'Careful now!'
KK settled Erisha back on the pillows on her bed.

'Thanks, Nanna! I'm fine..'
Erisha leaned back in relief.
If truth be told, the drive from the hospital and then coming to her bedroom, had been a feat.
She didn't feel as if she had any energy left.
And, to top that, thoughts of Treyton had drained her totally.

'You look a bit pale to me..'
Her grandfather peered at her closely.

'I'm just a bit tired, that's all.'
Erisha assured him.

'Maybe you shouldn't have hurried with leaving the hospital. You look so weak..'

Staying in the hospital had started to become a strain for her.
Seeing Treyton come there everyday, as if he had a duty to abide by, had taken its' toll on her.

Erisha had insisted with the doctor that she was much better, and had asked him about going home.
Although the doctor thought it was early, but when he had accidently mentioned Treyton's hand in her stay, Erisha had become adamant.
Because it had turned out, that Treyton Elrod had paid all her bills, from her admission, to her surgery, and her grand room had also been because of him.
How can I take this from him, knowing all he did was out of some duty..maybe because of my grandfather?
No! I'll return every penny..I'll also forget him..
Erisha knew that was easier said than done, but she had to try..

'I'll make you some of the kadha your grandmother used to make. The decoction will give you strength. You just rest..
KK kissed the top of her head lovingly.

'But, Nanna! You don't even know your way around my apartment..let me show..'
Erisha made to get up, but KK stopped her with a gesture of his hand.

'Don't even think about it!'
He gave her a stern look.
'I'm not a child, I can find my way around...and..'
He continued, as Erisha opened her mouth to speak.
'I know you have lived here for several years, but you are still Indian at heart. And you must have the necessary herbs and spices in your kitchen..'
He smiled in satisfaction, as Erisha nodded.

'Yes! You are right! Whenever I miss Indian food, I make some..'
Erisha agreed.

'Good then..you rest..I'll just be back..'
KK left, leaving Erisha alone.
She leaned back and closed her eyes, dozing off.

Erisha dreamt of Treyton.
Treyton smiling, Treyton being caring, Treyton looking at her with desire in his eyes.
Treyton hovering above her, naked, a smile on his face, that turned into a sardonic one before he entered her..
Erisha woke up with a start.

She was alone in her bed.

Erisha closed her eyes again, and sighed.
God, what a mess!
Why can't I get him out of my head..why has he become so important, that he has even invaded my dreams..

She sensed someone's presence, and opened her eyes, fully expecting her grandfather to be standing there.
But her eyes widened in shock, when she saw Treyton standing there, a tray in his hands.
'You..!'
She made to straighten up, and Treyton hurried over.

'Hey! Let me help you..'
He quickly put down the tray on her side table, and came towards her.

But Erisha stopped him.
'I'm fine..'
She looked at him warily.
'What are you doing here?'

'What do you mean?'
Treyton had the advantage of looking down at her.
'I should be asking you the same question! What are you doing here? You should have still been in the hospital!'

'Why? So you could have me at your mercy?'
She said, before she could stop herself, and saw Treyton frown.

'What are you talking about?'

'You..'
Erisha began, suddenly angry, but was cut off as KK entered behind Treyton.

'Look who's come to visit, Erisha! Trey came while I was making your soup, and very kindly offered to bring it.'
KK stopped speaking as he felt a very stiff atmosphere in the room.
'What happened? All okay?'
He looked from one to the other, and saw both of them turn to look at him, their expressions changing.

'Yes, KK! I was just telling Erisha that she should have stayed longer in the hospital. She still looks very weak..'
Treyton drawled, his gaze shifting back to Erisha.

'Exactly! I was telling her the same thing..'
KK looked at Treyton, missing the glares Erisha shot at Treyton.

'I'm fine!'
She gave Treyton a pointed look.
'And Nanna is here now..with me..he will take care of me..'

'Speaking of which, I'm glad you are here Trey!'
KK put a hand on Treyton's shoulder.
'I will have to go stock up on groceries. Erisha harldy has anything nutritious in her cupboards..'

'Nanna! There's plenty of things, I..'
Erisha was affronted.

'Not the things which will help you to recover quickly. There's mere bird food..'
KK smiled, as he heard Treyton chuckle, and Erisha made faces.
'So, if you could sit here with her for a while, I'll just go out and get some things..'

'But..'
Erisha and Treyton said together.
Erisha in astonishment, and Treyton because he was about to tell him to order the things at home.

But Treyton paused, suddenly realising what KK was saying.
Shut up, Treyton! This is just what you wanted..so zip it..
He quickly controlled his features, and nodded.
'Sure, I'll stay..you go ahead..my car's outside, and so is the driver..'

'That would be great! Thankyou!'
KK looked at him gratefully, unaware of the tense look on Erisha's face, as she found herself ousted.

God, Nanna! What are you doing? I need you here..
'Nanna! Nanna!'
She called out, but KK had turned around and left, while Treyton made a call to his driver to inform him.

Erisha, with some effort, lowered her feet to the floor, taking advantage of Treyton turned the other way to talk on the phone, to get out of her bedroom.
The place had started to shrink with his presence, and brought back too many memories for her.

'Where do you think you are going?'
Erisha froze in the act of getting up, as Treyton came back to stand above her.

She looked up to see his eyebrows raised in question at her.

'I..I need to..'
She tried coming up with an excuse, when her eyes fell on the tray on her bedside table.
'Uh..drink the soup..'

Treyton glanced at the tray too, and shook his head.
'I'm so sorry, I totally forgot about it..it must have gotten cold..'
He leaned over to check.
'It seems okay..come on..sit back..'
Treyton caught her by the shoulders, and as she watched him, pushed her back against the pillows.
He proceeded to settle himself next to her on the bed, the bed dipping, causing their bodies to touch.

Erisha, despite of herself, felt something flare in the pit of her stomach at his nearness.
She watched, as if mesmerised, as he lifted a spoonful of the soup, and brought it to her lips.
Unable to look away, Erisha opened her lips and wrapped them around the spoon, surprised to see desire flare up in his eyes, as she let go of the spoon, and ran her tongue over her lips.

Treyton repeated the actions, and saw her do the same.
His breath almost hitched at the thoughts taking over his senses, but he continued to feed her, till she drank most of the soup.
He put down the bowl, and felt Erisha try and shift away.

'Thankyou..I think you should..'
Erisha cleared her throat, but Treyton interrupted her.

'Do you know how worried I've been, ever since you were unconscious in my arms that night?'
His words surprised her, and she looked at him.
'I felt so helpless and scared, thinking something had happened to you..'

Before Erisha could react to his words, or reply, Treyton had lifted his hand, and was gently brushing strands of her hair away from her forehead.
'I..I'm fine..'

'Thank God! But at that time..that moment..I..'
He laid his palm flat on one cheek, and stroked.

Erisha felt a current run through her entire body, as if she had been craving his touch all along.
'I..'

'Sshh..'
His finger came over her lips, as he leaned over.

'Treyton..'
She whispered, unable to stop herself, as their faces came closer.

'Yes..'
With that, he replaced his finger with his lips, his hand circling her neck to pull her closer, as he kissed her.

Erisha closed her eyes, her entire being lighting up as his lips closed over hers.
By instinct, she opened her mouth to allow him access, the embers of the past few days coming to life.
The heat was intense, as Treyton's tongue burned her mouth, tangling with hers.
It was hard to say who moaned, because the want was equal on both sides, as their mouths raided each others'.

Treyton ran his thumb over her neck, his head angled to kiss her completely.
He didn't know what this feeling was, only that he felt alive.
When they had to come up for air, Treyton shifted his lips to her neck, finding the pulse that beat there.
Erisha groaned her pleasure, arousing him into sucking lightly.
He totally forgot the time and the place, one hand coming to her breast.
But when he heard her wince, he suddenly remembered her injuries, and forced himself to move back.

Erisha felt a twinge of pain, as she felt pressure on her surgical wound.
She made a small sound, causing Treyton to move back and look at her.

'I'm sorry..did I hurt you?'
Treyton looked at her with concern, cursing himself for forgetting everything but his desires.

Erisha saw his expression, and was suddenly reminded of the conversation she had overheard at the hospital.
Are you crazy, Erisha? After all that, how could you be doing this? Have you no self respect?
'I..I'm fine..'

'I can see that..'
Treyton said sardonically, when he saw her turn a bit pale.
'I didn't mean to hurt you..I..'

But you have! You have already hurt me, Treyton Elrod..
'It's alright..I'll just rest..'
She said flatly, her tone causing Treyton to stare at her.
'Maybe you should go..'

Treyton was puzzled by her sudden change in behaviour, and was about to question her, when Erisha's doorbell peeled.
Knowing the moment was over, he got up and nodded.
'I'll go and let KK in..you take care..if you need anything..'

'No!'
Erisha said with a bit of force.
'You have already done a lot..and I'll pay you the money as soon as I get back on my feet..'

Treyton's frown deepened.
'Pay me back? What nonsense?'
He moved back towards her, but the bell went again, and he stopped.
'We will talk about this later..'

'No, we won't. This discussion is over..I'm paying you back, thats it.'
Erisha felt a headache creeping in, and wished he would just go.

Treyton looked like he wanted to say more, but he suddenly turned around and left.

Goodbye, Treyton Elrod! Goodbye...

***************************

A week passed by, with no sign of Treyton.

But Erisha knew that he spoke with her grandfather every day.
Nanna would tell her about how Treyton had become busy with a sudden deadline, and would visit as soon as he got the time.

But Erisha knew..she knew he had gotten the message that she intended to pay back the money, and was just angry.
She knew he was a man who liked things done his way, and the fact that a woman had turned the tables on him wouldn't have gone down well with him.

Erisha tried to forget about him, about their last meeting..their last kiss..and jumped onto the road for recovery.
She did regular light exercises, she ate what her grandfather cooked, and soon had much of her strength back.
She visited her doctor and he was very pleased with her progress.
Apart from occasional twinges of pain, Erisha was able to move about and do her daily chores.
Not that her grandfather let her, he spoiled her completely.
In the process, he looked much happier than before, having been reunited with his ward after all these years.

Although on the exterior, Erisha seemed happy and content, but KK noticed signs that suggested she was not.
She would be talking with him, but her mind seemed to be elsewhere.
He would find her sitting quietly, a book open in her lap, but staring out in the distance.
And lastly, he noticed a stiffness in her whenever he mentioned Treyton.

Deciding to find out, he asked her one day, as she sat in her living room watching TV, and he was cooking her favourite Indian food.

'Erisha! Do you still eat spicy? After years of living here, hasn't your taste turned to..Erisha?'
He turned to see her staring at the TV, but what worried him more was the sign of tears on her cheeks.
He hurried out of the kitchen towards her.
'Erisha! My child! What's wrong?'

Erisha looked up, startled out of her reverie.
'Hunh? What happened, Nanna?'

'That's what I'm asking you! And why are you crying? Are you in pain?'

Erisha frowned, as she lifted a finger to wipe a tear, surprised to see it there.
'No! No! I'm alright..'

'Doesn't seem that way! Now come on! I've been noticing you and can see something is troubling you..what is it?'
He looked genuinely concerned.

'I've just been cooped up at home for too long..maybe that's why..'
Erisha tried.

'No! It's not that!'
He shook hi head.
'Do you want us to go to the hospital? I can call Treyton and..'

'NO!'
The vehemence of her reply had KK look at her in surprise, and she quickly lowered her tone.
'I mean, no..if I need to go somewhere I can go by myself. No need to tell Treyton everything..what?'

KK had been watching her closely, and Erisha saw him give her a pointed look.
'Hmm..so I was right!'

'Right about what?'
Erisha looked away.

'It's Treyton, isn't it?'

'What?'
Erisha looked back at him in surprise.

'Yes! This mood, this staring into space, the stiffening at the mention of his name..and now these tears..you knowing him from before..what that woman said..'
He frowned, remembering.

'What? What woman? What are you talking about?'
Erisha began switching channels on the remote control.
'There's nothing..'

'That friend of Treyton..she mentioned you two..'
He put a hand on hers, stopping her from fidgeting with the remote.
'Is there something going on between you two?'

Erisha had no choice but to look at her grandfather.
'I..we..I...'

'Hmm?'

'We went out a couple of times..'

'And..'

Erisha saw concern instead of a sterness in his eyes, and suddenly she couldn't lie any more...to herself or her grandfather.

'I've fallen in love..with Treyton Elrod!'

To be continued...