Chapter 3. Criminal

'Why am I doing this?'Priyank wondered aloud as he carried the girl to the bathroom.

'A maid could have done it, but she would have touched her. I didn't want anyone to lay a finger on my angel,'Priyank thought, his voice brimming with concern and protectiveness. "What on earth is happening? Why is this crossing my mind? She is not mine."

'No. She is yours,' his conscience chimed in.

'She is not,' Priyank retorted, his voice filled with denial.

'So why do you want to bathe this girl? You know she wouldn't appreciate it," mocked his conscience. 'A man cannot simply bathe any girl if she is not his.'

Priyank pushed aside his thoughts and firmly resolved, 'No. I am only doing it for her sake, as she needs a bath, her unconscious body reeking of blood.'

With determination in his voice, Priyank brushed away his conflicting emotions as he entered the bathroom and prepared a soothing bubble bath for her. As he undressed both himself and the girl, he couldn't help but notice how delicate she was. Her captivating red hair and eyes held him spellbound, and her pale, snow-white skin ignited a wild sensation within him.

" Control yourself, Priyank. Just control," he whispered to himself, his voice filled with a mix of desire and restraint. "No woman can seduce me, but this little angel is captivating me effortlessly."

Priyank gently placed her in the tub and sat beside her, cradling her against his chest. The touch of her back against his hardened body sent a surge of desire through him.

He continued to wash her, his actions filled with tenderness and care.

After bathing her, he carried her out of the bathroom, dressing her in his shirt, his voice brimming with a mixture of protectiveness and affection.

Priyank settled her on the sofa and changed the bedsheets, noticing a bloodstain from a dog's injury.

'I am doing something for someone, something I have never done for anyone, not even for my own mother or my closest friend,' Priyank's thoughts were consumed by the girl's beauty, his voice filled with admiration and fascination. "When I bathed her, everything about her, from her smooth and silky long hair to her radiant presence, was simply exquisite."

"I have encountered many women who desired me, but I never desired them. Yet, I desire this angel. Whatever Priyank Sharma wants, he will obtain at any cost, regardless of the obstacles," he spoke to himself with determination.

As he lay beside her, Priyank could hardly believe that he held her in his arms, his voice filled with awe and disbelief. "She is so soft, so warm. Before, I was all alone, but this feels so right."

"She may despise me, but I will not leave her. No matter how much she hates me, she must remain here, forever locked in my embrace."

Priyank acknowledged his forceful nature but emphasised his capacity for love, his voice filled with a blend of strength and tenderness. "I may assert myself forcefully, but that does not mean I am incapable of love."

Even in his half-asleep state, Priyank's thoughts were consumed by her, his voice filled with a sense of obsession and infatuation. "Her face, her breath, her fragrance—I cannot get enough. She is the beacon of light in my dark world, and I am prepared to bask in her radiance."

'I must confront my own anger issues, and she, in turn, infuriates me. However, her innocence sets her apart. She is a special angel, and I refuse to taint her purity.'

Lost in his thoughts, Priyank drifted off to sleep with her in his arms, his voice filled with a sense of contentment and longing.

In the morning,

Priya woke up feeling as though she was in someone's embrace, only to find herself face to face with a man.

Overwhelmed with grief, she cried out, "Who killed my Lucky? And why am I only wearing a shirt? Where are my clothes and undergarments?" Her tears flowed uncontrollably as she believed that her love had been taken away from her.

Startled by the sound of her cries, Priyank jolted awake from his sleep and angrily shouted, "Who dares to wake me up? Do you want to die?" Hearing his harsh words, Priya's tears intensified, and she sobbed even harder.

Priyank strained to listen to her cries, and amidst the sound, he realized that he had his angel right there with him. Her voice, even in distress, was like music to his ears. Without hesitation, he gently lifted her onto his lap, disregarding the slight lift of her shirt caused by his sudden action. With a commanding voice, he asked, "Why are you crying, Angel?"

"Let me go, you murderer! You killed my love." Priya cried out in pain.

Priyank's anger flared, and he demanded, "Who is this Love you speak of?",

"My dog". In between sobs, Priya managed to utter it.

Priyank's anger subsided slightly, but a tinge of jealousy crept in as he questioned, "How can you call a dog your love?"

Priya defended her affection, saying, "He is my love. My mother said he is like a brother to me." Priyank realized that her mother had influenced her perspective.

Desperate to be released, Priya pleaded, "Let me go! Why did you change my clothes? My mother said no one can touch me without my permission."

Priyank's thoughts raced as he remembered that he had even bathed her.

"And I'm not a baby! How can you just take me in your lap? I'm 18 years old." Priya continued.

Priyank thought to himself, 'This girl has surely lost her mind'

Taking advantage of the moment, Priya stood up from the bed .

Enraged, Priyank gritted his teeth and growled, "Did I tell you to stand up, Angel?"

"You're not my teacher, who gives me permission to leave his class or stand up like that. I'm not in school anymore; I'm in college, sir," Priya retorted,

Priyank sighed and corrected her, "I'm not a sir. My name is Priyank, and I'm 25 years old."

"Oh! Similar names, Priya and Priyank. And you're a older then me, Priyank",Surprised, Priya exclaimed.

Priyank acknowledged the age difference but thought, "Let it be. Who said I wanted her?"

His conscience chimed in, 'she has a loose screw'.

Ignoring his conscience, Priyank said, "Your name is Priya."

"I'm not going to tell you my name. I never tell strangers my name." Priya declared.

Priyank facepalmed and thought, "She already told me her name when she joined Priya with Priyank. She's just being difficult. She told her name yesterday too. This is hilarious."

"Okay, don't tell me your name is Priya," Priyank smirked.

"Oh! So you know my name. Can you read minds?" Priya exclaimed.

Priyank thought sarcastically, "This confirms she's a patient who ran away from a mental asylum."

Ignoring her comment, Priyank asked, "So, why did you come here?"

"My pet came here last night. I followed him for a walk, but he ran away. I got here looking for him, and then I found him. You killed him, even though I told you not to," she, with her teary eyes, answered.

Priyank's anger flared, and he retorted, "He's not your love; he's just a dog. And why were you roaming around at night? Where were your parents?"

Priya explained, "My mother Mary asked me to take him for a walk,"calling her orphanage lady as mother.

Priyank questioned her mother's decision, "How could your mom take such risks and let you roam around at night?"

Inquisitively, Priya asked, "Are you from the crime investigation department?"

"What?"

"You're asking questions like them, so I thought you might be able to help me." Priya clarified.

Priyank mentally facepalmed,"What are you even thinking?.

"I'm not thinking anything. It's you who's asking." Angrily, she replied

"Just shut up!"

Immediately, Priya stopped crying, afraid of his anger. She hiccuped and apologized, saying, "I'm sorry."

Priyank questioned her mother's decision, "How could your mom take such risks and let you roam around at night?"

"Are you in school? You're 25 years old." Sarcastically, Priya asked.

Irritated, Priyank replied, "No, I'm not in school. Don't test my patience."

Priya continued, "So, are you in college?"

Frustrated, Priyank snapped, "No, I'm not. I already have several companies."

Priya remarked, "So, why would I test you?"

Annoyed by her nonsensical comments, Priyank's anger grew, more and more .

"Do you have a fever?"

"No."

"Then why do you look like a tomato?"

"I'm angry because of your pointless chatter, girl!" Priyank screamed in her face.

Priya defended herself, saying, "What do you mean pointless? I'm talking sensibly."

Priyank thought to himself, "If this is sensible, I wonder what her nonsensical talk would be like."

His conscience mocked him, "Oh, so you want to hear her talk?",

"Just shut up!", Priyank snapped back .

"Okay, I'm leaving."

Priyank angrily responded, "Who told you to leave?"

"Nobody, but it's basic manners not to stay in a murderer's home. I'm going to complain to the police that you killed my love." Priya explained.

"Do you even know what you're saying? The police won't charge me for killing a dog, and even if I killed you, they couldn't do anything." Priyank, with shock written on his face, questioned

"Oh, Mr. For murder, the police can do anything. They chase criminals and punish them. I've seen it in movies."