Dancing with destiny

Chapter 22

At work, the entire day Anna dreaded going to dance lessons with Raj. Something that started out so well, was going so wrong. Mahi had avoided Anna the entire day and she couldn't figure out why. Finally Anna built up some courage to ask Mahi straight out.

"Ask miss Mahi to come to my office please"

"Yes madam"
A minute later there was a knock and Mahi walked in, concentrating on her feet.

"Sit"

After a moment of silence.

"Mahi what's wrong?"

"What do you mean Anna nothing" She said still looking down.

"Don't pretend you weren't ignoring me for the entire day!"

"Anna, its not like that"

"Tell me what's wrong"

"Just, after I told you my story I felt ashamed. What kind of girl am I that my fiancé would abandon me before the wedding" She broke down ad started to cry. Anna's heart went out to her and she got up and went to Mahi to hold her.

"I would never think like that" Anna replied patting Mahi's back as she cried.

"It's okay Anna, I will get my revenge"

"C'mon Mahi, revenge isn't going to do anyone any good"

"It'll help me move on! He destroyed me when he did that and I can't forget it"

Anna patted Mahi some more and then Mahi got up to leave the room.

"How about dinner Anna?" Mahi said smiling slightly

"Oh erm, Sure how about after 9? I have something else to do before." Anna said silently counting the hours until Raj's lesson ended.

"That's fine" and Mahi left the room.

That afternoon Anna grudgingly went to her lesson. Raj was waiting, looking slightly tired.

"Raj, what we talked about last lesson, we have to forget it all okay? I don't accept any of it"

"Huh? Okay" Raj said not quite understanding.

"You don't love me and I don't love you, end of story okay?" Anna snapped.

"Okay..." He replied going a long with Anna. It was the best thing, to just forget it. "If that's what you want"
"I have no other choice, you tell me this big thing and then you act like nothing has changed"

"It's for the best, I'm sorry"

"Nothing to be sorry about, just forget it" Anna replied stiffly. She felt so hopeless.

"Let's get on with it?"

"I guess so" She replied silently.

They were warming up when someone walked into the studio.

"Oh so this is your afternoon activity?" Mahi's voice rang in Anna's mind

They both turned around to face a very angry looking Mahi standing near the doorway.

"Oh Mahi, what are you doing here?"

"God Anna I thought after what I told you, you would...."

"Forget Raj? Ignore him?" Anna asked.

"Maybe...." Mahi admitted.

" Mahi..." Anna knew Mahi was hurt but Raj was a whole different phenomenon in her life and she couldn't just leave him.

"Why should she ignore me Mahi? She's my bestfriend" Raj said

"So she should just blindly believe you?" Mahi shot back at him.

"I haven't told her anything Mahi, She knows what you told her only"

"Then? Anna? Why would you still?" Mahi couldn't believe Anna would still be close to a man like this!

"Because he hasn't told me his story Mahi – I can't go by only one side of the story, it wouldn't be fair"

"What? And what he did to me was fair?"

"I had my reasons Mahi!!" Raj intervened.

"OH the reasons you conveniently told no body? Of course! Great reasoning" She mocked.

"They are my reasons and I don't have to tell anyone" Raj replied quietly.

Anna felt hopeless again. She wanted to know what his so called reasons were, she wanted with all her heart to trust him, to believe him.
"And what I do from now on, are because I have my own reasons – be prepared Mr Raj"

"Mahi, please" Anna pleaded "Don't say things you don't mean!"

"I do mean it Anna, and forget about dinner – you stay with him. I think I know what's going on here!"

"What? Mahi don't be like that c'mon"

"You love him right? I know, I felt it when you spoke about him that day. I know Anna and both of you will keep" Mahi said and walked out.

Anna and Raj both stood motionless starring at the door.