Rishtey

Chapter - 16

The next morning, Anamika woke up early, determined to get back to her routine. She knew that immersing herself in work was the only way to distract her mind from the storm of emotions she was battling. After getting ready in a simple yet elegant saree, she headed to the dining area where her in-laws were already seated for breakfast.

"Good morning, beta," Aarnav greeted warmly. "Are you heading to the office today?"

"Good morning, Papa. Yes, I have some pending work to finish," Anamika replied, forcing a smile.

"Take care of yourself. You don't have to push yourself too much," Sakshi said with concern, glancing at her daughter-in-law's slightly pale face.

Anamika nodded. "Don't worry, Ma. I'll be fine." She didn't mention anything about her trip to Delhi-meeting Ashok or Vineet was something she didn't want to talk about. She knew it would only bring back painful memories for her in-laws, and she didn't want to burden them with unnecessary worries.

After a quick breakfast, she left for her office. Once she arrived, her assistant greeted her with a warm smile. "Good morning, Ma'am. Welcome back."

"Morning, Neha. Bring me the pending files, please. I need to review them before the client meeting."

As she settled into her chair, she took a deep breath, trying to focus. Her office was her sanctuary-a place where she had built her identity, independent of anyone else. It reminded her of her strength, of how far she had come despite the odds. She opened her laptop and dived into work, pushing aside the memories of Delhi.

But no matter how hard she tried, Vineet's face kept flashing in her mind-the way he had looked at her when she was leaving the hotel, the elevator incident, the unspoken emotions in his eyes. Her hands trembled slightly as she tried to suppress the wave of pain rising within her.

"Stay strong, Anamika," she whispered to herself, clenching her fists. "You've made it this far. You can't fall apart now."

Anamika worked through the morning, keeping herself busy with back-to-back meetings and paperwork. Every time her mind drifted toward Vineet, she forced herself to focus harder. But it wasn't easy-his gaze, filled with something unspoken, kept haunting her.

By lunchtime, Neha entered her cabin with a tray of food. "Ma'am, I noticed you didn't take a break. Please have something. You need to take care of yourself."

Anamika offered a small smile. "Thank you, Neha. I'll eat in a while."

As Neha left, Anamika stared at the food absentmindedly. Her thoughts wandered back to the past-to the days when Vineet used to insist she never skipped a meal, especially during their busy schedules. His constant care and concern used to make her feel cherished back then. Now, the same memories felt like sharp thorns in her heart.

She sighed and pushed the tray aside, unable to eat. Just as she was about to return to her work, her phone buzzed. It was Ashok.

"Hello?" she answered, her voice neutral.

"Hey, Anamika. Just wanted to check if you reached safely."

"Yes, I did. Thank you, Ashok," she said politely, unsure of what else to say.

After a brief pause, Ashok asked hesitantly, "Did you and Vineet...talk about anything important?"

Anamika clenched her jaw. "No, Ashok. There's nothing left to talk about." Her voice was cold, and she wanted to end the conversation quickly. "I appreciate your concern, but I have to get back to work now."

Before Ashok could say more, she ended the call. She leaned back in her chair, closing her eyes for a moment. The conversation with Ashok only reminded her that no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't escape the shadows of her past.