A Second Chance at Happiness : Chapter 13
The drive back to Anuj's house was quieter than before.
Anjali sat beside him, occasionally glancing at him. Something about their evening had changed the mood between them, but there was also a faint uneasiness that she couldn't shake.
As they entered the driveway, Anjali finally spoke.
"Anuj..."
"Hmm?"
"Do you really think someone was watching us?"
Anuj glanced at her before switching off the engine.
"I don't know," he said calmly. "Maybe I just felt that someone was there. It could have been nothing."
"But you felt it?"
"Yes."
Anjali looked at him carefully.
"Did you actually see anyone?"
"No."
She slowly nodded.
"Then maybe it was just your imagination."
"Maybe."
Anuj gave her a reassuring smile.
But inside, he wasn't convinced.
He hadn't seen anyone clearly, but the feeling had been too strong to dismiss. Someone had been watching them. He simply had no proof.
And until he knew who it was, he wasn't going to frighten Anjali by telling her.
They entered the house.
After a few moments, Anjali looked toward the kitchen.
"Anuj?"
"Yes?"
"Can I make tea?"
He looked amused.
"You want to make tea now?"
"Yes. If you don't mind."
"Of course not."
She smiled and walked into the kitchen.
Anuj followed her a few steps before stopping near the doorway.
He watched as she opened the cabinets, found the tea leaves, took out two cups and began preparing everything.
There was something about the sight that made him pause.
She looked completely at ease in his kitchen.
And without even realizing it, his mind wandered back years.
A younger version of both of them,
There had been a time when he had secretly imagined what life with her might look like.
Just like this.
The two of them sharing household chores.
Making tea together.
Arguing over who would cook.
Laughing over something insignificant.
Coming home to each other.
He had imagined it so many times that the memory almost felt real.
And now she was standing there.
In his house.
Anuj smiled faintly to himself.
So this is what it would have looked like.
But he said nothing.
He would never tell her about that old dream.
Anjali finished making the tea and carefully poured it into two cups and took the tray from the counter.
"Anuj, tea is..."
Before she could finish, he stepped closer and gently wrapped his arms around her from behind.
Anjali stopped.
The warmth of his body against her back made her heart beat faster.
"Anuj..."
He rested his chin lightly near her shoulder.
For a few seconds, he simply held her.
Anjali smiled softly.
"What happened?"
"Nothing. I felt like hugging you."
She gave a small laugh.
"At least let me put the tea down."
He loosened his arms reluctantly.
"Fine."
She placed the tray back on the counter.
When she turned around, they were standing very close.
Anuj reached up and gently touched her cheek.
He simply looked at her, holding back everything he had been thinking.
And the impossible feeling that, somehow, a small piece of that old dream was standing in front of him again.
But he kept all of it to himself.
Instead, he simply smiled and said softly,
"Your tea will get cold."
Anjali smiled back.
"Then lets drink it."
They carried their cups into the living room and settled on the sofa.
The quiet clink of the cups against the saucers filled the room as they sipped their tea. Anjali kept glancing down at her cup, clearly lost in thought.
Anuj noticed.
"What's going on in that head of yours?".
He raised an eyebrow.
She gave a small smile. She has to tell him. It is better if he finds out directly from her.
She placed her cup carefully on the table.
"Anuj..."
"Hmm?"
"I should tell you something."
His expression became attentive, but he didn't interrupt.
Anjali took a breath.
"I'm getting divorced."
Anuj remained silent.
Anjali quickly continued, almost as though she was afraid she would lose her courage if she stopped.
"The court hearing starts next week."
He nodded slowly.
"I see."
She looked down at her hands.
"I... I should have told you before. I am sorry.."
"Why?"
"Because..." She hesitated. "Because we're spending time together, and I felt that maybe you should know. And I am not officially divorced from that man yet and you were not aware of that. "
Anuj leaned back against the sofa.
"Anjali, you don't have to apologize."
She looked at him.
"I wasn't trying to deceive you. It was over long back and the divorce proceedings are starting now. I haven't seen him in months. "
"Hey.. Its ok..."
His voice was calm.
"You don't owe me an explanation for your personal life."
She looked slightly surprised.
"But still..."
"We're keeping this casual, aren't we?"
Anjali nodded. Her memory went back to the agreement they had during their business trip.
"Yes."
"Then there's no rule saying you have to tell me everything that's happening in your life."
She remained quiet.
Anuj picked up his cup again.
"You tell me what you want to tell me, whenever you want to tell me. And if there's something you don't feel the need to share, that's completely okay too."
Anjali's shoulders relaxed slightly.
"I was worried you'd feel..."
"Feel what?"
"That I should have told you earlier. Or you may think I might be cheating.."
Anuj shook his head.
"No."
He looked directly at her.
"I don't judge you for this."
Anjali swallowed.
"The divorce is not going to be easy."
"I figured."
"There are so many things happening at once. Lawyers, hearings.." She paused. "Sometimes I don't even know what I'm supposed to feel."
Anuj listened quietly.
He didn't try to give her advice she hadn't asked for.
He didn't ask about her ex-husband.
He didn't ask why the marriage had failed.
After a moment, he said,
"If you ever need something, I'm here."
Anjali looked at him.
"Anything. If you need someone to listen, I'll listen. If you need practical help, I'll help as a friend or the man with whom you share an intimate relation or as whatever role you want to give me in your life. I want you to know that I am there.. Always.."
She smiled faintly.
"You make it sound so simple."
He placed his cup on the table.
"you don't have to deal with everything by yourself. I know you have your brother and family still.."
Anjali looked at him for a long moment.
"Thank you."
Anuj smiled.
A small silence followed.
Then Anjali picked up her cup again.
"So..."
"So?"
"We can still keep this casual?"
Anuj smiled.
"That was the arrangement, wasn't it?"
She smiled back.
"Yes."
"Then nothing has changed."
Anjali took another sip of tea.
Anuj watched her quietly as she sipped her tea.
Her words had settled heavily in his mind.
The court hearing starts next week.
Suddenly, the uneasy feeling from earlier returned.
What if the person watching them hadn't been a stranger?
What if it had been someone connected to her husband?
Someone watching Anjali because of the divorce?
His thoughts immediately became darker.
What if they had taken photographs? What if someone was actually following her?
And worse—
What if they tried to use it against her in court?
Anuj's jaw tightened.
He didn't want to believe that them spending time together could create trouble for Anjali. But he knew how complicated divorce proceedings could become.
He looked at her.
She seemed completely unaware of the storm of thoughts running through his mind.
He wanted to protect her from anything that could make the situation more difficult.
Before he could say anything, Anjali suddenly leaned toward him.
She placed her cup down, turned toward him and gave him a quick kiss on the lips.
Anuj blinked in surprise.
"What was that for?"
Anjali smiled mischievously.
"As I said.. I'm going to be very busy. The court proceedings are starting. There will be lawyers, hearings, family questions...And everyone will be closely monitoring me." She sighed dramatically. "I don't know when I'll have time to see you."
Anuj smiled despite himself.
She moved a little closer.
"And since we may not get to meet for some time..."
Her eyes sparkled playfully.
"Maybe we should make the most of tonight."
Anuj raised an eyebrow.
She laughed softly.
Anuj looked into her eyes.
For a moment, the worry about the mysterious watcher, the divorce proceedings and everything that could go wrong remained at the back of his mind.
He reached for her hand and pulled her to himself.
"Come here."
She smiled and moved closer into his arms. Insane need for wanting each other physically consumed them. They literally tore each others clothes as they fought to dominate each other.
Anjali never felt a need like this. She had always been in control, always the one to measure every impulse, but with him, all logic simply evaporated. His touch was an urgent demand, matched only by her own sudden, overwhelming urge to surrender to the chaos and meet his intensity line for line.
Their movements were a blur of quickened breaths and quick hands, stripped of patience or hesitancy. Surrounded by the discarded fabric on the floor, the space between them vanished completely, driven by a raw, mutual pull that neither could—or wanted to—resist.
The rhythm between them shifted from a battle for control to something far more visceral and uninhibited, driven purely by the sheer intensity of being completely undone by one another.
He paused for a fraction of a second, his hands framing her face, his thumb tracing her lower lip as his chest heaved against hers.
"Wait," he rasped, his voice rough and laced with a sudden, sharp edge of restraint. He searched her eyes, his grip tightening just enough to anchor her. "Anjali... I don't have any protection left."
Anjali’s breathing was just as ragged, her head thrown back slightly as her fingers tangled in his hair. A small, flushed smile tugged at her lips, completely unbothered by the warning.
"It’s fine," she whispered, her voice laced with a breathless certainty that made his blood run hot. "My period ended yesterday... it’s safe and also excited to do it without any barrier between us."
The word hung between them for a lingering beat. Rather than cooling the air, the thought of raw lovemaking only pushed them both over the edge.
He let out a low, dark growl against her collarbone. "You're playing with fire."
"Then burn with me," she breathed, pulling him down by the back of his neck.
Any remaining thread of caution snapped. The spoken boundary dropped, replaced by an intoxicating rush of absolute abandon as their lips locked once more, abandoning control entirely to the momentum of the moment.
The sweet sound of their love making filled the living room for the next hour.
The room had settled into a quiet stillness, bathed in the soft, fading golden light of late evening. Stripped of the frantic urgency from moments before, they lay side by side on the carpet, limbs loosely entangled and chests rising and falling in a slow, synchronized rhythm.
There was no awkwardness, no rush to pull away or cover up—only the lingering warmth of skin against skin and the steady, quiet hum of complete contentment.
Anjali rested her head against his shoulder, her tracing absentminded patterns against his chest. The frantic struggle for dominance had given way to a deep, grounded intimacy, the quiet of the twilight wrapping around them as the outside world slowly crept back in.
Anjali traced the line of his collarbone with her fingertip, the evening shadows stretching across the room and darkening the space around them.
Anjali traced the line of his collarbone with her fingertip, the evening shadows stretching across the room and darkening the space around them.
"I've never been like that before," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper, lacking any of the fierce intensity from earlier.
He turned his head toward her, resting his chin lightly against the top of her hair as his fingers idly stroked her bare arm.
"Yes you were pretty wild, not that I am complaining.."
She let out a soft, breathless laugh against his chest, nudging him lightly with her elbow. "So were you. Mr. 'We need to be careful' lost his head completely."
"Can you blame me?" He shifted slightly, leaning over her so he could look down into her eyes. His gaze was soft now, the sharp, demanding edge completely gone, replaced by a quiet sincerity. "When you look at me like that, logic isn't really an option."
Anjali reached up, running her thumb along his jawline, feeling the light stubble beneath her touch. A flicker of vulnerability crossed her face, replacing the easy playfulness. "It's terrifying, honestly. How easily you completely undo me."
He looked at her in surprise, its the first time she is sharing something after s*x, he captured her hand, pressing a slow, gentle kiss to the palm before resting it over his heart. "Then we're even," he said quietly, holding her gaze. "Because I don't think I've had a single clear thought since the second you walked through that door this morning."
She smiled, pulling him down just enough to press a soft, lingering kiss to his lips—not with the wild hunger from before, but with a quiet, deep certainty that sealed the space between them.
After sometime he sat up, reaching for her scattered clothes and gently handing them to her.
"Come on," he said with a soft smile, his tone shifting to something warm and protective. "Before it gets completely dark."
Anjali took her clothes, dressing slowly while he pulled on his own. As she was fixing her hair, she noticed him pausing near a bag, hovering over it with a moment of unusual hesitation.
He turned back to her, holding a small, neatly wrapped box, shifting slightly on his feet. "Hey... is it okay if I give you something? It's... a bit personal, so if you're not comfortable with it, just say the word."
Curious, Anjali took the box from his hands and unfastened the ribbon. Inside lay an exquisite piece of delicate, lace lingerie. She looked up at him, a mischievous spark instantly dancing in her eyes as a playful smirk spread across her face.
"You know," she teased, dangling the silk fabric between her fingers, "you really should have given me this before all of that. I could have actually worn it for you."
He laughed, a faint flush creeping up his neck as he shook his head. "Well... I figured it's fine to keep it for next time."
He stepped closer, taking her by the waist and looking into her eyes with a glint of quiet anticipation. "Next time we meet... if you're okay with it, wait for me wearing this. Just knowing you're waiting for me in that is going to keep me completely out of my mind all day."
Anjali’s playful smirk softened into a warm, lingering smile as she leaned up on her tiptoes, resting her hands on his chest and kissed his cheek.
"Deal," she whispered, tucking the gift safely into her bag.
"I don't want you to leave.. But before your family start worrying about you, I will drop you home."
"No its ok Anuj. I will book a cab. I booked one for coming here also."
"It's dark already. Let me drop you home—it's no trouble at all. Come on, please..."
Anjali didn't offer any argument this time. She simply followed him to the car, quiet and subdued.
When he finally pulled up outside the shadowed back entrance of Shantivan, her heart sank. Reality rushed back in an instant, cold and heavy. Back to reality. Back to divorce files, endless legal strategy, and sterile lawyer meetings. The blissful world they had created together over the past few hours was officially over. She had no idea when she would be able to hold him like this again.
She refused to drag Anuj into the sludge of her messy separation. All she could hope was that the case would settle quickly. If the media caught even a whisper of what was between them, the tabloids would turn her life into an absolute circus. She had to be disciplined; she had to keep her distance until the ink on the decree was dry.
Noticing how deeply she had retreated into her own thoughts, Anuj didn't press her. He quietly shifted the car into park under the deep cover of a darkened corner, waiting patiently for her to return to the present.
"Anuj..." she whispered after a long silence, her voice barely carrying in the quiet cabin.
"Yes?"
"I'm going to miss you..."
The raw vulnerability in her tone struck him—a tender softness she had never shown so openly before.
Without a word, Anuj released the catch on his seat, sliding it back in one smooth motion as his hands found her waist. Before she could process the movement, he pulled her effortlessly across the console and into his lap. A sharp gasp left her lips at the sudden shift, but the sound was instantly swallowed as he leaned in and took her mouth in a deep, desperate kiss.
Anjali melted into him, her arms winding around his shoulders as she matched his sudden surge of passion, her breath hitching as his hands began their familiar, possessive roam over her body.
He pulled back just enough to frame her face, his gaze searching hers in the dim light. "Anjali, I know what you’re carrying right now is heavy, and I respect that you don't want me to involve in that mess. But listen to me, what we have here is real. It's so much more than just physical."
He stroked her cheek, his tone dropping to a steady, comforting anchor. "I'm in this with you. Get through this divorce, end that chapter, and start a fresh. We’ll still see each other at the office every day. And if the distance ever gets too unbearable..." A sudden, playful smirk broke through his solemn expression. "...we can always sneak into each other’s places or book a quiet hotel room. That actually sounds pretty exciting, doesn't it?"
With one final, deep kiss that left them both breathless, she opened the door, stepped out into the night air, and slipped away into the shadows of Shantivan.
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The bells of Tirumala temple continued to echo in the distance as the Kapadia family slowly made their way out after completing their darshan.
Mansi Kapadia folded her hands once more, looking back toward the temple with a peaceful smile.
“Balaji ke darshan ho gaye… ab lagta hai mann sach mein shaant ho gaya,” she said softly.
Arvind smiled beside her. “Haan. It was worth coming all the way.”
“Ab seriusly Anuj shaadi ke baare mein sochna. hai” Mansi mentioned casually.
Mukku's smile faded for just a second.
Mansi looked at Arvind.
Arvind nodded thoughtfully.
“Main bhi kuch din se yahi soch raha hoon. Anuj ki age bhi ho rahi hai. Ab uski personal life ke baare mein bhi sochna chahiye.”
Mansi's face brightened.
“Exactly.. Achhe alliances hain contacts mein. Educated ladki ho, samajhdaar ho, family-oriented ho… We can talk through the pandit to the families..”
Mukku listened quietly.
Mansi continued enthusiastically.
“Anuj ke liye koi achhi ladki mil jaaye toh main... ”
“Maa.”
Mukku's gentle interruption made Mansi stop.
“What?”
Mukku smiled.
“Ek chhoti si baat.”
Mansi waited.
“Alliance dekhne se pehle… Bhai se baat kar lena.”
Arvind glanced at his daughter.
“Obviously. Shaadi toh uski hai.we will definetly talk to him.”
Mukku nodded.
“Exactly, Papa.”
There was something deliberate in the way she said it.
Mansi noticed.
“Tum itna specially kyun keh rahi ho?”
Mukku shrugged casually.
“Bas… Aap bhai ko jaanti ho na. Woh apni personal life ko lekar thoda private hai. Agar aap log bina usse pooche families se baat karna shuru kar doge, toh woh irritate ho sakta hai.”
GK Kaka gave Mukku a knowing look but said nothing.
Mansi frowned slightly.
“Private toh hai. Lekin iska matlab yeh toh nahi ki hum uske liye sochna bhi band kar dein.”
“Main yeh nahi keh rahi, Maa.”
Mukku slipped her arm through her mother's.
“Main bas keh rahi hoon ki pehle uska mann samajh lo.”
Arvind looked at Mukku carefully.
“Tumhe kuch pata hai?”
For a fleeting moment, Mukku's expression changed.
She immediately smiled.
“Pata? Kya pata hona chahiye mujhe?”
Arvind studied her face.
Mukku laughed lightly.
“Papa, aap bhi na! Main sirf itna keh rahi hoon ki Anuj ko surprise mat dena. Usse baat karna. Usse poochna ki woh shaadi ke baare mein kya sochta hai.”
Mansi sighed.
“Accha baba. Pehle Anuj se baat karenge.”
GK Kaka smiled.
“Yahi toh samajhdari hai.”
Mansi looked at him.
“Lekin agar woh bole ki abhi shaadi nahi karni?”
Mukku answered before anyone else could.
“Toh phir usse reason pooch lena.”
She paused.
“And listen to him.”
Mansi looked at her daughter curiously.
Mukku's smile became slightly guarded.
“Ho sakta hai Anuj bhi kisi cheez ko lekar sure ho… ya phir kisi ko lekar.”
Mansi caught the last words.
“Kisi ko?”
Mukku immediately turned back.
“Maa, maine 'kisi cheez' kaha.”
GK Kaka suppressed a smile.
Mansi wasn't entirely convinced.
But she decided not to press her daughter.
“Fine. Ghar pahunchte hi main Anuj se baat karungi.”
Mukku nodded.
As they continued walking, Mukku's expression slowly became thoughtful.
She knew her brother. She knew how carefully Anuj guarded his private life.
And she also knew that whatever was happening in his life now was not something he would casually discuss with their parents.
Especially not yet.
For now, she could only hope that when the time came, Anuj would be the one to tell them.
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The heavy wooden gates of Shantivan shut behind her with a dull, final thud, cutting off the crisp night air and the lingering warmth of Anuj’s car.
Anjali paused in the dimly lit courtyard, taking a long, steadying breath to compose herself. She smoothed down her clothes, checked her reflection in her phone’s darkened screen, and made sure her hair was neat. Yet, beneath the high collar of her top, her skin still tingled with the memory of his touch brought a secret, lingering smile to her lips.
The heavy wooden gates of Shantivan shut behind her with a dull, final thud, cutting off the crisp night air and the lingering warmth of Anuj’s car.
Before she could take two steps into the dimly lit courtyard, a shadow detached itself from the pillar. It was Mohan, the private bodyguard Arnav had insisted on assigning to her.
Anjali paused, smoothing her clothes with a quick, practiced motion to gather herself.
"Ajit," she said, her voice quiet. "I told you earlier you didn't need to stay. Thank you for keeping today's schedule to yourself and not discussing where I went with anyone."
Ajit stood at attention, his face unreadable. "Ms. Raizada, with all due respect, I followed your car at a distance even though you asked me not to. It is my job to ensure your safety. But as long as you are not in any physical danger, your personal life is none of my business. I have no intention of reporting your personal affairs to Arnav sir."
A wave of relief washed over her. "Thank you, Ajit. Go home and get some rest."
As she turned and walked toward the main entrance, a sharp, heavy pang of guilt settled in her chest. Hiding things from Arnav and Khushi felt wrong—they had stood by her like rocks through every terrifying stage of her separation from Shyam. They loved her unconditionally, and keeping her relationship with Anuj hidden from them felt like a betrayal.
But what would I even tell them? she thought, her pulse quickening as she pressed her hand against the cool front door. I don't even know what this is myself yet.
It was intense, sudden, and completely overwhelming. She couldn't face their protective questions or their worry—not right now, when her life was already a chaotic storm. Once the divorce is finalized, she promised herself. Once this legal nightmare is over, I'll tell them everything.
Stepping into the main foyer, the stark reality of her current life rushed back instantly. The house was quiet, but the atmosphere was thick with tension. On the glass coffee table in the center of the living room lay a thick manila folder—her divorce papers, open to a page littered with sticky notes and yellow highlighter marks.
"Ms. Anjali?"
Her lawyer, Mr. Awasthi, emerged from the study holding a stack of documents, followed closely by Mamji.
"We’ve been waiting for you, dear," Mamaji said, stepping forward, his eyes searching her face with his usual protective intensity. "Awasthi was going over the updated clause regarding Shyam's financial demands."
Anjali felt a momentary spike in her pulse, but she masked it seamlessly, dropping her handbag onto the couch and offering a weary, convincing sigh.
"Ms. Anjali. This process is taxing. But we need your final review on these disclosures before the hearing. If Shyam's legal team finds even a single loophole or any unverified detail, they will drag this through the press to ruin your reputation." Awasthi said.
Shyam. Just hearing his name sent a cold shudder down her spine, a harsh reminder of the marriage she was fighting so desperately to strip away. But where the thought of him used to paralyze her with anxiety, tonight felt different.
She felt an unshakeable inner anchor. The secret strength of knowing Anuj was standing by her built a sudden, untouchable wall around her heart.
Anjali walked over to the table, picked up the pen, and looked Mr. Awasthi dead in the eye.
"Then let's make sure there are no loopholes," she said calmly, her tone laced with a newfound iron resolve. "Show me where to sign."
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