Chapter 2

*Kirthi Pov*

"Surprised?" I asked him in a whisper when we three stood before my home with Anusha hanging onto him for support as she still needs to take too much care.

"This is where you stay?" he asked back as if he can't believe it.

"What? An expected roof that is able to fall or a place where there will be no place to even sit or anything else?" I asked but didn't wait for his answer before moving to open the gate.

"This place looks beautiful." Anusha said, looking at my garden and then at the area around.

"The safest area you have ever seen and the view of the ocean is amazing from the terrace." I offered and she looked more delighted even though at a very little length as the more time she looks sadder than anything.

"You said it is a flat." He said in a flat tone.

"I said it will be like she is staying in a flat with her friends, but I never said my home is flat." I mumbled and opened the door.

"The house is still small and I have an only extra bedroom which I arranged for your arrival." I added looking at Anusha and gestured a door.

The siblings just stood and looked around the house like something is fascinating, but it is just a small house and nothing else, right for these rich kids.

"Your salary must be going for the rent of this only." He commented and I stared at him with a frown not understanding him.

He acts like some arrogant, but still, I have seen him care for his sister and worry for her. Well, who cares what he is like.

"This is my own home." I replied and walked to the kitchen to prepare some coffee for us.

"Where are your parents?" Anusha asked slowly walking near to the kitchen door while the man stayed near the door.

I wish I can jump into that topic, but calmly cut short saying, "They are not alive."

"I am so sorry." She whispered and turned to see her looking guilty.

"It's okay! You are younger than me so I will forgive you." I said, waving her off and she again gave her a small smile.

"What if I was elder?" she asked and I shrugged.

"We shouldn't keep grudges on the elder people." I replied and she shook her head before looking around and saw the coffee cups.

I immediately understood what she is going to do and what she is planning to do with this moment. I know I said she can do the chores as a payment, but not while still being this week.

"No! You can start the work only after a few days when I say you can." I stated and she immediately frowned at me.

She took a step back and I think she is ready to think of some other place to say as it may have felt for her I am doing her a favor or taking pity on her.

"I will make your work double when you can." I said, shrugging, and turned around not saying anything that she should stay here.

Because I know the moment I will say that, she will fight more to leave. Didn't I understand her predicament when she was in the hospital? She suddenly doesn't want to be in any situation where she is in debt with someone.

"I will take my leave." He suddenly announced and I turned to see that she got a normal expression, leaving her plans aside while he is staring at me.

"Coffee?" I asked, but he shook his head before looking at his watch.

"Didn't they ask where were you all these days?" Anusha asked while I moved to bring the coffee mugs near to her.

"No! They just assumed I was living in my flat." He replied while I passed the mug to Anusha.

"Where is mine?" he asked, looking at me with a frown when I took a sip from my cup.

"You said you don't want it. So, I didn't mix it." I replied and he frowned more, but just left after a few minutes.

Of course, he left a few instructions that he needs to be kept updated on whatever happens or not happens which I am definitely not going to do.

"Want to see the room?" I asked and she nodded before I helped her to reach the room.

"I wish you didn't lie to the doctor that you were not in that much pain." I finally said not able to stop myself.

"That's why you brought me here, didn't you? Because I was being discharged without getting a full recovery." She suddenly asked understanding entering her eyes.

"I never liked if the patients I look after leave the hospital without getting well." I replied shrugging.

"I needed to leave the hospital otherwise he would have found me. He has too many connections to achieve that." She suddenly said slowly sitting on the bed.

I left the room not saying a word and returned with her bags before opening them. I started arranging the clothes while she sat on the bed lost in her thoughts.

After finishing that, I arranged the medicines on the bedside table properly and then stood back while she finally looked at me.

"Aren't you going to ask why did I say that and about whom?" she asked and I gave her a smile.

"You don't want to talk that detail right now." I replied and she nodded.

"But, I just want to know this because I need to make sure you are safe. Did your husband shoot you?" I asked and she immediately shook her head.

"He just didn't pull the trigger." The answer came from behind me and I turned to see her brother standing at the doorway.

"What are you still doing here?" Anusha asked, to which he gave me a glance before stepping into the room.

"He is making sure you were safe within this half an hour." I replied to which he stopped beside me.

"Don't be ridiculous! I just came to say that I am hiring a bodyguard for you and that if he ever gets to track me down, I will tell him you left India." He said looking at her.

"Why is he calling you?" she asked in distress.

I silently moved to the door and left the room knowing well I shouldn't be there. I started to the front door and glanced at my garden to see whether any of it got infected.

I didn't have any time to look after them properly, these past few days and I hope they will be fine. I sighed and turned to see too much dust is also there to be cleaned in the house and even outside.

"Don't stress her with your questions, Ms. Kirthi. She has been through enough and she needs to take care." His voice reached me and I turned to see him walking near to me.

"And there is another reason for me to come back." Saying that he took out his wallet and started taking out a lot of notes not even counting before dangling them near me.

"This is as a payment for letting her stay here." He stated while I stared at him with a smile.

"I am sorry, but I wanted a maid for a long time and when I finally got her, why would I lose that. So, you can keep your money back in your pocket." I said and immediately saw his face turning red with temper.

"You are thinking of my sister as a maid? That's it! She will not stay here for another second. She is not a maid. She is my sister." He shouted.

"And I am not running a restaurant to let people stay for money also. And I do not need money to run my house also." I said in a calm tone to which his furious expression turned to confusion before finally he relaxed.

He shook his head and shoved the money back into the wallet. Then he just stood there staring at me and at the moment I felt uncomfortable.

But how is that possible? I never feel uncomfortable, right? I cleared my throat, hoping he stops being creepy and I felt disgusted to think of him staring as creepy, but I don't know what else to name it.

Maybe he saw my disgusted expression because he suddenly blinked and looked away before it was time for him to clear his throat.

"You are just good to look at and that's all. No need to think bad about me." Saying that he just walked off not giving me a chance to say anything and not giving him any chance to see my smile.

Hey! No one said I am good to look at until now. I should feel honored and I definitely do. I shook my head and walked into my home to think about the lunch.

"Is it fine?" she asked, frowning and I took another spoon full of the desert.

"Sure! It is good." I replied and she sighed in relief before sitting down.

"I never got trained to cook you know, but I had to start learning and do it because they were just..." she trailed off realizing what she was saying, and sat in silence before serving the dessert for herself.

It's been two weeks since she came to stay with me and today only she started doing little chores. Cooking dinner became part of the little chore.

She is adamant to work herself to death for sure, but I know I can do something about it by waking up early and doing the few chores by myself. I have a major advantage because she is not an early riser.

"I am more than happy that I asked you to do these things than pay me. Now, I can concentrate on my job more." I said not knowing what else to say.

"I have more than enough money to pay you and even buy a house." She suddenly said looking down.

"I know you both are rich." I said not understanding her words.

"It is not their money. It is my own, but the thing is, it is in a joint account with... with him. I don't want to take out the money and let him know where I am. I have to do it eventually, but first I want to get well." She explained and I stared at her.

I know she is talking about the mental strength she needs to develop to get in contact with him. But why? The curiosity started and I tried to push it down as much as I can.

"So, where is your brother?" I asked, looking at her changing the topic.

"He said he can't come today as he has some important work to deal with." She replied frowning.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked finally feeling the curiosity win and she immediately gave a small smile.

"He is single!" she replied and I coughed hearing her reply.

"What? What does him being single relate to the bullet you got?" I asked, frowning, not understanding her, and this time she coughed.

"Sorry! Ask your question." She replied with a nervous brush-off with her hands over her shoulders.

"Was he physically abusive?" I asked and she looked at me shocked.

"Curious?" she asked and I shrugged.

"I know curiosity kills a cat, but before I die I want to fill my curiosity and I do this with everyone. You see, this is the only entertainment I have." I replied.

"Entertainment?" she asked with wide eyes.

"Yeah! If someone says a sad story I will feel sad. If someone says happy one I will feel happy. Isn't feeling something is entertainment?" I asked and her eyes widened more.

"Feeling emotions are entertainment?" she whispered and blinked her eyes before shaking her head.

"It's okay! Even my classmates never understood me." I said smiling.

"What about your friends?" she asked and I shrugged.

"Never had them!" I replied and she again gave a look filled with shock.

"What about the nurses you work with?" she asked and I again shrugged.

"I never get time to talk to them." I replied and she slowly nodded.

"But I am your friend, right?" she asked frowning.

"You are?" I asked and she nodded to which I nodded back.

"Okay! Now, tell me did he do physical violence?" I asked and she shook her head.

"He can never be physically violent." She replied and I nodded.

"Your In-laws?" I asked and she hesitated.

"Not physically!" she replied and I understood the opposition of that word immediately.

"Anyway, they are no longer related to me. But I have got you as my friend." She said shrugging.

"And a sneaking brother." I said to which she frowned but turned to her side which I followed to see her brother standing near the main doorway.

"What are you doing here and from when?" she asked him frowning.

"From the time you were giving her some little detail about me." He replied and walked inside giving me a look.

"How did you know that he was here?" she asked me to which I shrugged.

"He just wanted to finally have a chance of hearing mature conversation different from the immature he had to endure with his circle." I supported him but he took a sharp breath in.

"You both were having a mature conversation?" he asked snorting.

"As I said, as you have no experience of hearing that, you don't know much about it. It's okay, you will learn soon." I replied, giving him a nod and suddenly Anusha chuckled.

I left them to have their conversation and reached my room. I looked at the calendar and sighed, wishing the days can pass soon than like this.

I still need to wait a few more months and I don't think I can do that. But still, I laid on my bed and drifted off into sleep.

With tired eyes, I entered the house to see a regular seen of both of them sitting on my porch and talking for the past month.

I swiftly walked near to them gritting my teeth and stopped a few steps away before clearing my throat.

"Anusha! Just because I am calm doesn't mean you can do anything as you wish. Why is he here every day? I thought you were the only one staying here, but not your brother too. This is so against the rules." I said in a stiff tone to which Anusha sat stunned while Mr. Brother's temper raised too much which I can see looking at his face.

I suddenly chuckled, making both of them stunned more before saying, "This is what would have happened if you had stayed with some friends in a flat. You said you don't have any experience with that, so I am just giving you some of it."

"You don't mind him coming every day for sure?" she asked hesitantly.

"It is a minding thing for anyone and I would have. But your brother looks good and it is entertaining for my eyes. So, I am fine with it." I replied, shrugging smiling at her and walked off to let them continue their conversation.

I took my dinner with me to the room and finished it feeling hungry before freshening up. I took the plate and stepped out of the room to return it only to feel being pushed back into the room.

I decided to make a huge noise, but a hand covered my mouth, but that hand couldn't stop the plate from falling down, making a loud noise than what I would have with my shout. I flinched hearing it along with him, but he just continued to stare at me and I stared back not having any other option.