The next day started with a very busy schedule. Everyone was busy finishing their job and leaving the office to get ready for the party in the evening. Ananya didn't get time to have a personal talk with Arjun. The work pressure made them forget everything.
Finally, the time for the party arrived. Ananya took a long shower. Today, she decided to go for a brown gown with spaghetti strap and to match with it the bracelet. She glanced at the beautiful gift shining on her wrist. She touched her lips against it.
She reached the office around 6. The party was taking place in the adjacent small garden place beside the office building. When she entered her curious eyes searched for one face. An excitement filled with tension, filled her mind in anticipation to see him.
What will he think when he will see her? Would he love her looks? And the bracelet, would his eyes dazzle seeing her wearing his gift.
While talking to some other staff she finally noticed a pair of eyes scanning her from afar. He was dressed impeccably in his Armani black suit talking with his father. Rahul and Trivedi Uncle were present there too. As their eyes locked with each other Arjun raised his glass in a toast to her. His action was so subtle for a third person to notice. The mischievous glint floating in his eyes was enough to make her blush like a teenage girl.
She turned her eyes away before anyone could notice their connection.
Almost one hour passed but Ananya could hardly get the chance to talk to him, only while greeting him. But his father was there.
Ananya got bored with the party. Suddenly she felt someone come standing beside him. It was Rahul. They smiled at each other.
"You look beautiful, Anu, and I might say different too."
Ananya chuckled at his compliment. "Different? How?" She asked curiously.
"You have started glowing more. Not that you were not glowing earlier but there is a change. Your smile looked more radiant. Your eyes, they looked carefree. Smile more often, Anu. It suits you." Rahul said while staring at her. Ananya felt her cheeks grow warm under his gaze while she looked up into his eyes. She cleared her throat to clear the tension, suddenly feeling awkward.
"Thanks, but you are not looking bad either." She said, a little flushed. "How is your sister and everyone else?" She decided to change the topic.
"They are good. Pooja misses you. Mom also asks about you. Why don't you visit our house anymore, Anu?"
"Umm, I was a little busy these days."
"That sounds like an excuse. Is it our past? I thought I was forgiven."
"No, Rahul it's nothing like that. Whatever it had been between us your family was always good to me. All of them. Our mothers were friends and Pooja, she's like a sister to me. Tell her I miss her too. Maybe I shall come to meet her someday."
"And me? I mean am I really forgiven?"
Ananya can hear the guilt in his voice. He made a mistake but she felt happy that he knew what he did was wrong. And that's why she had already gotten past those misunderstandings. After all, they had been very good friends before their engagement and it's of no use to hold a grudge.
"Rahul, just forget those incidents ever happened. I think at least you were genuine enough to say it to me directly rather than taking some other drastic steps or using someone else. So, let's just end this topic here. By the way, Dhiraj uncle came to meet us yesterday."
"Oh, that's good." Ananya noticed the sadness in his eyes at the mention of Dhiraj's name.
"What happened?" She asked concernedly.
"Nothing, he is a little upset with me right now, after he heard everything about us."
"Ohh... I am sure he will come around."
Ananya got the feeling of being watched. When she glanced at her surrounding she found the culprit surveying her face like a hawk. It was impossible to understand his emotion. Ananya realized he had noticed them and from her earlier experience, she knew Arjun never liked it.
She excused herself from Rahul. But her eyes were stuck with him. She didn't notice the waiter, too busy to understand his expression. Arjun signaled her to look forward but it was late. She bumped into the waiter and a few drops of drinks spilled on her gown. She looked up to find him watching her teasingly. She felt a little annoyed at him, if it isn't for him she would have noticed the waiter. And here he's smiling like a fool. Ignoring him she rushed to the washroom.
"God! Please don't stain." Ananya murmured while trying to get rid of the wine from her dress. It was quite an expensive dress, she would really hate it if the mark didn't remove. It was his fault. Why he had to look at her that way always.
The sound of the door getting locked attracted her attention. Speak of the devil and he was here.
"You ruined my dress." She said concentrating on her earlier activity.
"Did I? But that's nothing. I intend to do more than that when it comes to ruining your dress," Arjun purred near her ears while his voice lingered on the ruining part a little more.
Damn! Ananya gasped out almost. When did he come that close? Was he a cat at his last birth?
She looked up in the mirror. The man behind her looked like a work of art. His eyes dazzled with love, and adoration for her. But there was also a different kind of emotion in his sharp gaze which sent shivers down her body. She didn't need an expert to know what that emotion refers to. Their eyes locked into each other in the mirror.
"Though it wasn't exactly my fault that I am good-looking. You were too distracted to gaze at my handsomeness." He said teasingly while trapping her between him and the basin slab. His chin rested on her shoulder sending slight tickling.
"Why are you here? I thought you were ignoring me." She muttered in displeasure.
"Ignore? The moment you entered the party looking like a temptress, you turned me into a stupid. I could hardly conclude what others were saying." He whispered seductively, his breath fanning her ear.
"You do know it's a ladies' room. If anyone caught us..."
"I have locked the door." His husky voice made her bite her lips.
Arjun's hand crept up Anu's bare hands slowly sending goosebumps all over her body. His lips landed on her shoulder. She shivered at the intimate touch.
"You know, it feels soo scandalous," Ananya said teasingly.
"Well, that's the fun part." His breath left hot trails as his lips moved toward her throat.
"Such a cliched scene! 'A boss and an employee', head over heels with each other, away from all the prying eyes, stealing kisses in the ladies' room. People will gossip." She said slowly turning towards him. She hugged his neck.
"Let them. What will they say? That their boss is going mad over a certain beautiful employee. Well, that's not a lie. Ananya Roy, I do want to go wild with you", He whispered against her lips. He was about to close the remaining distance Ananya's phone vibrated.
"Leave it." Then without giving her any chance, he smashed his lips with hers. Soft and tender, their kiss began gently. Under Arjun's urgent lips, Ananya's lips bloomed like a flower.
Their lips moved in perfect harmony, a dance of passion and longing. The kiss deepened, becoming more urgent, fueled by the fire that burned between them. Their bodies pressed closer, seeking solace in each other's embrace, as their hands entwined, fingers interlacing with effortless grace. They only stopped when they needed air to live.
Both of them panting, the proof of their need for each other. Arjun didn't let her go. He kept her close. He placed a kiss on her forehead making her feel like the luckiest girl in the world.
"Say 'Yes', Anu." He whispered against her lips. "Say yes to be mine. I want to say to the whole world that you belong to me only."
"Ye..."
There was a knock on the door.
"Someone is here. Go, hide." Ananya pushed Arjun into one of the cubicles.
"What the..." Arjun grumbled.
"Sshh, they will hear. I shall let you know when there will be no one." Ananya urged him.
After he did as she said, Ananya opened the door. But the face outside was unexpected.
"Ananya" Vishal pushed her inside.
"It's ladies' room."
"I know and I also knew you would be here. I asked someone." Vishal stated watching her carefully.
"What's this..."
"I need to talk to you regarding Arjun."
"Arj..."
"Did you lie to him?" Before she could deny he added," Neha told me everything."
"Vishal..."
"You don't love him? It was to take revenge from Shriya?"
"Please, stop..." Ananya felt her voice quiver in fear. She knew this was the moment when she will be punished for an old mistake. This was the moment where she will be tormented.
"Ananya I am asking you something." Vishal got impatient.
Ananya just nodded silently.
"You will tell him or I swear I will. He's like a brother to me and I won't let anyone hurt him."
Tears started flowing down. Her sight went blurred. Vishal's words felt like a foreign language to her and the only thing she could do is nod. Her words evaporated somewhere a moment of shock.
"That won't be necessary." The calm strong voice boomed the whole room as he came out of the cubicle.
Vishal went stunned seeing his best friend. No, this was bad.
"Arjun" he spoke out his name carefully. If he knew his friend even a little, he knew it was the calmness before the storm. His stoic face covered his expression. He just looked at them. One second passed, two seconds passed, three-four, and who knows how much but to them it felt like an eternity passed.
Ananya struggled to look at him but when she looked it shook her to the core. Either his face had so many expressions that she couldn't identify them or there was no expression. There was a void in his eyes. Ananya felt like she had just gotten caught while stealing something very important. The world surrounding her went soundless, and a 'piii' sound beeped in her ears.
"Arju..."
"Is it true, what he's saying?" His voice was clear and explicit in the silence.
At first, no words came out of her mouth. But Arjun's dilated pupil and the slowly turned ferocious gaze warned her to open her mouth.
"Arjun just list.
"Yes or no?" He interrupted her in such a smooth voice as if he was asking about her health. He was not even shouting, but his voice's calmness scared her to the core. It stopped her from saying anything further.
"Yes" was the only word she could breathe out.
"So, that's why you denied to marry me." Realization dawned on him. Ananya's consistent shaking head couldn't deter him from his thoughts.
"No, that's...I...No" Everything seemed to collapse like a house of cards, be it her words, be it her life.
"What I am failing to understand is, Shriya insulted you, and you wanted to retaliate, but what's my part in all these? I don't remember doing anything." He asked mockingly making a confused face.
"Or maybe I was just a FUCKING TOOL FOR YOU." He burst out causing her to flinch.
"Arj..."
"Damn, I can't even look at you now. What a fucking fool I was. Of course, all your love, and care adoration are fixed on that ex-fiance of yours. You were so DAMN OBSESSED WITH HIM."
Her eyes widened at his indication.
"No Arj..."
"Leave it. I don't care what it is. I don't care about anything related to you. Now I can see why you were always so resistant to me. Why I couldn't feel the same love coming from you? Because it was never there in the first place." He spoke up laughing.
"You know I feel pity for you that how pathetic you are. How selfish you are. You are more horrible than an enemy, you are one of those who loves to live with their self-pity and make others' lives miserable. God, you wanted to hurt Shriya. Let me make one thing very clear Ms. Ananya Roy, don't even think about it. Thank the God that whatever you did it was to me not her otherwise you will see that worst ugliest sight of me, I swear."
"Arjun stop it." Vishal finally spoke up. Things had gotten messed up. He didn't intend to inform Arjun about this but just wanted to confront her and made her realize her mistake. But what had just happened it's going to be a nightmare for all of them.
"Yes, he is right. Why even I am wasting my time talking to you? You are just not worth it. But I have to praise you for your audacity. You knew how much I hated lies and betrayal yet you never faltered for once. So smart of you! Ah, I have one more last question. Did you get what you wanted? I hope you got it after putting up such a perfect act. I have one piece of advice for you, join acting, you will do so well."
"Bhai, stop it yaar. You don't know what you are saying." Vishal tried to calm down his friend, in response Arjun tossed his hand away.
He turned to leave. Ananya with shaking hands holds his arm which seems to like for the last hope she wants to hold onto before drowning. No words came out of her mouth except for her sobbing. But her eyes searched for his trying to convey all her mistakes and love to him. Their, eyes met one with a steely gaze and the other one silently searching for the remaining love in his if there is still left any. But she found nothing except for a void.
He slowly pulled his eyes towards her hands which were holding his. But the rage coming out from him made her shudder like if she holds on anymore he will burn her. She finally let go and Arjun left without looking back.
She falls to her knees. Vishal couldn't decide what he should do, whether he should go behind his best friend or console this poor girl. He somehow could not feel anger towards her anymore. But felt a sadness creeping into his heart seeing her miserable state. At some point in time, he did like her and thought she will be good for his friend. But after knowing her truth he couldn't keep calm.
"Ananya " he tried calling her keeping a hand on her shoulder. "I'm sorry. I didn't want it to be turned out like this", he spoke up softly but got no answer.
"Ananya ", he said a little loudly this time.
"It doesn't matter. He's right I don't deserve him. It was bound to end at some point." She said while keeping her head on her knees hugging it close to her chest. Her voice broke. She looked miserable, broken, and hurt. Vishal couldn't help but keep his hand on her head and stroked lightly. Even after knowing what she did, he couldn't resist feeling sympathy for her. He knew her life was not easy. And in the past, there are moments between them where he started considering her as a good friend.
"Ananya, please get up." He said slowly. Finally, she looked up with her tear-stained face.
"Please leave me alone for some time", She pleaded. Vishal expected to see anger or hatred at some amount in her eyes. But all he could see was a girl with all her guilt drowning in her sorrow. Her eyes expressed her pain, her guilt, and her shame.
"Ok", Vishal nodded. "Take care." Before leaving he looked down once again. Slowly he kept his hand on her shoulder.
"Give him some time. He will come around."
Vishal left with a heavy heart.
Ananya got up slowly and entered the washroom. She noticed herself in the mirror. But it irritated her. She felt disgusted. In shame, she covered her face with her palms.
Just some moments ago, he was here with her, they were laughing and loving each other. And look where they are now. There was no more of 'Them'. Only her, being the hopeless, miserable, villain of her own love story, only there was no love story anymore.