ADHURI KAHANI: A tale of an amnesic bond

25. SECRETS

INAAYA'S POV

I exited the cabin, pulling my phone out of my pocket as I walked briskly towards the elevator. As I waited for it to arrive at my floor, I tapped the green button on the screen and picked up the call. It was Tanvi.

"Cafeteria?" I questioned

"Yess. I am waiting" She answered after chuckling

Tanvi and I now have lunch together almost every day. I haven't made many close friends here, but Tanvi is the exception, even though my position requires me to talk to almost everyone. From what I've seen, Tanvi is incredibly kind and hardworking. She pours her heart and soul into her work, and I've watched her dedication to the magazine grow over the past few months. One of the many things I admire about her is that she never gives up easily. She's soft-spoken, with a warm and welcoming smile that makes anyone feel comfortable approaching her.

The elevator doors opened with a soft ding. I stepped inside and pressed the button for the floor with the cafeteria. As I exited the elevator, I spotted Tanvi approaching from the opposite direction. She wore a dusky pink shirt paired with white pants and matching white pumps, her hair styled in a half ponytail with curtain bangs framing her face. She looked elegant, as always. When she saw me, she smiled, and it lit up her entire face.

"Did you have to wait long?" I asked, feeling guilty as I realized I had become so immersed in work that I completely lost track of time.

"Nope. Not at all" she smiled

We walked into the cafeteria only to be met with a long line, and a sigh of disappointment escaped my lips. I glanced at Tanvi, and she looked back at me with a sad pout that made me chuckle.

After what felt like an eternity, we finally got our food. I opted for a simple meal of sabji, roti, daal, and some baingan fry. Tanvi's plate, on the other hand, held chicken curry, rice, and baingan fry. Turns out, the baingan fry is her favorite too.

"I heard you took leave. What happened?" we walked towards one of the tables.

"Nothing serious. I just had a fever."

"Are you okay now?"

We took our seats. I sat across from her.

"I'm perfectly fine now," I smiled.

We began eating, our conversation initially centered around the magazine and how our work lives were unfolding. Gradually, the discussion shifted to other topics, letting us unwind and talk about things beyond the office.

"Umm, Inaaya, I wanted to tell you something," she said, looking nervous.

"Mm-hmm, I'm listening," I replied. I encouraged her to speak, my curiosity piqued by what she had to say and what could have made her this nervous.

"I am getting married" she said nervously

My eyes widened in shock. WHAT

"What!? You're getting married! Oh my gosh, Tanvi, that's such good news!"

I grasped both of her hands in mine, barely containing my excitement. "Really? That's amazing!" I almost shouted, my voice brimming with joy. After the past couple of days filled with tears and turmoil, this news felt like a beacon of light. I was genuinely thrilled for her.

"Who's the lucky guy?" I asked, excited

Her smile faded, replaced by a nervous expression. I waited, watching her closely, but for a moment, she remained silent. My curiosity grew as I looked at her, wondering what was making her hesitate.

"The guy is..." she again took a long pause hesitating

"Is?"

I squeezed her hands gently, offering a reassuring grip. I wanted her to know that she could share whatever was on her mind, and that I was here for her.

"Shivyansh"

"What!?"

It wasn't just surprise that clouded my mind now-it was a mix of concern and urgency. My eyes widened, not from excitement, but from shock. Shivyansh? The realization hit me hard, and my grip on her hand relaxed.

She was about to marry someone I knew had been involved in something questionable just weeks ago, at the coffee station. I hadn't shared this with her before, but now, it was crucial that she knew. As her friend, I couldn't let her step into a future with someone who had been caught in such a compromising situation. She needed to be aware of the truth, no matter how difficult it might be to hear.

"Tanvi, I don't want to ruin anything for you, but a few weeks ago, I saw Shivyansh coming out of the coffee station with lipstick smeared on his lips."

She gulped hard and started chuckling nervously. I looked at her with concern, knowing this is a hard pill to swallow. She is probably in a lot of pain.

"Inaaya," she sighed and closed her eyes.

"I am here," I reassured her, letting her know that no matter what, I would always be there for her.

"I need to tell you a few other things too." Opening her eyes, she looked straight at me.

I waited for her to continue.

"I told you I went to the USA to study, but what I didn't tell you was that I got married there as well."

"To whom?" I asked, curiosity piqued. I don't think I've ever been this intrigued in my life.

Tanvi took a deep breath, as if bracing herself to say the next words.

"Shivyansh"

My brows knitted together in confusion. Noticing my puzzled expression, Tanvi continued, her voice steady despite the nervousness.

"We got married right after graduation. We were young and in love. Shivyansh started a business, and it was a hit. Everything seemed perfect for us. But as his success grew, we spent less and less time together. One day, I decided I had had enough. I served him with divorce papers and returned to India to take a job here. He followed me here, and now, here we are. Inaaya, I'm sorry I didn't tell you about this earlier."

So Shivyansh isn't just an employee here; he's the CEO of another company. He came here with the intention of winning Tanvi over. It sounds like something out of a movie. I understand why Tanvi never shared this-it must have been incredibly painful to think about a failed marriage, and telling others would only have deepened her hurt. I understand

"Its okay Tanvi. I understand"

I said, offering her a reassuring smile, and finally, she responded with a smile of her own. The roles reversed-now she was holding my hands, her smile wide and genuine.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Here is the 25th chapter. I hope you guys liked it.

There was nothing important in this chapter, I know, but I just wanted to strengthen Tanvi and Inaaya's bond. It was necessary for the flow, and if you guys had not noticed yet, after every "boring" chapter, there comes a really important chapter.

Yuuuppp.. Just connect the dots.

Show some love by voting and commenting. It motivates me a lot.

Chapter 26 will come out soon <3

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