Chapter 13: Chapter 13

*Prathap Pov*

“What happened?” I asked seeing her sad expression to which she shook her head clearing her throat before giving a fake smile.

“Is it about your car?” I asked and she closed her eyes hearing that before nodding at my question and I sat down beside her as I heard her words from earlier with Vikranth’s wife and also her manager.

“When did you buy it?” I continued and she turned her head while still leaning back on the couch and opened her eyes to stare at me.

“Last week! Today is the first time I brought it out or should I say got to travel in it.” She replied and pouting right now.

I want to smile looking at her pout but then remember she is feeling sad right now and it’s better to not smile at this moment.

“Don’t worry! I heard that it’s just headlight in the back, right? It will get repaired soon and this issue will also get settled soon.” I assured her but she shook her head.

“My issue is not about that. Why was there a casualty like that in the first place? I stopped buying anything I want to from the time I was a kid with a fear that I will lose it but finally stepped out of that thought to buy this car and soon to buy a house. However, now this happened and I don’t know whether I should buy a house.” She explained and I never heard anyone talking so depressed before.

I can’t believe she is the one saying these words. If her fans hear this, they will think she must be practicing a script and will not believe this.

“If you think like that then what should I think? That if not for having a ceremony today or extending my restaurant then this wouldn’t have happened to your car. Should I forget the dream of having franchises in the future?” I asked staring at her with a serious look and she looks startled hearing that.

“Of course not! It has nothing to do with you and don’t think like that.” She rushed out her words and I smiled hearing them.

“Exactly! It has nothing to do with you too and you are not the only one whose car had to get a repair for such small issues. So, stop thinking like that and buy a house without hesitating.” I pointed out and she slowly smiled after a few seconds.

“I know all that already. But I am still thinking like that because… you can call it as one of my weaknesses.” She explained and I nodded realizing no one can say anything to change her mind right now.

“But you were great to not blame your bodyguard or your manager.” I said changing the topic and she frowned hearing that.

“What is there to blame them? It has nothing to with them.” She pointed out shrugging.

“How I wish everyone thinks the same!” I mumbled sighing before closing my eyes remembering the times I got blamed by those board members no matter what trouble comes to the company as they think I am creating that trouble to take the company over. As if!

“Don’t mind if anyone blames you. They don’t know how much less number of topics roam in your brain for you to do anything intentionally.” I opened my eyes and found her teasing stare.

“And how do you know that?” I asked not getting annoyed at those words because they are kind of true.

“If you managed to think about some video for one month then that shows you don’t have anything else to think about. I guess you think more about the restaurant and the recipes and then your crush and very less time for other things.” She replied shrugging.

“By the way, why do you cook by yourself on weekends?” she asked frowning while adjusting her legs to place them on the couch with a pained expression and I shifted back a little to allow space for them as the couch is really small.

“Cooking is my passion and I want to cook all the time. But I can’t cook every day along with managing the restaurant. And I am not that broadminded to cook for someone else restaurant and be an employee. So, I cook on weekends to manage everything too, and even after a few months, the plan is going good.” I explained and she nodded while listening to me intentively.

“And I met Bharghav while getting trained for cooking a few years back. So, we kind of go well together in the kitchen.” I added while feeling good to talk about the things I never actually expressed before in words.

“So, the earlier dish was yours? I guess I like your cooking a bit.” She mumbled and I smirked hearing that.

“I guess you like my cooking more than Bharghav’s.” I said and explained how she wrote on that paper about the dish she liked and wished me to pass the message to Bharghav but that dish was prepared by me.

“Really?” she asked clearing her throat while I continued to smile.

“By the way, why don’t you visit the restaurant this weekend. I will be cooking that day and you can even come inside the kitchen.” I offered and she immediately shook her head in negative.

“I will be busy from today and we already decided to not meet each other unless it is necessary. I don’t want to disturb you when you are helping me so much like this.” She said smiling and my smile slipped.

“Actually, I am fine with you visiting as no one else from my family or friends are that interested in my cooking but my friends support me. Today my Mom was supposed to attend but she didn’t and maybe because of my Dad.” I mumbled while spilling everything.

“Okay! I will disturb you whenever I can but will ask you first.” She said in an assuring tone and I smiled to which she smiled back brightly.

I shifted my eyes to stare at her eyes and found a similar look I was obsessed with these days but she suddenly looked away while clearing her throat.

“I wanted to ask you before but what is that room? Is it your kitchen?” she asked frowning pointing at the closed door.

“Why would I have a kitchen when there is a big one downstairs? It was supposed to be a kitchen but I am using it for some study and also research purposes. I try the arranging of the dishes there with some sketches and you can call it my study.” I explained and she nodded listening to my words.

I could have just said that it is my study but somehow ended up explaining so much about it in detail.

“Do you want to see it?” I asked standing up while feeling excited that someone other than Bharghav and Deepak is going to check it out.

She nodded standing up and we both walked towards the door and stepped inside. After I switched on the light, she looked around at the wall where I pinned a few designs with just the outer look.

“You know how to draw? Kanika is good at drawing too.” She said smiling at the designs.

“Actually, they are just stupid lines and we use them to have an idea. Bharghav does it better.” I explained and she nodded before looking at the table where all the art supplies are there.

“These look very good. Are they costly?” she asked pointing the things and I nodded.

“Can you get a set for me? I don’t know anything about these things but I want to buy some for Kanika. No need for any watercolors but others are needed.” She continued with an excited look.

“Sure! Now, look at this. You remember the dish you had earlier, right? See, how many times I tried to think about the decoration. I was fine with this design but then suddenly woke up at midnight to come here and try the new one as I felt something is missing after deciding on it. Which one was better for you?” I asked after opening the sketches and turned to stare at her only to get stuck in the moment.

Wait! Why is she looking at me like that? I thought staring back at her and when her eyes slowly widened and about to turn her head, I shifted my hands to hold her face.

“What are you doing?” she asked frowning.

“What were you thinking earlier? You had the same look and…” I trailed off not knowing how to express how it was to receive such admiring look or much more than an admiring look from her.

“I…” she trailed off and tried to remove my hands from her face with her hands but I didn’t budge.

However, we both got startled hearing the doorbell and both stepped back with my hands dropped from her face.

“Keerthi must be here. Thank you for letting me stay once again like this. I am happy for you and hope there are more successes and more extensions.” Rushing out those words she rushed out of the room too while I just stood there.

Why did I ask her that question? Didn’t I decide to just forget about this matter? No! After this incident, I want to see that look again and accept the meaning behind it and listen to the meaning from her directly.

****

“What are you doing here?” I asked looking at the person who ran away from my place a week back and she is right now standing near the kitchen door.

“She is here because I invited her.” Bharghav replied and I turned to find him walking out of the kitchen with a smile covering his face.

“Thank you for accepting my invitation.” He added looking at her and she smiled nodding while I frowned at them.

“She is here to see me working in the kitchen and understand the process a bit. I remember that was one of her wishes and I thought I will take that chance to show off a bit.” He explained looking at me.

I know that already and I clearly remember inviting her to see me working in the kitchen but she declined without thinking twice.

However, it was not just because I read about her wish but also because I was still stuck to that video and check what will happen if I again cook before her.

And that turned out to be not needed as she gave the same expression even when I was explaining the details of the decoration. Maybe she is just interested in cooking and the details involved but everyone thought it was for me.

This is the moment to check whether it was for just cooking details then. I nodded looking at him before glancing at her who is not at all looking at me.

“I hope you find some faults in his techniques and let me know.” I said and she smiled hearing that before giving me a nod and followed him inside.

I turned around before calling Deepak to come over from the reception desk where he is passing out some instructions.

“I will be staying in the second floor part and will manage there but when I give you a call, just be there to cover for me.” I ordered making him frown.

“Why?” he asked but I ignored his question to enter the kitchen and reached the stairs while checking where are they both and found him adjusting a chair at a corner near his side for her to sit.

I ignored them for now and climbed the stairs to check up on the few customers that are there for lunchtime but they are more during dinner time and that’s what I need for now.

After half an hour, I called Deepak to cover for me before climbing down the stairs and reached the kitchen but stayed on the last stair to look at her clearly.

Well, she is definitely excited and is looking at every detail that is going on around her but her eyes… the look was normal.

So, I was wrong with this detail too and it may be because of me. If it is really because of me then I am dead for sure.

I still remember the words briefly I passed about her thinking Vikranth and she is together or going to be together. Now, I understand how she already knew me and was smiling at me like that.

At that time I thought she was just excited to meet Vikranth’s friend like that. Damn it! I thought turning around and returned to the second floor to let Deepak go back downstairs.

When it is past lunchtime, I went back to my cabin thinking she already left but I found her sitting inside with Bharghav about to leave the room.

“I will send lunch for both of you. She was sitting there for so long and not ready to eat anything.” Saying that he left my cabin while she sighed before turning to stare at me.

“I am sorry about this. I have to leave now and I know that but Keerthi is waiting for me at the hotel room and I don’t want to face her for some time.” She apologized making me frown.

“Why? What happened?” I asked walking inside and sat on my chair while facing her.

“About buying a house! When I told her it is better to wait, she is going on and on about how I shouldn’t let what happened to the car affect me and they both are feeling guilty right now. I don’t want any of that and I just want some time before buying a house. Is it wrong?” she asked groaning and I nodded understanding it a bit.

“They are just looking out for you and think you need not think like that.” I mumbled and she nodded.

“And I don’t want to see their guilty looks whenever I explain why I need some time.” She continued.

“Why? Why are you so affected by it?” I asked looking at her and she stared at me in surprise before clearing her throat.

“When I was at the orphanage, it is silly right now but whenever I used to play with some toy or get a dress, that used to get spoiled like in a silly way. Later I met Kanika bit even she left after we both got close.” She started and I stopped her hearing the last sentence.

“You were in an orphanage? Even Vikranth’s wife? I heard she has a Dad though.” I mumbled and she nodded.

“I guess the media didn’t find that out for now and I didn’t tell anyone except for the agency and my manager. I just tell the media that my parents passed away when I was young and for now they never asked me any details regarding that.” She explained.

“And yes, Mr. Vikranth’s wife was there too. When she was just eleven, her Dad left her all alone because of which she got joined in the same orphanage I was staying. And I was there from the time I was six as I lost my parents at that time.” She said giving a small smile.

“I am sorry!” I whispered but she shook her head.

“So, after two years, her Dad returned and took her away. I was already thinking it is better to never like something or get something but that just pushed me to the edge. Somehow she was able to meet me regularly by visiting the place. Can you believe a thirteen-year-old girl visiting that place just to meet her friend? That’s why we are this close and we met after I left that place and worked together at different places. She was the one to push me forward to go for auditions and even train me a bit. She encouraged me a lot.” She continued to talk about her friend with a smile covering her face which is actually shining her face.

“Anyway, I have that small problem from the time I was a kid regarding things or people and get disturbed if something happens and stay away from spending much on something I really want to have. Keerthi already knows about this along with Kanika and that’s why Keerthi is pushing me so that I can come out of that at least for now.” She said before glancing at me.

“Take your time, Anitha. No one knows properly how to come out of the traumas like that as it may seem like a small thing for some people but it must be a huge one for you. So, don’t rush yourself and explain it to her.” I said and she nodded smiling.

“And if she doesn’t listen then just run away from her and hide at this place.” I added shrugging and she laughed hearing that.

“Hide here? And disturb you guys? I am already feeling bad to use Bharghav like this when I didn’t know where to go after leaving the hotel room.” She said and I shook my head.

“He liked it and even if he knew, he will understand it.” I assured her and we both stopped talking hearing a knock on the door.

I glanced at her as she started having lunch while enjoying each bite just like the first time and I remember her saying that she does that because three years back someone suggested.

“Wait! You are following my advice from that time to eat slowly while enjoying till now?” I asked feeling surprised and she coughed on her bite.

I passed the water while she didn’t even glance at me and I smiled realizing what I just said was true.

“Wow! Someone listened to my words. Do you know that I advise that to everyone? But no one listens to me. I am really happy right now knowing that you listened to my advice.” I said grinning while she turned to stare at me after hearing that.

“That was good advice. Why wouldn’t I listen to that and follow it?” she asked frowning.

“Exactly! You are my favorite person right now.” I replied smiling before finally taking a bite of my lunch.

“Just for now?” she asked raising her eyebrow and this time it was my turn to cough and felt the spices effect along with that.

She chuckled passing the water bottle back to me and I drank a bit while groaning at the way I get affected like this for every teasing word of hers.