The Girl Next Door

~ Ananya ~

It had been nearly 5 months since Pia came back. The whole say busy with her job, the nights busy thinking what to do next to find out what happened to her brother. She knew she had to get to Rishab somehow, make him trust her, and she was ready to do anything for that. ANYTHING.

In these past few months, Pia had been deliberately leaving the at the same time when Rishab did, smiling at him and Rishab was enjoying himself, he flirted with Pia and although Pia did not reciprocate in the same way, he always saw her blush when he called her beautiful or baby...

Pia did not love  and was doing all this to get his attention but whenever he flirted with her she got this weird feeling, 'DISGUST' she used to think.

'How can I ever be attracted to him? He drinks, smokes, is a total womanizer and moreover he may be involved with her brother's accident. But I have to do it. I have to go close to him no matter what happens.'

Pia had invited Ananya over for dinner.
"Rishab didn't come?"
"No he has gone to Australia for some business thing"...  Pia knew this very well and that is why she chose this day.

"So Anni what is up with you? Its been so long since I have been back and yet we have not talked in silence"

"Yes you are absolutely right!"

"So? Are you seeing someone ?"

"Yes! I am engaged, you must have seen I am usually not in the house. I either stay with my parents in Bandra or go to my fiance's place"

'So Rishab lived alone' Pia thought to herself. This is why she sees so many girls moving in and out of the mansion. What was she feeling? Contempt? Hatred? Jealousy?

Pia brushed away all these thoughts, Jealousy? She thought , and shrugged.

"What about you?"
"Nothing! I was busy for 5 years with MBBS and now my residency ! Surgical branch is tough. I don't get much time for myself...and since Samaksh died"....Pia trailed out and her eyes swelled up..

"Ohh Pia...Samaksh's death did come as a shock! My parents were really impressed by him you know..His business skills, according to my dad were far than his when he was that age.."

Her words filled Pia with pride.

'PRIDE' Pia thought to herself, what if Rishab was jealous of Samaksh? What if his pride was hurt looking at his father praise someone other than himself?

All these thoughts rushed in her mind all at once. She pushed these thoughts away and continued talking to Ananya.
"What about Rishab? How is he doing?"

"He is doing just fine! After you guys went away even we both got into our studies. Rishab came into family business while I completed masters in English and then got engaged."

"And Rishab? Is he engaged?"

"No sweety! Rishab will directly get married. He is not cut out for relationships...Its kind of sad but it is who he is."

And they kept talking for a long time...

'Nothing useful again. My last and only option was getting close to Rishab somehow'....Pia thought to herself!

"Piaa !! Piaaaa!!"

"Yes Ananya!?"

"I forgot to tell you...We are hosting a party next week on Saturday and you have to come! In fact Rishab and I will pick you up!"

"Sure Ananya ! I would love to!"

"Good Night sweety!"

"Good night Ananya!!"

'Okay! A party...Maybe my plan will finally work' and then she remembered something. Her parents were coming next week!