82. Patch-Up!

Anika’s PoV

After a week,

I was in constant touch with Sharanya to know the condition of Preethi. She was still in the hospital until yesterday and nobody tried to talk to her because the doctor adviced against bringing up the reason for her attempted suicide while she was still healing. Preethi chose not to talk to anybody also. Sharanya said that Praveen and his parents are still mad at Arjun but they dare talk about him in front of Preethi. She also said that it was very unlikely for Preethi to not ask about Arjun for a complete week.

“They will come around when they know the truth. We are happy to wait and we are really happy that Preethi has recovered completely and is doing well.” I told Sharanya when I spoke to her two days back.

“I have been trying to tell Praveen that he was wrong to accuse Arjun for the mistakes his sister had made. But he is not yet ready to listen through his mind.”

“I understand him, Sharanya. But even though Arjun reconciles with him like before, I cannot forgive him that easily. I am sorry to tell you this. I am beyond angry with your husband for he failed to value my husband’s friendship with him for so many years.”

“I understand.”

Arjun asked me to send the psychiatrist’s contact details to Sharanya for the follow up. He has been talking to the doctor updating her about Preethi’s condition. The doctor said that sometimes the extremities actually help in faster healing of the mind. She said that nearing death might have made Preethi realize the value of life and maybe now she would be willingly cooperate with the medical procedures. But all May Be’s.

We were getting ready to meet Anand. Arjun has not yet told anyone about Anand. He has asked everyone to get ready for a family outing. Doctors have told Arjun that Anand has made great recovery from all the surgeries and is ready to go. They need to see Anand again after a month to check on him for any infections. Arjun was very worried all week about Preethi and Praveen. He could not take it that Praveen spoke without understanding him. I am actually very angry with Praveen but I also know that Arjun values his friendship. So I tried my best to deviate Arjun from that gloomy mood.

Actually it was me who urged Arjun to look at Anand. Anand was impatiently waiting to meet his parents after two long years. It was after my continuous push, Arjun has now agreed to introduce Anand to everyone. He was planning to do this after a month, after Anand had been completely cleared by the doctors.

“So, what's the plan?” I asked him while combing my hair.

“I have already arranged a car for Anand to come to his home, we are now going to go to Coimbatore to his home.”

“Um… Actually, I have already told your dad that Anamika is alive and is in your care.” I told him.

“Why would you?” He asked me but shook his head in disbelief.

“Hey, don't give me that look. It was because of you and your stupid anger, I told your dad that day. But your dad just took it in and never spoke a word about it. You have his complete trust.” I said hurriedly.

“Ofcourse, the only person that don’t have trust in me is you.”

“Oh, yes, that was Anika! Not this Rose bud, you see.” I walked towards him with a sly smile and a wink.

“Oh really, so this rose bud has full trust in me, you say?” He pulled me closer to his chest and ran his finger on my bottom lip.

“Mmm Hmmm.” I closed my eyes to enjoy that tingling feeling his fingers arouse in me.

“Rose Bud!” He pulled my lips between his fingers and crashed his lips on mine. The kiss was so stupendous and out of the world that it escalated into a heated battle on bed. He pulled my zipper on my dress and let my dress slide down from my shoulders revealing my bra strap to his eyes.

“Don't suffocate those babies with this tight clothing.” He said while kissing my breasts on the bra.

“Shhh bad boy. Everybody is already out in the car. Now let me go.” I pushed him aside and pulled my dress up. “Put the zipper on, please.” I turned my back to him asking for his help to put it on.

“You are a mean girl!” He drew lines on my back before putting my zip on.

“Awe, don't whine like a baby! My honeymoon is still pending.” I told him, throwing my hands on his neck and kissing him on his cheek.

“Haha for sure! Now get out.” He pushed me out of the room and came behind me.

“Arjun, what if his parents don't approve of him?” I asked him.

“They will! If not, I have already offered him a job in our Maharashtra plant.”

“I love you, Arjun!” I told him, looking in the eye as we exited the elevator, admiring his quality as a human like always.

“Stop doing that with your eyes! It wakes up something in me.” He said that literally turned me on to a different level.

We all went out to the car, my mom was helping my dad to get in the car when another car came in and Praveen got down from it and marched forward towards us with a stoic face and it was very hard to read his mind through his face. My aunty, my mom and dad know nothing except that Preethi has attempted to kill herself in depression. My aunty, though wanted to visit her in the hospital, Arjun told her that the doctor has said not to. And also she doesn't want to spoil the happy mood of our home with this tragic news. Arjun looked at Rajesh.

“Rajesh, can you please drive the car? You start now, we will catch up later. I have already fed the destination in the GPS. Just drive through the route it shows you.” He threw the car keys to him.

“Sure!” Rajesh started the car and My aunty, mom, dad and Priya and Tarun went in that car while my uncle, Arjun and me stayed back.

“Come in, Praveen.” Uncle called him in while we all walked back to the house.

“Do you still need time?” Uncle asked him after ten minutes. All the time, Praveen never said a word nor looked at any of us. He sat on the couch with his head hung low, he even refused to drink the water the maid gave him.

“I am sorry, Arjun. I am so sorry, I know I don't deserve your forgiveness but I could not even close my eyes peacefully from the moment I realized my mistake. I am here to submit my apology to you just for the sake of my satisfaction.” Praveen said with his shivering tone without raising his head to look at us.

“You don't have to apologize, Praveen. You don't need my forgiveness. How is Preethi?” Arjun asked him like nothing has happened before or nothing has hurt him. I have literally seen him struggle to sleep and zone out all week. Though he didn't say it out loud, I could sense his discomfort and pain through his eyes. How can he forgive him just like that? I stayed quiet even though I had so much to say on Praveen’s face.

“No, Arjun. I know how much I have hurt you. I have destroyed 22years of friendship with mere hatred. I failed to analyse the situation. I should not have seen you any different than Preethi. But I did, that shows me that I have not been true in this friendship. I will never show my face to you ever again, Arjun. But trust me I am truly sorry and I realized my mistake.”

“Oh, stop this drama, Praveen. All is forgiven if that is what will calm you down. Come on, do you really think that I am going to let you leave my life? Yes, I am hurt that you didn't believe me and blamed me. But it is not going to leave a scar in our friendship.” Arjun went to him and made him look at him. They hugged each other and well, it was a happy continuation for their friendship.

“May I know what made you realize Arjun was not at fault?” Uncle asked Praveen. Uncle is clearly angry at Praveen and I could sense it from the vibration he was emitting. Praveen looked down again, obviously, he looked scared.

“Dad, let go. It's fine.”

“I am talking to him, Arjun.” Uncle silenced Arjun. I love how he manages to take control of everybody in a situation.

“I felt bad when Arjun left the hospital without even looking at Preethi. Sharanya was constantly telling me that I was wrong and I knew in my heart that I was wrong to have blamed Arjun. But yet, I was not ready to believe that Preethi did all the crooked things to get to Arjun. I met Nilesh two days before as he threatened to file a case against Avni’s custody as we didn't allow him to spend time with her. I took Avni to meet him and asked him about what Arjun told me. I knew very well that Arjun never met him or talked to him so I thought Anika exaggerated. Sorry, Anika. I now know how much you have endured because of my sister.” He started with uncle and ended with me.

“So you knew that Preethi was the one that set up Nilesh with Janani. Then what?” Uncle asked.

“That was more than enough to believe every other thing Arjun said. Preethi has already destroyed Anika in her wedding picture. Everything added up. The timing of her coming home just after Arjun’s divorce, her account with minimum balance with records of transfers to Arun’s account, everything pointed at her in the conspiracy she was spinning. I went home and tried to talk to Preethi. She never spoke a word other than necessity since she opened her eyes in the hospital. She refused to talk to me even after I asked her about everything she had done.”

“She needs to get admitted to the hospital, Praveen. The quicker the safer.” Arjun said.

“Yeah, I also talked to the doctor you referred to. I told Preethi and she agreed to get help. The only thing she said to me was ‘I never want to see Arjun.’ I came here just after admitting her to the hospital. My mom and dad asked me to convey their apologies to you and Anika.” I got very angry at this.

“But I want to see her, Praveen. She has to answer me.” I said.

“Anika, please.” Arjun tried to stop me but I am not a saint, I am just a human.

“No, Arjun. You can let her go because she is your friend. Why should I? She played a cheap game in my life. What if she won in that disgusting game she played? I would have lost my life, my child would have lost his father and family, we both would have lived a life filled with agony.”

“You are right, Anika. She must be held responsible. I will take you to her.” Praveen told me.

We all hopped in the car and Praveen drove us to the hospital. Arjun and uncle agreed to stay outside while I went to talk to her. I have no idea what is going to happen or what I am going to ask her. I have not prepared myself to question her. But I am so ready to confront her and to hear her say she is sorry.

“Don't be too harsh, beautiful. Remember, whatever she did she did because she was not in the right mind.” Arjun told me before I opened the door to enter her room.