Page 108 of Reckless Hate

“Sure. I’ll let you know when it’s ready.”

“Thanks, bro. Appreciate it.”

He ended the call when Samantha stirred again. This time her slightly puffed-up eyes opened. When she saw him, she blinked for a moment until comprehension dawned. Her eyes filled up with fresh tears.

“How are you feeling?” he asked.

Blinking her eyes rapidly, she nodded. There was a grimace of pain which he knew was from her headache.

“Let me bring you some headache pills,” he said. “Have them with water. Coffee and breakfast will help too.”

She sucked in a breath and moved away from his lap to sit next to him on the bed. He was about to get down the bed to grab the headache pills, but his wrist was caught by her.

“Don’t go. Stay. I’m fine.”

He frowned. He didn’t want her to be in pain. But knowing she needed him more, he stayed.

She leaned her head against his shoulder, and he wrapped an arm around her. They stayed like that for a while.

Soft sounds from the kitchen could be heard while his two cousins prepared coffee and ordered breakfast.

“Your cousins must hate me too,” she said softly. “They must have known the truth and must have blamed me for the tension between your father and grandfather.”

He was silent for a moment. “Yes. They did hate you because I hated you, and they knew what happened. But they don’t hate you now. They know how important you are to me.”

She looked at him with a broken expression. “I don’t know if we should be together anymore, Ved. How can you not hate me? Seeing me would constantly remind you of what your father went through and is still going through. Even if the truth comes out, the rest of your family would hate me because of my mother.”

Panic shot through him at her words, and he grabbed her closer. “Don’t ever say that, Sam! We belong together. I don’t care whether people accept you or not. You are everything to me. People who love me will accept you as well.”

She still looked uncertain.

He cupped her cheek. “Tell me you believe me!” he demanded.

She looked at him and slowly nodded. “Yes, I believe you,” she said softly.

Tension left his body at her words.

Just then, there was a knock on the door.

“Come in,” he said.

The door opened, and Abhi stood in the doorway. “Coffee’s ready. Breakfast is on the table. Do you need anything else? Rana and I are heading to classes.”

“No, we are good. Thanks, bro.”

Abhi nodded. “Anytime,” he said before shutting the door again.

“Oh God,” Samantha said with a groan.

Concerned, he looked at her. She looked embarrassed more than in pain.

“Your cousins probably think I’m an emotional wreck. I was crying all night. They must have heard.”

He smiled. “Yeah, they heard. That’s why they stayed back to see if they could help.”

There was a look of surprise on her face. “Oh. That’s… nice of them.”

He got up from the bed and pulled her along. “Come on, let’s freshen up and have coffee and breakfast.”

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