U And Me Will Always Be Together

Chapter 19

Here we go our next chap...

             Next five days flew in a flash. With the schedules at KIMS being hectic, Santhosh and Rishika were left with much less time to think about the mess they have created in their personal lives.

While Rishika became comfortable living with Raji and Santhosh, Santhosh still struggled with his budding feelings for Rishika.

After assisting her senior in a surgery, Rishika came and sat in the cafeteria with a steamy cup of coffee. 'What a tiring day it was!' she whined taking a sip of her coffee.

She looked at the watch and sighed 'Another four hours to get back to home.' After completing her coffee, she leaned back in the chair and closed her eyes seeking some peaceful rest.

After a moment, she almost jumped at the loud announcement from the central announcement system.
"Mrs.Kumar, please report at the reception. Urgent call awaiting."

She rubbed her eyes irritatingly as the announcement kept repeating. 'Who the hell is Mrs.Kumar? Did she die or what? Why can't she go and attend the call and spare us from the head ache' she cursed under her breath.

While she bent forward and rested her aching head over the table, she heard someone call for 'Mrs.Kumar.' She sat straight and as the announcement was still repeating, she gathered her things and moved out of the cafeteria gritting her teeth. 'I'll kill that Mrs.Kumar if I find her.' She promised herself as she made her way to the cancer ward.

Santhosh heard the announcement and wondered where Rishika was without answering the call. As he moved into the cancer ward, he saw Rishika at the desk, talking to the nurse, no some kind of yelling at the nurse.

Wondering what's wrong with her, he made his way towards the desk.
"Basket?" he called for her oblivious to her foul mood. He could still her the announcement for her.

"What?" she turned to him and yelled, startling him.

"Wohoo Basket, what happened? And what the hell are you doing here? The announcement-" he stopped his sentence midway as he heard her say something.

"Yeah I know, for some stupid Mrs. Kumar. I swear I m going to kil-" she left her sentence midway as realization dawned. 'Shit, Santhosh's last name is Kumar. Am I not Mrs.kumar?' She dropped her files on the floor and flew out of the ward towards the reception.

'Damn! Why didn't it stuck me before.' Cursing Mrs. Kumar again, for different reason, she smiled at the receptionist who eyed her suspiciously, before answering the call. "Hello?" she almost shouted into the receiver irritated with, God knows whom.

"Hello Rishika? I am Sunganthi, from Chennai." The woman on the other side, spoke softly.

"What? Which Suganthi?" Rishika said impatiently and thought 'Suganthi and from Chennai? I guess I heard this name somewhere. Who might it be?' The next moment she heard a giggle on the other said.

"Suganthi Kumar. Santhosh's mother and your mother-in-law. Remembered now?" as Rishika heard the words, she froze while the receiver slipped out of her hands. To her utter embarrassment, she also heard a round of laughter in the backdrop voice.

Her heart beat increased drastically with sweat forming on her forehead. 'You are a dead meat Rishika? What the hell is wrong with you today? Now what will she think about you? For God's sake she is your mother-in-law and you said you don't remember her?'

Still unsure what to speak, she picked up the receiver which was hanging in air. Taking a deep breath, she spoke "Uh, sorry aunty.... I..... I just.... don't know how......" she stuttered with her voice full of horror.

Suganthi chuckled listening to her words. "Don't panic Rishika. It's OK. Had a hectic day?" she asked to lighten the tension in Rishika.
Rishika relaxed a bit listening to her calm voice but still her heat beat erratically.

"Ye.... yes aunty. Shall I call Santhosh? He is-" she was cut in between by suganthi
.
"No Rishika. I want to talk to you. Infact want to tell you something. Actually, we talked about your wedding reception right? Well, santhosh's dad fixed it on Saturday night here in Chennai.

Since its Thursday today, I want you all to come here by tomorrow. So I just called up so that you and Santhosh might apply for leave for three days.

You may get back to Kerala by Monday evening. I have already talked to Raji. Is that OK with you?"

The receiver which was in Rishika's hand once again slipped down and her heart which was getting back to normal beating, beat faster than few minutes before.

'Wedding reception? In Chennai? On Saturday? God, can this day get any worse?' Cursing her fate she cleared her throat and spoke "Yes aunty. No problem. I'll talk to Santhosh. We'll call you in the night."

"Fine. Bye and come soon. I want to meet you." As Suganthi was about to cut the call, Rishika shouted "Aunty? One second." As she heard suganthi back, she said "Sorry Aunty. I didn't-" but was cut again in between by suganthi.

"That's perfectly fine Rishika. Don't be so formal. Byee. See you soon." She heard suganthi say and mumbled a quick bye before putting the receiver down. She leaned across the reception desk and tried to soothe her erratic heartbeat.

'Aunty sounds so happy. How am I going to do this? Am I not cheating her? What if she comes to know the truth about the reason behind our marriage?' deeply drowned in her thoughts, she went back to resume her duties.

Rishika sat on a beanbag, making a face as she watched Raji and Santhosh roll with laughter after listening to her about the announcement at KIMS and her brief talk with Ananya over the phone.

"Just stop it. This is the reason I didn't want to tell you both." Rishika shouted at them throwing a cushion at Santhosh. She expected them to stop laughing at her but in vain.

Irritated greatly, she stood up and said "Fine. Laugh and go to hell. I am leaving, to sleep."

As she was about to make a move, Santhosh held her wrist and stopped her. Pushing her back to the beanbag, he said "Ok. Ok. We'll stop." He said and again burst into fresh fits of laughter, while Rishika turned her face away.

After another 10 minutes of laughter riot, Raji and Santhosh stopped their laughter and tried to catch their breaths. "God Rishika, How can you forget your last name?" Raji asked breathing heavily and added "And you were cursing yourself. Huh? Quite innovative."

"And Basket, how come you forgot your 'Mother in law'? My mom is a decent one, so you are alive. Otherwise? I can imagine your position. I have seen few scenes in daily soaps too." Santhosh teased her only to get a smack from her.

"Shut up Santhosh. I am already scared of meeting her. How am I to expect aunty would call me at hospital? Wonder what she would be thinking of me!" Rishika said honestly and looked at Raji for some answer.

Raji smiled at her nervousness and said "Nothing. She will be thinking of how beautiful her daughter would be at the reception." Getting up from the sofa, she said to them "Now I guess your packing is done. We have to catch flight at 7 am. So get ready by then."

Then she turned to Santhosh and said "And you Mr. Sleeping devil. Mind you, if you don't wake up once I call you, I swear I'll leave you and go to Chennai along with Rishika and find a new groom for her for the reception." While Santhosh glared at her, Rishika giggled.
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NavyaAS