Page 81 of Addiction

Navya leapt out of her chair, her heart beating like a drum. “What is it? How is Armaan?”

“He just woke up a few minutes ago and was asking for his brothers,” the doctor explained. “He’s gone to sleep again. But it’s a good sign. The next time he wakes up, and if his vitals are fine, then we will move him to a regular room and continue his treatment from there. And before you ask, you still cannot see him. ICU rules.”

Relief made her dizzy. Thank God. He was going to be fine. She flopped down in her chair, pressing her trembling hands to her face. From beside her, Rajiv and Dmitri peppered the doctor with questions. She tuned them out. Armaan was fine. That was the only thing that mattered. Hopefully, in just a day or two more, everything would be okay. As long as they loved one another, nothing bad would happen. She’d ensure it. No more running away from her feelings for him. She and he belonged together. That was the most important thing.

Nothing else mattered.

Nothing.

23

Bright lights hit him the second he opened his eyes, making his head pound. Armaan closed his eyes again. When the pain still didn’t subside, he forced his eyes to open despite the pain. He looked around. Pale light poured out of the single window of a dull hospital room. A monitor beeped to his right. To his left, Mihir slept on a chair, his head tilting at an odd angle. Armaan took in the tubes and pipes connected to him. The various aches and pains in his body made their presence felt. He must have made a sound because Mihir’s eyes popped open. Seeing him awake, his brother leapt out of the chair and rushed to him. Mihir looked worn and tired. His clothes were wrinkled, and his usually clean shaved face was now fuzzy with God only knew how many days’ worth of scruff.

“Armaan, are you okay? How do you feel?” Mihir asked.

His shoulder hurt. The side of his chest also throbbed, and then there was the back of his head that ached like the bloody devil.

“Everything hurts,” Armaan complained.

“Let me get a doctor,” Mihir said.

“Wait. What happened, Mihir?” Armaan asked.

Mihir frowned. “Don’t you remember?”

“Uh, I remember those men coming to attack me. I remember fighting them, and then… and then… I don’t remember anything.”

Mihir’s eyes widened. “Think Armaan. One of the men hit you on the head. You’ve been in the hospital for two days now. Try and remember more. There could be something vital you are forgetting.”

Armaan suddenly jolted upright. His whole body protested the sudden movement, throbbing painfully. “Navya was with me. We were in a private parking lot. I was fighting with some men, and she was standing right behind me. And then…”

His memory was a blank after that. The more he tried to remember, the more his head pounded. He pressed the back of his head. “Oh God. I can’t remember what happened after that. Is she okay? Mihir, tell me she’s safe. If something happened to her, I’ll destroy?—”

Mihir caught his elbow. “Hey, she’s fine. She’s been by your side throughout. She’s just gone to freshen up. She’ll return soon.”

He dropped back in relief. Navya was safe. Thank God. Slowly, he recalled more about that night.

“He’s everything I don’t want in a man.”

“He’s a known philanderer, a heartbreaker.”

“Of course, he will cheat on me. A man like him doesn’t know how to be faithful.”

“I can’t fall for him. I won’t love him. I am not in love with him.”

Navya’s words hit him in the center of his chest. So this was what she thought of him. He had a vague memory of Navya trying to convince him that he’d misunderstood her before they were attacked. But no. He was certain of what he’d heard. His heart now hurt more than the rest of his body. He’d been fallingin love with her, and she’d been using him for his body and looks.

Fuck. He was disgusted with himself and with her. He’d been an utter fool over her. She’d made her position quite clear to him from the beginning, but he’d stupidly thought that she was beginning to care for him. Such an idiot he was. It was his own fault for hoping that she reciprocated his feelings. His love had been one-sided. Completely unrequited.

He turned to Mihir, who was observing him.

“Mihir, I don’t want to see Navya,” Armaan said.

Even though it would hurt him to do so, he would stay away from her. He deserved better than someone like her. This was the right way forward for him and for her. His family was clearly being targeted by Ivan, which meant that Navya would also be safer away from him.

“What?” Mihir looked stunned. “Why? I thought you were in love with her.”

“I am, but she doesn’t love me.” He told Mihir all that he’d heard her say to her sister about him. His brother’s face became grimmer with every second.

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