Chapter 8

*Kanika Pov*

“Will you not tell me what happened? You are like this from early morning, Kanika. What happened?” Anitha asked following me around.

“Go and prepare the list, Anitha. We need to get everything before you leave, remember?" I asked ignoring her question.

“I didn’t even sign the contract yet. However, you are important right now. Why do you never share your thoughts with me?” she asked in a hurt tone.

I closed my eyes while gripping the plate in my hands tightly to control my fear and calmly turned around with a smile.

“Can’t I miss you from now on as you are leaving soon?” I questioned her and she smiled before rushing towards me and hugged me.

“Just for one year mostly I think and we will stay in contact. You will also be busy with your course.” She pointed out letting me go while my hands trembled while remembering yesterday’s night incident.

“Even though I am leaving you here, I am excited to finally get some success, Kani. When everything will finish, I will have enough funds for us to buy an amazing house in a secure place.” She added in an excited tone.

“Right!” I whispered nodding while she took the plate from my hands saying she will go and get some ice cream for us to have after lunch.

After getting ready, she walked out of the house and I finally collapsed on the chair not able to compose myself anymore.

How can I pass this situation? What if I go right now and pay the fees so that there will be nothing with me for him to take?

But if he doesn’t go away then I will really have nothing to make him leave. I thought rubbing my face.

I have been thinking of a solution since yesterday night and even thought of lodging a complaint. However, what kind of crime should I lodge him for?

Even if he gets into custody when I tell the officers about threats and previous incidents, he can come out soon and can go along with his threat to ruin Anitha’s career.

If she was not with me, then she wouldn’t be in this trouble at all. I couldn’t help but feel guilty even though I can still think of a solution to stop him.

What if I give him money continuously until Anitha gets settled in her career? No! I will not be able to bear it again and also throw away my dream like that for that man who is supposed to be my father.

And even if I give money, if he gets greedy to gain more by reaching out to media then it will be out of my reach to solve it.

However, if I show my weakness before him by showing care for Anitha then he will take advantage of it.

What should I do? Why now? God! I got startled hearing a sound from my phone and frowned at Anitha’s message.

‘My crush is here to take me to the lunch appointment with Mr. Vikranth. He is so handsome! And right now he is buying a dress for me. Ahh…!’

I smiled at her message while finally calmly my heart down from the scare I got from the sound of this message.

I shouldn’t let her lose this chance or get in any trouble because of me. I got ready deciding to file a police complaint so that he will not do anything at least until she leaves India for work.

I am sure GH can handle it as it is a big company and even the words he will say to the media will not have proof and the things he has proof for will not affect her if she is not here.

Before I could step out, I got another message from Anitha saying, ‘I am coming back home. I am in need of your consoling.’

I stopped my plans after getting that message and postponed my plan to go out and sat down while waiting for her to return.

She returned within an hour with a hurtful expression and I immediately asked, “Did anyone say anything to the media? What happened?”

“Media? What are you talking about?” she asked frowning at my words.

“Then… is there any problem with the contract?” I asked feeling worse now.

“No! The problem is with my heart that got hurt today.” She replied sitting down beside me.

“Heart?” I asked with a lost expression.

“Yes! My crush thought I am with Mr. Vikranth and took me to lunch where they both were meeting a girl. He was stressing about how something is going on between us to that girl as if Mr. Vikranth and I already confessed to him. He didn’t believe no matter what Mr. Vikranth said and tried his best to make that girl believe that Mr. Vikranth and I are together.” She explained while I just stared at her.

“You scared me for this matter?” I asked raising my voice and she froze hearing that before giving a worse expression than she entered the house with.

“I am sorry! I know this is a small matter to you as you don’t care about any kind of crush or any relationships but… but I was always silly wishing for a loving relationship and a marriage and a happy family. I am sorry!” she whispered looking down.

I sighed feeling guilty for letting out my frustration like that as I know that she doesn’t know what is going on and it is wrong of me to attack her like this.

“I am sorry! I… I just got scared.” I whispered holding her hands tightly.

“Now, tell me again what happened.” I asked to which she stayed silent but after pleading with her for a few minutes she repeated the words.

“How was that girl’s expression when your crush said those things?” I asked frowning at her.

“She was shocked and a bit hurt I think.” She replied instantly.

“I think that girl must be liking Mr. Vikranth and…” I stopped realizing she will get hurt with my next words.

“And?” she stressed staring at me.

“And there is a chance like not 100% but a chance that your crush likes that girl and wished to make her give up on Mr. Vikranth.” I added and she stared at me in shock.

“Don’t worry! There will be amazing guys in the future who has eyes only for you.” I assured her not knowing how to console her in this matter.

Like she said I really don’t care about all these relationships. I only care about my dream and Anitha’s friendship with me. Everything else doesn’t matter and I don’t even trust them.

“I don’t want guys but just a guy.” She whispered sighing but suddenly turned to stare at me.

“You are very intelligent to stay away from these things. I will follow you from today and will just think of my career.” She mumbled with a determined look.

“This is just my guessing. I am not sure whether it is true or not.” I explained but she shook her head.

“You are never wrong at knowing people’s minds. I can only trust you even over me.” She nodded before standing up.

“I will pack this dress and will hide it until I completely forgot my crush. What do I even know about him except his name, his interest in food, and his expression while enjoying food and... I need to stop. I will go and wear my regular clothes so that we can have lunch.” Saying that she walked away and I shook my head smiling.

I need to wait until she leaves for her contract signing then. I stood up to arrange the plates properly to have lunch with her feeling a sense of relief after getting distracted with her topic like this.

****

“Tomorrow we will go and check the hostel for you, okay?” she asked stepping out of the house this time for the dinner appointment with Mr. Vikranth.

“Okay! Don’t forget to not touch any alcohol.” I warned and she grinned nodding before getting into the cab and it drove away.

Immediately I rushed inside to get ready and gathered my savings which I was going to pay tomorrow at the campus but right now I may need for the sake of any charges at the station.

After checking my ID and everything else, I stepped out and booked a cab to go the police station.

“Where are you going?” I got startled hearing his voice and he held the door before I could close it.

“What is the destination for which my daughter book this cab to?” he asked turning towards the driver and he replied normally while I stepped back from the cab feeling terrified.

I rushed back towards the house and tried to open the door but the keys kept on falling down. Hearing the footsteps I unlocked my phone to call the police but he held my hand tightly.

“I have already typed a media house number in my phone. Before the police can reach here, I can finish my conversation. I even have the photos of your friend in the orphanage which I took from my visit to that place saying I want to surprise my daughter with her friend’s pictures.” He said increasing his hold and I covered my mouth to stop from screaming.

“Give me the money.” He added in a warning tone.

“Dear! Who is it?” we both turned to look at the neighbor aunty who is frowning at him.

“He… he is my Dad, Aunty.” I replied when he increased the grip.

“Okay!” she nodded smiling before walking away and tears formed in my eyes feeling a sense of losing every opportunity to escape from this.

“Are your neighbors so nosy? Get inside!” he ordered and I opened the door trying to let him to leave my hand.

He took my bag away from my hands the moment we entered and started checking the pockets.

“No! Leave my bag!” I shouted trying to take it away.

However, I suddenly stumbled back and fell down when he slapped me hard which made me hit the end of the couch to the other side of the face.

I ignored the pain and again stood up but he already found the money. Even then he continued to search and took out the bank passbook.

“Let me check whether you have hidden any more money.” Saying that he turned the pages while I felt powerless before him to take my money back.

“Give my money back!” I shouted while hitting his shoulder with the flower vase I was able to reach.

“You! How dare you to hit me?” he shouted while throwing me on the floor and kicked my stomach.

“Mom!” I screamed and he laughed hearing that.

“Yes! You have the same genes as that bitch. I am not even sure whether she got pregnant because of me or not. But still, I raised you, didn’t I? You have the duty to help me.” He pointed out while kicking my head with his leg before walking out of the house while dropping my bag and the passbook on the floor but with my savings in his hands.

I continued to cry not able to stop myself while dragging my bag into my arms and don’t know when I even passed out.

But was able to wake up hearing the alarm clock which was the scheduled time by which Anitha and I should return home every day unless there is any special situation as we placed that rule.

I groaned sitting up and immediately held my stomach feeling an immense pain but with the face crunching in pain increased more pain from my face.

What… what should I tell Anitha now? I thought slowly standing up and stumbled to the couch still holding my bag which got torn because of him.

I took out a pain killer and had it before closing my eyes for a few minutes and finally messaged Anitha asking when she will return.

I stood up to clean the place when she said it will take ten more minutes to leave as she is signing the contract.

After checking my face, I tried to conceal the bruise but it is increasing more and more with every passing minute as it’s been already two hours since I took the hit.

I will just tell her what happened and then think of something. She will be hurt if I hide this after everything that happened.

With that thought, I stepped out of the house waiting for her as it’s really late and she still didn’t return.

I was about to call her but suddenly a car stopped near the house. I frowned looking at the front and immediately rushed to open the door only to see her weird expression.

“You are drunk!” I stated when she threw her arms around me smiling.

“What will you do when I go away? I will be leaving within a week. What happened to you?” She shouted at the end when she can see the bruises on my face from the car light.

“I am fine!” I mumbled remembering there is GH company’s driver here and it is better to not the company find out any inch of the trouble which may impact her.

“She has a low tolerance for alcohol. Please inform that to your boss.” I said glancing at the driver before helping Anitha to walk towards the house.

“Kanika! Your father left?” Aunty asked hearing the sound of the gate and stepped out of her house.

“Father? Why did he come here? He hit you?” Anitha asked raising her voice and Aunty froze hearing that.

“No!” I whispered but she continued without moving at all and I finally said it is for money as Aunty continued to listen to us and it is not good for outsiders to see Anitha like this as she is a celebrity and will be a huge star.

“What? Did you give up your education fees for that stupid father of yours? What will you do now? I was hoping you will get living arrangements after joining this course.” She continued to shout.

“I will handle it.” I shouted back which finally shut her up and we both walked into the house.

After settling her on the bed and she finally lost her consciousness but I know we need to talk tomorrow after she gets up maybe during mid-day as she generally sleeps longer under alcohol influence.

Removing her jewelry and heels, I arranged the blanket before sitting on my side of the bed feeling tired.

I placed my hand on the stomach thinking it is better to go to the hospital tomorrow by taking some money from Anitha. However, I also need to think of a solution to shut him out of my life and not harm Anitha at all.

At least he will not bother me for a few days as he took nearly a lakh and it will take time for him to spend all that.

I got startled from my thoughts hearing the loud knocks on the door while Anitha groaned but continued to sleep.

Who could be at this time? I thought standing up and slowly walked towards the door holding the same wooden flower vase from before feeling scared as the knocks didn’t stop at all.

“Who is it?” I shouted without opening the door and the knocks intensified while I nearly dropped the vase. Is he back? But why?