*Anitha Pov*
“Thanks for this.” The designer said smiling while I am just standing before the mirror and her assistants adjusting the dress properly.
“I should thank you for letting me wear this new design of yours.” I said smiling at the mirror where I can see her.
“I approached Mr. Vikranth to let someone from his agency wear the new design so that it can get promoted but I never expected him to get his star for the promotion.” I felt awkward hearing that but also good.
After the dress got adjusted properly she took the measurements to make the changes so that I can wear it in the evening.
I glanced at my manager and asked her to check whether I need to get the pictures clocked before leaving for the venue or not.
“Mr. Vikranth said let the reporters take the pictures and not reveal it ahead.” I nodded before we both walked out of the store and reached Manoj who is waiting for us.
He is completely involved in his phone and didn’t even realize us approaching him. He got startled hearing my voice and put his phone away.
“What happened?” I asked him frowning.
“Nothing! I really need not take you to the venue?” he asked again and I shook my head.
“My Boy… my fiancé will be there and he decided that we should take his car. So, you can leave after dropping me at my place.” I assured him and turned to look at Mehtab.
“You can also take leave. I don’t have anything to do for two days after this and just enjoy your time.” I added and she immediately nodded.
After I reached the hotel, he drove away to drop her and then go to his place. I yawned stepping inside feeling tired after waking up so early.
It’s good that I already got my hair done and have to wear the dress when they send it to my room.
I called Kanika after reaching the room and asked, “How r u?”
“I am not the one that got into an accident. Why are you asking that everyday?” she asked back and I smiled sitting down.
“But you are the one taking care of him. He will not be fine for the next month and why to unnecessarily ask that?” I pointed out.
“Right!” she mumbled sighing.
“Is it hard for you? I can imagine him being a very difficult patient to take care of.” I said hearing that sigh.
“No! He is not at all difficult. He listens to everything properly.” She assured me and I have a hard time accepting that part for sure.
“Are you getting ready?” she asked when I stayed silent while imagining Vikranth listening to Kanika like a good boy.
“Uhmm… waiting for the dress to arrive. It’s just afternoon but I got my hair and makeup done.” I replied and we both talked for a while before she cut off saying she needs to get him lunch.
Even I want to have some lunch? I thought rubbing my stomach. Why do I have this habit of not having anything before any kind of these gatherings?
I sighed leaning on the chair and closed my eyes while making sure the hairstyle doesn’t get damaged.
****
“Say something!” I mumbled feeling nervous when he just kept on staring at me.
I got ready on time and he too arrived properly and right now standing at the entrance of my room while just staring at me.
“Do we need to go to this party?” he asked and I cleared my throat understanding the meaning behind it.
“Well, we could have avoided but we both are chief guests. You from the side of management and I am from the side of the artists. Chief guests not attending? That’s like an absurd idea.” I pointed out and he sighed walking closer to me.
“This color is just made for you. Why don’t you ever wear pink normally?” he asked looking at my face.
“Don’t know! Kanika and I never bought something in this color ever.” I replied shrugging.
“Let’s go shopping after this party. Maybe tomorrow.” He mumbled nodding to himself.
“Why? What kind of clothes do you want me to buy?” I asked him in a teasing tone.
“Anyway, I thought the next two days we can spend together and already gave leave to both Manoj and Mehtab.” I added and he smiled hearing that.
“Okay! But I still need to manage the restaurant for tomorrow and the day after tomorrow as it is the weekend.” He mumbled and I nodded.
“I know! But I can stay at your place and you need to cook something amazing for me. I didn’t have anything today.” I sighed feeling hungry at this moment.
“Why? I would have brought something for you while coming here.” He asked frowning.
“It’s just my habit to not eat anything before the parties like these. I can eat something at the party, right?” I pointed out.
He nodded before forwarding his hand and we both walked out of the room hand-in-hand. I smiled finding the car completely clean which is not the case normally.
I heard he cleans the car monthly once and I remember that time being just two weeks back. He cleared his throat while understanding my look but calmly opened the passenger door.
“Thank you!” I mumbled trying to not laugh while he rolled his eyes.
“They click the pictures of the car too.” He pointed out and I nodded before getting inside the car.
After adjusting his seat belt, he started driving saying, “He could have arranged the party here itself, right? This is also GH hotel.”
“But I heard the venue is the first-ever GH hotel and it is also huge.” I mumbled and he nodded.
“Yes! That was the time when my Dad was still working as a project manager and that hotel was his first-ever one with him being the head of the team.” He explained.
“Wow! That has a huge history then.” I mumbled and he nodded.
“Yes! It was Ashok Uncle’s first investment and Mohan Uncle’s first project to design the hotel too. They all started together and right now they are still the same.” He said smiling.
“Shrishti’s Dad is an architecture? Wow! I didn’t know that.” I said and he smiled.
“Right now none of them are involved exclusively in anything but still they try to take care of their own profession more than others. Mohan Uncle helped me with deciding the building for my restaurant too.” He added and I smiled feeling good to hear new things every time like this.
I leaned back and closed my eyes as we got stuck in the traffic but it is a good thing that we started early expecting this.
When his phone suddenly started ringing I opened my eyes and found that we are just two kilometers away from the venue as far as I know.
He cut the call with his left hand and continued to drive but his phone rang again and I glanced at the place where his phone is kept between us and it is Shrishti who is calling him.
Even though he cut it for the second time, she called again. He sighed picking the call and put it on speaker mode.
“What is it, Shrishti? I am driving right now.” He said before she could say anything.
“Prathap!” I got shocked hearing her crying tone and he too frowned.
“What happened?” he asked stopping the car at the side of the road.
“Please come to my place. I… please.” She pleaded while crying.
“Is something wrong? Should… should I call for help?” he asked with a panicked tone.
“No! You just come home. I… Just come and I will tell you but please come.” She said cutting the call and her crying sound is also cut with that.
I frowned thinking why is she crying and it is not serious if she doesn’t want him to get help but why is she crying in the first place.
“Anitha! Can you call Manoj to pick you up? I need to go.” He suddenly said looking at me with a panicked look.
“What?” I asked frowning.
“One of us should be there at the party. I need to go and check up on her. Okay?” he asked but not actually asking me as he just unlocked the doors.
“Prathap! I asked him to take leave.” I pointed out while holding my seat belt tightly when I found the area we are at.
“You can just call him back. He is not going to reject you, right?” saying that he expectedly stared at the seat belt.
“I…” he cut me off saying, “She is crying and something must be wrong as she generally doesn’t cry like that.”
“But I…” he cut me off again saying, “Anitha! Just call him. Please!” he said in a pleading tone and my hand automatically removed the seat belt around me.
“Thank you! I am really sorry and I will try to join you if I can.” He assured me and I slowly nodded opening the door before stepping out.
He immediately drove away taking a U-turn the moment I closed the door. I took a deep breath before calling Manoj.
He didn’t pick up and I had to call him again but he still didn’t pick it up. I took another deep breath but screamed when a car passed me at high speed.
“It’s okay! It’s okay!” I whispered while patting my chest and tried to stay away from the road completely.
Why are there no lights? I thought looking around and stopped myself from screaming when another car passed me.
I tried to call Manoj again but he is still not picking it up and I ended up calling Mehtab whose phone is actually switched off.
“Why? When I actually need you guys?” I shouted at the phone but it is not their fault when I already gave them leave.
I covered my face when I heard flashes from the car that is passing me but it just passed me without stopping.
I immediately called Vikranth so that he can send someone to pick me up. I wish I can find cab at least. But even if I find it, it will be a spectacle to reach the event in a cab.
“Hello!” I said the moment he picked the call.
“Is something wrong? Vikranth is… sleeping right now.” Kanika voice reached me and I sighed in relief.
“Kanika! I am on the side of the road and Manoj is not picking the call while Mehtab phone is switched off.” I rushed the words.
“Why are you on the side of the road? Prathap is supposed to drive you to the venue, right?” she asked in a confused tone.
“He… he had to go because of something.” I replied.
“There are no lights here and the cars are moving at high speed and… and I am scared.” I whispered before she could ask anything.
“I will be there. Send me the location.” She said in a rush and I sighed in relief before sending her the location where I am at present.
I tried to stop my hands from shivering and glanced at my phone when it started ringing, I took a deep breath and picked the call.
“Did you reach the venue?” he asked first.
“I…” I opened my mouth but the words from that side stopped me completely.
“I heard that you like me, Prathap. Why don’t we become a couple?” what is going on now.
“What?” he asked in a shocked tone and even cut the call.
I closed my eyes while trying to understand this part now. No! I need to get out of this road before thinking about any other thing.
I opened my eyes in panic hearing a flow of horn sounds reaching me and nearly hit me but I took a step back immediately while it stopped near me suddenly and just missed from hitting me.
“Sorry about that! We saw you at the last moment.” The person from the passenger seat apologized and I gave him a nod.
“Wait! Isn’t she Anny?” someone from the back of the car suddenly voiced out and the middle window opened before they waved at me but one of them started clocking the pictures.
I immediately covered my face while saying, “It’s okay! Be careful next time. There are people walking on the side path.”
And they end up losing their lives. I didn’t add that part but it is definitely on my mind. They drove away to my luck but that definitely scared me.
Mom! Dad! I whispered before kneeling down feeling the strength leave my legs completely.
I know I was scared of roads like these after that accident but I never thought I will still feel the same after all these years.
“Anitha!” Kanika’s voice reached me and I lifted my head to stare at her.
“You came!” I mumbled and she nodded before rubbing my hands.
“Come on!” She whispered helping me up and got me inside the car before she sat in the driver seat.
“Drink some water.” She added passing the water bottle after removing the cap.
“Thank you!” I mumbled taking a sip and finally letting go of the fear that gripped my heart from the moment I stood on that road.
“Shall I drive you back to the hotel?” she asked and I shook my head.
“I need to go to the party. I am the chief guest there and it is my work.” I mumbled.
“But your dress…” she trailed off and I glanced down only to find the bottom part splashed with mud and a bit is also torn.
“I shouldn’t have knelt earlier.” I mumbled.
“You didn’t do it because you want to.” She consoled me.
“What should I do, Kanika? This is to promote this design and the designer can sue the agency if I don’t wear it or cause them bad name.” I mumbled and she patted my back.
“Don’t worry! I will fix it and let’s deal with the designer later. Are you okay now?” she asked looking at me.
“I… I just thought of Mom and Dad and… and I am still not over that trauma as I thought I was a few years back.” I replied and she slowly nodded before caressing my cheek.
“We will think of something about that too.” She assured me and I slowly nodded while I felt a tear rolling down my cheek.
“Let’s go! I already know the venue and we will go from back where there is a rest room present. I will fix your dress and you can attend the party too.” She added starting the car.
“I will wait outside and you can come out soon also. You are the guest after all.” She smiled and I slowly nodded while feeling a sense of security passing through my heart.
“Thank you!” I whispered and she nodded before putting on my seat belt before driving the car while I tried to let go of the thoughts that passed my mind during the time I was there on the road side.