Chapter 74: chapter 74

SRUTHI My first instinct on seeing Madhav is to duck and run from him. Because I didn't tell him that I was visiting my brother. Hell, even I didn't know I was coming here when Madhav left for office. It was on a whim I decided to visit my brother. I did check in with Nisha who told me that Vikram is in his house. I wanted to meet my brother and question him if he still remembers having a sister but I never expected to meet my husband here.Wait! Madhav told me that he was going to his jewellery shop. He didn't mention anything about coming to my brother's house. I narrow my eyes at my husband who looks like a deer caught in headlight. “What are you doing here?” I ask before he gets the chance to open his mouth.He raises his eyebrow and his eyes gleam in amusement, “Oh darling! Shouldn't that be my question? Didn't we agree that if you want to go somewhere you will tell me first and take me with you?”Yep! We did agree on that. Since we still have no idea about the real prep, we are still cautious. But, I am starting to feel more optimistic and hoping that there won't be another attack on me. Cause, it is already four weeks since Vishnu's attack and there haven't been any threats to me. So, maybe whoever the real prep is, he just moved on. Or that is what I am telling myself. They say ‘Staying delulu is the new solulu’. Yep, I am going to follow that saying and stay delusional for a few days.“Honey,” I say in a sweet voice. Madhav's eyes widen in surprise at the nickname. A slow happy grin spreads on his face. “Why don't you check your phone? I tried calling you but you didn't pick up.”Madhav retrieves his phone out of his pocket and checks it. With a shake of his head, he says, “Even if I haven't picked up the phone, you shouldn't have come here all alone. You already know how risky it is.”“I didn't come alone. Jaya Ma'am son dropped me off and in case you don't know he is training to become a police officer.”Madhav shakes his head at him still unconvinced, “Sruhti, you are taking this lightly.”“I am not, Madhav,”  I say pushing him aside and getting into my brother's house. “I of all people know what is at stake. I just wanted to visit my brother. Can't I just do that? I am safe and sound now. Please stop nagging me. ”Madhav huffs out a breath, “Sorry for being too concerned about you.”He looks pissed off and I feel bad for putting him in that mood. He is genuinely concerned about me and I shouldn't take that for granted.“Alright!” I say placing my hand on his arm. “I am at fault and I apologize. I shouldn't have left the house like that. The next time, I will wait for your permission.”He shakes his head, “You have every right to go anywhere you want at anytime. You no need anyone's permission for it. Especially mine. I just want you to be safe until all this is over. I am sorry for overreacting. I am glad you made it here safe without any incidents.”He wraps his hand around me and pulls me into a hug, “I am sorry if what I said now felt overbearing to you. I can't handle seeing you all injured in the hospital again.”My curiosity perks up and I ask him a question that has been nagging me for days, “Were angry at me for what happened that day? Did you ever feel that if I had been a little capable, I won't have ended up like that in the hospital?”Madhav cups my face gently in his hands, “I was never angry at you for what happened that day. You didn't do anything wrong. As far as you were concerned, Vishnu was a man you could trust because I appointed him. I am sorry that I choose the wrong person. To answer your second question honestly, I think you won't have surfered so much injuries if you had known to fight him. But what is happened is happened, so, let's just focus on the present moment.”“That reminds me, yous still haven't answered my question? What are you doing here when you told me that you were going to the jewellery shop?”Before Madhav could answer, a throat clears behind us. Madhav lets go off me and am I crazy to say that I miss having his hands around me?I turn around in hopes of seeing my brother but I am greeted by a man of my age in a white coat. He looks handsome but not as attractive as Madhav. There is something about him that feels familiar. He gives me a smile and I notice the dimple on his left cheek. HOLY HEAVENS!!“Pavitran? Is that really you?” I ask wide eyed looking at my school classmate.He grins in response, “Yes, it is me, Sruthi. How have you been?” “I am good. How are you doing?”Before he could answer, Madhav interrupts, “Do you guys know each other?”I nod my head, “Yes, we studied in the same high school. He was one of my best friends until he stopped coming to school in the senior year and cut off all our contacts.”Pavitran shrugs, “Family situation forced me to quit school but now I am alright and fine thanks to your brother.”I suddenly remember the purpose of coming to my brother's house, “Speaking of my brother, where the hell is he?” I look at both the men for an answer. Madhav looks guilty while Pavitran wears an expression of confusion. “Don't you know?” Pavitran asks glancing at my brother's room door which is closed. I frown at the room door. By now, my brother must have come out hearing all these commotion outside. “What?" I ask eyeing the white coat Pavitran is wearing. My eyes roam around the living room and snag on the stethoscope on the coffee table. A part of me understands what is happening while another part—the one in delulu land—refuses to.“Your brother is severely injured,” answers Pavitran.“WHAT?” I yell and turn to Madhav for confirmation. Madhav grimly nods his head. “Madhav, you have got some explaing to do. Just nodding your head won't do. Why didn't you tell me that my brother is injured?”He opens his mouth to answer but before he could, his phone rings and he glances at the caller screen, “I will answer this one. An important call.”With a sigh, I nod and Madhav escapes with his phone looking relieved. I turn to my former best friend who is watching us with amusement, “You are an odd pair of couple.”“Thanks for the compliment. Now, brief me about my brother's condition,” I say walking in the direction of my brother's room.❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥❤️‍🔥