Nina felt restless. She had woken up earlier than usual that morning.

She looked at the wall that divided her room from her captor’s. She heard him return late in the night. He had been shifting restlessly on his bed. She had wondered if he was trying to let her know he had returned and wanted her to talk. Or was he restless because of something else? She didn’t know, and she was too sleepy to have woken up completely and start talking.

Currently, no sounds were coming from him room. She knew he must have stepped out.

“Mrs. Bhupati, your food.” She jumped when she heard the old man’s voice from outside the door.

She wondered what time it was. She had slept very late, feeling trapped and restless. She was worried about herself. About Suraj. About what the captor was doing while he was away. Everything.

She knew she had to initiate direct contact with her captor somehow.

“Come in,” she said out loud.

The door opened, and the old man came in with a tray.

“Thank you,” said Nina when he placed the food tray on a nightstand next to the bed.

The old man usually smiled back, but right then he was grimacing. The skin around his mouth had taken a decidedly grey pallor.

“Are you all right?” she asked.

He looked at her with glazed eyes. And then, he collapsed on his knees, clutching his head. The mask he had on his face fell to the side, exposing his face completely. He didn’t seem to care, because he was in too much pain for it.

Nina rushed next to his prone body.

“My medicine,” he gasped out softly. “I… forgot… to take them this morning.”

“Where?” she asked urgently. “Where do you keep your medicines? I’ll get them for you.”

“I-in… my… room. Outside.”

“I’ll be right back,” she said running out the door and climbing the stairs.

As soon as she reached the kitchen, her eyes fell on the backdoor which was open. She ran outside and saw a small detached cabin right next to the main house. She pulled open the door and frantically scanned the room and found a small cloth pouch on top of a nightstand.

She opened the zip and saw a couple of strips of medicine along with a few bottles of pills. Grabbing the entire pouch, she turned to head back.

Her legs faltered when she saw the outside.

She could escape. This might be her only chance to do so.

But that would mean the old man could possibly die. She also knew her captor was around somewhere close. He would capture her again.

And whatever level of trust she was building with him, it would be all wasted. The threat to Suraj was real. She knew her captor was determined to carry out what he set his mind to.

Not wanting to waste any more precious minutes when a man lay dying, she made up her mind. She rushed into the main house, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, and ran down the stairs.

“I got the medicines,” she told the old man. “Which ones do you need? Please, show me.” She pulled out all of them and held it in her hands in front of his vision.

With shaking hands, he pointed at one of the strips.

She tore it open and popped the pill into the old man’s mouth and held the bottle of water to his lips. He was able to swallow it before he lay back on the floor. His breathing was shallow.

Anxiety and worry tore at her heart when he didn’t move for several minutes. Even though he didn’t speak much to her, he always had a kind smile to offer her. He had even cooked some special meals when he didn’t have to go to the trouble and offered her some basic food.

She knew she couldn’t move him, so she brought a pillow and placed it under his head, raising his head and making him comfortable.

Much later, she heard footsteps climbing down the stairs.

“What’s going on?” a harsh voice demanded.

“He forgot to take his medicines this morning. I just gave it to him.”

With a frown, her captor sat next to the old man. Nina could smell the mild and fresh perfume of a soap. He must have gone for an early shower in the lake.

“Stay with him. Don’t move,” he ordered and hurried out of the room.

He was back with a small packet of biscuits. He placed one near the old man’s mouth and lifted his head. “Eat,” he said softly.

The old man’s eyes opened slowly, and he did as he was told. He took a few more bites before closing his eyes once again.

“Is he going to be okay?” Nina asked.

“Yes,” he said quietly. “He’s diabetic. His sugar levels must have dropped when he forgot to take his medicines.”

They stood quietly and watched as the old man’s breathing became normal once again, but he still didn’t stir.

“I’m going to take him to his room. Don’t move.” He picked up the old man in his arms.

Something stirred within Nina when he saw the worried look pass on her captor’s face.

He was capable of caring for someone.