A moment of weakness
Author's pov-
Purv pulled into the driveway of Divya's house, putting the car in park. He didn't say anything at first, just drummed his fingers on the steering wheel as if debating something.
"You need to clean your wound properly," he finally said.
Divya sighed. "I can handle-"
Purv shot her a look. "Yeah, because you've been doing such a great job taking care of yourself."
She narrowed her eyes at him. "Excuse me?"
He didn't answer. Instead, he got out of the car, walked around, and opened her door before she could even process what was happening.
"Purv-"
"Divya, just get inside."
There was something in his voice, something firm yet strangely soft, that made her not argue.
She walked inside, wincing slightly as the pain in her knee flared up again. Shanta aunty, the housemaid, saw them and immediately rushed forward.
"Beta, what happened?"
"I tripped, it's not a big deal," Divya reassured her.
Purv scoffed under his breath. "Not a big deal," he muttered.
Shanta aunty's gaze shifted to purv, and a knowing look crossed her face. She gave Divya a small smile before nodding. "I'll get the first aid kit."
Purv sat her down on the couch before she could protest. A minute later, shanta aunty handed him the kit and left the room, as if sensing that she wasn't needed here.
Divya watched as purv opened the kit and pulled out an antiseptic wipe.
"Give me your knee."
She hesitated. "I can do it-"
"Divya." His tone left no room for argument.
Reluctantly, she put forward her leg.
He was careful, dabbing at the wound on her knee with a gentleness that surprised her. She hissed when the antiseptic stung, and purv's grip on her leg tightened slightly.
"Almost done," he muttered.
She watched him, the way his brows furrowed in concentration, the way his lips pressed together like he was trying to supress something-annoyance, concern, she wasn't sure.
"Why are you doing this?" She asked quietly.
Purv didn't look up. "Because you're hurt."
"People get hurt all the time. You don't go around taking care of them."
His hands still for a fraction of a second before he continued.
"You're not people," he said simply.
Divya felt something stir inside her.
Before she could figure out what to say, purv finished wrapping her knee and leaned back.
"There. Try not to fall down the stairs again." He said, standing up.
Divya rolled her eyes. "I didn't do it on purpose, you know."
Purv smirked. "Could've fooled me."
She scowled at him, but he was already walking toward the door.
"Rest," he said over his shoulder. "And don't do anything stupid."
And with that, he was gone.
Divya stared at the door long after he left, her heart still hammering in her chest.
She wasn't sure what had just happened.
All she knew was that purv had seen her-really seen her-and it terrified her more than anything.