Chapter 11 ; Animesh and Vanshika
While on the rooftop of the mansion...
Animesh and Vanshika sat beside each other on the swing at the top of the house, admiring the moon in the sky with their eyes alone.
For both of them, it was a very different feeling, especially for Animesh, who didn't know whether he had taken over this body or merely awakened his memories. After all, it took him more than a week to accept his new identity and his parents in this world. And now, there was Vanshika, who could be considered Animesh's silent lover.
They were quiet for a long time when Vanshika finally couldn't hold it in any longer and asked,
"How long do you plan to avoid me?" Her mesmerizing voice floated out.
Listening to her voice, Animesh remembered the same captivating sound of Vanshika's voice from high school.
"I'm not avoiding you," Animesh said, shaking his head.
"Then, are you angry with me?" Vanshika asked again.
"No, why would I be angry with you? It was your choice to go abroad for your studies and a better future; I had no control over it," Animesh replied.
"Then why aren't you talking to me like you used to in high school?" She frowned.
Looking at her frowning face, Animesh (before awakening his memories) had truly loved Vanshika when they were in high school. Although he hadn't confessed his love for her, it was obvious that she knew, yet Vanshika had stayed silent and eventually left. That hurt Animesh a lot.
But as he grew older, he realized he couldn't force someone to love him back. So, the thought of love faded from Animesh's mind.
He knew that, because of his father's status, many people with business ties had come to his house wanting to marry their daughters to him. Most of the time, he refused right away, saying he was still young and needed more time.
But now, looking at his first love, attractive and charming, Animesh felt a quickening in his heart, though it soon calmed again.
Seeing Animesh's silence, Vanshika forced a smile and said,
"I know you must be angry with me after all these years. I heard from Aunt that you've turned down many marriage proposals from wealthy families. Why did you do that? Was it because their families didn't meet your expectations, or their appearance wasn't to your taste?" She paused, waiting for Animesh to respond.
"No, someone's background doesn't matter to me. As for appearance, although some were beautiful, none of them made my heart throb, so there was no need for that," Animesh said, speaking from the memories he had before awakening.
"Oh...really? I don't believe that." She stood up, came in front of Animesh, bent down, cupped his face, and asked.
With her so close, Animesh and Vanshika could hear each other's breathing, especially when their eyes met.
For a moment, both of them froze, as if time had stopped, with only the cool breeze passing between them.
"Ahem..." Noticing the strange atmosphere, he cleared his throat to ease the tension and looked down.
A few seconds later...
When he lifted his head, he saw Vanshika still gazing at him with her beautiful, passionate eyes, a smile on her face.
Before Animesh could say anything, he felt a soft touch on his lips. Vanshika had kissed him.
Animesh didn't react at first.
Ah...he actually liked the feeling of being kissed for the first time in both his lifetimes, and, feeling his love for her, he didn't reject her, allowing her to do as she wished.
To be honest, Animesh had liked this girl very much before she went abroad. They used to sit next to each other, share lunch, and even copy each other's homework. It was just that he had buried his love for her when she left without even saying goodbye. That was why Animesh had been angry at her, but with this kiss, everything felt right again. It was as though the love he'd buried deep inside had resurfaced.
But he quickly buried the thought again, unsure of what he might do if he let it linger.
After a long moment, their lips parted, and a trace of their shared warmth lingered.
"Animesh...! I'm sorry. I know it was my fault for leaving without saying goodbye. I just couldn't bear the pain of being separated for years. I knew that if I saw you, I'd forget my dreams. Our paths were different, and I wanted to become worthy of you." Vanshika didn't realize when she'd become emotional, explaining why she had left.
"Vanshi...!" Hearing her words, Animesh's heart softened. He couldn't control himself and suddenly hugged her.
Vanshika, still looking into his eyes, suddenly felt the warmth of his hand on her belly, then her waist. Since she was wearing a lehenga choli, her belly was uncovered. The touch of Animesh's hand felt unfamiliar, but she didn't resist; she wanted more.
Animesh got up from the swing and hugged Vanshika in his arms tightly that he didn't wanted to let her leave him again.
As the cool night breeze whispered around them, Animesh and Vanshika remained close in silence. The moon above cast a gentle light, lending a dreamy glow to the rooftop, turning everything silver and serene. Animesh felt the warmth of Vanshika's embrace, and Vanshika the same.
After a long moment, Animesh finally broke the silence.
"Vanshi…why didn't you ever tell me? Why didn't you share how you felt back then?" Looking at her, he asked.
Vanshika sighed, her face tinged with regret. "I was young, Animesh. I didn't understand my own feelings, let alone how to express them. And when I finally realized… well, it was already too late. You had your path, and I had mine."
Animesh nodded, gazing at the stars. "You know, there were days in high school when I thought about telling you, but something always stopped me. And then, when you left, I buried those feelings, convinced they weren't meant to be."
She reached over, placing a gentle hand on his. "Sometimes, things don't happen when we expect, but that doesn't mean they're lost. I think maybe our paths needed to wander before they found each other again."
Animesh smiled, a hint of sadness in his eyes. "Perhaps. But now, things are… complicated. I have responsibilities that tie me down. It's not just about us anymore, Vanshi."
Vanshika turned to him, a determined spark in her eyes. "Animesh, I'm not here to stand in the way of your responsibilities. I respect them, and I respect you. But if there's one thing I've learned, it's that sometimes, we need to be brave for our own happiness. Even if it's hard. Even if it's uncertain."
He looked at her, taken aback by her words. "And… what are you hoping for, Vanshi?"
"I'm hoping for us to try." she replied simply. "To let go of the past hurt, the misunderstandings. To see where we go from here."
Animesh was quiet for a moment, searching on her face as if looking for something hidden. He felt a surge of warmth, hope, and a strange feeling of freedom.
"Then let's try," he finally said, his voice soft. "But let's take it slow. I don't want to rush into this and risk losing you again."
A gentle smile spread across Vanshika's face. "Slow is fine. We have time."
As they sat together, Animesh's mind went to his responsibilities, the heavy weight of being Prime Minister. He was constantly surrounded by advisors, reports, and expectations, living in a world where even his smallest actions were scrutinized. But here, in this quiet moment, none of that mattered. Here, with Vanshika, his family, his parents.
They sat together in silence, watching the night, both comforted by the presence of the other. The world around them seemed to fade, leaving only the rooftop, the stars, and the gentle glow of hope rekindled.
After a while, they decided to go back inside. As they came down the stairs, Animesh could hear the low hum of conversation from the living room. He knew his parents and Uncle Sunder were waiting.
Just as they entered, Sarita looked up, her eyes softening as she saw them together. Uncle Sunder chuckled, and Raghav gave Animesh a knowing look.
"Everything sorted?" his father asked with a playful smirk.
Animesh glanced at Vanshika, who was suppressing a smile. "Yes." he replied, trying to maintain his composure.
"Well, then," Uncle Sunder said, clapping his hands together, "let's have dinner. We have time to celebrate tonight!"
After that, the maids and her mother brought the food on the table, and five of them started to eat happily.
[Hello, did you enjoyed the chapter..?]
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One thing I need to clarify: Animesh can't buy major company shares himself. In politics, a person can't really operate as a businessman directly; they can only have family members hold assets on their behalf.
So, please don't suggest hiding his property or secretly buying shares. When election time comes, all financial data is published, including the money each politician has in their accounts and their physical assets (like hotels, schools, hospitals, or mansions). Everything is disclosed. While there may be ways to hide things illegally, that's not the approach I'm looking for here.