Ved- Mohabbat Ka Junoon (On Hold)

12| Closer Than Before

Time stopped. Everything seemed to froze. Abhyudaya could not believe what he had just heard right now.

Anaya, being his lover's daughter. That means only one thing. Nisha married someone else after leaving him alone that day in the Taj Hotel.

Nisha betrayed him. Betrayed his love and trust he had over her. And the main thing to be noted. What did Anaya mean by saying "was?" What had happened to Nisha? Was she alive or something bad happened to her?

He wanted to know but the realization of the first of her being someone's else than his struck him more bad than this.

Abhyudaya felt his heart shattering and he fell onto his knees with tears ready to come out of his eyes but somehow, he was holding them back for some reason.

Anaya could not understand anything what was going on. Seeing him in such a state, all she could think of doing was giving him a hug to make him feel better like she was used to do with her known loved ones when they used to be upset. This gesture would immediately melt them and make them feel much better than before.

Abhyudaya had his face covered with his hands, silently weeping his pain away. Anaya came close and hugged him warmly with her little hands.

He was surprised by the sudden gesture and felt something different blooming within him. He looked at Anaya for a moment from side and hugged her back.

"Are you okay now? Do you know? When I hug my friends and used to hug my parents when they would be sad like you, they would be smiling the next moment," the little girl said in a gentle low voice.

Abhyudaya smiled listening to her. "Thank you Anaya. And they are right. Your hugs really work. It made me feel better also. So thank you," he said in a gentle affectionate voice with a smile.

Seeing him smile made her smile back. "I am happy to see that you are alright now. But why did you react so when I mentioned about my mom to you?"

Abhyudaya's smile faltered but he pretended of not knowing anything. "Oh, that was nothing. It is just that I got reminded of something, similar to what you told me about your mom."

Well, not the exact lie as so right?

Anaya looked at him for sometime, staring at him in confusion until her little thinking brain could not think anything much more longer and she gave up.

She did make sure to ask one last question which was sure to turn Abhyudaya's life upside down once again.

"Did you know my mom and were you two close?"

He fell silent. The smile on his face was already gone but now, it was solemnity plastered on his face. He did want to give Anaya a response but what could he even tell her?

He did not feel it right to tell her everything about him and Nisha yet. It did not seem like the right time.

"I will tell you about that some day. But answering to the second part of your question, then yes we were close with each other," Abhyudaya answered, a sense of uncertainty tinging in his voice.

"Alright. No problem, I understand," Anaya said, her voice with a sense of understanding and respect for his choice.

Abhyudaya gently smiled at her. "Now, shall we begin our practice then?"

Anaya's eyes glistened with sparkles of happiness. "Am I selected sir?"

He nodded affirmatively.

She squealed in excitement and hugged him once again, making him feel the same warmth and comfort like the first time. "Thank you, thank you. Thank you so much sir. I promise I will not disappoint you."