SIYA
Day 8 @ RK Estate (Morning)
Siya’s Cottage
I wake up with a jolt at the sound of a gunshot. It was a nightmare, the same scene from last night flashing in my head. Raghav, the gunshot, and the way his body took the hit meant for me.
Sitting up, I press my palm against my forehead, trying to steady my breathing. It takes me a moment to realise I’m not there anymore. To remind myself that it’s over and that he’s fine. My hand instinctively reaches for my phone on the bedside table. I need to check on him. But just as quickly, I stop. Should I really do that? I don’t want him to think I’m pretending to care or trying to soften him up to push him into helping me.
My plan to ask for his help failed. My backup plan with the Singhals failed even worse. And now… the only thing waiting for me is a life with Parag, which I don’t want. I exhale slowly andlean back against the headboard. Am I really going to give up this easily?
Do I even have a choice?For a long moment, I just stare at the phone in my hand, my mind running in circles.
The memory of last night returns again. None of my guards had any idea what happened last night. Not even Michael. The people who are supposed to protect me didn’t even sense the danger coming. And the one man I never expected anything from stepped in without hesitation as though it mattered.
I almost scoff at that thought. Of course, that’s impossible. But I can’t dismiss it either. I can’t ignore the way his eyes have been on me these past few days. At the vineyard, the stable, the gym, and even last night when I was tending to his wound. That look on his face hadn’t been random. It was the kind of look a man gives a woman when he wants her and has no intention of hiding it.
I press my lips together and shake my head.
No.I’m overthinking this.
I push the thought away immediately and look back at my phone. If nothing else, I at least have his number now. Before I can think too much of it, I tap on his name and hit call.
It rings.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
No answer.
I stare at the screen for a second before letting out a quiet huff. Of course. How very RK of him.
I open WhatsApp instead. If he doesn’t want to talk, he can at least read my message. My fingers move quickly over the screen.
‘Change the bandage. Even a graze can get infected if not cleaned properly. And get it checked by a doctor.’
I hit send and wait. The blue ticks appear almost instantly. So he has read it. I stare at the screen, but there’s no reply.
My brows pull together.Seriously?
I type again.
‘Is your arm hurting so much that you can’t even type a reply? I thought RK was immune to pain.’
Message Sent.
Seen.
Still nothing.
I lean back and exhale sharply through my nose.Fine.If he wants to ignore me, he can.But I’m not done yet.I type again, a little faster now.
‘You have every right to ignore me. But I also have every right to check on the man who saved my life last night.’
I hit send and watch the ticks turn blue.
