Chapter 38

 From the past thirty minutes Akash, Anjali, Vijay, Payal, NK , Lavanya and Vivek were waiting for Arnav and Khushi to join them. Finally the door bell rang. Payal opened the door for Arnav and Khushi. 

"You guys are late." Vijay shouted from the living area. 

"Unlike you people, we have a kid to take care. She was not in a mood to sleep.  "  Arnav addressed the small crowd while seating himself next to Akash. 

Anjali and Vijay's wedding ceremony is tomorrow evening. Entire Raizada family, Vijay's family and Guptas landed in Dubai before one week. As the wedding was happening in Atlantis , Arnav booked Royal Bridge suite for everyone in Atlantis itself. 

All the pre wedding functions like Sagai, Mehndi, Sangeet and haldi were done in the last 3 days. As the wedding will take place as per malayali tradition, all the pre wedding rituals were done as per Lucknowi tradition. Today instead of Bachelor party Akash suggested a get together in his suite.

 Arnav accepted the drink from Vivek and signaled Khushi to come and sit beside him. 

After their return from London, three months passed in a blur. They were occupied with the wedding preparations, their work, Muskaan, shopping etc. After leaving India before 5 months, it was the first time everyone were chilling together. They were together for the pre wedding functions but elders were always with them. That is why Akash suggested a get together for them.

They clinked their glasses together to Anjali and Vijay's happily every after. 

"So Di tell me how your relationship started. I mean I know you met each other at a party. But how did you decide to work for him? Tell us the story. "

Lavanya asked Anjali with a smile.

"Its a long story.. " Anjali sighed

"We have enough time Di. Tell us. We all are curious. " Akash joined Lavanya.

Anjali looked at Vijay and smiled. Everyone looked at her curiously. 

"When Shyam was arrested and the court trial was going on, It was a very difficult phase for me. Nani and Mami never left me alone. If I wanted to go to temple for peace of mind they accompanied me. During night Nani used to come and sleep with me. They did not realize my need to be left alone. Whenever I went to temple I saw Vijay waiting outside the temple. He never talked to me nor he came inside the temple. He simply stand outside leaning against his car until I leave the temple premises. He never said it, but I knew he comes there to see me. This continued for two weeks and one day... "

 Flashback

She looked at the sleeping form of her nani beside her. She want to get out of the clutches of the past. But how? She cannot even grieve in private. She need a change to forget everything. She need to get out. Need fresh air. 

She opened her Whatsapp and scrolled down to find one old message sent by Vijay after their first meeting at the party. He had messaged her that this is his personal number. if you need anything I am just a phone call away. She read his message that day but did not reply. 

Now the time is 2pm and he might be sleeping. But she didn't care. She quickly typed a message.

"Need to unwind. Can you take me for a drive now?"

She quickly sent the message before she changes her mind. 

To her surprise his reply came in the next minute.

"I will be there in 15 minutes."

Without making any noise she left Nani's room. She changed to a simple salwar with palazao pant and waited for his message.

Exactly after 15 minutes her phone vibrated.

"I am outside. come out through the back entrance"

She left the courtyard through the back side and found him waiting for her leaning against his Black BMW. Without uttering a word he opened the passenger door for her. 

As the car moved  forward she rolled down the window and closed her eyes, her loose hair blowing in the night breeze.  

This is just what she wanted. Peace. she was grateful for the silence of the man sitting behind the wheel.

After half an hour drive the car came to a halt. They were infront of a 24X7 starbucks near city hospital.

He opened the door for her and she followed him without asking any questions. He placed order for 2 cappuccino without even asking her. They sipped their beverage in silence and left from there.

He dropped her back after another 30 minutes drive.  This became their routine for the next one week. Everyday once Nani is asleep she sneaked out of the house for one hour drive and coffee. During one of those night drive he broke his silence.

"Why don't you join AR? It will keep you occupied."

"I don't want to join AR. As I am the sister and share holder of AR I can easily walk in there. But it won't be in my own merit."

"Then join my office."

"See you are doing the same thing. You are offering this job because.."

"No Anjali.. I am not doing this out of pity. I need a PA, and as per your qualification you are fit for that position. Your job profile will be updating my calendar, scheduling meetings etc at first.  If you prove yourself you will be promoted. This is not a favor Anjali, I am asking you to be sensible. "

"I need one or two days to think."

"Take your time and let me know"

She informed him that she is accepting his offer after 2 days. It was not easy to convince Nani, but Akash and NK helped her in convincing Nani.

That is how she started working for him.

Anjali looked at the smiling faces surrounding her. She didn't share the details about visiting Shyam and then ending up in Vijay's apartment. That was their private moments which she didn't wish to share with anyone. 

"Vijay you started following our Di from the day of  that party.?" Akash asked with a smile

"No.. I started following her from your birthday party." Vijay replied in mischief.

"My birthday party? In my memory my parents threw a party for my friends at home when I turned 18. After that there was no birthday parties... Wait... You met her on my 18th birthday? "

Vijay simply nodded with a smile making the others present in the room open their mouth in surprise.

The rest of the night passed with teasing, laughing and pulling legs. 

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Arnav looked at the arrangements made for her sisters wedding. He was happy for his sister but the heavy feeling was back in his chest. 

Guests started entering the hall. Altogether there were less than 100 people in attendance. Apart from their family members, Khushi's colleagues, friends and Anjali's colleagues were the other people from outside. 

As it is a Malayalee wedding, Nani did the aarti of Vijay and being bride's brother Arnav washed Vijay's feet and guided him to the mandap.

The knot in Arnav's chest tightened seeing the smiling face of his sister who was walking towards the mandap accompanied by Khushi, Lavanya and Payal. He noticed the way her sister's smile brightened when her eyes met with her groom. The guests looked in awe at the beautiful bride and groom. 

 Before 3 years his bride was also waiting for him. She also walked towards the mandap with a smile to see her groom but he ditched her. What if the same might have happened here with Anjali Di? He would have killed Vijay if he did that to his sister.

Even after all this his Khushi took him back. The guilt and pain intensified. He ran away that day without facing anyone. But today he faced the real impact of his sin.

Khushi nudged his arm and gestured him to shower flowers as Vijay tied Thali around Anjali's neck.  Vijay whispered something in Anjali's eyes while tying the knot and she blushed. 

He mechanically showered flowers on them and stepped back when the bride and groom stood up for the pheras.

Arnav towards the side as Khushi's hand slipped into his. Their eyes locked. She gave him a half smile and stepped more closer to him. He knew Khushi understood what is bothering him. 

After the ceremony ended the newly married couple took the blessings from elders. After the crowd proceeded to the dinner hall, Arnav left the venue.

 He need some air. He could also had all that, a happy bride and wedding with the blessing of elders. He screwed up the chance by dumping her at the Mandap in the presence of 1000 guests. 

Every time it pained him to to see her bare neck and maang devoid of sindoor.  He secretly loved it when she wore it during the time of their contract marriage. She was not a women who wanted too much in life. These little things mattered to her but he failed to give her that also. 

He need to fix it once and for all without fucking up things like before. 

Love,

ST.