Sorry for not updating for so long. This update is not proof read so ignore any mistakes. Thanks for all your lovely comments!

Chapter 18:

I walked in to see papa on the computer working on paperwork for the new company.

"Papa chai," I said smiling as I placed his tea on the table. He smiled and pulled me closer, "beta, kitne kush kismat hoon mein, you take such good care of me. Virat told me how worried you were when you found out about my job. He is a really good guy, you are lucky you have him as a friend, I am glad you two are keeping in touch" he said kissing my forehead.

"I love you papa," I said cherishing the moment I had with him. I never really got to spend much time with papa because he was always so busy; this was the first time I saw him genuinely smiling in months. I mentally thanked Virat for giving me back my happy family.

I headed over to my room to call Virat. It had been a week since he had left. I tried to call him everyday but with classes and helping mummy around the house it was so hard to find a time that worked for both of us. I was starting to feel the pressure of a long distance relationship but I knew Virat didn't care about all of this, he had specifically told me to focus on my studies.

"long day at work," I asked hearing his exhausted voice.

"yeah, I had 3 surgeries all day and I have night shift tonight," he barely slurred.

"I can keep you company during night shift if you need me to you want me to call you," I offered to have him immediately refuse, "you have to focus on classes Manvi," he replied sternly.

"make sure you eat something before work thik hai, how is everything at home," I asked plopping down on the bed. Just hearing his voice made me relaxed knowing that even though I couldn't see him, he was still there.

"ghar mein sab thik hai, bhaiya and bhabhi was asking about you, you should call bhabhi she seemed like she really wanted to talk to you,"

"that's good, I will call her sometime tonight thik hai. Take care of yourself, workaholic maat bano please,"

"haha, mein aur workaholic, Manvi look at yourself before you speak, you called me after 1 full week aur tum mujhe workaholic bol rehe ho?"

"woh, Virat I'm sorry, I was so caught up in work,"

"Oye, chil maro, I was joking baby. I know you work hard and I am so proud of you for juggling everything all at once. I am your last priority until you finish work ok. Yeh position mujhe manzoor hai but I need to hear a Dr. with your name soon, uski baat tumhari sara waqt mera. Ek ek pal ka badla lunga," he said coolly.

I smiled hearing him talk so nonchalantly. He always knew how to make me feel better. We talked for a little while longer before I got off to get ready for work. I called di later that night to find out it was 4 am and virat was still at work.

Manvi: Didi, please make sure he is eating, I know how Virat gets when he immerses himself in work. I said worried.

Jeevika: Acha he is not even your husband yet aur you are acting like you two have been married for years. Don't worry, I will. How is everything at home?

Manvi: sab thik hai, everyone is just busy with work and everything. Ma asks so much about you.

Jeevika: I know, I miss you Manvi, you should come for a visit. Pata hai, virat was asking for you last night. He was telling me you hadn't called him and he was really missing you.

Manvi: I know, I called him this morning, he told me he had night shift but I didn't think it would be this long.

Jeevika: yeah, bechara, he works from 7 am-4 pm every day at the business and then 6 pm-6 amwhen he works night shifts. I am worried with all this work he is doing, he runs back and forth from the hospital to the office whenever he gets a chance.

Manvi: is everything ok at home didi?

Jeevika: ha sab thik hai, woh Manvi I wanted to tell you something. Mera kuch din hue, I don't know what to do. Maine kisi ki saath share nahi kiya.

Manvi: Are you serious didi. I am so happy for you and bhaiya. You should try a pregnancy test, agar positive aaya toh sab ko bata dena

Jeevika: hmm yeh bhi thik hai, lekin how do I get out of the house to get the pregnancy test without telling anyone

Manvi: sab ko batana thodi hai, just tell them you want to go shopping. Jab ma puja ke liye mandir chali jayegi tab jana, that way it will be easier for you to slip out.

Jeevika: that sounds good. Thank you Manvi, you have no idea how worried I was about this. Sab ko umeed de kar I didn't want to disappoint them but I can't really know unless I try the test.

Manvi: didi don't even worry about it, kuch nahi hoga, bhagawan ji sab kuch thik kardenge. I said smiling through my tears. I was so happy for bhaiya and bhabhi. Bhaiya was telling me he had wanted this for so long.

Jeevika: Thanks Manvi, chalo lagta hai Virat aa gaya, I will talk to you later na. Bye

Manvi: Bye didi, usko khana

Jeevika: thik hai thik hai, pakha kilaungi she said giggling as she hung up the phone.

I sighed as I got back to work. It was around midnight when I got done and saw 15 missed calls from Virat. I sighed holding the phone, "I am so sorry, mein bhi kitne pagal hoon, I should at least check my phone," I said dialing his number again.

Virat: Manvi mein abhi kam mein hoon, I just wanted to hear your voice. I will call you later ok.

Manvi: Okay. Phir se kam me, Virat is everything ok didi was telling me you were working really long hours

Virat: yeah baby I am just busy with so much stuff. I have a meeting with bhai right now for the business I will call you back later maybe ok. Bye

Manvi: Virat wait

I heard the dial tone and sighed. There was something seriously wrong. Virat had never hung up on me. He normally took out time just to talk to me and I would be the one forcing him to get back to work. I started at my phone not believing what just happened. I had to talk to bhaiya soon. I fell asleep only to have a dream of Virat in the hospital making be abruptly sit up in a sweat.

"bhaiya, where's Virat," I asked panicked on the phone

"woh Manvi," he stopped and couldn't respond. I felt my body break into a million pieces with every second of silence. This could not be happening. I should have been more cautious, more watchful. I didn't pay attention enough, maybe if I called him more I would have noticed something was wrong. I finally got enough courage to ask bhaiya again.

"Viren bhaiya, please I need to know, aap ko meri kasam," I said shaking at each work.

I heard his response and my phone fell straight to the floor. My life was just ripped into a million pieces. I locked the door and curled up on the floor and just began crying. "bhagwan ki ghar mein der hai andher nahi," I kept chanting as bhaiya's answer echoed through my head again and again.