Two constables stood guarding her as well as Abhiraj.

3rd August

It had been nineteen hours and still nothing had changed. She was still sitting outside the intensive care unit he had been shifted to after his operation, and still there was no improvement in his health.

In the morning, when Jeet arrived, he brought food for them which again she refused to eat. She couldn't eat while he was fighting with life and death. She still blamed it on herself. She was still convinced it was because of her stupidity the accident happened. If she didn't stupidly called him in the first place, he would have been more concentrated and more careful to watch the truck on the opposite side.

But it happened and the damage couldn't be undone. The stinging in her heart would never leave her if anything happened to him.

Meanwhile, Vinita called her to inquire about Abhiraj's health, and Priyasha again broke down.

A police officer came to take Abhiraj's statement but left after talking with others when he learned the patient was still unconsciousness.

In the middle of all these chaos, Priyasha had developed this blind belief that nothing would happen to him. Probably that was the reason when the doctor informed, he got his consciousness back after almost twenty-two hours, she wasn't greatly thrilled or moved or relieved. She just felt her heartbeat slowed down.

The news relieved others nonetheless.

After talking to the doctor, Vijay went to where Priyasha and Jeet were sitting. After he informed them about Abhiraj's health it relieved Jeet as well. But it was Priyasha who couldn't feel the relief or happiness and her state of indifference unnerved the men. Jeet shook her and repeated that Abhiraj's health condition had improved and he got back his consciousness. In response, Priyasha just blinked and shuddered.

A few more hours later, the nurse who was looking after Abhiraj, approached them and informed, they can meet him for a few minutes one by one, but he shouldn't be forced to talk. Everyone nodded in understanding and when she asked who'd go first, everyone's stare shifted toward Priyasha. Jeet pushed her forward and told the nurse, "She'll go." The nurse nodded and asked her to follow.

As close as she was getting to his room, her heart started palpitating even worse. Why couldn't she feel the burst of happiness like everyone else? Probably because she always knew, he'd survive, he'd be alright.

Perhaps, it was actually because of her unmoving belief, he did.

When she entered the room and focused her attention on him, her heart shattered into pieces. She blinked several times, not to tear up in front of him, but failed miserably as the hot grieving tears returned with full blast rolling down her cheeks. All she saw was a pale man lying on a hospital bed, wearing an oxygen mask and a white thick bandage around his forehead, saline and blood pipes attached to his veins while a sling around his neck was supporting his plastered left arm.

She slowly stepped toward his side and sat down beside him gently. His other hand was just in front of her lying almost lifelessly. She broke down in tears as she leaned forward and softly grabbed his hand, leaning her head on it.

The gesture must have awakened him from his sedated state as she felt a subtle twitch in his hand. She glanced up to his face and saw him looking at her with half-opened eyes. His beautiful star-filled eyes, they looked so pale that it broke her heart even more.

And then she cried.

She held his hand and cried her heart out.

If you want love to be complicated, love is the most complicated thing in the whole universe. But, if you can see through it, it is the most transparent beauty you'd ever acknowledge. Love has its unique way of understanding. When you love someone, you overlook their flaws. Love is all about trust and acceptance which is compassionate, which is considerate. It is one of the precious gifts from the Lord to make life endurable.

Love can change people. The only condition is, they need to love you back.

After a while, when she felt a soft squeeze on her hand she sniffled through her tears. "I'm sorry. This all happened... because of me. This is my fault. I'm sorry."

He moaned, and it sounded like a pained whimper. She glanced up at him and saw him moving his head slightly.

He didn't believe it was because of her. It squeezed her heart in her chest.

He moved his head slightly toward her and struggled to whisper the words, "Not your... fault."

She hurriedly refrained him from speaking. "Ssshh... don't talk. Please, don't talk. Keep quiet."

She reached forward and grazed her hand through his hair, then placed a kiss just below his bandage, right on the middle of his brows. He looked at her as she pulled back, then blinked as a single teardrop rolled down from the corner of his eyes.

"Don't cry," Priyasha whisper-pleaded through her tears. Her heart squeezed achingly in her chest seeing him like that. As she softly clutched his hand and eyed him lingeringly. Their eyes locked and an unspoken conversation imparted.

After a few silent moments of unsaid heart-to-heart, he whispered again, his voice sounded so indistinct and labored, "I... want to... talk to... Police."

She nodded. "They came. But you were unconscious. I'll inform them."

His eyes travelled downward to his plastered hand as he cursed, "Damn. This was ...not my ...plan." His brows crinkled as he said so, and which made Priyasha chuckle inaudibly.

"It seems since I came in your life, every plan of yours is backfiring."

In response to which he turned his gaze at her with amused eyes, but said nothing.

After which the nurse interrupted knocking on the door and told her to leave. It was not good for him to talk too much. Before leaving, she raked her fingers through his hair one more time and smiled, while her eyes were still moist. He stared at her longingly as she noticed there was another droplet of tear on the brink of rolling down. She couldn't watch him like that. So, she left immediately without another word.

After that, Jai and everyone else visited him one by one.

Jeet asked her if he could go see him too, in response she stared at him with disbelief. "Of course, you can. Why are you asking me?"

"Because, I'm about to ask him about the evidences."

She stared at him in dread. "No, You won't."

"I have to."

"This is not the right time."

Jeet threw her a pointed look. "Priya, it'll be late if I wait until he recovers. We might lose our lead. I have to ask him. Now."

When Jeet went ahead to enter Abhiraj's room, her heart pounded like a crazy animal desperate to make a run. She wouldn't know what the men would talk about, and she was immensely frightened for Abhiraj's health.

When Jeet came out, she couldn't tell a damn thing from his expression. It was cold and indecipherable. Then he left without telling her anything about their conversation which scared the hell out of her. What did he ask Abhiraj? And the more important question, what Abhiraj replied?

~~~

The next few days, she barely lived through the days like a robot. She woke up, ate, went to office, worked, then went to hospital and back to home. Everything else appeared irrelevant to her. She talked to Maya and Kaushik every day, assuring them she was okay but inside... she felt broken.

It was one of those times when she was forced to leave her life to fate's hand. She lived those days mostly feeling only one emotion to the fullest. Fear.

She was either afraid that Romeo would show up any moment, or she was afraid, Abhiraj would be harmed. And either way she would lose.

Despite her tedious lifeless days, she had company. Either Vijay or Jai always accompanied her along with the civilian police Jeet had appointed to her. Abhiraj was recovering, but he denied saying anything about his conversation with Jeet.

Meanwhile, Vijay told her about Nanda and Vishwa's engagement and they were currently in Lucknow for signing on a deal he had no idea about. Also, he talked to Mr. Satyamohan Das who had no idea about the transferring of Permabell's shares. He was in Lebanon throughout and Debdutta Roy informed nothing to him so far.

As per Abhiraj's statement, the officers were in search of the truck driver and of course, Romeo. But still, there was no trace of either.

Since their conversation at the hospital, Jeet didn't turn up again until the day Abhiraj was released.

It was a long week that she had lived so far. On the day of his release, when she was getting ready to leave for hospital, she stared into the mirror at her reflection and immediately winced. She wasn't looking like herself at all. There were dark circles under her eyes, her cheeks had slightly receded inside. She looked awful, mostly lifeless. She had to put under eye cream and concealer to hide her awful face.

Around eight in the evening, Abhiraj returned to home. He was still wearing the plaster; the fractures would definitely take time to heal. He still had the bandage on his head which needed cleaning and dressing every day.

It felt so uncomfortable for Priyasha to watch him in such a vulnerable state. She was used to his mysteriously unnerving self, but now that he was sitting on his bed all broken, she was unconsciously hurting for him.

Since his return, Priyasha had been stealing glances at him each now and then. However, with others present there and talking to him, she kept quiet. Even at some point, she left the living room.

After everyone left, she came out of her room and with Jai's help took Abhiraj to his room and settled him down on his bed. Jai left afterwards to buy the medicines which was when she finally focused her undivided attention on him, which he returned of course.

She was tucking pillows behind his back to help him sit upright, more comfortably. When she leaned back, he looked straight into her eyes, pinning her on spot. Their eyes locked as she searched into his eyes. They were undoubtedly calling her nearer. For a few seconds, she was frozen on her spot. But when his eyes dropped on her lips, her face flushed and lips wavered. But she resisted her urge to throw herself at him, because that was exactly what she was feeling at that moment.

She blinked and look down before straightening up. She knew his focus was solely on her. To avoid the mutual tension, she decided to go to the kitchen and bring him dinner, and she did exactly that.

11th August

"So, this is why you took leave for a week?" He grunted when she cut off the extra bandage and tucked the tail inside the outermost fold.

Putting down the extra roll of the bandage and ointment inside the first aid box she asked him curiously, "Which is what?" without looking at him.

"To babysit me." He raised one of his brows and grunted again, studying her.

Abhiraj was sitting on his bed with his legs outstretched as Priyasha was dressing the bandage around his head. He was healing but he was still weak and needed care. So, Priyasha had used the rest of her leaves as she had already submitted the completed the project to Vikram. When Vikram had asked her about the next project and whether she wanted to be the team lead, she had denied straightaway. She was not really in a situation to accept a leader's position and direct an entire team. Danger was still lurking around the corner and she wouldn't know when it would snatch her away. So, she decided against it and availed the leave instead.

She chuckled softly at the way he had put it. "No. I had a few leaves due, so I thought to use them."

She closed the lid after saying that and stood up. As soon as she turned around to leave, he swiftly put down his right leg on the floor and reached for her. Catching a hold of her hand, he pulled her down toward him swiftly. She tumbled back and collapsed abruptly on the bed in between his legs. The first aid box slipped from her hand and fell on the floor. By then, Abhiraj had wrapped his free hand around her belly and pulled her closer to him.

These all happened so suddenly that she barely got time to react. When she realized she was sitting right between his legs, so close to his torso, she sucked in a deep breath as her eyes fluttered shut in shyness. She shivered at their proximity when he leaned closer and rested his forehead on her hair inhaling her scent. One of her hands instinctively clutched on his hand before she wrapped herself with her free hand. The warmth of his breath fell on the nape of her neck.

Whispering softly in her ears that sent tingles all over, Abhiraj finally asked, "Why are you doing this?"

Priyasha, still eyes closed, leaned into him, and replied, "Because this feels right."

A smirk crept up on his face as she just quoted him. His grip around her belly tightened as he pulled her closer and closing the minimum gap between them. His hot breath fell on her bare neck shivering her as she inhaled his unique scent from this close. A few moments later he pulled back slightly and kissed on a sensitive spot on her neck, just behind her ear. It took her off guard as she whimpered and he pulled back. Her lashes swept up while her face flushed taking a darker shade of crimson. She placed a hand on her chest trying to breathe normal but it came out in pants. He again leaned in and rested his forehead on top of her hair.

"Thank you for everything, even though I'm not that deserving," he softly spoke in her ear, earning another shiver from her.

She couldn't response immediately. It was hard to concentrate now that he was sitting so close to her and doing wonderful things. She was in loss of words to express her feelings to him.

Their bodies touching and his raspy voice in her ear throwing her in a daze. "Abhi..." she whispered finally, "Let me... go."

"I am very much unwilling to let you go. Never was willing though... since I saw you for the first time."

"Which was when?" She asked curiously, still trying to catch her breath.

He grazed his stubbled face on her hair and cheek, then groaned. "Five months two days ago to be exact... on Senapati's phone gallery."

She flinched at the mention of Vishwa's name but he held her in place and cooed in her ear. "It's okay."

Priyasha relaxed a little, then pointed, "And then you planned for my abduction."

He kept grazing his face on hers while answering her through a muffled groan, "My plan seems to backfire a lot since then."

"And still you're willing to keep me."

"Definitely. That's the new plan."

She smiled at that, then complained, "Let me go now."

He groaned and held her for a few more seconds, then released her. She glanced in his eyes, where the stars were back and it was soothing to look at them. She wouldn't ever get tired of watching them. His gaze lingered at her longingly then he held up one of her hands and kissed her knuckles deliberately.

"You're the best thing that ever happened to me till now."

Her blush deepened as she withdrew her hand nervously then arose, picked up the first aid box from the floor and went ahead toward the showcase. While keeping the box inside the drawer, her eyes fell on a ...flute. She brought it out as her eyes went wide in astonishment. She turned around swiftly to face him. "What is this?"

His gaze dropped on the flute; his eyes sparkled. "A flute."

She rolled her eyes and huffed. "Yes, I know that. But why do you have a flute?"

He smiled one of his rare smiles making her heart flutter at the sight. "I used to play that."

Her mouth gaped in surprise. He knew that too? "You can play flute?"

He nodded with a smirk. "I can sing too. Should I sing a song to you?"

Her face flushed again as she stammered, "No-I mean- you can- you ..." she eyed the flute then said, "You can play this though."

"Now?"

She nodded excitedly and beamed thereafter when he didn't deny. She handed him the flute and watched him eagerly. At first, he was struggling with his left arm which was still plastered. When she noticed that, she immediately regretted and tried to refrain him. But he stopped her and managed to position his left arm a little comfortably then blew on the flute.

And her world came crashing down right in front of his feet. It was the most beautiful melody she had heard in her entire life. Okay, maybe she was exaggerating, but it was beautiful. She sat there and listened to him blissfully and unconsciously let go of the ongoing stress in her life at that ecstatic moment.