PATHS OF HEART [ON HOLD]

18

**Five Days Later**

The work week had been long for Anuj. He had been busy with meetings and conference calls, trying to wrap up business matters before his return to Mumbai. The upcoming evening flight back home was a much-anticipated event, marking the end of his brief stint in Singapore. He was eager to reunite with Anupama and Anika, and the thought of returning home kept him motivated through the hectic days.

That day, his colleagues at the Singapore office had insisted he join them for a farewell gathering. Anuj had initially hesitated, wanting to rest before his flight. However, they were persistent, reminding him that it was a chance to relax and enjoy the city one last time. Eventually, he agreed, deciding that a couple of hours out with friends wouldn't hurt.

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**The Bar Scene**

The bar was bustling with energy when Anuj arrived, a trendy place known for its vibrant atmosphere and elaborate cocktails. The lights were dim, and music pulsed from the speakers, creating a lively ambiance. Anuj's colleagues greeted him warmly, and he found himself quickly immersed in the evening's social whirl.

As he chatted with friends and caught up on the latest gossip from the office, he made his way to the bar. His colleagues, ever the party enthusiasts, had already ordered drinks and were pushing them into his hands with encouraging smiles.

"Come on, Anuj, just one drink to celebrate!" one of his friends insisted.

Anuj, wanting to fit in and unwind a bit, accepted the drink. He had planned to take it easy, but the pressures of the week and the casual camaraderie led him to drink more than he had intended.

After a while, he excused himself to use the restroom. He navigated through the crowded bar, his mind a bit foggy from the alcohol. When he returned, his friends handed him another drink, and he took it without much thought.

As the evening progressed, Anuj lost track of how many drinks he had consumed. The alcohol made everything blur, and he began to feel the effects of being drunk. His usual composed demeanor gave way to a more carefree and disinhibited state. He laughed loudly, enjoyed the music, and danced with his colleagues, losing himself in the moment.

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**The Unexpected Encounter**

In the midst of the revelry, Anuj's gaze fell upon a familiar figure across the bar. It took a few moments for his foggy mind to process who it was, but then it hit him—Niharika, his ex-wife. She was at the bar, looking disheveled and clearly intoxicated.

Niharika's presence was unexpected. Anuj hadn't seen her in years and had no idea she was in Singapore. Curiosity and a sense of unfinished business nudged him towards her. He approached cautiously, but the alcohol made him bolder than usual.

"Niharika?" he called out, his voice slurred.

Niharika turned, her eyes widening in recognition. "Anuj! Oh my God, what are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," Anuj replied, chuckling. "But it looks like we both had the same idea about hitting the bar tonight."

Niharika laughed, though it was a little unsteady. "Yeah, just needed to get away from everything. It's been a rough patch."

Anuj nodded, his inhibitions loosened by the alcohol. "I get it. Sometimes, it's just easier to drown everything out."

The two of them stood there for a moment, reminiscing about old times. The conversation flowed more easily as the alcohol continued to loosen their tongues. They talked about their past, the memories they shared, and the circumstances that led to their separation.

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As the night wore on, their conversation became more intimate. The bar's lively atmosphere faded into the background as they found a quieter corner. Both were quite drunk, and their judgment was clouded. The shared history and emotional vulnerability drew them closer, and they both felt a pull towards each other.

Niharika looked at Anuj with a mixture of nostalgia and longing. "You know, I never really got over us. I always wondered how things might have been different."

Anuj's heart ached with a mix of regret and longing. "I feel the same. We had our moments, didn't we?"

Without thinking too much about the consequences, they made a spontaneous decision. Anuj offered to take Niharika to his hotel room, where they could talk in private and continue their conversation.

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**In the Hotel Room**

The hotel room was modest, but it was a quiet sanctuary away from the noise of the bar. They entered, both somewhat unsteady, and Anuj closed the door behind them. The room was dimly lit, and the air was thick with an unspoken tension.

They sat down on the bed, their earlier conversation now taking on a more intimate and emotional tone. The barriers of their past and present seemed to blur as they talked about their regrets, their lives since their separation, and the feelings they still harbored for each other.

As the conversation dwindled, the silence that followed was charged with a heavy sense of unresolved emotions. Niharika reached out and took Anuj's hand, looking into his eyes with a mixture of sadness and desire.

Without fully realizing how they had gotten there, they found themselves in each other's arms, the years of separation and pain momentarily forgotten. They made love to each other the whole night. The night was a tangle of emotions and physical closeness, as they embraced each other with a sense of familiarity and need.

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The next morning, the reality of the situation began to sink in. Anuj woke up first, his head pounding from the hangover, and looked over at Niharika, who was still asleep naked beside him. The events of the previous night played back in his mind, and he felt a wave of regret and confusion.

He carefully got up, trying not to wake Niharika, and dressed quickly. He had a flight to catch and needed to get back to Mumbai. The memory of Anupama and the responsibilities awaiting him filled his thoughts. He realized that he had to face the consequences of his actions and make amends.

As he prepared to leave, he glanced back at Niharika, still lost in sleep. Despite the emotions they had shared, Anuj knew that he had to return to his life with Anupama and their future together. He quietly left the room, feeling a mixture of guilt and resolve.

The day ahead was one of reflection and reconciliation. Anuj's journey back to Mumbai would be more than just a physical return; it would be a journey of coming to terms with his actions and reaffirming his commitment to his new life.

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