Chapter 34: Chapter 34

*Kanika Pov*

“So? Why did you come here directly instead of waiting in the living room?” Lisa asked frowning at me and seems like she doesn’t remember me.

“I didn’t find anyone when I walked to the entrance and tried calling the number that was given to me but with no response, I came here. Should I have gone back to Mumbai?” I asked back staring at her and her expression just turned worse than the earlier one.

“Lisa! You handle it.” Saying that Nitish’s Mom stood up before walking towards me and didn’t even glance at me.

After a few seconds, Lisa moved towards me while muttering, “Where did these helpers go? Why are they getting a salary for? Can’t even do one work properly!”

I followed her to the living room where the two staff members I brought with me are waiting with the attires.

I frowned at the way Lisa is behaving and sat down while gesturing for the clothes and the staff immediately moved to display the clothes that were prepared according to the instructions we got.

I already got the doubt when I got the measurements for the one other than the one that could be for Nitish’s Mom. These didn’t seem to be Shrishti’s but I let the doubt be and now I understand why the measurements were nowhere near to her as this was for Lisa.

I am glad that I didn’t work on these two women’s clothes and just worked on the men’s. I looked around while Lisa continued to check and mainly her attire.

With my phone ringing and looking at the number, I excused myself to step away and reach the garden entrance before picking the call.

“Did you reach?” he asked in a calm tone.

“Yes!” I mumbled looking up and found Nitish’s friends still sitting there in silence. Will they remember me?

I can understand why they don’t remember me as I just saw them from the other side of the venue when the engagement was held. However, I didn’t expect Lisa to actually forget me.

“Did you meet her?” all my thoughts paused hearing his question and I smiled thinking this was expected.

“Why is the design changed this way?” Lisa’s voice stopped me before I can reply to his question.

“You can give her a call if you are worried. I need to go.” I replied to him while nodding at the staff who are looking at me with a worried look because of Lisa’s attitude.

“I didn’t mean…” he paused and I waited for a second for him to continue but he just sighed saying, “Okay! I will talk later when you are free.”

After cutting the call I walked closer to Lisa and found the problem she is showing to which I calmly explained how the cloth they mentioned in the details will not be good with this design pattern they asked for and so a few changes were made.

“How can you make changes without letting us know?” she asked frowning.

“I already confirmed it with Ms. Kalyani who gave us the permission to change it as the way if we follow your idea then you can’t even wear the dress and it would have dropped down from your body.” I explained even more clearly ignoring the staff’s shocked look while Lisa frowned at me.

“You…” she mumbled but then shook her head before nodding and glanced at the room in the corner of the living room.

“Is it possible for you all to stay for a day? A few of the ones are not here to try these outfits as you guys were early. It was your fault to come early.” Typical of her for sure to blame us.

I glanced at the staff who were ready to comment but I shook my head at them before accepting her words and in turn, asked for the accommodation as it is late and to back and search for a hotel room will be difficult even though I know I can directly go to the GH hotel.

“Where are these people?” she shouted standing up and walked towards the kitchen while I messaged my boss regarding the change in plans and also mentioned how I may need a few days’ leave depending on a certain situation.

“Why are you all bundled here instead of caring about the guests? If she is not here then will you all not work? Clean up two rooms and also prepare extra dinner.” I can clearly hear her voice from the kitchen and I frowned more.

She is not here? Why is she not here? Where is Nitish? I looked around thinking who can give me the answers.

I know Prathap and Vikranth were worried all these days about Shrishti and always mention her but didn’t contact her thinking she must be busy and other things.

I followed the person who walked out of the kitchen to show the room and I asked her to show a room for my staff first. After they are settled, she took me to another room on the second floor.

I remember Shrishti once talked about how good these people were and took care of the place in an amazing way. Will they have answers to my questions?

“Uhmm… Where is Shrishti?” I asked staring at her and she immediately glanced up in shock.

“You know our madam?” she asked and I nodded before explaining how I am the wife of her best friend and she immediately smiled but her smile slipped.

“Tell me what happened. She would need her family’s help, right?” I stressed about it and she finally told me everything that was happening these few weeks from the moment these guests entered this place.

I frowned hearing these things not knowing how to react and finally let her go but stressed not let others know about my relationship with Shrishti.

She assured me before walking out of the room while I sat down rubbing my forehead. I took out my phone and called her number only to find that it was switched off.

At least Nitish is with her but where did they go? I glanced at Vikranth’s contact but paused thinking it is better to have a talk with Shrishti first before talking to him.

However, I didn’t stop myself from contacting Anitha and asked her where is she the moment she picked the call.

“Just reached the shooting site as I have a few scenes to shoot. What happened?” She asked in a worried tone hearing my voice.

“You have to shoot tomorrow?” I asked ignoring her question.

“No! It will finish by early in the morning if everything goes well. What happened?” she repeated and I sighed thinking it is better to not tell her now as it may impact her shooting.

“Okay! Try to take leave for two days and don’t ask me any details for now.” I replied and she accepted without asking anything else.

I already knew that I am coming to the place Shrishti is staying after seeing Ms. Kalyan’'s name and also the address she gave. That’s the reason I specially came here as Shrishti is not talking much no matter who called her up and I remember her call from last time where she didn’t sound good.

I even mentioned to Vikranth that I am coming to the place where Shrishti is staying at and that’s why he called to ask about her. I understand his worry about her but he is stubborn to not call her himself after she distanced herself from them a bit.

I need not come here for alterations as my boss makes sure there will be no alterations. However, I specially asked her that I want to be here even though this was simple job work, unlike others.

I guess it is a good thing that I came otherwise I don’t know when would Shrishti let anyone know about her situation. I sighed freshening up and went downstairs for dinner.

Everyone was quiet except for Lisa who was just repeating the words from earlier when I reached the garden and no one is reacting to her words.

“Aunty! We will go back tonight.” One of the friends commented and Lisa immediately stopped him saying she would need help with the preparations.

“If not for the rude attitude Shrishti’s assistant showed, we would have someone to guide us but Aunty is better than any kind of event management.” She continued while praising Nitish’s Mom who is not reacting even to those words making me frown.

This is not what the helper mentioned as she said all these people put down Shrishti then why is only Lisa talking right now? I need to meet Shrishti before deciding on anything else.

*Nitish Pov*

After reaching the city I asked the cab driver to drop us at GH hotel and she just sat there in silence while looking outside while I held her hand in mine not letting it go.

I switched off my phone already along with hers thinking they will call us to come back or to say anything else but right now I don’t want to talk to anyone except for Shrishti.

When we finally settled in the room, she calmly ordered the food for us before freshening up using the clothes I packed for her.

I sat on the bed with my hands fisted not knowing what to even say to her right now. It is better if she rest first and then I will talk to her.

After finishing the dinner, she laid down to sleep and I frowned when she took some tablets before laying down.

I expected that she is not feeling well when we talked yesterday but I didn’t realize it was this worse to take medication.

I sighed sitting beside her sleeping form and caressed her hair with my heart filled with guilt and worry. Why didn’t I listen to her?

“Arjun! I mailed you the selected plan we decided in the past and take Rohan’s help to conduct a meeting with the experts and I will come to the company day after tomorrow.” I mentioned getting into the cab outside the airport while he stayed silent.

“I will handle it and it doesn’t make any difference with Rohan helping me through phone from that place.” He mumbled after a few seconds and I frowned hearing those words.

“What do you mean? Rohan didn’t return? I asked him to return yesterday itself, didn’t I?” I asked and he just sighed.

“Will he? Doesn’t he have to stay there to look down on Shrishti?” he asked back and I couldn’t help but feel more confused.

“What do you mean?” however I was not prepared hearing his reply to my question.

“I can understand why you didn’t realize as they kind of behave normally in front of you but Shrishti didn’t say anything about them? At first, even I believed them when they said how you were forced into this marriage and I even felt bad for you and even though we should work hard to help you out of this situation but later I realized you genuinely like her. Then I thought who cares how it started when you are happy at the end and so I looked at her as your fiance and even understood her a bit in just a few encounters. However, I heard Lisa and Rohan conversing a few times while looking down on her and taking the double meaning of her actions.” He mumbled and my hold on the phone tightened hearing his words.

“Tell me clearly what happened.” I requested with a fear of hearing the answer to that and also wanting to hear everything.

“It kind of looked innocent from their side in the beginning like they genuinely got hurt or something because of Shrishti and mainly from Rohan but I felt Lisa be on another line as she took it further at every situation. It was just a few meetings but every time even though Shrishti stayed silent, these two didn’t stop at all. This was the same when we came to the villa to meet Aunty and Lisa a few times. Even recently when we went to the villa, Lisa took the situation regarding the garden out of proportion and even talked badly about Grandma like if she is not here then why care about the garden. Even I couldn’t bear to hear such words when I don’t even know your Grandma but Shrishti didn’t back down. All I know is that they really look down on Shrishti and the reason could be their worry for you regarding your Dad forcing you but still they hurt her with their actions and I hope you let them know how important Shrishti is for you. Even Aunty never stopped them and sometimes joined them.” I brushed away a lone tear rolling down my cheek while taking a deep breath hearing all that.

“Thank you, Arjun! I… thank you for saying these things otherwise…” I cut the words saying how I would have continued to hurt Shrishti by not believing her words.

I shouldn’t have ignored her when she mentioned my friend’s and Mom’s behavior and just thought that they don’t know her and that’s why they are acting indifferently with her.

All I thought is how everything will be fine when I sit down and explain clearly how important she is to me but didn’t realize what will happen in the meantime.

It was my fault to not establish her importance before them and caused her to face these things. Arjun didn’t meet her much and already these many things happened, then what would have happened when he was not there.

How must she be handling Lisa and Mom all these weeks? Why didn’t I listen to her from the beginning? Just because I trusted Mom and my friends on how they will not cross any line but what could I know about them when I never saw them acting wrongly towards anyone.

“I am sorry!” I whispered placing a kiss on her cheek and laid down to sleep while holding her in my arms with my heart still worried thinking what else could have happened other than the things Arjun mentioned.

The next day I woke up to find her still sleeping and so freshened up first to order breakfast for us while switching on my phone to message Arjun to handle the meeting by himself for now.

I will just go back to Mumbai tomorrow with Shrishti if she is fine with it as she has work to do here otherwise I will handle the meeting from the hotel room.

I couldn’t help but stare at her continuously wishing to know what is wrong with her health and why is she taking those medications but I want her to sleep better more than any other worry and so I kept quiet but she finally opened her eyes.

“Hungry!” she whispered closing her eyes back.

“It’s already here.” I whispered and she nodded before sitting up and walked into the washroom to freshen up while I removed the top of the dishes and arranged the plates to serve her.

“Some bread and juice are enough for me.” She mumbled sitting down.

“Have others too!” saying that I started serving but she shook her head with an uneasy expression.

“Fine! Just have what you want to.” I didn’t push her and we both finished eating in silence without exchanging a single word unlike in the past.

After getting the dishes cleared by calling the room service, I turned around to find her switching on the phone and my phone started ringing.

I ignored it and when the call stopped, her phone started ringing and she picked it up after glancing at me.

“Uncle?” she asked and I frowned realizing he called her when I didn’t pick the call from him.

“You are at the villa? We are staying in the city. Nitish? He is here and was talking to room service. Okay!” saying that she passed the phone.

I frowned at her but took the phone asking, “What is it, Dad?”

“Why are staying somewhere else? Come back! We need to discuss the new investor you got and also a few friends of mine are interested in investing in your company. Looks like arranging a marriage with the person involved with GH is really a good move from us.” He sounded so happy that I wanted to throw the phone but then this I Shrishti’s and so calmed down a bit.

“It is not possible for me to meet you today and I am going back to Mumbai with Shrishti tomorrow if it is fine with her. So, let’s talk later.” He shouted my name hearing those words.

“It is no use to ask you. Give the phone back to Shrishti and I will ask her myself.” He demanded but I ignored his words while Shrishti just stared at the table before her.

“Give it back otherwise I will just call her myself after this call is cut.” He warned making me frown.

I cut the call and mumbled, “I am switching it off otherwise he will call again and ask us to go back.”

“No need! You go and meet him.” She mumbled taking the phone away from my hands.

“We need to talk about a few things, Shrishti.” I pointed out but she shook her head.

“Even I wanted to yesterday but now I don’t want to talk about anything except to rest for a bit more. I may get calls from my assistant and I don’t want to switch off my phone. If you want to let me rest then you go and meet your Dad.” Saying that she stood up to walk towards the bed but I stopped her before she can pass me by pulling her into my arms.

“I am sorry! I am sorry that I didn’t hear you and I am sorry that I didn’t realize what you are going through. I want to talk to you and will believe each and everything you say right now and I will set everything right.” I pleaded with her but she stayed silent.

“I am not angry at you. I understand why you didn’t believe me as they were your friends and family and must have been good friends for you. They must have acted like this because of my presence otherwise they wouldn’t have been like this and that’s why you didn’t realize their actions. If the scene was reversed from my side even though I can’t even think of Vikranth and Prathap acting the way your friends did but still I would have trusted them over you. See? I am even adding on how there is no way Vikranth and Prathap to act this way while trying to understand the situation.” She sighed at the end of her words while I tightened my hold on her.

“You must have been shocked hearing Lisa’s confession.” She added and I frowned at her before releasing her.

“What confession? You even mentioned it yesterday.” I mumbled she frowned at my words.

“Day before yesterday when she called you regarding the garden incident to show me how you will support your Mom and her but when you, in turn, supported me, she confessed to you, didn’t she?” she asked and I shook my head immediately.

“No! While I was talking, she suddenly cut the call and I was busy with some other things and so I didn’t call her back to continue.” I whispered and our eyes widened understanding the situation.

“How dare she!” I said feeling the anger raising more than yesterday at her.

“Why? Because you realized that she still likes you?” she asked staring at me and I shook my head.

“If she had mentioned that she likes me then I would have just told her that I just see her as a friend and would have even stayed away from her so that she can get over her feelings and also make you not worry. But I am angry because she played in front of you that she confessed to split us apart. How can a friend do that? I… I…” I couldn’t say anything else on how to express my sudden anger realizing what a cunning thing Lisa did to break us up.

“She doesn’t have the power to make me doubt you. I trust you as you already told me that you don’t have any lingering feelings for her.” Her words pinched me.

“But I let you down by not trusting you.” I whispered and she looked away.

“Then why were you angry yesterday?” she asked in a whisper.

“I asked Rohan to leave the day before yesterday itself when you cried but when I found that they are still here and also Arjun mentioned a few things, I lost my composure and behaved that way. I must have hurt you when I didn’t talk to you and just asked about them.” I replied placing my hand on her cheek to make her turn to look at me.

“Then… then why didn’t you reacted that way when I gave a sad expression like irritated that I was hurt with your question about them?” she asked frowning.

“It was not about you. I wanted to say you will not get hurt again but somehow it came out like that and I ended up hurting you the next second I promised myself to not let you get hurt.” I explained and I know yesterday the way I said that was too weird and I can’t take it back now.

“Go for now and let’s talk when we both calm down a bit.” Saying that stepped out of my embrace before walking towards the bed.

“Go! And let’s not go back to Mumbai as we need to attend the function too. You can go ahead as you need to do things at the company while I will just stay here.” Adding that she laid down and I just stared at her.

She closed her eyes showing that she will not change her mind and I rubbed my face in frustration before walking out of the room. I will finish the things with Dad and return as soon as possible.