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
My eyes feel so heavy, I feel the sunlight coming through the window. As my mind slowly awakens, I hate waking up early but these days it seems my brain has adjusted to mornings as I have to wake up for Mumma's medicines. I feel a strong arm wrapped around my waist and a warm breath against my head. I froze, realization setting in with a jolt. Another creature in my bed. I hope it's not a dog, I am scared of it. What the hell am I thinking, how can a dog come inside our house. Then it all strikes me I slept in the same bed as Aarav. It's the first time we shared a bed. So it must be him. Am I cuddling with Aarav. Oh my god, yes I am. My head is resting on his chest, and his arm is around my waist, holding me close. I slowly lift my head to look at him, hoping he is asleep so that I can sneak out, but he is wide awake, his eyes fixed on me. I feel my face grow hot with embarrassment, and I quickly jumped out of bed, breaking the embrace.
"What's the rush firecracker?" He taunts, "you seem to be enjoying my arms around you." He says, a smirk on his face. I scowl at him, my eyes narrowing. "I wasn't enjoying anything. You're full of yourself." I shoot back, crossing my arms in front of my chest. "You were clinging to me like a koala. You couldn't bear to be away from me, could you?" He teases, his smirk growing wider. I sputter in response, my face growing even hotter.
"You're delusional. I would never voluntarily cling to you. It was probably an accident." I argue, my voice high-pitched and defensive. Aarav laughs heartily at my response, finding amusement in my denial. "An accident, huh? So you just happen to find yourself in my arms during the night? How convenient," he says, his tone filled with sarcasm. I glare at him unable to muster up a response, I stomp out of the room, banging against the door in the way, "Careful" I hear Aarav wince, but I keep walking. As soon as I am out of his sight I lean against the wall, patting my chest, taking deep breaths. What is he doing to me. I have to get a grip, I was supposed to never forgive him, but how can I do so, when he's so close to me, when he's laughing, cracking jokes so casually.
What must have changed in few days that he who was so rude, inconsiderate is now so carefree around me. I mindlessly walk into the kitchen. I need to throw him out of my mind. I gather up onions and tomatoes, I will make poha today. It's easy, convenient and quick to make as soon as he has his breakfast, he will be out of here, out of sight, out if mind. I hear footsteps behind me, and I know it's him. I don't turn around, pretending to be busy with vegetables, I grab a knife purposefully, a sharp one, to show him that I am not to be messed with right now. I start dicing the tomatoes, "Don't you think you forgot something?" he says, his voice low and raspy. I ignore the flutter in my stomach at his heavy morning voice, he and his sexy voice can go to hell.
"What?" I mutter, but I don't turn around to look at him. "Your very high ego" He taunts, "you left it in my arms when you jumped out of bed like a startled rabbit." He comments and then laughs. My pace of cutting increases at his teasing, the sound of knife banging against the chopping board audible in the room. "Ouch." I wince, Aarav rushes by my side, grabbing my hand urgently, "What is wrong with you? Can't you be careful for once. So clumsy." He examines my finger as blood seeps out from it, I look at him tear-eyed, I pull back my hand from him, his touch burning me.
"Stop it!" I whisper yell, not wanting to wake up my mother. His eyebrows furrow in confusion and he moves forward to take a hold of my hand, but i walk to the other kitchen counter, "Don't" I warn him. A dark expression passes through his face, "Anika" My name sounding like a threat coming from his mouth. "Let me see it." He says, his voice sharp. "You don't care for me Aarav, so stop pretending!" I exclaim. Aarav's eyes hardened at my outburst. "I don't care for you?" He whispers, his voice emotionless.
"Yes!" I shout, I let the tears fall, I am sick of this game, of knowing each other, of pretending to like each other, I don't like him, I am still not over his absence in my life, I am still scared that he would leave without a word again, scared that I don't really matter to him, scared that he'll break my heart again and I cannot, I cannot for the love of God, go through that agony again.
"You know what!" I point my finger at him, "I was thinking that I should be grateful that at least I am not that bastard's wife!" I say furiously wiping my tears, I hate that he can see me crying, that he can see me so vulnerable, "But it would have been better if I married Vikram, at least, I knew my life was going to be hell." I yell, "With you, sometimes you're good to me, sometimes you don't want me. Stop confusing me Aarav!" I cry out. I don't realize how swiftly he moves, he's standing right in front of me, his jaw clenched and his eyes dark, "You're mine Anika" He grits out, he grips my arms tightly, "If you ever take another man's name in front of me, I am going to kill him." He barks, his hand travel to my nape and he pulls me closer, "And then I am going to fuck you over his dead body Anika."
His words hang in the air, the room suddenly silent as his hand tightens on my nape, holding me firmly in place. His eyes blaze with a mixture of anger and something else, something possessive and primal. I can feel his breath against my face, his body pressed close to mine, his grip almost bruising, but somehow it makes my heart flutter. Anger and embarrassment course through me, how the hell can I find this attractive. I clench my fist, I pull back, "Yeah, you're so possessive now? Huh?" I taunt, a humorless laugh escaping my mouth, "Where were you twelve years back?" I question, "I wrote you letters, multiple times, and you could just so easily ignore me. You want me to believe you care for me? That I would agree to being your wife? I am unfortunate that my fate put me in this situation, where we are married, but you don't deserve me Aarav, you probably never did. It was my fault I started feeling things for you. You never deserved anything from me." I exclaim. Aarav's expression hardened at my words, a flicker of hurt passing over his face before being replaced with anger. He clenched his jaw, tightening his grip on my arms, his eyes narrowing in a dangerous way.
"You don't understand," he muttered, his voice low and rough. "I had my reasons for not responding to your letters." He says. "What reason could possibly justify your absence Mr. Malhotra. Let me hear it." I provoke, I need to know, I wasted good twelve years of my life worrying about him, praying he gets everything he wants, hurting.
He runs his hand through his hair, he sighs, "I don't need to explain anything to you." His tone sharp and with that he leaves the room. I slide down on the ground leaning against the kitchen cabinet and I sob, I don't try to stop my tears, I hear the door close behind him as he leaves the house. Yeah run away, leave me standing here, alone, like you always do.
Author's note: Hii, thank you for 20k + reads I am grateful to all of you. Also don't forget to vote and comment!
