Sensual Seduction

Reminiscence Of the Past

Laviosa Mansion

The Butler was quite surprised to see Mrs Nanda at the mansion that too alone without her husband. What could have brought her here? Maybe his Master Carlo had something to do with it but he wasn't entirely sure as his Master Carlo had stayed the entire morning in his room but yes in between he did call James. Maybe he ordered him to bring Mrs Nanda but the only thing that bothered the Butler was 'What for'. His forehead creased at the edges due to upheaval.

"Signore, ci si va Focaccia di Recco, come richiesto con Iced Green Tea Elixir con zenzero e limone." Chef spoke with delight as he handed the plate of snacks to the Butler.

"C'è altro maestro Carlo e il suo ospite vorrebbe?" He asked the Butler as he went back to the preparation of the night's dinner.

"No, That will be all Fabio, Please carry on.." The Butler then came out of the large kitchen run by the Chef Fabio Marchesi and two of his other assistants. The Butler was about to head upstairs when he saw Mrs Nanda dashing down the stairs at the same time. She seemed upset but then he noticed tears in her eyes. she wiped them off in a hurry as she ran out of the mansion not aware of the Butler's presence.

The Butler stood confused imagining what could have happened. What could have happened between the two and then suddenly he heard loud noises quite perceptible from down where he stood. Before he could stop Mrs Nanda and ask the reason for such sorrow, he felt attending Master Carlo was more important and his major priority at the moment as he knew how reckless his Master could be if provoked more than his abiding limit.

He placed the tray on one of the short tables and hurried upstairs. He quietly came down from the staircase into the study hall and heard the domineering voice of his Master

"I want it done Avico! Right now! Godammit!" The Butler made his way towards his Master's desk and saw him leaning over it with his one hand resting on the table and the other one, handling the phone. Books were scattered roughly on the floor as well as the chess board and it's pieces. All this mess proved that his Master Carlo was absolutely not in his right state of mind.

"I dont care if things need to be revised, just do it! I want him attending that conference. Questo è tutto!" The Butler couldnt see his face as his back was towards him but by the threatening tone of his voice things didn't look pretty at all. He then aggressively threw off his phone which banged against the wall and broke down completely. The Butler could perceive his heavy breathing as his back lifted up and down simultaneously.

Something had definitely gone wrong between the two. The Butler couldn't make out whether he should speak at such a sensitive moment or leave him alone for the time being but then his Master turned around all of a sudden. He saw the Butler standing in the corner.

The Butler saw what he hadn't even imagined he would see as his eyes widened in disbelief. The prominent cut at the corner of his lower lip and a few drops of blood over his sleeves. He seemed afflicted from inside as his eyes flickered with rage. This was the first time after so very long someone had got beneath his skin and shattered his self-control. His focus seemed disrupted and he stared back at the Butler with enraged feelings that wished to come out indefinitely.

"I look ridiculous, dont I?" He questioned his transfixed Butler. Suddenly from somewhere deep within his heart and mind, laughter quietly began to bubble up. Gently, silently he was laughing at himself. But it was a laugh of sadness as it suddenly turned low like a hollow cry.

He stared up into the emptiness of the ceiling and undeniably tried to dry his eyes that were now mildly soaked in tears.

"I have a bad habit of holding on for far too long, isn't it, Antonio?" The Butler didn't know how to console him or advice him about something he himself didn't quite understand

"Master Carlo Please..." before the Butler could speak a word his Master walked away from the room.

The Butler could feel the pain that was meant to recur in his Master's life and somehow his Master was trying to act like it didn't effect him when all the while he was dementedly suffering in his own quiet solace.

The Butler silently placed all of the books back in the bookcase as well as the chess pieces and board on the table. He then quietly came out of the study hall and suddenly a loud crackling sound came from his Master's room. He immediately rushed towards it and saw the scattered pieces of the broken mirror on the floor

"MASTER CARLO! What did you do?"

Blood dripped from his hand as it slowly fell over the shards of glass on the floor. He pulled back his hand and left an imprint of his bruised knuckles on the cracked glass, stained with blood. The broken mirror had become an intricate web of shattered glass

"Dont..! Dont come near me.." He snarled at the Butler. The flesh of his knuckles bled profusely.

"But you're bleeding Master Carlo! Please stop this madness!" The Butler pleaded as he tried to reach for him

"I said, stay the hell away from me!.. There's nothing you can do! Nobody can!" He yelled out violently as he stumbled backwards and fell down beside his bed. At this point the Butler didn't know what he could do for his Master. It was quite evident now that he was falling apart in more ways then the Butler had ever imagined he would. He held his forehead within his bloodied palm and just stayed there, sitting, withering away in his sorrow

"This feeling..This feeling of not knowing is killing me, Antonio!. Am I supposed to be this alone forever?" He mumbled as he clunged his knees closer to his chest. The Butler walked upto him and sat down on one knee before him.

"There's still time Master Carlo..Please give up.. This isn't worth your time." The teary green eyed broken man then looked up slowly at the Butler.

"If I give up now, it would mean that I never wanted her." He breathed out coarsely. "When in reality she's everything that I have been needing.. Everything that I never had.. Everything to me." The Butler saw through his soul and knew how truthful his weak voice sounded. He knew there was no end to this only broken hearts and scars that even the time wouldn't be able to heal. How didn't he see this!

The Butler stood up abruptly while green eyes looked on to their ever abiding servant. The past was back, the Butler knew, giving his Master a second chance of happiness. Happiness in the form of the woman he lost his heart to.

"Choose your words carefully Master Carlo. They might come back to destroy you." He received a low resonating laugh in return.

"Word's mean nothing Antonio. If what's said isnt felt by the person. I intend to make her feel what I feel." He then stared down at his blood covered hand "My pain would be hers. Soon she would get to know the proximity of my desire." Butler watched as his Master's eyes burned with flagrant voracity.

Matters were now becoming more intense and personal by each passing moment. The Butler felt it was about time he took the complicated matters in his own hands because now, his Master's life depended on it. He couldn't let him bleed for no reason. Letting go wasn't the fate he chose for himself and why?- The Butler exactly knew why.

Naina's POV

So many thoughts, so many emotions lost in the field of endless possiblities. Why is this happening with me. Sometimes I wish I was in that accident with my parents, dead more than alive, maybe then I wouldn't have to think or feel anything but unfortunately I do feel. I feel the pain of loneliness. I feel suffocated in this mindless chase where I'm loosing control over my stagnant life.

It had been a long sleepless night where I stayed in the bed without my husband, waiting, hoping to see his face which would calm the guilt I felt inside. Gaurav hadn't come home since that fight we had in the morning and all I could do was wait for him. I wanted to talk to him, clear all the misunderstanding he had about me. But I guess time and trust seemed missing between us.

I dialled up his number so many times the next morning but it was useless as it kept disconnecting or appearing out of range that I finally ended up loosing hope. But the question was - did it make a difference in my life? Wasn't I in the same situation everyday like I was today, sitting alone, staring out of the window or doing some other household chores. Did his absence mattered to me?.

My heart knew it didn't, frankly Kiran was right, I was holding on because of the beliefs of my indian culture, My perception that spoke of being bound to one and only one with whom I had taken the oath of selfless love and sacrifice but where was this love now when I needed it the most?

"Naina, hand me some more cups." I looked over and saw Kiran holding out her hand to receive what she had asked of me

"Naina! The cups! There's a big queue! We need to hurry up!" She shook my hand desperately and I realised where I was. I was helping out Kiran at the Gurudwara for morning langar as she needed an extra hand and I couldnt say no in rendering my services to people at God's place

"There you go.. " I quickly handed her more plastic cups to fill water in. She then offered them to the people in queue

"Is everything alright with you?" She whispered worriedly as she came nearer and stood next to me keeping a hand over my shoulder.

"Yeah... I'm sorry..I was just caught up in something.." she looked at me curiously

"Something like what?" I gulped nervously and began cleaning the utensils that were in the sink ignoring her question. She still stared at me waiting for my answer as she helped me out.

"What Naina..come on! Speak up?" I finally decided to tell her what disrupted my conscious.

"Gaurav hasnt come home since yesterday, Kiran and I'm really worried..what if something's happened to him? His phone's out of reach too." She rolled her eyes and snorted angrily.

"God! Your perfect husband never fails to amaze me. I mean, why can't he understand that he's married and needs to inform his wife before going on his hanky panky business." I lowered my gaze and continued with the cleaning.

"What if.. he's having an affair with some blondie himself?" My eyes grew bigger and I immediately glared at her "Okey-okey.. just saying.. I mean what if he knows about you and the green eyes..and just wants to get back at you?" My face turned skeptical as I stared at her blankly.

"No! There's nothing between me and his boss, Gaurav knows it too!..I even went to Laviosa's place and slapped him for his obscenity..whatever plan he had in his mind! It's finished now. I have finished it!" she seemed shocked as she blinked her eyes at me.

"You did what?.." I turned away avoiding my guilty filled eyes from her.

"You slapped him? Gaurav's Boss?" Her voice raised but didn't catch the attention of busy sevadars around us.

"Are you kidding me, Naina? Why would you do something like that?" She looked very upset.

"You know why.." I mumbled dully but then she made me look at her.

"Naina, does he look like a man who would stop after this? Do you think this is what he wants? God!"

She took my hand in hers and requested the sevadars to take over our duty. She then led me outside, under one of the huge trees.

"Listen to me, Naina.. I dont think he's doing this to break your relationship with Gaurav.. because something like that is too easy for a guy like him.." I hadn't thought of what she was saying as my mind and face went blank completely

"I mean, come on! Just think about it! What would he really get out of it? One less employee in his billion dollar company. Believe me! He doesnt care! He has resources. He could have bought you or your husband if he wanted to within no time." I frowned at her blunt words.

"What are you trying to say, Kiran?" She then kept her both hands on my shoulders and stared at me critically

"All I'm saying is.. he wants something entirely different from you Naina.." I mindlessly stared at her as I tried to analyse each of her statement "and that is none other than your affection. He wants to win you over."

I turned the other side and crossed my arms. "That's rubbish! He can't have me, It's just not possible!" I dont know why but my heartbeat had suddenly raised at her unreal words

"Think about it, Naina. A man like him doesnt do these things unless he has some motive of his own and his motive undoubtedly is.. YOU." Maybe I didn't know it myself but it just didn't seem right to me, what did I have that he wanted. Why me? I still had no answer. I watched as she sighed heavily and then started walking back towards the Langar area

"You coming..?" She called out to me. I nodded my head and returned back to our duty.

I decided not to to think anymore as it was unsettling to believe what wasn't even true in my eyes. I helped out in cleaning the place after the langar got over then ate with Kiran and the other sevadars once we were done serving rest of the people. We then paid our respect to the Guru granth sahib and headed back home around noon.

As usual Kiran asked me to stay at her place until Gaurav was back but I decided not to as I wanted to be there for him when he came back or maybe he had already come back home. I desperately wished that he was back by now. I slowly reached upto my house and saw an expensive car parked near my house.

My legs went weak as I stood there, frozen, just few feet away from it. I knew very well it wasn't our car and I dreadfully hoped that it wasn't his. The rear door suddenly opened and the person who got of it wasn't the one I was expecting it to be.

"Antonio..?" I whispered as he stood now before my eyes in the same flawless black suit I had seen him in at the mansion. The greyish white beard and moustache as perfect as ever and stood before me in his distinctive standing posture

"Mrs Nanda..I was looking forward to your arrival." He smiled sincerely and slightly bowed his head. I looked back at the car carefully and tried to see if anybody else is sitting in there

"It's just me, Mrs Nanda. You dont have to worry." my eyes returned back to him. He smiled widely as he had figured out what I was trying to do.

"Why are you here..?" I asked simply. His expression turned severe.

"It would be wise for us to continue this conversation inside if you dont mind?" Somehow I felt I could trust him afterall his manners were way higher than the person he actually served and being so elderly I couldnt disrespect him not when he stood outside my house waiting for me

"Please.." I gestured for him to follow me. I walked upto my front door and opened the lock. I then held the door open for him and he stepped inside my house. I closed the door and gestured him towards the living room. He stepped inside and observed the entire place with a deep peculiarity

"You have a beautiful house, Mrs Nanda." he looked at me and smiled sincerely

"Thank you Mr Antonio.." I smiled back warmly. "Would you like a cup of tea?" I couldnt treat him rudely for his owner's deeds and now it was like an inbuilt habit of mine to serve any guests something or the other without fail.

"Just call me, Antonio and ofcourse! that would be really kind of you but no sugar please." I nodded pleasantly and went into the kitchen. Few minutes later I came back with the tea and some snacks on the tray. I offered him the tea and he sophisticatedly held the tea cup in his hand

"Beautiful photograph of you and Mr Nanda..you both look really happy together." I looked at the wall where his eyes pointed and instantly my lips curved up into a smile. I then took my seat across him on the sofa

"Thank you.. It was taken on the day of our wedding..I mean after the wedding" facts were all here in the house I felt but memories were slowly turning vague with time

"I see.. well nobody dares to ask but still I would like to.." he then took a sip of his sugarless tea and placed it back on the coffee table. He then straightened his back and looked deep into my eyes

"Are you genuinely happy, Mrs Nanda?" I hadn't expected he would ask me such a direct question and that I would take so long in answering him back. I stared on mindlessly as my fingers reached out for the wedding ring on my other hand slowly twisting it around.

"Your silence says it all. I'm no one to know this or you're not sure anymore. Which one would it be?" Anger took over my senses and blocked out the emotions that wanted to spill over

"Is that what he wants to know.. my happiness? How dare he expects an answer from me when he is the one who has stripped me of it?" I spoke up loudly as I tried to calm my nerves and my beating heart. His expression turned rigid and he wasn't smiling at me anymore.

"Please calm down. Mr Laviosa doesn't know that I'm here and if he did, he wouldn't have allowed me this visit." I became quiet for a moment. Now I really didn't know what was happening anymore.

"Then...Why are you here Antonio?" He cleared his throat and looked at me with utmost generosity

"I had seen you cry when you left from the mansion and I clearly knew who was responsible for those tears. Therefore.. I'm here to apologize on his behalf..Please forgive, Master Carlo" I didn't quite get it. Why was he Antonio's master when Antonio was so much older than him

"I wont! And I dont need his apologies.. I need my husband who hasn't come home since yesterday. He's responsible for this too. Isnt he?" My voice raised and his eyes tried to avoid my accusing gaze at him. He sighed heavily as he brushed his hand over his beard

"He...He had to take out his anger somewhere. He couldn't do it on you so it was your husband but he is safe, I assure you. You have nothing to worry about.." I got up in anger and stared at him bitterly.

"How can you say that! Why is he doing this Antonio! Why with me?!" I couldn't hold from saying what was torturing my soul and turning my life upside-down

"He never opened up to you. Did he? There's always a reason behind everything he does Mrs Nanda. He just didn't give you his.." I slowly sat back down as his words left me completely clueless

"What does that mean?"

"You aren't the only reason that's been dragging his life..and I feel you deserve to know what I'm about to tell you now.." He then reached inside his vest's pocket and took out what seemed like a white piece of paper. He then pushed it across the table towards me. I looked at him unclearly.

He then gestured me to flip it over. As soon as I did I saw a picture. A picture of a charming young woman in a long floral dress with smooth brown hairs falling down to her waist. She sat straight on a wooden chair.

Her both hands resting close on her lap. Her shape was not only exact, but extremely delicate: and the nice proportion of her arms promised the truest symmetry in her limbs. Her eyebrows were full, even, and arched beyond the power of art to imitate. Lips red and full. Her cheeks were of the oval kind; and in her right she had a dimple, which the least smile discovered. Her chin had certainly its share in forming the beauty of her face. The photograph seemed old with a dull shady background as I now held it within my hand curiously staring at it.

"She is really pretty.. who is she?" I looked at Antonio and he was already smiling back at me.

"Elnora nardini laviosa.. mother of Master Carlo." My eyes and ears were completely shocked. As soon as I heard the name I immediately looked back at the photograph. That's when I noticed the green eyes which had a fascinating lustre in them, which all her softness could not extinguish.

"He got those beautiful eyes from her.. Identic, isnt it?"

"But I..I didn't see her at the mansion...Where was she?" At my question his face suddenly turned extremely sad. He then got up with a heavy sigh and went towards the window. I placed the photograph back on the table and turned towards him

"She's alright..isn't she?" I asked meekly as I watched him stare out of the window thoughtfully

"Wish she was.. But unfortunately Madame Elnora is no more with us in this world." His words took me by surprise and I was completely shaken up

"N-No more.. Wh-What happened to her?" I mumured halfheartedly as I blinked my eyes at him

"She sacrificed herself in the pursuit of love which she thought belonged to her. She lost hope and emptiness took her life." he turned towards me and densely stared into my eyes

"Master Carlo didn't even know what death was until he saw one before his eyes..of his own mother." The words I had just heard from him were ringing now in my ears. It seemed like my own past was playing before my eyes tearing apart my sense of adherence. I felt strangled by so many unexplained feelings I hardly ever knew I had. I felt bad for him

"Why are you telling me all of this? Why?" I whimpered faintly as tears began to brim in my eyes

"Master Carlo believes that you would have the same fate as his mother." I was speechless again by his words. My courage felt like it would c***k any moment.

"I never thought that I would believe this but it's true. He feels the loneliness inside you much stronger than he ever did for his own mother." He spoke with sadness and it felt like my own feelings were more known to him than to me "He understands that haunting look in your eyes. Just the same as his mother."

"I...I remind him of his mother..?" I lowered my gaze from him and whispered sorely as I felt awful about myself

"No.. You remind him that there's still hope.. in saving what he loves the most! You dont know but he holds you very close to his heart. You breathe. His soul breathes." He smiled warmly while my nails dug into the sofa as I pretended very hard to control my screaming emotions.

"How would you know this?" My voice faltered. I didn't know why but I wanted to hear more about him, about his heart.

"I have known him from the very day he stepped into this world and touched my hand with his little fingers, I know every inch of his soul and it only desires to see you happy." he kept his steady hand over my shoulder

"He wishes to give you what he lost at such a tender age but it's upto you if you would let him." I slowly raised my teary eyes to look at him completely exhausted of my own strength to say anything

"He will let his past go, Naina if you would step into his present or else.. He would never be at peace with himself." He then gently picked up the photograph and placed it back in his vest's pocket.

"I had no intention of making you upset but you needed to know his past." He stared at me for long and then bowed before me

"I should take my leave now..Thank you for your precious time." I rubbed my eyes and watched as he slowly reached around the corner. He then looked my way

"I hope you make a wise decision for yourself if not today then.. someday.." He smiled generously and disappeared from my view. I then heard the front door open and close but I couldnt move my legs.

I felt like the willingness to live life had suddenly given up on me. I breathed hard and tried to make sense of everything that he spoke of, in my head but it just wasn't so easy.

I cried inconceivably pressing my hands against my temples then over my wet eyes but it wasn't helping. I felt so drained that it pained me. When did this life decided to give me the right to choose when all it did for me, is strip me off my very parents. I couldn't take this anymore. I couldn't!

Meanwhile at Baglioni hotel's restaurant

"Sir..Would you like some more wine ?" A graceful woman asked in her most pleasing voice dressed in a formal white shirt and black pants.

"Sì certo.." she then held the bottle by the punt and gently poured the wine into the glass. Unmistakably it was his 4th intake of the evening.

"Grazie." At that she dabbed the lip of the bottle with a cloth napkin and placed it on the table. She then bowed her head politely and left from there.

"As I was saying, Mr Laviosa, we have agreed upon the mainframe resources due to continuing record usage rates and year end processing demands." The man dressed in a charcoal gray suit and navy blue tie spoke solemnly

"But you see, if the infrastructure is not to find itself between a rock and a hard place, at the end of the day, we shall have to get networking and engage in some blue-sky thinking to push the envelop way beyond even our usual out-of-the-box metrics." He then picked up his glass of wine and quenched his hasty mouth and dry throat

"I see..Is there something more I need to worry about, Mr Rutherford?" It didn't seem like he was in any case interested in discussing business but this was stated as an urgent matter by Avico so he had to come meet one of his company's CTO(Chief technology officer) and have dinner with him regardless of his own predicaments

"Of-Ofcourse not, Mr Laviosa, I just wanted to make you aware of what is at stake and we might... have... to... put..." His ignorance made the man to stretch out his words foolishly. He noticed that his CEO's eyes were now intently looking beyond him but the man wasn't so brave enough to look behind and diverge from the topic. The man was also slightly surprised to observe the wound over his lip and his hand wrapped in a bandage

"I'm listening..Please Continue" He wasn't sure if he was as he stared at his CEO's face dumbly

"Yes-Yes! Of course Mr Laviosa! So as I was saying.. root cause continues to be lack of a Strategy, given that management was all carrying around.." The man was again voiceless. He saw that his CEO's expression had drastically changed from bewilderment to discomposure. He then suddenly got up from his seat as the dazed man watched him

"Excuse me.." He said as he continued to glare straight ahead and unbuttoned his suit's jacket. He then loosened his tie extensively like it was suffocating him.

"Uhh...Mr Laviosa" The man didn't exist for him anymore. Something or someone had caught his eye and somehow his actions infuriated him to such an extent that he inevitably got up from his place. He picked up the wine bottle from his table and smashed it against the edge. The bottle broke into half spilling the leftover wine around their table and some over the man's clothes.

The man was completely shocked so were the people sitting around the spacious area. He then carried the sharp half of the broken bottle and reached upto a table where an elegant woman and well dressed man were seated. Without a word he caught hold of the man's collar and brought the sharp edge of the bottle close to his neck

"He-Hey! What are you doing? Let go of me! Security!" The dressed man yelled in fear as his hand pulled him up roughly by his collar.

"Do that again.. and I will rip your throat apart with this." he was furious beyond control as he aggressively glowered at him. The woman stood up in shock.

"Tell her you're sorry or else you will no longer have a voice.."

The woman now knew why he wanted her fiance to apologise to her.

"Tell her..!" He shouted fiercely. The woman was completely bowled over by this man. She didn't know that he was watching them from a distance and also her fiance who had rudely pushed her hand away several times. But why would he do this? He didn't even know her neither did she. Then why?

"I..Iam S-Sorry Melissa!" He stuttered frightfully. Just then the security guards came in and pulled him away from the petrified guy. He still seemed out of control as he pushed their hands off of him.

"Mr Laviosa, A-Are you alright? Why would you.." He still glared at the guy severely who was now shivering by the sudden attack, ignoring his company's associate completely, but the woman watched him intently trying to read him. He then smashed the bottle on the floor and adjusted his suit's jacket while others stared at him in silence. He then walked out of the restaurant completely ignoring the consequences his anger had unleashed.

Something was eating at him. Eating at his soul and he could not describe it. He could not express what he had seen or visioned the woman as. His heart made him see what wasn't even there. She wasn't there but his heart imagined her. He ran a hand through his hair in frustration and pulled out a pack of cigarettes from his pocket. But there were none left. He had already smoked the entire pack and now it was empty. None left to calm his soul that drowned in misery. He crushed the pack within his hand and threw it away. He was loosing it.

He couldn't contain the loneliness or the emotions that were driving him insane. He started moving. His feet were now leading him somewhere. Somewhere he wanted to be. Wished to be. He knew what he wanted. What his heart wanted. The pace of his walk increased and now he was running as fast as his legs would take him. Yes he wanted to run away from all of the things that held him back. Held him down. As quickly as his legs would carry him, crossing the lanes, traffic and people.

He didn't care about the world or it's viewpoint - All he knew was that he needed to get away, fast.

Breathe in, breathe out.

He felt the blood gushing and being absorbed by the bandage on his hand, felt his shirt being soaked with sweat but he didnt care. Felt the wind whipping his curly dark hair and the chill in the air as the sun dipped lower on the horizon. His lungs were on fire and his legs had gone numb. His throat was parched. How long had he been running? How far had he made it?.

He was familiar with the area where he stood now. He ran again, faster and reached upto his heart's destination where his soul once more breathed a sigh of relief.

Naina's POV

I cared less now than I ever did. My mind was blank and emotions were all jumbled, playing with my heart. I had cried too much in these past few days and now it felt like I no longer had tears left to spill out from my own breaking heart. Is this how it felt to be hollow from inside?

It had been more than 24hours since I had heard my husband's voice. And the past of Laviosa revealed by Antonio still bothered me to an extent that my heart wished to sympathize with him as if his actions weren't enough to paralyze my sense of thinking.

Suddenly a loud bang on the door startled my heart and made me flinch. I was washing the cup in the kitchen in which I had, had some coffee. The loud bang was horrific as it continued to sound more prominently. It scared me to death. Why would someone bang when there's a doorbell! I frowned at the thought and cleaned my wet hands. I then turned off the faucet and came out to open the front door.

"Are you...."

Words had suddenly left me. I no longer felt like I had a voice of my own. Green eyes stared down at me tiredly. It wasn't even raining but he was completely drenched with his own sweat. His Curled black hairs fell untidily over his forehead. He breathed roughly before my eyes and I just stood there watching his tattered face. I looked beyond him and this time there was no car. Had he run all this way just to see me? Why? Do I mean this much to him?

You breath. His soul breathes

My eyes grew big with shock as I remembered Antonio's words. He always makes it difficult for me doesnt he? My heart raced at how close we stood now. His eyes staring down at mine.

"Naina.."

He reached out to touch me and I stepped back but then his leg faltered. I immediately caught hold of him before he fell. It didn't seem like he had any strength left in him. His entire clothes felt cold and so did he. He was heavy but somehow I closed the door and carried him with his help towards the sofa. He fell on it completely drained out of physical strength.

His awful condition worried me more than I thought it would. His eyes closed slowly but his heavy breathing hadn't subsided. I sat down unsteadily beside him and my eyes fell over the little cut my hand had made on his lower lip.

It still seemed fresh but his soft lips appeared more inviting than ever. I immediately erased the thought and looked over at his bandaged hand. When did he get this wound? Then I remembered the loud noise that I had ignored at the mansion when I had rushed out of it.

Did he do this because of me. Because of me he harmed himself. Why is he doing this?. My heart ached with pain. I gently touched his wounded hand with my own fingers and his pain felt like my own. I couldn't deny anymore that I felt for him. Somehow we were connected and I just didn't know how. How this happened or why this happened. My eyes had tears now. I immediately wiped them off before he could see them. Instantly I got up but as I was about to leave his hand caught hold of my wrist.

"Stay...please."

He whispered sloppily. He then placed my hand over his chest. I never thought I would do as he says but I did. I slowly sat down on my knees beside him as I watched him close his eyes again. He seemed peaceful now like nothing troubled him anymore.

This is what he wants isnt it? Just me and him and the endless silence surrounding us both. Now I knew exactly what I was for him. His cure. The medicine to his aching soul. His savior from the ruthless world. His salvation.

I placed my head slightly over my hand as I watched him sleep tranquilly. He maybe rich, arrogant and strong outside his shell but from inside he isn't less than a human with feelings and I no doubt sympathize with him. Maybe our world's arent that different as I had thought. I smiled at the thought and slowly closed my eyes too.