Blame It On Love

Chapter 13

Kartik's POV:

Just then Maria came into the living room.

"Ma'am, shall we start with dinner." She said looking at Tina.

"God bless you, Maria." I said under my breath, making Aadhya chuckle.

"What's so funny?" Adhiraj asked. And walked towards us with a genuine smile on his face. "Care to share." His eyes had turned soft looking at Aadhya's smile. He offered his arm for her to hold. And she took it gladly. I was mistaken. He came towards Aadhya not me as if her smile made his leg move on its own. While his fiancee, Ananta was forgotten. Well not by all though. Tina and Vikram were still talking to her, but her eyes were wandering towards Adhiraj and Aadhya.

We walked towards the dining area. Adhiraj pulled a chair for Aadhya and sat beside her. Vikram pulled the chair for Tina and sat beside her. Ananta looked uncomfortably around. Then when she knew Adhiraj won't help her she pulled the chair and sat beside him. I sat beside Vikram.

The table was for six, with Aadhya, Adhiraj and Ananta were sitting on one side. I sat opposite Aadhya, then Vikram and Tina. Maria got starters on the table. We served ourselves and passed on the tray to the next person. Soon the conversation started. When the tray was passed to Aadhya Adhiraj would take and and serve her and himself then pass it to Ananta. It was coming naturally by him. He didn't need to think or put any efforts in doing it. It was like his second nature, maybe that is why Vikram and Tina didn't find it odd. The conversation on the table went on. Ananta seemed pretty fine, young lady. She talked nicely whenever asked and gave her inputs at appropriately.

While Aadhya was herself. Talking when necessary and as usual fussy with her food. Adhiraj on other hand handle Aadhya's every fussiness with a smile on his face. As if he was enjoying it. At some point I felt bad for Ananta inspite of being Aadhya's friend. I hope she can see what I am seeing and give up on Adhiraj. Because from my point of view at the end she will be hurt the most compare to Aadhya and Adhiraj.

"Stop playing with your food Aadhya and eat." Vikram said rolling his eyes.

"There are green peas in this and I don't like it." I turned to look at her plate. She hated eating green peas just as I shook my head at her.

"Oh.....yes. it was my fault Aadhya. I forgot to tell Maria to make food without green peas." Tina said, apologetically.

"She must learn to eat properly. When she goes out on business trips there what does she do?" Vikram said rolling his eyes.

"Don't worry I will be there by her side then." Adhiraj said smiling. I was about to tease her but then I saw Adhiraj's plate. He had removed all the green peas from his plate. I looked confused. Just then he switched his plate with her.

"Perks of having such a good secratary." Vikram said. I looked shocked at them.

"That's more than what a secretary does." Tina said the same thing I was about to point out.

"He is the one who spoils her. He still treats her like a kid and handle her tantrums. That's why she is like this." Vikram said. I was about to choke on my food.

"You need to stop treating her like Adhiraj." Tina tried to act serious but couldn't control her admiral smile at Adhiraj's actions.

"Then she will stay hungry and won't eat anything. I can't let her stay hungry for days now right. After you have given me her responsibility when we are on business trips." Adhiraj said and smiled at her lovingly. My eyes were about to pop out of its sockets. 'how can he say something like that in such a manner which seems so right.' I thought.

Maria came again. She replaced our plates and started placing the main course. I looked at Ananta with pity, I could feel her uneasiness. Her face was hard as stone. It was clear what was going inside her. I looked at Adhiraj, he was not concerned about her at all. Then I looked at Aadhya, she looked normal. As if this was fine. It confused me, this is so unlike her. Then I saw it, that glint of evilness in her eyes. And it clicked me. They were doing this purposely. But why? How badly has Ananta hurt Aadhya, that they are behaving so badly with her? As far as I knew Aadhya it must be something very cruel. Because Aadhya never gets involved in petty things.