Under the Covers

Chapter 5

The highly anticipated day had arrived, and the grand hall in London was adorned with exquisite interiors, fine wine, and delectable delicacies. All eyes turned to Anamika as she made her entrance, draped in an elegant traditional saree. Her name echoed through the hall, greeted by thunderous applause. With poise, she stood and made her way to the stage.

As Anamika gracefully accepted the award, expressing gratitude to her stakeholders, readers, award sponsors, and her father, Abhimanyu's gaze remained fixed on her. In that moment, he felt as if the world around them melted away, leaving only Anamika and himself in the entire hall.

After expressing her gratitude, Anamika made an unexpected announcement, capturing everyone's attention. "Undercover is my baby. I am willing to go to any lengths to ensure its success. I have decided to launch Undercover 2.0 as a global investigative magazine, the first of its kind. I hope you all will continue to admire, love, and support the magazine even more." With her words resonating through the hall, she thanked the crowd and was about to leave when a member of the media inquired about Abhimanyu's involvement in the global endeavor.

Anamika responded, "Yes, Abhimanyu has recently joined us from New York. He will play a significant role in the business. If there are no further questions, I must take my leave," she concluded, hurrying away.

The subsequent conversation between Abhimanyu and Anamika was as uneventful as the tasteless food served at their table. Breaking the seemingly endless silence, Anamika asked, "Why now, Abhi? After all these years?"

Abhimanyu found himself at a loss, his heart melting at the familiar call of his name. With sincerity, he replied, "Anu, I did not come here to win you back. I came here to express how genuinely ashamed I am. I have regretted nothing more than breaking your heart and leaving you stranded. I am here to say I'm sorry, Anu. I love you."

Anu and Abhi had been inseparable since childhood, thanks to their fathers' close friendship and business partnership. They attended school, college, and even interned at Abhi's father's newspaper together. However, their love for each other remained undiscovered, as they reveled in the comfort of their companionship. Until that fateful day.

Abhi's father was the one who made a sexual advance towards Anu, an incident that shattered her and plunged her into deep despair. She viewed Abhi as an extension of his father and felt betrayed by his decision to stand by his family. Beaten, battered, and broken, Anu transformed into the resolute Anamika she is today. Her innocence was stolen, her trust shattered, and her heart shattered into a million pieces.

Abhimanyu found himself torn between his love for Anu and his loyalty to his family. It was not a choice he could easily make; he felt obligated to stand by his father's side. He assured Anu that she was being paranoid, defending his father's actions. Anamika, later working as an investigative reporter, exposed Abhi's father, shattering his empire and leaving him bedridden with grief.

Over the years, Abhimanyu had apologized to Anamika countless times, but she had shut him out time and time again. Now, as they embarked on a new chapter, he hoped for a fresh start. However, Anamika was not ready to let go of the pain that haunted her. Since the moment she saw Abhimanyu again, she knew she had to destroy him.

In a burst of anger and disgust, Anamika pulled her hands away from Abhimanyu's grasp. Her eyes filled with fury, she tore her gaze from his remorseful stare. He sat there, sinking into the ground, watching as she walked away.