Hiding Behind Smiles

8| Hospital

Ridhhant's POV

Yesternight was the most peaceful one. Holding her hands, gazing the cold night together...it felt so warm.

After a lot of years I slept without deadly nightmares. I still had the warmth of her hands lingering on mine which kept me peaceful at night after so many years.

I know I am getting attached to Her, but what's the use of it.

But I can still try all I need to do is be real and that's easy for me, for I become automatically what I am before her.

I walked to my cabin and I saw my tea, I took a sip and it wasn't the same. It was not good.

"Miss Naina." I called and there was silence.

I called again yet no answer, panic rushed to me so I ran to her cabin and it was empty.

I called her and; damn it! She wasn't picking the call.
I remember she went out of the car the midway like usual so that people won't suspect we live together, so where is she?

I called the secretary to cancel my meetings, I instantly grabbed my car keys to go check if she is in the penthouse but she wasn't there too.

I didn't know what to do so I called Maa.

She picked the call in two rings. Thank god.

"Ma-Maaa" I stuttered for I was imagining the worst of scenarios.

"Ridh? You okay?"

"Do you know where's Naina?"

"No why? You should know it." Then I told her how she didn't reach office and wasn't picking my calls and wasn't even at the penthouse.

Maa and Paa came rushing to my penthouse, "I'll call her Mom." Maa said and I nodded.

"Hello Mitali, is Naina there?" She asked and was listening deeply when I heard a gasp and looked up to see Maa's hazy tears.

She cut the call and I stood up. "Actually her father met an accident and the person helping him called Naina so she rushed to the place where accident happened, her phone was dead so she called her Mom from her dad's phone and their family is at the city hospital. We should go too." I nodded furiously and grabbed my car keys.

-

"Drive slowly Ridh."

"Yea-yeah."

We reached the hospital and ran to the reception, "Mr. Bhargav Raj" I said and the receptionist nodded.

"Floor 3rd room number 8." We all rushed to the floor and near the room I saw Naina laying in her mom's lap who was sitting on the chair.

She looked up at me with her puffy eyes and all I wanted to do was to hug her. She stood up immediately, "I'm sorry Ridhhant, i didn't come to the office I'm really so-"

"It's not your fault at the first place. Calm down. How's uncle?" I asked.

"Out of danger now." I nodded and gave a smile to her, Me and Paa went to ask the doctor about the same.

Came to know his one leg is fractured and blood pressure was high too along with his dislocated shoulder.

Paa signed the formal papers after a lot of confrontation with Mitali aunty, she won't let us pay then Maa had to use the 'your daughter is doing so much for my son' trick, Maa is black belt in blackmailing.

But really Naina is doing so much for me, so much to me.

"Maa and Paa you guys can go and continue your work or rest. It was a tiring day."

"And you?" Maa asked.

"I'll be there till uncle wakes up, please?" She nodded and turned to leave while Paa gave me a side hug and took Maa with him.

I took a deep breath and sat on one of the chairs while aunty was sitting silently and Naina has went to washroom, after a lot of crying she must be tired.

"Aunty are you okay?"

"Yes beta, thank you so much without you guys I don't know what we would have done." She said

I shifted my place and kneeled before her, "As Maa said Naina does so much for me and she is my friend too so it's my duty to do all this."

"None of her other friends came."

"Too selfish of them." I said.
She passed me a smile as we saw Naina heading towards us.

"I'll go in to have a check on your Papa." aunty said to Naina and stood up, I too stood up and sat on chair.

"Why are you standing, sit down." I said and Naina sat beside me.

Too far for my liking.

-
Naina's POV

I recalled my day when I was on the way to my office when my phone ranged and it was Papa's, "hello the person to whom this phone belongs met an accident on the south road, come to the City Hospital If you want to meet him. The paramedics are taking him to the hospital." I was numb and I immediately told the driver to take me to the hospital.

I reached the hospital and hearing the receptionist I ran to the room. The doctor said as the car hit the auto from behind his leg is fractured and his shoulder is dislocated. I called Mom from Papa's phone and she came running and I hugged and we were waiting there for half and hour or more when Mumma's phone rang and I came to know it's Nandini ma'am.

After few minutes Ridhhant and his family came running, I looked up at him carefully and his hair was a bit dishevelled, like he ran his fingers over it a lot of times and he was looking exhausted and guilt took over me..I should have informed him after the moment I called Mom or even before that.

I stood up and started apologizing and he wasn't even upset. I was relaxed but then they thought of paying the bills for us, I was pissed but was too tired to argue fully,

I'll surely pay it someday, I promised to myself. I went to the washroom and washed my face and returned and saw Mom and Ridhhant talking. I was wondering what they were talking.

Didn't look so serious but wasn't funny too, why the fuck would someone joke right now anyway?

Maa excused her to go inside.

"Why are you standing come sit down." Ridhhant said and I nodded and sat beside him.
Too close we are, but as if I complain. I like the closeness.

What the fuck did I just think?

"Uhh thank you so much Ridhhant." I said and he nodded, "I'm tired of saying 'Welcome' today." he said and I chuckled a bit.

~•~•~

Ridhhant's POV

The door opened and, "Your papa is awake."  Naina immediately stood up and went in and the door closed.

It opened after a minute and Naina came, "I'm sorry I left you here."

"It's okay." I said and smiled.

"Papa wants to see you."

I nodded and stood up and entered the room. He smiled at me, I went to him and took his blessings.

Oh shit! I didn't do it with aunty. I turned to her and she let out a small laugh, "Do it next time." I awkwardly laughed and glanced at Naina and she was smiling in content I raised my eyebrows and she shakes her head.

We talked, uncle thanked me again and again and we talked for some time and I decided to take leave.

"You can stay with them today." I told Naina and she nodded and I left the room.