Chapter 17: Chapter 17

*Nitish Pov*

“You are actually going to meet her?” I frowned leaning back hearing the doubt in his tone.

“Yes! Didn’t I already message your secretary? If you are going to be suspicious then why did you even gave me this threat?” I asked back and he stayed silent hearing that.

“This is the last way I thought of after you rejected all those proposals. If not for your uncle’s idea I wouldn’t even think of getting close to the people who harmed your business.” He commented while I rolled my eyes.

“They didn’t target me to harm me. It was a fault from our side. I can’t tell you the details but the fault began from my side.” I explained again but he is not accepting those words.

“Anyway, you will be backing off, right? I am going to get to know her and you need to not threaten me saying you will also take your investment away.” I added and he cut the call saying fine.

I sighed closing my eyes while thinking about how I just escaped from one major danger. Already, major investors stepped back from the company and if Dad too takes his investment back then I just need to liquidate the company.

He promised me that he will invest more if I get married but I am not rooting for that right now. I will work hard to get other investments but I need time and if I lose his present investment then I will not have any chance.

After feeling relieved about that, I couldn’t help but think about Shrishti. I still can’t believe that she is part of GH and that too a very important part of it.

She is talking as if just that her Dad is working for GH but I know how important her Dad is to GH along with another person. Who doesn’t know about the trio?

Even though she is not working in GH, she is as important as Mr. Vikranth for sure. To top of that, her crush is on Mr. Vikranth Guptha?

Wait! Why am I thinking about that? I shook my head and tried to remember what she talked about her friends. So, the other friend she is talking about must be the chef. I heard about him but never had food from his place.

Wait! I thought opening my eyes and realized one important thing I forgot. If her other friend is Prathap, then isn’t she talking about Anny during that time?

She is close to Anny now? Oh god! So, the one mistake I did will never leave me, and what if Shrishti thinks low of me after knowing about it.

I groaned covering my face and wishing I was not that stupid that year. One mistake and such a huge impact and so sure it will not leave my conscience my whole life.

“Come in!” I said hearing a knock on the door and my expression changed to a hard one looking at my friend standing near the door.

“So, what happened to your Dad’s investment?” he asked entering the cabin and sat on the chair with a casual attitude.

“It’s safe for now.” I replied trying to not lash out at him again.

“Wow! I don’t know how you did it but it saved us. I am contacting a few popular stars to join our entertainment whose contract is going to end soon. We need to pay any extra to the company they are shifting if the contract ends right?” he asked smiling.

“Don’t even think of getting involved with that matter, Rohan. You need to stick to PR and don’t care about these things. Arjun will handle the matters related to handling the contracts and other things.” I warned him and his smile dropped.

“Until when will you be mad, Nitish? Didn’t I handle everything else? It was just one misjudgment and you are acting as if I have committed a crime.” He sighed.

“It was no less than a crime, Rohan. Attacking a woman at every moment and trashing her personal life is not a joke. What were you thinking?” I shouted not able to stop myself.

“It was for her sake. She requested and I couldn’t say no. Isn’t she important for you too? You started this agency for her in the first place. Wouldn’t you have done the same? Didn’t you already do something like this for her?” he asked back and I don’t have any fitting reply to that.

“You should have known better. She was just going in the moment because of the reducing popularity she was facing. Where did your brain go? Don’t you know she was emotional and just requested whatever came to her mind?” I asked and he smirked.

“So, the one who planned everything is not at fault but the one who followed is at complete fault? Just because you love her, you can’t be this hypocrite.” Saying that he stood up.

“Rohan! We don’t even talk to each other anymore. She is my past and this is not from my feelings. We both know how emotional she is about things. I am just saying, you should have realized that and not follow her words.” I explained and he sighed nodding.

“I know! But Lisa was crying while talking about how rude Anny is to her and also how she lost her endorsements to her. I didn’t know that it was false news about her having an affair. Lisa found out and send me the content and I gave it a push. Lisa must have misunderstood everything.” He mumbled and I nodded thinking she must be feeling guilty for all this too.

“So, how did you manage to pass your Dad’s threat?” he asked changing the topic.

“I am just going to meet the girl he made me meet today. She is my friend and understood my situation to follow this act.” I explained.

“Who is this friend I don’t know about?” he asked frowning.

I smiled but didn’t say anything about Shrishti. I don’t know why but I just don’t want to talk about her near any of my friends. She is a different kind of friend and I want it to be as special as it is now.

“So, I am still standing on you to be just handling the PR. Stop any kind of bad things to go out and we will be reconstructing the company. I have a few scopes where I can get investment. But we need to show how we corrected the mistakes. The lawsuit is finished after we paid out the compensation. From this day, don’t deal with anything related to GH. Don’t care about anything that is happening with any part of GH and mainly Anny.” I stated and he nodded promising me to follow my words.

If he had just told me what he was doing following Lisa’s words then all this wouldn’t have happened. I would have been able to stop Lisa too from feeling this insecure because of Anny.

After passing the instructions, I started working on the changes to the proposal we will be passing the investors and started passing the instructions to all the department heads for the meetings we will have this month.

I will never let another mistake occur if this gets settled and the company will be back on track.

*Shrishti Pov*

“I am confused!” Jenny mumbled staring at me while I am in the middle of going through the new contract.

“About what?” I asked staring at her.

“You told me that you are meeting someone who is selected by your Dad but I never saw you leaving your work to meet him. You are even working on weekends. You are not even meeting your friends.” She mumbled shaking her head.

“You are not my assistant anymore. Why do you know my itinerary?” I asked raising my eyebrow while she smiled.

“Can’t move on from being your assistant I guess. But answer me and don’t lie. You asked me to tell your Dad about you meeting that guy whenever he asks me but I don’t know whether this is all fake or you are really interested in him.” I sighed closing the file.

“It’s not a true proposal. I am just helping him out.” I explained and she nodded accepting those words.

“Then it’s fine but what about your friends? Fight?” she asked and I just smiled hearing her question.

Like I promised them, I didn’t contact them anymore no matter how many times my hand reaches their contacts to call them up or even message them.

What hurts the most is they too stopped contacting me and didn’t even ask how am I these days or anything.

I know I messed up things and nearly ruined or maybe already ruined Prathap’s relationship and also hurt Kanika and Anny. Also slapped Vikranth… oh god! The list is too much to even think about it.

I wish they just message me once in a while though because I am not going to do it. If I do it then I failed my promise for sure.

I want to talk to them about Nitish and this act too but I guess I need to hide everything to myself.

At least I told Jenny about it and that’s enough for me. I smiled at her and continued to check the contract not giving any reply to her question and she too didn’t stress it anymore.

I glanced at my phone after she left the cabin and as usual, there is no message or call from Nitish for the past two weeks.

I thought he said we need to actually meet but he didn’t say anything after that day. Should I bring it up? But he is busy with his company and it is not right to disturb him.

He will just contact me when he needs to. It’s not like Dad will check upon me whether I am meeting him or not unlike his Dad.

The matter I need to think about is the new branch. Jenny and I still didn’t decide on who is going to go there first to start it.

Everything is done and we just need to shift to start the work there. I leaned back thinking if it helps to leave the city for some time which will help Nitish as an excuse to his Dad on why we are not meeting up.

Dad is also busy these days and I am not seeing him regularly as he is not even coming home until late at night.

If I just involve myself with the new branch then I can stop thinking about everything else. But is it not just running away? I should come over it and not feel bad to contact any of them, right?

I don’t know whether Prathap and Anny solved everything too. I am so curious to ask him but what if I will just rub salt on his hurt by asking him?

I laughed thinking that sadly. When did I ever think before doing anything with my friends? But now… I shook my head closing my eyes.

I got startled hearing my ringtone and opened my eyes to take the phone from the table only to pause.

“Hello?” I asked lifting the call.

“Busy?” he asked with a tired tone.

“No! What happened?” I asked clearing my throat.

“Nothing! Just met my Dad and he is asking about our meetings. I told him that we are meeting whenever we are free but he got this distrust look on his face. So, want to meet up after some time?” I checked the time and found it’s already time for everyone to leave.

“Aren’t you tired?” I asked concentrating on his tone.

“I am! I returned home to sleep but Dad stopped me with his questions.” He replied and I sighed hearing those words.

“Come to my company right now.” I said before giving him the address and cut the call.

I stepped out of the cabin and found Jenny working at her table while everyone is finishing up to leave.

“Jenny! Are you going to leave?” I asked reaching her as she doesn’t look like she will leave anytime soon.

“No! Is there anything you need?” she asked staring at me.

I stared back at her in silence not knowing what to say so that she will not misunderstand. I scratched my forehead and cleared my throat but still not sure what to say.

“My friend is coming over.” I started and she frowned before smiling at me after seeing my expression.

“I am just doing some work which I can do at home too.” She said switching off her computer and started packing up.

“Sorry!” I whispered and she smiled shaking her head.

“You are still my boss. You can still start learning to act like one. You should have just ordered me to leave and I would have.” I rolled my eyes hearing those words.

“By the way, will your cabin be comfortable?” she asked and I pushed her away to which she just laughed.

After she left, I walked back into the cabin to adjust a few things and stepped out to wait for him.

“Hey!” he said reaching the entrance after a few minutes and I just smiled at him.

“What do you want to have for dinner?” I asked when we both started walking into the building.

“Anything is fine!” he replied looking around.

“It’s big!” I stared at him weirdly after listening to his comment.

“I mean, I didn’t think about it.” He explained and I shook my head.

“It is not that big. It will be in the future.” Saying that I opened the door to my cabin.

“You can sleep here for some time.” He stared at me in shock hearing those words before glancing at the couch I am pointing to.

I adjusted it so that it will be comfortable for him. I bought it to sleep here whenever I feel tired but didn’t use it much but it became useful in times of need.

“But… that’s why you asked me to come here?” he asked looking at me still in shock.

“Yes! Did you think it for a show-off for your Dad? You want to rest and I thought we can beat two stones if you rest here for some time.” I shrugged while he slowly smiled.

“Thank you!” saying that he reached over to hug me and I smiled hugging him back.

“Go to sleep and I will wake you up for dinner.” Saying that I patted his back but he didn’t release me.

“I know you are a very special friend of mine and with every gesture, you are proving it again and again. I think I am getting possessive of you and wishing that you will not make the same gestures for others.” I got confused hearing his words.

“What are you saying?” I pushed him off shaking my head before taking my phone and laptop before stepping out of the cabin.

“Wait!” I stopped hearing his words.

“I can sleep with the light on. You just stay here and keep me company.” He mumbled and I just stared at him.

“Please! I will feel guilty if you step out like this.” He added and I smiled nodding before returning to my chair while removed his coat and necktie.

“Your cabin looks cozy and I think I will be coming here frequently.” Saying that he laid down on the couch and closed his eyes with his hand behind his head as a pillow.

I stared at him to check whether the light is really not disturbing or not but when he started snoring, I let go of the doubt and started working without making a sound.

****

“Nitish! Nitish!” I frowned shaking him but he is not at all budging.

“Food will get cold. Have dinner and then sleep again.” I mumbled when he slowly opened his eyes.

“I want to sleep.” He whispered holding my hand which I am using to shake him before placing it under his cheek by locking it between his face and the couch.

“Nitish!” I called him name again and ended up sitting on the floor beside him while glancing at the food I arranged on the table.

“I ordered your favorite food.” I said tapping his cheek with my other hand.

“I am awake!” he whispered but didn’t open his eyes.

“I am tired! I don’t have any energy.” He added while I sighed.

“If you have dinner then you will have energy.” I pointed out and he opened his eyes to stare at me.

“What is the time?” he asked yawning and gave a surprised look hearing it’s nearly ten.

“I made you stay back for that long?” he asked sitting up and I nodded while taking my hand back.

“You are very difficult to wake up. I thought you were just a difficult drunk person.” Commenting that I sat beside him on the couch and pulled the table closer.

“Because I kissed you at that time?” he suddenly asked and I paused my actions of opening the containers.

“Where should I wash my hands?” he asked ignoring my shock and I gestured to the washroom with my head.

After he left, I finally glanced up to stare at the closed door with a frown. Why did he bring that up in the first place? Didn’t we decide to forget about it?

“Stop frowning, Shrishti!” he commented after a few minutes when we are having dinner in silence.

“I am just concentrating on the food.” I shrugged while he sighed before turning my head to stare at him.

“I shouldn’t have talked about it. It suddenly entered my mind when you talked about my drunken self. It has always been on my mind.” He confessed while I shook my head.

“It is better to forget it otherwise our friendship will get ruin.” I mumbled taking another bite.

“You are special for me too. I am just being honest. I will not kiss you again unless I am sure about my feelings. I mean, unless I like you in that way, I will not kiss you again. I mean…” I stopped him from continuing.

“Stop talking about the kiss.” He nodded smiling and after that, the atmosphere went back to normal.

“Want to sleep here? My staff will come by eight in the morning and you just need to leave by that time.” I asked cleaning the containers.

“I will go home. I need to do some work tonight.” He said getting up.

“You need to take care of your health along with your work. What is the use of a good company if you are not in good condition to enjoy the benefits?” I asked staring at his face.

“I know! Just for a few days and I will be free from major things.” He assured me and I nodded smiling.

“Thank you so much for today, Shrishti. If not for you then I don’t know whether I would have been able to hang on to these things.” Saying that he hugged me and this time I just patted on his back.

The comment from earlier about the kiss is still on my mind. I forgot about all that but now I can’t escape from it.

Why am I even thinking about it? He is my friend and like I said it is not possible between us with him being in the business profession and also his first love issue.

No matter how much I tried to talk to myself, I couldn’t remove his words or the memory that surfaced even after returning home.

I need to date for real after Nitish and I end this arranged scheme. I am just in need of a proper relationship which is making me think about absurd things. Yes! That’s it! With that thought, I closed my eyes and drifted off into sleep peacefully.