46. Harish’s Doubts

Anika’s PoV

It was a DRAMA! She spoiled the mood of the party. I still don't understand why she had to make such a fuss about a little girl’s question about her dad. I wonder what rights her dad has on Avni. Like, at least he should be able to meet her once a month, shouldn't he? I don't know how to explain my hate for her. My hate may be meaningless and even hurtful and arrogant but something inside me always disagrees with her and I know enough to trust my intuitions more than my eyes could see.

I truly wanted to be with Arjun as we were really hitting it off this time. It was like my dream that he spoke to me with such an ease and it felt like we never really had any disputes between us. But she had to spoil it all for us. Maybe I am a very self centered person, I could not understand the pain she is in right now as her married life has just ended on a bitter note. I am very new in Arjun’s life and she is with him right from the beginning. Maybe I should respect their friendship and also her.

“Anu, are you alright?” Harish Anna asked me.

“Yup, I am!” I straighten my confused face to a happy one.

“Sorry to have made you stay back, Anu. But I did that for a reason.” He said.

“Oh, Anna, don't worry. I am perfectly alright. I am actually worried for Preethi. Good that Arjun is with her.” I told a fat lie.

“Oh, I wanted to talk to you about that. What do you think of Preethi?” He asked me.

“What should I think, Anna? She is Arjun’s childhood friend. They have history together. He cares about her. She does the same.” I told him.

“Right! Arjun cares about her. That is why he tried to set me up with her. But even before he could try to put his plan into action, she told me that he is trying to set us together.” He paused.

“So? Maybe she felt awkward and didn't think it was a good idea. So she told you before it got ugly. What do you infer from it?” I asked him.

“I don't know how to put it in words, Anu. But Preethi spoke so highly of Arjun. She said his married life was not a good one for him. She said she knew everything that happened to him. She also said he didn't get to live a married life.”

“Didn't get to live a married life? What does that mean?” I asked him, I don't like the direction it travels.

“Hari, don't beat around the bush. You are confusing her. Anu, dear, Harish feels that Preethi likes Arjun more than a friend. It is just his feeling from the two encounters he had with Preethi. It may be wrong but it is not to be ignored. Keep a watchful eye on her to save your life. We all can see Arjun’s visible affection towards her. Arjun is genuine but we don't know about Preethi. Even now, all our eyes were on you and Arjun. We loved that little bickering and your blush with Arjun, we loved how your eyes never left each other, we loved that visible love you both had. But Preethi looked at you with a grumpy face, or a more unhappy face.” Shivani said.

“Shivani, she might be in distress thinking of her life and maybe she felt sad when she saw us together. That is not a big issue, but no married life means Arjun and Anamika never lived like a married couple, is that right? If so, how did she know it? I'm sure, a man like Arjun, will never tell this out loud.” I told them out of pure astonishment.

“It may necessarily not mean sexual life. But I felt like it. The way she spoke of his life, I felt she knew the nook and corner about him. She also said that she is the only person in this whole world that he will open to. She was rather proud of that fact. Arjun is the center of her world, she even said that she dissolved the idea of suicide only after she heard Arjun’s voice.” He stopped.

“Anu, it may all be false but it is not wrong to be vigilant, right? We know you are a brilliant girl. Be wise. Also don't talk this out loud, if it is not true, you may make a big scar in Arjun’s heart that it will erase all the love he has for you.” Shivani said to me.

We had a nice tea with some snacks and a little pleasant chit-chat before Harish took his motorcycle to drop me home. Nitvik is a very sweet and smart boy. We played hide-and-seek and statue games with him. He kept calling us for video games but I insisted, he played these games that we enjoyed as little kids.

I really loved the time with them except for that talk we had about Preethi. See, they also didn't like her or her motive. It is not just my problem that I don't like her. Again I have no solid proof that will implicate her wrong which means it is all in my head and it just means I am insecure in my relationship. I am insecure because my husband is a complex man. I should sort out the differences we have between us before I start to snoop into Preethi.

I got a call on my phone when I was about to hop on Harish’s motorcycle. “Arjun!” I picked up the phone on the first ring.

“Anika, I am almost near Harish’s home. Get ready!” He said.

“You are about time, we were about to leave for our home. We are already outside the home.” I told him.

“Five more minutes and I will be there.”

“Ok, is Preethi better now?” I asked him as I thought he might expect me to ask that.

“She is ok. She even apologised to Avni. They are good. Avni told me that she will never talk about her dad anymore. I think they will be fine.” He said with a long breath. I am actually glad that he spoke to me this long about his feelings.

“They will be fine. Don't worry.” I told him.

“He is coming to pick me up, Anna.” I told Harish as soon as I hung up with Arjun.

“Ok then. Just remember what I told you and be on guard.” He said when Arjun’s car stopped at our feet.

“Hi Harish, Hope you guys had a good time. Will see you sometime later.” He told Harish, opening the door for me from the inside.

“Sure, Take care.” Harish and Shivani bid bye to us and we moved away from their home towards our home.

“You were about to come in his motorcycle?” He asked me.

“Is that wrong?” I asked him back. I don't like him being a male chauvinist. He can roam around with Preethi and I cannot come in a motorcycle with Harish? I even address him as my brother and he didn't say that Preethi is like his sister.

“I didn't say that it was wrong. I don't think my mom would appreciate it. She is still very conservative.” He said.

“Yet she has approved of your friendship with Preethi!” I told him for which he turned to look at me and then continued to concentrate on the road.

“What? Are you not going to say anything?” I asked him when I saw him fist his hand hard on the steering wheel.

“I can't wrap my mind around you. What is this you are going through, Anika? Is this jealousy or suspicion?” He asked me very calmly. I hung my head low as I didn’t have an answer for this. Or rather I am not ready yet to tell him what I actually feel. I don't have enough grounds to stand on my point.

“I asked you a question, Anika. You are testing my patience. I am not a very cool man. I am already pushing my limits to stay calm around you. But you are not helping. You talk very insensitively every time even though I have warned you so many times about it. I am now trying to understand you better, so answer my question.” He said, stopping the car inside the garage of our home.

“What if I say suspicion?” I asked him. I know it is a wrong choice but I truly want to know what his reply will be.

“Then you have to leave my life. I can't live with a person who doesn't trust me. Above that, you can't question the dignity of a woman I am truly affectionate with. I am to meet and greet many women in my business and if you are going to not trust me, then it will be a living hell.” He said. How can I tell him that I am not suspicious of him but of Preethi. Again, his answer is straight to the point. There may come many women, but if I trust him, then I have nothing to worry about. I trust him! That is all that matters.

“I trust you, Arjun. But I am so insecure about my life. You talk to me all sweet at an instance and behave like a total stranger the next time. How can I be sure when I could not understand you completely? Help me here, Arjun. People always say that talking out will sort all the problems. Talk out, Arjun.” I told him desperately wanting to know what I did wrong.

“Oh, you should stop talking to sort out all the problems!” He said very seriously that somehow made me laugh. I know I have a big mouth. He is being sarcastic. I love this Arjun, funny and sarcastic. But I stopped laughing when I didn't hear him laugh with me.

His brown orbs stuck on me changing to a darker shade every passing second. His look on me made my stomach knot in anticipation. I felt hot in the car and literally could feel my cheeks burn. My breath hitched and I felt my heart thumping loud in my throat. His intense ogling made me low my eyes to my lap and I felt hard to breath. He moved closer to me palming my face, lifting it to meet his eyes.

“I love it when you laugh wholeheartedly. It really wipes out all the chaos in my heart. You lift my soul up with just your laughter. You are stupid but you do have a string to my heart, Anika.” He said with a deep voice that sent chills down my spine. His words did weird things to me, it made me happy, it made me excited, it made me turn on, it made me feel so low about my acts. My mind stopped thinking further as his lips met mine with sensual strokes that took me to a different dimension altogether.