After 3 days, I got a call from vamshi.
Vamshi: hey angel, I just reached Hyderabad. Coming to meet you.
I was silent as he doesn't know that we vacated our hostel.
Do you forget that we have to plan a surprise birthday party for Shreya?
I checked the time, it was 8.30 pm. I really forgot about her birthday due to past incidents.
Me: Don't go to the hostel, I will text you the address of one place. We can meet me there.
Vamshi: Yeah, I can understand. We have to surprise her right. Okay then.
Me: I will explain when I meet you. Please don't ask me anything now.
I disconnected my call. I checked what Shreya was doing. She was playing some stupid game on her mobile.
I texted the restaurant address to him. If she saw me, she will ask where I was going. So, Silently I escaped from that place to meet vamshi.
After half an hour, I reached the restaurant. Already vamshi was waiting for me.
"Hey angel, how are you?" he hugged me.
"hmmm…. Fine" I replied.
" But you are not looking fine. You are looking pale and restless. Is everything okay?" vamshi asked me.
I don't want him to know about that bitter incident as he was very excited about going to the US.
"Nothing, just having a cold" I lied to him.
I checked the time, it was 9.30 at night. We together went to purchase a dress for Shreya and went to order a cake for her birthday. As we are waiting at the restaurant to take the cake. He ordered pastries and snacks for us.
He was discussing his job and stay in the U.S. I and vamshi didn't notice what was the time.
Still, I was thinking in my mind what I had to tell if vamshi asks about our stay in a penthouse other than the womens' hostel.
What I had to explain to Karthik if vamshi stays with us to this night.
*********
I was astonished to see Karthik who was walking towards me as if he was throwing daggers with his eyes. But I didn't understand how he knows about my location...I thought...
I gulped with fear and stood up from the chair. My hands were trembling, the way he was coming.
" Don't you have any sense?" Karthik yelled at me.
Everyone in the restaurant was gawking at us.
" Hey, Mister, who are you? Why are you shouting on her?" vamshi stood from the chair?
" I am not talking to you. Better you don't put your finger in this matter" Karthik advised him.
" Tell me, damn it. I am asking you something. Did you inform at least Shreya ?" he asked gripping my shoulder tightly.
That….. I was stammering even to answer his question.
" There she was crying for you. Even you are not attending our calls and here you are chatting like a stupid" Karthik shouted on me.
" Hey, angel, who is he to yell on you? Is he harassing you?" vamshi asked me this time.
What….!! No…! I have to stop...
" How dare to talk about me like that? Here we all worry about her as she didn't return home and you are talking nonsense…" Karthik holds his shirt in a fist.
" please stop both of you…." I stopped them.
" He is vamshi, my best friend" I introduced to Karthik.
" He is Mr. Karthik" I introduced to vamshi.
"Please wait for one minute…" I told vamshi.
" I am really sorry as I didn't inform you nor Shreya. I really didn't mean to worry all. It is my mistake." I hold my ears with pleasing eyes.
" What are you doing at this time even after I explained everything earlier?" Karthik asked me seriously.
" Last week, we both planned to arrange a surprise birthday party for Shreya. And also vamshi is also leaving for the US after 2days. As I got a call from vamshi that he was coming to meet us at our hostel. I come to meet him as he doesn't know we shifted to your penthouse." I explained in low voice.
" You can invite me to the home right? " Karthik questioned me.
" Don't you have any problem if I invite you to your penthouse?" I asked him.
" ohhhh, that is the reason you come here to meet him at this time even you know it is a danger for you…." Karthik questioned me.
" What danger ?" vamshi asked worriedly.
Vamshi was exchanging his looks from my face to his face.
" Okay, we can talk about it later while going to our apartment" Karthik invited him.
"Sorry, I misunderstand you" vamshi apologized Karthik.
"It's okay… let's go…. " Karthik said.
I took our shopping stuff and cake to share. When we were returning, Karthik said what happened to me.
We hide all the stuff in Karthik's house and went to our penthouse.
Vamshi scolded me as I hide this matter from him. I kept quiet as it was my mistake.
" I am sorry. I don't want to disappoint your mood" I explained Vamshi.
When we reached our room, Shreya was crying and I noticed Arvind Anna was consoling sitting beside her.
Even in this bad mood, I felt happy as they both were together. On seeing me, she hugged and scolded me as I went out without informing her.
" Hi cupcake, how are you?" vamshi hugged Shreya.
" Fine …" Shreya wiped her tears.
" So you are the reason, she is missing from home" Shreya whined.
I noticed smoke without fire in Arvind Anna's looks.
" Sorry dear, I troubled you, " vamshi said with a sad face.
" By the way, how did you find Priya as she was not lifting the phone?" Shreya asked Karthik.
" I asked help to my police friend to trance her number to locate her" Karthik replied.
" I am very glad that you are taking care of my friends" vamshi thanked Karthik.
" No need to thank me. Once if I start any relationship with the person, I will go to any extent to be safe…" he replied.
" So I can go happily to US as both Shreya and Priya are under your protection" vamshi smiled.
" Of course, you no need to anxious about them" Karthik answered.
" You can stain my house until you are here. Feel free." Karthik offered.
" It is amazing to see the managing director be humble." vamshi praised him.
" Nothing like that. You people carry on…" Karthik left with Arvind anna.
Anna gave serious glare while leaving the place.
I planned another mission in my mind to make both Shreya and Arvind Anna make more closer.