UNDERSTANDING RELATIONS

I woke up hearing Nikhil's voice. I opened my eyes and saw that Veer and Nikhil were arguing on something. I didn't open my eyes as I wanted to hear what they're talking. I think Nikhil has come just now. He said to Veer, "Veer, you can go now. I'll take care of her" Veer replied, "If you want to stay with her, you can but don't ask me to leave" Then Nikhil said, "If you're with her all time, then how can I take care of her. And it's because of you, she has fallen ill. She needs rest and I'll be with her, you can go" slightly irritated. Then Veer said, "How can you say it's because of me, she has fallen ill. And if you want to take care, you can. Who's stopping you? But asking me to go away is not right. If you want to spend some alone time with her, then I'll anyway go after she wakes up. I'll sit there on the couch till she wakes up and I'll not bother you"

I opened my eyes and called for Nikhil. He came and sat beside me, he said, "Baby how are you feeling?" I smiled and said, "I'm good. And tell me, how was your meeting?" He said, "The meeting was good, but tell me what do you want to eat?" I replied, "No, I don't want to eat anything. I just want to go home and sleep." He said, "Are you sure?" I nodded my head. Then I looked at Veer, he smiled and said, "Ok you go home, I'll come later in the evening." Nikhil didn't like that but he didn't say anything. I went home with Nikhil. I directly went to my room, Nikhil stayed for a while and then left.

Later in the evening, Veer has come to see me. He bought my favorite chocolate ice cream with him. We were eating ice cream and then papa has come. He sat beside and said, "Is everything ok between you two?" I asked, "Why are you asking like that Papa?" He said, "I'm your father and I know everything about you two. Since your birthday, you people are not talking to each other which is why you didn't eat yesterday dinner and also today's breakfast. So, you fainted in the afternoon. Now that Veer is here, I wanted to know if everything is ok"

I smiled and said, "Yes, now everything is ok." He then said, "Both of you listen to me carefully. You both have now grown up, Dhrithi already has someone in her life and slowly even Veer will find someone. Your partners may not know the depth and dynamics of your relationship. So, it's your responsibility to make them understand and stay together. Now, if you don't put efforts to make them understand about your relation then either you'll loose them or you'll have to forget that you both are friends."

We both hugged papa and then he turned towards to Veer and said, "Veer don't think too much. Now, if you stay silent and ignore her, then you'll be the one loosing her. We all know that you cannot live without her, then why are you avoiding her. It's time to be strong and make Nikhil understand your friendship." He smiled and nodded his head.

Later we went downstairs for dinner and Veer has left after dinner.

Next day, I asked Nikhil to come to my office in the evening to pick me, so that we can go out and I can talk to him. And he came in the evening, and we went on a drive. He took me to a park and we sat there for a while. None of us spoke anything, slowly I said, "Nikhil can I ask you something?" He nodded his head and I continued, "What's your problem with Veer? I heard your argument yesterday? Did something happen?"

He said, "I don't know why but I don't like when you give your attention to him. I want you fully, all to myself. I try a lot to be good to him, but when something like yesterday happens, I cannot control. Yesterday, I got very angry when I got to know that you didn't have your food and fainted because of him. He didn't even wish you on your birthday at 12, and still he's angry with you. But in real, you should be the one, angry with him. You're ignoring your health because of him and I'm not liking it a bit."

I said, "Nikhil you're getting it completely wrong. Veer didn't come to wish me at 12, because he wanted to give you space and you can wish me first. He was angry because, I came with you for lunch without informing him and that too when he took leave from his hospital to be with me. But he cannot be angry with me for longer time and also he understands me very well. He understands that we both want to spend time wih each other. The reason behind ignoring me is, he heard our conversation on our birthday. He wanted to give us space, so he was avoiding me. But he isn't the reason for my fainting. I hope you're getting what I'm trying to say."

He said, "Yes, I'm getting it. Don't worry, I'll try to be cordial with him." I hugged him and said, "You both are very important for me and I don't like it when you both fight. Even when I didn't know about my feelings for you, he understood and encouraged me to explore my feeling for you." He said, "I know and I owe him for that." And then we spent some time together and then he dropped me home.

After 2 months,

Our project with Ahuja's completed 2 weeks back. And there's only 1 week left for my contract to finish. I don't know what to do. At first before joining this company, I thought to work as designer for 6 months, learn business and then join Papa's business and slowly start my own company. But, now I want to continue working as designer. I don't know what to do. If I join in Dad's business, then I cannot grow as designer. I wish dad was also there in Construction business. I'm in my room thinking all these things, then out of nowhere Veer has come.

He patted on my shoulder and asked, "What happened? Where are you lost Misti?"

I replied, "Nothing, just thinking few things?" He replied, "And what are those things?"

I signalled him to sit beside me and he did like I asked. I said, "Veer, I seriously need your help. I don't want to quit my job. I want to work and grow as a designer. If I join Dad's business, then I cannot grow as designer. And then I cannot fulfil my dream of opening my own company. I don't know what to do? I don't know how will papa react if I say this to him"

He smiled and said, "Misti, you're just overthinking. What will uncle think? He'll always support you in whatever you do. You'll not believe, but I heard uncle talking to papa regarding this. I was passing through Papa's room and I heard their conversation. Uncle asked about your growth in company. He also asked about your designing skills. He was also very concerned because you're very passionate about designing and uncle is not into constructions. And you know what Papa said. He said that if you continue working like this, then you'll become a top interior designer. He told uncle to let you continue working as designer. And Uncle said, he'll talk to you and then decide." I was very happy after hearing Veer. All my tensions flew away and I couldn't ask for more. Right now I just want to see my papa. I immediately ran to his room, but he was not there. Then I went to study room and there he was searching for a file in the rack. I ran to him and hugged him from back. He turned and hugged me. I don't know when I started crying, he slowly rubbed my back and said, "Princess what happened? Why are you crying? Is everything Ok?"

I broke the hug and said, "I love you papa and I'm very lucky to have you." He wiped my tears and said, "I love you too but what happened that you're crying."

I said, "Nothing, I just realized how much you love me " and hugged him. He waited for me to say what has happened. Then after a while, I said, "Papa I don't want to quit my job, I want to continue working as designer." He smiled and said, "Ok, but I have a condition." I frowned and asked, "what is it?" He smiled and said, "You can continue working as long as you want, but don't hesitate to tell me when you want to quit and start your company." I smiled cheekily and hugged him tightly.