Chapter 3

*Anitha Pov*

I slowly opened my eyes hearing a sound feeling well-rested but had to open them wider when I found a face closer to mine making me realize the place I just slept.

“Prathap!” I stiffened hearing an unfamiliar tone while feeling scared because of the situation I am in right now.

Who is it? Oh god! How can I get into a situation like this? I shouldn’t have let my sleep win over me for sure otherwise, I wouldn’t have been in this situation.

However, before I could react or shift away, he mumbled, “What is it?”

Then he slowly opened his eyes but his viewpoint is over my shoulder and then his eyes shift to stare at me while I stared back at him with my wide eyes.

He suddenly shouted asking, “Who are you? What are you doing here?”

“Your hands!” I mumbled pointing his hands so that I could at least move from this awkward position.

He frowned hearing those words and continued to give frantic reaction but I started pushing him away and he finally realized before releasing me from his hold.

“Dad! Who is she?” he asked looking over my shoulder while I sat properly to make sure the attire is in place.

“You are asking me? You should know who she is.” His Dad replied while I sighed in relief that it’s his Dad and not someone who could release this event to media.

“But I don’t know and who else can I ask?” he asked back while I frowned at his words.

It’s been a year and I can understand him forgetting that short moment but still how can he ask who I am near his Dad.

“Excuse me!” I mumbled getting up from the bed before taking a deep breath to look at his Dad.

“This is not what it looks like. He was drunk and I just helped him but slept off without realizing where I am.” I explained in simple words before giving him a nod and took my purse to slip away calmly.

“Do you want to go out now when there are media outside?” His words stopped me from moving.

“Media? Why?” I asked him frowning while he sighed before looking at his son and I followed his sight.

I stopped myself from snorting when Prathap is still staring at me with a confused look while showing an expression of disbelief on his face.

“Dad! I don’t know her.” He assured him while his Dad took out his phone before making a few calls while I had to stand there feeling awkward.

“A car is waiting at the back of the restaurant. You both need to come with me right now.” Saying that his Dad stepped out of the room while I frowned at those words.

“Why should we…” Prathap asked while following him and I just stood there before taking out my phone which I put in silent mode during the party yesterday.

I groaned finding numerous missed calls from Keerthi and her husband and also from Vikranth and Kanika. I closed my eyes before opening the messages and found a few friends of mine sending a few links asking whether it is true.

I covered my mouth seeing the pictures of mine from the bar yesterday and they continued to this building and there are many with him.

I glanced at the message from Vikranth asking me to come to the company the moment I see the message and I immediately stepped out of the room where I found a Dad completely ignoring his Son.

“Mr. Vikranth asked me to meet him.” I mumbled looking at his Dad.

“We are going there only.” He commented and I nodded at him while waiting for Prathap to get it together so that we can leave.

“Dad! I am already late and I need to open the restaurant too.” Prathap pointed out and I stared at him in surprise.

I thought he is working as a director for the advertising department in GH but now he is talking about a restaurant? I kept silent while feeling nervous about what will happen as that article is moving in my head.

I can’t believe I made a mess when I going to start working here soon. How can we get those articles takedown or how to give a reply when it is my fault? I hope it will not be a huge mess.

“You can open the restaurant right now when it is a mess outside? I saw your staff while coming up. Give them a call and let’s leave first otherwise I don’t know what I will do.” His Dad warned him before gesturing me to follow him.

I followed him out while we walked to make sure none from the road can see us by walking closer to the wall before waiting on the second floor where I found a few people and immediately hid my face.

He asked for the details on how to reach the back gate from the second floor and we had to step into the restaurant that is on the second floor from where we reached the stairs that are inside the building which are connected to the kitchen in the downstairs and finally reached the back gate of the building.

After sitting inside the car that was waiting for us, he sat in the passenger seat while calling someone but the way he scolded it must be Prathap only, and the next minute he reached the car before sliding in from the other side.

He glanced at me when I turned to stare at him and he just frowned before looking at his Dad. He opened his mouth but his Dad just asked the driver to start the car.

****

I am already worried about everything but when I found so many people present at Vikranth’s cabin after reaching there by taking the private elevator to not be seen by anyone.

“Everyone who messed up yesterday is here?” An elder man asked after the door got closed behind us.

“Uncle! What is going on? Why is everyone here?” Prathap asked looking at everyone and I found Kanika sitting at the corner seat while looking at her hands.

“Dad! Let me handle this before anything else.” Vikranth mumbled looking at that elder man but the three elder men who are the ones present here shook their heads in negative.

“This doesn’t just affect your entertainment holding, Vikranth. You three messed up completely and today morning it is effecting the whole GH.” I stared at Prathap’s Dad statement while thinking about what else is messed up.

“I am sorry for talking in the middle but nothing happened between us. He was drunk and I just slept and… and we were fully clothed too. Didn’t you see it, Sir?” I asked looking at Prathap’s Dad by calling him Sir as I don’t know what else to call him.

“Anyone will believe it?” that’s all he asked and I couldn’t say anything after that.

“What do you mean by three people messing?” Vikranth asked the person among those three elders who didn’t say anything.

“Do you want a list now?” His Dad replied while standing up to reach him.

“I know Kanika shouldn’t have let Anitha tag along with her and even let her help Prathap to his place. But we need to control the situation before it becomes a huge mess.” Vikranth pointed out and I felt guilty with the way the blame shifted to Kanika and now I understand her expression.

“Says the one who didn’t attend his anniversary party at his own house and to top of that got drunk before asking his wife to pick his drunk self.” His Dad said glaring at him.

“You chose her by yourself against our wishes but we didn’t say anything. Now, because of your negligence, it showed a bad impact to our business partners. Isn’t that a loss to GH?” His Dad continued before reaching us.

“You were so drunk that you don’t know anything around you? Is this what you want by going independent from this company? Do you think it will have a positive impact on the investors you got?” He asked Prathap and he looked down without saying anything.

“I heard you were going to settle here soon after finishing the last project abroad. Will the public take you normally after this scandal that occurred the moment you came to India for a short time in between?” He asked looking at me and now I understand the three people that messed up.

“And Shrishti who got conned by her Ex-Fiance.” He mumbled and both men finally reacted hearing those words.

“What do you mean? Where is she? How is she?” They both continued to ask while I shook my head before glancing at Kanika who is still just sitting there in silence.

“What matters is that these three incidents caused a huge set of problems for GH and now we need to handle them by taking all kinds of measures.” He said without giving any response to their questions.

“There is a new article about these both.” Prathap’s Dad commented while reading out the contents.

I stood there in shock hearing the words that he just uttered along with Prathap. He groaned while sitting down and I don’t know where to look at.

“She is the one you bought a dress and arranged other things by using the company card?” Prathap stayed silent after hearing that question.

“That was like one year back. And that’s for…” they cut me off not even listening to the excuse while I couldn’t continue after seeing the three people who are controlling everyone in this room right now.

“They are digging up everything and are even saying Prathap is trying to take over Vikranth by using her. Don’t they have a better story?” His Dad continued.

“If we reject any claims about yesterday’s incident then it will not go well.” Vikranth’s Dad commented.

“Dad! A whole PR team is working right now. You guys need not worry about this and I will handle it.” Vikranth assured them but they are as usual ignoring him.

“Dad!” He shouted as they continued to discuss between themselves.

“The board members are discussing to close down GH entertainment.” His Dad calmly stated and I stiffened along with him hearing those words.

“They were against this from the beginning and are looking at this with a magnifier. Yesterday’s absence of yours got added to this incident and they too think Prathap is trying to sabotage you and it’s better to not give him a chance and just close down the problematic part of GH and that is your entertainment sect.” Prathap’s Dad explained.

“Why are they making me a villain? I already left GH a long time back.” Prathap shouted standing up and frowned when his Dad glared at him.

“Your investors are interested in GH part too. Don’t forget that.” He sighed hearing those words.

I wish! I wish I hadn’t asked Kanika to take me with her and help this guy here and stayed back like that. Just one moment of hesitation caused suck ruckus to everyone like this.

“How about getting these both engaged?” Suddenly the other elder person who was silent until now stated while pointing Prathap and me.

“What?” We both asked looking at this elder person.

“Think about it! This news will make the spotlight completely removed from my daughter’s canceled engagement and also Vikrath’s absence by saying he was at Prathap’s engagement party and Prathap didn’t know his fiancé returned to India and she gave him a surprise.” He continued ignoring us this time.

“No way!” Prathap mumbled before glancing at me with a weird look and I returned it before glancing at the three people who are giving a different set of vibes now.

Vikranth’s Dad seems like a mafia boss and others are under him who are deciding our lives right now.

“I don’t want to marry her.” Prathap stated standing up properly and they all frowned at him.

“Of course not! Vikranth already stepped away from our decision and got married like that and Shrishti made a mess by deciding by herself. We are not asking you to actually marry her but to just release the article and fake it for some time.” His Dad explained while I frowned at his words.

Why are they talking as if Kanika and I are below their children? I thought with a frown and found Kanika shaking her head at me which made me not say the words that are right at the tip of my tongue.

“This is our decision and everything can be saved without too much headache. Think about it and answer within an hour. Or come up with a solution by yourself.” Vikranth’s Dad stated and the three people started walking out of the room.

Prathap’s Dad stopped near me before saying, “It will have a bad impression on your character if the solution is not taken in this direction. We are not asking for a real engagement but a fake one.”

After they left, the whole room with four people is just filled with silence but it got broke when someone else entered the room and the two guys started questioning her about the situation while asking about her welfare.

“I am fine! I am embarrassed and shocked but I am fine.” She stated before sitting on the chair beside Prathap before gesturing Vikranth to sit beside her.

“I didn’t want to see your Dad and get scolded. That’s why I stayed in the conference room and asked your PA to inform me after they leave. So, what was their decision?” she asked looking at Vikranth while I slowly walked closer to Kanika and sat beside her to hold her hand.

“I am sorry!” I whispered and she held my hand back.

“It’s okay! What are you going to do?” she asked glancing at me and I shook my head feeling confused.

“What? How can they decide that? Even though it is a fake engagement, it’s still your life. How can they connect you with just anyone just because of the scandal? You are his son and you need to have a say in this plan and mainly when we don’t know how the other person is. I don’t know what my Dad is thinking.” Shrishti commented after listening to Prathap’s review on what happened and I frowned at her words.

Anyone? Excuse me! She didn’t even glance at Kanika after entering the room and is one of the reasons for Vikranth to miss the party yesterday but she is talking about me as if she knows. Am I being too sensitive now? I thought the next second as I got angry after that.

“Exactly! I am rejecting this decision completely. How can this be the final decision? Let them deal with it. And I don’t care if you accept this for your business’ sake, Vikranth.” Prathap raised his voice and I didn’t even turn to glance at him.

“Don’t forget that you want a new investment soon and I will be the one to give it.” Vikranth pointed out and I frowned hearing those words.

“But how can I do this? How can I get engaged to her? I mean, her? It must be her plan.” he continued to stress the word, ‘her’ and the last sentence made me snapped at that.

“Excuse me? What are you trying to say?” I asked standing up while ignoring Kanika’s hand holding mine.

“Then tell me why did you stay back after dropping me in my home?” he asked folding his arms and turned his chair to stare at me.

“I was not dying to lay there in your arms like that while smelling your drunken self.” I retorted back and he glared at me.

“Then why did you stay back?” he repeated the question.

“Because…” I couldn’t continue looking at other people and he scoffed at that moment.

“See? Do you think I should be related to such an opportunist like this even under fake sense when it could create more problems later in my life?” he asked looking at Vikranth.

“Because you were crying like a baby.” I shouted not able to stop myself while trying to ignore his words but they are hurting as once upon a time I was crazy about him and getting such opinion from him is not something I wished to see even at the endpoint of my life.

“What?” he asked standing up again.

“Yes! You were crying like a baby while holding me and I was there to just console you but I was tired with all the work I had before traveling to India and then spending time at the party and then to hold your weight to climb three floors to your room and…” he raised his hand to stop me from continuing while just staring at me before closing his eyes.

“How? How can she just get engaged like this? Why can’t she see me right before her eyes loving her like this?” he sobbed shocking me while I slowly patted his back.

“I thought after Vikranth got married, she will choose me and I showed with my actions that I like that but… but she is going to marry the guy she met last month during an event. How?” he just continued and I sighed while consoling him for some time before feeling my eyes drooping a bit and they just closed.

“So, do you really think I want to get engaged to someone who cried in my arms about his first love? Even under fake sense?” I asked folding my arms and his eyes finally opened with shock filling them.

It seems he finally remembered what happened and I finally smiled mocking him directly before nodding at Kanika and took my hand from her hold.

“But you are right to say I am an opportunist. Right now what I want is to not have any scandal over my head when I am going to get my first huge break soon. So, I accept this plan of theirs and you can talk to Mr. Vikranth for further things as I don’t want to be in contact with you.” Saying those words with a straight face to him, I walked towards Vikranth.

“I am sorry about this and let me know what is planned as I am ready to accept anything to pass this disgusting scandal. I will be at the hotel with Keerthi and will go out only to meet Kanika and no one else. I am again sorry about this and don’t blame Kanika.” Adding these words to Vikranth I stepped out of the cabin while ignoring any response from the other person while Vikranth followed me to order his PA to drop me at the hotel safely and returned to the cabin.

After reaching the hotel room, I found Keerthi and her husband waiting for me in my room with the accused looks.

“We were so worried about you from last night.” She mumbled frowning at me.

“Next time, if I go somewhere without anyone of you then just lock me from stepping out of my room. I wish… I wish I had taken you both with me yesterday.” I groaned falling on the chair before covering my face with the mess that happened and the mess that is going to start soon.