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Chapter-28

The rest of the hour went travelling back to their place, Mandarin Avenue with Ishani holding his hand tightly, making sure that her qualms weren't accurate and Ranveer couldn't help but only stare at her adoringly. She was that cute and innocent to him. They reached their mansion by another sixty five minutes as he called her softly.

"Hmm."

"We're home. Let's get in, c'mon." He came out from the car and opened the door for her who still sat shocked, not getting over from the hangover. Stirring slowly, she sat stiffly now, pulling her hair together as her fingers ran through her brunette hair in impulse, running through effortlessly.

"Darling, we're home, c'mon!" he held her by her hand and pulled her towards him as she came back from her trance once again.

"Uh, sorry."

"It's okay," he smiled goofily, trying to make her smile as they now made way inside the mansion, Abel waiting for them with the brunch.

"Monsieur, Madame, would you like to have some? I saw that your breakfast wasn't finished. The plates were half empty."

"Uh, can you bring it over to the first floor, she is tired," he saw her who was gawking at him; unsure of what was he doing as Abel gave a flashed smile, nodding his head eagerly.

"Come up, you need rest."

"No, I'll manage…" she started but her lips were sealed with his finger who was demanding, "You are coming along to my room. It's anyway ours, so you can manage there, too."

"But Ranveer, try to understand, please," she hesitated whilst he quietly carried her with his arms in bridal style, paving way to his room which had her favourite king sized bed in the centre of the room. Outsized and colossal.

"So we'll have our brunch and you'll sleep after that. Understand? Now no arguments, I hate them, you know."

Ishani gave him a faded smile as he made her comfortable on the bed with Abel coming inside with their cutlery, bringing along with it the brunch for their day which consisted of raviolis and cream soup. Placing them on the tea stand, he bowed an exit from the room before asking, "Monsieur, I have a request."

"Go ahead."

"Monsieur, Momma is not feeling well. I need to go and take care of her. Shall I take an off for the next week, alone? I promise, I will be back to work the next Sunday."

"Oh c'mon, Abel. You can, and please take care of her properly. I'll try to visit her if possible, okay? Will you get the tickets?"

"Yes, yes, Monsieur, I will, thanks," he said, thanking his lord for allowing him as Ishani stared the entire conversation silently, without saying a word. As Abel left the place, Ranveer turned towards her who was lying on the bed comfortably and asked, "So soup?"

She nodded, looking at him as though she was malnourished as he got her the soup bowl along with his, serving her with her portion and placing his on the nightstand. Stroking her hair lightly, he saw her having it in hunger as her now took his bowl and started to gulp in the soup, just like her. The rest of the brunch went quiet, both of them having the food without a break.

Ranveer cleared the bowls from the bed and kept it outside the room so that Abel could come and clear them as he latched the door from inside, treading towards Ishani who was sitting quietly, looking at the opposite wall, in her own world before he snapped his fingers at her, calling her name.

She quickly blinked twice, looking at him as he sat beside her, placing his arm around her neck, pulling her closer. Ishani couldn't help but only stare at him in silence, a wretched look on her eyes as he hit his nose against hers mouthing, "What's wrong with my girl?"

"Nothing," she replied blandly, her gaze not meeting his.

"Still worried about the nightmare?" he asked her once again when she stirred and looked at him keenly before asking, "What if it happens for real, Ranveer?"

"Stop sounding idiotic, Ishani," he said in finality as she rubbed his torso softly with her softer hands before asking, "But there's a strange similarity, Ranveer."

"What sort of a similarity?" he asked honestly, his hands scrubbing her tee softly, making her feel protected from all the evils surrounding her as she lifted her face, the dim glow in her face reflecting in his eyes.

"Like I had a similar, very similar dreadful nightmare on my birthday, 7th of July but I did not share it with you then and you never asked me later. I just regarded it as one trivial nightmare and continued with my work, leaving that. But again, it's the 9th of August, just two days after your birthday, I have a strikingly similar nightmare, the blood trickling down in my hands and you are lying down on my lap, breathing heavily and in irregularity, wanting for oxygen. I rub your hands and fingers continuously and give you pieces of motivation and you just give a fainted sneer. I don't know, but I am afraid," she replied honestly, the corners of her eyes brimming up slowly as her breathe choked which landed up in her coughs; unceasing, dense ones. Ranveer rubbed her back softly, helping her cease out of the cough session as he felt the pain prick him inside his heart, just like the way it used to.

"C'mon, Ishani, nothing will befall on us and even if does, we'll see through all the pain and battles and combat with it. Didn't you say the same when I was talking about my demons? Then why panic?" he reassured her with a few slices of positive words, garnishing them to her and made her grind slowly into her heart.

"Are you sure? There's a tinge of fear inside me and I'm not able to gage it," she saw the latter pensively, her own train of thoughts crashing with his who beheld her the same way though his eyes were looking even more subterranean and compressed. Maybe he was scared, too. Assurance cannot be won over fear and anxiety, anytime. How much ever you promise and assert yourself with the buoyancy about life, the cynic in you will overtake and take the life out of you.

After a fair amount of time, both of them stopped their trains, coming out from each of their compartments and saw each other in awkwardness, trying to get away from their clumsy thoughts which were now ebbing away to the abyss.

"Okay, you now got put your mind at rest, in real sense," Ranveer came out from his trance and quipped, making Ishani lay down comfortably, roofing her with the thick, woollen blanket. Though it was hot as blazes outside, the Sun looking too hot to handle with its rays and light, she had to roof it up, in a cold sweat. She gawked at him musingly until sleep claimed her, moving into her own world of slumber and imaginings.

"Here you go with the files, sir. It has the list of them you had asked yesterday," Gasper let out a green file to Ranveer who was sitting on his armchair gesticulated the latter to get seated. As he sat down on the centre of the three visitor's chairs, softened ones, he raised his voice asking, "So what say, shall we go ahead with this?"

"Yes sir, if you say so." Gasper found the idea up to scratch as it was only advantageous to their resort. And he also liked the idea of the new renovation so he never questioned the former.

"So announce it then. We are not issuing with the dividends for the shareholders this year and that the dividends may get increased based on the performance of this year. We'll use the reserves too, for the renovation. That should go good, right?"

"What about the investments, sir?"

"No. I don't want to hurry this time. Let the investments remain the same. I am not planning to use them for this year's facelift. Can I have the layout?" Gasper now gave the roughly drafted layout of their next plan which was reasonably decipherable for Ranveer having said that he was good in planning and laying out. Gazing at the layout intently for the next few minutes, he questioned, "So the poolside bar will be to the left of the pool, right? That's what I see here."

"Yes sir," he nodded in understanding as the former posed his next question, "And what about the bistro?"

"That'll be built up near the rooms, sir, preferably. Because the distance is too long for the guests to use the restaurant even for titbits so we had planned it out like that."

"What do you mean by near the rooms?" he scowled, looking at Gasp with a puckered brow as he stuttered. RV's scowl was something that chancy. Messing up with him was not a joke.

"I mean- like, sir, just listen. We have an empty place on the way to the rooms where we used to sell corn cobs in the evenings. Since the person who crafts them is no more available to steam the cobs, we'd planned to alter it to bistro so that it'd be easier to attract the guests, too."

"Okay," he gave Gasper a slight nod, his face no more scowling as the latter breathed out with an ease. Though the place was cold enough with air conditioner, Gasper was just feeling frenzied and soaked, all thanks to the one glare.

"So what next?"

"A ballroom and another confluence."

"Sounds good! But I don't see them in the layout plans!" he gazed at it once again before Gasper spoke, "No, sir. The idea is still not finalized and the creative department is still working on it. So we'll make it by the end of this week, on Friday, probably."

"Friday, finalized. The plan should on my table on Friday."

"Sure sir and we'll make sure that we'll construct the ballroom within your wedding with Ishani, sir. We'll have a grand reception for the wedding," he flushed as Ranveer gave Gasper a scowl, his eyes turning furious with what the latter had just told.

"Er, I-I am well…sorry sir," his head drooped in shame when Ranveer retorted back, "I don't want anyone to poke their nose into my personal life, get that? Now get out! And the file should be on my table on Friday, remember."

"Yes, sir. I am sorry," Gasper left the place with the files while wiping his sweat from his terrified façade as Ranveer looked at the door until he left the place.

As soon as he left the place, he took his phone to check the time. It was past one in the afternoon. Almost to lunch, he thought. Getting up from his chair in a stylish class, he let his left hand to the pocket of his beige trousers as he dialled Abel's number, waiting for an answer in anticipation.

"Monsieur?"

"Yeah, it's me, Abel. Packed the things?"

"Done, Monsieur." Ranveer could sense the mirth in his voice that was though sad, was happy to meet his parents after a gap of three months.

"Okay and when are you leaving?"

"Seven in the evening, Monsieur, I have booked the train tickets, too. So I'll be leaving by five in the evening. I'll prepare the dinner and then leave, Monsieur." Ranveer could see the gratitude he had towards him as he mentioned, "No, no. You don't have to. We'll manage, okay?"

"But Monsieur, let me-"

"No!" he said in finality and Abel knew that was the end of their conversation before Ranveer asked the next question by proving the former's thinking wrong.

"What about her? Is she still sleeping?"

"Yes, Monsieur," he replied grisly as Ranveer sighed in disappointment.

"Did she at least have her breakfast?"

"No, I guess the dosage you gave was a bit too high. But don't worry, she'll be alright."

"Sigh. If you say so, Abel. Now, I'll be coming over our house, okay? Take an off and prepare for the rest of the things. You got to leave by another three hours, right? Get some food for you too, okay?"

"Oh, is it? Fine then, Monsieur, I'll do my last minute packing. I'll make some sandwiches for me, which should go good."

"Make some heavy sandwiches, Abel. You'll growl in hunger. It's an eight hour travel, remember that," he quipped and hung the call, taking his wallet and locking the room, paving out from the resort.

"Gasp!" he stopped midway, calling out his P.A.'s name and waited for him to answer back who was jogging until his director's place, his feet coming to a standstill, his breathe slightly pounding more than usual.

"I'm leaving on an urgent work, so please, you know what to do, right?" he gave an impalpable gaze before Gasper managed, "Yes sir, I'll take care. Good day, sir." Ranveer took his next step forward, his feet directly moving towards the parking lot.

He entered the room in silence, as he rented the cool air from the room, working as an ointment for him, out of all the glimmer of the Sun outside. His eyes glanced at Ishani as he scrutinized her frame in stillness, a spasm of soreness hitting his bodily muscles, making him hiss slightly in discomfort, pulling his suite from his frame, shoving it aside to the dust bag, feeling rough. He undid his shirt buttons slowly, his gaze not leaving Ishani's sleeping mien, the lopsided one- as usual as he now took his track pants and his favourite football club's merchandise, tugging inside the cloak room, his feet directly moving to the faucet. He opened to receive the splashing, ice cold water from the tap as he dispensed them forcedly to his face, his rigidities ebbing away into the chasm, a void feeling inside him. He now took the hand towel which hung out uselessly from the handlebar alongside the faucet, wiping his face as much as possible, the fairer, clearer reflection of his seen in the mirror, just the reflection. He quickly changed himself to the track pants and the merchandise, later wiping the rest of the droplets of water over his neckline.

Closing the door tightly, he trod towards the bed, taking a place beside her lopsided figure, stroking her hair gently. Meanwhile, his free hand tugged to the nightstand where the thermometer was placed in the box. Taking it slowly, he jerked it twice and placed it over Ishani's axilla as he sighed; waiting for the next two minutes in the anticipation that everything would be normal. After the 130 seconds, 10 seconds more than two minutes, he took the thermometer back, looking at the temperature keenly. 99.1 degrees Fahrenheit, it showed. He smiled, impalpable to anyone as his lips gently made contact with her forehead which wasn't that warm as compared to the last night, or for that matter, this morning.

He stepped down from the bed and stood on the bed stand now, his feet reaching the entrance of the room in another thirty five seconds, directly stepping down to the kitchen. He noticed a frantic Abel preparing the sandwiches in hurry when he asked, "Abel, where's the lunch for her?"

"Oh, Monsieur! Sorry, I did not notice," he flushed in embarrassment and replied, "I've made it rest inside the hot containers. They are ready to be served, should I take it upstairs?"

"No, no. I-I'll manage, thanks!" he gave a pleasing grin and walked to the other side of the kitchenette, taking the trays and crockery required for her lunch. He knew, she would get up from her long slumber anytime. Packing up everything in a jiffy, he took the trays with his two big hands and found it heavy though he managed to climb the stairs once again before reaching the room with her lunch.

"Ishani," he called her name softly, but making sure that she was able to hear it. Keeping the tray on the study table, he sat beside her sleeping figure, stroking her hair once again, calling her name, yet again. He noticed her eyeballs move sluggishly though her eyes weren't fully opened yet.

"Get up," he let out a soft whisper and helped her in doing the same as Ishani now opened her eyes fully, the blurred vision of her ogles trying hard to take in the surroundings. She felt her head slightly hefty, very slightly as she let out a soft yawn, tears welling up her somnolent façade.

"How are you feeling now? Better?"

"Kinda alright," she said softly, stretching her arms and legs sluggishly as he stroked her hair lovingly, his eyes penetrating a soothing element which he had been searching since the last night.

"Good, just go and brush your teeth and wash your face, I'll make the plates ready, fine? C'mon, let's go," he let out his bigger hand towards her much smaller one as he made her stand on her feet, the latter's dizziness now ebbing away. She came back after finishing her toiletries after ten minutes, her face now garden-fresh, and the inner glow of her face as radiant as the sunflowers.

"Good morning," she let a soft yawn once again leaving a chuckle behind it while Ranveer noticed only the smile he saw after a gap of 28 hours.

"Good afternoon," he let out a chortle, much louder than hers as she looked at the walls bewildered, trying to find a clock in the entire room.

"Want the time?" he asked, "It's 2 in the noon," Ranveer sealed his lips trying to control his laughter but only found himself snort, the laugh being incontrollable. Ishani opened her mouth in surprise, though only talking in air before asking, "Did I sleep too much?"

"Correction. You were made to sleep for so much of time," he reframed the sentence as she gave him a baffled expression, able to connect nothing.

"I-I don't get it," she remarked honestly as Ranveer sat closer to her and started, "Well, you were sleeping until 7 in the evening yesterday but woke up suddenly, screaming and crying loud, calling out for my name. Remember? So well, you were having the nightmare once again, I guessed. And I tried to comfort you with the maximum I could assure and embrace you but all went kaput. You were literally shivering, tears rolling from eyes in succession as the temperature grew slowly and you made friends with fever! Your eyes were literally sodden and red, and your nose was just, hilarious. So big and rosy. Well, it was swollen too. I checked the temperature and it was 101.3. And boy, the time we took to make you understand and check the temperature!" Ranveer rolled his eyes and nodded his head in disapproval before he once again continued, "I tried explaining you how mundane and stupid were the nightmares you were having because even I have them, you would know, right?"

"Panic attack?" she shrieked.

"No, not exactly. It was a close call, though. Very close to a panic attack."

Ishani looked at his ogles with a guilty face, a run of soft breathes pending out from her nose. "But Ranveer, I am actually, really terrified after the episode. The uncanny coincidence is that of our birthdays and, I don't know how I will even envision a life without you."

"Ishani, you're right now irritating me, you know? I said stop thinking about it! Or should I give another dosage of the sleeping pills?" he asked, his eyebrows crinkling in irritation before Ishani stuttered, "No, no. I'll stop thinking about…it, sorry."

"That's good. Now c'mon, it's time for your lunch already and having said that you haven't had anything but only a pill and a half of Clonazepam, I know you would be hungry like haven't been fed for ages. And look at you! You look insane! So now, pounce on it, okay?" Ranveer placed all the plates appropriately and handed over a cup of thick, appetizing soup with the best of elements put into it, the aroma of the garlic and onion renting the room slowly. The lunch went in silence, both of them keeping silence and having their respective lunches, with Ranveer serving her for the second and third helpings. After a solid forty five minutes, Ranveer cleared the dishes and kept it outside the room whilst Ishani got up from the bed slowly and headed to the wash basin, cleaning her hands.

"Are you full?" Ranveer asked her as she nodded, coming out from the cloak room.

"Great, take a seat. I have to tell you loads!" he pulled her slowly as she gave a tired grin to him, taking a seat in the couch opposite to him who was kneeling down, his hand into hers.

"Nysa left a message in your phone. She is coming to the valley on the 17th of this month!" he said in mirth as Ishani's face lit up as soon as she heard it, an involuntary smile curving up in her lips, breathing out for a toothy, broad smile.

"Are you serious?" she squeaked softly as he nodded lovingly, his gaze pinned along with hers.

"And the next one," he cleared his throat and continued, "I think you should not come back to the resort, again." Ishani's smile stopped abruptly, her eyes' twinkle coming to a standstill before she eyed him in question- why?

"You need rest, that's one and I know, you'll be alright by another day or two. But the thing is, I want you to finish the novel as soon as possible so that I get to publish the book."

"But Ranveer, I can do that even with the moonlight, trust me; I am not feeling it as a burden," she tried to explain before Ranveer said in finality, "No. Of course, I am not throwing or firing you out of the job. You can join back after the launch, okay? I promise that to you."

"No, I'd be bored without you. What will I do without you? Abel is not here, too. I'll be alone and bored."

"Don't worry. I'll call you every now and then and have a check on you."

Ishani agreed reluctantly though she did not like Ranveer's decision about her job. She just, did not like it. But she did not choose to complain, too.

"Now comes the next," he sighed and continued, "That guy…um, Yvon, his name, right?"

"Yes!" her eyes stopped blinking now, completely before he continued, "He had called thrice, or even more I guess."

"What? What did he say?"

"I never attended the call!"

"Ranv- Man, You are impossible! It was important, you should've called me!"

"Not after yesterday's fiasco, I guess" he saw Ishani click her tongue in disapproval as he got up from the floor and said, "Talk to him if want to, okay? I have to get back to work. I just came to check on you. Bye, take care and remember only one thing: I love you, okay?" he stroked her hair and left touches of his kiss on her cheek, moving to the other side of the room for changing back to formals.

"The report is ready? Should I call him now?"

Done! Constructive Criticism will be more than welcome and sorry for typos :D :D