Hiding Behind Smiles

10| Date?

Naina's POV

Ridhhant left the hospital and I entered the room where dad and mom were in a deep conversation.

"She is twenty three Bhargav!" My mom whisper yelled.

"That doesn't mean we start searching groom for-" Dad stopped seeing me but I understood what they were talking about.

"Mom please. I'm not getting married.. especially not an arranged marriage please?" I said.

Who gets married at 23 in 21st century? Is this some cruel joke?

"I know Naina twenty three is indeed very young, but you never had any boyfriend or something so you need to start with that you know..or you don't need to hesitate if you're a lesbian." My eyes widened.

"What?!"

"You never had a boyfriend so we assumed may be you're a lesbian?" Maa said.

Did they just assume my sexuality, but yeah noticing the fact I never had a boyfriend involved in my life..that's doubtful.

"No I'm not a lesbian..don't worry I like someone, but in hell that guy will be liking me back." I said both angrily and sadly.

"Whom do you like?" My boss.

"Secret for now. Let me confirm if he likes me back..and the chances are less than low."

"Then that guy is surely mad in the head if he doesn't like you back." Papa said.

I chuckled and hugged him ever so lightly, "We will see."

We talked and didn't realize it was 11 at night so I told Papa to rest and Mom to go to the Guest Room.

I was sitting at the window of the hospital room for a very long time thinking of a future with Ridhhant which was near to impossible and sleep wasn't to come, I was literally missing Ridhhant.
I didn't talk to him after he left. I thought of calling him but remembered it's late he might be sleeping.

I went to check on Maa and she was sleeping so I went to check on dad and he was wide awake looking at the ceiling.

"Papa?" I said in a low voice and lifted his gaze upto me.
"Why are you awake beta? Come here." He patted the bed and I went towards him and sat on the chair instead.
"What were you thinking Papa?"

"Your boss, Ridhhant. He is such a good guy, if I were to find a groom for you it would be Ridhhant but they are in not our stars maybe, the world will think of us as gold diggers isn't it? I would love to see you spend your life with him which isn't possible I guess. Unless he likes you." I was stunned. Papa was just staring into nowhere while speaking all this.

"Whom do YOU like anyways?" Papa asked looking at me.

"I-i actually li-like Ridhhant."I said stuttering and looking anywhere but him.

"Good choice." He said and smiled. "I'll sleep now and you can go to Ridhhant."

"But dad-"

"Or else I won't take my medicines." I thought he was kidding so I just sat there.
"Ok I'm serious Naina, go to him..it's your job also, if you are forgetting it."

Blackmailing is spreading in parents like a virus.

"But he gave me permission to look after you because you're not well so-"

"I'm all good. I won't be good if you don't go as I won't be having my medicines remember?" I groaned and he smiled.

"It's so late and-" he again cut me off. Ugh!

"Don't care." He said shrugging. My papa is so stubborn.

"Fine!" I said and went to my room, picked up my bad and went to have a final check on Maa and papa I came out and wondered.

How do I go there?

I decided to walk to his penthouse, it was just 15 minutes way though.

I reached the penthouse and the Watchman at the large gates was having his beauty sleep. I slid down the card and went in. Damn this Watchman still sleeping.

I reached the top floor and went upstairs to my room to see the door ajar, I opened the door silently and was beyond shocked to see Ridhhant sitting their and what shocked me more was that he was clutching by blanket and sitting lost in his thoughts.

"Ridhhant?" I called out and he stiffened he didn't even turn around.

"Ridhhant? Are you okay?" He slowly turned around and after some time the next thing he said made my heart jumping like a wild horse.

"I was wondering if you go on a date with me?" Is he serious. Does he like me?

Then he said the truth and frantically ran away. Here he was just trying to cover up his truth with a lie and I was thinking he actually wanted to go on a date with me.

What was I even thinking?

~

Naina's POV

I woke up early the next morning, freshening up I went to make breakfast. I waited for Ridhhant but he didn't show up at the dining table so I decided to walk to his room and the door was slightly open.

I decided have a look inside and he was sitting all ready but why wasn't he showing up?

"Ridhhant?" I called and waited outside thinking it wasn't good of me to completely open it without his consent.

I was about to call again when he opened the door and hurried to the dining table downstairs.  I rushed to match his pace and he just abruptly stopped before the dining table.

Now I was getting irritated, "What the fuck are you doing Ridhhant?" I asked.

He slump his shoulders down and said, "You can leave this job." What? Why? Did I do something wrong? Why'd he fire me? All of a sudden? Is it because of the hesternal happenings?

"Wha-why? Ridhha-S-sir?" I couldn't form words completely. What did I even do?

He slowly turned around still looking at the floor, "Iknowyoudontwanttostayherenowafterseeingmyactivitiessoyouarefreetoleave" he said in one go.

"Calm down Ridh why would I leave the job?" I asked in a confused state.

"Because you found it creepy and shitty of me to do so?" He said which came out as a question.

"Yea-yeah it was creepy but don't worry I ain't angry or leaving the job." I said with assurance dripping off my tone.

He smiled and I decided to ask this question,

"So you just said you want to go on a date with me just to hide your truth. Damn Ridhhant that gave me a heart attack." I said trying to sound jovial.

"Hmm..you don't want to go?" He asked looking right in my eyes.

"Wha-what does that me-mean?" I said gulping inaudibly.

"You don't wanna go on a date with me? Never?" He asked taking small steps towards me.

"I-i just uhmm i-" I said trying to find words but failing miserably.

"Let's eat breakfast," he said cutting me off and I took a breathe of relief, "then when office ends we'll go out." He finished.