Inks and innings

chp 23

Inks and innings 23

Author's pov

And here they were, standing in front of each other, shocked.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Divya bashed on him.

"I was here all the time. You came here now—why are you here?" Abhimanyu shot back.

Divya turned to the receptionist, her patience wearing thin. "Miss Pari, can you please give me the keys to room 702? I have a booking in the name of Divya Paranjape."

Before Miss Pari could respond, Abhimanyu interjected, "No, I have the reservation for room 702, in the name of Abhimanyu Kapoor."

Miss Pari looked between the two of them, clearly flustered. "I'm terribly sorry, but there seems to have been a glitch in our system. Both of your bookings are for the same room."

Divya and Abhimanyu stared at each other, their irritation giving way to reluctant acceptance.

"Great," Divya muttered under her breath. "Just what I needed."

Abhimanyu sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Looks like we're stuck together."

Miss Pari, trying to smooth things over, added, "Room 702 is our Presidential Suite. It has two separate bedrooms and a kitchen, so it shouldn't be too much of a problem. As an apology, we would like to offer you a 50% discount on this booking and free groceries for the duration of your stay."

Divya frowned, still not entirely placated. "But there must be some mistake. Can't you find me another room?"

"I'm really sorry, ma'am, but we're fully booked," Miss Pari replied, her tone apologetic. "There are no extra rooms available."

Divya opened her mouth to argue further, but Abhimanyu gently placed a hand on her shoulder. "Divya, let's just take the suite. It sounds like a good deal, and we can make it work."

Reluctantly, Divya nodded, taking the key from Miss Pari. "Fine. But this better not happen again."

Abhimanyu and Divya headed towards the elevator, their previous animosity slowly melting into a tense truce.

As they entered the Presidential Suite, Divya glanced around, taking in the spacious rooms and luxurious amenities. "Well, this is a bit better than I expected."

Abhimanyu smiled, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "See? It's not so bad. We've got our own rooms and plenty of space."

As they entered the Presidential Suite, Abhimanyu was about to close the door when Divya screamed from behind, "Don't! My luggage will arrive, wait for it."

Abhimanyu paused, holding the door open. Moments later, a bellboy arrived with Divya's luggage, and behind him was the hotel manager, looking flustered.

"I am so sorry for the inconvenience caused by the booking error," the manager began, addressing both of them but his gaze lingering a bit too long on Divya.

Abhimanyu noticed the manager's lingering gaze and felt a surge of protectiveness. Despite the unresolved issues and their complicated relationship, Divya was his wife, even if they hadn't fully accepted the marriage yet. She was his first love, and the feelings he had for her were still strong.

"Thank you for the apology," Abhimanyu said curtly, stepping slightly in front of Divya, effectively blocking the manager's view. "We appreciate the discount and the free groceries."

The manager, sensing Abhimanyu's protective stance, quickly redirected his attention. "Of course, sir. If there's anything else you need during your stay, please don't hesitate to ask."

"We'll keep that in mind," Abhimanyu replied, his tone leaving no room for further conversation.

As the manager and the bellboy left, Divya rolled her eyes. "You didn't have to be so territorial."

Abhimanyu shrugged, closing the door behind them. "Old habits die hard."

Divya laughed softly, shaking her head. "Well, at least the suite is nice."

"Yeah," Abhimanyu agreed, glancing around. "Let's get settled in."

As they departed to their respective rooms, Abhimanyu couldn't help but replay the events in his mind. Why had he acted so possessively? Why did the manager's gaze on Divya irritate him so much? After all, he didn't like Divya—he hated her, or at least, he thought he did.

Sitting on the edge of his bed, Abhimanyu stared out the window, lost in thought. Their relationship had been a whirlwind of emotions, misunderstandings, and unresolved issues. The love they once shared was now buried under layers of resentment and pain. Yet, seeing her again, being in close proximity, had stirred something deep within him.

He remembered their past vividly—the laughter, the shared dreams, and the heartbreak. She had been his first love, a love so intense that it left a mark on his soul. Even now, the remnants of that love seemed to influence his actions, despite the bitterness that had grown between them.

Meanwhile, in the adjoining room, Divya was equally conflicted. The encounter with the manager had made Abhimanyu's protective side resurface, a side she hadn't seen in a long time. She could still feel the weight of his presence, the unspoken claim he had on her.

As she unpacked her things, Divya wondered why abhimanyue got angry on the manger he wasnt even firting with her . The past trauma and misunderstandings had driven a wedge between them, but underneath the anger, there was still a connection, a bond that neither of them could ignore.

Abhimanyu lay back on the bed, sighing deeply. He couldn't deny the pang of jealousy he felt, nor could he ignore the protective instinct that kicked in when he saw the manager staring at Divya. Maybe, just maybe, he didn't hate her as much as he pretended to. Perhaps his feelings were more complicated, tangled in a web of love, hurt, and longing.

The suite's walls, though separating them physically, couldn't keep their thoughts and emotions at bay. They were both wrestling with their feelings, trying to make sense of the unexpected reunion and the emotions it had stirred. And as the night grew deeper, both Abhimanyu and Divya knew that their unresolved past would soon demand their attention, forcing them to confront the truth about their feelings for each other.