NOVEL NEXT Chapter 27: Announcements
Hyeon dashed out of the studio without even pausing to pick up his jacket, after he got the call from Ho-jin. Seeing him uncharacteristically flustered, Dae Jung ran after him, grabbing his jacket and putting his own on; while trying to run behind him to ask about the reason for his sudden rush. Hyeon hopped in the car, ignoring the fact that someone was following him, but as soon as he was about to start the car, he saw that it was Dae Jung standing outside the window, catching his breath and gesturing wildly. He quickly let him in and started the engine, demanding him to call Kaoru and Chang Min and ask them to rush back home from wherever they were, without any further explanation!
Dae Jung was more confused than ever about what was going on, but he dialed Kaoru's number, relaying to him the message from Hyeon hyung, and asked him to call Chang Min as well! After he was done with that task, Dae Jung looked at his hyung with curiosity and concern; trying to find the right words to initiate the conversation. 'He was well aware that his hyung wouldn't be rushing like this if the matter wasn't serious; but what could it be? He had left Ho-jin and Ji-hun barely over an hour ago to come for his practice to the studio from where he had been practising earlier; and he himself had asked him to call Chang Min and Kaoru hyung. So who could the matter be about?'
He was unable to complete the puzzle by himself; and weird thoughts were trying to invade his mind, so DJ finally broke the silence and asked "Hyung, what happened? Why are you in such a hurry?"
Hyeon just replied "It's Ji-hun" as he took a sharp cut to reach home in barely one more minute.
Now it was the time for Dae Jung to panic; without giving a second thought, he pulled his phone to call Ho-jin and ask him what the hell had happen within the hour, Ji-hun had been totally alright when he had left him for the studio! But his questions remained with him, as the call went unanswered.
This was when Hyeon pushed the breaks and ran out of the car without caring for anything, Dae Jung also clambered out and followed him, keeping the same pace. They ran towards Ji-hun's room to find him lying on the bed, a doctor standing over him with an injection on his hand and Ho-jin kneeling by his side, his eyes filled with tears. Hyeon stepped forward to pull the younger one into his warm embrace, as if he wanted to assure him that nothing would go wrong; or maybe the reassurance was more for himself, that nothing could go wrong because he won't let anything go wrong!
Dae Jung was in the doorway, standing still for a second and looking his best friend lying on the bed. This was when he started getting the flashbacks again; his legs were getting weak and he was about to fall. Right then, Chang Min, who was also just entering to scene grabbed Dae Jung; Kaoru entering the room shortly behind him.
Yeoubi had arrived before them, and he was standing just behind the doctor, trying to examining that what might have gone wrong with this kid now! 'Couldn't he go straight for some years without creating any problems, as if the past year was not enough!' He would stayed with his thoughts a little longer, but then the doctor turned and said "There's nothing to worry about. He is probably exhausted, he needs to rest and complete his sleep- I am seeing some signs of overwork. So please take care!"
After this, the doctor stood up and indicated his attendants that it was time to leave. Yeoubi followed them outside to ask for further instructions regarding Ji-hun's care; and the band members took this as an opportunity to ask Ho-jin about the details about what had happened. Everyone was about to shower their questions on him, but they were interrupted by the unexpected return of Yeoubi.
Everyone's attention shifted to him as he cleared his throat, announcing "I think it's time for Ji-hun to say goodbye to the band, as he not coping well."
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After everyone else had vacated the room, Ruchi looked at Nitya. She sat on the stool by her bed and caressed her forehead with affection, asking "Nitya, do you mind if I ask you something?"
"Of course not, Professor- why would I mind?! Please go ahead and ask me whatever you wanted to!"
Ruchi tried to maintain her smile, as she was trying to refine her words over and over, fearing that Nitya might take her statement in the wrong way. She was cautious that her words could end up hurting Nitya; and she knew now, how important this girl was to Mehul- he had called Ruchi for the first time, crying, for her sake!
She slowly asked the question which had been bugging from the very moment that she had come across the fact that Nitya Jaikar was none other than Mehul's only pampered sister. "Why don't you want to accept your relationship with Mehul in public? Are you ashamed of him for some reason? Because as far as I know, he is one of the youngest genius in our field! Then why would you-"
Nitya interrupted her before she could continue further; and replied in her weak voice, which was low but still conveyed the conviction behind her words. "Oh no, professor, everyone is getting it all wrong! I am not ashamed of being seen as his sister, but I know it will eventually be the other way round when everybody will start questioning my achievements due to the possibility of nepotism. I don't want Mehul Bhaiya to feel embarrassed about this fact just because we happen to be siblings; he is a very ethical man and I don't want the shadow of doubt to fall on him! Just like, I'm sure you must be thinking now, that I have been getting all these awards and opportunities just because I am his sister, aren't you?"
Ruchi was shocked for a moment by how wrong she had been going about this, but she quickly composed herself. She had never thought that one of her students might be going through the early signs of identity crisis and depression; and that too, someone who was one of the most cheerful bunch of the students, perfect in almost everything.
She spoke softly, "Nitya, kiddo, why did you think that I will blame you and relate your achievements to nepotism just because of this piece of information?"
"Wait, so you don't think that my achievements have favouritism as a factor behind them?"
Ruchi almost chuckled at her innocent question, She shook her head lightly "No dear, and I don't think anybody else will either; because everyone knows your potential and they have seen for themselves, how talented you are!"
"Then why had he blamed me so? He always used to look down on me for this…" she murmured to herself.
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