Chapter 12: Chapter 12

*Third Person Pov*

He knows that there will be no result if he just stay here without doing anything but at present his mind is completely blocked.

He was still, contemplating with everything and came out of those thoughts when the door to his cabin burst open followed by an angry woman marching towards his table.

“How many times should I visit you to make that mind of yours change?” saying that she threw the file on his table with full force.

“Not again!” he mumbled, rubbing his forehead.

“Are you in your right mind? How can you… how can you behave in this way?” she shouted and he is just glad that she had minimum sense to close the door behind her otherwise it would have caused a huge spectacle.

“I already gave my answer to your plan and it will not change no matter how many you ask me.” He pointed out before throwing the file into the bin beside his table.

“Do you think everything can be hid if you throw those away? I remember their names completely and know each and every detail about them. How can you just sit still like this?” she asked, placing her hands on the table.

“I don’t have any vote on that matter.” He replied, staring at her with a cold look and she flinched realizing what she blurted out without realizing.

“And where is the respect you always show when you used to talk to me?” he asked frowning at her.

She knows that she is being too much right now to force him to join her plan and she really doesn’t have any idea regarding the reason why he is not involving himself in this way.

“Did you already forget what happened to three… wait should I count four now? No! I should actually say five people, right? Are you letting go of the matter that effected five people’s lives like this?” she asked with a soft tone and felt tears forming in her eyes.

He calmly closed his eyes not wishing to see her using this method to pursue him because he knows that a thin line is present separating him from taking the needed action but he has other important things to take care of before this.

And he doesn’t have enough time to involve in these matters. No matter who wishes for him to just go along with this plan, he will not follow it.

“Fine! Do you think I am asking you because I can’t do anything? You underestimated me completely.” She mumbled and felt the victory when he opened his eyes to stare at her in confusion.

“Exactly! You actually don’t know everything like you wish for.” Saying those parting words she turned to leave.

“Don’t do anything that will make everyone regret.” She completely ignored his parting words and just left the room, realizing she needs to take many steps to achieve her plan and take revenge for at least those four people even though the fifth one is completely disinterested now will join them when he finds the results of their work.

After she left his cabin, he opened the drawer and took out the file he kept there for quite some time. If she knew that the information she is trying to pass me frequently was already with me all this time then he can’t even imagine her reaction.

This contains more information than she gathered about the Anand family. He tapped his finger on the name ‘Palak Anand’ along with the other two before closing the file. It is just lying near his fingertips, but he knows that it should be hidden inside the drawer for now and concentrate on the main task.

*Palak Pov*

“You are finally home. Do you want to have some tea?” he asked the moment I stepped inside and just ignored my reply before walking towards the kitchen.

I shook my head and walked towards the couch before settling down feeling completely tired. I can’t believe my co-workers are still trying to assign their works to me because of that single mistake.

Wasn’t this the reason because of which I don’t opt for lying? To top of this extra work, I had to deal with Tina’s guilty looks too.

I need to tell them in a serious tone to not just dump their work whenever they have some personal work. I can’t go along with this continuously no matter what.

“Tired?” I opened my eyes to see him staring at me with a frown.

“Yeah! What about my Tea?” I asked, looking at his empty hands.

“I forgot that there is no milk left.” He replied with a guilty look and I sighed leaning back to close my eyes again.

“Why don’t you drink the cappuccino I drink?” he suddenly asked looking at me.

“But you brought it from Mumbai and you will not find it here, right? You do not even drink it whenever you wish to with a worry that they will finish. Then how can I drink that?” I asked him frowning.

“No need to exaggerate so much about it.” He mumbled in an embarrassed tone.

“I am not! You don’t drink normal tea or coffee except for that. I can’t ask you to sacrifice so much for my sake.” I added the last sentence in a dramatic way and this time he raised his eyebrow with a smirk.

Oh no! That is definitely not an innocent look and I need to keep myself in check and not get affected by the words he is going to utter right now.

“If I don’t share it with you, then I don’t have a reason to live.” He said placing his hand on his chest.

“That was definitely cringe worth line.” I mumbled waving him away with my hands so that he can move back.

“I was made to utter even worse lines for the commercials before. So, don’t think you can beat me in this.” He smirked before standing up and walked again towards the kitchen.

“Let’s share one pouch.” I shouted at his back before closing my eyes again.

I immediately opened them hearing my phone ringing and lifted it up when I realized it is his manager calling me. I can’t believe I actually became a mediator between these two.

“Hello! What do you want to ask him today? Is it about another commercial contract or a race?” I asked yawning.

“Oh! I actually wanted to ask him is he going to return now as the time he asked is over.” I suddenly felt my tired eyes opened wide with no trace of sleep in them anymore.

“What?” I asked, raising my voice.

“Yeah! Two weeks are over and it’s the time, which was decided for him to stay at your house, right?” he asked in a confused tone.

“Ms. Palak?” I was brought out of my thoughts hearing him calling my name a few times.

“I… I will ask him and let you know.” Saying that I hung up before he can say anything else.

“Who was that? Why are you so lost?” I glanced to my side to see him sitting beside me with a frown covering his face.

I don’t know how long I was staring at my phone for him to ask such question. I just shook my head and took the cup from his hands before taking a sip and immediately took it away feeling my lips burned a little along with my tongue.

“What are you doing? It was too hot for you to just take a sip like that as if it is water.” He started scolding and took the cup away before placing it on the table.

“Yeah!” I whispered waving a hand over my mouth not able to feel the sense on my tongue.

“Come here!” he mumbled holding my face and placed his finger on my lips before opening them while shaking his head in disbelief.

Why am I not feeling uncomfortable with the way he is behaving right now? Wasn’t I supposed to be relieved when it was time for him to leave my home?

If he goes then I need not be conscious much while sleeping and I need not wait for him to leave the bedroom so that I can use my washroom too. If he goes then I will just come home in peace and do whatever I wish to not caring about anything else.

On top of all this I need to hide anything from my friends and no need to utter any lies too. Everything will be back to normal with a silent life returning like before.

But… but it will be too silent and I… I don’t think I am ready for it because of him. If he leaves then I will just return home tiredly instead of a warm feeling knowing that someone is there waiting for me.

I will never be able to feel that someone needs my presence anytime soon if he leaves. And when will I get to watch someone considerate enough to leave the bedroom even though sleepy so that I can get ready?

Who will ask me these questions regarding my day and make something to drink like this to remove my tiredness. Oh god! What am I even thinking? I thought pressing my lips tightly to not let him survey them anymore.

“Satish just called me to remind you that the two weeks limit I placed is over. So, he wanted to know when will you return home.” I pushed the complete information without pausing for a second and just waited for his reaction.

In the meantime, I concentrated on his face, realizing I completely ignored the fact that all the bruises are long gone and he is back to normal.

“Hmm… I have to leave then.” His words brought me out of my thoughts where I am clearly checking out his features while he is staring at my phone.

“Yeah! You can participate in races and even those pending commercials now. No one will ever know what happened to your face.” I uttered adding an awkward laugh along with it.

“Will you be able to drink it now?” he suddenly asked making me frown.

“What?” I asked, not understanding his question.

“This!” he replied, passing the cup and I gave him a nod before taking a sip.

“It’s not that hot anymore. It will be even worse when you get to drink the remaining half. I will just finish it then.” Saying that I took another sip, but he took it from my hands after that.

“I am already tuned to drink this and also tired to make another one now.” saying that he took a sip from the other side before passing it back.

I don’t know why are we even doing this, but we finished it by taking turns and sat in silence after placing the cup on the table.

“Do you want to freshen up while I prepare something for us?” he asked breaking the silence.

“No! I mean I will prepare something. I already, became lazy making you do everything and I can’t continue it, right?” saying that I stood up and started walking towards the kitchen.

“I will give a call to Satish then.” I closed my eyes, hearing those words, but took a deep breath before reaching the kitchen and started preparing dinner which will definitely taste bad with my mind not at all present while preparing it.

And I was absolutely right, but he didn’t criticize it like I did for him previously. If he had, then maybe everything would have felt more normal instead of this awkward.

That night I couldn’t sleep at all no matter how much I tried. That day when he brought me from the hospital, he started sleeping on the mattress while I got my bed back and I slept peacefully again.

But why it is not letting me have the same peaceful sleep when I need it most so that I can ignore his presence which can keep all the new thoughts passing my mind away.

****

“Why are you so lost today, Palak? Are you feeling okay?” I glanced at my senior’s face, realizing I just missed his briefing about the new patient.

“I am sorry, senior.” I whispered before listening to him again and concentrated on my work.

That felt more tiring than ever and I haven’t even had any extra work to do today. I can feel my hands shaking when I took out my bag from the locker to go home.

“You need to tell us what actually happened. From two days you look very lost.” I closed my eyes, hearing Tina’s voice, and I know Veer is standing with her waiting for my words.

What can I tell them? Yesterday morning he just casually informed that his manager is on the way and he will leave by afternoon and just gave a handshake in a parting way.

How can I say with my own mouth that I didn’t learn from the way he behaved while leaving the hospital and got blown away again by his cold parting? I should have expected that, but I felt this time even more different and I am still in shock with the way he behaved while leaving.

This time it was worse than before and I don’t want to go home at all. When I returned home yesterday, I can clearly see the missing things that were here because of him. He even took the mattress with him which was like a last nail on the coffin.

I already lost sleep the previous day and then when I felt like running away from my home yesterday, of course sleep is the last thought in my mind. And now I am scared to go home no matter how much I am trying to have a self-talk regarding this matter.

“Do you guys want to go somewhere today?” I asked looking at them.

“Sure! Where do you want to go?” Tina asked suppressing her shock look.

“I have to call my friends that I will not join them to club tonight. Then we can go to the place you choose.” Saying that he turned to leave.

“Wait! I… I have never been to a club. If you don’t mind, we both can join you. Are you fine with it?” I asked the last question staring at Tina.

“It was my actual plan to join him too. So, we can definitely go.” Saying that she stood up holding my hand and I let her continue to hold me while walking out of the hospital.

Okay! What am I even doing right now? I thought just following them to the club hoping to not regret this choice but I feel it is better than returning home.

*David Pov*

“Are you really sure about this, Mr. David?” Satish asked again after dropping me.

“You need not give me such respect anymore. You are no longer my manager from today onwards.” I pointed out staring at him.

“But… I am really not good at this work and if not for you I would have resigned way before.” He mumbled looking down and he is definitely making me feel guilty.

“So, if there is anyway I can be helpful, please remember to call me.” He added staring at my face.

“Fine! This is just the first part of my decision and if I need you for remaining ones then I will give you a call.” I promised nodding at him.

“You just take a rest here before returning. You have been travelling too much for these two days.” I added staring at his tired face.

He nodded before passing the needed contracts along with additional information that I need to take care because of my decision.

After he left, I continued to stand there thinking how a single day was enough for me to change my decision when I just pushed it away for a few weeks not wishing to think about it at all.

Maybe another pro got added to the list for me to take this decision and I can definitely assure myself that it had lot of weight than the other pros.

I checked the time and know for sure she is going to get ready to sleep. It is better to go there right now instead of disturbing her sleep. And I need to give her a huge explanation too.

I sighed climbing the stairs while deciding on the things I need to do for the next few days. I need to get a new sim and throw the old one away after noting down everyone’s contact so that I can contact them only if I wish to but they shouldn’t have the option to call me if I need to live a peaceful life.

I frowned ringing the bell again but there is no response from her at all. I immediately called her after placing my luggage near my feet but she is not lifting her phone too.

“I don’t want to go homeeee…” I frowned at the dragging voice and glanced down only to stare at the three people in shock.

“I asked you to come to my place but you didn’t want to go there too.” The girl commented while she tried to make Palak climb the stairs with the help of a man.

“I don’t want to sleep.” Palak just whined and troubled them more while climbing the stairs.

I immediately covered my face with the mask and a cap before standing near the edge of the steps waiting for them. And my appearance caused three people to stare at me in complete shock.

“Who are you?” I immediately recognized the man who was behind her at the hospital.

“Oh!” Palak whispered staring at me and laughed looking at others.

“Even you are drunk, Veeeeer.” She stated while dragging his name and smiled looking at his face and he smiled back staring at her.

“Come here!” I mumbled immediately moving to hold her hand but they both took a step back frowning at me.

“Who are you?” this time the girl asked.

“Even you are drunk? But you both said that you will make sure I am safe and will stay sober.” Palak whined frowning at them.

“You know him?” that Veer guy asked her frowning.

“Of course! Otherwise why would I be standing here?” I asked him in an irrittaed tone before holding Palak’s hand and pulled her into my arms using my strenght.

“Then we will leave after she confirms that. We can’t trust anyone, right.” The girl stated and I sighed looking at them.

How can I let her confirm it when she will be irritated if she finds out that her friends know her hiding a celebrity at her house? I finally stared at Palak who is staring at me with a frown and I know she is confused even at her drunken state. And I suddenly got an idea hoping it will work out.

“What am I to you when you talk about me with your friends?” I asked staring at her.

“What?” she asked in a confused tone.

“When you talk to your friends about me, what do you call me as?” I asked changing the way of questioning realizing I am confusing her more than before.

“Oh! You are my faaaan.” She replied smiling at me and I suddenly felt lost looking at her smile but cleared my throat knowing well I need to send these two away before they know the truth.

I turned to see that they are staring at us in complete shock. Finally the girl took hold of the guy’s hand and started dragging him away while he tried his best to stop her.

“Didn’t I tell you about my doubts? Can’t you see that they are right? She was talking about him all this time and it is better to talk with her tomorrow instead of causing disturbance now.” she just continued to talk while he continued to stare at me and I didn’t look away until they both were out of my sight.

“Fan! What are you doing here?” Palak asked frowning while I searched for her keys and immediately opened the door before pushing her inside.

When I was sure she can stand properly, I stepped out to bring my luggage in and just threw it aside when I saw her trying to walk towards her room but started to fall down.

“Woah! Let me help you.” Saying that I took hold of her hand and walked to the bedroom before laying her down but she just sat down and didn’t move to lay down completely.

“Why did you get drunk like this, Palak? Do you know how dangerous it is?” I asked literally scolding her while she stared at me with a look as if asking I don’t have that right to say.

Yeah! Even I was worse than her when I first got drunk like that a few weeks back but I never expected her to be like this.

I left the room to bring some water for and returned to see her still sitting on the bed. She took a sip with her shaking her but didn’t let me help her though.

“It was not safe for you get drunk in this way.” I repeated and she just frowned.

“They both said they will make sure I am safe.” She whispered and I barely caught the words.

“Them? One of them who is crazy about you and the other who is crazy that he is carzy about you and wishing for you to be a couple?” I asked snorting and she again turned to stare at me.

“You need to leave, David.” She finally said after staring at me for a few minutes in silence.

Should I feel happy right now that she finally called my name properly or sad that she is asking me to leave? I sat before her while she placed the glass on the floor.

“Are you sober now?” I asked her frowning.

“I don’t know! All I know is that you are at present in my home and whether it is an illusion or a reality, I want you to leave this place right now.” she replied shaking her head as if to clear her mind and immediately swayed a little but I took hold of her shoulders before she can lay down.

“Why?” I asked not allowing her to take my hands away.

“Because you are nothing but cruel. Once I was kind of sad but still went along with it but the second time was and still is torture. I don’t think I will survive the third time.” She replied staring at my face.

“What are you even saying?” I asked her frowning not at all understanding what she just uttered.

“Do you know it took nearly two years for me to actually open up to those two? But after I took that step, I trust them with my everything without a slight hesitation. That is my weakness where either I will be distant or completely closer than anyone. My heart can’t stand in the middle.” She started while looking away before finally turning her face to stare at me.

“I ignored you completely when you were trying to flirt with me or doing all those things but then suddenly I felt myself being attracted to you and before I can come to terms with it, you left with that cold goodbye. After that, I tried to forget you and was kind of succeeding but then you returned. This time I get to now you and also used to you but again when you were leaving there was the same coldness. Unlike last time, this caused me too much pain. I can’t imagine how I will be if I get the same coldness form you for the third time and I know I will not be able to survive. I am not a strong girl once I involve my heart, David.” She pleaded with her eyes and I brushed her tears away immediately.

“So, you need to leave.” She added pushing my hands away weakly.

“I am not going anywhere.” I replied stubbornly and this time pulled her into my arms.

“No! You need to leave.” She fought to make me release her but I didn’t let her go feeling tears forming in my eyes this time seeing her struggle.

“No! I am not going anywhere.” I repeated but she continued to utter those words while pushing me away and even hitting on my back.

After a few minutes, she finally placed her hands on my back whispering a few words before passing out and I don’t think I will ever forget those in my life with the way she added the emotion.

“Don’t leave me, David.”