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Aman had offered coffee twice, but she declined, determined to speak with Ranveer and apologize first. Aisha waited nearby, observing their tense dynamic.
“Sir just called asking me to take you home,” Aisha informed Maya upon returning.
Maya gulped. He could call Aisha but not spare a minute for his supposed girlfriend?
“Tell him I'm not leaving until I see him,” Maya insisted.
As Aisha left to call back, Maya felt a cramp in her leg, the same foot that was injured during the accident. She leaned down, gripping her foot to ease the pain. Although the doctor had mentioned this would be common for some time until the internal injuries healed permanently, it was annoying and embarrassing when it happened in public.
Hissing at the spreading ache, Maya longed to apply the medicated gel from her purse but needed privacy. She couldn't walk alone to the restroom for relief. Needing support through the stabbing pain, she called for Aisha but found her gone. Eyes squeezed shut, Maya willed herself to endure the agonizing spasms a moment longer to find aid.
Suddenly, a gentle hand stroked her bare foot. Eyes flying open, she found Ranveer kneeling before her, intent on her tortured foot as his palm soothingly massaged her skin.
“Where's the ointment?” he asked hoarsely, meeting her frightened gaze.
“In my purse,” Maya whimpered, the pain worsening under his ministrations.
Understanding her reluctance to treat herself here semi-publicly, Ranveer rose and gathered her into his arms. Maya clung to him in a panic as he carried her into his office and laid her upon the couch. After loosening his tie, Ranveer rifled through her purse for the medication.
“A man shouldn’t sneak into a woman’s purse ever. It’s a basic rule,” she demanded, because it was private. Even her mother had never touched her purse like that.
“The rule stands void if that woman belongs to him,” Ranveer declared intensely, handing over the gel.
“Apply it.”
She took it from his hand when she felt another cramp in her foot. Ranveer realized she still needed help. With a stern jaw, Ranveer knelt before her again.
“Give it to me,” he demanded.
Maya resisted, insisting she could manage, but Ranveer wouldn't indulge her pride. He snatched the tube and gently massaged the soothing gel into her aching muscles.
Maya trembled, unsure if it was the medication or his touch offering such relief. A powerful man who had the strength and capability to bow the world was kneeling down before her, servicing her aching foot? Just minutes ago, she had craved his attention, but not like this. That he cared for her so selflessly seemed unfathomable. He was totally engrossed in massaging that ointment to relax her aching foot muscles. Had he ever cared for anyone before? She had never seen this side of him so far. It was hard to believe that he was doing all this for her, and the question remained the same. Why? Why her?
“Better?” Ranveer asked, raising his head though he continued massaging.
“Yes,” Maya admitted as the pain subsided under his ministrations.
After a few more minutes, Maya withdrew her foot, pulling her dress back down from where it had ridden up. She watched Ranveer's eyes follow her movements as he seemed to realize his behavior had been too intimate. Ranveer himself didn’t know what happened to him when he saw her trembling in pain. He could ignore her all this time, but not after seeing her in distress. Why did he become so vulnerable for her?
“I asked you to leave back home, didn’t I?” his grumpy mood was back.
“I wouldn’t leave without meeting you.”
“You met me. Now, go home,” he turned around.
“Ranveer.”
She took his name with so much power that it brought him to a halt again.
“What?” he snapped. “Any more accusations left?”
Maya understood that anyone in his place would be mad at her for how she behaved that morning.
“Forgive me.”
Ranveer froze.
“Forgiveness is the last thing I like giving to people who have wrongly judged me.”
