Chapter 7

*Shrishti Pov*

I can't believe I am here calmly listening to Prathap's story of how he got seduced by Anny. Are you serious? My mind is already a mess because of that Nitish and I need to give him a bit of advice?

I am happy that he is sharing his feelings with me as this time I want to be there for him like he was all these years but I don't know whether I will be of any help.

I still remember the sad look that passed in Anny's eyes when he didn't accept the fact that he liked her before Vikranth and I. She must be really hurt and this idiot just realized of falling for her.

"Forget it! After hurting her like that, why would she easily accept it? You need to work hard for sure." I mumbled and he nodded smiling.

"Now, did you send any flowers to her shooting site to support her?" I asked not knowing what to say as he expressed how I don't know anything about her that day when I gave him an idea to confess to her which kind of pricked me.

He is my best friend but I suddenly felt I am shifting away from his life or maybe from an important spot.

"Why? I already wished her best today morning when she left my place to reach the shooting site." He pointed out.

"God! I know you are dumb for this but this is too much. She got hurt recently by you and you are trying to make up with her. Today is an important day and who knows how will it be at that place and what kind of people will be there. You should send flowers as a support to make her feel good but also to show everyone that you both are still going strong." I said with a very strict tone.

He nodded obediently before asking, "Are you not feeling jealous anymore?"

"Don't you know who I am? Of course, I am feeling jealous right now more than ever when you are just talking about her from the time I came here. But that is my problem and it's not like I am going to plan and separate both of you because of my stupid jealousy. Why would I want to hurt you?" I asked frowning.

"And I am having doubts recently regarding Vikranth too." I continued before shaking my head.

No! I can't have doubts about my feelings regarding Vikranth. Why am I taking Nitish's words this seriously? He was a great help all the previous times but this time he is wrong. He must be wrong! So, I changed the subject before he can ask more.

"So, my dear seduced friend, am I going to get some dessert or will you continue to talk sweetly about Ms. Anny and say that is dessert." I added and showed two fingers when he ordered just one.

"I think you should check at what time the shooting will finish and go to the hotel with some packed food." I mumbled after calming my mind a bit.

He teased me that I just want him to do all these because these are the wishes I want my boyfriend to do for me and I went along with that teasing but his next words troubled me a bit.

"Those are just words from you but let's be honest. You never glanced at anyone else other than Vikranth and would have continued if he hadn't got married." He stated and I looked down hearing those words.

"Even I thought like that until a few days back but now... I am thinking of something else." I mumbled as the words uttered by Nitish are not leaving my mind and I need to give them serious thought.

For the second time in my life, I am hiding something from Prathap again other than the fact that I liked Vikranth. I ended up not hiding the first one but this one I need time before I can say anything.

****

"Is there anything else to do? I need to go and meet Prathap." I asked closing the folder when Jenny finished noting down the key points.

"No! We will start the preparations from tomorrow and there is nothing else to do for today. I will go through the points again and make sure we are not missing anything else." She replied nodding with a serious look while I smiled.

"Damn! It feels like you are my boss by being serious all the time. While I am just a sincere assistant to you." I mumbled shaking my head.

"You are not a sincere assistant. You don't listen to me at all." She pointed out and I glared at her while he smirked before walking out of the cabin.

I sighed standing up and got my things packed before walking out and wished everyone a good day on my way while Jenny just shook her head.

I think I need to buy a car soon instead of taking a cab like this all the time. Even Jenny drives a car and I don't even know how to drive as none of my family allowed me to by thinking I will just harm myself if I get a panic attack in the middle.

I mean it's been so long since I got one and I don't know why are they still worrying about all that.

"Are you actually making preparations for your own birthday?" Prathap stared at me frowning.

"Well, it's for your parent's anniversary also. I know every year both Vikranth and you take care of these things but last year nothing went right. And you both are kind of busy with your own lives both personal and professional. So, I don't want to burden you guys." I explained smiling and he smiled shaking his head.

"I need your suggestion on the menu for the party. I will be ordering from your restaurant for sure." I added passing the notebook where I wrote down his parent's preferences.

"Last year, it was our fault as we didn't coordinate well. This time we will take care of it properly." He assured me but I shook my head.

"Okay! I will get my team and both of you can handle everything while I just sit back and enjoy. However, I also want an amazing gift and also for you to not get into another fight with your Dad." I pleaded and his smile slipped.

"You need to look at my view too, Shrishti. I can't just listen to everything he says." He pointed out.

"Anitha understood what I am feeling and followed me out that day as a support." He added while I just stared at him.

I am glad that she understood him but does he think that I don't understand him? I thought frowning and just stared at him not knowing what to say.

If he actually thinks I don't understand him then that will hurt me for sure. How can he think like that when... when all this time I just tried to help him and mend his relationship with his Dad. Was I doing something useless and involving myself unnecessarily?

"Mr. Vikranth... actually, Vikranth just asked me to treat him as Kanika's husband and not..." the sound of the door opening and these words made me turn around in shock.

I found Anny standing near the door with a surprised look while I just stared at her thinking she is really important to him and I am just a friend who maybe doesn't understand him at all.

"I am sorry! I forgot to knock." She whispered.

"Can you wait in my flat?" Prathap asked her while I turned to stare at him with a frown thinking why is he sending her away.

"I need to go somewhere else. I just stopped on the way." Saying that she left leaving us alone.

And then I registered what she just said about Vikranth. I sighed closing my eyes before opening them calmly.

However, I found Prathap keep on staring at the door and then at me in intervals. I frowned leaning closure and put my thoughts away for now.

Turns out he thought I am upset with the words she uttered and sent her away which is definitely not the case and I explained the same to him.

"Then what was your earlier expression?" He asked while I scratched my head thinking what kind of expression did I had at that time.

"I guess I was surprised about her entrance and even the words. But I was not upset at all." I assured him.

"So, I am thinking to have the party at your place only. It is like in the middle of the way for everyone and no one will be tired to reach the venue." I continued to finish everything soon before leaving.

"If there is nothing else, I need to go somewhere." He said standing up while I stared at him in surprise.

"I know we are talking about my parent's anniversary and your birthday event after two weeks but I have something important to do." He added before walking away while I just sat there in silence.

"Shall I bring anything, Ms. Shrishti?" I glanced up seeing Deepak standing near my chair.

"No! I need to go but thank you." I replied smiling and he nodded leaving the cabin while I sat for a few minutes before leaving the place in a confused state for sure.

These days I don't know why but kind of getting affected by both Prathap's and Vikranth's actions at the same level and top of that those words of him saying I may like both of them is the last string.

If that is not the case then the other reason would be that I never liked Vikranth and all these feelings right now I am feeling are just about how I am missing my friends and feeling jealousy about that.

How can that be? I liked Vikranth! If that is not true then... then what was I doing all these years? Getting happy and hurt by some fake feelings?

****

I smiled receiving the gifts from Prathap's parents while my Dad wished me at midnight. Ashok Uncle also wished me by messaging me and also sending me some shares.

He is really weird at the way he wishes for sure and Vikranth is just like him. However, I am still waiting for my both best friend's wishes while arranging the decorations with my team.

Prathap said he will do everything with Vikranth but I can't find them anywhere and it is kind of getting late and so I ended up leading the team and helping them.

I should have called Jenny as she would have handled everything but I gave her a holiday for today and brought the interns as it was a simple party and so that they can get some experience. And it just ended up me doing major work.

"Shrishti! Sit down and take a rest. Today is your birthday and you want to spend it by working?" Aunty asked reaching me with a glass of water.

"You are also working on your anniversary day, Aunty." I pointed out as she is handling the servants with the food that just got delivered from Prathap's restaurant.

"I am just praying for both father and son to not fight today." She mumbled and I nodded at her but then remembered Prathap's words on how Anny understands him.

"Why don't you call your friends and ask them when they will come?" she asked checking the time.

"Aunty! I don't want to be shameless by calling them myself and asking for their wishes." I replied and she stared at me in shock.

"They didn't wish you?" she asked while I felt bad for sharing such a thing near her.

"They must be busy, Aunty. Also, I am happy that they both are happy with their partners. I want you to be happy and be a big family for them, Aunty." I replied touching the subject.

"You are right! The actress really likes my son as far as I heard. She is rude but I was not completely right that day. I crossed the line too. I will take your words into consideration." She nodded smiling.

What am I doing right now? I am helping them as if it is an unconscious thing to do but at the same time have a mess in my mind.

"I will just call Vikranth and ask him when will he reach." Saying that she called him before I could stop her.

"What? You are not coming? But it's..." I shook my head stopping her from continuing the words.

"He said his wife is sick and he is taking care of her." She mumbled while I smiled at her but it is definitely slipping a bit.

"I will go and look at the arrangements in the garden." I whispered when she stared calling Prathap and immediately walked away.

It is just a birthday, Shrishti! You are not a kid to feel upset that they forgot about it. But... but I am just used to their presence that right now it feels so empty.

I ignored everything and concentrated on the work before finally taking a rest on the bench in the garden. I closed my eyes feeling suffocated with so many thoughts in my head.

I was able to break free from them when one of the interns called me over because of a problem with the lighting near the trees and it's a mess.

"Happy birthday, Shrishti! And I am sorry." I heard Prathap's voice and found him standing near me and I just nodded before concentrating completely on the work.

"I am really sorry, Shrishti. I didn't do it by planning." He said stopping me when I turned to walk away and I ended up sitting on the bench I sat earlier.

"I am not mad at you. I am just confused I guess." I said frowning and I know if I don't put my thoughts out then I will go mad.

"Vikranth and you forgot to wish me and wouldn't have attended this party if not for Aunty calling you. This was so opposite to what we do every time for each one of our birthdays. Do you know I didn't feel worse because of Vikranth and just bad because of you? I felt sad because of both of you at the same level. There was no difference at all. But shouldn't there be a difference? I mean I was in love with Vikranth for all these years, right?" I asked expressing everything while he slowly nodded.

"This is what I was thinking of recently. I felt jealous of Kanika but it was the same towards Ms. Anny. Why? Why would it be similar?" I asked in confusion.

"I never liked him?" I added staring at him.

"Do I like you?" I just continued.

"What if I really like you and didn't know?" I asked while he stared at me as if I am crazy and called my name without saying anything else.

"As a friend, I always liked you better than Vikranth. But what if I liked you not just as a friend all this time? Isn't that a huge mess? I mean you like Ms. Anny and are dating her. And it's not like you see me as anything other than as a friend. So, it's again a heartbreak from the beginning point of understanding only." I shook my head at that crazy thought.

"So, it is better to stop thinking about it. I don't want to accept the alternative where all this means, I never liked Vikranth as anything other than a friend. That's like a few years of my life being a lie." I scoffed while he just sat there in silence until we both heard Anny's voice from a bit far from us.

That's when I panicked realizing what and all I just uttered near him. It is so wrong in many ways and it's like I am being the other woman in their relationship.

I already acted like that with Vikranth's wife and now with Anny too? Why didn't I stop myself from saying these thoughts aloud? I need to go away from him but I need to bear this party too.

And it is as awkward as I expected as I need to interact with her somehow but at least Aunty is very cordial with her and even smiling at her. So, one good thing happened at this party.

I will always remember this year's birthday as it was a disaster at many levels. My best friends forgot it and I just uttered these stupid things near one of my friends whose relationship could be in danger because of that. I will definitely remember this day forever and I will attach one person to this and that would be Nitish. I will never see him again for sure.

Right now all I need is some space from everyone to calm down my thoughts and return back as just their friend. To my luck, we didn't have much work where I need to be involved and calmly took a month's leave.

I explained how I don't actually like Prathap after meeting him as I was worried about his relationship without thinking for a second. So, I was just jealous of losing the position of being his best friend.

After telling everyone that I am leaving the city for work as they will get worried if they know I went on a trip alone because of my health issue, I reached the airport but didn't buy a ticket.

I decided to go on a trip but where? I thought frowning and then remembered Nitish talking about the beach he is going to frequently and I wished to go there too.

I hate him for sure but what is the beach's fault? It's not like we will meet each other in that huge city? I can definitely not meet him and I don't want to see him ever again.

With that thought, I bought the ticket and even booked the room in GH, and finally started my goal of going to every famous place in the city. It will be my first long holiday too.

However, who would have thought that my bad luck would make me meet the person I don't want to on my first day?

I don't know you at all! With that thought, I turned around and started walking away in a hurry even though it's a bit difficult because of the sand.

"Shrishti!" he continued to call me and I can hear him reaching closer but I don't want to meet him at all.

"Shrishti!" Finally, he reached me and even held my hand in his hold making it difficult for me to run away from him.

"Leave me!" I mumbled not even staring at his face.

"What did I do?" he asked in a confused tone.

"What did you do? You turned me into a madwoman. Now, let go of my hand." I replied pulling my hand away but this time he placed his hands on my shoulder to turn me around.

"I am sorry! I don't know what I did but I am sorry." I paused hearing those words and glanced up to stare at him only to find his tired expression.

"What happened to you?" I asked him frowning.

"You forgave me?" he asked and I know even though he said those words, I was the one who took them seriously and messed up everything.

"Yes!" I replied and he sighed before smiling and pulled me into his arms while I stiffened not at all expecting him to do that.