Darsh POV:

Finally, when I thought the night can come to an end, more miseries came knocking on my way. Fortunately, the car stopped in an area which has shops opened and many people hustling and bustling around, standing afar from us as though they will approach only a bigger tragedy occurs. 

I gazed at the nearby shops to find any mechanic shop or petrol bunk or at least any hardware shop to get resources, but nothing of such sort was out of my reach. Blocking my view my superior daughter stood up staring at me. 

Gone are the determination and rage in her big eyes. Only despair and disappointment can be seen. Her left hand went up to her forehead as her fingers massaged her temples. 

I can understand her tension but neither of us could find any help. I turned around and reached out to a nearby person and asked him if there is any mechanic shop or petrol bunk located nearby. And he said the mechanic shop was closed and the nearest petrol bunk is 3kms away. 

Though this information is of no use to us, I thanked him and went back to her. Her eyes fixed on me curious to know what I talked about.

"No mechanic shop or petrol bunk available at this time and not nearby." Her face fell, even more, when I informed our current status to her. 

"So.... what will we do?" she asked me in a small voice. 

"Well, we are in the city already so we can get a cab easily. I will book one now," I replied and fished out my phone to search for the availability of cabs. Now my work has increased even more. To make sure she reaches her home safely. Now she is my responsibility not only because she is my boss's daughter, but because she is stranded with me in an unknown place and she is my priority. 

I was lucky enough to find a driver nearby and when I was about to confirm the drive I felt a finger poking into my shoulder. I turned my gaze towards the owner of the finger and it was her. Nidhi. 

"Yes?" I asked her if she needed anything. 

"Can we eat anything before we start?" she asked me, enlarging her already big doe-like eyes, a small pout formed on her lips and exhaustion visible on her face. 

I nodded and again observed the nearby surroundings to check for any food places. A few steps away from us a food truck was parked and is still crowded even when the time was 15 minutes past 11. 

"Shall we go there?" I asked her noticing she already had her eyes set there. Understanding her answer, I went inside the car and parked it in a more proper position and locked it. We strode towards the food truck and all the while she was thinking something deep and staring at me from time to time. 

The food truck spread the delicious aroma of food which made me hungry again despite having my dinner. They are making many varieties of dosas we both stared at the menu for a moment and gave our orders to the cook. 

As I waited for the dosas to get prepared she walked up to a small bucket of water beside the truck to wash her hands and rested against a railing waiting for the food. All the while there is some sadness and fear attached to her face. 

When our dishes are ready I picked them up and handed her a choice of dosa to her and we both started eating. Not to compare but I was still halfway in finishing my dosa when she finished eating her full dosa and went up to order another one. She must have a huge appetite, I thought. 

By the time she was eating her second dosa, I finished mine and searched for another cab. When I disposed of my plate and offered money to the cook he said that she already paid for the food. That was something I didn't expect from her personality but inwardly felt nice. 

Finally, a cab was booked for us and the status showed he will be arriving in 10 minutes. We both went back to the car and waited for the cab to come. And in between these moments, I always felt her stare at me, as though she wants something from me. And that confusion came out clear when moved from her place and stood face to face before me. 

A fake and tight smile was plastered on her face and one could clearly understand that she was trying to please the opposite person, i.e me. She is constantly blinking her eyes and is not averting her gaze from me. My heart was pounding too hard noticing our proximity and that too for the first time a woman was this close to me, special mention a very beautiful woman. 

"Do you want anything Ms?" I asked her swallowing hard to wet my dry throat. 

"I... I just want to apologize to you," she replied, stretching her lips, even more, faking her smile more. 

"I want to apologize to you for my behaviour at the site there. I was angry for many reasons and one of them was my father didn't come here and sent someone. So you became the prey. Sorry, Darsh."

My name felt nice in her voice. Pretty sweet. To an extent that it can break my emotionless face and bring a genuine smile. Before reacting to her apology I took a step away from her to create more distance between us as her positive vibes are contagious to me. 

"It's ok. No problem," I replied to her. 

"Wow. You are such a kind-hearted person. Thank you so much. And can I expect something else from you?" she asked again coming right in front of me.

"Yes?" I replied and a genuine smile and excitement came over her face. 

"Please don't tell my father that I caused this damage. I beg of you."

This statement got me off guard. And that's when it strike me, it was her way of manipulating people. To make people feel sympathy for her and let them do as she wants. I don't know what the other person might have done in my place but I was pleasantly amused seeing this act of her. It even felt childlike. So I played along with her. 

"Ohhh. So your apology is for this reason, not that you are genuine, right?" I asked her folding my arms to my chest. Her face visibly shrunk and she moved a few steps back frantically shaking her head. 

"No no. I would have apologized sooner or later even if this is not the case."

"But you apologized for this sooner because you are in this case," I declared. My resolve was breaking as I pursued my lips tightly together to not laugh at her at miseries. Even if she wouldn't ask me this I would have taken the blame on myself and would have repaired it and handed it over to my boss. But her antics are making me do things I never imagined I would have done. 

If not for her, my mind uttered. 

"Ok. I am sorry for this apology as well. But please don't tell him I caused this. He will kill me," she pleaded to me by laying her cold palm on my wrist and holding it. 

"And if I take the blame he would kill me. I am after all his subordinate and have to learn a lot from him," I explained to her my version. And I am sure this would happen once I tell him what I intend to tell him. 

She looked disappointed in hearing my response. Guess she must have thought of this from my point of view and became silent. In that silence, our cab arrived and we moved on from the place. I asked her to get down at her home instead of the hostel since it was on the way to the hospital and it will be easy for me to go to work. Being a junior doctor I am just an underdog and must do shifts and all other tasks so as remain in the hospital and become one learned doctor with time.

I thought she might protest against this idea but she agreed to get down at her home. Getting inside the car she messaged her friends and informed them that she would be going home and the reason for the change of plans. 

"Ok. I have an idea?" she yelled in the middle of our journey pushing her body forward to come close to the front seat where I am seated. Guess she must have grilled her brain to get this so-called idea. I turned my head to listen to what she got now to say.

"Blame it on Varun's name when my father asks."

I almost choked hearing her idea. She is ready to trade off her friend for her to be safe. Is it fear of her father or ignorance of others?

"What?" I questioned her back. 

"Yeah. Take Varun's name when my father asks. In this way, none will be harmed. My father won't talk to Varun and even Varun won't. And we will be on the safe side. What say?" 

Evil, I thought but didn't say anything. I turned away from her and recollected all her words to process them slowly. Goodness, I have never met a person like this. One could never imagine she has such intelligent ideas and thoughts roaming in her head. 

Finally, her home came and the time is already 12. She got down and make it to my side again and even I got down asking the driver to stay put for a few minutes. 

"Thank you so much for dropping me home safe," she said and this time with a genuine smile.

"It's ok," I replied and was about to say more when she interrupted by taking out some money from her purse. 

"And here is the money for the cab and repair costs." I rejected it but she shoved it in my hand and continued, "I was the cause for all this mishap so I should bear it and if this is not sufficient here is my business card. Do let me know."

Saying so she handed over a card to me. It has all her details and unable to return her money I accepted it reluctantly. But her character kept buzzing me. How can one be good at one moment and become different altogether?

Unable to control my curiosity I asked her, "When you know you are at fault then why are you afraid of accepting it?"

She smiled at me and said, "I am not afraid of accepting my faults. I accepted my fault and am trying to rectify them. It's just that I don't want to face hard consequences for my unknown mistake. I didn't cause the damage on purpose and even if I try to tell my father he won't pay any heed to me and continue with his rant. So am just trying to escape as long as I can."

Her words stung deep inside my heart and reminded me of some harsh memories. When I had to face the consequences of the mistakes of others. Where I had to get separated from my family, happiness and the innocence of my childhood. There was none to take that burden from my shoulders or lend me some help. 

A hand on my shoulder brought me out of my trance and it was her who is still standing before me. Sighing inwardly and pushing all the thoughts away from me I nodded to her and assured them that I will take care of the car. She thanked me again and went inside her home. 

I got in the cab and the driver rode us to our destination. The time is past midnight and I wondered if the surgery my boss is performing is completed or not. I messaged my other colleague, who is another junior doctor in the hospital, about the status of the surgery. He replied still it might take a long time. 

Had it been a regular day it would have been bad news but now that extra time has become a help. As soon as I reached the hospital I went to the ambulance drivers and vehicle staff to check if they got any emergency cases to drive to. Finding that they are free I convinced a driver to tag along with me to repair the car where we left it. 

Initially, he refused to help as he wanted to take a rest after a tiring day but no sooner did I tell him whom the car belongs than he accepted and came out taking his toolkit and we kick-started off immediately so that we can return fast.

'What a night I had today' I thought reminiscing about the girl who created a place in my mind.

And I just hope it is not a permanent place.

Hello everyone.

Hope you are doing well.

A fast and long update again. Hope you like it.

And it's written in Darsh's POV, though not much is revealed about him now you will know more about him soon.

But I am sure you got to know so much about Nidhi. Crazy I must say. What do you think of her?

I'll try to write the next chapter from her POV.

And I felt the last 3-4 paragraphs might got a bit rushed and clumsy. I will try to edit them again soon. Don't scold me for that.

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Please Vote, Comment and Share the story with your friends who might like this.

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Stay Safe.