Chapter 218 - When will you learn to trust him?

|Innaya|

A black Ferrari zoomed past us. The window of the car rolled down and Arjun's head peeked from inside. "What are you standing here for? Get in the car." The door of the backseat was opened and he gestured Eshan to hurry up.

"I don't want to go anywhere." I stubbornly turned my head away from him. Arjun had played his role in today's happenings. He did not bother to come to me after his return. Did he know how worried I was for him? Why would he consider my feeling? I was not his sister by blood. He would think for his friend first then for some outsider. 

"Eshan, get moving. Put her down on the backseat. I'll apply this icepack till we reach the hospital." Eshan's mother followed us from the inside, and she held the ice-pack in her hand which I assumed was taken from our refrigerator. There were two cushions from our sofa in her other hand as well. What was she trying to do? Whom she wanted to shower her concern upon?

Once Eshan's mother approached us, I could not help but hold Eshan tightly. Moments ago, I wanted to come out of his arms but watching his mother had made me recall the unpleasant things she had said. I did not want to be near her.

"Aunty, you stay at home. We'll keep you updated. Uncle would be reaching here soon after handling all the legal processes at the police station," Arjun said to her.

Firstly, I was thankful for his interruption, but then as I heard his later words I frowned. 

Uncle? 

Eshan's father?

Police station?

Legal processes?

What was going on?

"Oh! You're right. I'll wait here for you. Take care of her. Call me, if you need anything," Eshan's mother continued in a caring tone as she watched me with concern.

Was I mishearing things? My mind was completely thrown in chaos.

Eshan decided to walk at this moment carrying me. My confusion helped him for putting me inside the car without zero protests from my side. After helping me to sit with leaning against the window, Eshan walked to his mother. He took cushions and ice-pack from her, said something to her, and came to the other side of the car. 

I quietly watched him acting almost mechanically. Something was weighing his mind. I could see it clearly. Was he mad at me for hiding things? I should be the one to do so. Why was he acting so strange? Eshan sat beside me, placed cushions in his lap before holding my leg, and putting my red swollen feet on them. 

His actions were gentle as if he was afraid of causing me more pain. Eshan then carefully used the icepack handed by his mother. In the meanwhile, Arjun started the Ferrari and drove toward the hospital.

Arjun watched me through the rearview mirror. "How do you get hurt just by standing? I didn't know you started loving hospitals so much." 

"Who wants to go to the hospital? I don't want to go anywhere," I retorted. What did he think, I developed liking for the hospitals? In his dreams.

He chuckled. "You got a temper! I see."

"Ah!" I hissed when accidentally Eshan pressed the icepack on the swollen area. I held my knee reflexively when I could not bear the pain.

"Can you focus on driving?" Eshan snapped at Arjun. 

"Can you focus on not hurting her?" Arjun retorted back, silencing Eshan with his words.

Eshan's face fell, and he clenched his fist by his side. He looked out of the window. His side profile gave a feeling of loneliness. That serious expression on his face after Arjun's comment made my heart ache for him. What was wrong with him?

He was too silent, and that silence of his was eating me.

***

"Thankfully it's not ligament tear of bone fracture." Arjun collapsed in the chair. I was lying on the bed as the nurse put the ankle brace on for me. The doctor had checked my swollen feet, and after a series of his examinations that included X-ray as well, he concluded that there was nothing serious.

I just needed to give complete rest to that leg for a week so that it could heal. He had prescribed some painkillers. Arjun had insisted on the plaster though it was not needed. It was only when the doctor settled for the bandage and the ankle sprain air cast that he finally backed down.

Eshan was silent all the while. He was so silent to the point that one could mistake him to be stranger in the room. He did not partake in any conversation with the doctor. He did not ask any questions. With his arms crossed across his chest, he only gazed at my foot. 

Once the doctor left, he also left taking the prescription with him. I stared at the closed door through which Eshan had left moments ago.

"Are you in pain?" Arjun asked as he dragged his chair by my bedside. I averted my eyes from the door to him. Gone was the funny, indifferent, and mischievous look as he turned serious. I hoped that he would tell me the truth now. My hopes crashed down when I heard his question.

"When will you learn to trust him?"

What was the meaning of this question? I always trusted Eshan. My trust in him had never wavered. Because of this trust, I had chosen to stay silent about the whole matter. 

"Did he trust me?" I asked him directly. 

"Did he not?"

"No…" I answered. My eyes went to the cast on my feet. I continued as I recalled why I had gotten hurt in the first place. "If he had trusted me, he would not have kept things from me. He knew I was suffering, yet he argued with me. He knew what those women did to me. He ignored me. He did not trust me. No, he did not." I shook my head vehemently.

"Really?" Arjun scoffed. "He trusted you, which is why he is in so much pain right now," Arjun said.

"Do you mean to say I don't feel anything?" I questioned. "You can see his pain. What about me? Do you only care about your friend? I thought I meant something to you… Now, I see I was wrong." I folded my lips, feeling the burning in my eyes. 

I looked away. This conversation with him was making me feel more miserable. I was not having answers to my question, instead, Arjun made it sound like I was at the fault.

"Did I say that? You brought that upon yourself," Arjun said ignoring my words.

"Yeah… I brought it upon myself. It was so much fun, you know. You should try it out someday. You'll enjoy," I snapped sarcastically.