To Love Or Not To Love| A FEATURED STORY

Chapter 10

By the time the doctor left them, Anu was shedding silent tears. Ajay side-hugged her, and Anya moved closer to console her. Anu moved out of Ajay's arms and gave Anya a small watery smile.

"I'm sorry for being like a watering-pot. It's good that she's fine," Anu spoke in relief.

"Come on! Nobody is judging you here. I'm happy she is out of danger," Anya added.

"Yeah, Thank God. I need some coffee. Just to...I, seriously, need coffee. Do you two want anything?" Anu asked.

While Anya shook her head in the negative, Ajay offered, "I'll go get it. Is it the usual?"

He spoke for the first time all morning, in Anya's presence. Anya was instantly filled with yearning to clutch him by her side, to bask in the aura of the masculine vigour that he exuded from those bold, brown eyes capturing and holding hers.

"No, I want to walk and be a bit alone, only for a few minutes. I'll be back," Anu said and moved through the corridor, got into the elevator, in search of the cafeteria.

An awkward silence filled the void when Anu left. Anya was earnestly considering if she should go as her presence was not required now. Uncertainty filled her. She criticised herself at her oversight in coming here.

At that moment, they heard sharp footsteps approaching their way, and Anya noticed Ajay frown. She turned around to find a tall, well-built, impeccably-dressed man halt beside them. He was as tall as Ajay and was good looking. His pride poured out from every fibre of his being.

She took a surreptitious glance at Ajay then and declared to herself that Ajay was exceptional. These past few months, she had missed him more than she would have believed possible. She had wanted his quiet strength and his lazy smile. She had craved their conversations filled with short bursts of silences and laughter.

He still had the frown, but as usual, unexpected longing for him filled her heart.

Then she was forced to look at the exchange between the two men. The stranger extended his hand to Ajay and spoke, "Ajay, I just now heard the news and came immediately. How is she doing?"

The stranger sounded genuinely concerned and dropped his hand when Ajay did not accept it. Anya knew Ajay was extremely professional and well behaved. She had never known him to be uncivil, contemptuous even. The stranger did not care for this behaviour and was looking around.

"Anu is not here, Rajendra. Why did you come?" Ajay asked, being carefully-polite.

Rajendra, the stranger, looked uncomfortable for a minute but replied, "I just came here to know about your mother, Ajay."

Ajay shook his head slightly, "I don't believe it, Rajendra. I'm not sure how you knew about my mother. I don't want to know. She is out of danger for now. Please leave before Anu turns up. She doesn't want this. She has had enough of the stuff your folks put her through. She's reconciled with herself and is trying to move on."

Rajendra started, "I know..." but paused and looked at Anya, dubiously. She took the hint and tried to move away, but Ajay held her elbow to stop her, "She is a family friend. Please tell whatever you wanted to say."

She was struck with his words. Was she a family friend?

All morning, he had hardly spoken to her, and now wanted her to be at his side? She couldn't understand the game that he was playing. Instead of just accepting whatever he wanted to throw at her, she thought it was time she stood up for herself.

"I'm not comfortable to hear all this. Plus, I don't want to be here," she announced to no one in particular, and without further discussion sat down at the same place that they had sat earlier.