Priya and Madhu sat on the side chairs while Abhay stood next to them, waiting outside the ER. When they saw Kunal behind the steering wheel, with a wounded head and unconscious, they immediately called an ambulance. To Abhay's dislike, Priya came with Kunal in the ambulance, where he and Madhu followed behind. The doctor checked Kunal and said aside from head injury, he had a few minor injuries. He was taken to do a CT scan and the results were pending. In the meanwhile, they were waiting for Kunal to gain consciousness.

Priya still has Abhay's jacket around her shoulders and she pulled it closer. Abhay saw that and glanced at his watch. It was one in the morning. "You ladies should go home. It's quite late," Abhay said, standing straight and turning to them, "Come... I'll take you both home."

"No," Priya said, "I will wait until he gains his conscious."

"I have informed, Mr. Vijay."

"Then, we will wait until he comes."

Abhay frowned. He kept hands on his hip and asked, "Do you know what you are doing?"

Priya looked up at him confused.

"That man he... he tried..." Abhay felt it hard to get the words out of his mouth, as he recalled the incident. He clenched his fists as he uttered, "He put his hands on you and you are saving his life?"

"He was drunk. He was not in the state of his mind," Priya said.

Abhay gave her an incredulous look. "You are impossible, Priya Malhotra."

Priya just stared at him blankly. On the other hand, Madhu was shifting her gaze in between those two and said informatively, "I am going to the canteen to get coffee." Saying, she stood and left. But they don't seem to notice.

"Here my blood is boiling thinking about the man inside... While you... You don't seem to have a small ant sting," Abhay said.

"Why do you care, Mr. Sinha?" Priya asked the million-dollar question. She very much hoped he would open up.

But he didn't. He had the ready reply. "You are my employee. Even if not, as a human it is my responsibility to protect a woman's respect."

She has to give points for him. She nodded and bowed her down. Abhay was about to say something when the nurse came, and informed.

"The patient is conscious now."

Priya stood up and shared a look with Abhay. Then, they walked inside the patient room when Kunal was resting. His left leg was supported on a pillow and his arm was in cast. His head was bandaged and there was a saline bottle hooked to his arm.

Kunal's eyes met Priya's and his eyes teared up. He averted his eyes in guilt, unable to hold hers longer. They both reached his head and stood in front of him.

An awkward silence passed and Priya asked, "How are you feeling?"

"Ashamed," Kunal said weakly.

Priya stared. Abhay was looking elsewhere though he was listening to them as a silent spectator. He knew he would punch Kunal again if given a chance and he was restraining it.

"You should have let me die," Kunal said, still not meeting her eyes.

"And make your father suffer more," Priya said.

A strained laugh escaped from Kunal. "He will be happy."

"You are wrong," Priya said, "A father can never see his child dying. Tell me one thing. Did he ever give up on you after your bad deeds? What makes you think that he will be happy? Whatever you did till now, your father bared everything. Thinking one day you'll change. He has high expectations of you. You don't need to build castles for him. A few caring words are enough for the rest of his old days."

Kunal turned to her teary-eyed. Not until he had seen death in front of his eyes he had realized the value of life.

"I am sorry," Kunal whispered ashamedly. "I shouldn't have done that to you."

"Yes. You shouldn't," Abhay muttered audibly to both of them. Priya ignored him.

She continued looking at Kunal, "I may not forgive you. But I am glad you realized your mistake."

"Don't I really have a chance with you?" Kunal asked hopefully.

"What the..." Abhay muttered, turning to him incredulously..

"Kunal," Priya sighed.

"Right," Kunal nodded. "Do you have anyone in your heart?"

It took her a moment to answer. "No," Priya said. Though she knew it was a lie. Only she knew how hard it was to not turn her head to Abhay.

Kunal smiled. "Then I still have my chance," he said cheekily.

"You didn't change even lying on the hospital bed," Priya scowled. Kunal tried to shrug but winced in pain.

"You first take care of your dad. The girl who likes you will eventually meet you," Priya said, smiling.

"Priya," Abhay called, holding her arm, "I think we should leave." Priya nodded and turned back to Kunal.

"Don't tell any of this to Vijay Sir," she said.

"Thank you," Kunal said.

"For what?"

"For worrying about my dad. I promise that from now on I'll be a good son to him," he said sincerely.

"That's good to hear," she said happily.

Before she could properly say goodbye to Kunal, Abhay dragged her out. She pulled her arm out forcefully and stared at him confused by his behavior.

Abhay turned to her sharply. "You are not going to talk with him anymore," he ordered.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me."

"Who are you to tell me?"

"I am your boss."

"Boss. Only in the office. Don't interfere in my personal matters."

Abhay glared. "Priya... As I said, you are not going to talk with him anymore," he repeated.

"I will do as I wish," she said, not liking the way he's interfering in her personal matters. Fine, he helped her, but he couldn't order her that way.

"He is a threat."

"He was."

"Why don't you get it?" he ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "Fine. Later, don't blame me that I didn't warn you."

She gave a tight lipped smile. "It will never come to that," she said.

"Stubborn woman," he muttered and swiftly turned to walk away. But stopped when he heard her voice.

"Thank you," Priya said. When he looked at her questioningly, she said, "For saving me earlier."

"Of course. You should be," he said arrogantly. When he gave his back, Priya threw a fist in his way angrily and followed him. As they walked out of the hospital, she saw Madhu along with Ramesh and another man standing near their car.

When Priya looked at the other man, who was dressed in a blue suit, she squinted her eyes in confusion as he looked familiar. A slight headache erupted in her temple. As she walked near and she got a good look at the man, her eyes widened. The next second, she saw black spots and fell to the ground.

∞∞∞