Third person's p.o.v.
She opened her eyes to see Arjun who was continuously blabbering her name. Arjun felt a deep emotion radiating from her deep black orbs, something so intense, so heart-touching, helpless.
"Ananya, what happened to you?"
Ananya checked her position, half falling, hanging with his arms.
"Don't worry, you won't fall. I won't let you." He made her stand. He brought her a glass of water. After gulping it she felt better.
"Now can we go?"
She nodded her head. Both of them headed towards the center.
"Hii, Uncle Aunty."
"Hey, how are you, my boy?
" I'm good. Very very congratulations. Happy marriage anniversary, Uncle Aunty." Arjun and Shriya's father Dibakar hugged each other.
"So, meeting after a long time ha? But I just wanna say I'm so proud of you my boy. I have all information regarding your work. Everyone is praising this new business tycoon of the city, hu?" He patted his back delightfully.
"It's nothing, uncle. Nothing is possible without you all's support."
"Not to forget your hard work. You?" Dibakar's eyes moved to Ananya who was watching them all from behind silently.
"Dad, she is Ananya. Rahul's childhood friend and our new friend."
"Congratulations Sir and Ma'am. Happy marriage anniversary."
"Wow, a new member of your gang. Welcome beta. Hope you can bear these creatures." He said teasingly.
"Dad!" Shriya glared at her father.
"Well, do I know you? Don't know why but it seemed like I have seen you before."
"Maybe or maybe not be Sir. This world is small and more or less round. So it's not impossible to think that we have met before." She replied with a light smile playing on her lips.
"I can see. You are an interesting girl. I think I should have more conversations with you. But Shriya ask your friend if she is taking me too seriously?" They looked at him confused.
"He meant why Ananya is calling us Sir and Ma'am. It's looking like we are some strict professor of college and taking her viva." Nibha, Shriya's mom spoke up from beside.
"You always understood what I want to say." Dibakar praised her wife and the whole group clapped joyfully to tease them.
"Yeah, Ananya call them Uncle and Aunty just like my other friends."
"Your friend's parents are like your own parents. So no formality from next time."
Ananya just nodded silently.
Parents my foot!
Ananya came out of the gathering. She made her way towards the drink.
There is a small mandap has been set up for the couple to do some marriage rituals again to reminisce about the good old days.
It seemed like a heavy rock has been put on within her heart. Ananya silently roamed her gaze at her surrounding which made her feel like she exists in some parallel world that just allow her to get a view of this world of pride. Unable to control the tornado rising within her she decided to leave. She turned her eyes towards the gate. This is gonna be the first and last time for her to step foot in this territory. As she took two or three steps she heard a voice.
"Hey, Ananya. Where are you going? Come with us?"
She turned to Shriya who was standing there with a welcoming smile. For a moment her heart skipped. Her eyes got fixed on the lady in front of her. She kept staring at her.
She is her sister oops half-sister. They have a blood connection in real. And it's not a prank. This was actually happening for real. Damn! Her eyes were like she was looking at some unknown creature that she never thought existed. Just a moment ago she had no interest in her. She was just one of those random people she met suddenly. She felt something running in her head. Words caught in her throat. She forgot to blink her eyes.
Snap!
She got back to her after Shriya snapped in front of her eyes.
"Where are you?" She asked smilingly.
"Were you planning to run away? Then don't. What will I answer Mr. Dibakar Arora that I have sent back his guest without even having her the dinner? You know I am the party organizer for today." She said keeping her elbow on her shoulder casually.
"Come on. Let's go." She took her towards the mandap where the rituals are going to take place. All this while Arjun kept noticing her. She was behaving weirdly definitely. Should he approach her? Let's do that later.
As all the things were going on in front of her eyes Ananya's eyes were burning. Tears tend to come out tearing through her eyeballs. But she stood stiff. She doesn't allow them to come, still, some escaped from her eyes she swiped them within a flash. Not able to handle the lovey-dovey scene of this so-called lovely couple she made her way toward the bartender. She gulped the half glass of wine.
"Ananya" Rahul appeared from behind.
"Are you ok?"
"Yeah absolutely why you asked?"
"No, I saw you sometimes back to lose your sense for a moment?"
"It's nothing. Just tired. Tired of working. Tired of people."
Arjun's eyes never left her for a moment. He wanted to be near her but Rahul fulfilled that and he was standing far from Shriya who was not letting his hand go.
The rituals ended. Dinner started. Once the guest was done with all these they started leaving. And right now they all mean Shriya's friends including Ananya and some of Dibakar's close friends with their wives in the garden sitting roundly. They were gossiping, laughing, and discussing. Ananya just sat down there at one corner under the gaze of Arjun who was sitting opposite her with Shriya. Ananya wanted to leave but some deep inside her mind stopped her, allowing her to stay sometimes more. She wanted to see these people, this family, how happy they are, how blissful life they are leading breaking her family miserably. She knew Dibakar Arora has now become more successful, and reached up too high. The start which started with one story is going on with another story. He comes on the list of the successful businessman of India. She has seen some articles about him which most of the time ended up in the dustbin.
I heard someone asking about his married life with her beautiful wife who was with him during every ups and downs. And with a glowing smile on his lips, he started praising his supportive, caring, loving wife.
Just a cry baby!
"Well, I was a little nervous if Dad will like my Idea of celebrating those rituals again. But I want to make it special for them."
"There is no chance for me to dislike your ideas, sweetheart. Anything good you do your dad will be there. And one thing I must say is you have managed everything with so much perfection despite it being your first organizing a big party. I'm so proud of you." He kissed on the forehead of her dear daughter. Ananya felt something pinching her skin.
"And about rituals, I am not at all against them. In fact, I like them. Rituals are something that rebounds you with your close ones. That makes you remember that you are bound by each other. Like we imagine God in those statues and make us believe there is God. The same way those vows when you take in front of that fire connect you with invisible knots."
"Wow, Dad I never knew you can talk like this."
"It's not like that. I took every vow with my heart. I meant each word during our marriage. Actually, it automatically comes when two people love each other. The promise of taking care, to be with each other in every situation, to protect each other. And you can see how happy we are together now. Just be truthful to your words and everything will be fine." He said looking at her wife adoringly.
"Then in the first case, you must be too much untruthful, that it broke. Your first marriage."
Everyone's eyes turned towards Ananya. She could feel the heat rising around her with everyone's shocked eyes fixed on her.
Ananya's words felt like a punch to Dibakar's face. Not in his dreams he thought that his past will come in front of a girl whom he doesn't even know properly. He knows it's not at all hidden that this is his second marriage. There were some talks in the media. But after these long days, someone will talk about this that too on his marriage anniversary with such cazz.
"I see you have googled very well about me. I never know I am this much famous. Ms. Ananya, it's not about truthfulness in rituals only always, marriage depends on many things like compatibility. You will understand when you will have 'ONE'. Excuse me, Nibha, I'm tired." He stepped towards his house followed by her wife. Everyone started leaving. She didn't understand from where the venom came out just escaped her mouth in a flow. And to be honest, she was not feeling guilty at all, rather she was satisfied by injecting his poison into him. Lectures!
She knew the storm is coming. She saw Shriya coming to her with furious eyes.
"How dare you, spoil my parent's happiness. What you know about them. You don't know what they have gone through."
Obviously, who can know better than me? What steps they had to take to be together?
"I know you small townspeople love to gossip about high-profile people. It's you, people's habit to poke noses in their personal life. Don't leave a chance to make hot gossip. But I thought you are different. It was my fault actually to invite you here. You don't deserve to be here, you bloody.."
"Shriya" Arjun interrupted. "Stop it. Enough now. It might be a mistake. She didn't do it intentionally, I think."
Mistake! Not at all. I am happy that I did it. Ananya mumbled.
Arjun grabbed Ananya's arm and took her to a side.
"Ananya what were you going to do? Do you have any idea what you are saying? Do you think it was the right time to pick up this topic on their anniversary day?" Arjun blurted those words to Ananya who was looking at space with a blank face expression in a 'don't care' mood.
"Look at me Ananya. You don't know them. They are such good people I have seen in my life. Nibha Aunty was always there for me like a mother. I know their family since childhood. I don't know what made you say those in such a situation. I think you are mature enough to understand your mistake." He said holding her shoulder. Ananya kept staring at him blankly. Deep down her weak heart losing something seeing everyone taking their side.
"Wait, are you drunk? Shit! That's why you... Are you mad? Wait here until I come back. Don't move from here." Arjun went in to Shriya. She took a glance from behind at them. And the next moment she dashed out to the parking area where her scooty has been parked. Before leaving she directed her eyes to that house once.
I wish Mr Dibakar Arora doesn't get a good sleep tonight. She left in a rush.
When Arjun returned she was nowhere to be seen. Damn! This girl. Never listens. He dialed her. But no response. She didn't pick up.
"Oh no, she is drunk. I can't let her go alone. " He hurried towards his car.
*****
"Neha, please come. And please don't let her know." Ananya said with tension. She was sitting inside the police station. She felt like beating herself up for drinking at that bloody party. Otherwise, she couldn't have hit that road post messing up with her brain thinking about those people. And never end up here in the police station. On top of that she argued with the police losing her temper. She was still feeling a little dizzy.
"Come with me." She heard the lady constable commanding after some time. She felt revealed that finally, she will be out of this mess.
She came out. Her eyes searched for Neha.
"Neh.." her words stopped seeing Arjun talking to the police.
"What the hell is he doing here!"
Arjun turned towards her. His facial expression was saying that he was angry. His dark eyes were checking her intensely. He moved toward her.
"Seriously! Police station. I never thought that I have to see you here like this."
"What you think is none of my business." She spat out with gritting teeth.
"Where is Neha?" She asked feeling annoyed.
"At least spare your best friend from facing this kind of mess. She is already new here. And for your stupid act, you want her to come to 'POLICE STATION' at this time of night. How could you act so irresponsible and selfish?."
She fists her fingers in rage. She wants to punch him. But she was already in too much trouble. So it's not preferable right now.
"Then let me suffer here. You can go. I will call someone else for help. Maybe Rahul." She turned to go but his words again made her pause.
"I can't just imagine Dadi's face or her condition when I'm going to tell her what her loving granddaughter has done to her gifted scooty and spending a luxurious time in the police station for rash driving in a drunken state." He said calmly.
Her eyes widened. She was fighting with the anger that was triggering her to punch straight into this creature's face. Arjun was sensing the fire burning in her. A smirk glowed on his lips after attacking her perfectly. For a moment Rahul's name shoots him but he very well knows her weak point.
"You are blackmailing me."
"Don't waste my time... Ananya. Or else get ready to face the consequences."
"Sign there." He said in a cold voice. Ananya could feel the warning in his tone and it scares her sometimes.
Giving him a glare she signed the paper. Once she got released she straightened outside followed by Arjun. But something came into her mind.
Scooty!
"I have sent it to the service center," Arjun said understanding her conscience.
"Thanks" She was about to cross the road.
"Get in my car," his commanding voice hold back her.
"I won't. What will you do? Again black.."
"Mailing. I don't prefer repeating. And you are making me do that."
Gritting her teeth she got in the car and closed it with a thud. Amused Arjun started driving.
"Stop the car."
Suddenly at the midway, Ananya screamed.
"What! Not again." Arjun glared at her getting frustrated.
"I will get off. I don't wanna go home."
Arjun pushed the break in a side. This girl will not let me sleep tonight.
"So what are you planning to do? Showing circus on the road. I'm telling you no one is interested."
"Ok, take me to your farmhouse."
"What no!"
"Why? Either take me there or let me get off here. I have heard it's a mysterious house. You don't let anyone enter. Though I have visited once still want to see it properly now. I really wanna know what mystery or secret of you, you are treasuring there." She said playing her fingers in front of his eyes in a way showing magic. Arjun could understand this girl is not in her senses out of drinking.
"Yeah, take me there." She announced again leaning back in her seat.