Let's meet again for the first time.
Her mother shook her head, tears streaming down her face. "Who will marry you now, when people get to know you were left by Vikram?" Before I could even process what I was doing, the words left my mouth.
"I wil...
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ANIKA'S POV
The car halt and I gasp. I look at Aarav. All my anger subsiding. He smiles softly. "Dharma Chole" I exclaim. "Yes" He says. I am taken aback at his gesture. He brought me here. It's my favorite fast food corner. I spent all Aarav's pocket money here and he never once complained. I smile at the nostalgic memory. It's not much changed unlike the entire city.
The night air is cool as we step out of the car. I glance around, noticing the familiar surroundings. The street is lit up by a few streetlights, and a few people are walking by. The smell of Chole wafts through the air, making my stomach rumble. My face goes red with embarrassment. One thing I love more than anything is food. I don't care what people think or say I am a foodie and I am proud of it. We walk towards the little street-side stall. "Aarav!" the man behind the counter exclaims, "You have come after so long." He says. I narrow my eyes studying his grey hair and wrinkled face, my eyes widen with recognition, "Ajit Uncle!" I yell, "you've definitely aged." I blurt out, my hands fly on my mouth, what is wrong with me. That's rude.
He looks at me, studying me for a moment and then he smiles widely, "Anika!" He called out. "You've grown up too! And so beautifully." I blush at his remark. "How are you?" He asks. "I am fine uncle. I hope you're fine too." I say gently. "I am beta. It's so good to see you." He remarks, he looks between Aarav and me, and smile knowingly, "Are you two in a relationship?" He questions, with a teasing smile, "No!" I shout, Aarav looks at me, his eyebrows raised, I widen my eyes at him, he smiles at me shaking his head, "no we are not Uncle." He says, "We're married actually." He announces, I gasp.
Ajit Uncle's eyes widen for a moment, "You didn't even invite me?" He sounds disappointed, "It happened too quickly Uncle." Aarav explains. Uncle smiles slightly, "the regular?" He asks looking at me, I nod excitedly, my mouth already watering. "Go sit down, I will send someone with your order." He says, Aarav grabs my hand guiding us to the tables. I take a seat opposite to him. My excitement and delight is overtaken by skepticism, I narrow my eyes, "Why are you doing this?" I question.
Aarav, sensing my suspicion, leans back in his chair, a playful smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Can't a man treat the woman he married once in a while?" he teases. His eyes twinkle with a mix of amusement and arrogance, relishing in my confusion. "You're my wife after all." He adds. Something is wrong. "What do you need?" I ask, my tone sharp. I need to know why he's doing this, why is he treating me nicely, why is he not affected by any of my insults, and why is he not annoyed of me.
He sighs. "I was grabbing some for bhabhi, she was craving it, so I thought.." He rubs his nape,"I could save time, have my dinner and discuss with you about the nurses I have finalised." He breathes out, his face a little red. I still don't believe him but at the end he is a busy, arrogant business man first over anything else, he would obviously prioritize his own time over anyone or anything, except his family, which I am not. He pulls out his phone, opening a pdf and sliding it towards me, "I have shortlisted them, you can call them and see if you're satisfied with any." I go through their profiles, "Thank you." I whisper softly. His expression softens, "don't thank me. If you don't find anyone worthy, I will keep looking." He says. I stare at him for a while he raises his eyebrow in questioning, "What is it?" He asks.
"It's just.." I don't know if I want to say it but I guess he deserves the praise, "it's surprising to see you can be thoughtful too sometimes, considering how stuck up you are." I taunt. Aarav scoffs, but a hint of a smile plays on his lips.
"Oh, wow, a backhanded compliment from the firecracker herself. I must be doing something right." He chuckles. He leans forward in his chair, twirling a strand of my hair around his finger. "Don't get too used to it. My arrogance is part of my charm, after all." He comments.
I swat his hand away, "More like your biggest flaw, you mean." I retort, sarcasm dripping in my voice. "Careful, firecracker. You're always so quick with your insults, aren't you?" Aarav laughs, a rich, deep sound that resonates through the quiet night air. It's a genuine laugh, one that makes his eyes crinkle at the corners and his whole face light up. The warmth of it momentarily melts away the tension between us, making him seem almost boyish and carefree.
Just as I am lost in his captivating smile, our food arrives. The aroma of chole fills the air, and my stomach growls loudly. I blush, and Aarav chuckles.
"You and your love for food," he teases. I give him a pointed look. "Don't judge me," I mumble through a mouthful of chole. "This is the best part of my day." He watches me with a smile, and for a moment, everything feels almost normal. The world outside fades away, and it's just us, sharing a meal and a small piece of nostalgia, even if the past still hangs heavy between us.
Author's note: I hope you liked the chapter. Don't forget to vote and comment! Love:)
