Chapter 147 - Opening Up (2)

|Innaya|

A hand shot out, suddenly grabbing me around my waist. I had not realized when Eshan got up from his place and moved closer to me. I only felt his arm snaking around my waist and pulling my surprised body to his chest.

I raised my surprised eyes. "I told you to stay away from him," Eshan said seriously. His eyes held the warning. Fortune growled lowly from behind. He did not like Eshan's gesture in the slightest.

"Sweetheart, can you please stop getting yourself stressed? It's not good for your health. Even if you want to tease me, then I accept it. Yes, I'm jealous of Fortune. Happy? If you want to approach him genuinely to get over your phobia. We can do that later, slowly." 

I could not say anything. I lost my heart to tease him. His worried eyes were looking at me with so much concern that I found myself loving him more and more.

I pursued my lips. Sensing some movement near my legs, I looked down. Fortune at some point in time, had neared Eshan and was rubbing his head against Eshan's legs.

"Bud—"

The doorbell rang interrupting Eshan's words. I stared at Eshan with puzzled expressions. I had no idea who it could be. 

"It must be Parth, my assistant. Some documents needed my urgent signatures, so I asked him to bring them over. Why don't you go upstairs and rest? You've to take your medicines too. Call granny, she had called when you were unconscious." Eshan said.

I nodded. I shouldn't be disturbing his work. His work was already affected because of me from the past couple of months. 

"Ok."

Eshan smiled. He bent his head and kissed my forehead. A smile found its way on my lips. On an impulse, I raised my head and pecked his lips. Without, waiting for him to react, I picked those medicines and left.

*

I lied on the bed after I took the meds. 

I had my mobile in my hand. I could not bring the courage to return granny's call yet. Yesterday, I told her that I would call, but after the tiresome day, I could not do so.

I yawned, feeling sleepy already. The fatigue seemed to be not leaving me anytime. I raised my body and sat with the help of the headboard. I could not fall asleep yet. I had been only sleeping. It was not good to sleep for so long. Maybe, it was a fever and weakness that was resulting in fatigue.

My mobile rang displaying mom's name. I bit my lower lip as I contemplated answering or not answering. Sliding my thumb across the screen, I finally answered on the last ring.

"Hey Mom," I greeted first. I did not want to give any chance to her to find out that something was wrong. Granny would be beside her, and when they were together, they tended to catch on my lies very fast. After grandpa passed away, both of them had become overprotective of me.

"Where were you? I called a couple of times. I even called Eshan, but he also did not answer. Is there any problem?" Mom started firing questions one after another. "I want to see you. I'll just video call-"

"Mom," I interrupted her. I could not let them see me. Both of them would notice that my health was not good.

"I'm fine. Stop worrying. My phone's camera isn't working well. And, Eshan is not around. Let's just chat over the phone. I'll video call later," I replied whatever that was coming to my mind. My face was already pale, and I looked sick. There was no point in worrying both of them.

Mom stayed silent for a while. 

"Are you speaking the truth, sweetie?" Granny's voice came through the speaker.

My heartbeat rose in nervousness. She had noticed.

"How are you? Are you taking your medicines properly? Mom, are you taking care of granny well?" I chose to shift the topic.

Granny sighed. 

Damn. She caught my attempt to divert the attention. 'Damn. Damn. Damn. Just don't ask anything granny.' Why I had to be so impulsive?

Fortunately, she did not say anything.

"We're fine. How are you both? Is Eshan treating you well" She asked.

I sighed, feeling relieved. "We're good granny. Eshan takes care of me very well. After all, you guys chose him for me. How can he not treat me well?" I laughed. 

"Hmm…"

"How's your health?" I pulled my soft toy on my lap as I held it near my chest. Talking to them was making me nostalgic. In the last couple of months, I did not know how I managed to stay away from them. I could not stay away from my home even for a day. After marriage, I did not realize how the days went. I managed to stay away from them, and for so long.

"We are fine. Would both of you coming on the twenty-fifth of this month?"

Twenty-fifth? My eyes went to the calendar. It then struck me what it was. It would be a death anniversary of grandpa. After a week, it would be a year to grandpa's death. A sudden lump formed in my throat as I could not help but miss him more.

"Yes," I replied solemnly.

"I called for that only. There's no need to come home. Your Mom and I will be away for some work."

"Is it important?" I asked pushing back the lump in my throat.

Mom spoke from behind. "It is. We'll tell you about it later when we'll meet. The house should be ready after a couple of months." 

I got silent. It must be regarding her treatment if they were not allowing me to return. It had to be the reason. Otherwise, they would not be so anxious to call repeatedly after so long.

"Take care then," I replied not knowing what else to say. If I mentioned anything about her health, then she would realize that I knew everything. Agitating her would only be harmful to her health. So, I chose to keep things to myself, just the way they were doing. 

I could hear some announcements in the background. Where were they?

"Okay, then. We'll talk later. Take care," Mom said.

"Yes, sweetie, take care," granny added. 

Both of them seemed to be in the rush. Were they going somewhere? I wanted to ask, but mom then disconnected the call. I tried calling back, but it came as switched off. 

I frowned. Why would she turn off her phone suddenly? If they were traveling by plane, then only they would switch off the phone.

"What happened?" Eshan came in and sat beside my outstretched legs on the bed.

"Have you finished your work?" I asked when he returned so early. He smiled, nodding his head.

"Hmm... Mom and granny are flying somewhere," I answered his previous question. 

"Did they tell you anything?" He took away the mobile from my hand and the dubu from my lap.

I shook my head. They did not tell me anything. Just like what they had been doing for very long. They would not tell me if anything was wrong. They would hide things from me. 

"When the house would be ready for them to move?" I asked him. On our first date, he had promised me to look after my family. Thus, he was the one overseeing the construction of the house for my maternal family.

"Within two months at max."

"Hmm."

I shifted to the side so that he could lie down as well. He must have been tiered looking after me from the morning. I patted the space beside me. He did not need to be told twice as he moved on the bed. Automatically his arms came around me, pulling me in his embrace.

"How are you feeling now? Cramps?" his hand going on my abdomen, gently massaging the area with his fingers.

I leaned and placed my head on his shoulders. "Better."