Fighting!

Chapter 14

Chapter 14:

Ananya's point of view:

“You do know that my nerves are getting to me. Please put me out of my misery” he said when I didn’t speak after that.

I chuckled.

“Before I tell you my answer, I have a few questions. I just want to know if we are on the same page”, I asked him and he relaxed a bit but nodded to continue.

Before I could ask him my first question, the waitress came back for the main course order. Both him and I looked at our menu and ordered some Naan and biryani and some curries. Nothing too much, because whatever we are talking about will fill our stomach anyway.

“Let’s say, we get married and I get into one of the companies, how will I work? Who will take care of Diya and home?” I fired my first question when the waitress went away taking our order.

“Actually you are right, we do have many things to talk about. To be frank, don’t take this in the wrong way, but when my mom told me that I needed to get married, I thought whoever I would marry would look after Diya. But recently I realised I want to marry a girl who is independent and who can make wise decisions. I need someone who can support me, not someone who is dependent on me. So, if you want to work, I don’t have any issues. We can look for a nanny”. When he talked about what kind of girl he wanted, I could tell he was genuine about it, but when he said we could hire a nanny, I could tell he was not confident about it. He’s not completely okay with placing his daughter in some complete strangers' hand. I am even a stranger too, but you know there’s a difference. He won’t be paying me to look after her.

“Ummm, where will we be staying?” I asked him. I don’t know if he has a house or an apartment. I don’t know his living situation. Our waitress came with our food. Thankfully, she served us.

“I have an apartment in the city. That’s my first home that I bought” he said with a proud smile.

“Nice, I prefer apartments”. I started to feel like I was interviewing him.

“Do your parents like me?” Even though they don’t live with him, I wanted them to like me. They will be my family. I don’t want them to hate me in secret.

“ Of course they do. My mom adores you. My dad also said that you were very beautiful and sweet”. He said winking, and I blushed.

“That’s good to hear. Do you have any questions for me?” I asked, knowing he must have some doubts.

“If you say yes, are you okay with Diya being in my life?” His voice and look was so vulnerable. It must be his deepest fear.

“Diya is a cutie pie. If I marry you, I will look after her as my daughter, but I’m not so confident about my maternal skills. I can hardly look after myself and I don’t want to commit any mistake that would affect her”. I showed my vulnerable side. This was one of my main concerns.

“Hey! You won’t be alone. I’ll be there every step of the way. All I wanted to know was that if you would accept her as your own, that’s it. All she needs is love at this point. Looking after her? We can figure it out together”. He said, looking into my eyes. I felt a wave of calmness wash over me. For some reason, whenever I think about this, I usually imagine myself alone. Taking care of Diya and my work and my life, I just put more pressure on myself.

I nodded because my emotions caught my words.

Both of us concentrated on our food as it was getting cold. We started talking about our hobbies, our pet peeves, carried out a light conversation. Once we were done with our food, our waitress bought our finger bowls. We cleaned our hands and asked for the bill. As soon as the waitress got our bill, I snatched it from her hand.

“Ananya, please let me pay”, he said, trying to get the bill.

“Nope, this is my city mister. You are the guest. I’ll pay”. I put my card in and sent it with the waitress. It’s a credit card, so tapping works.

“Your city? I was born and brought up here. You do know that, right?” He asked, amused.

“Oh. I forgot about that. But whatever, I’m living here now” I said, crossing my arms. The waitress bought my card back and we thanked her. We got up to leave.

“Fine, I’ll let this pass this time” I just smirked at him.

We went out and the valet took our car. We sat in and he drove to my apartment. The whole time, we kept the conversation light. I told him about my college and showed him a few places that we passed where my friends and I went and hung out.

When we reached our apartments, we both went out. He leaned on his driver's door and I came and stood in-front of him.

“You want to come inside? My friends will still be up”, I asked him.

“No, it’s fine. I have to go back and spend some time with Diya. Tomorrow I’m going back anyway”. Suddenly, that thought made me feel sad. He won’t be here and today was refreshing and I felt so special.

I nodded in understanding. I took a step forward, we had a one-foot distance between us.

“You know I thought we could both ask our companies for work from home.There’s that option right, which would help us work and take care of Diya”, I said with a small smile.

His eyes widened. His right hand reached out and held my hand.

“So, your answer is yes?” He asked in surprise. I chuckled at seeing his expression. As if he had won some toy at a fair.

“Yes” I said softly, licking my lips. His lips formed a beautiful smile that I have ever seen.

He pulled me forward and engulfed me in a hug. And oh my god, I’m in heaven. His warmth was everything that I needed. The windy chill outside and his warmth around me was a perfect combination. He smells so good too.

“Thank you. Thank you so much”, he whispered, hugging me tightly, and I’m not complaining one bit.

I lifted my head from his chest and looked up at him. He stared down at me in adoration.

“Don’t thank me yet. You have no idea what you have gotten yourself into, mister” I said, grinning. He chuckled with one hand on my waist and the other on my arm.

“With you by my side, I think I’ll manage just fine” His words meant so much to me that shamelessly I hid my face in his chest and hugged him.

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I stepped inside our apartment with a huge smile. Both my friends were sitting on the sofa staring at me as if they were expecting me as soon as the door opened. I started removing my wedges when questions started.

“Tell us, tell us. How was it?” Maya asked, getting excited.

“What did he say? Moreover, what did you say?” Arshi asked, sharing Maya’s excitement.

I squealed and jumped on the couch in between them. They looked at me in shock.

“Tell us, tell us, tell us” both of them chanted, squeezing my arms.

“Okay, okay. I will”. I turned towards them and started narrating the whole evening. My voice, my tone, my hand gestures, my expression, everything was over the top and anyone who could see me could tell how happy I was.

“Wow, that’s so sweet of him. At least chivalry is not dead” Maya said, grinning.

“He’s so considerate. I mean he made you feel so comfortable. Moreover, he’s so cool”, Arshi said, and I was so happy inside and out listening to them praising him.

“That he is. What I like about him is, he doesn’t make small talk. He’ll be completely silent and that silence will be comfortable only, but he doesn’t talk unnecessarily to fill the silence” I explained our time in the car just listening to music or lost in our own thoughts.

“I actually didn’t think he would consider hiring a nanny, you know. Since his mom was forcing him to get married because of Diya. I thought he would expect you to take care of her alone”, Maya said, biting her lip.

“Even I thought the same thing. When he told me that, I could tell he was not okay with it, but he was still entertaining that idea.” I told them honestly what I felt at that time.

“What was his reaction when you said both of you could work from home?” Arshi asked, looking at me in question.

“He was so happy that I said yes, he completely forgot that question” I said, chuckling, remembering his face when I asked him that question.

Priceless.

“Let it be. You can ask him next time. Did you ask for his number?” Maya asked and I face-palmed myself.

Shit! I completely forgot.

We were so in our own world after that I completely forgot to ask him. Even he didn’t. Maybe I’ll just have to ask Akshay or should I wait for him to get my number from Akshay and call me? God! What is this 2005? I’ll only ask Akshay and message him. He has taken so many initiatives and I don’t want him to feel like only he is putting in all the efforts.

All three of us talked for a while. I told them my party idea and were both psyched about it. Tomorrow night we can have an impromptu party inviting only close people we know. We can dance and booze and also play some games. It will be fun. After planning for the party tomorrow, we all went to our respective rooms to rest for the day.

I changed my dress and did my hair and skin routine. I tucked myself in my bed and took my phone to check my i********:. I have not logged in since my exam started. Reels are really addictive and I get lost in them for more than half an hour.

When I opened my w******p, there was a message from an unknown number. I opened it and it said

“Hi, Just got home. Had a great time today. Cya soon. Bye”

And obviously I knew who it was. I quickly saved his number and messaged him back.

“Hey, just came to my room. Have a safe flight tomorrow. Take care” I said in a formal way, since it was our first time chatting. It’s all new. I never chatted with a guy about anything other than academic work.

I thought he was already asleep but he came online and my heartbeat raised.

It’s going to be a long night.

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Aayush’s point of view:

My plan was to leave for Mumbai early in the morning, but the whole night I spent texting with Ananya and didn’t get any sleep. By the time we were both sleepy, Diya woke up so I had to take her out to the balcony and sing a lullaby to make her sleep again. So, I woke up late and mom wanted to talk to me about Ananya. She knew I was meeting her for coffee yesterday.

In the afternoon, I told my parents about Ananya saying yes to marriage and they were ecstatic. My mom was over the moon. They called Akshay’s parents to share the news and I called him. Meera and he were both cheery, as if they were rooting for both of us. I had messaged Ananya as soon as I woke up. It was afternoon and still no reply from her. She’s not even online. Maybe she must be tired and asleep as yesterday she finished her exams.

Mom had already started planning when she should call Ananya’s parents. I told her that she needed to wait until Ananya told her parents herself. Once they are okay with this, then my parents should move forward.

I have booked an evening flight to Mumbai. I got ready and bid bye to mom, dad and Diya. I felt really sad and bad leaving Diya, but on the brighter side, for the first time I felt ‘not for long’. I’ll take her back with me in a while.

Even when I was leaving for the airport, I checked my phone. There was no reply from her. I felt sad but thought she might call me when she’s free and I also remembered they were throwing a party tonight, so she must be busy.

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Ananya’s point of view:

Next day, I woke up super late. It was 4 pm and my friends woke me up and dragged my ass to the mall to buy stuff for today's party. I didn’t even check my phone. When we came home, I rushed to my phone to see his message. I called him but it was switched off. I thought maybe he must be in his office.

After that, we got ready for the party. It was one hell of a party. We danced to all our favourite songs and had one hell of a party. We boozed like crazy people. By the end of the party, I was completely plastered. We played truth or dare. Fortunately, they were funny dares, not some s****l ones. We had played never have I ever and by the end of it, I was drunk. At the end, I puked my guts out and slept off.

The next day, I woke up and called Aayush. We talked for a while and I told him what all I had done a day before, but he had a meeting so we cut the call short. I thought of going to Mumbai and meeting my parents. I need to tell them about my decision. Aayush told me that his parents were ecstatic when he told them about my decision.

My friends and I decided to take a bus today. We thought that we'd come back for our graduation. I reached home pretty late that night and mom opened the door. Next day, I sat with them and told them about my decision. My mom was happy and told me that she kind of knew. Dad was okay with Aayush and his family, but the fact that he had a kid and how I would manage it was his main concern. I told him about my plan and he had tears in his eyes, saying how mature I sounded.

I told Aayush that mom and dad were okay with it. In the next half an hour, his parents called my parents and they started talking about dates. It was really overwhelming. I called Aayush but he didn’t pick him up. He sent a message that he was in a meeting. I called my friends and they were happy.

Everyone around me was happy and I was too.

It’s very scary but exciting.

I’m ready to step into my next phase of life.

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