Chapter 28: Chapter 28

*Shrishti Pov*

“Shrishti? When did you reach home?” I smiled at Dad’s shock before waving at him from the dining area.

“Early in the morning! You were sleeping and so I didn’t disturb you. Will you have breakfast?” I asked gesturing my plate.

“Definitely! It’s been a few weeks since I saw you.” He replied taking his seat and continued to smile at me.

“Will you stay home or go to the hotel? I already told you that Nitish can stay here comfortably as I don’t stay much.” He continued while I cleared my throat at the way he is so open about it.

“I am not going to the hotel this time, Dad. Nitish is busy and is actually not in the city right now.” I explained and he frowned a bit.

“I am hearing that word a lot recently.” He mumbled while I nodded at his statement.

Recently, I can use the word busy to mention Nitish and everyone will understand. I thought he was that busy in the past but now I can’t even talk to him properly.

“Are you fine with it?” Dad continued and I smiled at him not knowing how to reply.

He knows well that I didn’t want to be with businessmen who are workaholics because of how busy they are just like how my Dad is and we couldn’t reach Mom because of his work and… I shook my head.

I know that if my Mom’s incident has to happen then it would have no matter what my Dad’s profession is but I got an excuse to vent and I did for more than a decade.

After knowing that my eversion over this workaholism is wrong, I still can’t accept it. However, I am trying my best right now for Nitish.

When he says he is busy or when my call doesn’t connect, I just repeat the words saying his agency is in huge trouble and he needs to save it and of course he will be busy.

Even after all those chants, I still feel weird and that’s not good on my part as I need to support Nitish and not discourage him or emotionally blackmail him to give me more preference than his passion.

“Yeah! There are some troubles at work and he needs to solve them. It will be fine soon.” I assured Dad seeing his worried expression.

“If you are fine then it’s fine for me too. How is your work? Until when will you work there? Why don’t you shift back if everything is stabilized?” He continued while I smiled.

“Soon, Dad! I am just at the last stage of training for the assistant and the staff and it will finish soon. Then I will come back and settle here completely.” He smiled hearing that.

The reason I shifted is to stay away from my friends and not have any awkwardness because of my stupidity in the past but now I am over it. That doesn’t mean I will pester them like in the past as my promise to Anny still stands.

“It’s a good thing that you are home this weekend. There is a marriage anniversary function of one of the board members and it is good if you can attend it along with me. Pramod and Ashok are not going to attend as they are busy with a few works but I have to.” Dad mentioned but I shook my head.

“He is Girish who is a family friend to your future in-laws. They will be there and as a future family it will be good for you to be present.” He continued and I frowned thinking about his words.

Dad is right about me attending the function as I am not close with anyone except for Nitish and in the future, I can’t just lead my life with Nitish by closing myself behind the doors. I need to meet them and it will be meet them in this simple way and I need not spend much time to have a conversation as there will be guests.

“Okay! When is the function?” I asked thinking if it is tomorrow then I can mention it to Nitish as I don’t know whether he will attend it after returning home tomorrow.

“Tomorrow evening! So, you will be fine?” he asked again and I assured him smiling at his surprise that I accepted to attend.

He asked me to wait for dinner before leaving while I returned to my room to message Nitish about my arrival.

As he is not in the city and will return tomorrow, it is better to meet everyone today. After freshening up, I called up Aunty asking whether she is free now or not to meet her.

When I was traveling to Aunty’s place, I finally got the reply to my message and immediately opened it to read.

‘I am not returning tomorrow. It will be on Monday.’ He replied after an hour making me frown but I shook it off while messaging that I will stay until Monday.

I sighed looking outside while planning to intimate my assistant that I will take a break on Monday. His words during last weekend made me stubborn to meet him this weekend no matter what as he expressed how he needs to leave anytime he gets a call for the states.

It is unsure how many weeks he needs to stay there and the time we don’t meet will be longer with that and so I need to see him on Monday no matter what as I don’t know whether it will be possible to see each other before he leaves.

****

“Are you free today evening?” I asked when he finally picked my call.

“Yeah! You are in the city?” Prathap asked back and I smiled asking whether we can meet up.

“Sure! I am free no matter when you call. Anny is out of the station for her shoot. I will call up Vikranth too.” He replied while I frowned.

Is it fine to meet him without Anny’s presence? The moment that thought occurred, I felt a sense of loss.

When did I ever worry to meet them alone and without considering timings? But now the lines I draw are too many and I still don’t know whether these lines are enough to not create any trouble for their love lives.

“I will call Kanika.” Saying that I cut the call and immediately called her.

“I am busy with some work.” Her reply made me sigh in disappointment.

“Just meet up with Prathap and him. Why add me as the fourth wheel? You need to spend time with your friends and without Anny, I will not have must to chat anyway.” She pointed out.

I frowned hearing her words as I don’t know what to say after that. Why is she saying that she will be the fourth wheel? I am trying to get close to her recently, right?

I remember the first time I met the two couples at a time, I occupied both Prathap and Vikranth while Anny and Kanika chatted together. How stupid was I being the third wheel for both couples?

What must have they thought at that time? After that all of us met just a few times which can be counted on fingers but still Kanika must have got a strong impression on how I will be from the past event.

“Please! Just tell me when you will be free and we will meet at that time.” I pleaded not backing down.

“You… is something wrong?” She asked after a few seconds pause.

“No! I just want to meet you.” I replied clearing my throat.

“You can meet me tomorrow.” She pointed out.

“Please, Kanika! I know I am acting a bit childish but please come with us.” She sighed hearing those words.

“I am sorry! I really can’t meet you today otherwise I will get scolded by my boss.” She stated not backing down herself.

“Partner!” I heard another voice from her side while she sighed.

“Let’s meet up tomorrow if you are not busy.” Saying that she cut the call while I closed my eyes in defeat.

I messaged Prathap that I can’t meet him today and will meet next time before taking a cab back to my home.

I didn’t call Kanika the next day to meet or even Prathap and they too didn’t call me again. So, I just stayed idle at home and got ready in the evening to attend the function.

Dad called up saying he will reach there from work and he asked me to meet him there and even sent his car. After reaching the place, I took out my phone to call Dad but unexpectedly met a few people I didn’t think I would.

“Uncle! Aunty!” I mumbled greeting them to which Uncle smiling greeting back while she frowned at me but gave a nod acknowledging my greeting.

Well, I knew that they will be here as they are Mr. Girish’s family friends but what I didn’t expect is the wagon of people following them to attend this function but someone is missing from this attached group other than Nitish. Arjun? Yeah! He is not here.

What are his friends doing here when even Nitish is not going to attend the function? I cleared my head of these thoughts before giving them another nod.

“Hello, Shrishti! You are also attending the function? I thought Aunty would be bored and tagged along while others followed me.” Lisa joked but I didn’t give any reaction making her smile slip.

“Come inside! Why are you standing here?” Uncle asked looking at me.

“Dad is going to attend the function and asked me to join him. He is still at work and I am waiting for him.” I explained politely to the only person who accepts me as a partner of Nitish but still, I never tried to be close to him as Nitish is kind of distant to him and also because of a few things Nitish mentioned.

“You come with us then. He will join when he reaches.” Saying that he made me enter the function with him.

“Girish Uncle still celebrates his anniversary this huge just like a few years back. Do you remember how I attended these functions with Nitish and you, Aunty? It amazed me every single time.” Lisa commented while I looked around with a bored look.

This is amazing? This is nothing when you compare it with my GH family functions. Prathap’s parents’ anniversary function was better than this.

I paused my thoughts immediately at the way they are going. Why am I acting as a rival to Nitish’s family and friends? Even though I don’t like them, this will be my family too.

Didn’t I learn from my past to not be showy like I was with Kanika? I should not think like this. With that chant, I cleared my hostile expression and looked around with a smile, and even kept my own ideas on how the decorations could be aside.

“You are in event management right, Shrishti? I heard you are popular among the business events.” Uncle commented and I smiled at those words.

“It’s just because of Vikranth, Uncle. He supported me in the beginning and brought a few contracts and that’s how I improved at that sector but I like more of non-business events.” I explained and he nodded but his smile slipped making me frown.

“Harsha! You are finally here? How can the chief guests come this late?” we turned to find Girish Uncle reaching us.

“Chief guest? Isn’t it too much? How old are you to have this grand anniversary even this year?” Uncle shook his head.

“You don’t know how many business-related problems I solve with this single function.” I gave Girish Uncle a weird look hearing that.

“Oh! Shrishti is here too. Where is your Dad?” he asked looking around.

“He will reach soon.” I replied but he shook his head.

“Why he is still so hard-working? No matter how much work he does, he can’t beat Ashok (Vikranth’s Dad) to claim the top, right?” he laughed saying those words.

“If I want to succeed him then it is just better to sleep and dream about it than work hard towards it.” I laughed at my Dad’s sudden response and I turned to find him walking towards us.

“Happy anniversary!” he added before standing on my side.

“Glad that you are here, Mohan. Everyone, come inside!” saying that he walked in front of us while I grinned at Dad and he winked.

After meeting Girish Uncle’s wife, everyone spread around while I stayed with Dad not feeling to have a conversation with anyone.

“Go and talk to Nitish’s mother. She is standing alone.” Dad pushed me and I sighed walking towards her to make him feel happy.

What should I say? Compliment her attire? But this doesn’t look that good on her. To her skin tone, this just goes the opposite way.

“Do you want something to drink, Aunty?” I asked to not be awkward while reaching her.

“Lisa went to bring me. She knows what I want to drink.” She replied and I sighed looking away.

“Maybe if we talk normally then I can also find out what you like to drink, Aunty.” I mumbled not able to stop myself.

“I am here, right! No need to trouble yourself, Shrishti.” I literally stopped myself from groaning outside hearing that voice and those words.

“Of course! But in the future, I will be her family and it is better to know these things ahead.” I pointed out smiling at Lisa.

She opened her mouth but that got cut off when Uncle suddenly called my name and waved me near him with a smile.

I frowned but reached his side and he started introducing me to the people he is talking to as his future daughter-in-law.

I talked to them politely and he continued to tag me around to introduce me to others and finally reached the group where Girish Uncle is present.

“You are doing Event management business, Ms. Shrishti? Why are you not involved with GH? I always hear Vikranth being the leading person of GH.” Someone commented.

“Well, Vikranth is doing a good job and she is also famous for her work. So, there is no need to talk about such things.” Surprisingly Girish Uncle commented that before I can open my mouth.

“Excuse me!” I mumbled walking away and reached Dad near the drinks table.

“Dad! Why is Girish Uncle suddenly defending Vikranth? Wasn’t he hell-bent in the recent years to try to get Prathap and me to overpower Vikranth?” I asked him not able to stop myself while he laughed.

“Recently, no one is pestering us to remove Vikranth from his post and the huge hand in that goes to Girish.” He stated and I frowned hearing that.

“Why so sudden change?” I asked and he smiled shaking his head.

“The moment your engagement is announced, Girish stopped all these things suddenly. You are also kind of his family because of Nitish’s connection. He must be thinking that he has more power now and satisfied with it.” He added and I laughed hearing those words.

“Is he stupid? Doesn’t he know that we all unanimously support Vikranth and it doesn’t matter whether I am with Nitish or not?” I whispered.

“We all are tired of saying that both Pramod (Prathap’s Dad) and I will not betray Ashok (Vikranth’s Dad) but still have this idea of making us betray him by using the next generation. They don’t understand that they failed.” Dad commented.

“But I am glad that I somehow helped Vikranth. I can’t imagine putting your every effort into the growth of the company but the people who benefit from that growth actually wish for you to step down.” He nodded hearing those words.

“He never complained but who wouldn’t feel bad if he has to prove his worth every day. Generally, any businessman has a chance to fail while trying to explore new things but he doesn’t have that chance. If he fails once by mistake or others mistake then everyone will pull him down.” I sighed hearing those words while feeling hurt for Vikranth.

He has always been the one to help Prathap and I but what we can do in return is not much except to show him our support and I am happy that I helped him a bit with this marriage.

“I will go and talk to your father-in-law. Let’s leave after sometime.” He mumbled in a tired tone.

“Okay! You know I will leave whenever you want us to.” He smiled walking away while I stayed there alone feeling tired with all the talking.

After a few minutes, I stiffened looking at the people approaching me. Are they going to try to embarrass me as usual even in a public place?

“Done with meeting those elders?” Lisa asked reaching beside me to take a glass from the table.

“Yeah!” I mumbled not looking at her but searching for Dad hoping he will not hear whatever they say otherwise he will not bear it.

“Aunty is upset with your behavior just now. I feel so sorry about that. I don’t know how to help you.” She continued with a fake worried tone and I frowned at her before glancing at Aunty and she is really upset.

“What did I do?” I mumbled shaking my head.

“Uncle’s political behavior is what irritates her the most and you are now someone who increases his opportunities and also his behavior due to your background.” She explained while I laughed.

“I didn’t realize that I got married to Aunty. Why is she upset with me for her husband’s doings? And why are you here to have this weird talk? I acknowledge your fake actions and your hidden intentions. So, no need to act before me anymore.” I couldn’t help but say those things and immediately regretted it.

Didn’t I promise Nitish that I will not hurt them and just ignore them? Now, I couldn’t stop myself from saying these words.

“How could you say those things when she is worried about you?” Rohan stated glaring at me.

“She is definitely concerned about Nitish and you but you are jealous that Aunty likes Lisa and attacking Lisa to satisfy your anger.” Another continued while my head started throbbing to keep quiet and hear this stupidity.

“You are the one who is acting before Nitish as a good person. How can you look down on someone’s genuine concern?” please stop talking for god’s sake.

“Leave it, Guys! It was my mistake to step over the line. I am just Nitish’s friend and she is his family.” I closed my eyes to not show them that I am rolling them right now hearing that.

“Don’t cry, Lisa! Let’s just go and not talk to her.” Gladly, please do that is what is in my mind after hearing those words.

After they finally left, I stood there rubbing my forehead and finally Dad reached my side asking, “Were you talking to Nitish’s friends? Do you want to stay longer to chat with them?”

“No!” I replied louder than I expected making him frown.

“My head is aching and I want to leave, Dad.” He nodded before waving at Girish Uncle while I gave him a polite nod before leaving the place and stayed in silence inside the car during the travel towards our home.

“Want to take medicine?” Dad asked in a worried tone.

“Your breathing seems irregular. Let’s go to the hospital.” He added but I shook my head.

“I just want to sleep, Dad.” I whispered and he sighed accepting my words.

Is this how the future is going to be? I need to stay silent whenever they talk to me and let them say whatever they want to? Suddenly, the future is not something I am looking forward to.

I want to talk to Nitish right now to tell him everything but he is not here and is busy with work. How can I disturb him with something I can ignore? But can I actually ignore all of it every single time?

I want to meet Prathap and Vikranth and tell them everything to take advice but… but they will not stop at just advice and act on my behalf and that will just trouble their lives and both Anny and Kanika could feel bad seeing them involved in my life like that and also seeing them worry about me.

Right now, I will just concentrate on Nitish and me and not think about the future. It will be best if I don’t meet these people again with Nitish by my side. I sighed with that solution and tried to calm my head a bit to reduce the pain.