Chapter 43 A Friend?

Anika’s PoV

I woke up on a bed. Am I dreaming? Am I dead? Is this heaven? Or is this hell? I died from drowning in a swimming pool. My husband whom I love dearly pushed me in the water though he knew that I didn't know how to swim. He tried to kill me precisely. But why? He is angry at me, why? Angry that he would even kill me? What did I do?

“Shhh, relax, Anika. Don’t strain yourself.” I heard a lady sitting beside me.

“Am I dead?” I asked her.

“Haha, you are pretty alive. I have told Arjun not to teach you swimming anymore. How are you feeling?” she asked me.

“Feeling numb, I guess.” I told her unsure of what I actually feel. “Who are you?” I asked her.

“You don't remember me? I am Preethi, Arjun’s closest friend. I came to visit him as he didn’t go to the office today. Guess what, he is taking care of his sick wife.” She said, winking at me. I remember her, she came to our engagement too. She has this uncanny resemblance to someone I know. Who?

“Also, I am Praveen’s twin sister.” She said that answered my unasked question.

“Oh I was just thinking, who do you resemble?”

“I could read that on your face. Arjun has gone down to bring some hot tea for you.” She said.

“Oh, you are awake?” I heard my man’s voice from the door. He is ever so handsome in his grey t-shirt and a black shorts. God, why am I feeling scared and aroused all at the same time? Yes, he tried to kill me.

“Here, have some tea. How are you feeling?” He sat near me on the bed and felt my cheeks and forehead with the back of his hand. I couldn't stop but to lean into his touch.

“I am feeling better.” I took the tea from his hands.

“Arjun, I want to get some party supplies for the upcoming party in my office. Will you take me shopping?” Preethi asked him.

“Why not? I can take you this weekend.”

“No, not this weekend. I have to be ready by this weekend. So I want you to take me today.” She whined and I don't like how she is clinging on to my husband.

“Anika needs someone to take care of her. Maybe we can go tomorrow in the evening?” He asked her.

“Now, Arjun. Please. See you changed your priority.”

“Of course, his priorities have changed. You can always take up your brother’s help.” I told her. Arjun is mine to flirt or whine or love or get angry!

“Oh, looks like you took it in a different sense. Sorry, Anika. He is my friend. My only friend. It’s ok Arjun, I will take care of the shopping on my own.” She started with me and ended with Arjun. Arjun’s face changed to a harder look and I know that it is not good.

“I will take you now, Preeth. You don't have to apologise to her. You go and wait downstairs. I will be down in a minute.” He told her.

“Oh, you don't have to...” She was cut off in the middle by my husband.

“I told you to go and wait down.” He told her in a passive aggressive state. Now I know I should brace myself for the impact. She went out without a word. He is used to people obeying him without a word and I am not exactly that type.

“How many times do I have to tell you to control your tongue? Don't you dare hurt Preethi. She is very important.” He said gripping my elbow hard.

“Aww, you are hurting me. Let me go. Let me go.” I struggled to get out of his grip but soon I realized it is not easy to escape his grip.

“You are angry at me. You tried to murder me. Why? What did I do?” I asked him defeated.

“Murder you? Haha, you think of yourself as a match to me to consider you my enemy? If at all I wanted you dead, you wouldn't be talking to me now.” He told me coldly that sent chills down my spine. I could feel the string of sweat trickle down from my forehead near my ears due to the heat of his coldness towards me.

“Why are you doing this, Arjun? I don't understand what I did. At least tell me what I did wrong that infuriated you to get to the extreme to kill me or enjoy the sight of me drowning in the water?” I shouted at him gulping down the ball of fear. It is no time to fear.

“Well, for starters, you have never been pleasant to me. So me being obnoxious to you serves you right.”

“I apologized to you so many times. I admitted to you the reason behind my behavior. You were good to me before you went on that stupid trip of yours. Talk, Arjun. Talk to me, let me know what bothers you. I truly cannot wrap my mind around the things you do. You hurt me in the name of sex. You threw cash on me in the context of paying me for the pleasures you got from hurting me. You tried to treat me like a whore. You took me to your workplace and employed me as an attender that doesn't come close to my degree. You pleasured me on your office desk and made me euphoric like you wanted to make the wrong you did in the morning right. You brought me home and tried to sink me in the water. Obviously you pulled me out when I gave up trying to save myself. You are so confusing! Why, Arjun? Why?” I bursted out to him. I cannot take it up any longer.

“You want to know why? I don't like you.” He turned away to leave the room.

“That is not true.” I got down from the bed and ran in front of him stopping him from going out.

“Well, it is true now. I hate to even see you. You are nowhere close to Anamika.” He said. That was the last string. So he compares me to her. He doesn't like me as much as he liked her. The very issue I was afraid of has happened. He compared me to her!

I stood aside making way for him. He brushed my shoulders as he walked past me. He likes me, I can feel it. Something is bothering him from admitting it to me. I am making problems with the maids and now I tried to put his friend in her place. I should stop talking my mind out. I should try and be more diplomatic. Advay was right, my sharp tongue and big mouth is always a problem.

Yashodha aunty taught me my daily routine as my uncle asked me to take care of the household along with maintaining the maids. I got down to let the maids know of today's menu and to greet aunty and priya. Since it is a huge home, the only time we all meet is during breakfast. As I missed breakfast today, I wanted to go meet them. Also, I think I crossed a line in talking to Preethi. Priya said Anamika was so friendly with Preethi and Praveen. Now that I am compared to her, I truly want to excel her.

I was amazed at the scene I saw when I got down. I saw Preethi sitting in the dining room and Savithri was talking to her with all her teeth out. She gave her something to drink and it looks like Preethi is a well known character to this house. I should stop making enemies with the people that hold a good place in the hearts of my in-laws and my husband.

As I stepped down, I saw Yashodha aunty come to her giving her a hug. Ok, time for me to apologize to Preethi.

“Come, come, Anika. How are you feeling now? You should use our backyard pool to learn, dear. Arjun’s Pool is too deep for new swimmers. Thank god, he was there to save you. Imagine what if he was not there. You gave all of us quite a scare.” Aunty said as I neared her. How could she know that her son was the one that drowned me in the water?

“I am feeling better, aunty. I will go tell the maids about today’s menu.” I tried to walk past them but she stopped me saying she took care of the things for today.

“Come sit here, Anika. You met Preethi? She is the one that broke Arjun’s little shell and got to him. She is his childhood friend. Only because of her, Praveen became his friend. Arjun is very protective of her.” Aunty said.

“Yeah, I met her, aunty. So Preethi, I am feeling better now. Would you mind me joining your party purchase? I am all idle here for today.” I asked her.

“Of course you can come. The more the merrier.” She told me. Aunty got a call on her phone and excused herself from us.

“I am sorry to have talked like that. I got a little possessive over my husband. Please don't mind me. I am a girl with a loose mouth.” I told her.

“It’s ok, Anika. I know what you feel, I have experienced the same when Anamika came into his life. I am his only girlfriend.” she said.

“What?” I asked her, confused of what she actually meant. Actually, it all sounds too bad and weird to me but everyone has a different meaning to what they say here.

“I mean, Anamika said she felt possessive over her husband and hated me at first. But we got along so well when she got to know that I am his only friend who is a girl.” She clarified. See, it completely sounds different than what I thought. His only friend that is a girl oddly made me remember Arun. His only friend who was a girl was me.

Arjun came down the stairs in his light blue jean and white v-neck t-shirt. All my anger and confusion flew away through the window at his sight. All I want to do now is make love to him. He is delicious!

We went to his car and Arjun threw me a look when Preethi said that I am joining their shopping but said nothing. I sat in the front seat and Preethi sat in the back seat. He drove us out to the shops and all the while I saw a very different, friendly, easy to talk Arjun. Praveen and Preethi sure hold a sweet spot in his heart.

“Ajju, we will go to a different shop.” Preethi told Arjun when we walked into a shop.

“I will trash him.” Arjun fisted his hand.

“No, let's go, Ajju.” She pulled him back out of the shop. I saw a man with pity eyes with another woman looking at us.