They had a quiet dinner that night. Anna felt extremely sleepy and worn out. She kept looking up at her two friends unable to suppress the smile that rose to her lips. How lovely it was to be back in their company. She dared to look more frequently at Raj and noticed he too looked up at her once in awhile. She quickly looked down each time not being able to look him in the eye. She couldn't wipe the idiotic grin off her face.
"What's the big joke Anna? What are you and Raj smiling about? Tell me" Jai asked noticing the secret exchange between them.
"What?" Raj replied
"You both are looking at each other, then smiling silently. Is it my hair?"
"Oh Jai, your hair is always messy" Anna replied, unable to add anything more.
Jai has noticed the two smiling and wondered what was going on. But let it go when everyone joined in to bag him about his messy hair.
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Anna lay in bed that night wondering what happened to her. Why did she feel so shy with Raj all of a sudden? How was it possible that at one moment he was her best friend and in another she could barely look him in the eye?
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Jai was wondering if Anna and Raj had had a fight because they hadn't talked to each other much that night. But he felt happy she was talking to him as usual. There was something he wanted to confess to her for a long time. Soon he would find the right moment.
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Raj tossed around unable to sleep, knowing how he felt about Anna. It was not sudden but he had felt this way for a long time. He knew Jai felt the same way and had already decided to step back and let Jai take the reign. He couldn't make Anna happy.
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The next morning Jai got dressed to go see Anna. He wanted to spend as much time with her before their vacation ended - all three would start work and have less time after then.
Raj was already at Anna's house when Jai arrived.
"Hello Aunty" Jai greeted Anna's mum as she let him inside. "How are you?"
"Im great Beta! Anna has brought light back to the house. We have missed her so much! And you too!! We're so happy to have everyone back"
He walked upstairs and heard laughter echoing from Anna's room. He quickly opened the door wanting to know what was so funny and found Raj and Anna flicking through an old album.
"Jai! Come and look at our silly old photos" Raj called out. The two of them seemed to be back on track again. Jai's heart felt heavy as he saw them sitting so close to each other. He had told Raj how he felt so there was no problem. Going and sitting as close to Anna as possible he joined in with them.
"Anna, I brought you a present" Raj suddenly piped in. "And you too Jai"
"What? Really?" Anna sounded excited. I brought you guys gifts too!
"As did I!" Jai added wondering what Raj had gotten for Anna.
"Okay okay who goes first? How about me?" Anna said enthusiastically.
She went to her bag and pulled out two small packages and handed them to Jai and Raj. Raj was very careful with the wrapping, he didn't tear even a bit of it. Jai on the other hand tore the entire package apart in order to get to the gift inside.
"Anna! Wow, I love it – thankyou so much!" Jai said pulling Anna into an intentional hug. Anna had gotten Jai a necklace, knowing he liked that sort of stuff. Raj's heart beat faster seeing this but he continued to open his gift. He found an elaborate silver watch in his box – she knew how punctual and organised he liked to be.
"Thank you Anna" Raj replied courteously.
They continued to unwrap each other's presents for awhile, admiring them and feeling happy at the thoughtfulness. Anna had received a diamond ring from Jai, to her shock and a necklace with RAJ engraved on it - from Raj.
"Raj, why did you engrave your name on her necklace" Jai asked feeling a bit annoyed.
"Well I love it!" Anna replied, wanting to avoid any hurt feelings.
"No! Its not my name I've engraved. It's for all of us – so Anna can have memories of ALL of us. R-aj, A-nna and J-ai....get it? He sounded a bit frustrated. He couldn't give himself to her any other way. He couldn't offer a Diamond ring to her, that would be way too obvious.
"Raj, you've always been so smart" Anna said giving him a kiss on the cheek. Neither one of the three expected that. Anna wondered what had gotten into her. But she brushed it off by Giving Jai a kiss too and thanking them both for the gifts.
Jai sat in shock - Anna hadn't understood the meaning of his gift. She was oblivious.
Things seemed a bit strained all of a sudden between the three of them. Anna was unable to string a proper sentence when speaking to Raj and Raj just didn't speak much at all. Jai seemed angry all the time.
It was after lunch the same day and they had decided to go out for some fresh air. Strolling along the woodlands that surrounded Anna's house had been a favourite past time of theirs back then. Now it didn't feel the same. Jai was kicking leaves as he walked and the other two were silent. Anna had to put a stop to this. What was wrong with everyone?
"Okay guys! Lets dress up nicely tonight and go out!" she said trying to force enthusiasm.
"Oh! It's Bobbi's engagement tonight – he invited me and any guests on Skype about a week ago. How about we go to that?" Jai pipped in.
"Okay" Raj said blandly. He wasn't feeling great and just wanted to lie down. He dismissed it as being a case of jetlag and continued walking with the other two.
"Okay!! I'm wondering what I should wear! I hate wearing dresses but I should since it's an engagement, right? Right guys? Haloooo guys?"
The other two were just starring at the ground not replying. Anna felt angry all of a sudden. Why were they being like this? Why were things different now? She went and pushed Jai into a pile of leaves then Pulled Raj in that direction too. She made him sit down next to Jai and started talking.
"What the hell is wrong with you two!!"
"Sorry Anna I think I'm just tired from the trip"
"Me too" replied Raj immediately.
"Anyway, what were you saying about a dress? You hardly wore any back then. Would be funny to see you in one now" Jai joked trying to lift the mood. Truthfully was he was feeling disheartened that Anna hadn't understood the meaning of his gift.
"Shut up Jai! I'm sure anyone would think I'm beautiful – just not you two!" She replied angrily joking.
"Who said I didn't think you were beautiful?" Raj added gently which took the other two by surprise. He quickly changed his thought process. "I er you don't look bad at all" he smiled wide and tried to pass his comment off as a joke.
Anna picked up some dried up leaves and threw them at the guys. They immediately joined in and hurled leaves back at her. Soon they were having a massive leaf fight and rolling around the ground laughing. It was just like old times and this is how Anna wanted things to remain.
But she couldn't shake the strange feeling she got when she looked at Raj. As much as she wanted things to remain the way they were, she couldn't help but being shy and conscious around him all of a sudden. Jai took this as a good sign and concluded that Anna was happier when she was around him because she acted as she always did with him.
YOU ARE READING
Dancing with destiny
Storie d'amore"No Anna will be my wife" Jai argued. They were playing a game they often played - houses and families. "How? I am the oldest and I get Anna" Raj pulled at her arm. Jai joined in and pulled from the other end. It was like tug-a-war and she was trapp...
