Her Dangerous Obsession

Chap 45 - Deep Feelings

Author's POV

It was nighttime, and Adhrit sat alone on the balcony, the cool air a stark contrast to the burning turmoil in his mind. He gazed at the stars and the moon, their distant light doing little to soothe his restless spirit.

Although the idea of seeking Niharika's help had crossed his mind, a nagging worry now consumed him. What could he possibly do? More importantly, how was he supposed to execute a plan against a family as powerful and influential as the Mehrotras? His mind was a mess of thoughts, each turn leading to a dead end of uncertainty and confusion.

He simply wanted to do something, that would make the Mehrotra family realize their mistake. They couldn't be allowed to misuse their power, to humiliate and torment someone.

He wanted them to feel the pain of being insulted, despite being innocent. He wanted them to know, what it was like, when a lifetime of earned respect and dignity was destroyed in an instant, a reputation built over years crumbled into dust with a single, cruel act. Every moment of what his family had endured, all through no fault of their own, was etched into his memory, a permanent, painful scar.

He remembered every detail with agonizing clarity — his brother's imprisonment on false charges, his father's struggles of trying to fix everything, the silent tears of his grandmother, mother and sister-in-law, and his sister's humiliation.

He could never forget the way he was treated in this very house, a constant reminder of his powerless state. His self-respect, the most precious thing he possessed, had been strangled by his own hands, crushed to nothingness as he begged on his knees for Anaisha to marry him, a desperate act to save his family.

Adhrit was so lost in his thoughts, so consumed by the weight of his memories and the uncertainty of his future, that he didn't even notice, when Anaisha came out to the balcony.

Seeing him so deeply engrossed, his gaze fixed on the endless expanse of the night sky, she gently broke his reverie. "It's dinner time," she said, her voice soft, but firm. "Don't you want to go? You haven't even had lunch, you know."

Adhrit looked at her, a hint of surprise in his eyes, as if he was returning from a very distant place. He took a moment to register her words, then calmly nodded.

"Yes, I'm coming." He had eaten a late breakfast almost in the afternoon, so he wasn't hungry and had skipped his lunch.

They walked out of the room together and headed downstairs. As they approached the dining table, the sound of polite conversation and the clinking of cutlery filled the air. Everyone was already there, including two new faces.

Adhrit, remembering their awkward morning encounter, immediately recognized Niharika. The other boy, who looked to be Jeet's age, had to be her elder brother, Naveen Bhardwaj.

Without a word, Adhrit quietly sat down next to Anaisha. He still felt incredibly uncomfortable and self-conscious around Niharika, a direct result of the morning's incident. His hand was casually placed on his neck, a subtle attempt to hide the deep hickey Anaisha had left there in the morning out of a surge of extreme jealousy and over-possessiveness.

Anaisha glanced at him from the corner of her eye. When she realized, what he was doing, a slight, knowing smirk appeared on her lips. She leaned closer, and said in a voice loud enough for everyone to hear, "Love, why aren't you eating? Eat."

He shot her a sharp, silent glare. He was fully aware that, his right hand was on his neck, and she knew exactly why. As he raised his left hand to eat, she interrupted him again, her voice a picture of sweet innocence. "Love, you're right-handed. How will you eat with your left hand? Why have you placed your hand on your neck? Did something happen there?"