Chapter 41

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Total words:- 1798

“Maa, Papa… I am perfectly fine. And moreover, I have to prove myself na… that I’m worth it,” I said, almost whining.

“You don’t have to prove anything, gudiya. If you say, I’ll make you the CEO-or wait-the company’s president right away. I trust you. It’s just… I feel uneasy leaving you alone,” Dad said while sitting on the sofa.

“That only means you don’t trust me!” I kept both my arms on my waist in an intimidating manner.

Dad rolled his head, clearly done with my dramatics.

Ab kya… kidnap hui to kya jeena chhod du?
(What now… should I stop living just because I got kidnapped once?)

“She’ll handle it, Vijay ji.” Maa put a hand on my waist, and I instantly hugged her.

I rested my chin on Mom’s shoulder and made puppy eyes with a pout-saying please without actually saying it.

“Okay, okay, fine, fine… ab dono maa-beti ek side ho, toh meri kahaan chalne dogi? But, but… you’ll call me even if you hit your toe. Promise?”
(Now that you two-mother and daughter-are on the same side, where will I get a say? But… you’ll call me even if you hit your toe. Promise?)

“Daddd!” I whined.

“Promise, or I’m not going.” Dad basically threatened me, pointing his finger.

“Fine… I promise. Pakka promise.” I went towards Papa and hugged him while chuckling.

He kissed my head.

“Gudiya, I am not kidding. I am scared, bacha… what if this situation occurs again?” he said, resting his chin on my head.

“And you’d let it happen?” I looked at him while still hugging him. “Jitne mere department mein employees nahi hain, usse zyada toh aapne guards appoint kar diye. Hmm? Boliye ab?”
(You’ve appointed more guards than I even have employees in my department. Hmm? What do you say now?)

“Umm… voh…” (Umm… that…)

“Haan, haan, boliye ab…” (Yes, yes, say it now…) I teased him more.

“Kam hai kya? Why am I asking, I’ll appoint more. I want my kid to be safe.”

Both Mom and I slapped our foreheads, while Ayanshi laughed from the dining chair, enjoying our banter.

“Laage raho, baap-beti… mujhe bohot kaam hai.”
(Carry on, father-daughter… I have a lot of work.)

And when Mom went away, Dad hesitated before speaking, so I looked at him curiously.

“And listen… stay away from that bandar.”

“Bandar? Kaun bandar?” (Monkey? Which monkey?) I asked, my forehead scrunching.

“Aree… vohi…” I raised my eyebrows. “That Navver Brar. You know he is no good. He… he… he just doesn’t fit my vibe,” he said, and I chuckled.

“I’m serious, gudiya,” he said in that protective tone.

“I totally get that, Papa. I’ll stay away from him.” I got a simple “Hmm” in return.

It’s funny.

It’s been two days since Mom and Dad went back to Punjab, and my brother decided to stay back with me.

He is annoying, I’m telling you.

I don’t like it when he acts like a nurse when I already have one. It makes me so annoyed. Okay… maybe I like it just a tiny bit.

Also, Ranvijay Uncle and Divya Aunty went back to Jaipur.

They all went to the airport together, and I found out Uncle appointed so many guards… and Dad too.

Just best friends’ things…

Waise “menu aye kyo lagda v”, they were something powerful before, not just company presidents. But something else.

My thoughts were broken when my door opened. With mild amusement, I looked towards it… but instantly closed my eyes.

Because the person I was expecting wasn’t there.

“Sir.”

“Anything important, Victor?” I asked my head security guard.

Victor has been with me through thick and thin.

But he always stays in the shadows, coming out only when it’s absolutely necessary.

“Sir, are you okay now?” he asked, and I raised my brows.

Emotions?

“Victor, you’re ruining your tough-guy personality,” I said with a chuckle.

“I’m alright, Victor. And I’m getting better.” I took a small pause. “Is everything alright?” I asked, picking up my laptop.

“Yes, sir. Everything is alright. There is tight security – but in shadows – around the building, your floor, and your office building as well. We also strengthened the firewalls of the database. All the clients’ backgrounds have been checked. And we’ve taken all the safety measures,” he said.

“Good. Anything else?”

“No, sir. Take care.”

“You too, Victor.”

✧

3 days later

Vani’s been sitting with me in my living room, doing office work and making plans.

And Subh is leaving today for Italy to do his post-grad.

“Solnyshka, what if we change the plans for place B? The former one is too money-consuming, and the success rate is…” I stopped, rechecking the slides again.

“Hmm, I was thinking the same, yaar (friend). But I’ve been thinking of changing the place instead of the plan. The plan is perfect-we can make a few changes. But what if we find another place?”

“Hmmm, we can do that. We’ll hold place B for now but also explore other options and-“

“Sir, your tea,” my nurse said, handing me a cup.

“Rhena, your job as a nurse is to take care of my meds, not to act as my cook. Please don’t do these things,” I said, and I could feel Vani’s eyes narrow on Rhena.

In response, Rhena smiled slowly-it’s giving me weird vibes, to be honest.

“Sir,” she stretched the word in a sweet tone, “I’m taking care of you by giving you proper nutrition.”

“Is he a kid? He can eat his meals on his own,” Vani snapped.

I raised my eyebrows, my head snapping toward her, and a smirk slowly covered my face.

“Are you jealous, Solnyshka?” I asked, smirking.

“Jealous hone ke liye, kuch jealous hone wala hona bhi chahiye (To be jealous, there has to be something worth being jealous about). And you’ve got nothing,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes.

“Ohhh, yeah, yeah…” I said, nodding in fake agreement but full of amusement.

“But don’t you think she’s sweet? She takes care of me so well. Mujhe kisi ki kami nahi mehsoos hone deti (She never lets me feel the absence of anyone)… right, Rhena?” I asked, looking between them, clearly enjoying myself.

“Yes, of course, sir. I’ll continue to take care of you like that. And I’ll give you more-“

“What??” Vani interrupted, anger flashing in her voice.

“More what!?” she asked again, sharper this time.

I was silently laughing so hard.

“I mean… more care, and love, and nutrition, and-“

“No need. He’s not a kid. He can do everything on his own,” Vani snapped again.

I thought of teasing her more.

“Vani… she even helps me bathe. You know, with my foot and arm injured, she takes me to the bathroom, removes my clothes, and runs me a bath.”

“A what?” Vani’s eyes widened, and she snapped at me.

“Yes, sir said I can help him-” Rhena began, but yaar, kitni jhoothi hai yeh (man, how much she lies), I never said that.

“You shut up. Tumhare sir ko toh main… (Your sir, I will…)” She turned toward me, pointing her finger, but I caught her wrist.

“Rhena, you go,” I said, and as Rhena left, I pulled Vani a little closer.

“Mujhe kya, Vani? (What will you do to me, Vani?)” I asked, my tone teasing yet serious.

“Main tumhe… (I will you…)” She couldn’t form the sentence.

“Tum mujhe…? (You will me…?)” I wanted to hear what she’d say.

Our faces were close-not too close, but close enough that I could hear her heartbeat.

She started becoming flustered.

My face moved toward hers on its own.

Vani didn’t resist or move away.

“Nav…” she said in a barely audible voice, but I caught it.

“Hmm?” I asked.

“Vani… can I…”

My sentence was interrupted by the doorbell.

Vani instantly withdrew her hand and sat on the other sofa. I watched her walk away in disappointment and hurt-already missing the feel of her.

Someone opened the door, and of course, there stood meri saali sahiba (my dear sister-in-law).

Wait-sorry, flow-flow mein galat bol deta hoon main (I sometimes say the wrong thing when I’m in the flow).

“How are you, bhaiya (elder brother)?” she asked, giving me cookies.

“Did you bake them, Ayanshi?” I asked, genuinely happy. She’s even started calling me bhaiya instead of Mr. Brar, and I’m more than glad. I’m even happier that Vani’s stopped calling me Mr. Brar.

“Yep. I thought… um… I thought to bake them and give them to you.”

“They’re so yummy,” I said, taking a bite of the cookie. Vani shook her head, smiling.

I passed her the cookie basket and asked if she wanted one, but she shook her head, saying no.

“And um… where is Subh? Give him the cookies too,” Ayanshi said.

“Oh… he… he’s gone. He was downstairs waiting for his cab-he’s going to Italy,” I said, munching on the cookie.

“What? He… is… excuse me…” She basically ran out.

Me and Vani looked at each other, processing what just happened?

Ayanshi ran to the elevator, jabbing the button over and over as if it would make it arrive faster.

Her chest tightened. Maybe… maybe he hasn’t left yet.

Maybe one glance.

Maybe one last talk.

“Why… why is he just going? He didn’t even tell me. Why, Subh… why?” she mumbled under her breath, her voice breaking into stutters.

The elevator doors slid open on the ground floor, and she sprinted out with all the strength in her legs.

He was there-bent over, fitting his luggage into the car’s trunk.

She called his name. She shouted it.
Not once, not twice… but over and over.

“Subh! … Subh!”

She ran towards him, but he had already slid into the back seat. The car rolled forward, leaving her behind.

She froze. Tears streamed down her cheeks.

“I hate you, Subh! I HATE YOU!” she screamed, voice cracking.
“You didn’t even think to say goodbye?”

Her sobs deepened, her words trembling between them.
“I will never talk to you… never talk to you again,” she said, burying her face in her palms.

Inside the car

Subh closed his eyes, a faint glisten on his lashes.
A single tear slid down his cheek as he whispered,

“I don’t want to meet you again… ever.”

Hatred?
Kya inki kahani yahi tak thi?

(Was their story meant to end here?)

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