Beautiful Infatuation

Chapter 17

'and her father treats her as sh*t!' Sneha recalled Shruti's words regarding Ananya as she and Jyoti walked back to their next lecture on World Geography.

After a long reflective silence, Jyoti finally broke it.

"I seriously think they shouldn't have told us about Ananya and her...personal life!" Jyoti mumbled.

"I know. I don't know if Ananya would have wanted us to know this." Sneha nodded in agreement.

"I doubt they are her best friends. Who tells gossips like that?"

"Let's just behave as if we didn't hear anything. Ananya would be terribly embarrassed if she'll get to know that we know about her." Sneha concluded to which Jyoti acknowledged.

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Ananya stood behind Viraj, almost hiding behind his body as they waited to welcome their father. Her heartbeat accelerated as the various possible scenarios of torture surfaced in her mind. She recalled all her previous mistakes and told herself, again and again, to not repeat them this time.

Please, God! Don't let him be angry today. She prayed in her mind.

When the sound of an incoming car became audible, Ananya involuntarily held Viraj's arm for some sort of support.

"Bhai!" She whispered with her voice trembling.

"Calm down, Ananya. Just don't make any mistakes and you'll be fine." He told her as gently as he could.

"You'll help me out, right...if he gets angry at me?" She whisper-asked.

"You know he hates it. If anything, he will make it worse for you if I'll take your side." He explained and she sighed in understanding.

Ananya almost fainted when her father entered the hall where they both waited to welcome him.

"My son!" Viraj's father, Dev entered the hall and threw a huge smile towards his son.

"Papa." Viraj greeted back as his father hugged him warmly. Ananya took three steps back when she saw her father walking towards Viraj.

"How are you?" Dev asked, as he usually did.

"I am good. How are you and ma?" Viraj asked without any expression on his face.

"We are good too! She sent you some organic dry fruits." Dev stated with a smile as he motioned towards a suitcase held by his bodyguard.

Viraj only nodded in response.

"Come, I'll show you your room. You may get fresh and then we'll have breakfast together." Viraj stated in a robotic manner as if rehearsed multiple times.

Dev nodded and took a step forward when he spotted Ananya standing almost 10 feet away from him with her head held low and gaze fixed on the ground. Had it been her choice, she wouldn't even be here to receive him. But, as a matter of fact, Dev always made sure every member of the family be present or he considered it as his disrespect.

With a playful smile, Dev walked towards Ananya and stood in front of her. She slowly and hesitantly looked up so as to not disrespect him.

"Papa. H.how was the flight?" She asked while trying her best to not stutter.

"Viraj, you are still keeping the illegitimate child here with you?" Dev asked while glancing at Viraj.

Viraj sighed at his father's choice of words.