Chapter 7 ( Tend )

"Darling, take this first aid kit", Priyank's mother tenderly passed the first aid kit and softly urged. With utmost care, Priya led Priyank to the sofa, then knelt before him to attend to his injury. As she tended to his wound, Priyank's gaze never left her. "She's my guardian angel. Unfazed by my blood staining her dress, she cares only for me," Priyank pondered, looking at her with newfound admiration. Priyank's mother noticed a longing in his eyes, something she had never seen before, a desire he kept hidden. She understood he yearned for this girl, yet she feared that his darkness might consume her purity. "If Priyank truly desires something, he'll stop at nothing to attain it," she thought, her mind troubled by it. Once Priya had finished dressing Priyank's wound, she gently declared, "Alright, I must be on my way now. Mr. Priyank, promise me you won't harm yourself or others." Priyank snapped out of his daze, but her words ignited a storm of anger within him. "How dare she lecture me as she leaves?" he seethed silently. "Priya, at least change your dress; it's stained with blood," Priyank's mother advised. Priya paused, then replied graciously, "It's alright, Auntie. My mother must be worried about me too. I didn't return to the orphanage last night either." Priyank's eyes widened in surprise, and he questioned, "You're an orphan? But when I asked before, you said you had a mother. What's the truth?" Priya smiled softly, explaining, "I'm the eldest at the orphanage, so I call the owner 'mother.' But Mr. Priyank, I want you to know something. In all my life, I've never met anyone as cruel as you. You took an innocent life, and I hope never to cross paths with you again." After Priya's departure, Priyank's thoughts consumed him. He realised his angel was an orphan, and her words cut deep. "Yes, they all think I'm heartless," he contemplated. "But her words sting. She left me in this abyss, taking her radiance with her." Priyank's mother watched him silently, knowing he desired Priya. She believed she could be the beacon of hope he desperately needed. Priyank storms out of the house, his mind consumed by one question, "Why has my angel left me?" He spots the negligent guard who had failed in his duty, allowing an intruder into his home. Anger courses through Priyank as he approaches the trembling guard, declaring, "You haven't forgotten what I told you. You will pay for letting that intruder into my house." The guard stammers,"I'm sorry, sir," as he continues to tremble. "You know that Priyank Sharma doesn't forgive mistakes," Priyank asserts, watching the guard's fear intensify. "Yeah, yeah, okay," Priyank's conscience taunts him about his initial indifference to the girl. He responds with a dismissive shrug, saying. "So, your punishment..." Priyank begins, his voice dangerously calm, "how about death?" "Sir, please don't! I have children to feed, a wife, and an ailing mother who depends on me for her treatment," The guard pleads. Priyank remains unswayed, saying, "It doesn't matter to me. I pay you to do your job, which you didn't do properly." The guard's tears flow freely, catching the attention of Priyank's mother, who comes outside to investigate the commotion. Approaching Priyank, she asks, "What happened? Why is the guard crying?" "Mom, he's going to die today because he didn't do his job when someone intruded into our house." His mother, shocked by his response, implores, "Priyank, he's a human being. How can you take a life for a mistake?" "That's precisely why I'm punishing him, Mom. Because he's human, and this world has no room for those who make mistakes," he retorted. His mother tries to reason, "Priyank, making mistakes is part of human nature. They teach us, and we learn from them." Priyank remains resolute, saying, "Mom, there's no place for forgiveness in my dictionary. This is my final decision." His mother, deep in thought, contemplates how to save the guard. She eventually says to the guard, "You can go." The guard leaves, still trembling and in tears, leaving Priyank furious. Through gritted teeth, he asks his mother, "Why did you do that?" His mother explains, "The guard made a mistake, but you met that girl, right?." "I know, so what?" "You can't hide anything from me, you know," his mother states. "I'm your mother, and I can see that you feel something for her, something you've never felt for anyone else." Priyank leaves without a word, his mother's observations weighing heavily on his mind. "I may have made a mistake by involving that girl. Perhaps she doesn't deserve to be protected by someone like him. If fate brings them together, I'll leave it to destiny to decide. It's hard to coexist with Priyank," His mother sighs, thinking. In his office, Priyank's anger intensifies as he begins hurling objects around. His previously injured hand, tended by Priya, starts bleeding once more. Sitting on the office floor, Priyank contemplates his feelings. "I want her. I want her in my life. That foolish girl has made me fall for her." He questions himself, "Do I love her? No, Priyank, what's happening to you? Why have you fallen for someone so half-minded?" Closing his eyes, he reflects, "It's only been three hours since she left, but it feels like someone has drained the life out of me. I don't know what I'm feeling, but I want her. I want her in my arms, in my life, in my bed, moaning my name and crying out in pain." "I want to corrupt her purity. I want to immerse her in my darkness. I want her to see only me, and heal me, only me," he admits. "I want to possess her every night, as if there's no tomorrow. I want her to never leave my bed, to be with her every moment. I love her. Is this love? When you want someone more than your breath, when you love them more than yourself, when you need someone more than the blood flowing in your veins..." "Yes, yes, I love her. I love my angel. No one can take her away from me. Anyone who tries will face death." Examining his injured hand, he murmurs, "You are my source of peace, my angel. Your screams of pain, your moans, your tears—those are my solace. You are the only good thing in my life." "Your shouting in pain, your pain filled moans, your tears—these are my peace," he muses, "You know what makes you an angel? You are the only one who can provide me with peace." "I have to make you my angel," he concludes. "I want to hear your angelic voice when you cry for me, see your beautiful eyes filled with tears because of me, and feel your body marked by my touch. I want to taint your purity, and you will be painted in my colour—black." He yearns for her and whispers, "Just wait for this monster to taint you." After office. Priyank drives home with his bloody hand. Which is bleeding? I think, “Don't worry Priyank; you are going to have someone soon who is going to tend to your injuries." And then he reaches home and sees his mom sitting in the lobby at the dining table. Priyank's mom says, "Please eat something." "Mom, don't worry, I'm fine," he replies. Priyank's mom sees his hand and notices how much he is bleeding. She goes toward him, grabs his hand, and says, "You are not fine in this condition. What happened? Why is your already injured hand more injured now? Let me first aid it." Priyank removes his hand from his mother's hand and says to his mom, "Don't worry; soon someone is going to come into my life to take care of me." "I know for whom he is talking like this. Now, no one can save that poor soul from him. I hope she will change my son; I can only pray, "Priyank's mom thinks. And she too leaves from there for her room, praying things just don't get worse than this. Seeing his mom leave, Priyank leaves for his room, in his room he just washes his hand and thinks, "Soon, angel, very soon, you are going to tend to this injury of mine. Soon, you are going to take care of me, soon you are going to sleep with me in my arms." He changes his clothes and falls asleep, dreaming of his angel.