42. Press Conference

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Kabir's POV:

"Sir everything is ready as per your instructions." I heard Akash's voice from the other hand of the line.

"Great, we will be there in half an hour." With that I hung up and started the car. Home feels silent without her. She left yesterday and the walls already miss the voice of her laughter.

The way she moved around in the whole house, her smile, her warmth, her smell, is missed. Her absence could be felt in every corner. The backyard is strangely more empty without her music.

Everything went back the way it was before she came but still nothing feels the same after she left. I barely slept last night, aware about the fact that she is not sleeping in the next room.

I am used to her presence, her smell, her laughter, her childish banter. How can I bring myself to accept that she is not going to stay under the same roof as me?

It's been just a day and I am already regretting the decision of sending her back but what else could I have done.

I reached her place and the guard opened the door for me. I stopped the car and climbed down. My phone rang and the screen showed "dolphin". My lips curled up and I picked up the call.

"Where are you?" She asked immediately.

"Somewhere near you." I moved closer to the entrance of the house.

"Where?" Confusion coated her voice and I rang the doorbell.

"Why don't you open the door, dolphin." Nothing came from the other side and the next moment the door flew open. She stood in front of me, keeping the phone close to her ear.

She stared at me for a few seconds before she ran and threw her arms around my neck and her legs around my torso. She tightly grabbed me and hid her face in the crook of my neck.

My hands went to her back and I gave her a light squeeze. "Someone missed me a lot." I caressed her hair lightly.

"Not at all." She mumbled.

"Of course that's why you are hanging on me like a monkey, right?" She pulled her head back and looked in my eyes. Her eyes seemed empty and my smile instantly vanished.

She didn't say anything and got off me. "Hey" I cupped her cheeks and made her look into my eyes.

"I am nervous for today." She looked down and whispered slowly.

"I will be just beside you Mahi. You don't have to be nervous at all. Just stay with me and leave the rest to me okay? You can do that right?" She nodded.

"You are early." Mr. Deshmukh's voice travelled down the way and I looked over Mahi. He was standing in a grey suit with his hands tucked in his pocket. His aura is cool and confident, as a businessman he is an inspiration to many.

"Good morning Mr. Deshmukh. A big day it is, can't take any risks." I forwarded my hand to shake. He waited for a few moments before shaking my hand. Like father, like daughter.

"Looks like you are prepared." He said with a straight face.

"I have to be after all it involves my girlfriend." I looked at his calm face turning a little tense but he managed to return to his calm expressions again.

"We are also coming with you." Jyoti aunty came out of the house and stood beside him.

"No mom, you are not coming with us. Your presence will only create more buzz in the media. We have enough things to deal with, please don't add more." Mahi replied with a hint of impatience in her voice.

"She is right Jyoti let them handle it their way." Mr. Deshmukh looked at Mahi and then at aunty.

"At least you agreed with me on something. We need to leave now." Mahi looked at her dad with a sharp gaze and started moving away from us.

"Take care of her, she has a bad temper but she is also sensitive." Trust me aunty I know that better than anyone else. I convinced them about her safety and left for my car.

She was already in the front passenger seat, scrolling on her phone. I settled in the driver's seat and started driving.

"Why are we a trending topic? Those people really don't have anything nice to do or say." She whisper-yelled in frustration.

"B-town's most desired bachelor is your boyfriend, what else do you expect?" I laughed but she glared at me.

"Such a narcissistic." Looks like nothing changed much after we started dating. We didn't talk much as she was constantly scrolling through those articles which clearly showed her nervousness.

"We are here." I said as we entered my office parking. I decided to have the press conference at the agency itself. We both got down from the car and moved to my private elevator. I already told Akash to not let anyone allow this side.

"I am here Mahi. Just be calm and hold my hand okay?" I held my hand up for her. She slipped her hand in mine, intertwining our fingers.

The door of the elevator opened straight to my office on the top floor. "Come" we both entered and found others already there. Tanya and Shreya along with Ahan.

"The conference will start in the next 25 minutes." Akash informed us. As Shreya and Tanya are also involved in the matter they have to be here. About Ahan, he is the star of the movie. His presence would be helpful to clear the matter.

"Okay thanks." I dismissed Akash and sat on the couch along with everyone else.

"You all don't have to say anything much. I will be the one to do all the talking and explaining." I informed everyone and they agreed.

"Tanya and Shreya, keep your answers short if the questions are directed at you or else they will have more fake news to make." They both nodded in acceptance.

We talked about a few other things to keep in mind and Akash came to call us for the press conference. I stood up with Mahi's hand in mine "Let's go."

We left for the hall where the reporters and journalists were present. Her grip on my hand tightened as we moved closer to the huge door of the hall.

"Relax love. I got you." She lifted her eyes and they held trust for me. I smiled and kissed her forehead before the door opened.

The flashes blinded the vision as soon as we entered the grand hall. Numerous voices travelled down my ears. My eyes adjusted to the flashes and I saw my bouncers blocking journalists' way to us.

I tightly held Mahi's hand and made our way to the stage. Tanya and Shreya also followed. We all took our seat as the chaos settled.

"Good afternoon everyone, thank you so much for attending the press conference on such short notice. I think everyone present here is aware of the agenda of this conference. I am not someone who likes to explain my personal life happening to the public but this matter needed the necessary attention." I started and everyone attentively listened to me.

"The article you read and the photos you all saw are completely fake." Slow whispering started and I paused for a moment. "But not entirely." The whispers increased as I finished my sentence.

"Your questions will be answered but before that I have to clear a few things here." I looked at the people gathered in the hall with notes, pens and cameras in their hands.

"As most of the people are aware about my upcoming movie and its star cast. The first photo in the article was portrayed as I was holding Shreya in my arms while the actual photo was something like this." I nodded at Akash and he put the real photo on the projector.

The photo showed I was holding Shreya in a bridal style with a whole set up of cameras and the shooting team.

"You all are smart enough to understand what was actually happening. I don't think there is anything wrong when a director is trying to explain a scene to the actors of his movie, right?"

I again nodded at Akash and he changed the photo which showed Ahan holding Shreya in the same manner. The loud whispers again started and I looked at Shreya, her face a little pale but she managed to give a smile to me.

"I think this was enough. Let us move to the next one." Akash changed the photo and this one showed I embraced Tanya in my arms.

"You guys have enough information about my personal life and as the article said, we are childhood friends but that's all. We are friends and giving your friend a hug is not a big deal. I think the writers of the article can't be that shallow." The atmosphere became a little light but just for a few moments. I didn't find it necessary to explain my past as well.

The photo again changed and it showed Mahi and me kissing. People started questioning and loud noises filled the hall. I looked at Mahi and she was looking at the chaos with wide eyes.

"Please have patience, the questioning session will start soon." I spoke in the mike and slowly everyone again settled down.

"About this one, I would say this is the only thing which is true in the whole article." I looked at Mahi again and she was too stunned to even blink while I smiled lightly.

"This press conference was held to not only clear the misunderstanding but also to announce the news of me and Miss Deshmukh's dating." The whisperings again started and everyone's face had a surprising expression.

"I was never into explaining my actions but since this article involved my girlfriend, I have to break the silence. We never wanted to break the news so soon but situations called these actions."

"This is the official announcement. The only girlfriend I have, I ever had" I looked at Mahi who was still looking at me "and the only girlfriend I will ever have is Mahi Deshmukh." I completed and flashes increased.

We both looked at people who were ready to bombard us with the questions. "Are you saying that you are dating the daughter of the businessman Jay Deshmukh?" One reporter asked.

"No, I am saying that I am dating Mahi Deshmukh, the lead guitarist of the band Hope4 and that's not the same thing." I replied.

"When did you both start dating?" Second reporter asked, forwarding the mike in his hand.

"It's not been that long." I answered.

"You said you never dated before, so is Miss Deshmukh your first girlfriend?" Third one asked.

"Yes she is my first and the only official girlfriend. And please from now on don't create any fake rumors my girl can mind it." He laughed at my words and Mahi lightly smacked my arm.

"Miss Deshmukh is Mr Mehra, also your first boyfriend?" Another reporter asked Mahi. She was hesitant but I squeezed her hand lightly and she replied.

"Yes he is my first love." She looked into my eyes and stated with confidence. I heard cheers and claps.

"A new b-town couple." Someone said from the crowd.

"So the playboy image you had was also fake?" The first one asked again.

"That was an image created by you all with the rumors media created, it's just that I never bothered to clear it until Mahi." I answered.

I never cared what they told about me but this can affect our relationship and I can't take risk of losing Mahi because of all this.

Our profession can never create any problems between us and I would make sure of it. She is the most important part of my world and I will protect her at any cost I have to bear.

After a few more questions with Tanya and Shreya about their reaction and Ahan about his movies, the conference was over. We all left as my bouncers made way for us.

We successfully reached our car as now no journalists were following us. I opened the car door for Mahi. "You go home. I have a few things to settle at the office."

"But you are not coming with me, Grandpa must be home by now." She stopped me by grabbing my hand.

"Don't worry I will meet him in the evening. Right now I have important things to do okay." I kissed her forehead and made her sit in the car with Tanya.

Their car left and I turned to Shreya and Ahan standing behind me. "I think I should also leave now." Shreya said but I stopped her.

"Wait Shreya, I think there are a few things we should discuss before you leave." I looked at Ahan and he smirked.

"What discussion?" She narrowed her eyes and fidgeted with her fingers.

"Don't worry you will know soon. Now shall we?" Ahan moved forward and we all again went inside the agency building.

I made sure that every journalist left the building. I had enough of her and this time I will make sure she knows she messed up badly.

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