Chapter 21: Chapter 21

*Shrishti Pov*

“When will be the opening ceremony?” I asked looking around the Prathap’s new restaurant branch.

“Soon! I thought it will be within two weeks but then Uncle gave me this big news that my best friend is getting engaged within a week and so I am thinking of choosing a later date.” I gripped my hand on the bag hearing his accusing tone.

“Not because of your break-up with Anny?” I asked staring back at him instead of the walls.

“Oh God! We didn’t break up. Why is everyone thinking that we broke up?” he asked shaking his head and waved his hand at the entrance.

I turned to find Vikranth and Kanika walking towards us along with Anny. I smiled looking at them but then remembered Prathap’s words from earlier that they both divorced already.

When everyone sat down, Prathap got up to bring juice and snacks for us while I stared at my hand holding my bag in silence.

After Prathap returned, I opened my mouth saying, “I am getting engaged this weekend and I know I should have informed you all but it was decided at the last minute.”

“Last minute? Uncle said this proposal was brought to you a few months back.” Vikranth stated folding his hands.

“Yes! But I was not thinking about engagement and all but now it is happening.” I cleared my throat still trying to calm my heart regarding this marriage.

It is a bit scary for me right now but I am trying to set my mind. I don’t see a problem with it except for my mindset.

“I heard it is Nitish.” Anny mumbled frowning at me and I frowned back.

“You know him? Right! He is handling an agency and you could have met him some time.” I nodded to myself.

“Listen to me carefully, Shrishti! Do you know all the rumors that were brought on Anitha during the past year were because of this NK agency? When Vikranth and she stepped forward to fight them, they stopped this nonsense.” Prathap suddenly uttered after a few minutes of silence.

“What?” I asked sitting straight after hearing those words.

I remember Nitish saying that GH damaged his business but I thought it was a common thing that happens between rivals but this…

“I know Uncle brought this proposal as related to business but you need not follow this idea. Uncle will never force you.” Prathap continued.

“Wait!” I mumbled stopping him and repeated his words.

“All this happened to Anny during the past year?” I asked looking at her and she nodded still not saying a word.

“Then it is not Nitish fault at all. He left his business to take care of his grandmother for a year and I know him during that time. He didn’t know anything related to the NK agency at that time. When he returned after she passed away, you already took action against NK." I explained looking at Vikranth understanding his words the last time we talked to each other.

He must have been worried thinking about this while I got mad at him. I smiled at him normally after understanding his reason.

“His reason behind accepting this marriage could be…” I cut off Prathap saying, “He already told me the reason but his actual reason is to get his father to stop pressuring him. Trust me! I know him and he is not the bad guy. He loves his grandma and he cares for people around him and he is a good person.”

“He…” Anny started but Kanika placed her hand over hers saying, “You like him?”

“Yes!” I replied after a moment of getting startled hearing that sudden question.

Hearing that response everyone got startled except for Kanika. No one said a word while I finally got comfortable in their presence as I am meeting them after a long time.

“So, within a few months since I met you guys, one of you became a divorced guy and another one a heartbroken guy.” I commented smiling.

“We didn’t break up!” Prathap sighed leaning back.

“At least I didn’t hide from my best friend and ignored the calls to fall in love.” He added shaking his head.

“I missed you too, Prathap.” I mumbled smiling and he smiled back before glancing at others.

“What happened to the three of you?” He asked and I turned to find them still having hesitant expressions.

“You know what? I will call him right now to come here and you all can meet him to clear away your doubts.” I took out my phone and no one stopped me.

“Shrishti! Did he tell you about his Ex?” Anny suddenly asked and I stared at her frowning.

“Yeah! She is out of India right now and they are not in much contact.” I mumbled but was confused thinking how she knows about her.

“You are fine with it?” she continued and I nodded saying, “He knows everything about me too. We both are fine with our pasts.”

“Okay! No need to call him and make this get-together pass through more awkwardness. You three met finally and it is better to spend time together.” Anny said smiling and her earlier expression is nowhere to be seen.

“Yeah! We both have to go somewhere. We will go then.” Saying that Kanika stood up and Anny followed her.

“Where?” Prathap asked frowning at them.

“To sign the contract with the office building.” Anny commented and he nodded while they both walked off.

“What building?” I asked staring at Vikranth.

“Why would I know? I don’t know anything.” He replied but turned his head to stare at Kanika’s back.

“Don’t mind him! He is going through a rough phase of divorce.” Prathap said patting my shoulder while Vikranth glared at him.

“What rough phase? Nothing changed between them, right? Except for the paperwork, no one would know that they are no longer married.” I mumbled and he closed his eyes leaning back.

“So, why didn’t you share the news of you falling for this guy? I told you every single thing. I can understand if Vikranth didn’t share it but then there is no chance for something like that to happen to him. But you should have contacted me and told me. Now, how this happened?” Prathap asked ignoring Vikranth while I smiled before telling him everything.

I couldn’t help but smile more and more with each minute passing with them. I missed this teasing and sharing and everything.

It will be not like the past but at least I will not hide away from them. I am still surprised with these new changes in their lives but a new change is happening in my life too. If we could be happy together and that’s all is important.

“So, your break up with…” Prathap glared at me the moment I brought that and I laughed having fun with teasing him.

*Nitish Pov*

“What? Engagement?” Rohan stared at me in shock hearing those words.

“Why are you so shocked?” I asked him frowning.

“You just started dating and you are already going to get…” he shook his head while stopping his words.

“Congratulations!” he added smiling and I nodded hearing that but still felt he is acting too weird.

“I am sorry, Nitish!” he suddenly said before reaching the door to leave my cabin.

“Why?” I frowned hearing that sudden apology.

“If not for me then this company wouldn’t be in a difficult situation and Uncle wouldn’t have given you an ultimatum and you wouldn’t have been forced to…” I felt glad that he is regretting his actions but what is he trying to say but stopped.

“I will try to help you no matter what with whatever I can.” He concluded before leaving while I am still confused.

I shook my head to let that leave and gave her a call as she messaged me earlier that she is meeting her friends this evening.

However, she didn’t pick the call and I sighed leaning back. She is meeting them after a long time and must be busy with all the chatting.

I closed my eyes and shook my head to take away this weird feeling while remembering her feelings for her friend. Stop it! I thought slapping my face and continued to work.

“Must be so busy to pick my call.” I teased her when she finally called after an hour.

“I just reached home after leaving Prathap’s restaurant. I didn’t check the phone. Is there anything important?” she asked chuckling.

“No! Just wanted to check whether you are still fine or have any regrets regarding this engagement. No matter what they kind of forced us, didn’t they?” I asked and glanced up to find Rohan entering the cabin with a file.

"I know without the force all this…” I cut the words while signing the file and he calmly walked out of the room.

“I would have fought to the end to not have this engagement if I didn’t want to. Don’t think about it anymore and just concentrate on work and then the shopping for the function.” She mumbled and I smiled leaning back.

“Nitish! Is Aunty against this marriage?” she suddenly asked and I paused hearing those words.

“Today when I was talking to my friends I told them about Grandma, Uncle, and Aunty but I didn’t have anything to say about Aunty. She never talked to me at all and even when I tried she says a word and that’s it. Is she against it?” she explained and I frowned not knowing what to say.

“She doesn’t like it whenever my Dad does something related to business or his political career. She must be thinking all this is because of Dad. It was my mistake to not explain to her that I like you. Don’t worry! I will talk to her.” I assured her and she sighed before changing the topic.

We talked for a few more minutes and then I concentrated on my work but still, my mind is over what she just said. Mom is seriously silent about everything and she didn’t express any of her thoughts like in the past.

After reaching home, I directly went in search of Mom and found her in the garden enjoying her tea.

“Mom!” I greeted reaching her and sat down on the chair in front of her.

“Want some tea?” she asked not even looking at me.

“Mom! You have any problem with this engagement?” she finally turned to stare at me.

“When you don’t have any problem why would I have?” she asked back making me frown.

“Shrishti is a good person, Mom. And I like her too.” I explained but she just turned her head away.

“You don’t love her.” She stated and I opened my mouth but closed it.

“I know the person you love and because of your Dad, you are going to marry someone you don’t love. Like? It is not enough just like in my marriage. Anyway, right now it is just the engagement.” Saying that she stood up.

“But I will love her, Mom. I can’t be this happy with anyone else.” I continued and she just sighed.

“Don’t forget to invite all of your friends without missing anyone. Don’t forget to invite Lisa.” With those words, she walked away while I frowned.

I messaged Shrishti asking whether we can meet today but even after a few minutes passed there is no response and I sighed leaving the garden to at least freshen up and sleep to not feel this disturbed.

Mom just needs time to adjust and she will when there is more interaction between Shrishti and her. With that thought, I let go of all these things and just concentrated on my work and the shopping for the engagement.

*Rohan Pov*

“What? Engagement?” she screamed the moment I told her.

“Yes! You were right, this proposal was being forced upon him. I thought you were exaggerating thinking he will never go with the flow of this pressure but he is. I even heard him, Lisa.” I mumbled feeling guilty.

“If not for your plans and my actions on them then all this wouldn’t have happened. When are you coming back? We need to stop him from doing this because of us.” I added.

“It will take some time for me to return, Rohan. I am still tying up the loose ends here.” She mumbled while I frowned.

“Still? It’s been a few months since you said you still love him but I didn’t see you taking any action on that and you didn’t even contact him.” I accused her.

“I didn’t think this would go so far. I thought Uncle’s pressure will stop at the dating but even engagement. Within a week I can’t come back no matter how much I try here.” She sniffed making me realize she is crying.

“Don’t cry! Anyway, it is just the engagement and I am sure they will take time for the wedding. But please do whatever you can to return. I will not do anything to help you unless you come back and prove how much you care for him. Just because I don’t want him to get forced into that marriage doesn’t mean I want him to go through another heartbreak with you.” I pointed out while reminding her of the part where she is the one who left him to pursue her career in the states and breaking his heart on the way.

“You are also my friend but I am on his side regarding your breakup.” I added and she sighed.

“Don’t worry! I am coming back for good and will not go anywhere.” With those words, she cut the call while I sighed rubbing my head.

I hope she comes back and stops him from ruining his life. It doesn’t matter whether these both get together but if I stop him somehow then I will be paying for my past mistakes.