Chapter 4

*Shrishti Pov*

"Why are you again stuck to your phone? Is there any problem?" I glanced up from my phone hearing Jenny's voice.

"Problem? No!" I replied putting my phone away while she frowned at me.

"It's just I am messaging my friend." I added but she didn't change her look.

"I am serious! So, we need to go through the details once for tomorrow's event?" I asked standing up and she sighed.

"I don't know what is going on but if you are not comfortable and just lying to me then I can handle this event." She assured me.

I smiled hearing her words and I am glad she is my assistant who doesn't look down on me for my weaknesses.

Somehow, I am not comfortable with these business conferences no matter what. And that is the reason I never even tried to join GH as a director like the elders wished me to.

Yeah! I am running my own business and have my own meetings and everything but this level of reach is not something I wish to be present in.

Maybe I am still thinking about how if only my Dad wasn't in a conference and had to switch off his phone then maybe he would have been able to reach home or call for help when my Mom called him feeling uneasy that day.

It's all wrong to think like that but I can't come over it. Still, I need to make money and a majority of my contacts come for managing the events like these because of my background.

At least tomorrow's meeting is in GH hotel which kind of gives a sense of familiarity and I am fine.

But what is bugging me is the fact that I kind of expressed near Prathap that I will forget Vikranth. This is not a big deal but I promised to message him every day to prove it.

However, whenever I am messaging him, I am remembering the promise and Vikranth and everything. But if I don't message then Prathap will not believe me, right?

"After we check everything, let's go back to our rooms early. We need to look after other details and let's not forget the party we need to conduct the day after tomorrow." Jenny nodded following me while we shared the work of checking on everything while the team stood back after making the arrangement.

After checking the mic and the other electronic stuff, I turned to find Jenny scolding someone from the team.

"What happened?" I asked reaching them.

"He forgot to order water bottles for tomorrow. We need them on time for tomorrow for proper temperature." She replied frowning at him.

"Let him do it now and scold him after the event." I mumbled patting her shoulder before glancing at him.

"Can you do it now?" I asked and he immediately nodded before taking out his phone to order them.

"If there is any problem with it then let me know. I can ask the hotel staff for some help." I replied glancing at Jenny.

"Fine! You give them too much lenience for their mistakes." She mumbled following me.

"Well, as a person who myself makes too many mistakes, I can't be a hypocrite and scold them, right? He will never make this mistake again and that's how we work, remember?" I asked back and she sighed in annoyance but finally smiled.

"Good night! I am tired today." I added checking the time.

"Me too! Hopefully, everything goes well. This client has his son's engagement recently. We can try to grab managing the wedding." I laughed nodding before walking away to reach the room I am staying in.

This is why I love it when the work is at GH as we will get discounts for expenses when we stay here. I may not involve myself in the business but I am still one of the major shareholders.

I was not a few days back as my Dad didn't return the shares back to me until last weekend. So, now I am equal to Prathap and would have been to Vikranth but he kept on buying more shares but Prathap and I didn't as we were not concerned about it.

We want them to be in Vikranth's power as he deserves it. I smiled waving at the staff stepping out of the elevator before pressing the floor I am staying in.

I need to have a huge meal and reap off the benefits. I smiled at that thought while thinking about what to order after reaching the room and forget about everything else.

I sat down and stared at the food I just ordered before taking a picture of it. Wait! I will just call Prathap and talk to him. These days I am messaging him but stopped talking to him properly these days.

I frowned when it didn't get connected and he must be talking to someone else. I sighed letting it go and started having my dinner.

I tried again before sleeping but it is still engaged. Who is he talking to for this long? I thought smiling before turning off the light and drifted off into sleep.

****

"Mr. Prathap Sir got cheated by that actress?" I coughed hearing those words while I was rushing to finish my breakfast in the dining hall before the guests arrive.

"Yes! Didn't you see the article?" another staff commented and I immediately took out my phone to type Anny's name.

Even though we are not handling the business matter, Prathap and I always get treated like we are and get the greetings in the same way. But what is this cheating? I thought frowning and my eyes widened after checking the article.

No! This is not true and opened the video where I found a girl intimate with someone and then they posted the picture of her from yesterday's party. And even gave the details of the man who is actually married already.

So, the article states her being an engaged woman had an affair with a man who is already married. The following content is just bashing her along with the comments.

Why does this look so real? Does it matter whether it's real or not? What matters is Prathap and how he feels about it. I don't want him to get suffer no matter what otherwise I know Uncle will be scolding him again.

I called his number but now it's switched off. I frowned but continued to call him and stopped in the middle when Jenny called me to reach the hall.

With a smile, we managed the beginning of the conference and then I stepped out of the hall after asking Jenny to handle it before calling him again.

Finally, he picked up asking whether everything is okay. I sighed before trying to putting the worry away and asked him, "Are you okay?"

Turns out he doesn't know what is going on and just woke up. How to tell him what happened? I don't know the dynamics between these two but what if he gets hurt because of all this.

"I... I called to let you know to not take things seriously. And I actually called yesterday night for some other matter but it was engaged." I continued.

"I was talking to Anitha. But you are not telling me what happened." He pointed out.

"Talking to her? Prathap! You need to check the articles that are trending today on her name." I finally left the matter to him without saying it by my mouth as maybe the way I say it can influence his thoughts.

After cutting the call I frowned while repeating his words. He was talking to Anny yesterday night and for that long?

Did he finally fall for someone? I thought smiling but then frowned thinking how I couldn't talk to him yesterday... wait! What am I thinking? If he fell for her then all this must be troubling him. I hope nothing is true in these articles.

I took a deep breath and walked back into the hall before standing beside Jenny. She gave a questioning look but I shook my head smiling.

I stared at the air conditioner to check whether it is at the temperature it should be and continued to check all the details while trying to ignore the sudden discomfort I felt earlier.

****

I think how life changes in a snap will be the perfect setting for today's issue. From the morning, everyone was just bashing Anny but after the recent articles in the evening, they are gushing over the couple and even saying the morning articles are just rumors.

And this change is because of the couple hugging at the airport and the article is too detailed. I shook my head smiling while feeling relieved.

If Prathap is helping her then it must have been a rumor and then clicked on the picture. I continued to smile before yawning and closed my eyes.

Tomorrow we have time until evening but we need to rush with the arrangements. I sighed leaning back and closed my eyes and drifted off into sleep.

"You look amazing!" I complimented Jeeny who is wearing a dress today for the party while I am still not ready.

"What are you doing here? Go and get ready." She said rushing me outside the hall.

"I just want to check again about the decorations. We did everything in a hurry. Maybe I should have arranged to decorate from yesterday night instead of taking rest then we wouldn't have done everything in a hurry." I continued to blabber while she rolled her eyes.

"I will check them for you. Don't forget our next goal where we will be opening a branch soon and you said I will be managing one of them. If you are this worried then how will you ever trust another person to handle a branch?" she asked folding her hands.

I sighed nodding before saying, "You are right! I will go and get ready."

"You will be the head of one for sure. You can't escape that and in the future, you would wish for me to be like this with you. You will miss working as my assistant." I hugged her smiling and she laughed pushing me away.

"Yes! I will miss you but you will miss the party if you don't go now." With a serious look on my face, I gave her a nod before walking away.

****

"Ms. Shrishti!" I turned around hearing someone calling me and found three members of the people who are attending the party are standing near me.

Why? Did something go wrong? I thought searching for any disturbance and even found Jenny standing on the other side with a calm expression.

"Is there any problem?" I asked them smiling.

"There is no problem at all. We heard Ms. Shrishti is the one to organize this party and must say you have great talent." One of them replied.

Okay! So, it is not a problem regarding the arrangements. I sighed in relief and my expression toned down a bit more in relief.

"Well, the training from GH is not something we can ignore. Every one of the next generations of GH is amazing." I tried my best to not frown hearing those words.

So, these people are that kind of group who think Prathap and I have an equal level with Vikranth. Why are they so obsessed with getting someone to compete with Vikranth?

"The architecture of this hotel is really good. And I can just imagine how else could it be changed." The younger one commented.

"Yes! There needs to be a change in the works that gets done by people. Maybe they will change the architecture this time and give chance to the younger generation. They should know how amazing the younger generation is like Ms. Shrishti here." The other one continued.

"You must be an architect." I said gesturing to the younger one.

"Yes!" he said smiling.

So, there must be a plan on constructing a new hotel by GH and that's why all these talks. I need not be in any of the groups belonging to GH, these people are enough to make me realize what is going on.

"I am sorry! Seems like you all wasted your time. My Dad is the one who deals with architecture and all for sure but the decision lies with Vikranth as he is the CEO of GH. Even for the events in GH, I need to ask him or try to send a proposal for the event." I explained smiling.

"We were not talking about that. We just wanted to compliment you..." I cut them off saying, "My Dad threw me out of his house when I started my own business. But I am glad you all think I am doing an amazing job. I will pass that word and will try to get back into the house and not just sleep in hotels."

"Thanks again! My assistant is calling me and I wish all of you a huge success." I added smiling before walking away or just rushed towards Jenny.

This is the second reason I don't like taking these business-related contracts but I can't ignore them and ruin my business at the same time.

These people don't know how close Prathap and I are to Vikranth and just try either for bidding contracts or to damage Vikranth.

"Did they talked to you about any new work?" Jenny asked smiling.

"No! They took as a representative of GH." I replied and she sighed nodding as she got used to all this too.

Well, at least I am lucky as my Dad doesn't force me and supports me but I can't say the same for Prathap. I wish Uncle accepts his business and just let him be.

"By the way, I talked to the client and he is impressed with everything and wants to talk about the wedding of his son." She said holding my hand.

"Really? Then you talk to him and get the details. Is it in this city?" I asked taking out my phone to check the dates whether we can do it.

"No! They will have the wedding in the bride's city. But we are familiar with that and so there is no problem. It will be after three weeks." She replied and I nodding checking the dates.

"Fine! We don't have anything around that time and we can do it." I said smiling at her and she nodded.

She is really excited about this and I don't blame her. Her favorite part is weddings and I even asked her why didn't she just join wedding planning management instead of mine.

She felt she can't do this continuously otherwise she will get bored. Like this, she wants to take care of weddings in between and enjoy them.

"We will plan everything after he confirms it." Saying that I walked away towards the table where they started serving the food to check on them.

*Nitish Pov*

"Do you want to rest, Grandma?" I asked looking at her as we were watching the television.

"Hmm! You go out and get some air. You should take care of your work too." She replied and I smiled without saying anything.

No! I am not even going to touch anything related to work when I am with you. I don't want any more regrets at all.

However, I stepped out after asking the nurse to keep an eye on her and reached the club like every day.

I took out my phone and found Dad's missed calls and also a few messages which I ignored before ordering a drink.

I sighed leaning back and closed my eyes thinking will it be really fine if I just sneak into my company regarding what is going on?

But how can I be sure it will be just a sneak? I thought shaking my head. How many times did Grandma ask me to come here and meet her? But I was so into my work that I didn't make time and now I am meeting her when she is hospitalized.

What was so important about the work? She is the one who took care of me when I was a kid and I didn't have a day to spend with her earlier.

Now, I just regret that the time I could stay with her is so shortened and I can't even do anything about it.

Hearing the waiter's voice I opened my eyes to find him placing the glass before walking away. I took a sip and remembered that girl.

Did she apologize to her friends? Is everything okay with her? Did she break out of her one side crush? Hopefully unlike me otherwise it will be too much for her.

Why am I suddenly thinking about her issues? Maybe I should have taken her number and then should have asked her how she is doing.

I shrugged thinking when will we even meet to think like that. Like we thought, we were just strangers and that's all.

Who would have thought after a few days I found her not at the club but in the hospital making me stare at her in shock.

"Here is it!" I turned towards the nurse and took the prescription the doctor changed from this week on near the reception as I was outside until now but found that girl sitting in the reception area.

"Hey!" she suddenly said when she found me staring at her.

"I thought this is the hospital but didn't expect to meet you even though I thought about you." She added smiling before reaching towards me.

Thought about me? Well, even I thought about her a few times from the last time we met but this is really a surprise.

"What are you doing here?" I asked and she paused from stepping closer.

"I mean, Hi! This is a surprise." I added and she smiled again nodding.

"I am going to arrange a wedding next week. Bride's father is the chief in this hospital and came here to meet him." She explained.

"We already met him but I thought of waiting for a few minutes thinking maybe to meet you if there is a chance. I was just going to leave." She added and I smiled listening to those words.

"Are you busy right now?" I asked finally over the surprise feeling.

"No! I need to go to the hotel and rest." She replied with a curious look.

"Want to meet my Grandma?" I asked gesturing to the elevator.

"Oh! As a..." she trailed off frowning.

"Friend!" I stated and she smiled nodding.

"Wait for a second!" saying that she rushed away from the entrance while I stood there waiting for her.

So, she is going to buy fruits again? I thought staring at the entrance with anticipation which is a kind of a new feeling right now as it's been a long since I felt it I guess.

I covered my mouth to stop myself from laughing when she really reached the entrance with a basket full of fruits.

"Let's go!" she mumbled smiling at me and I automatically smiled back before we walked towards the elevator to get in.

"You know I was scared for a second when you asked me to meet your grandma. What if you suddenly introduce me as your girlfriend as that's what she wishes to meet? But I am glad that's not the case." She added when the elevator door closed.

"Didn't you say that she will not be happy if I am not happy? I am going to follow your words and just be there for her. There is no need to lie to her or force myself." I explained.

"Really? You are the first person to follow my words outside my business related suggestions." She mumbled looking down.

"What about your friends?" I asked frowning.

"They listen but they don't follow. My suggestions are sometimes silly and just one way." She replied shrugging.

"And they both are capable of making their own decisions and thinking. In turn, they help me a lot. So..." she trailed off.

"Okay!" I mumbled nodding and we finally reached the floor.

She took a deep breath reaching the door along with me before saying, "I am terrible at conversations sometimes, and I hope I don't do anything stupid. I am apologizing ahead."

Hearing her words, even I am nervous right now to open the door. This is the first time I am making my Grandma meet my friend. Even though a recent friend but still feels like an important friend. I too took a deep breath before opening the door for us.