Chapter 10: Chapter 10

*Nitish Pov*

“Why are you so happy?” I asked looking at her smiling face after we finished ordering our food.

It’s already past lunchtime as we went for a movie and from then on she didn’t stop smiling at all.

“I finally enjoyed a movie with no one actually sighing or groaning because of their disinterest in watching it.” She replied taking a sip from the water bottle.

“Who? Your Crush friend?” I asked raising my eyebrow and she rolled her eyes.

“Please, just call them my friends. And they both do it as I normally force them to come to a theatre but they will start loving the movies soon.” She nodded to herself.

“One of my friends is entering into the business of operating the movie halls. So, he must start investing time more than before.” She added while I gave her a nod.

“I have a few contacts who can help him if he wants to. In the beginning, there will be troubles that will slow down the process. It’s better if he gets some support both financially and also regarding management.” I offered and she slowly nodded smiling.

“He can do it perfectly but still will take your help if there seems to be a need. Thank you for the offering.” She mumbled.

“It’s for your Crush friend, right? The way you just praised that he can do it perfectly shows it.” I teased her and she groaned hearing those words.

“Stop labeling them like that.” She pleaded while I chuckled.

It’s really nice to tease her like this and the way her expression changes within a second for everything is really entertaining.

“Why don’t you tell me their names? And let’s stop being this ambiguous about other things. In the beginning, we thought we will never meet again and that’s how we didn’t share anything. But now we are close friends, right?” I asked and she nodded but shook her head.

“No! If I actually ask you to help him with the contacts in the future and end up meeting him then you will just laugh at him while thinking about my experience. So, I will not tell you their names.” She shook her head.

“And I will hope that they don’t meet you at least for now as I already created enough troubles for their love lives.” She added while I sighed.

“Don’t be hard on yourself. You just fell in love and are still confused about things. It’s normal to have such problems and just let it be.” I mumbled and she smiled nodding.

After we finished our lunch, she searched for the locations I mentioned in the messages to which I didn’t go but heard people mentioning them.

“Shall we take a bus or a cab?” she asked after deciding on the museum.

“Bus?” I asked and she nodded before we got into the bus after waiting for some time and sat beside each other.

“So, what about your first love? Still missing her?” she suddenly asked glancing at me.

“I don’t know! I didn’t see her for more than two years and we don’t even contact each other right now as she is busy with her career. So, I don’t know whether I am missing her or not because I know I will not be meeting her anytime soon.” I explained and she patted on my hand before glancing outside to stare at the passing vehicles.

“When is your birthday?” she asked turning around to stare at me.

“Three months later on the last day of the month.” I replied before asking her the same.

She gave an uncomfortable look before explaining what happened on her birthday and mumbled, “I will never again celebrate my birthday without thinking about my actions. It is still embarrassing.”

“Let’s celebrate your birthday during this week. What about this weekend?” I asked trying to stop myself from laughing at her expression.

“Okay! I need a big celebration even though it will be between us.” She replied smiling and we started talking about silly things about our favorite things and didn’t even realize we reached the place.

****

“Where will you sleep? I heard your Grandma’s friend is going to stay over.” She asked when we reached the hospital after having dinner from a restaurant near to the place.

“I actually have a room in that hotel where I keep my things and go there for taking bath.” I replied pointing at the hotel at the corner of this long road near the beach entrance.

“Oh! Then I will go back and meet you at the hospital.” She said smiling.

“Let me send you back after seeing Grandma once.” I offered but she shook her head.

“It is far from this place and it will take a lot of time for you to come with me and then return.” She explained.

“It’s fine! I don’t have anything else to do anyway.” I shrugged and she finally took my offer.

We both walked into the room to find Grandma laughing with her friend and she smiled looking at us.

“You guys returned? You go and have dinner while they can keep me company.” She ushered her friend before making Shrishti sit beside her.

“Where did you go?” she asked and Shrishti talked to her about the movie and then the museum while she listened with a smile on her face and I smiled looking at them.

“Dinner?” Grandma asked looking at me.

“We already had. I will drop her at her hotel and then return to mine. Please call me the moment you feel uncomfortable or there is any need.” I pleaded with her and she nodded smiling.

“You both go and take rest. It’s fine if you don’t come tomorrow also. My friend requested her daughter-in-law to take care of the house to stay with me. So, let me enjoy the time with her and I will call you if I need anything.” She smiled.

“How can we do that? I need to report to you what happened, right? We will come tomorrow also.” Shrishti stated before I can open my mouth and I chuckled at Grandma’s expression.

We both left after her friend returned and took a cab but I ended up frowning hearing the hotel name. GH? She is staying in GH?

When I asked the same she smiled and said, “Yes! Every time I come for business, I stay here only.”

“Do you want to shift to my hotel?” I suddenly asked which sounded stupid even for my mind.

“Huh?” she made a sound with a confused look.

“I mean, it will be difficult for you to go and come to the hospital and if we ever return late, it will be not safe.” I explained and she slowly nodded still showing a confused look.

I am kind of against the GH right now and my friend staying at their hotel is not something I want to think about.

“It’s fine! I am used to this hotel.” She mumbled and I nodded not knowing what else to say.

And if say the real reason then she will stare at me like I am stupid. When we reached the hotel, I stared at the grand nature of it and frowned thinking they already have so much but still ended up entering the entertainment agency and to top of that they are attacking my company.

“Do you want to come up?” she asked when I stood there staring at it with a blank look.

“No! I will go back then.” I replied and she nodded before I got into the same cab and returned to my hotel which is a simple one and kind of cheap too.

I didn’t take a room at this place for its cost but because it is closer to the hospital. I want to be near if there is an emergency when I come for a bath or to take a rest here instead of at the hospital.

I sighed taking a bath and laid down on the bed but couldn’t sleep still thinking about GH. I wish I was there at my company to handle this issue but I can’t do anything.

Should I call him and find out if there is any other problem after handling the legal matters? No! I am already thinking so much even about the matters that are already finished but if I get involved now then… I shook my head.

If not for Shrishti then for the whole day my mind would have gone into fry mode for thinking about these issues. I smiled thinking about that before drifting off into sleep.

*Shrishti Pov*

“Slow down!” I mumbled pulling the glass away from his hold.

“Today is your birthday.” He pointed out before taking the glass back into his hands.

“Yes! You told me that my birthday will be celebrated grandly but here you are getting drunk.” I frowned but he just continued to drink.

The whole week, we actually spent the time together and went to so many places and finally done with the list he mentioned in the messages.

Today he decided to celebrate my birthday and as we met at a bar for the first time, he brought me to the one he generally goes to.

He told me before that he generally drinks two glasses and stops at that but today it’s like he is unleashed.

“My actual birthday I spent by regretting my words and this belated one I will be spending by taking care of you. I am going to have a trauma with birthdays soon. Maybe I will stop taking any contracts related to birthday decoration.” He laughed hearing my words before pinching my cheek.

“You are cute, my friend.” He whispered before letting out a burp.

“Yup! Definitely need to take care of this drunken friend.” I sighed leaning back and stopped the waiter from bringing another bottle.

I need him to at least walk instead of having someone lift him up. I stared at his drunken look before shaking my head.

I kind of understand with his wish to just let it go as he has been under a stress all these months from taking care of his Grandmother to the fear of losing her and then the problem with the work which he can’t even handle.

I nearly offered him that I will stay with Grandma and he can go and take care of his work but I got scared thinking if something goes wrong during that time then he will not be able to bear the guilt.

I can’t believe her condition worsened as she didn’t stop smiling at all whenever I saw her but I can see her struggle through it. He is requesting the doctor desperately to say that she is fine now and will get better but all they are saying is there is no chance and this is already extra time than they expected.

“Shrishti!” he whispered leaning back with his closed eyes.

“Hmm…” I made a sound staring at him and saw a tear rolling down his cheek.

I shifted closer to him before holding his hand and he leaned closer to put his head on my shoulder before letting out a few more tears.

“I am sorry! I know today is your birthday but…” he trailed off.

“Today is not my birthday. Let’s celebrate it properly next year.” I whispered putting my hand over his shoulder to hold him and patted him slowly.

“Shall we leave this place? I will take you back to your hotel as it is getting late.” I added checking the time.

“I don’t want to go back to the hospital.” He mumbled shaking his head.

“Not to the hospital but to the hotel.” I explained but he shook his head.

“I don’t want to go to that area right now. Let’s stay here longer or you go back while I will stay here alone.” He said before reaching out for the glass but I held his hand stopping him.

“Let’s stay here then.” I mumbled continuing to hold his hand and pulled it back which is a struggle for sure as he kept on reaching for the glass.

“I will stay here for the whole night.” He whispered sighing and I frowned hearing those words.

Whole night? I can’t stay here that long as it will be a danger too for us to be here the whole night.

I shook my head and stared at his face which is covered with tear strains and finally took a decision and I hope he doesn’t mind.

“Come with me to my hotel and stay there.” I offered and he frowned hearing that.

“GH? No! I will never spend on a room at GH.” He stated with anger covering his face while I groaned.

He is getting worse for sure and if he makes the same mess at the receptionist desk then it may even reach my family.

I need to be discreet for sure and with that thought, I stood up before pulling him up, and thank god I stopped him from drinking more as he can walk a bit without stumbling and I need not bear his whole weight.

After catching a cab, we reached GH and he didn’t realize it completely and I didn’t mention it so that he will not say the same words and finally reached my room without making an issue that gets others’ attention.

“I need a drink.” He mumbled sitting on the couch while I stretched feeling my shoulders pain a bit as I made him lean over to walk fastly to reach my room.

“You need to drink water.” I mumbled pouring a glass for him and took it closer to the couch before helping him to drink the whole glass.

When he leaned back to sleep, I pulled him up again remembering he needs to lie on his side otherwise he may choke on his own vomit if he feels like vomiting in the middle.

Vikranth always mentions that whenever Prathap gets drunk and vice-versa. I never got that drunk anytime as they always stop me but I have seen their drunken acts and they both are silent when drunk, unlike Nitish.

“Shrishti!” he whispered pulling me to sit down on the couch beside him and I sat calmly but pushed him away when he pressed his lips to mine out of nowhere.

I glared at his sleeping form while wishing I should have taken him back to his hotel instead of bringing him here.

I rubbed my lips before arranging him to sleep on his side and left him there to reach my room to freshen up.

However, I had to get up from my bed hearing a loud noise from the room where he is sleeping and found him fallen down from the couch.

“My head!” he groaned rubbing at his forehead.

“Sober?” I asked staring at him.

“Kind of!” he mumbled and I asked him to freshen up and also brush his teeth to remove the stinkiness.

“Couch is uncomfortable to sleep. Wait! Is this your hotel room?” he asked looking around.

“Yes!” I replied before explaining what happened and he groaned holding his head and apologized.

“You can sleep here while I take the couch.” I added standing up and he shook his head.

“Let’s sleep on this bed. It is huge enough for five people to sleep.” He commented and it is as it is a double bed.

I stared at him for a second before nodding and we laid down at the corner of the bed before he calmly asked, “It was difficult for you to handle me right?”

“Everything was fine as I have done it a few times in the past with my friends but the only problem was you kissed me earlier unlike them.” I replied with my eyes closed still upset about that part.

“It’s okay! I understand you were drunk and didn’t realize it was me or something. But I hope we will not be awkward after we wake up. I don’t want to lose a friend and you are the only one I can spend proper time with right now.” I added when he stayed silent.

“I am sorry!” he whispered and I smiled opening my eyes before turning around to stare at him in darkness.

“I know you like someone else and wouldn’t have done it if not for your drunken state. I am being practical about this without scolding you as I know we will never be more than friends. I have my own thinking regarding my future partner and I am fine with being practical about this. Let’s forget about it as I already did. I told you because it is not something that needs to be hidden.” I explained calmly and he stayed silent.

When I closed my eyes to drift off into sleep, he calmly whispered, “I don’t know!” which I ignored thinking I heard it wrong before drifting off into sleep.