Chapter 30: Chapter 30

*Anitha Pov*

“No need to wait for me, Manoj.” I said arranging the mask properly after he stopped the car near the back entrance of the restaurant.

“Noted! Give me a call if you want me to pick you up.” He said nodding at me while I calmly stepped out of the car.

He waited until I stepped inside before driving away and I somehow stopped near the steps I need to take to get inside the kitchen part which must be empty during this time as it’s already midnight.

I was supposed to be here a few hours back but got dragged into a party for celebrating the welcome of the new actor who joined the shooting today for the first time and he is none other than Laksh.

All this time with the way the schedule is moving, I couldn’t sit for a second and think about the important matter at all.

Was I hurt hearing that conversation? Maybe! But am I scared? Definitely! I took a deep breath hoping to not show my insecurities near him which would just hurt him or even make the relationship between us get crumbled.

I need to figure out myself and believe the relationship and even after trying I can’t then I can be vocal about it near him.

I shouldn’t forget the fact that I got involved with him after knowing everything. Here I definitely can’t cry out saying he liked her in the past and may still like her.

“Are you not going to step in?” I got startled hearing his voice as he suddenly opened the door of the kitchen and I slipped a bit from the first step I took but he held my hand.

“You scared me!” I mumbled returning his hold and held his hand tightly.

“Sorry! I heard you reaching but saw you just standing there for the past few minutes.” He explained while tugging my hand and I took two more steps to reach his side.

“Are you drunk?” he asked looking at my face clearly with the lighting from the kitchen after we stepped inside.

“No! Just had some champagne.” I replied smiling before explaining the party I had to go and that’s why I was late.

“You already messaged me earlier that you will be late so I didn’t wait.” He said and I slowly nodded to which he frowned.

“Aren’t you going to tease me that why am I here if I was not waiting for you?” he asked and I realized that would have been my general dialogue.

“Why?” I asked clearing my throat and he just stared at me in silence.

“Hungry?” he asked and I shook my head.

“Let’s go! You look tired. Do you have a break for tomorrow or need to go somewhere?” he asked walking towards the stairs holding my hand and I followed him calmly.

“Break!” I replied and after that, we both were silent while climbing the stairs to reach his flat.

However, I paused after stepping inside his flat to see the flower petals arranged on the table near the couch with a box in between them.

“What is this?” I asked gesturing at the table.

“First freshen up a bit.” He replied continuing to walk towards the bedroom and didn’t leave my hand while I was taking out the nightwear from the cupboard where I placed a few sets of my clothes.

“Do you want me to come with you?” he asked when I just walked towards the washroom door without leaving his hand.

“Oh!” I mumbled before reluctantly leaving his hand.

“I don’t mind!” saying that he again held my hand and I smiled looking at him.

He caressed my cheek with his other hand saying, “You finally smiled.”

I stared at him for a second before pulling him inside the washroom door and he didn’t object of course.

“Do you know what you are doing?” he asked when I arranged the clothes on the hanger while removing the jewelry I wore.

“Of course not!” I replied turning around while he is unbuttoning his shirt.

“Then why did you pull me inside?” he asked shaking his head but didn’t stop removing his clothes while I just started to remove the top I am wearing.

“Well, I need to start at some point. In the future, if I want this with my partner, then it is better to have some experience, right?” I asked sarcastically when he is actually blaming me for pulling him inside.

All the thoughts already left my head the moment he held my hand outside. Somehow that was enough security to forget about these thoughts for sure.

“What are you trying to say?” he asked with his hands paused near his jeans.

“What you just heard is what I said.” I replied and he immediately stepped closer to me while forgetting about his unbuttoned jeans.

“Say that again?” he asked holding my face with his hands.

“In the future, if I want this with my partner…” he didn’t let me repeat at all even though he is one who asked me to do it before pressing his lips to mine.

“Wait! I need to freshen up.” I pointed out but he completely ignored me and continued to kiss me while stepping towards the showerhead and turned it on.

“Prat!” I shouted with the sudden force of water and it’s a bit cold too while he shifted a bit saying, “I am washing away the thought of some future partner from that brain of yours.”

I stared at him before lifting my hand to hold the back of his neck before pulling him closer to make him feel the force of the water.

“I am washing away the thought of anyone else from your mind too.” I whispered near his ear and he turned to kiss me again while I completely ignored the coldness from the water that is flowing over us.

****

“Happy birthday!” he whispered making me stare at him in shock.

“How do you know today is my birthday?” I asked while he shrugged before making me sit down on the couch.

“Today is not what is registered as my birthday and everyone thinks my registered one as real which is next month.” I continued.

Except for the people who are too close to me, I don’t pass that information at all and I forgot to tell Prathap as he never asked me about my birthday at all.

“I will tell you later. Now, cut the cake.” He said opening the lid and I smiled cutting it while he sat beside me.

“I am the first one to wish you, right?” he asked after I placed the cake piece in his mouth.

“No! Kanika wished me at 12.” I replied and his smile slipped.

“But that was a virtual wish while you are wishing me right here and even made a cake for me.” I pointed out before hugging him tightly and he hugged back.

“I met your Ex-Friend today and she passed that information before leaving the restaurant.” He explained and I frowned hearing that.

“Ms. Shalini joined GH entertainment today and they signed the contracts in my cabin. She passed the information.” He added when I shifted to stare at him.

“She sounded like she is missing you and wishes to be your friend again.” He mumbled while I looked away.

“Okay! Let’s not talk about those things. So, what do you want for your birthday? You can ask me anything.” He promised and I turned to stare at him.

“I want you!” I said staring at him.

“Didn’t we just…” I shook my head cutting him off saying, “I want the future partner of mine to be you. Even the future partner to the future partner to be just you.”

“At least, to think that as a possibility.” I added when he just stared at me with no reaction and is not even blinking at all.

“I… I…” he cleared his throat while I took a deep breath.

“It’s okay! I will wait.” I mumbled holding his hand and he continued to stare at my face with a lost look.

“I want you to know that Shrishti was just spouting nonsense and not to care about that matter at all.” He said changing the topic while I slowly nodded.

“She is just thinking in the wrong way as she doesn’t want to believe that she didn’t like Vikranth as she thought.” He added and I again nodded.

“Say something!” he mumbled and I sighed before voicing out my doubt.

“What if she actually likes you? What if that is the truth?” I asked and he shook his head.

“Nothing will happen even when that is the truth.” He replied and I felt good hearing that.

“Why?” I asked curiously.

“I am with you, right?” he asked back and suddenly that feeling left.

“Okay! Let’s stop talking about all this. I want to enjoy this day by sleeping.” I replied standing up while he started cleaning the table.

I laid on the bed and closed my eyes but of course couldn’t sleep feeling disappointed and also happy but also realizing I need to be patient. Why are my emotions always so conflicting?

“Sleeping means alone or with me?” he asked circling his hand around me before pulling me closer to his body.

“What do you think?” I asked opening my eyes.

I will ignore those conflicting things and wait for him like I planned to. Wouldn’t I expect the same thing if our roles are reversed?

“With me!” he replied and I smiled turning around to hug him back while he patted my back and I slowly drifted off into sleep.

*Prathap Pov*

I am staring at her hair for the past ten minutes as she is looking down all the time and didn’t lift her hand to even drink the juice she ordered.

It’s been a week since I decided to talk to her but as Anitha had a break for a whole week, somehow the time passed with her and I forgot this matter.

“Shrishti!” I called her and she made a sound but didn’t lift her head.

“I am sorry!” I whispered and she immediately lifted her head.

“Why are you apologizing?” she asked frowning.

“For making you not meet my eyes.” I replied and she sighed leaning back while shaking her head.

“I am just embarrassed. What was I thinking? Actually, I was not thinking anything at all. Even this glass must have more thinking power than me. Why am I still so impulsive with my thoughts? Why don’t I ever give it a minute before blurting them out?” she asked frowning.

“I am sure Ms. Anny heard my words. She must be hating me now. I mean I would definitely hate me if I was in her shoes.” She added.

“Her heels will be loose for you.” I mumbled and she immediately glared at me and I chuckled.

“By the way, I don’t like you in that way. I already decided to like the person who likes me first next time. No more one-sided and so you are not even in my radar.” She assured me.

“I am feeling so relieved.” I said dramatically while she again glared at me.

“And I don’t think I like Vikranth too. I guess I just had this princess syndrome where I had this thinking to be with the person who is like a savior and supposed to be a knight in shining armor kind of thing.” She mumbled shaking her head.

“Are you sure?” I asked and she slowly nodded.

“I need some time to confirm it but at that time I will go and apologize to his wife personally and even to Vikranth.” She replied and I nodded thinking it’s good she takes some time to make sure she knows what she is feeling.

“How do you know whether we love someone or not?” I asked looking at her.

“You are asking me? The one who thought to be in love with her childhood hero and along with her best friend but turns out to be completely wrong about that?” she asked frowning.

“Right! You should be the last person anyone should ask about relationship advice or even for a crush matter too.” I nodded and she immediately threw the tissue ball to my face.

“Time! All I need is some time and then everything will be fine.” She mumbled taking a deep breath.

“By the way I am team Anksh.” She suddenly said making me frown.

“The ship name for Ms. Anny and Laksh. I was just surfing and found too many people mentioning it and it turns out to be your fiancé. So, I don’t know how someone knows whether we love someone or not but you better find the answer and confess properly.” She added and I smirked at her.

“It doesn’t matter what team you are because my Anitha is team… team… Praan. She is the first fan of that team and I am second.” I said and gasped as if about to vomit.

“I am feeling dizzy with that cheesiness.” She said holding her hand and I threw the tissue back at her.

“Shut up! You don’t understand this unless you have a boyfriend.” I pointed out and she lifted the tissue holder this time to threw at me.

“Sorry! Sorry! Don’t worry! I am sure there is someone to bear your princess syndrome.” I assured her and this time she lifted the juice glass with her other hand to throw at me.

“It was my mistake, to be honest with you. I will just think about how I could be in love with you and go and say the same near Ms. Anny.” She warned me.

“No! Don’t! You are the most amazing girl best friend I ever had.” I praised her and she smiled putting down the things and suddenly frowned.

“I am the only girl best friend you ever had.” She said but I already stood up before walking away while waving at her.

I chuckled reaching my car before getting inside and drove towards the restaurant before dinner time starts as I already dropped too much work on Deepak recently and it is better to not ignore my duties but I am glad everything is back to its place except one thing.

I need to think about her words and this time give a serious reply but be honest about it and not say just anything to make her feel good.

*Third Person Pov*

“What do you mean by Shalini leaving the agency? What were you doing?” He shouted the moment he stepped out of the hospital room.

“I don’t know why she did that. Her contract expired two months back and we were trying to send a new one but we couldn’t reach her and now she signed GH entertainment.” His friend and partner who is handling the agency in his place voiced out.

“GH? Isn’t that a small agency except for one star?” he asked rubbing his forehead as he is already tired with no sleep for the past two days to take care of the patient.

“Yes! We tried to stop their tactics but we lost Shalini to them. And… and Mr. Gaurav is also leaving the agency.” The person rubbing his face wish he is in Mumbai right now to know what is going on.

“Fine! Try to control the situation and you need to tell me everything before taking any decision.” Saying that he cut the call and took a deep breath.

He stepped back into the hospital room before sitting beside the hospital bed hoping for her to wake up soon.