Don't leave me

Ch-38

Laya said nothing and tried to lie on her bed. But Rahul came forward to her aid and tried to help her. As if his touch burned her, she moved to the end of her bed, feeling scared.

She wasn't sure whether he would hurt her more or would come to her aid. But even if have genuine or fake emotions she didn't dare to take his help. She wanted to be alone away from all the toxic people in her life.

Rahul was shocked at her actions. He didn't expect she would be repulsed by his touch. Feeling disappointed, he takes back his hand. He saw Laya being relaxed in her position, but she didn't move. He moved aside from the bed only to notice Laya was moving to the center of the bed and sleeping comfortably.

"Hiss…" he heard her wince. And he knew her hands were hurting.

That's when he realized that she couldn't eat food on her own.

"Sit," he said. But only to make her shift to her left side in an uncomfortable position, despite her burns. Even though, her right burnt a lot… her left hand has few burns.

Rahul moved to her left side with the food. She tried to move to her right side. Rahul couldn't help but smile at her childish behavior. But the thing which hurt him most was her ignorance.

"Laya… Eat," he said. He wanted to be gentle but somehow his voice sounded more like a command.

"I don't want to die being poisoned," she replied, slicing his heart with a knife.

"Laya…" Rahul wanted to say something but he stopped himself. He wanted to tell her, he was being hurt because of her words. But… his voice got struck when he remembered the hardship she got.

"I will eat and show you the proof," he said. He went to the other side to face Laya. in front of her eyes, he took a scoop and ate it. Swallowing the scoop, he looked at her with pleading eyes.

Laya felt bad for him for a brief second but soon it was replaced with anger. She just huffed and slept.

"Food and humans are not the same. Don't show your anger on the food," Rahul said.

"My body is habituated to have food twice in a week. I am fine with that," she said.

Rahul's body froze at her words. Twice in a week?? This was really out of the line. No wonder she was too weak.

Her sunken cheeks popped out eyes, hoarse voice, lean frame says everything. And adding to that the burns… are too obvious.

Laya sighed and tried to sit up. But Rahul was quick to help her. "I want the hospital food," she said.

Rahul sighed. She was stubborn as a rock. He has to be hard for her.

"Again… I am the one who is paying the bill for your hospital charges too. So… don't worry. Eat this. It's still hot," he said as he passed a scoop of food.

"Only to abuse me with the very hands," she mumbled in a low voice which he still heard.

He gripped the lunch box in his left hand tight at her words. He can't rebuke her. After all that she said was true.

Laya, who heard his words, closed her eyes tightly for a brief second. "I will pay you back after getting discharged," she said making him regret saying those words. He was such a stupid, who pokes the wounds of his wife. He needs to explain the things, he didn't mean.

"I am sorry, Laya. I didn't mean those words. I just wanted to make you eat one way or other," he said.

Laya said nothing other than narrowing her eyes at him. Rahul knew he messed it up. He kept quiet and fed her.

After feeding her, he went to throw the takeout boxes in the trash can. After he returned to the ward, he saw her fast asleep.

He took out a folding mattress and spread it on the floor to sleep. Turning off the ward lights, he drifted into sleep with many different thoughts. He broke the safety walls of his wife to enter into her heart, but his mother built those walls with ten times of thickness, making him unable to sleep a wink.

He slowly drifted into sleep. Due to his excessive work, he turned into a light sleeper. Even slight noise can wake him up.

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Laya fell asleep soon. She felt her tummy full for the first time in days. And before she could thank that arrogant man, her droopy eyes closed shut making her fall asleep.

Suddenly, she saw her mother-in-law appearing in front of her with two iron rods which were burnt into red color. The color itself was scary to her. She tried to cower back, but she found herself being tied to a chair.

"Please…. No… no…" she begged. Every step her mother-in-law took forward made her flinch in fear.

"You didn't sleep with my son. And you kept him under your finger. You are such a bitch. I will show you your place today." Mahalakshmi said as she walked forward.

"Mother-in-law, I will do as you say. Don't do that to me," Laya yelled at her.

"No… if I give you punishment only then you will remember and listen," she said.

"No!!!!!!!!!" Laya yelled loudly.

"No one is hurting you. Sleep… "

"It's just a nightmare. The devil is gone, Laya. I will protect you from the devil," a soft voice rang in her ears. The voice was so soothing to her ears she calmed down.

Slowly she fluttered opened her eyes only to see the opal eyes of Rahul were staring at her with concern.

"Don't leave me. She is hurting me," she said.

"I won't," he said. Before he could say something, she fell asleep.

He decided to sleep beside her in case of her nightmares again.

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Author's Notes:

Hi guys... after a long break. I will try uploading at least once a week. Thankyou. Let me know your thoughts in the comments.