Chapter 33: Chapter 33

*Lisa Pov*

“Did you hear it clearly?” I asked smirking at her face filled with shock and she closed her eyes before opening them with a normal expression to look at me.

“Why are you so happy that she doesn’t like me? I didn’t realize you wanted to marry her all this time.” She stated and I glared at her words.

“What do you mean by that?” I asked fisting my hands.

“I am engaged to Nitish and yes his mother is important but Nitish and I will not lead our lives with her for sure. So, why are you so happy that she is against me when Nitish is the one who wants to marry me even on the day he lands in India if I accept?” I scoffed hearing those words and shook my head.

“Are you sure? I am his first love and for whom he started this company and for whom he cares a lot and for whom he can leave everyone if I express my feelings. And to top of that Aunty adores me. So, who is the one at disadvantage?” I asked back and she laughed shaking her head.

“If only you know!” she whispered with a pitying look and turned to walk away but I stopped her saying, “Are you that confident? Are you sure he is not just settling with you because I was not there and will not waver if I am ready to be with him?”

“Yes! He said he doesn’t like you anymore and I trust him. And the moment he knows that you want him back, he will not be this close to you even as a friend to make you understand that he doesn’t like you.” She said so confidently that I immediately took out my phone.

“Let’s see that!” saying that I called him and she frowned shaking her head.

“Why are you calling me? Is Shrishti not feeling well?” Nitish asked the moment he picked the call and my face burned hearing those words.

“Nitish! I just want to apologize.” I said before putting the phone on speaker.

“What?” he asked in a confused tone.

“I just wanted to have a spacious place to conduct the function properly but… but I need the plants to be removed in the backyard. Shrishti got angry and… and there were some bad moments but Aunty supported me to remove the plants. However, Shrishti didn’t want to and was stubborn and Aunty got hurt. I am scared that this will increase the distance between Aunty and Shrishti.” I explained in a small tone while she rolled her eyes.

“You are talking about vegetables and…” I cut him off saying, “Yes! I didn’t know this small matter would cause such trouble.”

“This is not a small matter for me or Shrishti. Don’t touch a single leaf in the garden. Do you know how much Shrishti tried to make the place even better and you want to ruin it? You should have listened to her when she said not to use it and you…” I couldn’t hear him say anything else except to see Shrishti smile looking at the phone in my hand.

Without giving me a glance she turned around to leave and I cut the speaker off and also cut the call to say, “I still like you, Nitish. I… I know you are engaged but I like you and this is just for business right all this marriage thing and we both still like each other and so why don’t we…”

I paused before sighing and mumbled, “Okay! We will talk after you return.”

After that act, I glanced up to see her staring at me with a face filled with shock. I am actually surprised with her reaction as I just wanted her to doubt it and call Nitish about it and as he doesn’t know about my fake confession in the first place he will not accept it and they will fight about it but right now she is staring at me so shocked.

She stumbled while turning around and walked inside while I stared at her back in confusion. What was that reaction?

I shrugged before looking around to plan something else for the function only to get a call from Rohan.

“What happened?” I asked picking the call.

“I just dropped Arjun and wanted to know what is going on there. Why were you so insist on removing those plants? Didn’t we had other plans if they can’t be removed?” he asked in a confused tone.

“I don’t know! I just got angry when she acted as the owner of this place and that’s why I lost my sense. Don’t worry about it.” I assured him smirking.

“Okay! I am a bit worried about Nitish. As you said he needs to sign with them soon and get out of Uncle’s clutches, I showed the contract with only the low-level legal team. If he finds out then he will kill me.” He worriedly mumbled while I shook my head.

“Why are you worried about it? I am the one who introduced that company and I worked with them in the past. They didn’t even take a penalty from me when I wanted to leave the agency they favor to come here. Now, he needs to come and settle all investment issues and return Uncle’s money, and then he need not be forced to marry Shrishti.” I said those words but it is not that simple as I know he actually likes her.

Who cares? He loved me in the past and he can do it again when he finds out the troubles in their relationship. Now, Aunty is completely against and the moment he returns she will make him break it up.

With all the problems, how can a simple relationship that had started because of a business arrangement will stay strong? I shook my head and cut the call before walking inside to talk to Aunty a bit and maybe raise her anger against Shrishti a bit more.

*Shrishti Pov*

“Do I like you?” I asked staring at Prathap.

“What if I really like you and didn’t know?” I asked while he stared at me as if I am crazy and called my name without saying anything else.

“As a friend, I always liked you better than Vikranth. But what if I liked you not just as a friend all this time? Isn’t that a huge mess? I mean you like Ms. Anny and are dating her. And it’s not like you see me as anything other than as a friend. So, it’s again a heartbreak from the beginning point of understanding only.” I shook my head at that crazy thought.

“So, it is better to stop thinking about it. I don’t want to accept the alternative where all this means, I never liked Vikranth as anything other than a friend. That’s like a few years of my life being a lie.” I scoffed while he just sat there in silence until we both heard Anny’s voice from a bit far from us.

I covered my eyes remembering that embarrassing scene which I thought to never think about but right now I am lying on a bed and covering myself with a blanket while trying to not let the tears out.

All this time that was just an embarrassing moment for me but now… now hearing Lisa’s confession to Nitish made me realize how much Anny must have got hurt at that time.

I know Nitish doesn’t like Lisa anymore in that way and I know he will reject her or maybe already did but still it pinched me a bit to hear his first love confessing to him and also scared me a bit.

But that moment what hurt me most is thinking about Anny’s hurt at that time as Prathap’s first love was me in both Prathap’s and Anny’s mind and… I confessed to him and… she heard it and… Oh god! She must have felt hurt at that moment more than I thought at that time.

How many? How many mistakes did I do to hurt them? Am I really a good friend in the first place?

Always asking for their help and always trying to involve myself in their lives. I didn’t intentionally hurt Anny like Lisa is trying but can it be an excuse? How can I even bash her when… when I did nearly the same or at least a bit of it in the past for someone else?

Am I a bad person? I thought and immediately took the phone from the side table and called Nitish.

“Shrishti? What happened? Are you not feeling well?” He asked in a worried tone.

He wouldn’t be worried about me if I was a bad person, right? I took a deep breath asked, “You are returning tomorrow?”

“Who told you that?” he asked in a shocked tone.

“Your friends!” I replied brushing my tears away.

“Damn it! I wanted it to be a surprise. I will be there by evening and I will message you when I leave the airport. I will be coming there directly.” He explained and I smiled hearing his words.

He doesn’t sound awkward or anything and as I expected he turned her down but… but why is he hiding it from me?

“Do you have anything else to say or will you say it after coming here?” I asked sighing and he paused hearing those words.

“Lisa told me what happened regarding the garden. Don’t worry! I will talk to Mom when I come there. And thank you for protecting it. I know the plants will die after their time is over but I want it to be natural and then I want both of us to plant the seeds together.” He replied and I felt happy even though this is not what I was talking about.

“Nitish! I know you are tired of things there but… but when you come here, I want to have a serious talk about a few things. Your friends are here and not even a week is there for the function and you will also be busy with company work but I want us to have a talk.” I couldn’t stop myself from saying those words.

“Okay! I know you feel Mom and my friends are against you but they are just being a bit stubborn, Shrishti. I will talk to Mom and also my friends and will make sure they come over the idea that we are not good for each other. They will understand and you need not worry. And you also don’t think too much about them. Because of their behavior, it may seem like my friends are supporting Lisa and even that she wants to be with me but don’t think like that. Except for my Mom, no one thinks like that and even my Mom does that as she thinks I am being forced by my Dad. I will talk to them and all these misunderstandings between you guys will go away.” He is saying all those assuring words but without any intention, I let out a sob and immediately covered my mouth.

“Shrishti?” he called me in a shocked tone.

“Let’s talk tomorrow!” saying that I cut the call and switched off the phone before lying down on the bed.

I didn’t want to let him know when he is away that the issue is this serious as he has enough things to deal but now… I shook my head letting the tears fall while losing the hope that he will ever trust my words about his Mom and friends.

Because of the afternoon issue, I stayed in my room and asked the helpers to get food for me as I need to take some medicines and did the same for breakfast and lunch the next day while lying on the bed.

All the time I am thinking not about the people living in this house but about the past with Kanika and Anny. Why am I hating myself more and more while thinking about each incident?

In the evening, I finally stepped out of the room after switching on the phone and finding his message that he left the airport and will be here within an hour as he booked the flight not to Mumbai but to this city.

After reaching the living room I didn’t find anyone and walked into the kitchen to find the helpers preparing for the dinner.

“Where is everyone?” I asked them and one of them replied that they are in the garden.

I need to at least be normal with them to not worry Nitish the moment he comes home after that long journey.

“Make sure to add the dishes I mentioned yesterday.” I added and they nod while I prepared coffee for Aunty and Tea for others like they mentioned last time they came to visit. I even made sure to add a glass of juice in the meantime.

When I took the tray into my hands after arranging the coffee mugs and teacups properly, one of the servants in the kitchen reached me saying, “I will bring them out, Madam.”

“It’s okay! You have other works to do. I am going to the garden anyway.” Giving her a smile I turned around and started walking out of the kitchen.

After a few steps, I realized I forgot the glass of juice, I prepared earlier and without it, there will be another drama.

With a sigh, I turned around to step closer to the kitchen but paused hearing the conversation going on which is of course about me.

“I don’t think she forgot the glass intentionally. Madam doesn’t seem like that petty.” So they realized I forgot the glass.

“She should forget it intentionally and it wouldn’t be petty at all. The owner of this glass is acting too much like the future daughter-in-law of this house when Madam is already here. Madam has too much patience to not say anything.” I closed my eyes before taking a deep breath.

“I seem to have forgotten the glass. Can anyone of you bring it over?” I called out without entering the kitchen and immediately there is the silence surrounding me.

“Thank you! I feel like every one of you is very efficient in handling the works in this house and I don’t want any of you to get fired by getting caught by someone else during these gossip sessions. So, be careful about the words you say in this house.” I calmly voiced out with a smile before walking away while trying to keep my smile intact.

If Aunty hears them and decides to fire them, I don’t have the power to stop her for this matter as even Nitish wouldn’t like the helpers to gossip about his friends in a wrong way.

Reaching the garden I found the guests talking to each other laughing which calmed down the moment I reached their sight but my smile didn’t slip at all.

“Mom… Aunty! Here is your Tea with less sugar.” I said passing the specific one after placing the tray on the table which she took without saying a word.

I remember her words from yesterday that I shouldn’t call her ‘Mom’ and as I practiced all this time it slipped a bit and also because I got used to it but I corrected it immediately.

“Very sweet of you to remember that I don’t drink Tea or Coffee and brought me Juice.” I nodded at this guest who is the person earlier the staff is talking about.

I don’t want to even think of her name and just see her as a guest to be cordial and not give any worry the moment Nitish comes here. This is the first time I am passing the juice after the huge incident from last time regarding this stupid juice.

“You are too health-conscious, dear. Even though you are taking a break from the projects, you still follow the diet with discipline. It is very difficult to find people with discipline these days.” Aunty commented while giving her a genuine smile and at the same time poking me with those words.

After that, the others just laughed and continued to talk while I just stood there in silence and I don’t know whether there is any difference between the furniture and me.

Looks like my plan to make everything normal is a fail from the start. Okay! I will be silent too and will not say anything and I did all this for Nitish’s sake and not yours.

Checking the time, I turned around to walk back into the house knowing well he will be back by this time, and calmly passed the time while checking the magazine.

I couldn’t help but think about how to greet him when he comes as I don’t have any energy left to be happy right with so many things in my head but he will be worried if I don’t smile and so I even practiced a bit and made sure to keep it on my face hearing the car sound from outside.

I smiled getting up when I saw him entering the house but the first thing he said was, “Where are they?”

This time I let the smile slip from my face which he realized before asking, “What happened?”

I sighed before saying, “If I tell you, will you really listen or just hear my words before saying I am just imagining the things?”

“Not again, Shrishti!” he mumbled removing his necktie.

“I know! I am just being sensitive.” I nodded before turning around and without pausing anywhere, reached our room before finally letting go of my fisted hands.

I didn’t hear any sound after saying those words and didn’t intend to and just closed the door in silence.

After sitting down on the chair near the window, I unlocked my phone to see a notification from Insta and it turned out to be from Anny which is just another post to tease Prathap.

I smiled looking at the post and this time it was genuine than any of my smiles earlier and somehow on instinct opened the contacts and typed his name but paused from pressing the call option.

No! Don’t! Don’t disturb them, Shrishti! Don’t break your promise! You deserve all this! You deserve each one of these moments and don’t take any kind of protection from your friends.

I thought I can be together with them like in the past as these few months I was having normal fun with all of them but now… after that long reflection of the past events and looking them in a deep perspective, I lost all the confidence I built recently to be like in the past.

*Nitish Pov*

I called her name a few times thinking she misunderstood my words based on her response to them but she already started climbing the stairs ignoring me and I stared at her back with my hands fisted and walked towards the kitchen to ask where are the guests and immediately reached the garden to find them laughing and talking to each other.

“Nitish!” Lisa said smiling when she found me walking towards them and everyone smiled while I just frowned at them.

“What did I tell you yesterday, Rohan?” I asked looking at him while he looked away clearing his throat.

“I am asking you something.” I shouted while he glanced at Mom.

“I asked them to not go.” Mom simply replied and I turned to frown at her.

“Mom!” while she shook her head laughing but it is not from happiness.

“They are your friends for a decade and you really tried to throw them out of the house for a girl? Why are you still worried about your Dad’s pressure and caring for her stupid requests?” she asked and I stared at her in shock.

“Mom! She is my fiance and also my girlfriend. She is not feeling well already but still, you came here with Lisa when I talked to her in front of you all especially that she will be taking a rest here. On top of that, they are here too to make all these preparations. Everyone present here knows that you all don’t stand on the same ground with Shrishti and there are differences between you guys. I wanted her to rest properly but still didn’t think much. However, I realized she must be going through something else than I think I know and I wanted her to be in peace until I return. I requested… I literally requested them to leave and said I will manage the function arrangements. Why did you make them stay?” I shouted not able to stop myself.

From yesterday every second all I could think is her letting out that sob and immediately cutting the call. I hated myself to be so far away and immediately called Rohan to leave the place taking Lisa with him.

When I reached the airport and called Arjun to start a plan with Rohan regarding the allotment of the investment, he said that these people are still here.

All the way, I felt the anger rise every second and in the end, I again hurt her to ask about them instead of even talking a word to her.

Damnit! Why didn’t I control my anger and had a talk with her instead of coming to her to confront them? But I would have literally burst out and I didn’t want to near do it near her.

“You… you” Mom stuttered while staring at me with widened eyes and it could be because I shouted at her which I never did in my life.

“Will you guys leave or not? I will not be polite anymore.” I asked turning towards my friends and except for Lisa other two stared at me with widened eyes.

“Nitish! The function is to be held within a week and Aunty needs our help as we already started doing everything. We never disturbed her and she even stayed in her room from yesterday to now. What did she say to make you hurt your Mom and your friends?” Lisa asked frowning at me.

I stared at her and others and then at Mom who just sat there without saying a word and just have a shocked expression.

I don’t even want to look at them right now as I am still in disbelief with the actions that Arjun mentioned on my way here. Was that all true?

“Fine! You all stay here while Shrishti and I will leave this place to you guys to prepare for whatever function and do whatever you all want to.” Saying that I walked away in a hurry to reach our room and opened the door only to lose my balance by seeing her tears.

She started brushing them away when I started walking close to her and she calmly said, “Go and freshen up! Have some food early and try to sleep to get adjusted to the timings.”

“Shrishti! I am so sorry.” She frowned hearing those words but didn’t say anything.

“Let’s go!” this time she glanced at me with confused eyes.

“We will go and stay in the city.” Saying that I shifted to get the bag from the cupboard and packed her things a bit while asking whether these are fine and she nodded and shook her head giving instructions in a daze.

“What happened?” she asked in a confused tone after coming out of the daze.

“I wanted to throw them out of the place politely to give you peace but they are not leaving and so we will be going away from this place to get you some peace.” I replied closing the bag.

“How do you know what happened? Because of Lisa’s confession?” She asked frowning and I frowned back at her.

“What confession?” I asked back and she just continued to frown at me in confusion without saying a word.

“Leave it! Let’s get out of here.” I mumbled forwarding my hand for her to hold.

“You just traveled all this time and we need to travel again. Why don’t you…” I cut her off by holding her hand.

“Let’s go, Shrishti! Let’s go and rest together and then talk after we got enough rest.” I offered and she nodded without any expression on her face.

I couldn’t help but tighten my hold on her hand while remembering my conversation with Arjun during the journey to this place from the airport.

Was I… was I really that blind all this time? If I am then I don’t know how to ask her forgiveness and I don’t know how to forgive myself.

‘Not again, Shrishti!’ I mean these words I said earlier to her more than anything as I will make sure that she will not go through the things Arjun mentioned again.

*Third Person Pov*

“How… how can he shout at you like that, Aunty?” Lisa asked looking at the woman who is still sitting in shock even after they all heard Nitish already leaving with Shrishti.

“What did she tell him to make him react like that? He just returned and must be tired but now… God! You didn’t even say anything to her yesterday except that she is acting as an owner of this house and acting as an obedient person near you but trying to look down on you all this time. It is was nowhere near wrong.” Lisa continued to try to make the situation intense but is confused looking at others’ reactions as they are not angry but actually confused.

“Just because her Dad is working at the top position in GH and that Uncle is behind this marriage, she is not leaving any stone unturned with her act near Nitish. Aunty! Don’t worry about this incident. After Nitish calms down, he will regret it.” Lisa is lost with the words to say when not getting the needed reaction.

‘Why did everything turn into a mess? Aren’t they supposed to fight because of my act in front of Shrishti about my confession? Why is he fighting with us instead of her? Did I overlook this Shrishti’s slyness? Did she play something else near him which made him react like this? What is happening? I can’t lose my pace otherwise all the work during these past weeks will be a huge waste.’ Lisa’s mind is jumbled with all these thoughts and is nearly shivering with confused thoughts regarding the present situation.

She rubbed her forehead and turned to find a woman standing near the backdoor while staring at them.

“Who are you? What are you doing here?” finally everyone snapped and turned to find that woman.

“I am the assistant of the designer with whom Ms.Kalyani placed an order for two evening attires for women and then two attires for men and I am here to deliver those and also to see if there is any need for alterations.” Kanika stated looking at them while trying to understand the words she just heard from this woman’s mouth who is none other than Lisa.