Fighting!

Chapter 8

Chapter 8:

Ananya's point of view:

A squeaky ‘Hi’ left my mouth, embarrassing me in front of him. He was staring at me like he was studying my every move and facial feature. He’s not interested in me, then why is he doing this?

“How are you?” He asked, blatantly looking at me without any hesitation.

“I’m good, how are you?” I asked, gaining my composure. I don’t want him to know that his presence affects me.

“Good” he said, still looking at me like he’s trying to figure something out.

Okay, this is getting creepy.

“Why are you looking at me like that?” I asked with a frown as my heartbeat was raising unable to handle his gaze.

“I’m trying to see what my mom saw in you” He answered without quiver and I got confused.

Should I be offended with what he said?

“If you want to insult me some more, I’ll leave” I said with tight lips and took a step back before walking past him.

Before I could take a step further, he held my hand from behind. No there was no sparkles or tingles but the warmth of his hand affected me greatly. My breath hitched when he turned me around and pulled me closer.

No, not chest to chest you pervs!

Just close enough but kept a distance.

I looked at him in shock while he had a sombre look.

“I didn’t mean anything bad. It’s just that impressing my mother is hard but somehow you have successfully done that” He said looking at me intently.

I rolled my eyes.

“I’m awesome and I know it” I said looking at him narrowing my eyes.

His lips turned into a smirk.

I gulped.

How can he look so hot?

“I wanted to talk to you” He stated simply like it was easy.

“What is it about?” I asked briskly looking at him wearily.

“About what happened-“ He started but couldn’t finish Vaani called my name walking towards the pool. He left my hand suddenly that’s when I realised we were holding hands till now.

Both got flustered when she looked at us suspiciously.

Clearing my throat, I asked her what.

“Aunty is looking for you” She said looking at us in confusion.

I nodded at her.

I spared one look at him to see him already looking at me, I turned and walked towards her without looking back. My heart was beating like crazy for some reason.

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Next day morning, I got ready with all my cousins for Haldi function. Both Akshay’s parents would have haldi ritual together in the garden. The whole place is decorated with white and yellow flowers. I’m wearing a yellow kurthi and white palazzos. Looking very chic.

We all entered the garden to see all the elders already present. We started helping my mother set up the whole place. All the women in my family were here teasing each other and making jokes. It was great time, when Akshay’s parents were seated and Haldi function started. DJ played all the Bollywood wedding songs.

By the time it was afternoon, everyone wanted to take rest for evening cocktail party.

All my cousins wanted to chill in the gaming area and reconnect so here we are talking and chilling, some were drinking beer and while some were snacking.

Akshay came and sat beside me on the couch.

“Can we talk?” He asked smiling at others. I nodded.

Both of us walked towards the balcony.

“What?” I asked crossing my arms on my chest.

“Did you talk to Aayush yesterday?” He asked directly looking at me seriously.

I rolled my eyes.

After that little incident near the pool I couldn’t talk to Aayush the rest of the night. Our eyes met a few times, I felt his eyes on me few times and there were times I was gawking at him like a stalker. Apart from that, we didn’t interact at all.

“No, why?” I asked him.

He sighed.

“Listen, he was saying that he wanted to talk to you about something” He said looking at me with a soft look.

“He did something like this last night but we couldn’t” I wondered out loud.

“Yeah, so he asked me if you could meet him for lunch today” He asked looking at me carefully.

Suddenly, my heartbeat rose. All my attention was on this conversation.

“Akshay, what’s done is done. Why does he want to talk to me now?” I asked with a frown.

I don’t want to get insulted or hurt by him again. He told me that he doesn’t want anything to do with me and here I am, insanely attracted to him. I know this will end very badly for me.

“Just hear him out, maybe he wants to apologize” He said with a pleading look.

“But-“

“Anu, please do it for me. The whole reason why I considered this proposal was because I know you are made for him. He needs someone like you in his life. He has always been a very different guy. All he did when we were school was study and now work. That’s it. He needs someone to show him how to live the life” He said with a tight lipped smile.

“Fine” I said begrudgingly and his face lit up.

I know nothing will come out of this lunch so I just wanted to get it over with for Akshay’s sake. I can see how much he cares for Aayush.

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Akshay dropped me at the restaurant at 1 o’clock in the afternoon. He was super busy with the function yet he made time to drop me which showed how much he wanted me to meet Aayush.

I entered the restaurant to see Aayush sitting on the window side table. He looked handsome has hell because he had gelled up his hairs and wearing green button up shirt but what flabbergasted me was his laptop that he was working on. I couldn’t help but raise my eyebrows at that, does he love his work that much? Or is this meeting not that important?

I’m leaning towards the latter.

“Hi” I said standing in front of him.

He raised his eyes in irritation but looked surprised when he saw me and gave a small smile.

“Hi, please take a seat” He said pointing towards the seat opposite to him. His words are so professional, I can bet if he can’t talk professionally then he will be clueless in making conversation.

I took the seat with a small smile. I don’t want to be rude before even listening to him.

“Sorry about this, there was some urgent work” He said closing his laptop and keeping it aside.

“It’s okay” I said with an assuring smile to mask how weird it was.

“So, how was Haldi function?” He asked leaning his elbows on the table.

Damn, everything this guy does is hot.

“It was amazing, we all had so much fun. You should have seen Akshay, he was covered in Haldi from top to bottom” I said with a fond smile remembering the family time we had in the morning.

He was looking at me with a small smile.

“I’m guessing; it was your idea?” He asked and I grinned.

“Of course, how can I pass up the opportunity to tease him?” I said with a chuckle and he did the same.

“Yeah, got it. He can’t seem to shut up about you these days” He said shaking his head.

“For me too, I think nowadays he only talks to me when he has something to say about you” I realised now, that i***t has talked about Aayush every time he chatted with me since yesterday.

“Really?” He asked with his raised eyebrows. I just nodded.

“Well, the reason I called- “ Before he could finish, a girl walked to our table wearing waiters uniform. She looked younger than me but not so much.

“Hello” She said giving a full blown smile at Aayush but an awkward smile to me. Aayush grimaced looking at her.

Am I missing something?

“Hi” I said with a polite smile.

“Can I take your order?” She asked mostly looking at Aayush who looked irritated as hell.

“Can you give us few minutes? We haven’t looked at the menu yet” I answered and she looked conflicted yet still nodded and walked away.

Aayush sighed grabbing a menu.

“Do you know her?” I asked him grabbing a menu as well.

“God no” He said shaking his head.

“But what was that weird energy back then?” I asked looking at the dishes. What should I get?

“Since I came here, this is her 6th time walking to our table. She was polite at first but then started flirting and that big grin she has on her face, it’s weird and uncomfortable” He said and he looked uncomfortable.

“Ohh” I said with my mouth ‘o’ shaped. I can understand her situation. He’s a handsome guy and she’s a young girl. She obviously wants his attention. My friends and I do check out handsome looking guys but that’s it. We don’t approach them, no matter how good they look we are more comfortable talking to people we know.

“Can you please order for us?” He pleaded and told me what he wants to which I agreed with a small smile.

What? He looked so cute.

“How’s Diya?” I couldn’t help but ask about that cutie pie.

He gave me beautiful smile before talking.

“She’s cute as ever. She actually said her first word two days ago” He said with a glad smile.

“What was it?” I asked with curiosity.

“Cow” He said chuckling. I joined him.

“How?” I asked curious about how she learnt it.

“She watches these cartoons and mom tries explaining to her, you know pointing out the animals like peppa pig” He said shaking his head.

“Ohh, that’s so cute but I’m more of a Doraemon kind of girl” I said chuckling. He smiled and nodded at me.

I scolded myself for oversharing.

Did he ask you what cartoons you like?

No right! Then shush.

I waved at her and she walked towards us with her attention mostly on him. Thank god, she was not rude to me.

Sweet girl, she just fell for his looks.

I placed our orders and she left with a frown.

I felt bad for that kid.

“So, you wanted to talk about something?” I asked cutting right to the point.

“Yes, let’s talk before some interrupts us again” He said and it instantly reminded me of last night. I couldn’t help but blush. It was not the most romantic scene but we did hold hands for the first time.

I nodded encouragingly at him.

“I know this is a long overdue, so first of all I’m sorry” He said looking at me with a guilty smile. His ears turned pink in embarrassment.

I raised my eyebrows, looking at him not knowing what to do.

Taking my silence as an initiative, he continued.

“My intentions were not wrong but the way I said it was wrong. I’m really sorry” He said honestly making me smile.

“Thank you” His apology made me feel good.

The waitress arrived with our food, we started eating slowly

Next 15 minutes he told me his story, from when he started working to the time he met his ex-wife and till the divorce. All I did was sit there in front of him wide mouthed.

I knew he was a divorcee but I never thought his story would be this difficult. I felt so bad for Diya, my heart went out for that little angel. She’s didn’t deserve this.

The whole time he told me his story, his eyes held enormous pain while his face had a sad feature. I could see how difficult it was for him to share all this. But I have one question.

“Why are you telling me all this?” I felt bad for not saying things like ‘That’s so bad’ or ‘I’m sorry’ because both were not at fault. Sure, his wife cheated on him but it looks like she messed up. Post-natal depression, is not something you discard so easily. It looks like even she suffered with all this. I’m not saying what she did was right but all I’m saying is, it was not easy for her either. She dealt with it in the wrong way.

He looked at me surprised not expecting this question. I’m sure, he thought I would feel bad for him and console him. I do feel bad but I want to know what this is all about first. I’m not being selfish; I’m just being practice. Immature? Maybe.

“I wanted you to know the whole story before you make any decision” He said gulping hard.

“Aayush, I already said no. I know your past plays a huge role but it doesn’t matter to me. I was not ready to become a mother to a baby when I can’t even handle myself but when I saw you, not going to lie you are handsome, I wanted to know you, get to know you better but you shot that try down like a AK-47” I said honestly shrugging my shoulders.

He looked embarrassed by what I said but I didn’t miss a smirk when I called him handsome.

Guys!!

“I’m sorry” He said shamefully.

“It’s okay” I said shrugging.

“You won’t re-consider your answer?” He asked looking at me intently.

“You want me to?” I asked in confusion.

“I do” He answered suddenly.

“But why? What changed?” I asked. As far as I remember he was against this marriage.

He sighed and ran his fingers through his hairs. Food was long forgotten. Thank god, we didn’t order much.

He looked so fine!!!!!

“I was a little harsh last time but what I said was true. I’m not in a state of mind for love or any romance. To be frank, my mother and everyone thinks your best for me. I have no idea about it but all I’m gonna say is, I’ll treat you with respect and you can always trust me, I would never break your trust, not deliberately at least. I know you deserve someone so much better than me but I wanted to take my chance. You are a good girl, you are genuine and speak your mind without giving two hoots about others, which shows how honest you are. You’re amazing and if you agree to marry me then my daughter and I will be the lucky ones” He said with a genuine smile.

With all that he said, I know my cousin Akshay played a huge role. No way he could have gained a perspective about me with just one meet.

But my hearts case was gone, it was all mushy and beating like crazy. I know I shouldn’t trust him but he sounded so genuine and more over he is Akshay’s close friend and he wants me to get married to this guy which means he trusts him.

I sat there thoroughly confused.

“I’m not saying you should answer me now. Take your time and let me know when you make up your mind” He said giving me a small smile.

I smiled back which I’m sure looked like a grimace.

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