Chapter 8

*Nitish Pov*

I don't know why am I hugging her right now but there was this sense of relief when she said I was forgiven.

Of course, when she didn't hug back which is quite a normal reaction from her, and even tried to push me away, I finally released her smiling.

"What happened to you?" she asked for the second time while staring at me with a confused look.

"Sorry about that! I was scared that you will not talk to me again and gave out that strong reaction." I replied to which she stared at me more confused.

"Leave it! You had breakfast?" I asked checking the time and it's already past ten.

"Yes! I had it at the hotel before leaving." She replied nodding and I nodded before gestured her towards the small restaurant at the entrance of the beach.

"Let's have something to drink." I offered and she nodded before we both started walking towards that place in silence.

She kept on glancing at me while I just continued to smile which could be seen as weird but after the call I received yesterday along with the doctor's final words regarding my Grandma, I can not have one less worry of not losing this special friend.

"So, what happened to you?" she asked the moment we ordered cool drinks.

"Hmm... I lost a bit important part of my business because of a small competitor and kind of got sued by a few employees." I replied and she immediately gave me a worried look.

I don't why GH is targeting my company and they actually managed to take Shalini, one of the top stars of my agency, and influential manager Gaurav from me.

To top of that, a few artists decided to just leave the agency but my friend warned them about the contracts they signed, and in turn, they sued the agency about the way we are harshly treating them.

It is a baseless case and will solve soon without much struggle but we have to let go of those artists because of the way they behaved.

Everything was going so well, and suddenly everything is turning into a mess. My hand moved to contact the management team to understand more about it but just then the doctor called me to his cabin and explained I need to prepare myself soon as her health is deteriorating.

Now, I am scared to get involved with the work for the fear of ignoring her and again miss these last moments with her. I don't know what to do.

"You don't know what's my business is right?" I asked looking at her expression to change the topic.

"It's okay! It may hurt you right now to talk about it. So, it's been nearly six months since you started living here, right?" she asked changing the topic.

"Kind of! Within a few weeks, it will mark half a year. And it will be half a year since we met too." I replied and she nodded smiling as the day after I met her, I shifted to this city.

"So, that's why you are at this time? I remember you saying you will at the beach sometimes during early mornings or at night when there are no many people present." She asked and I slowly nodded.

"That's why you came here at this time as you are sure I will not be here?" I asked and she took a sip before nodding.

"I was angry at you for messing my brain. I still can't believe I came into your words and ended up confessing to my other friend." She replied sighing and I couldn't help but laugh at her words which made her glare at me.

"You confessed to him? But why? Didn't you say that he likes his girlfriend?" I asked while trying to control my laugh.

"My mind was messed up because of your worlds and also hurt when they didn't send me wishes on my birthday. So, from now on every birthday I have to hide myself to not remember that embarrassing day." She replied shaking her head.

"Don't worry! I will spend that day with you as a repay for messing your head." I promised her.

"After a lot of thinking I realized, it doesn't matter whether I once had a crush on someone or not. At present they are my friends and they will always be. But I realized to take a break and came here for resting." She said smiling.

"And I forgave you too. It is not completely your fault for my actions. But I didn't want to see you at all when I came to this city to rest." She added.

"So, you were actually running away." I whispered and she just shrugged.

"You are special to me, Shrishti. If you are angry, let me know but let's not stop talking." I mumbled and she frowned hearing those words.

"Why? Why am I special? I am just a stupid friend as far as I know after thinking from my past experience with my friends." She sighed.

"You are stupid!" I said nodding and she glared at me hearing those words.

"But it feels good to talk to you and there is a sense of calmness in my head. And again my head goes crazy with your sudden actions too. So, you are a crazy friend for sure." I mumbled.

"Are you praising me or taunting me?" she asked leaning back.

"How many days are you going to stay?" I asked walking beside her to step out of the beach compound.

"A week or two! After that, I have to work in another city before going back home." She explained.

"Come to the hospital when you are free." I offered and she stopped for a second before turning towards me.

"Can I come now? I am bored out of my mind in that hotel room. I will keep company to Grandma while you can take care of your business." She offered back while I stared at her in silence.

"Please!" she pleaded holding my hand.

"Okay! But you may feel bored at the hospital too." I pointed out.

"It's okay! Being with you guys is better than being alone. I am tired of staying alone. I used to stay alone unless if I am with my friends. My Dad is always busy with his work." She shook her head.

"Are you not close to your Mom?" I asked smiling and she froze hearing those words.

"What happened? Did you lie to your Mom to come here?" I added teasing her.

"She... she... one second." She whispered clearing her throat before adding, "Passed away!"

"I am sorry!" I whispered holding her hand in return while she nodded but took a few deep breaths before smiling at me.

"Don't be! I am kind of weak at that part. Whenever I think about her, I can't breathe properly for a few seconds." She assured me but my hand tightened.

I continued to stand there in silence while she finally calmed down and gestured me to walk and I followed her in silence but didn't let go of her hand.

Even after knowing way ahead of that, I will be losing my Grandma, I am still scared of that and don't know whether I will be able to face that day. I want to know about her circumstances but at the same time worried after seeing her reaction and ended up not asking anything.

"Are you going to buy fruits again?" I asked changing the topic.

"Will she eat?" she asked after pausing for a second.

"No! She can only have liquids now." I replied and she turned her hand to hold mine which made us holding hands together.

"Don't worry! She can still talk and need not just lay down." I added in a way of assuring her and myself.

She smiled but didn't say anything and we both left together to reach the hospital by walking as it is closer to the beach.

"Grandma!" the moment we entered the room and found that she is not sleeping, she rushed towards the bed releasing my hand and Grandma stared at her in surprise.

"It's been so long." Grandma whispered smiling and she nodded sitting on the stool beside the bed while I settled on the couch.

"I am sorry that I left suddenly last time. I promised to meet you but couldn't do it." She apologized but Grandma smiled shaking her head.

"There are some fruits if you want." Grandma asked in a slow tone.

"Okay! I will take them when I want. I am going to meet you every day I am here, Grandma. You need to give me company for the next few days." Shrishti mumbled and she nodded smiling.

They started talking calmly and I didn't think that they would have this much to talk with each other as this is just their second meeting.

I continued to stare at them thinking, Shrishti really has the nature to make the other person feel special and also soothing.

My thought got break when my phone started ringing and I just stared at the number frowning.

"You go out and handle it. I will keep her company." Shrishti stated and I nodded standing up before walking out of the room and couldn't help but glance at Grandma's smiling face again.

After taking a deep breath, I reached the corridor and stood in the corner before calling him back.

"What is the situation? Did you talk to the lawyer?" I asked in a cold tone.

"Nitish! I know you are upset about Shalini and Gaurav but don't take it out with me. I am helping you here, right?" Rohan asked with a tired voice and I felt confused.

He is my friend but everything is just messing up even though he already knows how to handle the business being my partner all these years. So, why is everything going wrong?

Yes! I handled the big stuff but I already assigned a team to help him during this time and worked myself to death before giving the work to him.

"Did you talk to the lawyer?" I asked ignoring his words.

"Yes! Everything is going to settle by this weekend and I already picked up their contracts to get them canceled as they wish. I am also asking for the penalty from them and they are ready to pay it. Also, most of them are going to GH." I fisted my hand hearing those words.

GH? I know that it is a huge company with many businesses and recently started out this agency like it's not even been two years but they just targeted my company like this?

I will make them pay for sure and let them gloat for now. This agency is something I worked for nearly ten years and all this is happening when we are going to have a tenth anniversary soon within a few months.

"Let it be! Just make sure there is no other problem, Rohan. I know it's a lot for you but I can't even rush back at this moment." I warned him before cutting the call as I don't want to hear anything or say anything else.

I stayed there for a few minutes before turned to enter the room but found Grandma sleeping on the bed and she is right now sitting on the couch while leaning back.

Making sure to not make a noise, I reached her side before sitting beside her and she opened her eyes to stare at me.

"Everything okay?" she asked in a whisper and I shook my head to which she calmly held my hand.

"Do you want to go back for lunch?" I asked looking at the time as it is past twelve.

"No! I will keep you company." She replied smiling.

"So, you came here to this city to not rest but to keep company for both my Grandma and me?" I asked to which she rolled her eyes but then closed them before the silence spread the room.

I continued to stare at her and then turned away to lean back myself and closed my eyes to enjoy the peace.

All this time, I hated this silence because of which I go to those clubs to get some noise into my head but this time it doesn't feel bad. I tightened my hold on her hand with a smile.

*Shrishti Pov*

"Grandma!" I called her entering the room and she smiled putting the book away from her hands.

"Did you meet Nitish? He just went to have breakfast." She asked and nodded at the nurse who is inside the room.

"No! I didn't inform him at what time I will be coming." I explained smiling at the nurse before sitting on the stool while she walked out.

I stared at Grandma thinking if I hadn't met him accidentally yesterday then I would have missed the chance to meet her and later if I had found out about her then would have regretted for sure.

I spent the whole day with them and even had lunch and dinner with Nitish and finally left at nine at night.

He didn't ask me whether I am coming today and I didn't tell him but just came here as if it's a normal thing to do.

"Today what shall we do, Grandma? Shall we play another game today? I brought my tab today thinking it is not good to play with the phone for your eyes." Saying that I took out my tab but she shook her head.

"I am tired today but can I ask you something, dear?" she asked holding my hand.

"What is it, Grandma?" I asked nodding at her.

"I know you both are friends and I am glad he found a friend during this time. But can you take him out during the days you are here? Every day he just sits here or in the canteen and goes to those clubs just a few hours some days. I can't see him like this." She requested but I frowned thinking what to say to those words.

"I am scared of the day, I will leave him. I am already with guilt that I was adamant about staying at this hospital thinking I will disturb their lives if I go to their place during my last days and also will have at least my neighbors as companions sometimes. But didn't expect him to leave everything and come here like this. Now, even if I want, I can't be shifted to that city." She added closing her eyes and a few tears slipped while my eyes filled with them not able to think how she must be feeling right now.

"He is happy to do this, Grandma. He is a strong person and will be fine. He doesn't want to leave you alone and I can understand him too." I mumbled and she smiled opening her eyes.

"Today my neighbors will come within an hour and one of them will stay for a whole week. I will not be alone. If I ask him to go then he will not leave but if you request then at least he will think about it." She explained.

"Okay! I will ask him, Grandma." I nodded and she sighed in relief before talking about her friends.

After some time, he returned only to stare at me in surprise but smiled entering the room while I continued to stare at him.

When her neighbors entered the room, we both stood up to leave to leave some space but I ended up getting teased by them.

"We were right that she is Nitish's girlfriend. These days, they really go around telling lies." One of them commented.

"They both look good together. You need not worry about your Grandson anymore." Another laughed.

I shook my head at Nitish who is ready to open his mouth and we closed the door behind us.

"Did you bring your phone and wallet?" I asked looking at him and he frowned at that question.

"Let's go out! I already talked to Grandma and took her permission." I added but he glanced at the door.

"They are going to stay longer and she said one of them is going to stay with her for a week. I gave the nurse my number too and I will switch off the phone in case your phone gets switched off due to draining of charge. So, we will always have contact with them. Now, will you come out with me or not?" I asked raising my eyebrow.

"She asked you to do it, didn't she? You need to get dragged like this." He assured me.

"Well, I came to this city for my leave after remembering the places you talked about from this city which you visited when you were young. So, I want to go to these places too. Will you give me company?" I asked him and he sighed before nodding at me with a smile.

"Let's go! I hope you like watching movies, unlike my friends. I want to watch the recent movie but didn't have time to do it. Do you know the mall near to this area? Let's go there to keep you sane and not worry about Grandma." I continued to blabber while he casually joined and the best thing is he loves to watch movies and that too in the theatre.