Chapter 29: Chapter 29

*Anitha Pov*

“I will be back.” He said placing his hand on my cheek and I nodded smiling.

However, when he started walking away from me, I felt worried thinking I will be alone with his mother right now.

Am I going to have another battle of words with her or should I just ignore no matter what she comments?

No matter what I still don’t want to fight with her and it doesn’t change the fact that she is his mother. Even if I don’t like her at least I shouldn’t be rude. I guess ignoring is better.

With that decision made, I finally controlled my breathing but felt her holding my hand in a hurry asking, “Does my son like you?”

I stared at her in shock while trying to understand what is she trying to ask me and nodded when she repeated the question.

“Really? This is not just some fallacy to overcome bad articles that were passed?” she asked and I continued to stare at her in shock.

“You know, Aunty?” I asked as I remember everyone saying she shouldn’t know about the contract or any of this fake scheme that we fabricated because of those news articles.

“Of course! I know that he likes Shrishti but suddenly there were articles about you both and a statement from Vikranth’s agency regarding how you both are engaged. I am not stupid you know and I know my son.” She explained.

“Oh!” I whispered but she didn’t leave my hand.

So even his mother knows about his feelings but he just assumed that no one knows unless he tells someone about it.

I don’t know how will he react if he finds out that even Vikranth and his Mom know everything about his crush on Shrishti. What if even his Dad and other ones know except for Shrishti?

“He really likes you?” she stressed the question breaking my thoughts.

“Yes, Aunty! We both like each other.” I replied and she smiled brightly.

“I was worried that you are using him to overcome those bad articles and so many other things being raised against you. But I am glad you both like each other.” She said and her smile is actually scaring me.

“Don’t you hate me, Aunty?” I asked without thinking twice.

“I don’t hate you. I just want my son to be with someone he likes. I thought he missed that chance because of Vikranth’s agency plan and you. And that is not the case anymore.” She replied but I am still shocked by the things she is saying.

“But I am an orphan and my parents were not well off when they were alive too.” I pointed out while trying to wake up from this dream.

“So what? If you enter our family, then you will no longer be an orphan. And none of us started at a high level. If not for Vikranth’s father support, we would have continued to be a normal middle class and maybe even lower.” She said while arranging my hair a bit that fell on my face.

“But you hate my friend Kanika.” I pointed out while stepping back a little.

“I don’t hate her. It’s just she never accepted when I tried to know her and I stopped doing that long back. It’s mutual. However, I crossed the line last time. I am sorry.” She apologized honestly just like Prathap.

What is going on? I am going mad right now with the way she is talking. Here I was thinking she is someone who only cares about class and everything else but turns out she cares only about whom her son likes.

I am not saying she was reasonable with the way she behaved last time but at least I can keep my mind on rest regarding her from now on.

“Come and help me with the guests. They are here I think.” She said hearing the doorbell ringing.

“I will go and call Prathap and Shrishti, Aunty.” I said realizing I need to step away from her to control my thoughts a bit and even ask for advice from Prathap regarding this.

I rushed towards the way he walked off earlier after she nodded and found him sitting with Shrishti on the bench.

“What if I really like you and didn’t know?” I opened my mouth to call them but paused after hearing her words.

“Shrishti!” He called her name while I stood there processing her words.

“As a friend, I always liked you better than Vikranth. But what if I liked you not just as a friend all this time? Isn’t that a huge mess? I mean you like Ms. Anny and are dating her. And it’s not like you see me as anything other than as a friend. So, it’s again a heartbreak from the beginning point of understanding only.” She continued.

“So, it is better to stop thinking about it. I don’t want to accept the alternative where all this means, I never liked Vikranth as anything other than a friend. That’s like a few years of my life being a lie.” I stood there speechless hearing all that but without wishing for it a sense of fear crept in.

“Aunty is calling you both.” I said trying to press down the fear and they both turned to stare at me.

“The guests started coming and Shrishti needs to get ready also...” I added before turning to walk away.

What is this? I am getting a shock aftershock. One of them is a good shock but this one is definitely not a good shock.

When I walked inside from the garden, I found Aunty entertaining a few guests that reached along with Uncle. I even found Shrishti’s Dad talking to another guest while Vikranth’s Dad is just sitting on the couch while checking a paper.

“Come here!” Aunty called me over the moment she saw me and I walked closer to her with normal expression.

I thought I have to stand aside during the whole party while coming here but it turns out Aunty made me the center of attraction and that didn’t stop even when Shrishti reached us after getting ready.

Aunty divided the time between us and I stood there beside Shrishti while wishing to not have heard her conversation with Prathap.

“Uhmm… I like your dress.” Shrishti commented after pausing a bit.

“Thank you!” I whispered before passing the package I bought for her birthday.

She took it and thanked me but kept on looking away to not meet my eyes and it is the same from my side too.

“I heard your friend is not feeling well.” She mumbled and I nodded but that is another surprise as I heard the leaders discussing how Vikranth didn’t attend to take care of his wife.

Will the shocks ever stop for today? There are too many and I need a long break to think about each one of them or even to believe them or think about them some way.

The cake cutting started for the Prathap’s parents and then Shrishti followed them with another cake present. I stood beside Prathap until he was called over to give a speech and my mind is still buzzing and I am acting robotically with nothing actually entering my head.

I got startled when he walked towards the stage holding my hand but I stood there in silence while he gave the speech without leaving my hand.

During the dinner, I ended up sitting between Prathap and Shrishti. They both gave out awkward looks to each other but stayed silent for the whole time we were having dinner.

After that, we had to disperse with a few guests already leaving and a few were trying to have a word with me regarding the new movie and some normal matters.

I sighed checking the time while remembering that I need to leave early in the morning to the place where we will have shooting for a week.

“Excuse me!” I mumbled to the guests who are talking to me and reached Prathap’s side who stared at me in surprise when I reached him.

“I need to leave. I have to take rest and even travel to the resort where the shooting will take place.” I explained and he immediately nodded.

“Let’s go! I will inform Mom and Dad.” He said but I followed him thinking about Aunty’s friendly behavior.

“We will be leaving, Mom.” He said reaching them and she nodded smiling before glancing at me.

“Thank you, Aunty!” I replied knowing well if it was not for her change in behavior I would have gone mad today and it would have been worse.

He nodded at Shrishti who is greeting the leaving guests and she nodded back before glancing at me with a guilty look and a hesitant smile but I just nodded at her.

After getting inside his car, I closed my eyes leaning on the glass window, and he calmly started driving in silence.

“Anitha!” I groaned opening my eyes and realized he stopped the car near the hotel entrance.

I sat up straight before glancing at him while removing my seat belt and found him staring at me with a worried look.

“Anitha! About earlier…” I cut him off and leaned forward to hug him tightly while trying to not show my fear but somehow the hug just tightened from his side too.

Shifting a bit, I pressed my lips to his and kissed him like never before and he showed his surprise to my action but followed me.

“I love you!” I whispered releasing him and he stared at me with a shocked look.

“Drive safe!” saying that I stepped out of the car and started walking towards the entrance while trying to control the fear.

She may have realized that she likes him now but thinks he doesn’t see her that way. What if when she finds out that he liked her for so long? I placed my hand on my chest wishing the beating of the heart slow down a bit and try to not worry that he will no longer be mine.

*Prathap Pov*

“I love you!”

“Chef!” someone called me and I realized I am about to burn the pasta I am preparing right now.

“Check it!” I said passing it to the sous check before walking towards the dessert batch to check the consistency but the spatula nearly slipped from my hands.

“What happened to you? It is a good thing that you called me over to take care of today’s dinner along with you.” Bharghav scolded me.

It’s been less than a week since I heard that confession and after that, there is no contact with her mainly because of her hectic schedule at the new area and also a bad signal.

I was being absentminded but was on verge of making a huge blunder yesterday and decided it would be better to have Bharghav present so that he can take over before something similar happens.

I took a deep breath and concentrated on the things I am doing right now and finally passing the dinner without another mistake.

I sat in my chair feeling tired than any weekend even though the customers were not many and I had served for many more before.

“What happened to you?” Bharghav asked reaching the cabin with Deepak following him.

“I am sorry about that. I will be fine from tomorrow.” I assured them.

“Don’t be hard on him. He didn’t do any huge mistake and worked hard.” Deepak took my side while Bharghav scoffed.

“Deal with it! The kitchen is not a place for you to be absent-minded and mainly when there are many people working with you. One mistake can bring trouble to the restaurant and even harm many.” With those words, he walked away while I sighed closing my eyes.

“Don’t say anything! He is right from every angle. I should know better.” I said before Deepak can say anything.

“Please close the restaurant for me and hopefully I will try to work out of this problem by tomorrow.” I added and he silently walked away.

After some time I sat up straight hearing my phone ringing and I picked it up seeing the caller ID and asked, “Where are you?”

“I just reached the hotel. I am sorry for not being in contact with you. The area changed to a far one from the original resort and we had to stay there too. So, there was no reception.” She explained.

“Shall I come over?” I asked checking the time and found it is past midnight.

“No! I need to take some rest now and have another shooting tomorrow. I will come there in the evening or at night.” She replied before cutting the call and I sighed staring at the phone.

She definitely heard Shrishti that day and that just shows in the way she is hesitant while saying something but she held me so tightly that day and those words… I stood up to go to my place feeling tired mainly because of my thinking.

****

“What are you doing here?” I asked looking at Vikranth who just walked into my cabin without even knocking.

“Someone asked to meet them here. Do you know any actress other than Anitha?” he asked looking at me and I shook my head.

“Then why?” he asked himself while I called Deepak to send Tea and some snacks as it’s evening time.

“Should I step out?” I asked and he shook his head.

“It will just take a few minutes. I am still confused at this weird request of hers.” He mumbled while I felt more confused.

I am here waiting for Anitha to call me regarding the time she will be here as she could come in the evening or at night and it’s already evening time now.

“I am sorry for keeping you wait.” We both heard a voice from the door Vikranth kept opened and he stood up seeing her.

“And I am sorry about my weird request to meet up at this restaurant and that too in a private place in the restaurant.” She commented and I sat there while staring at her.

“She is Ms. Shalini! She will be signing with GH entertainment from today.” Vikranth explained while I just nodded.

Wait! I have seen her in some advertisements for sure. So, she must be a popular actress and I am glad Vikranth’s agency is increasing day by day.

“Can I ask why are you leaving your old agency?” He asked passing the documents while she smiled.

“I wanted to for a long time after finding out the tactics they displayed but their recent ones were last straw for me and my contract time ended with them two months back.” She replied smiling before signing up.

“I am sure you both know how they are behaving with the way they are disgustingly attacking Anny.” She added and I immediately sat straight.

“What is it?” I asked and Vikranth pointed out the articles and the incident from abroad about that married guy who is lying that he is in a relationship with Anitha.

“You are a friend of Anitha?” I asked looking at her.

“We are old acquaintances. I am actually here to check you out without her knowing about it. That’s why I used Mr. Vikranth to have a meeting here.” She replied smiling and that definitely feels weird.

“I need to leave for another meeting.” Vikranth said checking the time and she nodded after which he walked away and closed the door behind him while I stared at her in confusion.

“Four years back we used to best friends and I was close to even Kanika. But we drifted apart because of my mistake.” She mumbled and I frowned at her.

“Why are you telling me this?” I asked and she smiled before clearing her throat.

“We both were modeling together and even joined the same agency. I liked a guy so much during that time who worked for that agency and it turns out he liked Anitha. When I found that, I couldn’t stop the weird feeling and kind of lashed out at her. I even came under the influence of some people’s words and I acted as if it is her mistake that he didn’t like me. Can you believe it?” she asked shaking her head.

“I was more than childish but by the time I realized how wrong I was, it was already late. I tried to apologize but she never forgave me ever. She ignored my presence and I deserve it.” She smiled looking down before taking a deep breath.

“I heard you both are together and even though there are speculations that it is just a fallacy, I believe it with the way she looks at you in all those photos I saw. So, let me tell you that she is very strict about relations. You may think Kanika is the hard one with her personality but she is the softer one. If Anitha decides on something she sticks to it. For example, she decided on not forgiving me because of the hurt I caused her, and she will stick to it.” She explained and I listened to her silently while trying to understand what is she trying to say.

“So, try not to hurt her. I may not be a proper friend to her anymore but I wanted to know about you and see whether you are good for her or not. It turns out I need not worry much but still take care of her.” Saying that she stood up and walked away after giving me a nod.

What just happened? She came here and just went like that? I sighed thinking about her words. She is right in a way, I should not hurt her and I feel she is really hard to let go of something she feels hurt about or anger.

After some time, when I saw her message that she finished shooting and will be here soon, I smiled looking at it and decided to just be honest about what happened that day so that she doesn’t take this seriously.

After that, I need to have a word with Shrishti too as we stopped contacting each other from that day onwards. We need to have a long talk for sure before she thinks about everything in that way that will disturb every one of us and mainly her.