Chapter 8

*Palak Pov*

“He is still sleeping?” Satish asked the moment I opened the door to his impatient ringing of the door bell.

“Yes! And I really like to have a good sleep too.” I mumbled yawning and he finally glanced at my face instead of looking at every corner of my flat.

“Thank you for this help. It must have been hard for you.” He mumbled clearing his throat.

“What else can I do? You asked me to keep him and I did like you instructed.” I pointed out stepping back before gesturing the room where David is sleeping.

“Then I will take my leave. Give me a call after he wakes up.” Saying that he just turned around to leave not even taking a step into my home.

Is he serious? I thought following him and took hold of his hand before he can reach the steps. He frowned, looking at me and I immediately let go of his hand.

“You are his manager and you should be the one who takes care of him in this situation. Just take him with you wherever it is and don’t make me do this.” He shook his head hearing my words.

“If I take him to any hotel then the people will recognize him and all the hard work you did until now will be a waste. So, it’s better if you keep him with you for a little longer.” He gave a nod finishing his explanation while I just stared at him.

“Is he some object that I have to keep with me? There will be some other options which you can go along with.” I continued, but he just waved his hand and started climbing down the stairs.

I really wish I can hit him right now and I can’t believe I am this angry at a person whom I don’t even know much about. And he is just doing his work which is kind of commendable but I shouldn’t get involved like this without my consent too.

With a loud sigh, I walked back inside and locked the door before stepping towards my room and found him sleeping soundly without getting disturbed by the doorbell at all.

He is in for a huge surprise when he sees his face in the mirror after he wakes up. I hope he will not be in too much pain though. I returned to the living room after arranging the ice pack properly on his eye and the cheek, which I hope will stay at least for some time without falling down.

****

Please don’t get up! Please don’t get up! I don’t know how many times I chanted those words from the moment I stepped into the washroom.

I should have gotten the lock repaired last month itself, but with the idea of no one stepping into my home just brought out immense laziness within me which is causing a huge trouble right now.

I think it’s been a few years since I rushed in this way to get ready and not be late. With a sigh of relief, I stepped out of the washroom completely dressed which felt not that comfortable to do in the washroom but I don’t have any other option right now.

“What is this?” I glanced at the mirror while braiding my hair to see him holding the ice pack.

“For your face!” I replied without turning around and found him staring in my direction and as expected his eye is nearly closed right now.

“What’s this for?” he asked when I passed a tablet to his hand and waited with a glass of water in my hand.

“For your body!” I passed the glass when he took it into his mouth and took the glass back after he finished drinking.

“Where are you going?” he asked when I took a step towards the door to leave and find my phone to give a call to his manager so that I can go to the hospital.

“To my work!” I replied, remembering his words from yesterday how he was uttering about not going to his manager.

“Any other question?” I asked while he just stared at me.

“How am I looking?” he asked, frowning and I don’t know why, but I smiled hearing that question.

“You could look better.” I replied and he gave an understanding nod.

He sighed, looking away and took a peak at each corner of my room before glancing at my face. Why have I been standing here like an idiot while I can just leave right now?

But I already know what I actually want to know from him right now. I wish I can ask him why did he even got drunk in this way when he told me how much he despised about others getting drunk and their later actions.

“There is breakfast on the coffee table. I put a spare brush in the washroom and a towel if you want to freshen up.” I mumbled clearing my throat to break the silence.

“Can you do me a favor?” he asked fidgeting with his hands.

“What is it?” I asked him frowning.

“Can you wait until I check my face?” I would have chuckled if not for the serious expression he has over his face right now.

I guess it’s really a big deal for him as he is a celebrity and not just anyone. I gave him a nod while he slowly climbed down from the bed and took hesitant steps towards the mirror.

“You will feel better after some time. As you were drunk, we couldn’t let you take any medication.” I mumbled seeing the way he is slightly limping because of the pains.

He paused, his steps hearing my words and stayed like that for a few seconds before walking towards the mirror and just stared at it in silence.

“Within a few weeks, they will disappear and you can cover them with makeup after a few days. The major one is for your eye to get normal. But you need to get it checked up if there is any damage more than just the bruise.” I continued to talk not able to bear the silence.

What if he gets depressed because of all this? I am not at all ready to give him any encouragement if that really happens when I don’t even know how he will perceive my words.

“It’s good that I will have this excuse.” I came to a stop with my thoughts hearing his voice.

“What?” I asked him frowning.

“You are getting late, right? You can leave.” Saying that he walked towards the washroom and just closed the door completely ignoring me.

I need to call his manager right now before this gets weirder. After giving him a call, I rushed to the hospital and tried to act as normal as I can, even when I hear others discussing about him.

I know they will take at least one week before forgetting about the race incident and it is completely normal as we had incidents like that because of previous celebrities. But this time it feels different as the said celebrity is at present staying at my house.

“Is he fine now?” I glanced up from the file only to find senior standing near my chair.

“He took a long rest and thank you for giving the medicine along with the prescription. I was not able to buy the medicine last night and the extra one helped.” I replied smiling.

“His manager will buy the needed ones. He took Mr. David with him, right?” he asked frowning.

“I called him before coming here. So, they both must have already left.” I replied after which he gave a nod before leaving.

I walked into the canteen and checked for my phone to see any messages from the manager regarding when they left or something but there were none.

“It’s a good thing that we three were able to get a break at the same time.” Tina said when I joined them in the line.

“You look tired. Are you okay?” Veer asked in a worried tone.

“Yeah! I was not able to sleep because of…” I stopped my words, realizing what I was going to say.

“The fan was not working.” I immediately added and gave them an awkward smile.

I can’t believe I just lied to them so easily. They both gave me a weird look before nodding and I took a deep breath when they turned around to move forward.

****

“Why don’t we all go for dinner today? It’s been so long since we went out.” Tina asked, looking at me when I took out my bag to leave.

“No! I really want to go and sleep.” I replied, giving her a smile.

“You said your fan is not working, right? Shall I bring an electrician to check it up?” Veer asked following us to the entrance.

“No! I already called for one in the morning and got him to check it out.” I replied without a moment of hesitation.

“That’s why you were late today.” Tina mumbled in an understanding tone.

“Yes! Enjoy the dinner if you are going out.” I waved to them and started walking towards my home.

“Palak! Do you have any troubles? Some guy is coming here in intervals and returning. He is not answering our questions too.” I frowned, hearing those words from the owner Aunt.

“Ms. Palak!” I glanced up hearing my name before I can reply to her words and looked up to see the manager hanging over the railing to wave at me.

“There is no problem, Aunty. I kind of know him.” I mumbled clearing my throat and climbed the stairs before she can say anything else.

“What are you doing here?” I asked him, frowning the moment I reached the door.

“He is not opening the door from morning.” He replied frowning back.

“What? Then he must be hurt or something. Why didn’t you call me or someone else for help?” I asked him in a rush and turned to unlock the door.

“He is fine! He is calling me to say that he doesn’t want to meet me every time I come here. I didn’t want to stay here and make others feel suspicious. So, I left in the middle a few times.” He replied, sighing, and I turned to stare at him hearing his words.

“That is more suspicious for others, Mr. Satish. You should have called me.” I mumbled, shaking my head at the present situation.

And why is David hiding from his own manager. Why am I even thinking about this matter in the first place? I just need to send these two away and have a good sleep.

“Mr. David threatened me not to disturb you.” He explained and I just turned around to unlock the door.

“Come in!” I mumbled stepping inside only to stop in my tracks looking at the mess on the coffee table and my eyes immediately turned towards the kitchen where the mess is much more.

“Mr. David!” I called him not believing the thought that I need to clean all this up right now.

“You are home? Why is there nothing proper in your refrigerator to make lunch? It caused me too much trouble.” I just stared at him with words lost after hearing such things from him.

“Because I thought you would be gone right after having breakfast.” I pointed out in a calm tone staring at his appearance.

He looks even worse than morning and I don’t have the heart to scold him right now. I calmly walked to the table and started cleaning up while Satish just stood near the door not saying anything.

“Take him!” I pointed out while walking towards the kitchen.

“Mr. David! We need to go back.” He finally started and I started cleaning up the kitchen.

I shouldn’t listen to their conversation right now, but it’s their fault that I am able to hear all that when they could have talked at the place where I am not present.

“I already told you that I don’t want to come anywhere. I asked you to return back home and stop contacting me.” I frowned, hearing those words but didn’t comment.

“But why? You have been too weird recently. You lost the easiest match and then got drunk. And you never hug your fan but you did yesterday, which brought all this to your face. Now, you don’t want to return?” I agree to all the right questions his manager is asking right now.

“And don’t forget the commercials you need to do. You even have a race next month.” He added and this is not the right moment to say that stuff though.

“You want me to do those commercials with this face? Is there a commercial for hospital bed or medicines or some ice packs?” I chuckled hearing David and immediately covered my mouth.

“I will think something about them. If you don’t come back to Mumbai then what will you do and where will you stay?” I gave a nod to the right questions Satish again presented.

“Here!” I immediately turned around hearing that reply from David.

“Excuse me?” Satish and I asked at the same time.

“How can you stay here?” I added walking towards them and sat beside David on the couch while Satish nodded who is sitting on the coffee table.

“Why not?” David asked, frowning at me.

“I will not talk about any races or commercials or anything about that already happened. Let’s just go back and think properly what to do next.” Satish asked smiling.

“I don’t even want to look at you right now, Satish.” I frowned at his words but kept quiet.

“See, Ms. Palak? Is that something to say to your manager when so much mess is happening right now?” Satish asked looking at me.

“Can’t he see the mess that is on my face? Can’t I just choose to just stay away from him if I wish to?” David asked staring at me.

“I don’t understand why you don’t want to look at me. I have been with you for five years. Does it make sense, Ms. Palak?” Satish asked and I opened my mouth, but closed when I felt David opening his mouth to talk.

“It is my decision. Just cancel all my contracts right now and just go back. Is that too much to ask, Palak?” I shifted to get away from them, but they both are staring straight at me.

“Uhmm… Mr. David! You need to think about how much he is working for you. He stayed at the station for so long to settle the matter which could have caused trouble for you and he was waiting here while you just closed the door making him wait outside. How tired he must be from yesterday?” I asked, looking at him and turned to stare at Satish before he can say anything.

“And you need to understand that he needs space right now if he is asking you to cancel all these. There must be something going on, right?” I asked Satish.

“That’s why I am asking him to go back, right? I am giving him time off to rest and he is the one who is not taking it. Is it my fault?” David asked, frowning at me.

“I am not asking him to say everything to me. I just want him to come back with me or at least tell me some details so that I can understand and manage things from my side too.” Satish pointed out and he is frowning at me too.

“Wait! Both of you stop it right now.” I said, showing my each hand in their faces and stood up from the couch to step away from them.

“It feels too weird to be a part of all this discussion right now. I can’t believe I even started in the first place.” I mumbled, taking a deep breath and finally glanced at them.

“I am a physiotherapist and not some psychiatrist or marriage counselor for couples. So, this situation where it feels like a couple together for five years is having a fallout is completely out of my jurisdiction.” I pointed out giving them a smile.

“Now, what I want is for both of you to leave my home and have this session somewhere else.” I added pointing the door.

“No!” they both stated at the same time.

“But why? This is my home.” I pointed back frowning.

“And you want him to go with you, right?” I asked glancing at Satish.

“It is better for him to leave this place only if we are traveling straight back to his home in Mumbai and no other place. If he is against going back then it should be some hotel if not for this place.” He explained.

“You are my guardian. I don’t want to leave this place and go with him. I really don’t want to look at his face.” David stated frowning at me and then just looked away from both of us.

I can’t believe I am hearing all this while standing in my living room. What should I even say to push them out? But it will be a big mess if others find out about all this too.

However, I am more than tired to think of any other solution except for them to sort all this by themselves. I calmly walked into the bedroom and walked out holding the prescription in my hand, which I placed on the bedside table last night.

I passed it to Satish and stood before them not knowing what to actually say right now. And they both are definitely waiting for me to say something.

“Fine! For now, I will allow you both to use my living room as a counseling room. Just continue your talk and come to some conclusion which shouldn’t involve my home. Knock on my door so that I can lock the main door after you both leave.” With those words, I gave them a nod and walked back into the bedroom, and locked the door behind me without giving them any time to react.

“Finally!” I mumbled falling on the bed and closed my eyes, ignoring everything around me and mainly about those two in my living room before drifting off into a deep sleep.