Chapter 14: Chapter 14

*Anitha Pov*

I smiled looking at his expression after I said those words but calmly finished the lunch feeling this is enough for now.

We both turned hearing a knock on the door and found his manager entering the room with an awkward smile and also a worried look.

“What happened? Is there any problem?” Prathap asked realizing the same.

“When Ms.Anny was sitting inside the kitchen, one of the staff took a picture of her and posted on the internet. So, there are a lot of people here who are wishing to see her and even the media.” He explained before glancing at me.

“Oh!” Prathap mumbled frowning before glancing at me as to wait for my reaction.

“It’s fine! I will just take leave. Thank you for lunch and where should I pay?” I asked opening my bag to take out the small kit I didn’t forget to bring.

“No need to pay. Do you want to stay at my place until they leave? I will ask him to inform them that you already left.” Prathap offered and I stopped my hands from taking out the lipstick.

“There are people inside the restaurant too. So, it is better to stay here for some time before going to your place through the kitchen side. It is better to do it when the staff is taking a break otherwise any one of them can post again and do not let Bharghav know about it too otherwise he will keep on talking about it.” His manager made a plan and didn’t stop talking until he laid out the whole thing before staring at us.

I smiled after listening to all that and turned to glance at Prathap who is slowly nodding.

“Yeah! It is our fault to not warn the staff properly because of which this happened. So, let’s do what he suggested. Or you need to go back to your place?” he asked looking at me.

“No! I am fine with this.” I assured him remembering Keerthi who warned me to finish choosing the three among the list she prepared.

After his manager left, Prathap gave a guilty look before saying, “I didn’t think that far. You must have wished to not meet anyone that much but this happened.”

“I should thank you for letting me stay. I would have stayed outside at some other place until night time after leaving this place.” I explained while closing the kit and taking out a book from the bag.

“I even brought my script with me and happy to stay anywhere but it is intruding for you.” I pointed out and he shook his head.

“I will be staying here until very late. So, there is no issue for me.” He assured me and I nodded smiling.

After that, he stood up to remove the trays from the table and stepped out of the cabin while I sat without thinking about my posture being alone in the room.

I can’t believe I shared everything like that just because he asked but these few days I was feeling bad about that incident and mainly after checking the car and they lied to me saying it’s just the back headlight when the side was also damaged.

I got the compensation and it is getting repaired but still, I got scared and tried to reach Kanika but her phone is just switched off and I don’t know if something is wrong with her.

Somehow, when he asked with that caring voice I couldn’t help but burst out everything without hiding much.

Now, I miss Kanika more after talking about her like that and took out my phone to message her once again asking whether she is fine.

I widened my eyes when I got an immediate reply saying, ‘Sorry for not being available recently. My phone was damaged and I got a new one just today.’

‘Are you okay?’ she added the second message.

‘I am fine! Let’s meet tomorrow.’ I replied to her message and closed my phone after getting her reply and sighed in relief.

Now, my main worry is settled and I know I should have contacted Vikranth but somehow I still can’t accept their relationship and couldn’t bring myself to ask him about her.

I was scared thinking about the way he would react to my question. What if he reacts in an indifferent or worse way? I don’t know what I would have done and so I am hiding from their relationship literally.

“What are you thinking about?” I got startled hearing a voice and turned to see him standing beside me.

“Can I ask you something?” I asked looking at him and he nodded walking towards his chair before sitting down.

“How does Mr. Vikranth react to his married life? Like does he talk about Kanika or anything else?” I asked with a bit of hesitation and he sighed leaning back.

“You already know about Shrishti liking him, right? Do you know why even after a year passed, she is still stuck or maybe not now?” he asked and I shook my head because I am also curious about that.

If she is really sticking to her feelings like that then she should be not good but then why would they all be friends like this.

“Because of his behavior only. He never acted like he is married and even his wife never tried to talk to us in the beginning even when we tried to start a conversation. It’s like so weird their relationship that we never felt that they both are married. So, I understand Shrishti a bit but then them being married is a fact and we all should just accept it.” He explained and I frowned at those words.

Why? I already know this marriage is not a normal one but why are they still like that even after so much time passed with them being a married couple.

“Even I wish to know what is going on but Vikranth is best at keeping secrets and no one can find them unless he wishes them to.” He added.

“Kanika is similar in that aspect. I guess they both have something similar.” I mumbled and he nodded after which we both sighed at the same time and smiled realizing that.

“You can continue to do your work. I will leave after your manager tells me whether the people left or not.” I added gesturing the papers he has before him.

“And when I feel it’s safe to leave after the media also leaves, then I will leave your place too.” I assured him and he smiled hearing that.

“Okay! You can take your time.” He mumbled and I nodded at him hearing that.

He nodded back and started checking the papers one after the other before segregating them and I don’t even know what is he doing right now but I continued to stare at him.

He is charming even while working with the papers. How can someone be this charming? I thought smiling at his expressions while working on those things.

I got startled when he suddenly shifted his eyes to stare at me and cleared my throat before taking out the script from my bag to start reading at least absentmindedly.

I so want to look at him again but also worried about being caught and he would start talking about that video again. I don’t want to lie to him right now after sharing so much with him today.

****

I smiled entering his flat alone after his manager told us that everyone left and even the staff is taking a break right now.

Prathap left to reach the place where his staff is to talk about today’s incident while his manager who is called Deepak helped me towards the stairs and I calmly climbed them after using them so many times and reached his flat.

I glanced at the couch to sit on it for preparing with the script but then glanced at his room where the most comfortable bed I have ever laid on is present.

No matter how many hotels I stayed at, I couldn’t get used to those hotel beds but this one feels really good.

After hesitating for a few seconds, I happily walked towards his room before falling on his bed with a huge smile covering my face.

I need to ask him where he bought this bed and this mattress so that I can buy the same for my home. My smile slipped after having that thought.

I was supposed to finalize a house by now and here I am running away from that and hiding like this. I groaned and shook my head to forget all that before taking out my script and started checking it as I don’t have much time before I meet everyone belonging to the crew and the actors.

I glanced at my phone and found one missed call from Keerthi and I am sure that’s because she found the picture of mine spreading around.

I calmly messaged her saying I will return late to the hotel room and she can go back to her home and spend some time with her husband.

We have two weeks break before I need to attend any kind of occasion or even the agency and I am pleading her to just spend that with her husband but she is not listening to me.

They both are working hard all this time and finally can spend time with their family members but they are too stubborn to listen to me.

I sighed turning off my phone before concentrating back on my script and started reading it calmly while forgetting everything else.

*Prathap Pov*

“You can go and take rest. I will lock everything before going home.” Deepak offered when I rubbed my neck after completing the check up on everything both on papers and also directly.

“Are you sure?” I asked glancing at the time and it’s already past eleven.

“Yeah! Everyone left and we both are the only ones here. By the way, did she leave?” he asked looking at me.

“Must have left already. You told me that the media left a few hours back, right?” I asked calling her number but it is switched off.

“She must have left and thanks for helping her.” I added standing up and he shrugged before frowning at me.

“Are you guys really in a relationship?” he suddenly asked staring at me and I stared back feeling shocked for the sudden question but calmly cleared my throat.

“Of course! Why are you asking that?” I asked taking my phone from the table.

“I don’t know! You guys don’t look that close and feel like some strangers. Even others were talking about that today with the way you both always stay far from each other and keep a distance. Also, the way you guys talk to each other is full of respect instead of closeness.” He explained.

“It is better to change it otherwise others will start doubting you both. When I already know your secrets, you shouldn’t have lied to me. But I am asking you to say anything though as it is your business.” He added before leaving the room and I sighed after hearing that.

Well, I didn’t go against the contract as I didn’t say anything to him but he is just too smart to understand it ahead.

Before everyone else become that smart, it is best to have a conversation with her about our actions and maybe come up with some idea.

Why am I hungry even after having dinner? I guess because I had it earlier than every day and it’s better to take some fruit to my room otherwise I wouldn’t be able to sleep.

After entering my flat, I dropped the apple on the table before walking towards my room and removed my shirt to freshen up as soon as I can feeling sweaty after today’s work.

“What the hell!” I shouted seeing a sleeping body on my bed and switched on the light.

“What is it?” she asked waking up with a sleepy tone and screamed looking at me for a second before covering her mouth.

“What is the time?” she asked looking at me and I took out my phone before saying it’s past eleven.

“I am so sorry! I guess I slept off while reading and didn’t check the time.” She mumbled taking out her book to pack it inside her bag and switched on her phone.

“You were here all this time without eating anything or even drink water?” I asked frowning at her.

“Don’t remind me about the food. I think I fell asleep after feeling hungry and now it is killing me inside.” She replied shaking her head.

“But can you wear your shirt?” she asked glancing at me and I immediately looked down before glancing at her.

“Look away!” I gestured her but she smiled before slowly turning away and I rolled my eyes at her actions before wearing back my shirt.

“I will go then. Thank you for letting me stay.” Saying that she stood up to leave but I stopped her without moving from the way.

“Have something and just here for today. Is it safe to go back to the hotel at this time alone without your manager?” I asked and she frowned looking at her phone.

“And I will cook something for you. It’s been nearly ten hours since you had anything.” Saying that I turned around to leave the room.

“It’s really fine and I don’t want to trouble you.” She shouted behind me but I ignored her and walked out of my flat to go back to the kitchen downstairs and found Deepak already left after locking up everything.

I checked the ingredients left before we get some from the market tomorrow and found a very few left as we were cleaning up earlier.

Taking the ones left, I walked towards the kitchen counter and turned on the burner to start cooking and found her reaching my side.

“Thank you already and I can’t let you stay alone here when you are cooking this for me.” She mumbled when I glanced at her.

“It’s okay! I am also a bit hungry and I am preparing this for both of us.” I explained and she nodded taking the chair she used during the afternoon and sat down at the same place.

“You can sit here. I will arrange our food here itself.” I offered and she immediately moved to sit near me where I already placed two plates for both of us.

When I nearly finished, she stood up and walked out of the kitchen to bring another chair and placed it beside her chair.

I smiled sitting down and started arranging the food on our plates but stopped her from eating and stood up to get cooldrink from the refrigerator.

“It’s a bit spicy and I hope you can eat it as I read somewhere that you like spicy food.” I said placing the bottle between us.

“You read about me?” she asked with a surprised tone and I realized that I just said that out loud to her.

“Yeah! I need to do some study or else they may find that we are lying, right?” I pointed out and she chuckled.

“Even I did some research. What did you cook for me, Chef?” she asked changing her tone and I smiled before explaining the dish.

In the middle, I felt it could be boring for her and turned to check on her but found her staring at me without blinking.

I think for the next few years I will always question myself why did I do this and will never get an answer to that as I shifted closer to her and pressed my lips to her for a second before shifting back.

When she continued to stare at me with her wide eyes, I again shifted closer this time holding her face and kissed her properly while separating her lips and she kissed back this time leaning closer.

We both jumped back hearing the door sound and turned to find Deepak standing there with a shocked look covering his face.

“I… I thought I may have forgotten to lock the back door. I… I will leave then.” Saying that he walked out of the kitchen and I turned to look at her while she stared back at me.

“Will it be okay? He is not the type to spread rumors but…” she cut me off by covering my mouth.

“It’s okay! We are engaged after all for everyone.” She pointed out before removing her hand.

“And if they think this is wrong then they will be treated as stupid.” She added while looking away and I smiled at her expression.

“You are right!” saying that I pulled her chair closer and this time she didn’t look startled and kissed me back when I leaned a bit.

At that moment I don’t remember anything else and even the food that is waiting for us as I couldn’t stop tugging her closer and enjoyed her response with the way she circled her hands around my neck and spread her fingers through my hair as it was my first kiss after all.