Chapter 42: Chapter 42

*Prathap Pov*

Seriously! How many times it’s already been? I am finally holding her and she is finally not pushing me away.

But they just had to ruin this moment whoever they are. I reluctantly let her go when she tapped my shoulders and reluctantly let her walk towards the door to open it.

I am going to fire that person for sure! With that thought, I stood up without getting hit again but found Manoj standing there with a worried expression.

“I got a call from Keerthi. She got contractions and is getting transferred to the hospital.” He rushed the words.

“What? You should have just gone already. Why are you still here?” Anitha asked walking away with him while I followed them.

“I didn’t want to repeat the mistake.” He mumbled while I glanced down.

“I will take you to the hospital. I don’t think you should be driving now.” She said forwarding the hand for the keys.

“No! How can I let you do that?” he asked shaking his head.

“I will drive you guys.” I said stepping forward and he frowned at me but passed the keys after giving a glance at Anitha.

“Let’s go!” I passed them to rush to the car parked on the other side of the road and drove it to reach their side.

He sat beside me while she sat in the back saying, “Don’t worry! She talked to you on the phone and must be fine.”

“I know! But I am just scared.” He mumbled while I tried to drive faster but also careful to not get into any kind of accident.

He just sat there while rubbing his hands continuously over his lap and taking deep breaths. I never expected him to react like this at all as I always saw him with a blank face except to glare at me.

“Don’t worry!” I mumbled but he couldn’t stop doing that at all.

And the moment I stopped the car near the entrance, he rushed out without waiting for a second and I turned to glance at Anitha’s shocked expression.

“Thank you! How you will go back?” she asked after controlling her expression.

“I will be here! I don’t have anything to do and will be of some help.” I replied driving the car to park it and she stayed silent.

After she covered her face, we both got out and walked into the hospital in silence. I stepped forward to ask about the patient’s room while she stood beside me tapping her right foot and biting her lip.

“Thank you!” I nodded smiling at the receptionist before holding Anitha’s hand and followed the instruction to reach her manager’s room.

“You need to calm down!” I whispered before she could enter the room.

“I am not freaking out.” She nodded but her hand is shaking in my hold.

“I know!” I whispered holding it tightly before we both stepped in to find her standing up near the bed while holding Manoj’s hand.

“Anny? Why are you here?” she asked with a pained expression the moment we came into her view.

“Are you okay?” Anitha asked rushing towards her and I let her hand go.

“Yeah! No! I don’t know!” I looked around feeling awkward and calmly stepped out of the room.

I don’t know how long we need to wait so I messaged Deepak about the situation and he replied saying he will handle everything and will contact me if he needs my presence.

I leaned back thinking what should I do now. Should I get them some things? Baby things? But baby is not even born right now.

I will just ask Shrishti! With that thought, I searched for her contact but paused realizing we were not in contact with each other for months now.

All I heard is that she is busy with her work as the events increased and her business also increased from Mohan Uncle.

Why are we not calling each other? I frowned at that thought and immediately messaged her asking, ‘What should I buy for a pregnant woman?’

After sending that I realized I should have asked what should I buy for a pregnant woman who is going to give birth soon.

Before I could send a message again, she called me the next second and asked, “Anny is pregnant?”

“What? No!” I replied frowning and calmly explained the situation.

“Oh! I got shocked and excited unnecessarily then.” She mumbled sighing.

“So, what should I buy?” I asked smiling at her words.

“How could I know?” she asked back in irritation.

“I can’t ask Vikranth, right?” I pointed out.

“You could have asked Kanika. She is your new best friend, isn’t she?” I frowned hearing those words.

“I heard from Vikranth about it.” She added before I could reply.

“And that was when I was giving him a brief about the financial report and my next plan for the business.” She continued and I smiled the way she rushed the words.

“Calm down! I was not going to say anything.” I assured her.

“I missed talking to you.” She mumbled after a few seconds.

“Me too!” I mumbled looking down.

“Is the hospital related to GH?” she asked after the silence from both our sides.

“Yes!” I replied and she advised me on what to do before cutting the call.

I called the chairman who is a close friend to Vikranth’s Dad and Vikranth is also a board member along with Ashok uncle.

I glanced up hearing footsteps and found her stepping out of the room and walking towards me. She calmly sat beside me with a frown covering her face.

“How is she?” I asked staring at her.

“She needs to wait for some time for the interval between the contractions to decrease.” She replied and I nodded even though not understanding what is she talking about.

“Mr. Prathap?” we both glanced up to see three doctors standing before us.

“I am the head of the gynecology department.” She introduced herself and I stood up to shake her hand.

“I already checked the reports on my way. There is no need to worry about the patient and it will be natural labor.” She added smiling.

“Can you please assure the parents inside? They are worried and also due to the complications.” I explained remembering Anitha’s words when she first talked to me about this pregnancy news.

“Sure!” saying that they all walked into the room while I sat down and turned to stare at Anitha who is already staring at me.

“I know I just stepped out of my line. But I saw them worrying too much and wanted to do something. I took advice from Shrishti but she told me to get them a VIP room and I thought of following it but then felt you wouldn’t have liked it. And you could have done it already if you want to. So, I felt this would be nice.” I explained and she slowly nodded listening to my explanation.

“Thank you!” she whispered smiling.

“Really? I guess I should just do the opposite of Shrishti’s advice all the time.” I mumbled and she shook her head before turning away to lean back.

“I thought of not taking her name in your presence because of what happened. But I realized, that wouldn’t be what you wish for. How can I prove my love to you when I try to walk on eggshells around you?” I continued and she sighed holding her hands together.

“I will not be happy if your friendship gets ruined with Shrishti. And like I already said your friendship or she was not at fault that day.” She mumbled and I leaned back nodding.

I know! It was my nature to just rushing off behind one thing by ignoring everything else was the problem.

We had to sit for two hours before her manager went into labor and I actually got scared looking at Manoj’s actions.

“Is he fine?” I asked Anitha when he stood outside the room while looking down but I didn’t hear any reply.

When I glanced at her, I found her holding her hands together tightly with a worried look. I reached over to hold her hands in mine while caressing them saying, “It’s fine!”

“Talk to me! It’s too silent right now.” I mumbled and she took a deep breath hearing that.

“Are you free next thursday?” she asked turning to stare at me.

“No! I have an important event to attend.” I replied and she frowned nodding.

“Why?” I asked but she shook her head.

“It’s your movie premiere otherwise I would have canceled. But tell me why you asked about that? I can try to do it without missing your premiere.” I mumbled and she just stared at me in silence.

“What?” I asked and she took her hands away from my hold before looking away.

“Are you mad at me?” I added while she cleared her throat before standing up and walked towards Manoj.

Did I just screw up again? I thought looking down and stayed silent but stood up hearing a nurse’s voice calling Manoj’s name and he rushed inside while I glanced at Anitha who is smiling.

“It’s a boy!” she whispered glancing at me.

“Are you not going inside?” I asked walking closer to her.

“They need to have their moments as a family before I disturb them.” She pointed out and I nodded but she suddenly looked away from me.

“Are you crying?” I mumbled hearing a sniff from her and also her hand moved to her face.

“No!” she replied but I reached to place my hand over her shoulder and pulled her into my arms.

“It’s okay!” I whispered and she buried her face to my chest while letting out tears.

I smiled at her emotional reaction before pressing my lips on her head and continued to stand there together until Manoj walked out of the room to call for her.

“Go!” I whispered releasing her but she suddenly took hold of my hand and pulled me inside the room which surprised me.

I stood there awkwardly while she reached closer to the baby her manager is holding and took him into her hands.

“How are you?” she asked looking at her manager.

“Relieved? Happy? I don’t know!” I smiled at that reply while Manoj reached near me before pushing me closer.

“Thanks about earlier. We both were relieved after talking to that doctor.” He mumbled and I nodded without saying anything.

“Want to hold him?” Anitha suddenly asked turning around and I immediately stepped back after getting a view of her holding a baby like that.

“Don’t be scared!” she mumbled frowning and smiled looking at the baby who is shifting in her arms.

I am not scared! I wanted to say that but the words got stuck still looking at her like this. Manoj cleared his throat and instructed me on how to hold the baby after which Anitha passed him.

“Oh!” I mumbled when my hands froze after holding him and smiled looking at his form before glancing up to find Anitha smiling at me.

I smiled back before turning my attention back to the baby while hoping that I am not bringing any discomfort to him by holding him like this.

“Don’t worry!” I heard a whisper and found her standing beside me instead of Manoj and I smiled at her before we both turned to glance at the baby in my arms and we suddenly heard a flash.

*Anitha Pov*

“How many times do I have to tell you? I will get another driver allotted for me for the next few weeks. You need to be with her.” I frowned when Manoj continued to reject my offer.

“I will handle everything. I will be there for her but I will not ignore my work too.” He frowned.

“You should take advantage of the fact that I am your boss. Don’t be like this, Manoj. Otherwise, I will just cancel all my appointments just to keep you beside her.” I warned him.

“But…” Prathap stepped in saying, “You don’t want her to feel guilty, right? Vikranth will allot someone proper driver and bodyguard for her.”

“This is my order and I don’t want to hear anything against it.” Saying that I smiled at Keerthi who is staring at both of us in silence.

I waved at her and walked away ignoring Manoj and sighed stepping out of the room with Prathap. I glanced at him and he glanced back without saying anything.

“I will drive you to your home.” He offered breaking the silence.

“It’s okay! Let’s go back to your restaurant and from there I will drive to my place.” I mumbled but he shook his head walking away and I frowned staring at his back.

“Come on! I am really tired after all this waiting.” He mumbled and I sighed following him after hearing that.

He is here because of me and I can just let him do this without rejecting his offer. He drove us to my place again in silence and I stared at the passing scenery still thinking about the baby I just held in my arms.

It was my first time but when I met Keerthi during these few months, they passed the instructions they learned in the classes they went to together.

But I was still worried even after hearing those instructions a few times and it surprised me that he was able to do it so soon after just a few basic instructions.

“Manoj was really tense all that time. I got tense by looking at him.” He commented smiling when we stopped at the traffic light.

“None of us can understand the feelings of parents during these situations. Even I was worried about my friend but his feelings must be at a higher note.” I mumbled and it felt surprising to have a normal conversation with him.

“You are right! I don’t know how will I act when it’s your turn though.” My eyes widened hearing those words and I turned to stare at him and his eyes widened too.

“I…” he started but the light turned green and he had to start driving again while I turned away to ignore such words.

“About Thursday, I was asking regarding the premiere only. We need to go together and I wanted to know whether you are free or not before asking you that.” I changed the topic not wishing to be this awkward right now.

“Of course! I am waiting for that all this time.” He mumbled and I nodded without glancing at him.

“We will reach the agency separately and then go to the premiere together with the driver Vikranth will assign for me. I don’t want to take any chances.” I said when he stopped the car after entering the compound of my house.

However, he didn’t say anything and I turned to find him holding the steering wheel tightly with his hands and he is looking down with his eyes closed.

“You are right! You need to take such measures.” He whispered lifting his head before removing the seat belt.

I pressed my lips together realizing what I just said without thinking much about it. This is what I am saying all this time. If we are together and the moments like this will appear out of nowhere and we end up hurting each other and I will hurt him more for sure.

“Take the car with you. It will be difficult to find a cab at this time.” I mumbled but he glanced at me with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.

“It’s okay! Have a good sleep! I will call you later.” He got out of the car and I followed him to say something that could make him less hurt.

However, I don’t have anything to say right now. Why are we actually at this point? I closed my eyes before turning around to walk to the main door before turning back to stare at him already stepping out of the main gate. I didn’t mean to hurt him!

****

I sat on the bed after freshening up and getting ready to sleep but checked my phone hearing a notification sound and opened the Insta only to smile.

Keerthi already asked me whether she can post the picture Manoj took of us along with other pictures and I said it’s fine.

However, I didn’t expect the picture would be this sweet. I bit my lip shifting my fingers to touch the screen and immediately messaged Keerthi to send me the picture.

After contemplating for a few minutes, I posted the one picture where I am holding the baby with him standing behind me and the one where he is holding while I am standing beside him and typed a congratulatory message to Keerthi and Manoj.

I sighed laying on the bed and froze when the post got his heart within a few minutes and that’s when I realized what I just did. I have gone crazy for sure! I thought covering my mouth but not regretting this action.