An Intricate Web Of Love {COMING SOON}

Prologue

"Hello." Seated at a table in that restaurant alone, the lady answered a phone call. She had a pleasant soft voice.

Sandhya, who was seated alone as well at an adjacent table behind the lady, studied the design on the back of the lady's purple salwar suit as she was getting bored waiting for the food she had ordered to arrive.

"Sorry, Aunty, I think you might have called me by mistake. I'm not Vinay. I'm Vasundhara," spoke the lady, sounding surprised.

Vasundhara? The name rang a bell in Sandhya's head. Sandhya sat up alert as questions throbbed against her temples. Could she be the same Vasundhara? Arvind's beautiful and lovely wife?

Sandhya was staring at Vasundhara from behind when the food she had ordered arrived at her table. As soon as the waiter had left, Sandhya grabbed her tray of food and walked over to Vasundhara's table. She froze upon seeing Vasundhara's appearance.

Vasundhara, who seemed to be in her late 20s, matched Arvind's description of her perfectly. Wavy brunette hair, hazel-coloured eyes, flawless complexion, and a mesmerizing smile.

Sandhya stared at Vasundhara, stunned in awe. Vasu is so drop dead gorgeous, I feel like I might faint. She is definitely Arvind's Vasundhara! Sandhya hastily lowered her gaze upon realizing that she was shamelessly staring at Vasundhara.

"Sure, I'll come over tomorrow, Aunty. Talk to you later." Vasundhara disconnected the call after speaking.

"Excuse me, do you mind if I sit here?" asked Sandhya, pulling up a chair at Vasundhara's table.

Vasundhara glanced up at Sandhya's face and smiled. "Sure."

Sandhya grinned and seated herself across the table from Vasundhara.

As Sandhya set down her tray on the table, she glanced at Vasundhara before asking, "You're Vasundhara, right?"

Vasundhara smiled in surprise. "Yeah, do you know me?"

"You're Arvind's wife, right?"

Vasundhara's smile froze.

Sandhya quickly corrected herself. "I'm sorry, I mean, you're Arvind's ex-wife, right?"

Vasundhara was speechless.

Seeing Vasundhara's reaction, Sandhya grinned again. Now, I'm completely sure that she is Arvind's Vasundhara. "Arvind told me about you."

"W-what did he tell you about me?"

"He told me everything about you... everything that happened from the time he met you till the time you left him."

Vasundhara remained silent.

"He spoke very nice about you. It really showed how much he still loves you."

Vasundhara frowned a bit.

"It's true, he really loves you so much even now! The way he described you, oh Vasu, you have no idea how much he loves you."

"Are you sure he spoke like that about me?"

"Yeah, I'm certain about that."

Vasundhara still had an uncertain frown as she was deep in thought.

"Actually, let me be honest, I had a crush on him. That's when he told me about you. I was very upset. But when he told me that you're not in his life anymore, I thought I still had a chance. I decided to talk to my parents about him but coincidentally I met you first. I don't know why but after meeting you now, I really feel like if you could just understand his love, you have no idea how happy he would be. And I don't think I can ever make him happier than that even if I marry him."

"Does he truly love me so? Are you sure?"

"Yes, yes, yes! I'm a hundred percent sure about that!"

Vasundhara had tears in her eyes by now.

"Even now, he's come to Ooty from Australia, just to give you the divorce because you had asked for it, not because he wants it."

Vasundhara's voice was quivering as she asked, "Is he here in Ooty now?"

"Yeah, he is."

Sandhya smiled. Vasundhara still seemed to have a soft spot for Arvind. Hearing how much Arvind loved her even now, she appeared to be really touched.

Sandhya took her mobile from her handbag. "Would you like to speak to him?"

"No, not right now."

"Oh." Perhaps I should arrange a meeting for them so that they can sort through their differences and realize that they still love each other. That might be better than a phone call. "Okay, how about I call Arvind and arrange a meeting for you guys?"

"Sure, but do you have his number?"

"Yup!" Sandhya dialled Arvind's number right away.

Arvind answered the call with a tinge of surprise in his usual serious voice. "Hello, Sandhya?"

"Hi, Arvind! I have something very important to tell you. Can we meet this evening?" chirped Sandhya.

"Yeah, sure, even I have something to tell you later, Sandhya."

"Alright. So this evening at the lakeside around 5pm, okay?"

"Okay."

Meanwhile, Vasundhara had drawn her mobile from her purse as well and dialled Vinay's number.

Vinay answered the call after a few rings. "Hey Vasu! Didn't you get my message that I won't be joining you for lunch today?"

"Hi doc, I was already waiting at the restaurant by the time you texted me so I just had lunch here. I guess you're really busy that you haven't seen my reply yet. I just wanted to talk to you for a moment to be sure that what I saw and heard just now isn't just a dream."

"Why? What happened, Vasu?"

"I... how do I tell you this? Wait, doc, can you come to the Ooty Lake at 5pm today?"

"Sure, Vasu! You know I will definitely come if you ask. Actually even I have something important to tell you when we meet later."

"Oh... see you later then, doc. Take care."

To be continued...