Married But Why?

Chapter 6

Ananya’s POV

I always wanted to marry. It was like a dream to me since I was a child. I knew from that time that I wanted to be a wife, even I knew who I wanted as my husband. I think those were the most beautiful days of my life. Akshat and I used to play together. We always played family-oriented games where no one was allowed to be my husband other than Akshat. Since he was just so obsessive about me. I don’t remember clearly, but I think I was five years old when my parents shifted to the USA.

With time I forgot about all these. I got busy with study, goals, and friends. But there was always an emptiness inside me. I used to feel I had lost something, and I just wanted to come back to India. I told this to my parents, and this simple wish of mine became their goal. They started restarting their business in India, and by the age of twenty-four, I was back in India.

But I didn’t know what I used to miss would never be mine. I came back and met Akshat; however, there was no such feeling that I used to feel. I thought I had a special place for him, but with time I realized it was only friendship. So, I was back to normal. I felt disappointed to realize that. It’s been six years, and I still don’t know why. However, in the last few days, something changed. I again started feeling that. But for whom? Rudra? But why? I never met him before becoming his rival in business.

I somehow feel content like the emptiness is filled. My mind is just so messed up now. So, to deal with all these thoughts, I decided to visit the office and see how much we have lost. But before that, I have to meet Sam. Sam (Sampada Basu) is the mother of Akshat, my best friend. She is like a friend, so I never called her aunt. I call her by her name. I wanted to discuss all this with Sam since I do not want my parents to be worried. Also, Sam is the only person who could guide me in the right direction.

So, here I am sitting in a coffee shop waiting for Sam. Soon I saw her entering the cafe. I stood and hugged her asking, “Hey Sam, how are you?”

“I am fine, Ananya. How is everything?” she asked and took her seat; however, before I replied, she added, “How is Rudra?”

I gave her a small smile and told, “Everything is good Sam but—” and she looked at me worriedly.

She asked, “But?”

I continued, “But, I don’t know I am not able to understand why Rudra married me?”

She looked at me like I had grown two horns. Still, I continued, “In everything, I never felt any bad motives hidden behind his actions.”

Hearing me, she asked, “Don’t you think that’s a good thing? You should be happy.”

I nodded. She placed her hand on mine, consoling, “Ananya stop digging into unnecessary things. You are married and Rudra is a good person.”

She completed, and I looked at her. I immediately asked, “Do you know him personally?”

“What?” she said. She was taken aback like I had caught her doing something wrong. She cleared herself, saying, “No. But you just told me he is treating you well. So, I just thought.”

I nodded and tried to make her understand, “Sam” but she interrupted me, saying, “Ananya, you are married now. Focus on that. Why and how? just keep things away from your relation.”

“Yes, Sam,” I agreed and got a reminder on my phone for a meeting. I said, “I am getting late, Sam. I have a meeting in half an hour.”

Sam nodded and stood to leave, saying, “Okay, take care of yourself and Rudra.” With that, she left. I saw her getting away from me, and I thought, “I don’t know why? I have a feeling that something is there that you are hiding, Sam.”

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Since my wedding preparations began, I was not able to give time to my business. I never thought my competitors would utilize this opportunity so well. Our company shares have gone down. We have lost some big projects. Although I have appointed the best people in my company, still it happened. I am damn sure whoever planned all this must have done their homework. There were so many news stories about my marriage, and all of them were negative, which is causing me a lot.

I have to work my ass off to deal with this situation, but before that, let’s focus on the ongoing projects, or else we will lose them too. Since the time I reached the office, I was so busy that I missed food, water, and coffee—everything. I do not want to lose everything I built over the years. I was busy with a client on a call when my cell phone started ringing. Of course, I ignored it since I knew who was calling me.

Once I was done, I was about to move to the washroom, but I stopped in my tracks hearing my phone ringing again. I picked it up this time and said, “Hello?” Soon I heard a not-so-romantic voice of my so-called husband, “Hey Mrs. Singh. Missing me?”

“No, I am too busy to miss anyone,” I replied coldly, and he complained like a child, “You do know how to burst the bubbles.”

“Do you want anything?” I came to the point, and he got serious. He told, “No, I just want to ask why you are trying so hard. You should focus on your husband. I don’t want my wife to get tired.” Hearing him, I was sure he was not far from me. So, I asked, “Rudra, where are you?”

He literally was listening to me, and I warned him, “Focus on your work, Rudra.”

“I will. But I want to tell you something,” he said, and I added, “Go on.” He took his time and then continued, “Although I love to give my wife all the freedom she wants, that doesn’t mean you are going to meet your ex-lover behind my back.” Once he was done, I literally felt what the hell is wrong with him. He is becoming possessive of a girl who was his biggest competitor two days ago.

Still, instead of stretching things, I asked him, “Why do you think I am going to meet him?”

“I trust you, but I don’t trust him,” he said, making me the happiest wife on the planet. (Note the sarcasm here.)

Instead of replying to what he said, I declared, “See you later. I am going to attend a meeting.”

With that, I disconnected the call and asked no one, “Why the hell is he behaving like he is my long-lost lover?”

“Because he is your husband, Ma’am,” my assistant said, and I finally realized I was not alone in my cabin.

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Akshat’s POV

Since the time I got to know Ananya got married, I have been trying to connect with her. However, she didn’t respond. But when she texted me that she would talk to me soon, I was relaxed. This morning when I was in my office, I got a call from her. She asked me to meet her in the cafe near her office. Although we could have met in her office, she said she wanted to discuss something important, so I suggested this place. It’s close to her office, and no one will doubt that she is up to something. So, here I am. I have been waiting for her for the last twenty minutes, and she is nowhere to be seen. It’s her habit. Once she starts working, she just forgets everything.

However, soon I saw her. She looked at me and ran to me, saying, “Akshat?” I opened my arms for her, and she gave me a friendly hug. She is one of the best people in my life. She hugged me and asked, “Oh my god. How are you?”

“I am fine,” I told her, pulling off the hug. She took her seat, and I continued, “But tell me, when did you lose your mind?”

“Means?” she said, sipping her coffee that I had ordered before her arrival.

“You married Rudra Pratap Singh. You can’t do that in your senses,” I teased her, and she dismissed it, saying, “It happened, Akshat.”

“What should I say?” she added hesitantly.

I nodded and asked, “I heard it was an arranged marriage.” I took a sip of my coffee, and she replied, “Yes.”

“So, when you saw his pictures, you got temporarily blind. Right?” I said, and she gave me an angry glare.

She requested, “Akshat, let’s not discuss what happened in the past. I need your help.”

Hearing her, my senses heightened, realizing she was in trouble. But who could trouble her? Of course, her husband. I asked, “Help? What help?”

“I will tell you my plan. Just keep it secret,” she said, and I nodded. After that, she told me all her plans, and I was shocked. I never knew things could get this bad. I had to help her.

I reached for her hand and gave her assurance by holding her hand. “I will do my best,” I said, and she stood to leave, saying, “Take care, Akshat.”

“Bye,” I said, and she left.

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Third Person’s POV

As soon as Ananya entered the cafe, she immediately walked to Akshat. However, she didn’t realize her husband was also in the same cafe with a client. He noticed every action of theirs. He saw how he touched her hand, he saw how he hugged her, and that made his blood boil with anger.

Once Ananya left the cafe, he was also finished with his meeting with the client. He stood from his place to reach for Akshat, but before that, Akshat left. He stood there thinking, “I told you to stay away from him, Ananya.” He looked at Ananya’s picture on his phone wallpaper and decided, “Seems I have to teach you that you are married now. You can’t roam around hugging your ex-lover publicly.”