Chapter 8

*Ansh Pov*

“It is very far. So, I think this is best.” I heard Anu’s voice when I walked near to the bedroom door and slowly opened it.

“Did you tell your brother?” Kirthi asked making me frown, thinking what are they talking about.

“I will! He has to wake up first, right? Do you give sleeping pills every day? I never saw my brother waking so late before. He was supposed to be finishing his gym work right now.” Anu continued to talk laughing.

“I will start my gym now by making the coffee and lifting the cups.” I said making my presence known and they both turned to look at me.

“And yes, she kind of gives sleeping pills.” I added, staring at Kirthi while for the first time she gave that little blush to which I walked near to her and kissed her for the first time in the audience of my sister.

“Okay! By the way, I am leaving her house.” Those words from Anu brought me out of this mood and turn to stare at her.

“What? You are coming to live with me?” I asked, but she shook her head.

“You are returning to our parent’s house?” I asked even though I already have this feeling she will not unless maybe they called her.

“Will they allow me in the first place?” she asked, smiling, but the sad expression is still there.

“Then where are you going and the main question is why?” I asked frowning.

“I am going to the penthouse. And the reasons could be the distance I am traveling this whole week along with the time at which I am traveling which is not safe and many other reasons.” She replied sighing.

“And I already decided, Bhai.” She added while I kept on staring at her before turning to see Kirthi looking at me.

“Aren’t you going to stop her?” I asked, to which she shook her head.

“She recovered completely and it is her wish whether to stay here or not.” She replied and that felt like the last thread.

“Do whatever you want to do.” Saying that I walked off, leaving the house, and reached my car ignoring Anu’s voice.

“Is something wrong, Sir?” those words brought me out of my thoughts making me turn and stare at my secretary.

“What is it?” I asked her frowning.

“You got a phone call.” She replied and I lifted it to hear Anu’s voice.

“I just shifted to the penthouse, Bhai. I am sure if I want anything, all I need to do is ask you.” She said and I sighed leaning back.

“Always!” I mumbled and wished her good luck before we both hung up.

“Only this call?” I asked and she nodded while I glanced at the laptop.

“But this was dropped by someone.” She replied and I glanced up to see her holding some box.

I took it and opened it after she left to see the breakfast they were having in the morning. I smiled and immediately started eating along with calling her.

“Why did you send this?” I asked the moment she lifted the call.

“If you don’t want, give it to someone else.” She replied back.

“Why didn’t you come along with this into my cabin?” I continued, leaning back in the back, and met the silence.

“I was already late helping your sister to pack and couldn’t stay back with my boss already calling me two times.” She calmly replied while I frowned remembering who is her boss.

How is she able to work with her ex-fiance? And she is so normal about it too. To the top of that, the man is all ahead with giving his personal life information.

“Okay! I will talk to you when I see you next time.” Her words made me stop the train of thoughts regarding her Ex.

“What do you mean by when you see me next?” I asked and heard a few voices in the background.

“Your sister is no longer staying with me and we are not entering your flat also. So, when you plan on our next date, we can meet that day.” Saying that she hung up while I stared at the phone with a frown.

I will let you decide it by yourself, Ms. Kirthi. With that thought, I finished the breakfast and rushed through my work before reaching my parent’s house remembering one main task.

“You guys need to bring her here.” I stated looking at both of them.

“She humiliated all of us for that man.” Dad stated back as if that is enough to keep her out of our family.

“Where is she staying now? With you?” Mom asked and I shook my head.

“She was staying with her friend and just not shifted to… to her own place.” I replied, not wishing to tell her that she returned to his company.

“And you are helping her anything related to monetary needs. Then, everything is fine.” she said nodding.

“She is not taking a single rupee from me.” I fisted my hands, wishing I can keep my anger in check.

“Then how is she living?” Mom asked, frowning and I felt the hope that she is finally thinking about her daughter’s state.

“She must have got the divorce compensation in good measure.” She added, but I shook my head explaining to them that she didn’t take a single rupee either from him.

“What? How can she do that? She should have taken the last penny from that family. She still didn’t learn how to live.” She suddenly showed anger making me feel hate for myself for getting that tiny hope.

But their acceptance would mean a lot to Anu right now. She is showing her happy façade but I saw the hurt she didn’t feel when she was wounded, but for the things that happened later.

“She is still working for the company.” I reluctantly said when they stressed regarding how she is living and that was a huge mistake.

“So, she is still trying to push us down? Well, she can enjoy that and we don’t let any rival enter this house.” Dad gave his decision and I continued to force him to remember she is his daughter which went down the hill making both of us shout at each other.

“We will think about it and let you know.” Mom finally said, bringing all the fight to halt.

“Fine!” saying that I walked off still with the anger rushing through the veins and drove directly to her house before standing in front of her door.

“Why didn’t you ring the bell?” she asked, opening the door with a frown with her one hand covered with dirt.

“I was working on the backyard and heard the vehicle. I came to the side and saw you walking inside.” She explained the mud on her hands.

“I didn’t want to come here when we talked today morning and decided you will come near me this time.” I explained back, stepping inside when she moved back.

“Yeah?” she asked, closing the door with her shoulder but continued to stare at me.

“Yeah! But then suddenly I was angry and drove here immediately.” I replied, sitting on the couch while she walked near to me.

“To lash your anger at me?” she asked raising her eyebrow.

“No! To let the anger out.” Saying that I tugged her hand and made her fall on my lap and then held her tightly but she sat stiffly.

“What is it?” I asked frowning.

“My hands are muddy.” She replied and tried to move, but not letting her do that, I moved her hands around my neck and made her hug me back.

“You don’t like my flat, right?” I asked after sometime when we both finished our dinner and she nodded.

“Can I shift here?” I asked and she suddenly coughed as she was drinking water.

“What?” she asked like I asked her kidney.

“Yeah! Like I said I don’t like my flat too.” I replied while she just stared at me.

“Let me think about it.” She whispered and hearing those words again for the second time in a day, whereas before everything used to happen as I wish made me stand up.

“Let’s go!” saying that I held her hand and walked into her bedroom not wishing to think about anything else.

“I have decided!” she finally said after three days making me turn away from the match with a frown.

“What? Regarding what to cook?” I asked, to which she shook her head smiling.

“You can shift, but keep your clothes in the guest room.” She replied and I immediately put the match on mute before pulling her to sit on the couch.

“What made you decide that?” I asked smiling.

“Well, there is not much difference and I think this would be comfortable too.” She replied shrugging.

“Or you must be missing those extra two hours I had to waste away from you to go to my flat every day for clothes and everything.” I teased but somehow hoped and that realization made me still.

What am I thinking? Why am I even thinking like that? I thought, frowning, but her full-pledged smile made me let the matter go and pull her in my arms.

“I am taking my spare clothes also. What is the need?” she asked packing her stuff while I packed a few of mine.

“I will be keeping my clothes in your room only. I am bringing a little of my stuff and so there will be no problem.” I replied bringing my two bags.

“Your wish! Don’t complain later saying they got crumbled.” She said, shrugging and we both started walking towards the door, but it was opened by someone from outside and suddenly we both are standing before my parents.

*Kirthi Pov*

“Mom! Dad!” Ansh mumbled while they both stared at us in shock.

“Ansh! Is she your girlfriend?” the lady asked and he nodded while I kept his toiletries bag down before giving her a small smile.

“Who is your father?” the man asked making Ansh take a step forward.

“Let’s sit first!” the lady suggested, but the man just stared at me.

“Do I know him?” he asked making her shake her head.

“No! My parents died when I was a baby.” I replied, making both frown while I felt Ansh’s hand holding mine.

“Why are you both here?” Ansh asked straight out.

“To talk! So, what do you do and who took care of you?” the lady asked mildly with a smile.

“I am a nurse! And I was in lots of foster care houses.” I replied and this time I felt Ansh’s surprise also. But he never asked about it and I never said.

“This is not serious relation, right? You know we found you some prospective brides for you.” His Dad accused him and this time I stiffened.

“She is my girlfriend and that’s all you both need to know.” Saying that she walked near to him leaving her hand.

“We will not accept this for the second time in this family, Ansh. Stop this farce right now and there is a dinner party tonight where you can meet your future bride there.” His Dad suggested.

“No!” Ansh simply said after which there was complete silence.

“We just decided upon what to do with your wish, Ansh. Don’t make us change it and you know how good it will be with our positive decision.” His Mom suddenly said and I saw Ansh stiffen.

“I can’t believe you are even saying these words, Mom.” He said looking away from them.

“Do as we say otherwise, you can leave your resignation letter on my desk by today evening.” Hearing those words I kind of felt what could be Ansh’s decision.

“This dinner can be better with another invited person, Ansh.” His mom added and suddenly the conversation continued while I backed out not understanding anything they are saying. Not knowing what will happen even though there is a slight hope somewhere near her hands.

She stared at the three people before her with the heart beating too damn high, but still tried to maintain a serene expression on her face and just waited.

She was never good at showing patience and always been curious to know whatever is not known. And now it is nearly killing her to wait, but she knows she can’t do anything other than that.

And then she heard, “Fine! Fine, I will break up with her. Happy?”

His voice reached her ears, but it took a few seconds to get it settled and she blanched but controlled herself to see two people showing their relief while he is giving a blank expression.

“How could you say that? After all this time?” she asked in a whisper but not in a shaking voice for which she is proud of right now.

“This will be for the best.” He stated and the anger took the place of the shock.

“For whom?” she asked and he closed his eyes before opening them to stare at her.

“Look… you are not understanding…” he trailed off, looking at the other two people.

“Not understanding? I am a nurse! I can understand anything even regarding what is troubling a patient. So, you can try to make me understand.” she persisted knowing well he never liked it when someone pushes him.

“This is my decision!” he stated and took a step near her.

“You are not alone in this to take such decision.” she pointed out, taking a step herself near him.

“There can’t be any relationship if one of us doesn’t want it.” He pointed back, stepping near me.

“Fine! I don’t want to be with you anymore then.” Saying that she stepped aside and started walking off ignoring the stunned expression of his holding her bag tightly.

Now, she can reach some safe place before letting the pain out and overcome it soon. It isn’t like it’s the first time, someone is throwing her out of their life, right?

She reached the hospital even though she took leave for today following the wish of his to help him shift properly and take a leisure day.

“Are you okay?” I heard his voice but just nodded before continuing my work.

“You can talk to me, Kirthi. Even I need someone to talk and we can help each other.” He offered but left when I didn’t utter a single word still arranging the medicines properly.

What is this? One gone means one came offer? I thought, shaking my head and called my lawyer.

“Just give me an estimation as soon as possible and I hope the other work is in progress.” I said and he assured me that the work is nearly finished and then said he will call again with the estimation.

Finally, I returned to the house and let my mind think about the morning’s incident and I unlocked the door, holding my bag tightly before stepping inside only to stop in my tracks.

“Dinner and bridal shopping got over so soon?” I asked moving towards the bedroom and dropped the bag near the door and I know he is standing just behind me.