Episode 7 || What's The Trending News?

Next Morning,
Danny and Maya were outside the ward, waiting for Christian’s doctor to come out. Danny was pacing back and forth anxiously while Maya stared at him, sitting on the bench. “Chris usually gets hyper or unconscious when something from his forgotten past is repeated.” She pointed, and Danny’s steps halted as he turned to look at her.
“What is repeated at the party?” Maya looked at Danny for an explanation and the latter realised his grave mistake.
“Fuck, how can this skip from my mind!!” He gripped his hair in frustration and Maya looked at his actions with wide eyes.
“What happened? What did you do?” She asked in an uncertain tone.
“The proposal, I copied Christian’s idea. He proposed Mishka the same way back in Brazil.” Danny said, “FUCK!!”
“What the hell, Danny? How could you copy someone’s idea?” Maya shouted, but before Danny could open his mouth to explain, the doctor came out and Danny rushed to him.
“Is he alright?” Danny asked, and the doctor nodded.
“Yes, he is alright and wants to see you.” the Doctor said and Danny rushed inside after thanking him while Maya removed the ring from her finger and looked away.
***
Mishka was preparing breakfast, thinking about last night’s dream. She poured some milk in a glass for Aryan and shouted for him to come down for breakfast. Riya was sitting at the dining table, looking at her stressed demeanour and she knew Mishka didn’t listen to her advice this time as well.
Aryan came running downstairs, and his face dropped when he saw toast and milk for breakfast. “Is everything alright, Mishka di?” He asked and Mishka looked at him from their small kitchen.
“Yes, what happened?” She asked, furrowing her eyebrows.
“We get this breakfast only when you are stressed,” Aryan said, showing half-burned toast to her, and Mishka parted her lips.
“Don’t eat that! I’ll give you another toast,” She said, but Aryan’s next word stopped her.
“I want to eat aloo paratha!!” He passed orders like a king and Riya glared at him.
“You have started looking like an aloo paratha. In fact, all of us are gaining weight because of your unhealthy eating habits,” Riya complained and Aryan creased his nose.
“Who told you to eat? Follow your Keto diet!! I never forced you to eat and, in fact, you are the one who joins in always. So don’t turn this around on me,” Aryan argued, and Riya raised her eyebrow.
“There will no aloo paratha this month!” Riya declared, and they both started fighting while Mishka got irritated with their noise.
“Shut up, you both!!” She shouted and there was suddenly a pin drop silence, “I am making your aloo paratha. Just keep your mouth shut, okay!” Mishka said, and Aryan gave his winning smile to Riya.
“Learn something from her,” He said sarcastically while moving away. Riya smacked his arm, and at the same time, her mobile phone started ringing and a blush crept on her cheeks while receiving the call.
“What??” Riya almost shouted, startling Aryan and Mishka as they both looked at her. “Okay, I am coming right away!” She further added and disconnected the call.
“What happened now?” Mishka looked at Riya.
“Someone broke into Nikhil’s apartment last night and stole all the proofs. He is very stressed,” Riya said, quickly turning off her laptop. “I have to rush!!” She said and ran upstairs to get ready.
“Who is Nikhil now?” Aryan looked at Mishka.
***
Christian was sitting on the bed with his hand on either side. He closed his eyes, trying to remember the face of the woman, but it was a negative picture again. He groaned in frustration when the door of the ward clicked open.
“Chris, are you alright?” Danny asked in a concerned voice, walking in a hurry towards him, but Christian’s question caught him off guard.
“Who is that woman?” He spat, his cold eyes pinned at him, and Danny gulped.
“Who??” He asked cautiously while scratching his ear.
“Don’t act all innocent. Last night when you were proposing to Maya, I got some flashes again, and I saw the face of the woman, but I don’t remember now. What the fuck is going on?” Christian agonised while Danny looked at him wordlessly.
“I can feel you all are hiding something. TELL ME!!!!” He screeched loudly.
“There was one woman.” Danny stammered, unable to form the next word. “You were deeply in love with her.” He said, but Christian cut him off.
“Where is she now?” He asked impatiently.
“She is…. she.” Danny was stuttering when Luke entered.
“She is dead!” Luke completed for Danny and the latter looked at him with wide eyes.
“What?” Christian and Danny said in unison and Luke glared at Danny before turning to Christian.
***
Nikhil was sitting in the living room of his apartment when Riya reached. “Hey, Alright?” She asked and her eyes roamed around the messed-up house. “My goodness!! Damn, they have wreaked havoc in the house,”
“They took away all the remaining proofs. I am doomed!” Nikhil covered his face in his hand while Riya sat beside him to console him.
“We will find out something, trust me!” She said but Nikhil shook his head.
“Everything is over,”
“What don’t you go to meet Mishka?”
They both said at the same time and Nikhil gave her a ridiculous look, “What she can possibly do if I don’t have any proof against them? I don’t have time to waste, Riya.” He declined.
“At least discuss your issue with her!! What’s wrong with getting a second opinion?” Riya insisted.
“And what will I do with her opinion when I have no proofs?” He countered, and Riya sighed.
“Fine, do whatever you want to do,” She spat as she was quite frustrated with the stubborn attitude of both Nikhil and Mishka. She picked up her sling bag and walked out of his apartment without waiting for Nikhil to say anything further.
***
“Agatha Corel!” Christian looked at the tombstone. “How did she die?” He asked Danny, who was standing beside him with a complicated expression on his face.
“What the hell you did, Uncle Luke?” Danny thought.
“Someone raped her at her apartment and slit her throat,” Danny replied, and Christian pressed his lips in a single line. He was feeling remorseful for the woman, but nothing else.
“Where was I that time?” Christian inquired.
“You were in the States for some official work,” Danny replied, a gulping lump forming in his throat. The lies were making him uncomfortable.
“Was I really close to her?” Christian shot another question and Danny hesitated for a moment, scratching his neck.
“Yes, maybe that’s why you see her images everywhere,” Danny said.
“Do you have any pictures of her?” Christian asked and Danny was done answering.
“No, I don’t. Now let’s go home. Your mom is worried about you.” He said to escape his questions, and Chris nodded.
They were walking out of the graveyard when Danny turned to Christian. “Do you really don’t remember anything after our college?” He asked.
“Yes, how many times are you going to ask me the same question?” Christian snapped, and Danny pursed his lips.
“Okay, fine, let’s go home. Uncle Luke has invited his new partner for lunch this afternoon, and your presence is important.” Danny said.
***
Mishka was sitting in her cabin. It was almost evening but flashes of nightmare weren’t letting her sigh in relief. She picked up her mobile phone for the nth time and typed Christian’s name on google but then kept it aside.
“I can’t do this!” She muttered to herself and opened her laptop to focus on her upcoming case but she failed to concentrate as her mind was constantly thinking about Christian.
“Everything must be fine! He has his family, his position, and his beloved girlfriend. What else does he need now to lead a happy life?” She thought while playing with her pen, and wrote some important points on the paper related to the case, but the unsettling thoughts didn’t let her work in peace.
She huffed in annoyance. “Let’s check and get over this!” Mishka opened Google on her laptop and typed Christian’s name again. She moved the cursor to the google search and was about to click when the light knock on her door disturbed her. “Even God doesn’t want me to search him.” She thought.
“Come in,” She said and a woman in her forties peeked in.
“Mr Nikhil Khanna is here to meet you,” The woman said and Mishka furrowed her eyebrows.
“Does he have an appointment?” She asked, and the lady shook her head in no.
“Do I have any other appointment?” She asked.
“No, you are free for today,” The lady replied and Mishka looked at her wristwatch. “Okay, send him in.”
A few minutes later, a dashing man knocked on her half-opened door and Mishka lifted her eyes to the door. “Please come,” She invited Nikhil inside and he extended his right hand in her direction.
“Nikhil Khanna” He introduced himself and Mishka shook hands with him. “Riya must’ve informed you about me,” He said and Mishka looked confused, but soon she recalled her yesterday’s conversation with Riya.
“Oh, yes. How can I help you?” Mishka smiled, showing off her dimples, and Nikhil forwarded the file in her direction.
Mishka wore her glasses. Her eyes briefly travelled to the laptop screen where she saw Christian’s name, but then she quickly focused on the file in front of her. She was busy reading the documents while Nikhil stared at her. “I think I have seen you somewhere? Have we met before?” He asked while Mishka turned the pages.
“I don’t think so,” She said without sparing him a glance, but Nikhil continued to stare at her.
“I have definitely seen you somewhere,” He said again and Mishka looked up at him through her spectacles.
“I did some modelling assignments some years back.” She said and Nikhil nodded while Mishka focuses back on the file. “Amblys again,” She left out a laugh and Nikhil stiffened.
“Is everything alright, Miss Ranawat?” He asked, desperation lacing his voice.
“Yes, in fact, everything is solved now. I have some solid proof against them. It can sure make you win the case.” She said, closing the file and Nikhil sighed.
“Really? Are you sure?” He asked.
“Hundred per cent,” She replied, maintaining a polite smile on her face and while taking the file from Mishka, Nikhil accidentally dropped it on the mouse and the webpage opened with the latest information about Christian.
“But I can’t take your case,” Mishka stated, and Nikhil looked at her with slightly parted lips.
“W-what? Why?” He looked at her for an explanation. He couldn’t understand that if she can make him win, then why was she declining?
“Actually….” Mishka started, but suddenly her eyes caught the glimpse of Christian on the screen and words died in her throat. She gazed at the current trending news and tears welled up in her eyes.
“Hey!” Nikhil interrupted softly and Mishka looked back at him. Her eyes were red and Nikhil felt a sudden change in her demeanour. “Are you alright?”
Mishka tried to appear calm and confident. “Yeah! I am fine. Your hearing is three days later, so can we discuss this case tomorrow? I have a client meeting in a few minutes.” She said in a choked voice, gulping the knot that formed in her throat, and Nikhil nodded as he could see the tears rolling down her cheeks that she quickly wiped away.
Nikhil stood up. “Okay, I’ll take an appointment for tomorrow. Have a nice day!” He said and as soon as he walked out, closing the door behind his back, Mishka’s blood-shot eyes drifted back to the screen to read the trending news.