Chapter 10: Chapter 10

*Prathap Pov*

Somehow by evening, everyone started acting in a normal way and I am sure that’s because the word has been spread that she is at present in my flat.

Vikranth got an article released saying all those things are false rumors from his PR team and even asked the sites to take down the news otherwise there will be a legal charge.

They followed that by afternoon and some small sites even released the pictures from the afternoon’s event at the airport.

“I told you that you need not get involved like this, Prathap. I am already feeling bad to start this scheme in the first place.” Vikranth said calling my number after he found the pictures.

“It was fine and I am doing this for my friend and not some stranger. And I was on the call with her after she reached her place and even later. I even thought of sending the call records but she said no need to take it that far and our pictures will be enough.” I explained and he sighed.

“Thank you! Her manager will be there soon as we just finished the discussion with the movie producer too. You will not get dragged like this again.” He assured me before we both cut the call.

I glanced at the time and decide to check up on her again. When I went two hours back she was sleeping soundly and I didn’t want to disturb her sleep just as I don’t want someone to do it for me.

“I prepared this dish for her. It will calm her nerves or any pressure if she eats this.” Bharghav said entering my cabin with a tray.

“You should be taking some rest before the dinner schedule starts.” I mumbled but he shrugged placing the tray on my table.

“I am proud of you.” Saying that he left the room while I rolled my eyes.

I still can’t believe he is such a fanboy even though he is nearing his forties and to top of that he turned into a hawkeye about our relationship.

I am sure he will get heartbroken if he knows that we both lied to him and he is worrying unnecessarily all this time.

I took the tray and informed Deepak before leaving for my place and still found her sleeping.

I placed the tray on the table beside the bed before patting her shoulder while calling her name and she didn’t move at all.

“Anitha!” I said pushing her shoulder and she turned around with a confused look but her eyes widened when she saw me.

“What…” she stopped talking and immediately sat up before looking around and then glanced at me.

“What is the time?” she asked and her eyes are still drooping.

“It’s evening and your manager will be here it seems. Why don’t you eat something?” I asked passing the tray and stood away from the bed.

“Thank you!” she mumbled taking a bite and finished the whole dish slowly before glancing at me.

“What is added? It tastes really good.” She mumbled and I really don’t know as I never saw him cooking this food before.

“Can I sleep until she comes?” she asked covering her mouth and I nodded taking the tray from her hands.

“Thank you!” saying that she fell back on the bed and closed her eyes without wasting a second and I calmly left the flat feeling awkward that she is not feeling awkward to stay here like this.

****

“Can you wait for some time? I am a little busy here. Why don’t you have dinner?” I asked looking at the couple.

“Thank you! Is she sleeping? She had a huge hangover but then had to wake up early because of this and didn’t eat anything from morning.” Her manager asked in a worried tone.

“She had some food a while back.” I assured her and gestured her the table at the end while her husband stared at me with a blank look but it looks judging.

“Is something wrong?” I asked him frowning.

“Don’t mind him! He looks at the men around Anny like that as he is suspicious about everyone.” His wife explained and I stared at them in surprise.

“But you guys know the deal.” I pointed out in a low voice.

“But you are still a man even though there is a deal, right?” He asked and this is the first time I am hearing his voice and it’s harsh.

“Don’t do that! He helped us today, remember?” she asked frowning at him and he ignored her before walking towards the table I showed them while she gave me an apologetic look before following him.

I sighed returning to my work as we ended up getting customers and that increased the complaints regarding the time and had to help in the kitchen to get the orders fast.

Finally, within the next hour, everything is done and Deepak can manage the rest and close the restaurant by himself before leaving.

“When will you start learning to cook?” I asked shutting down my system.

“I don’t know! I think just managing is also fine.” He replied frowning.

“Your wish! You need not depend on someone else if there is any need in the future.” I pointed out looking at him.

“There is still time for me to think about that. I am not planning to have my place anytime soon and it will like after ten years or something.” He mumbled passing a note.

I glanced at it frowning and my eyes widened remembering those two waiting for me for so long.

“When did you get it?” I asked him while he scratched his neck.

“I got it when you were in the kitchen but thought of not disturbing you.” He replied while I glanced at the note.

They left saying, they will come back after some time as they are called by the agency again.

“I will be leaving then.” I mumbled walking out of the room but turned my direction away from the stairs in the kitchen to the cooking area.

“Do you need anything?” Bharghav asked looking at me but I shook my head before preparing a simple dish by myself as he still needs to do other things.

After packing the dish, I climbed the stairs and reached the second floor which should get opened soon as I already spent money on the interior.

I sighed looking around still feeling bad that I need to wait longer to open this part but then I need to make sure there will be no losses if I open it and this will not get affected in the future even if there is another scandal like that.

I reached the flat and of course, she is still sleeping but she is not snoring anymore unlike yesterday night.

Am I really thinking about her snore right now? I am tired right now for sure and again tried to wake her up like earlier but this time she held my hand that I am using to pat her shoulder before pulling it and I slipped to fall on the space beside her as I was not expecting that from her.

And thank god I already placed the box on the table instead of holding it in my hands otherwise we both would have burned our skins.

Why is there always some accident that is going to happen over my head whenever I am with her? I shook my head and tried to take my hand away but she pulled it more which caused me to get pressed to her body.

“I am not cheating on anyone.” She whispered caressing my hand and I stiffened with that movement from her.

“I am not with that married man.” She added and this time sniffed.

“I know!” I whispered while trying to take my hand away from her hold as it is circling her body right now.

“Thank you!” she whispered and suddenly turned around releasing my hand but her hand circled my body this time.

“Anitha!” I mumbled patting her back with my freed hand.

“Hmm… I am feeling sleepy.” She mumbled and drifted off into sleep to my shock.

I stared at her face and found tear stains on her cheeks. She looked so normal in the afternoon that I thought she was fine with this and just wants the issue to be cleared.

But looks like she got effected. I can understand her a bit even though my issue can’t be compared to her.

From the time I was a teenager everyone I meet during any parties or any business-related things, they look at me as if I am there planning something big to overtake Vikranth and they are waiting to watch that fun.

Just like how the scandal with her caused them to make it into a proof of my planning, the rumors just spread everywhere. But I couldn’t say that to anyone the effect those things have on me as Vikranth will end up feeling guilty and Shrishti would look at me with sad look for every event we will ever attend or if there will be any discussion about business.

I slowly patted her back thinking all that but took out my phone from my pocket feeling suspicious about something and called Bharghav.

“What ingredients did you use for cooking the dish you prepared for her?” I asked when he lifted the call.

“Wine?” I asked in a shocked tone realizing she has a low tolerance for alcohol for sure while remembering yesterday’s incident.

“Yeah! I used more than normal as I thought it will calm her nerves a bit. Is something wrong?” he asked in a confused tone.

“Nothing!” I replied cutting the call and called Vikranth next as she is not at all moving even though I am talking using a normal tone just near her face.

“Looks drunk? But I am sure he must have not used too much wine as her limit is two glasses. Wait! Her manager just left my cabin. I will ask her.” Vikranth said and I stayed on hold while frowning at this new situation.

“Prathap! It seems she took some medicine at the airport after landing for a headache and it is a strong one. That must have got added to that. She is also not sure.” He said after a few minutes.

“She is completely drunk right now and sleeping no matter how much I am waking her up.” I mumbled exaggerating a bit but I am going to wake her up after I cut the call.

“Prathap! Is it possible to let her stay? It will be weird to get her from your place to the car then to the hotel in that state. Don’t worry! It will be just for tonight.” He asked after a few seconds pause.

You wouldn’t be requesting that if you know how we are lying down right now. I opened my mouth and then closed it as this is somehow my fault to make her eat this without asking about the ingredients.

“Okay!” I mumbled and he sighed.

“Is there a couch at your place for you to sleep?” He asked in a worried tone.

“Yes!” I replied looking at her hand around me.

“Okay! Thanks for doing this.” He said before we both cut the call and I sighed placing the phone on the table beside the box along with hers.

I want to freshen up! I thought closing my eyes and my hand continued to pat her back as her tears didn’t stop at all even though she is in a deep sleep.

She snuggled closer after some time and I slowly drifted off into sleep while thinking about the food I prepared for her which will be thrown into garbage tomorrow morning.

I woke up hearing the alarm and sat up straight before looking at my side and found no one there.

I looked around and found her phone missing but there is a note placed beside the box which is now empty.

‘I am sorry for crashing at your place like that but thank you for letting me stay. I was hungry when I woke up and finished this box thinking it could be for me as it was early in the morning. If it is not for me then again sorry about that. P.S: Tell Bharghav that this tastes better than the earlier dish.’

I smiled reading the last sentence before clearing my throat and got up to get ready as I need to go with Bharghav today morning to get some ingredients from the market for today’s special menu.

“Don’t you know you shouldn’t add some ingredient like that in more quantity without asking the customer?” I asked frowning at him when I found him waiting downstairs near my car for me.

“Why? I know that she doesn’t have any allergic reactions for alcohol.” He frowned asking that.

“Next time don’t do that.” I mumbled thinking it is not good to spread the fact about her low tolerance for alcohol.

“Okay! I can’t believe you know how to be protective of your fiancé.” He mumbled getting into the car while I glared at him.

“But I am glad as Anny deserves the best.” He added smiling.

“Why are you such a fan of her?” I asked him while starting the engine.

“She is beautiful and her acting deserves so much. Even though she was just a supporting character, she bagged too many fans with her acting with her first web series.” He explained and continued to praise her.

“Wait! You never watched her on-screen? What kind of fiancé are you? I am actually waiting for her interview that will get telecasted today night that she did after finishing her last shooting last week.” He just continued without pausing for a second while I kept quiet because I really didn’t observe her much as I am not that good at watching television or movies or anything related to that.

****

“Even you are going to watch her interview?” I asked frowning at Deepak as he is in a hurry to leave to watch her interview that will get telecasted within half an hour.

“Of course! I saw a teaser where there will be a discussion about your relationship. You are not telling us anything and we will accept to watch anything to get any kind of information.” He explained before leaving my cabin while I glared at his back.

After they left, I made sure everything is fine and also to check the remaining ingredients which should have been done by Deepak but he left because of her interview.

I sighed falling down on my couch and closed my eyes but opened them to stare at the blank screen of the television.

I bought it feeling the place is too empty but switched it on very rarely. Wait! I need to watch the interview if there are topics about us to follow those things as per the contract, right?

With that thought, I switched on the television and changed the channel to the one where her interview is already happening as the discussion is about her new movie.

I took out the water bottle from the table and started drinking while feeling bored to listen about that movie-related discussion.

“Now, coming to your personal life. It was a huge shock for everyone to find you are actually engaged but then all kinds of things started circulating the internet.” The MC asked smiling and asked about when will be the wedding.

“We both wished to keep it a low key as we both were busy with our work but somehow decided to get engaged on a whim even though we will be taking more time before planning a wedding.” Her answer is kind of smart as when we break off the engagement we can say we rushed into it and that’s why we realized it is better to cancel.

“There is a surprise for everyone. As we found out that there has been chemistry between you guys from the past three years.” Anitha’s smile slipped a bit while I frowned at those words.

“Everyone, this is the first commercial Anny shot and look whom we found.” Saying that they changed the screen into an advertisement and I had to cough on the sip of water I just took after looking at it.

I patted my chest while continuing to cough as I can’t believe what I am looking on the screen right now. What am I doing in that commercial? Why is she looking at me like that?