Chapter 35: Chapter 35

*Shrishti Pov*

I didn’t sleep and just laid there even after he felt but opened my eyes when my phone started ringing and got surprised seeing the caller ID.

“Kanika? Is everything fine?” I asked sitting up and she stayed silent for a few seconds.

“I called you yesterday but your phone was switched off.” She said instead of replying to my question.

“Hmm… I was a bit tired with handling things at the Villa and didn’t charge my phone.” I lied without missing a beat just like I lied many times whenever my friends called me to ask how am I doing.

“Really?” she asked in a whisper and I frowned realizing her tone doesn’t seem to be normal.

“Where are you now? Don’t say you are at the villa.” She immediately added and I paused realizing she somehow knows that I am not at the villa and how she knows that I don’t know.

“At GH, in the room placed aside for our families.” I whispered and she cut the call while I continued to sit.

I frowned biting my lip thinking about what to say to her if she asks me why am I here. I can just say I worked until late last night and stayed here as I did that in the past a few times.

However, it didn’t seem like a simple meeting with the way she talked. Isn’t she someone who doesn’t talk much and doesn’t say anything other than what is needed?

Why is she going out of the way to point out my lie and even coming here to meet me? Did something happen? But whenever I asked whether everything is fine, my friends always said everything is fine.

Oh god! Did the elders found out about their divorce? Oh No! I thought getting down the bed to give Vikranth a call but stopped myself thinking I should first talk to Kanika as she is already here.

I adjusted the bed a bit and sat down waiting for her but then realized I don’t know from where is she coming to the hotel. From the station? Train or Flight? I ignored the doubts and just waited for her.

After an hour, I finally heard the bell ringing and opened the door to find her frowning face while I awkwardly smiled at her.

“How are you? Shall I order some coffee or tea or some Juice?” I asked walking inside and she followed me.

“Sit down!” she mumbled gesturing to the couch which should have been my dialogue as she is the one who came here to meet me.

However, I calmly sat down seeing her expression and she sat beside me asking, “Why didn’t you let your friends or family know what is going on here?”

“How… how…” I just stuttered after realizing what is she talking about even though for a few seconds I didn’t understand.

She calmly explained how the designer she is working with is the one that got hired for the outfits and she came here realizing it is the place where I am living and also realizing it is the order from Nitish’s Mom. However, she ended up finding out what happened and also asked the helper there.

I closed my eyes and leaned back realizing without intending to, I ended up making these people involved.

“Don’t tell anyone, Kanika.” I pleaded with her while she stayed silent making me open my eyes.

“Why? Why are you hiding everything and bearing this? Or do you actually think all this will go away when you get married? Let me tell you that it will not happen and it may even get worse.” She pointed out while I smiled thinking this is the first time I am listening to her talking so much while she continued to show a hard expression.

“I know! I am not that stupid to think they will treat me good just because I become Nitish’s legal wife.” I nodded and she sighed shaking her head.

“Don’t be angry! I am fine and Nitish started realizing too.” I added while she frowned hearing those words.

“I can understand that this treatment is not just from the time you are staying at the villa and must be happening for a long time. And you are saying he just started realizing?” she asked calmly but the way she said that scared me a bit.

“I already told him and he knows that they are against and he already thought of talking to them but didn’t realize they were crossing the line and just did. It’s not his fault.” I explained while she opened her mouth and closed it before taking out her phone.

“No! Don’t tell them! Nitish will set it right and I trust him.” I whispered while she slowly nodded.

“I know! But in his mind, they will always be his best friends and no matter what that feeling will not go and he will not react the way which will solve everything. He needs some push and I will help you with it. Also, someone needs a huge lesson for messing with you and also forgetting that you are related to a person who knows every shameful thing that person did in her recent years.” She explained but I still shook my head.

“Shrishti! Do you know that you are at fault too?” I frowned hearing those words.

“You have a family who will support you no matter what and have friends who will always be there as a shield for you. If with all this support, you bear such things then just think about the people who need to bear such treatment from their in-laws who doesn’t have any support from a single person. What is stopping you from letting others know about these things? Is there any single person in your life who would just say that you need to bear with it and not ask for help?” she asked fisting her hands and my eyes filled up with tears hearing that.

“You are educated and an independent woman but still ended up letting other people torture you mentally? Don’t you know your worth? Do you know how many people will do anything to be in your situation where they can be independent and also have supporting people to break out from their situations? Why did you put up with these things? Why?” she asked calmly and I covered my face not able to control my tears anymore while she shifted to hold me.

She didn’t say anything while I just continued to cry and I don’t know how much time passed before I slowly controlled myself a bit.

“I didn’t want to be a hurdle who hurt my friends with me continuously reaching them for every single problem in my life like in that past. They have their own life now.” I mumbled and she sighed which could be because she remembered my promise about how I will try to stay away from my friends in the past which I did near Anny and her.

“Also, I know that I deserve all these things for hurting Anny and you with my actions in the past.” She moved me immediately to stare at me with a confused look.

“What do you mean?” she asked and I calmly explained my past actions one by one and how I got the same things from here.

“Is that how your brain works? You are not just insulting yourself but also Prathap’s Mom by comparing with those people. Aunty was against Anny but except for a few words, she never hurt her mentally. She showed her reason on face why she doesn’t like Anny and the moment she know that they both like each other, she even went against her husband to support Prathap and Anny. And I know for sure not a single action of yours was intentional. Was it?” She asked and I immediately shook my head.

“There is such heaven and hell difference between your actions and that Lisa’s actions and you are comparing yourself with her?” she shook her head and immediately called a number.

“Come to the GH hotel in this city with Prathap and Anny. Do not waste a second as your friend needs you immediately.” She started the conversation with those words.

“Yes! It is urgent and I will say everything when you all are here.” With those ending words she cut the call while I stared at her in shock.

She then called the room service asking for some snacks and juice and turned to stare at me while I don’t have words to say.

“Do you really want to be with Nitish?” she suddenly asked and I looked down hearing those words.

“I like him, Kanika!” I whispered instead of replying to her question and she stayed silent.

“In the beginning, I started the idea of being with him thinking he already knows all my faults like me having a crush on Vikranth and then the things I did and so who else would want to be with me. But then I like him too at the same time as I know him just like how he knows me. He gave me everything that I needed in the past from a shoulder to lean over to an ear to listen to my words to warmth while holding me. I know I was hurt with him not listening but I also know the moment he understands he will stay by my side.” I explained and she slowly nodded.

“However, I want to have some space from everything from the bottom of my heart. With no engagement or any relationships hanging in my neck. A few days back I wanted to run away from this place and hide somewhere but the engagement kind of stopped me but still I would have run away after a day or two but then I found out that I was pregnant.” She stiffened hearing that while I gave a tired smile at her.

“I wanted to run more hearing that and I didn’t want to even think of running because of the same. Now, not just the engagement but also this… this…” I stopped pointing at my stomach while she calmed her shocked expression.

“Congratulations!” she whispered smiling and I smiled with my tears starting again to flow after hearing that word.

“Thank you!” I whispered back feeling a sense of calmness after talking about all these things and adding to that there is a sense of security knowing that I am going to meet my friends and they will be here for me.

However, there is a worry adding to all these thinking about their treatment towards Nitish after knowing all these things as I know in my heart Nitish wouldn’t have acted this way if he actually knew what is going on. I am hurt with his trust in their behavior and not in my words but then we know each other for just a short time while he knows them for so long.

*Nitish Pov*

“Nitish!” I felt the anger surging in again hearing her voice and showed the same on my face when she reached to stand before me with a smile.

Her smile slipped but she cleared her throat saying, “I didn’t know you will come back this fast otherwise I would have made the staff of the designer stay back so that they can help if there is any need to alter the suit you will be wearing.”

I ignored her words but in turn stated, “I need to ask a few things later and I hope I will get honest answers.”

After passing her, I found Mom sitting in the living room along with Rohan and for the first time, I ignored her and continued to walk towards the study room where Dad is waiting for me.

“Nitish! I need to talk to you.” I paused hearing those words and turned to find her standing up with a worry-filled face.

“Not right now, Mom! Dad asked me to come here for some business work and I need to go back soon to reach Shrishti’s side.” Saying that I waited for her to scold me but she looked down with a sad expression.

I shifted to go near her but stopped myself while reminding my mind that I need to talk to Shrishti before having any confrontation with them.

And so I turned away to continue to walk towards the study room feeling regret that there came a day when I ignore Mom to talk to Dad.

I thought the meeting with Dad will finish soon but he nearly took three hours of time and stopped me whenever I tried to leave.

“Dad! What is the hurry? You will be here until the function, right? We can talk anytime and right now I need to do something.” I stated but he shook his head.

“You don’t understand anything, Nitish. Many of my acquaintances are going to attend this function and I talked about your business a lot. We need to make plans from now on so that you can increase your business. Also, do you want to just be in this entertainment agency business? Look at Vikranth who is of the same age but still going to lengths and didn’t stop at one phase.” He continued while I rubbed my neck feeling tired.

With such a long journey I already got tired but then couldn’t sleep properly at night with all these things in my head and now all that stands in my mind is that I need to go and talk to Shrishti and assure her that there will be no senseless mistake from my side and I will always trust her.

If she is troubled with my family and friends then I will never let them come to be near her presence at all. It’s already enough that I ignored her words all these days thinking this was just a normal difference between them but now I don’t care what it is.

Finally, he let me go as it is already past lunchtime and I already messaged Shrishti to order some food and not wait for me.

After leaving the study room, I reached the living room where Mom is still sitting at the place where she was earlier and right now she is alone and lost in her thoughts. She didn’t move all these hours? I frowned and tried to walk away ignoring it but couldn’t help myself to reach her side.

“Mom! What is it that you want to talk about?” I asked looking at her.

“Not here!” she whispered when Dad walked out of the study room talking on his phone and I nodded before we both walked towards the garden while he walked towards the bedroom.

She sat down and gestured me to sit before asking, “You actually like Shrishti?”

“Of course, Mom!” I replied without a pause and she held her hands together with a worried look on her face.

“From when?” she continued and I told her that it is way before we mentioned agreeing to this marriage and she gripped her hands tightly.

“You… you told me once but… but I didn’t listen. Why didn’t I?” she mumbled looking down and I frowned at her reaction.

“Mom! I already knew you were not in favor of this marriage proposal and was I willing to explain as much as I can and planned to even sit down to explain better after my business matter gets cleared but all this happened. I had confidence that even though you didn’t like her, you wouldn’t hurt her. Can you tell me exactly the things that happened in Mumbai whenever you met Shrishti and also here?” I asked looking at her and she nodded.

“I always thought you still like Lisa even after your breakup and that’s why you were single but when I found you were getting forced into a marriage because of your Dad like I was forced by my Dad, I couldn’t bear it. I tried fighting with him to stop it but he just talked about how influential Guptha Holdings are and how much benefit he will receive for his political career. But still, I tried to hold it in before you as I don’t want you to stay single forever too. Then Lisa returned back here and I found from her looks that she still has an interest in you and was even hurt when she saw you with Shrishti.” She explained and I stared at her in shock hearing the last words.

“I felt that this is a chance for you to be with the person you like and not let your Dad influence you and I tried to… tried to act rudely with Shrishti to show how good Lisa is for you and not her. However, you were stubborn to follow this because of your business, or that’s what I thought and I increased my actions against Shrishti not letting a chance slip.” I stared at her in shock.

“Mom! Didn’t I say that I am not being forced?” I asked and she nodded while taking a deep breath.

“But for my mind, you were lying and didn’t have a chance to go against your Dad. Even after knowing that a few things were going wrong with the way she was getting treated, I let it be as I felt that’s the way for you to be free. If she cancels this engagement then your Dad can’t force you, right? I know Lisa was doing things wrong but in my eyes, those were her way of showing the love she has for you and the fight she is showing to not lose you. I… I let it happen even though inside I know it was wrong. All I wanted is for you to have freedom and be with someone you love. I just… I should have believed you.” Saying that she held my hands with hers while I just stared at her.

I just sat there taking in all those words while getting my belief in my Mom shatter into pieces. She is the one whom I trusted the most along with my Grandma and I always had confidence in her that she will never hurt someone.

I have seen her getting hurt all these years but this is the first time I know she intentionally hurt someone else and that too a person who is important to me.

“Aunty! Why are you crying?” we both heard a voice and a few footsteps reaching our side and I closed my eyes not holding Mom’s hands back.

“Nitish! Why are you hurting your Mom like this? I don’t know what did Shrishti tell you but Aunty never hurt her at all. She even bear with Shrishti’s tardiness with the timings she slept and also everything else. Don’t let Aunty cry like this and promise her to return.” I opened my eyes and turned to stare at Lisa with a glare.

“Are you done?” I asked removed Mom’s hands over mine to stand up.

I glanced at the other two and mainly at Rohan saying, “Listen to me well because I will not say it again no matter what.”

“I am not marrying Shrishti because of any business at all and I am marrying her because I like her like I already said in the past.” I stated to which Lisa looked down but then glanced up with a stubborn expression.

“You like her? How long do you know her, Nitish? We all have seen how she is in a real sense. She is not right for you. Now, you already have a great investor powerful than your Dad and you need not go along with his plan. She doesn’t respect Aunty or your friends and she will always be part of GH. Did you forget how GH ruined your company? And to top of that, we don’t know what is in her mind to accept this proposal from your family. Also, who knows what is wrong with her personally…” I pointed my finger at her before she could continue.

“Don’t you dare say anything about her, Lisa. Are you really the person I know all those years back? How can you say anything you wish about my fiance? I thank you for introducing that investor and that’s where it stops.” I warned her and Rohan stepped forward.

“Don’t be harsh with her, Nitish. She is talking that way thinking for you. I now know that you like Shrishti but still don’t look down on the concern from your friend.” Rohan mumbled while I laughed.

“If you are my friends, shouldn’t you all believe what I am saying and supported my relationship instead of being cruel towards her? Don’t say that Shrishti must have said something to me and that’s why I am talking this way. I am stupid enough to not hear when Shrishti was saying everything but finally listened to Arjun and also my Mom confirmed his words. So, don’t go and give me the friendship values right now.” He froze hearing those words and I stared at everyone before walking away but stopped on my way and turned around.

“Listen to me carefully if any of you still have any doubts and try to trouble Shrishti, I will not spare anyone. Also, I will make sure to never let her come near you guys until you all sort yourselves out. I know her way longer than you guys think and I was the one who liked her first. She was ready to help me by continuing to meet me regularly as a prospective proposal to help me as a friend and keep my Dad away until I find a solution but I was the one who crossed the line of friendship and fell for her and I was the one who pestered her to be with me in real sense. She was not ready but I was the one to promise her that I will take care of her and we will be happy together. However, I didn’t expect you guys to hurt someone who is that important to me and I didn’t expect to hurt her like that too.” I shouted while feeling my body trembling with frustration.

“It doesn’t matter to me anymore whether any of you believe my words or not. Let’s meet again only if you give her the respect and importance that should be given to my partner.” I stated while looking at their backs.

I closed my eyes trying to control myself so that Shrishti will not see me like this when I return and finally took a deep breath to just forget about this whole thing to reach her side soon as it’s already a few hours since I left her side.

“Such a good warning but alas it’s no longer needed.” I frowned hearing a voice and turned around along with everyone only to stare ahead in shock.