Chapter 39: Chapter 39

*Anitha Pov*

“I said I am fine, Kanika. You can’t continue to cancel your classes for my sake. Didn’t you say that they will come to an end soon? So, just concentrate on them.” I said turning away from the other patients.

“But you should have told me that you will be going early today…” I cut her off calling her name before taking a deep breath.

“Didn’t you say that you will make me your model for your clothes? For that, you should learn everything properly and not miss those classes again. I will be fine.” I assured her before cutting the call and turned back to sit properly on the chair.

Vikranth already talked to the doctor about my condition after Kanika talked to him but I asked him to keep it from her regarding my appointments as I don’t want to disturb her anymore.

For the past few days, she is just taking care of me and even ignoring her classes which is not right as she already went through some troubles just to take these classes so many times.

The receptionist already recognized me and assured me to keep my matter a secret and will not even call my name out as per the instruction of the doctor.

There are many patients here but not everyone is acting like there are here just for some therapy but like it is wrong to be here the way they are not meeting anyone’s eyes.

It will take time for everyone to be understanding that coming to a psychiatrist is a normal thing and that time will be longer mainly for the celebrities I guess otherwise there wouldn’t be a need for others to worry right now for my sake like this.

I sighed turning towards the door and found the recent patient coming out of the room before glancing at the receptionist who nodded at me and I immediately stood up before walking towards the door and stepped inside.

After staring at the doctor’s comforting smile for a second, I walked closer before sitting on the chair while hoping everything goes well.

“Hello! Do you want to drink anything?” she asked smiling and I shook my head politely.

“Shall we start?” I took a deep breath nodding.

****

“Will you be fine?” she asked when I paused near the door with my hand on the door handle.

“Yes!” I replied politely before opening the door and stepped out without looking at anyone.

Right now I don’t want to see anyone and just want to leave this place. I should have come with Manoj in the morning instead of taking a cab.

But I thought it will be like showing clearly who I am if I come here with him. I concentrated on the path before me while making sure to not bump into anyone but suddenly got startled when someone held my hand.

I turned to find Prathap staring at me and I stared back in surprise after coming over my shock. He smiled before holding my hand properly with a tight grip and started walking towards the elevator.

“What are you doing here?” I asked recovering from the shock.

“Shh!” he whispered when the doors opened and found two people stepping out.

After we both stepped in and the doors closed, he calmly mumbled, “Kanika called me and told me that you are all alone here. So, I am here as an escort.”

Escort? I stared at him hearing that and immediately took my hand away from his hold while he frowned at me. I closed my eyes remembering the last time that word was used between us.

I leaned closer to peck his cheek whispering, “Yes! Be my escort then.”

That was just when he decided to escort me to the party and look at what happened. I ignored his presence and kept my eyes closed.

“Don’t worry about anyone finding out. If someone actually finds out then we can say that you are here for my sake.” He continued and I fisted my hands.

Don’t! Don’t be like this! I pleaded with him in my mind while wishing to get out of this elevator as soon as possible and to my luck, it stopped and I rushed out of the elevator as if running away from him but he followed me.

“Just come with me. I know you don’t want to be with me right now but let me drive you to your home.” His voice followed me and I stopped walking hearing that.

“Thank you!” I replied turning around but he is looking down and calmly gestured me to his car which he parked a bit away.

I started walking towards it and he followed me while leaving two feet space between us. After sitting inside his car, he didn’t say anything else and started driving the car.

The whole journey was silent and I just stared at the passing view without making a sound and there was no sound from him too.

Did I rush out too fast and was it really bad? I heard hurt in his tone when he asked me to let him drive me but I suddenly remember that day and just couldn’t stay closer to him.

“Thank you!” I mumbled when he stopped inside the compound but he climbed out of the car along with me.

“I will walk you to the door.” I stared at him frowning but continued to walk to make up for earlier behavior.

However, he stepped inside before I could realize what he is doing and continued to walk towards the kitchen saying, “It’s lunchtime and you must be hungry. I will make something for you.”

He smiled at the servant and I closed my mouth seeing her before opening it again saying, “Please put on the curtains in the guest room. I already placed them on the bed.”

She nodded walking away and I rushed to the kitchen saying, “Leave right now, Prathap.”

“I will after preparing lunch.” Saying that he opened the refrigerator and just continued to do whatever he wanted to.

I wish I can shout right now but I need to be careful with the servant present as even though we are not dealing with the issue of the articles stating our break up, it is better for less people to know about our differences.

“I said…” he cut me off saying, “Just think that you hired a chef to do your lunch.”

“I wouldn’t hire you even if I really have to hire someone.” I said and he got stunned hearing that and turned to stare at me.

“I thought you enjoyed my cooking.” He mumbled and I sighed rubbing my forehead.

“What about your restaurant? Shouldn’t you be there?” I asked frowning and he smiled hearing that.

After a few minutes passed, I realized I shouldn’t have asked that question at all as he continued to explain the changes he is making at the restaurant and even continued to prepare lunch at the same time.

I had to keep quiet as the servant returned and started cleaning the kitchen after him and I had to sit down on the chair near the dining area feeling tired of all this standing.

“That’s what happened. So, I need not be there all the time and can spend some time with you.” He finally stopped talking and I stared at him hearing those words while the servant cleared her throat.

“You can take leave for the day.” I said looking at her and she nodded smiling at both of us before leaving.

“Do you realize what she must be thinking?” he asked walking towards the dining area with the dishes.

“What?” I asked trying to ignore the smell and also to not look at them.

“That you sent her away to spend time with me in privacy with no one around to disturb us.” I frowned hearing those words.

“Okay! I am leaving!” saying that he placed the plate and filled the glass with water.

I stared at that without looking at him and got startled when he suddenly leaned over to hug me.

“It will be fine, Anitha. Whenever you have the appointment with the psychiatrist, I will be with you.” I slowly closed my eyes hearing that and he let go of me before leaving my home as I asked him to.

After he left I suddenly realized that I completely forgot everything about today’s events regarding my meeting with the psychiatrist and that weird feeling I had after stepping out of the doctor’s cabin.

I shifted my hands to hug myself while staring at the food he prepared. Why? Why now? Didn’t I decide to forget everything and let these six months pass?

Is he going overboard? No! He used to do the same even before all this but I didn’t expect him to be like this even after the indifference I am showing.

Kanika! You shouldn’t have told him. I messaged the same to her but her reply became another reason for me to get shocked as if I didn’t have enough of them already.

‘Either I should be there or him. If you choose me I will always be there by taking a break from the classes. And I know your appointment schedule as I am in contact with the doctor along with Vikranth. So, don’t go on your own early otherwise I will involve more to know the moment you enter the hospital.’

Ugh! I took a deep breath before eating what he just prepared. I am really hungry right now and not eating this will just make it a waste.

****

I groaned hearing my phone ringing again when I just cut the call a few seconds back. What is he doing?

It’s already night and he is calling me continuously. I sighed sitting up on the bed before picking the call.

“I am trying to sleep.” I said before he could say anything.

“Are you okay?” he asked in a concerned tone.

“What will happen to me?” I asked back.

“I just wanted to know whether you are able to sleep properly or not.” He replied and I rubbed my forehead hearing that.

“How can I when you are calling me continuously?” I pointed out.

“Okay! You go back to sleep but don’t cut the call.” He replied and I frowned hearing that.

“Why would I do that?” I asked and he yawned in reply.

“That… I will be there for you if you couldn’t sleep because of nightmares.” He replied after a few seconds hesitatingly.

I gripped the phone hearing those words before saying, “You need not feel guilty about that. It must be something I was ignoring all this time and if not for this incident then it would have happened because of another one. So, stop involving yourself, and let’s live our lives.”

“I am feeling guilty but I am not doing this just because of that. I don’t want the person I love to suffer alone and wish to be there for her during those times.” He explained ignoring my words.

“Prathap!” I started but couldn’t continue to say that his words are making me think again that it is fine to be with him and that to dream of a future with him but I know all that will be just momentary and I will be disappointed again.

“Sleep! Don’t cut the call otherwise, I will come to your home.” He literally threatened me with those words making me ignore all other things.

“Fine! It doesn’t matter to me.” Saying that I placed the phone on the bedside table before closing my eyes.

After a few minutes, I tightened my hold on the blanket covering me and opened my eyes frowning while feeling the discomfort, as usual, to drift off into sleep.

I don’t want to be alone! I whispered in my head before glancing at the phone and shifted my hand to press the speaker option seeing that he is still connected to the call.

“Why is Deepak being such a workaholic? I just went in the evening to check if he needs my help but he completely ignored me. Let’s not talk about Bharghav as he is full-on chef mode. When I tried to involve with his dish a bit regarding the presentation, he calmly replied that his sous chef is fine with it and don’t change at all. They all changed within a few days.” He continued to complain while I closed my eyes listening to that.

I drifted off into sleep mumbling, “Good night!”

****

“I am sure they will choose you, Anny.” Mehtab assured me after we stepped out of the production house completing the audition for the script I chose.

“Let’s hope so! The role is different from what I am used to and it is a romantic movie too.” I mumbled but I really liked the script and wanted to try it out.

“There is no need to come tomorrow. I just need to do some grocery shopping and that’s it.” I said looking at Manoj who nodded without saying anything.

“Don’t be like this, Manoj. You were with your wife and baby and that’s not something to be guilty about. I already managed to complain against those articles and even sued my previous agency for spreading the rumors, right? Everything is fine and just don’t think about it anymore.” I added frowning.

“She is right! We should try to work hard and not do the same mistake.” Mehtab said from the passenger seat.

“I am not even saying that you both did any mistake. It was just a wrong day and the wrong timing. I was the one to make you both leave.” I pointed out while feeling tired with these guilty looks already.

If they find out about my issue regarding sleeping because of that? Oh god! I can’t imagine how worse they will feel than already and all this guilt is just because of those articles right now.

“I will keep my phone with me and call me whenever you want to.” Manoj promised stopping the car near my home.

“Fine!” I mumbled not having any other option than saying that realizing they will not understand no matter what I say.

I sighed walking towards the door and rang the doorbell but the person who opened it is Prathap making me frown.

“Hey! I just saw yesterday when cooking the food that there were no groceries at all. I asked your servant and she said you didn’t tell her to buy anything. So, I bought a few things, and if something is missing then let me know.” He smiled walking back towards the couch and gestured the bags.

I opened my mouth and closed it seeing the servant taking one bag after another into the kitchen and a few things to the storeroom.

“How was your audition?” he asked looking at me.

Why does he know about that? I frowned thinking but started walking towards the stairs ignoring his presence.

“I will be cooking dinner right now itself. Do you want anything special?” I turned around hearing that.

“Why are you cooking for me every day?” I asked frowning.

“That’s the only specialty of mine and want you to have some good food.” Saying that he walked towards the kitchen and I turned around to continue to climb the stairs but realized he will be comfortable there alone when this is my home.

I climbed down and walked towards the kitchen before sitting on the chair while he turned to look at me feeling my presence.

“I am not saying anything because of her. I don’t want any more speculations about my relationship until our contract expires. However, I don’t want you to be here, and let me make it clear.” I said after seeing her entering the storeroom and closing the door behind her.

“You didn’t have lunch because of the audition, right?” he asked turning around towards the groceries and started taking out the ingredients.

I folded my hands and kept quiet when the servant returned to help him out. I calmly stared at him moving around the kitchen and he seems familiar with it after just a day.

I fisted my hands realizing I am not even trying to look away from his cooking form and just staring at him in silence.

Why is it still my weakness to see him cooking? I closed my eyes but opened them after a few seconds hearing them laughing.

It feels like we never broke up and just spending time casually. He was not this chatty before but now the words are not ending from his mouth.

He is talking about everything without pausing or thinking much about it and he already voiced out that he loves me two times.

Why now? Why after that incident? I thought frowning while thinking about what I am upset about regarding that day with him.

I am not angry at Shrishti or Manoj or Mehtab or even my previous agency but I am just angry at him. Angry? More than that it’s disappointment and sadness.

He laughed turning around to look at me saying, “Do you know the interview Vikranth conducted to hire them for you? The questions are just making me laugh but that’s just who he is. He doesn’t want any kind of mistake to happen.”

And at that moment without control, my lips turned up forming a smile and he stopped laughing seeing that and hissed in pain.

“Sir!” the servant shouted and I turned towards her before looking at him and realized he just cut his finger.

“What are you doing?” I asked standing up and rushed towards him.

“Get the first aid box.” I ordered her seeing the blood not stopping at all.

I pushed his hand under the tap but the blood is not stopping at all while I panicked. He placed his hand around me saying, “It’s okay!”

After that, he moved towards the spices still holding me and making me walk backward and took out the turmeric powder, and poured some on his hand after walking back towards the washbasin.

“See? It will stop soon.” He assured me while caressing my back but I didn’t look away from his finger at all.

“It’s a small wound and I had such so many times in the past.” He continued and I don’t know for how long I stood there but when the blood stopped flowing, I stepped out of his arms.

I started looking around for the servant and found the first aid box on the dining table but she is nowhere to be found.

“She told you that she is leaving early and I said fine when you didn’t reply.” He explained my unasked question.

“Come here!” I mumbled calling him and bandaged it leaving the power intact.

“When you suddenly smiled at me after such a long time showing your emotions, I just lost it I guess. I have always been a sucker for the emotions you show.” He whispered caressing my cheek with his other hand.

“I was thinking about something else.” I mumbled shifting away.

“What about dinner now? I will try something.” Saying that he stood up but I stopped him holding his hand.

“Go back! I will do something with them.” I said staring at him but he shook his head.

“No! I will do it. Don’t worry! I am used to it.” He assured me while walking back into the kitchen and I frowned staring at him.

“She is not even here and I can shout at you right now to leave.” I warned him but he calmly turned around.

“I know you are bearing me just because of the third person’s presence and I am taking advantage of that fact too. I don’t want to lose any opportunity to be with you. I did something I shouldn’t have and if it was possible I will definitely turn the time around and take another decision. But I can’t and for that, I can only be there for you now even though you don’t want to be in my presence.” Saying that he started cooking while I just sat there thinking about his words.

“Don’t forget to have dinner.” He said after a long silence and walked away to leave my home.

I didn’t move even after he left and just felt lost for a second before turning around to stare at the dinner he arranged again on the table.

That night I didn’t cut his call but didn’t say anything back either and just placed it on the table while selecting the speaker option while he started talking about his childhood and I drifted off into sleep in the middle of that.

*Third Person Pov*

“Why is your agency getting sued? Do you want to ruin my reputation? That’s why I told you to manage it on your own and not involve others.” The man continued to shout at his son.

“Don’t forget that we are in the hospital.” He got warned back by his son.

“I am saying this for your sake. Getting sued? Don’t you know the impact of it on our family?” his Dad asked frowning.

“But he is my friend and I just wanted to take a break for a year. I need to be here and you know it.” He pointed out.

“I know! But this is your dream which is getting ruined. I am thinking of something which will help both of us and you need to just follow it.” Saying that his Dad walked away while he sighed.

He walked into the hospital room and found the person on the bed opening her eyes to stare at him and he smiled walking towards her.

“Grandma! How are you feeling?” he asked holding her hand.

“Where is she?” she asked in a weak tone.

“How are you feeling?” he asked ignoring her question.

“Let me see her once.” She mumbled closing her eyes while tears formed in his eyes.

They all know she is not going to make it but he wishes for the person who took take of him all these years to be alive no matter what.