A Second Chance at Happiness : chapter 10

It was already 10 am. Both slept again after their early morning adventure.

Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains of the hotel room. 

Anjali stirred awake slowly.

For a few peaceful seconds, she felt strangely content.

Then the memories of the previous evening and early morning came rushing back. It was very different when it was dark.

Now she was feeling like she is completely stripped off in front of him which she didn't feel in the early morning. 

Her eyes widened.

Beside her, Anuj was already awake.

He had been watching the city skyline through the window, lost in thought.

Sensing movement, he turned around.

Their eyes met.

Immediately, both looked away.

An awkward silence filled the room.

Neither quite knew how to begin.

Finally, Anuj broke the silence with a small smile.

"Good morning."

Anjali managed a nervous smile.

"Good morning."

The simplicity of the greeting somehow made everything feel even more awkward.

After a moment, both laughed softly.

The tension eased slightly.

"Well," Anuj said, rubbing the back of his neck, "this is not exactly how I imagined us greeting each other after..."

That drew a genuine smile from Anjali.

"No."

Yet despite the awkwardness, there was also comfort.

A familiarity that had returned surprisingly quickly. 

He slowly got up from the bed and wore his clothes which was on the floor when Anjali turned away giving him well... privacy..

He walked towards the kitchen. 

By the time he came back Anjali quickly got dressed.

Anuj handed her a cup of coffee.

For a little while, they simply sat together, enjoying the quiet morning.

No expectations.

No pressure.

Just two people sharing a peaceful moment.

But eventually reality began creeping back in.

The circumstances under which they had met again.

Anjali's smile slowly faded.

Anuj noticed immediately.

"What is it?"

She looked down at her coffee cup.

"I don't know."

A long pause followed.

Then she spoke honestly.

"Everything happened so suddenly."

Anuj nodded.

"It did."

"And now..."

Neither finished the sentence.

They didn't need to.

Anuj leaned back in his chair.

For the first time that morning, he looked uncertain.

"I don't want you to feel pressured into anything."

Anjali looked up quickly.

"I don't."

"I mean it."

His voice was gentle.

She appreciated that.

Perhaps more than he realized.

After a long silence, Anjali finally spoke.

"Maybe..."

She struggled for the right words.

"Maybe we should not overthink this."

Anuj waited quietly.

She took a deep breath.

"We met unexpectedly."

Her gaze dropped.

"But neither of us was expecting any of this."

Anuj understood immediately.

A sad smile touched his lips.

"You think we should forget last night."

Anjali nodded slowly.

Not because she regretted it.

But because she was afraid of what it might mean.

Afraid of moving too fast.

Afraid of getting hurt again.

He is the perfect man but she is not the perfect one for him.

When fate offered her a opportunity to live with her first love she grabbed without hesitating.

After everything she had been through didn't she deserve this one night and day with Anuj.

They never talked about anything personal before, never showed any signs of attracted physically but both of them just jumped on each other as if both were waiting for this since eons.

Anuj looked out the window for a moment before replying.

"Maybe you're right."

The words felt heavier than either of them expected.

They both knew forgetting would not be easy.

Some moments simply stayed with you.

No matter how hard you tried to move on.

Anuj stood.

"I should get ready. need to reach airport in an hour."

Anjali nodded.

They exchanged a small smile.

Almost as if they were trying to put distance back between themselves.

Yet as Anuj reached the door, he paused.

Turning back one last time.

"Anjali."

She looked up.

His voice was warm.

"I will always cherish every moment we spent together."

For a moment emotion flickered across her face.

"So will I."

Anuj smiled.

Then he left.

The door closed quietly behind him.

Anjali stood alone in the room, staring at the door for several seconds.

Her vision blurred and clouded with unshed tears.

It was better this way..

She is a damaged one. 

She cannot make him a part of her complicated life. 

He deserve a perfect partner. 

He will hopefully forget their night together. 

Little did she knew she is the queen of that man's heart...

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Anjali returned to Shantivan by night after the week-long training program.

The moment she entered, the house erupted with excitement and wanted to know everything about the trip.

Khushi hugged her tightly.

Arnav seemed relieved to have his sister back home.

Anjali smiled and answered everyone's questions, but her heart wasn't entirely present.

Everywhere she looked, memories followed her.

A restaurant overlooking the city lights.

Conversations that had reopened old emotions she thought she had buried long ago.

And Anuj.

No matter how hard she tried to focus on her family, his face kept appearing in her thoughts.

Later that night, exhausted from travel and socializing, Anjali finally retreated to her room.

She closed the door and leaned against it.

For the first time all day, she was completely alone.

The silence made it worse.

Her mind immediately drifted back to the UAE.

The awkward morning conversation.

With a frustrated sigh, she gathered her clothes and headed toward the bathroom.

Perhaps a hot shower would clear her head.

Standing beneath the warm water, Anjali tried to push the memories away.

After several minutes, she stepped out of the shower and stood before the mirror.

As she reached for a towel, her gaze accidentally caught something near the side of her neck.

She froze.

A faint mark.

Then another.

For a few seconds she simply stared at her reflection.

The marks were subtle, easily can be hidden with the help of a concealer, but unmistakable enough to bring back every memory she had spent the day trying to suppress.

she slowly ran the tip of her fingers over those marks gently.

Heat rushed to her cheeks.

She quickly looked away from the mirror.

Her heartbeat accelerated.

The reality of what had happened between them suddenly felt far more tangible than it had in the safety of distant memories.

One week ago she had left for training as a different woman. 

Now she had returned carrying emotions she hadn't expected.

And questions she wasn't ready to answer.

Anjali sat on the edge of her bed afterward, absentmindedly touching the marks.

Part of her wanted to call Anuj.

To hear his voice.

To know whether he was thinking about her too.

Another part reminded her of the agreement they had made. No she said it and he agreed with her. 

A promise that seemed impossible to keep. But somehow she need to. 

Yet as she lay down that night, sleep proved elusive.

-------------------------------------------------------------

The next morning everyone gathered around the dining table. 

Hariprakash served breakfast to everyone. After casual good morning and when the breakfast was almost over Arnav looked at Anjali and said.

"Di... as I informed you Shyam's reply to the divorce notice arrived through his lawyer exactly on the last day of the deadline. As expected, he denied every allegation."

"What exactly is his reply chote? you did not explain to me in detail over phone." Anjali asked calmly as she continued to chew the paratha.

"That he had always been a caring and responsible husband,  The allegations of cruelty, deception, and fraud were "false, fabricated, and malicious, The divorce petition was an attempt to defame him and he is willing to continue the marriage if you are also willing". 

His face turned red with anger when he quoted Shyam's reply to his sister. 

"He has the audacity to call our Anjali a liar after everything he did?" Nani said through gritted teeth.

Khushi placed a calming hand on Nani's arm. "We knew he would deny everything Naniji. This doesn't change the truth."

Anjali remained surprisingly composed. 

She finished her breakfast, quickly sent an email for half day off  and took all the documents related to the divorce and went to her study.

After almost two hours Arnav found his sister seated with a file open on her lap, making notes after another discussion with their lawyer. 

Her brows were furrowed in concentration.

when Anjali didn't notice him even after one minute he sat on the chair near to her which made her look at him.

"Di.. Why are you stressing over this I will take care of this. I also asked Aman to retrieve some financial records. If Shyam tries to deny... " Her brother sounded angry.

"Chhote."

Her gentle interruption made him stop.

He looked at her.

"I'll speak to everyone not you..."

"You don't have to. I'll handle it."

"No," she said softly but firmly. "I will."

Arnav frowned.

"Di..."

She closed the file and smiled at him.

"I know how you see it. But legally and emotionally... this is my fight."

"You don't have to fight it alone Di."

"I know." Her eyes glistened with gratitude. 

"That's exactly why I'm asking you to let me take care of it."

There was a brief silence.

Anjali continued,

"Ever since I decided to end this marriage, you've stood between me and every difficulty. You met the lawyers, arranged documents, spoke to everyone, protected me from unnecessary stress..."

She looked directly into his eyes.

"But I don't want my younger brother carrying my burdens anymore."

Arnav lowered his gaze.

"I couldn't protect you when you needed me the most."

"Chhote...I was living under the same roof with that man for three years and never realized what he truly was. I trusted him."

Anjali gently placed her hand over his.

"That wasn't your failure."

"It feels like it."

She squeezed his hand.

"You've already made up for it a hundred times over for no mistake of yours. You, Khushiji and her family also suffered alot because of that person whom I married."

He remained silent.

"You have your company to run," she continued. "Khushi needs you. The family looks to you for every decision. You can't put your entire life on hold because of my divorce. I really don't know how to make it up to Khushiji for the troubles she had. "

Arnav sighed.

"How do I ignore it when it's about you?"

"I'm not asking you to ignore it."

She smiled reassuringly.

"I'm asking you to trust me."

He looked at her questioningly.

"I'll meet the lawyer myself. I'll review every document. I'll attend every meeting that's necessary. If I need your advice, you'll be the first person I call."

A faint smile appeared on Arnav's face.

"So you're giving me a demotion?"

Anjali chuckled.

"I'm promoting you."

"Oh?"

"From manager of my problems to simply my brother."

His eyes softened.

"And that means?"

"It means I don't need you to solve everything for me."

She paused.

"I just need you standing beside me."

Emotion flickered across Arnav's face.

He wrapped an arm around her shoulders and pulled her into a side hug.

"You've changed, Di."

She smiled against his shoulder.

"I had to. or may be I was like this but I never realized by strength."

Khushi, who was passing through the corridor stopped at the doorway, watching the siblings with a smile and left without disturbing them. 

----------------------------------

Khushi entered her room and checked her phone if there are any new messages.

Suddenly it rang showing Unknown Number.

She answered cautiously.

"Hello?"

A familiar voice came from the other side.

"Khushiji... forgotten me already?"

Khushi's face stiffened instantly.

"Shyam."

"So formal now? But I am glad you still recognized my voice." he said mockingly.

"What do you want?"

"I know you're angry. But you've always been emotional. That's why people manipulate you."

Khushi's eyes narrowed.

"I just wants to advise you," he replied smoothly. 

"Court cases are messy. Reputations are fragile. One wrong statement... and your own family may get dragged into unnecessary trouble."

Khushi's voice became firm.

"You deceived our family for years. Don't think you can scare me now."

There was a brief silence before Shyam's tone hardened.

"Think carefully before standing against me."

Khushi replied without hesitation.

"I already have. And I'll do it again in court."

She disconnected the call.

The ugly face off happened that fateful day came back to her mind. It was horrible for her and everyone else. 

She remembered the way everyone was heartbroken knowing the true nature of their son in law. 

The horrible past of Arnav and hers which she really wanted to leave behind is chasing them all the time. 

When they take one step towards trust and a new life the past again hits them back in full force.

Shyam was never going to make it easy for them, he is a criminal with a law degree. 

She prayed to her favourite devotee to give Anjali Di the strength to fight that man.

When she recognized the voice She turned on the call recorder on her phone, remembering their lawyer's advice to Arnavji.

------------------------------------------

A week had passed since Anjali returned from Dubai.

She had successfully immersed herself in work, refusing to let her mind wander toward the memories she had brought back from the UAE. The divorce proceedings occupied her evenings, while her office work consumed her days.

That morning, as she stepped into the office, she remembered something.

"Today... Anuj returns from the UK."

The thought appeared unexpectedly.

She shook her head with a small smile.

"Why am I even thinking about that? He hardly comes to the office. Most of the time he manages everything remotely or from any other office."

She placed her handbag on her desk and switched on her laptop.

The day's schedule appeared.

11:00 A.M. – Project Review Meeting with Mr. Rohan

Nothing unusual.

Anjali opened a file and buried herself in work.

---

At exactly eleven, she entered the conference room.

Rohan was already there with a few department heads.

"Good morning, Anjali."

"Good morning, Rohan."

She took her seat.

As Rohan was about to begin, his phone vibrated.

He smiled after reading the message.

Before she could think further about Rohan's smile, the conference room door opened.

Anuj Kapadia walked in.

For one fleeting second, their eyes met.

Neither of them showed surprise.

Neither smiled beyond a polite acknowledgement.

"Good morning, everyone."

"Good morning, sir," everyone replied.

Rohan addressed him first.

"So, sir," he said, "since you've just returned from London, I thought it would be best if you personally reviewed the township proposal rather than sending the report to you later as it crosses our usual budget so needs your approval."

Anuj nodded.

"Let's begin."

For the next hour, business was the only language spoken.

When Anjali explained the revised cost analysis, Anuj listened carefully.

"I recommend delaying Phase Three construction by one quarter," she concluded.

Anuj looked at the figures.

"What would be the impact on projected revenue?"

"Minimal in the first financial year."

She changed the slide.

"But material costs are expected to stabilize by then, giving us a healthier profit margin."

He studied the data.

"I agree."

He looked around the table.

"Let's proceed with Ms. Raizada's recommendation."

Several executives nodded.

The meeting continued without the slightest indication that they had spent meaningful time together in Dubai.

When it ended, everyone dispersed.

Anjali collected her files.

"Good day, Mr. Kapadia."

"Good day, Ms. Raizada."

She walked out without another glance.

After half an hour Rohan entered Anuj's cabin carrying a project file.

Anuj signed the last page before closing it.

"Done."

Rohan accepted the file but didn't leave.

Instead, he leaned back in the chair opposite Anuj.

"So..."

Anuj didn't even look up.

"No."

Rohan laughed.

"I haven't even asked anything."

"You were about to."

"I absolutely was."

Anuj finally looked at him.

"You haven't changed."

"And you still answer before the question."

Both laughed.

Rohan folded his arms.

"Now tell me..."

He raised an eyebrow.

"Did anything happen in Dubai?"

Anuj's expression remained unreadable.

"I was there for a meeting."

"Oh, come on."

"You and I both know you had the biggest crush on Anjali Raizada back in college."

Anuj sighed.

"It wasn't a crush."

"Oh?"

"It was..."

He searched for the word.

"...admiration."

Rohan burst into laughter.

"That's the most sophisticated way I've ever heard someone describe one-sided love."

Anuj threw a paperweight towards him.

Rohan caught it effortlessly.

"I've lived next door to you for twenty-five years, Anuj. You can't fool me."

A reluctant smile escaped Anuj.

Then his expression became curious.

"My turn."

"Hmm?"

"When did you recognize her?"

"The day she walked in for the interview."

"And you never mentioned it."

Rohan shrugged casually.

"I didn't see any reason to."

"You knew who she was."

"I knew she was an excellent candidate with good insight."

"And?"

"And that's exactly why we hired her."

He smiled knowingly.

"She earned that position."

Anuj nodded slowly.

"I didn't want my personal feelings for her influencing a professional decision, and yours is a very HR-approved answer."

"It also happens to be true."

They shared another laugh.

After a brief pause, Rohan leaned forward.

"So..."

"There it is again," Anuj muttered.

"You spent time in Dubai."

Silence.

"You met her there."

More silence.

"You came back looking... different."

Anuj merely picked up another file.

"I met many people in Dubai."

"Anuj."

"Hmm?"

"I'm your friend"

"I know."

"I've known you since we were kids."

"I know."

"And I've watched you pretend not to be in love with the same woman for years."

Anuj looked up with an amused smile.

"You exaggerate."

"I don't."

Rohan's teasing expression softened into sincerity.

"Whatever happened or didn't happen in Dubai is your personal business."

Anuj remained quiet.

"But if seeing her again has brought back old feelings..."

He smiled encouragingly.

"...don't spend another decade wondering 'what if.'"

The cabin fell silent.

After a long pause, Anuj looked out through the glass wall overlooking the city.

"Some things," he said quietly, "are more complicated than they appear."

Rohan studied him carefully.

That single sentence told him far more than any detailed explanation could have.

Something had happened in Dubai.

Whatever it was, Anuj wasn't ready to share it.

Respecting his friend's silence, Rohan stood up.

"When you decide to tell me..."

He picked up the file.

"...I'll be available. Until then, I'll settle for watching you two conduct the most professional meetings in corporate history."

Anuj chuckled and shook his head.

"Get back to work, Rohan."

"Yes, boss."

As Rohan walked out of the cabin, he smiled to himself.

Inside the cabin, Anuj's smile slowly faded.

His gaze drifted toward the conference room where, only an hour earlier, Anjali had presented her report with quiet confidence.

The memories of Dubai remained his alone. 

She seemed like not looking for a relationship.

She was fighting her own battles he could see that.

What he could do was to agree for whatever she wish to do. 

If he wanted to he could have hired a private investigator to get her complete past but he will never do that.

He will wait for her to share it with him if she wants to anytime in future.

After their goodbye at hotel they never messaged or talked but both were always thinking about each other.

It was not necessary for him to attend today's meeting. He attended it just to see her. To breathe the same air as hers. 

He was missing her badly but he cannot express it. They are not in a relationship.

She asked to take whatever happened between them as only a one time thing and forget.

He agreed to do it but he could it do it.

He realized one more thing, he loves that woman more than before now. 

And it was getting difficult to stay away from her.

On the other side she was her sister's best friend's family. 

Over the past few months they become very close to Mukku and for him also to an extend.  

He will stay away if Anjali wants the same. 

He had a lot of work to finish which he could do at home. 

But after landing he came to office without even going home.

Since he decided to be here he started doing his pending works.

After finishing almost all pending work he noticed it was almost 7.30 pm.

When he came out of his office entire office was empty except Rohan. 

"Ok bye both of you.." Then he noticed Anjali who was standing there with her bag.

Once Rohan left in hurry, both of them also walked towards the exit in silence. 

"You always stay this late?" Anuj broke their silence. 

"No. I leave by 5 pm usually, today had some work to finish."

"Your driver has come to pick you?"

"No.. he is not well so I booked a cab today, waiting by the entrance."

"Ok.. I am going this side, my car is parked there, my driver is also not well, I sent him home after he dropped me to office." 

She smiled at him and waved a bye.

He also waved back and went towards the basement parking lift.

He reached the basement and started the engine. The basement was empty except for his car. 

Rohan might have been so fast to get his car out of here, his silly friend. He smiled fondly.

Before he could change the gear someone knocked gently on his car window.

He rolled down the window and surprised to meet a nervous Anjali.

"What happened Anjali.. Everything ok?"

"Yes.. Can you drop me home?"

"Of course.. please get in.."

He opened passenger door for her from inside.

Once she settled in her seat. he asked again.

"What happened ? driver didn't come? or did he create any trouble?"

He was concerened.

"I cancelled the ride. I thought if you are dropping me we can spend sometime on the way." She answered in low voice.

Anuj smiled. This woman never fail to surprise him.

They both looked at each other. Suddenly the air around them shifted. they both were alone in the car in an empty parking lot. 

she leaned towards the back seat to keep her bag there making their distance from each other much shorter.

Once she kept the bag on back seat she looked up to see Anuj's face closer.

Their breathing quickened but quickly Anuj turned to other side.

"There are cameras here.. " 

He changed the gear and exited the parking and joined the main road.

Then his phone rang. It was his sister. 

He was apologizing not coming home sooner and then explained all about his trip to UK.

The conversation lasted until they reached Shantivan area.

Anjali asked him to drop her before the gate little bit towards the back side.

"Why? I can drop you at the gate.." 

"No.. I asked you to stop here because there are no cameras and people here."

He laughed and said to her.

" You never fail to make me speechless Anjali.. " And he unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned towards her and unbuckled her seat belt too.

Pushing the seat backwards he pulled her into his lap taking her lips for a hungry kiss.

"I missed you so much Anuj " She told him once they parted for air.

 Love,

ST