CHAPTER-17

                                    

                                          
Declarations of love amuse me. Especially when unrequited.

                          


                          
I pep talk myself and shuffle inside the mansion with sole focus to find his room. 
                          
My eyes still couldn't help but to admire the immaculate décor, the bright sunlight bathing the vastness of the hall. It felt homely as the gray furniture couches, tall glass windows against the walls. Everything around was amiable.  Eyeing the stairs, I tip toed often warily glancing around as if not to make my presence known.
                          
It was funny to think I was freely walking, then again with the security outside I was sure randomly any person would not get access inside the mansion. So it was good idea that Prithvi accompanied me. I would have made a run just by glimpse of this property for sure. And later worried myself to worst thinking about Arjun's health.
                          
He is way more important, precious for me than I had courage to accept. 
                          
At midway, the given directions in my mind jumbled and I was lost. 'It was left or right?' It was better to confirm with Prithvi at least I remember my way back to the entrance. Turning on my heels I almost run into someone. A middle aged man looks perplexed mimicking my expression, his semi-formal black suit and body posture indicates he was someone from staff. 
                          
"Lata, he hollers, I get tensed, if he was actually calling guards on me. Faintly I hear a female voice from downstairs, "Please see that no one disturbs Kunvar sa's wing, on left until further notice." Then giving me a nod, he trots away. Like he didn't just find a stranger, maybe Prithvi informed him.
                          
Taking his strange kind of hint, I move in the right direction mumbling to myself- kunvar sa?  
                          
I blink few times once reaching a big white door carved with some abstract designs. Shaking rest of the weird thoughts away, I knock the door. Frowning, upon not hearing a response, I clutch the handle and gently push the door inside.  
                          
My eyes squint as the room is drowned nearly in darkness with only slither of light from the crease between the curtained windows. 
                          
A groan of distress made me head to the direction, I almost lost my footing due to- what I guess was the rug on the floor.
                          
Finding my balance, I move further then next my knees hit the foot of bed. I wince slightly, rubbing the part. There on the king size bed, Arjun in uncomfortable posture was sleeping, though his face was contoured in stress. I blindly put down the carry bag on the night stand, knocking off few medicines strips in the process. I lean over him, hesitantly I brush his sweat drenched hair from his forehead. 
                          
I gasp feeling his heated temperature under my palm. I need to bring down his temperature, if it persisted then I plan to call Prithvi for arranging a doctor. Getting into action, I randomly head towards as I could guess to a bathroom due to the sunlight coming from the ajar door. Near the sink, I pull one of the face towels from neatly arranged pile in the above cabinet. Running it under the water, I wring the towel keeping it slightly damp.
                          
Walking back to his bed I sit near the edge, seeing his face clearly through the fading light from window. My heart clenched witnessing his distress. 'How could his family leave him in this condition?' I shook the questions away, it was not right to judge before knowing the complete reasons. Also Kavya did informed me his parents were out of town, still there must be someone around.
                          
Patting the wet towel on his forehead, he released a heavy sigh feeling the coolness mumbling in coherently. I repeated the process going back and forth, after few minutes his face finally relaxed. 
                          
I hovered over him slightly, maintaining appropriate distance from his body and pressed my palm on his forehead.
                          
I nearly shrieked as his eyes were open by the time I noticed. One moment I was sliding back, the next he tugged at my wrist. My face landing directly on his chest, a bare chest. To further halt my movements his arms wounded trapping me completing on him.