Chapter 14: Chapter 14

*Shrishti Pov*

“I will take my leave then. I note down everything that I could which will help with the last day of the event.” I said passing the file in my hands while he frowned looking at me.

“We will be congratulating everyone who made this whole event possible. Why are you going at this point after doing the work?” he asked but I shook my head.

Do I want the recognition? Of course! But will I be happy to stay for an extra day and something happens in the meantime? No!

I already have enough regrets and I don’t want to add anything to it. And hearing his voice yesterday night… I am scared right now and can’t feel relief unless I go and meet Grandma.

Adding to that, he is my friend and he called me in need. If I don’t go, how can I be a good friend? I sighed turning around to leave but called Jenny asking her to manage the company for a few more days.

“How long?” she asked in a casual tone.

How long? What can I say to those words? I am not going for a good event or anything that will have a happy ending.

I can understand that it is serious this time and how can I keep any time limit. I don’t even want to voice out how long it will take until I can return.

“I don’t know! But don’t worry as I will be working on our new branch from here. I will finalize everything and let you know.” I assured her but she didn’t say anything to those words.

“It’s okay! There is no rush and I hope everything is fine.” Her words confused me but I guess she felt the difference in my tone.

“Me too!” I whispered cutting the call and sat in the cab as I am on my way to the airport.

It already took me until evening to settle everything with other members and finally leave the place as I can’t just leave on spot. I hope I am not too late though as it will be the night when I reach the hospital.

I stared at the group chat with my friends and typed the words that I will return later than I mentioned but deleted the words.

Why am I messaging them? It’s not like they ever message like me if they go out for any kind of business trip and return later than they say before leaving.

I am the only one who is nosy about their moments and as I decided to not be like that anymore, it is better if I don’t message these details. If they ask, then I will tell them.

But will they? I thought staring outside remembering that they even forgot my birthday. I shook my head to clear my thoughts and concentrated on the journey but messaged Nitish that I will be there within a few hours.

“Dad! I am going to another place for small work. I will be late and don’t wait for me.” I informed Dad while waiting for the announcement to board the plane.

“Your work-related?” he asked casually and I closed my eyes hearing that question.

Maybe I should have just messaged him instead of calling him but I called him two days back saying we will have dinner this weekend at his favorite hotel on the spur of moment while missing him.

“No! I am going to meet a friend and have work too at that place.” I replied and he paused hearing those words.

“Friend? What friend do you have there that I don’t know about?” he asked and I groaned before sighing.

“Dad! I am past the age of sharing everything with you. I have friends you don’t know about. Okay! I need to board the plane. I will keep in touch.” Saying that I cut the call and I didn’t lie as they really announced to board the plane.

I will explain everything to him after I return home. Why am I even hiding about a friend near my Dad? I just didn’t get the time or the thought to do it and recently he was busy and I was busy with my things and somehow it slipped.

****

After reaching the city, I directly went to the hospital as I already wasted time from yesterday to settle everything.

I took a deep breath pausing near the hospital room she is staying in before pushing the door only to see her sleeping form but I found him sitting on the couch and is staring at me right now.

The corner of his lips raised a bit but he looks completely haggard and that smile he is trying to show doesn’t fool anyone.

Not making a sound that could disturb Grandma, I reached his side with my luggage and sat down beside him.

“I am sorry that it took me a day to come here.” I whispered placing my hand on his shoulder.

“At least you are here, Shrishti.” He mumbled closing his eyes and turned his body before pulling me into his arms.

“I am calling Mom and Dad from today morning when her condition got worse than yesterday and pleaded with them to come here but I don’t know whether they will come as they said they need to handle their schedule.” He whispered holding me tightly.

I closed my eyes hearing those words, I always have a question regarding his parents as I never saw them but I was not here every day and they must have visited when I was not here is the only answer I thought to my question.

“They will be here and… and I am here right now.” I whispered back while patting his back.

With the way his body is shaking a bit, I know he is crying but I don’t want to cry along with him. I need to be there for him and not us both getting lost in this crying.

“Had dinner?” I asked when he finally let go of me.

“No!” he replied glancing up to stare at Grandma’s sleeping form.

“Let’s go and have dinner. I need to get a room in the hotel too.” I mumbled standing up and held his hand.

After a few seconds, he nodded before standing up and we both walked out of the room with my luggage and requested the on-duty nurse to stay with Grandma for some time.

As he doesn’t want to go far from the hospital, we went to the hotel he is staying and finished dinner in the restaurant that belongs to the hotel.

“Why don’t you go back to the hospital? I will return after booking a room at GH hotel.” I mumbled paying the bill while ignoring his protests.

“I will go back. Why don’t you take a room in this hotel?” he asked staring at me.

“Here?” I asked looking around and he nodded.

“It’s late and I don’t feel good to send you alone at this time and also to come back. I am selfish to say to not come back but I don’t know when will Grandma wakes up and she really wants to meet you.” He explained and I stared at him hearing those words.

It is logical to stay here too as I can just come here to freshen up not taking too much time but more than an hour will go in traveling if I stay at GH.

“Okay!” I mumbled nodding and we both reached the front desk before booking a room on the floor he is staying.

“Do you want to sleep for some time? I will go to the hospital and stay with her.” I offered staring at his face and he is not even able to walk properly.

“Did you rest today at all?” I added frowning and he sighed shaking his head.

“I am just handling the business matters whenever I have time and didn’t get time to come here.” He replied and I shook my head before asking him which is his room.

It is two rooms away from mine and I immediately pushed him to his room door and ordered him to sleep for a few hours.

“Don’t worry! I will stay with her and you just sleep.” I assured him when he showed reluctance to follow my words.

“Unlock the door!” I ordered him and he did after pausing for a second.

I pushed him inside and stared at him with a serious look, “Do you want to sleep for a few hours and then come to stay with Grandma or fall ill and get admitted to a faraway room from Grandma’s?”

“I will take a rest.” He mumbled sighing and I nodded before closing the door behind me and walked away from the room.

I let the nurse leave after returning and sat on the stool beside the bed to stare at Grandma’s face.

Nitish said that they increased the dosage of her medication as she is in a lot of pain right now. It was just a few weeks back she was smiling and now… I shook my head before moving to adjust the blanket properly.

“Nitish?” I heard her whisper and I immediately held her hand which doesn’t have the needle attached.

“It’s me, Grandma! I am Shrishti!” I replied and she slowly opened her eyes to stare at me.

“You are here?” she asked in a weak tone and I nodded smiling while not letting the tears roll down.

“I am sorry to call you back like that. You were busy, right? I heard… from Nitish.” She mumbled.

“No Grandma! I finished all my work and came here. Don’t think like that and you can wish to see me anytime. I am your Granddaughter too, right?” I asked and she smiled nodding.

“Nitish is crying everyday… he doesn’t make a sound but I can hear. He is a stupid boy. He doesn’t accept that I am old and not healthy. I… I am scared thinking what will happen if I leave.” She closed her eyes in pain.

“I will ask for a doctor.” I mumbled standing up but she didn’t let go of my hand.

“Will you… will you accept my request, Shrishti?” she asked opening her eyes.

“What is it, Grandma? You just tell me and I will do it.” I assured her and she smiled hearing those words before patting my hand in relief.

*Nitish Pov*

I groaned hearing a ringtone and I immediately sat up realizing it is my phone and searched for it on the bed before finally finding it under my pillow.

I frowned realizing it is not Shrishti and I need not worry but it’s from the head of the legal department of the company.

“Sir! Rohan Sir is asking us to just settle the case by paying the compensation and don’t drag the case. Is it your decision, Sir?” he asked in a worried tone.

“What is your opinion about this case? Can we prove that the allegations are false and there was no defamation towards the actress Anny and also towards GH agency?” I asked back.

“No!” he replied after a pause.

“What will be the impact on us if we pay the compensation?” I asked not letting his answer affect me.

“We will lose the brand image more than the funds and the share value is already falling at a fast pace.” He replied and I rubbed my forehead.

“Contact GH and try to come to a settlement. If we drag the case then it will be harmful to us.” I mumbled and cut the call after he said he will follow my order.

I know Rohan already stopped caring about the issue and is not even calling me anymore to talk about it after I lashed out at him last week hearing about this case.

I made one mistake in my life by not acting professionally and it is finally biting me back at this moment.

Do I deserve it? Yes! But at this moment? No! I shook my head and checked the time thinking it is still midnight but found it’s already nine in the morning.

Without giving these things another thought, I got ready and left for the hospital thinking how I just pushed the burden onto Shrishti.

She must be already tired with the work and also the traveling but I made her spend the whole night at the hospital.

I entered the room and found her talking to Grandma smiling. They both turned with smiles and I smiled back before sitting on the stool, Shrishti got up from.

“How are you feeling, Grandma?” I asked staring at her and even though she is still lying down, there is no tiredness like it was until yesterday.

“You look rested, Nitish. Always take a rest and don’t harm your health.” She said without replying to my question.

“You had breakfast?” Shrishti asked from my side and I shook my head in negative.

“Good! I bought breakfast for both of us. Let’s have it before the doctor comes to check her up.” Saying that she dragged me to the couch.

“Sorry! I made you stay here longer than I thought. I planned to get up midnight after a few hours sleep but didn’t expect to sleep this long.” I apologized but she shook her head.

“It’s a good thing that you didn’t get up at midnight. You need to rest well as Grandma said. And I didn’t stay awake the whole night.” She assured me and I shook my head at her words.

“What did you guys talk about?” I asked changing the subject and she paused hearing those words.

“It’s a secret!” she whispered smiling.

“Secret? Now, I am curious to know about this matter.” I mumbled turning to see Grandma smiling at us with a happy look.

“What did you talk to her about, Grandma?” I asked and she shook her head.

“As she said, it’s a secret.” She replied and I frowned but looking at her happy look, I smiled before finishing the breakfast.

We stayed quiet while the doctor checked up on her and he called us outside saying, “There is no improvement but she seems to be in good spirits. She needs a good atmosphere and that’s all we can do. If she seems to be in pain, then immediately call for me.”

We need not do anything as her friends started visiting Grandma again but this time none of them made any jokes and just talked to her calmly. We stayed outside to give them privacy and I spend that time with Shrishti in silence.

****

“Is it fine to take leave from work like this?” I asked staring at Grandma’s sleeping form while Shrishti is replying to her assistant’s messages.

It’s been a week since she came here and stayed with us every second except when either she goes to the hotel room to rest or I go coming under their pressure.

“Yeah! I have a good assistant and I am working on the new branch-related from here, right? Tomorrow I will go to confirm the lease and then talk with the suppliers in the area whom we met during our previous events we managed here.” She explained and I nodded hearing those words.

“What about you? I heard you shouting at someone yesterday.” She mumbled and I turned to stare at her.

“My company is going to get doomed because I put too much trust in my friend’s capability.” I replied and didn’t go into details and she didn’t ask too.

“Didn’t you say that you started this company from scratch all those years back? You can do it again and I can help you with investment. I know a few people who can invest in good companies. I got one just like that.” She assured me and I smiled leaning my head on her shoulder.

“You really know how to list someone’s spirits.” I whispered.

“Of course! I have years of experience in it.” She mumbled patting my cheek and I closed my eyes while she continued to chat with her assistant.

I am glad that I didn’t let the slight hesitation I felt while requesting her to come here rule me out.

If not for her presence, I don’t know what I would have done during this week and also the coming days.

But she needs to leave soon as she can’t stay here forever leaving her work behind. That will be rude of me and not the right thing.

Forever? Am I really thinking of forever in this hospital? Can Grandma stay forever in this hospital? If she can, then I don’t mind staying here too.

Forever? I am scared to even think of the end of this coming week. I don’t want her to leave me. Please don’t go anywhere, Grandma!

I prayed while snuggling into Shrishti and felt her hugging me with her hand passing over my shoulder to reach my back and also brushing my tears away with her other hand.

Without making a sound, I continued to let the tears out and she continued to caress my back without saying a word in silence to not disturb Grandma’s sleep.

I don’t even need any words right now and this presence of her and that caress on my back is enough… is enough to not go mad with this pain.

“Will everything be alright?” I asked in a whisper but she didn’t give me any reply.

What can she say? It’s not like she can lie when I know what is going to happen. It is just my wish that everything will be alright.

I didn’t mind her silence to my question too as I would have crashed down if she had given me a positive reply.

“I will be here.” She whispered after a few minutes and I nodded knowing well she will be there even though not always beside me physically, but she will always be a person who will be just there for me.

“I know!” I whispered back and drifted off into sleep but she didn’t stop caressing my back.