"Now, His health looks better. There are no complications nor any internal bleeding. He is all good now. You can take him home tomorrow morning" Doctor said checking upon Rakesh Gupta.

Parinidhi nodded and asked "Is it okay for him to travel tomorrow?" She asked and the doctor agreed but only if proper care is taken. Parinidhi sighed in relief, and looked at her father who is smiling at her. The doctor walked out of the room.

"I already talked to your boss. You can do all your formalities when you will be completely healed" She stated sitting beside him.  She saw him closing him eyes in drowsiness, all the medications made him feel sleepy. Tucking him in the blanket she walked outside the room.

"You don't have to be here Mr. Rathore" Parinidhi said looking at Rudransh who is typing something in his phone. Rudransh smiled at her before walking towards her.

" I see, you treated your Ankle. How is it now?" He asked.

"As if you were not the one who sent the doctor for me" She said leaning on the wall.

"How is it?" He asked again ignoring her mocking. 

"Better" She replied staring in his gray orbs Intensely. Rudransh nodded and said

"The room at the end of the corridor is ready for you. You don't have to sleep on the couch, it would be uncomfortable." Parinidhi's lips twitched to form a smile but she pressed her lips together to stop it.

"We can leave tomorrow by 9AM." Parinidhi opened her mouth to protest but Rudransh cut her off saying

"Don't try to protest. If you are planning to go by road just think, who will take care of your father if you fall sick? Just accept the help keeping your ego aside" Parinidhi stared at him in amusement.

Even after all her egoistic tantrums, he is still calm and gentle with her, which is itching her at the same time giving her a bunch of butterflies in the stomach. How can he be so patient with her after all this? Her warm gaze made Rudransh smile.

Just then, her mobile vibrated in her hand. She sighed frustratedly seeing the screen which flashed sanjana's name.

"Yes sanjana" Her voice laced with tiredness. Her sister has been calling her non-stop since morning making her annoyed.

"You got a parcel." Sanjana replied looking at the small box in her hand.

"Parcel from whom or where?" Parinidhi asked tilting her head.

"I'm checking, there are no details except 'for Parinidhi Gupta'" Sanjana spoke with a frown making Parinidhi furrow her brow.

"It must be from my office. Don't open it, Place it in my room" Parinidhi ordered and then added

"Ask Jaya to clean the guest room properly. We are returning tomorrow. Tell her that the room should be all clean and shiny. She is going to get fired if I find a little dust on the furniture." Sanjana rolled her eyes.

"Fine fine. Take care. Don't stress yourself more. Sleep well. Good night" Sanjana spoke before handing up the call. Parinidhi sighed and looked at Rudransh who is waiting for her to end the phone call. Tucking his hands in his pocket coolly which made him look even hotter in her eyes, he spoke

"I'll be in the hotel just opposite to the hospital. Room no. 306. If you need anything just knock on the door. I'm not a deep slumber not do I can sleep properly at night if that can convince you to look for me. All I wanted to say is Just don't hesitate" He spoke softly. A sudden urge to cup her cheek and kiss her forehead pricked in his heart. He shook his head thinking against it and stepped away from her, while she kept looking at him.

"And if want to come for any other pleasurable reasons then you are heartily welcome." He spoke with a teasing smile on making Parinidhi roll her eyes with a small smile

She would be lying if she say that he is not making his way into her heart, with his stupid flirting and soft heart taking her breath away.

"Just go" She replied while pushing him making him chuckle.

"Okay, good night. Dream of me" He said with a smile and turned to walk away. But the piercing gaze of hers kept burning his back making him involuntarily turn around to find her still staring at him, not moving an inch.

He walked back with a small smile on his face clearly knowing she is very bad at expressing the feeling of care and affection. He stood infront of her before holding her hand in his large once.

His thumb caressed her fingers drawing random patterns. while his eyes busy admiring her features, taking in every inch of it and printing it permanently in his mind.

"What is it?" He asked cupping her face with his left hand making her shake her head slightly. He felt her stiffening a little and her muscle tensing in his hold. 

Parinidhi sighed feeling the gentleness of his palm and the warmth he is radiating. No doubt she liked it, but she is not used to having physical contact with anyone.

Rudransh took a step back which made parinidhi almost whine at the lack of warmth. He raised his arms, Inviting her for a hug making her stare at him dumbfounded. He gestured her with his eyes while she kept looking at him.

"Every one needs a hug when they feel down. It's okay to lower your guard for a moment Pari." He whispered softly. Parinidhi gulped the lump.formed in her throat before taking a step forward towards him. Her hands slid around his waist with hesitation. Rudransh smiled at her seeing her wrapping her arms around him.

He pulled her closer, completely caging her in his arms, her hold tightened around him and face buried in his chest. He found her so cute and innocent. He caressed her hair softly, clearly knowing and understanding how much she has gone through, in this 24 hours of time.

She may show herself as a tough and independent woman who has power and can control her emotions well, doesn't mean she was not terrified at the news of her father's accident. 

He saw her unshed tears and heard unspoken prayers.

She handled it well doesn't mean she don't need anyone to console her or to have a shoulder to lean on. At the end of the day she is just fragile girl inside, who tries her best to make the ends meet in this cruel world.

"Thank you" Her soft muffled whisper reached his ear but none of them tried to part away but the hold tightened even more with a comfortable silence hanging in the air.

He smiled realizing it's their first ever hug.

"I'm proud of you with the way you handled everything today, even with an emotional tormol inside, you managed to take care of everyone. I'm really proud of you." He whispered in her ear.

Parinidhi felt her eyes burning with unshed tears hearing him. She never knew that getting an appreciation would be so overwhelming.

Rather than calling her a heartless devil, Maybe she never had anyone who would appreciate her for trying to be so strong.

Except him.

She tightened her hold and buried her face in his neck, moving as close as possible without a word. She felt happy.

Happy to find comfort in his arms.

----------------

"Mumma" The little boy giggled stepping inside the house. Placing the small bag on the floor he started walking inside shouting for his mother.

"Mummaaa" He shouted running into the kitchen to see it empty. An adorable pout formed on his lips and he turned around to look at her in the garden. 

"Mumaaaa" His once happy tone turned into a sad one not finding her in the garden. His big eyes filled with tears. A whimper left his mouth. He looked around terrified hearing distant screams.

He gasped when a sudden force pushed him forward making him fall hard on the ground and a loud scream followed it. 

"Anshhhh" A loud bone chilling scream and all he can see is the fire turning everything into ashes. His eyes went wide and the screams increased constricting his chest. His throat felt tight and his breathing turned into hard pants.  

He is screaming and thrashing around while breathing heavily.

He felt a soft touch on his chest, rubbing it soothingly and a distant voice which he could not recognize. He felt his heart beating rapidly as if it would just out of his ribcage and a thick layer of sweat formed on his face and his bare chest. 

He felt a soft voice calling him out of the darkness, pulling him out of his nightmare. The black wavy hair brushed on his face and girl smiled at him showing her dimples. He slowly opened his eyes which felt a lot heavier than before, only to meet the same brown orbs he saw in his dream.

"Pari" He whispered breathlessly. He closed his eyes feeling her soft hand cupping his face. A feathery kiss brushed on his cheek making him open his eyes. Her face was glowing in the moon light, making her look ethereal. 

She is laying beside him, on the same bed. Her big brown eyes were full of warmth. Her tough facade was long gone which is something he never witnessed.

A serene expression on her face, a new glow, looking more feminine. As if she realized she is a girl today. He mentally chuckled at that thought.

He felt her pulling him closer. His whole weight was on her while his face was deep buried on her neck. For a minute he worried, she would be crushed under his weight only to realize it must be a dream. No way she would look at him like this in reality.

Atleast not now.

The tightening of the chest reduced and he took a deep breath to fill lungs.

He felt a kiss on his forehead, a long wet kiss and she trailing down to his cheek to neck, soothing his nerves with every peck of hers. A crystal tear left his eye which was got kissed away by her.

"Pari" His voice laced with vulnerability and his hold tighten on her slender waist. He dipped his face more into her curve of neck and felt her hand gently massaging his hair. Slowly in a soothing manner.

He felt her another arm rubbing his bare back. The serenity in her embrace gave him peace. The peace which he has been searching for years. The calmness where his demons don't have a place for. He gulped and took a deep breath inhaling her fragrance.

If he could, he would definitely going to make a home in her arms.

He opened his eyes and moved away from her neck taking in her mesmerizing beauty. Her brown eyes staring at his gray ones. Cupping her cheek he bent down to kiss her forehead. Once. Twice. Thrice. Still not a bit satisfied. His breathing was back normal. His lips stayed at her forehead for sometime for the fourth time and he pulled away with a smile.

He looked at her brown orbs which reflect amusement. Sighing, without uttering a word he placed his head on her chest and closed his eyes. He felt her pulling him closer. He felt her fingers massaging his scalp again making him sigh in relief.

"Don't ever leave me Pari." He uttered holding her waist tightly fearing she would disappear. He felt her kissing his forehead assuring him before he drifting off.

---------

"Dad, are you okay?" Parinidhi asked for the fifth time entering the room where her father is taking rest.

"Yes, Pari. I'm. don't worry" Her father replied making her nod. 

"Are you hungry?" She asked checking the jar on the table to check it has enough water in it.

"You gave me fruits 10 minutes ago pari" Her father sighed at her.

"Yeah?" Parinidhi shrugged and went out of the room with the jar to get water. 

The attender took it from her and went inside. Parinidhi took a seat in the luxurious jet which belongs to her beloved boyfriend. She felt a familiar burning gaze on her which she has been feeling from the morning.

"Whatt?" She asked frustratedly turning to Rudransh who clearly have no work to do other than staring at her intensely today. He even stared at her in the morning in front of her father, on the other side, she died of embarrassment because of it.

"Did you, by any chance came to my room at night?" Parinidhi made a disgusting face at his question.

"Hey, what do you take me as? A stalker?" She exclaimed while narrowing her eyes.

Rudransh looked at her suspiciously. As much as he believed that, as a dream, he equally felt it so real. The fragrance and her touch. But he has no proof to confirm that it was not a dream.

He narrowed his eyes busy in his thoughts while parinidhi shook her head in disbelief and left to the room where her father is resting.

Rudransh concluded that It was indeed a dream. That must be the side effects of hugging her before going to sleep. He mentally rolled his eyes at his over desperate self.

----------

"Finally" Parinidhi sighed getting out of the car. They reached mumbai by afternoon. She helped her father to get down the car.

"Dad" They heard sanjana's scream. They saw her running towards them and in a second she engulfed her father in a tight hug, sobbing on his shoulder.

"Sanju, Don't cry. I'm perfectly fine" Rakesh Gupta consoled her patting her back. Sanjana sniffed and held his arm in a tight grip.

She took him to their apartment slowly while Rohit carried all the luggage they bought upstairs.

She sighed and turned to Rudransh who just now helped Rohit and stood beside her. She glared at him making him look away from her.

The thing is, as soon as they got down his private jet, Rudransh made sure to make her father sit in his vehicle while Parinidhi was busy checking all the places to see if her father forgotten something.

Resulted in her glaring at him all the way.

"Common, Ms. Girlfriend. Can't you show a little mercy on your boyfriend?" He said with a teasing smile making her smirk.

"Mr. Boyfriend don't you think you need to ask mercy from your sister rather than your girlfriend. Good luck for that!" She spoke, reminding him the trouble he is in and walked inside the building.

She smirked wider while swaying her hips making Rudransh groan at the sight.