Chapter 34: Chapter 34

*Prathap Pov*

“You didn’t sleep last night?” Deepak asked when I finished with the preparation of the sauce.

“Yeah!” I mumbled checking on the batter being prepared by the assistant.

“Because of the article?” he mumbled and everyone paused for a second while I turned to look at him.

“Did you call Bhraghav?” I asked turning away making sure the ingredients are all ready.

“Yes! He is on the way.” He replied before walking out of the kitchen and I glanced at the clock to make sure I am not late.

It’s eight right now and it is better to leave the moment he is here. I hope she doesn’t leave Vikranth’s house before I reach there.

“Vikranth? Can you give me Anitha’s number? I am waiting near the hotel and she still didn’t reach.” I asked the moment he picked the call.

“It’s me!” I heard a woman’s voice and realized it’s… Kanika.

I immediately remember Shrishti’s words but that is not important right now as it’s already past ten but she is still not here when the party must have finished by now.

“Oh! I need Anitha’s number.” I repeated while she sighed.

“She is with me and resting in my room.” I frowned trying to understand before understanding that Anitha is at Vikranth’s place.

I don’t know why is she there as they both must have not attended the party but I glanced at the person who lent me his mobile and patiently waiting for me to return it.

So, I simply said, “I will come there.”

However, she immediately asked me not to come saying Anitha is sleeping. I opened my mouth but closed it thinking even if I go I will just disturb everyone at this time and she is already sleeping.

“Okay!” I mumbled cutting the call before passing it back to the person and thanked him while he nodded walking inside the hotel.

It was supposed to be just that where I need to go in the morning to their house and apologize properly but when I walked into the restaurant just when Deepak was locking the doors, he stared at me with a weird expression and calmly passed his mobile after typing something when I stared back with a confused look.

I stared at articles and the photos that got published within two hours and they scared me for sure.

Looking at the photos, I realized what I did is nothing but unforgivable for leaving her at that place all alone.

If something had happened then… then, I immediately typed Vikranth’s number but my finger paused from pressing the call button.

She is sleeping right now! I shifted my hand but again paused before reluctantly clearing the number and passed the phone back to Deepak.

“What happened?” he asked looking at me.

“Tomorrow call Bharghav and ask him to take over the breakfast duty and if possible even lunch. I have something to do.” I replied and he slowly nodded before leaving the place while I just stood there.

‘Stranded Actress! Abandoned by the fiancé?’

‘Rumors are true about her cheating on her fiancé?’

‘Absence of the fiancé at the celebration party!’

I rubbed my forehead feeling the headache raising along with the guilt while thinking about the articles that got published with the pictures of her standing there on the side of the road with a blank expression.

I pulled a chair near to me and sat there while staring at the wall in blankness while hoping it is morning already so that I can go and… see her.

“He is here!” Deepak’s voice broke my thoughts and I glanced at the door to find both of them standing there.

“Preparations are all done for lunchtime also. Thank you!” saying that I rushed near them but Bharghav stopped me with his words.

“Is it something that will get resolved if you go and see her?” he asked staring at me.

I thought about his question before saying, “Resolving is not what I am seeking right now. I want to see her face and make sure she is fine.”

He slowly nodded while I walked away from the kitchen and rushed outside near the car. My hands shook thinking about her expression and her feelings because of this incident but somehow I started driving and reached Vikranth’s place before nine.

When I walked inside, I found him sitting on the couch with his leg on the table while talking to someone on the phone while holding the phone with his left hand.

“How can you post anything you want to? Do you take GH agency as something you can be careless with?” he asked in a cold tone.

“We are still deciding about the actions we will take against this defamation. Don’t get involved like this.” Adding that he cut the call before glancing at me giving the same cold look.

“I know! I am more than stupid.” I mumbled while looking away from that cold gaze.

“Stupid? That’s a small word. What were you thinking leaving her there all alone? Did you forgot she is a girl and also that she is a celebrity?” he asked and I shifted my eyes to look at him.

What he is saying is what I am thinking from yesterday night and it is scaring me every time I think about it.

“Where did you go?” he asked frowning.

“Shrishti called me crying and pleaded me to come to her place immediately. I got scared thinking about her condition and rushed away without thinking about anything else.” I replied.

“Why did she call you? Doesn’t she know that you are a chief guest at the party?” he asked frowning but looked away.

“No! None of us told her about your accident and also about me replacing you. She knew about the party all along but got to know about your accident after reaching her homes yesterday. As I stay away from these things unless it is compulsory she never expected that I was on the way to the party.” I replied while looking around while thinking where could she sleep and which room did they assigned her.

“Oh!” he mumbled and his frown disappeared.

“How is she?” he asked glancing at me.

“Shocked! Angry and many other things. But first, let me see Anitha.” I mumbled and he nodded before calling someone.

“He is here!” he mumbled looking up and I realized he is looking at the guest room I used to stay in before he got married whenever I crash here.

I ignored him and started climbing the stairs and he called me while following me slowly. When I reached the door, I raised my hand before knocking on it after a pause.

He reached me by that time saying, “You could have waited downstairs.”

No! I can’t sit or stand still at a place when I am this near to her. Before I could reply to him, the door opened but only a part with his wife blocking the way.

She stared at me without saying a word before glancing at him. I shifted my eyes trying to get a glimpse of Anitha but she didn’t open the door completely and she is not short than me for me to look over her.

“He wants to meet her.” He said when she glanced at him.

“She doesn’t want to right now.” She replied back.

“Kanika!” he mumbled frowning while I continued to look over her and even stood on my toes which made her glance at me.

“Is she fine?” I asked staring back at her.

“No!” she flatly replied and I got stuck hearing that one word.

“They should talk to each other once.” Vikranth voiced out.

“I know! But not right now.” She replied to him while I opened my mouth before saying, “Anitha! I am sorry! Let’s… let’s… let me see you.”

“Not right now!” Kanika said before glancing at Vikranth adding, “I am not crossing the line here as this is my room and it’s about my friend and not just yours.”

I frowned at those words but I ignored her words saying, “Anitha! Please!”

“Go back to the restaurant. You are supposed to handle cooking today and tomorrow. We will talk on Monday.” I can finally hear her voice but it is low and I can’t get her feeling from it.

Monday? No! I need to see her face right now and the expression on her face. I need to… I need to but I stopped when Kanika gestured me to the living room.

I nodded before stepping back and she closed the door after which I returned to the living room this time helping Vikranth to climb down the stairs.

“So, you know about the contract too?” he asked but it doesn’t feel like he is asking but just stating it.

“Yes! I had too many thoughts after getting to know about that but right now I don’t want to think about it. I have my matters to deal with.” I replied and he nodded before sitting on the couch.

“About the handling of rumors, you can involve me in any plan you guys are going to decide on.” I added.

“I need to talk to her before deciding anything.” He mumbled and stared at me.

“What?” I asked frowning.

“You got another strike.” He replied and I got more confused.

After a few seconds, I understood what is he trying to say. And I nodded saying, “For not attending the party.” But he shook his head.

“It was my request for you to attend the party and your absence is not the reason for you to get a strike as it is not under the condition in the contract as your attendance is not something PR team devised. But because you left her alone there, everything that happened because of that like from articles and to the effect on the business is the reason for it.” He explained while I just stared him.

“Why are you talking about that matter now? Let’s talk about it later.” I mumbled not even wishing to process what he just explained.

I turned to find Kanika reaching us and I stared at her asking, “She cried?”

She nodded before gesturing me to sit down and I immediately sat down while she sat on the other chair opposite me.

“Give her some time.” She said but I shook my head.

“I need to see her first. I am waiting since yesterday night. I know what I did is wrong and I will pay for it but I really… really need to see her.” I said and she slowly nodded.

“But she doesn’t want to and I think that should be important right now. She said you both can meet on Monday and it is better to wait until then. She needs to deal with a few things before that.” She explained and turned to stare at Vikranth.

“She saw the articles today morning but doesn’t want to talk about them right now.” She added and he nodded without saying anything after which she turned to look at me.

“Go back!” she said while I just sat there.

She stood up to walk towards the kitchen but I stopped her asking, “Are you going to cook breakfast?”

“Yes!” she replied and I immediately stood up saying, “I will prepare it.”

“It’s…” I cut her off saying, “Please!”

“Okay!” she mumbled after a pause and I walked into the kitchen while she didn’t even enter.

I checked the ingredients and immediately started preparing the dish which is her favorite along with the juice.

After finishing it, I passed the tray to her as she is sitting in the dining area waiting for me. She glanced at it before glancing at me.

“Wait here!” saying that she walked away and I turned to glance at Vikranth who is busy with the calls.

After a few minutes, she returned and this time gestured to the dining chair and sat down while I sat opposite her.

“I am definitely on Anitha’s side but… but I want to explain something before you meet her. I am doing this for her more than you as you may hurt her more without knowing this matter.” She started while I frowned at her.

“I mean, without knowing the full matter, you may feel that she is overdoing it if she doesn’t forgive you no matter what and end up hurting her.” She added and I immediately nodded gesturing for her to explain.

“You know about her parent’s accident?” she asked and I nodded hearing that question.

“At that time she was a kid but when the police explained the incident in detail to the neighbors, she listened keenly and imprinted the scene in her mind completely. So, even though she was not present at the scene when the accident happened, in her mind, it plays in detail. So, she is scared of walking on the road and with vehicles moving at high speed beside her. That’s scary for her even if it is morning but if it is in the dark, it’s worst. She used to have nightmares and slowly overcome them a few years back. But yesterday… yesterday, they returned and everything was as it is like it was during her parent’s accident where they were walking on the side road but a heavy vehicle at high speed hit them because of the carelessness of the driver and also the absence of street lights.” I stared at her hearing every word she just uttered.

“So, this is not just you leaving her there and it is not just a misunderstanding between two lovers. I feel that you like her and I am letting you know so that she will not get even more hurt by you and this gets worse.” She added standing up.

After staring at me for a second she walked away, while I just sat there feeling… feeling… I don’t know.

“Are you okay?” Vikranth asked reaching me and placed his hand on my shoulder.

“She is not okay at all.” I replied remembering the time when she talked to me about this accident and how she cried in my arms to which he patted slowly.