52. This Is Not Happening

Anika’s PoV

I couldn't even blink my eyes, is this all a dream or is that really her? They were both standing in front of the shopping area inside that stupendous hotel. Arjun takes her face in his palms and talks to her in a very consoling way. She composed herself after Arjun’s little talk and he brought her in his embrace and started walking towards me. What should I do now? Confront them or run and hide?

I am not yet ready to confront them. I don't know the backstory and I cannot jump to conclusions. This is my life. I cannot let my shrewd talks get in the way. I must handle this in a more mature way. I walked into the restaurant and watched them go towards the elevator. He is taking her to our room? If so, he is not doing anything wrong. Or what if he takes her to a different room? There is no way I could go in the same elevator. Luckily that elevator is made of glass just like in our home. I watched them lift up to the fifth floor and get down. That is where our suite is.

I ran to the next elevator and punched the fifth floor and prayed to god that they should be in our room. When I went there, I saw nobody! I ran to our room and swiped the card and got in only to see Arjun sitting on the bed and hopefully Anamika in the restroom.

“Where the hell did you go?” he yelled at me just as I came into his vision.

“Oh where did I go? You know what? I went out because this honeymoon of ours is so overwhelming for me. I had a tummy-full for breakfast and lunch that I needed a walk to digest everything I ate. Because you talked to me every hour, I didn't feel lonely at all. And your love and affection for me is so huge that I felt suffocated inside this very small room. Is this answer sufficient enough?” I asked, nearing him.

I now understand how he must have felt when he got to know about Arun. I couldn't even imagine this horror of Anamika being returned to Arjun's life. Priya said Arjun was just himself in the marriage with Anamika. Does she still hold a place in his heart? Of Course she must have, why else would he hug her and console her? Why else would he bring her to our room?

“I have told you numerous times to hold your tongue. I don't care where you go or if you had your breakfast or lunch. Anamika is here and I don't want you to talk about her to anybody after we go back. If you do, your family will reap its consequences.”

“What do you mean Anamika is here?”

“I saw you near the restaurant. I know you saw us and followed us back. Don't try and act smart.”

“Why is she here?” I asked him instead of beating around the bush.

“That is none of your business.”

“I will tell everyone that she is alive and well. Don't you think it is wrong to hide her from her parents?”

“I tell you again, You will never breathe a word out about her.”

“Why are you threatening me? You are my husband and I deserve to know what change does her sudden appearance make in our lives?”

“I am your husband? Yes, I am. Her arrival doesn't change a thing in our relationship. You will die under my feet as my wife. But you will never be my wife. You will endure everything alone but will never speak of it to anyone. You can never see your boyfriend again in your life. You will live your life without love and affection. And you deserve it.”

“Are you done? I don't want to see Arun anymore in my life. I love you and I want to live ...”

“One more word and you will regret saying anything.” He said that made my tongue glued to my upper jaw. Just then the restroom door opened and in came Anamika in Arjun’s shirt that ended just below her womanhood and my pajama pants.How dare she put on his clothes? I could not stop but to have the feeling of jealousy surge through my veins. He had gone through my clothes for her?

She has changed a lot. Will she talk to me about her 3years of disappearance?

“Hi, Anamika.” I greeted her awkwardly. She threw me a look and turned to Arjun.

“Arjun, do you think it is a wise idea? Just let me be here.” She spoke to Arjun as if I were invisible to her.

“I have thought it through. You are coming with me, Anu. It is not your fault and you are not going to suffer the punishment alone. I will be with you till the end.”

Wow, he will be with her till the end? What is that supposed to mean? He doesn't want anyone to know about her and yet promise her that he is going to be with her till the end? What is her back story?

“Thank you, Arjun. I never expected you to be this understanding. If at all I had known before, I would not have run away from you. You are my light, I love you, Arjun.” She hugged him. She said ‘I Love You’ to him. He hugged her back.

What am I doing here? I felt like a third wheel in this relationship. I was a replacement for her and now that she has come to claim her position, what is my position? But Arjun said I will die as his wife. Yes, how did I forget that? Anamika and Arjun were divorced. She holds no place in his life. But is there a possibility to void that divorce as it happened without her concern? Now that she has returned, and wants her life back, if Arjun has no problem in taking her back, what would happen?

I am his legal wife now, or is our marriage even legally right? God, it is just the first day in our trip and it already spoiled any chance for me to talk to Arjun. Not only that, it brought my nightmare to life.

“Excuse me, I am still here. And I am Arjun’s wife.” I intruded their hug as I cannot stand the sight.

“I know, don’t get me…” Anamika was interrupted by Arjun.

“I will talk to her, Anu. You don't want to take the pain of explaining to her. She will understand. You go and take a rest. We will start early tomorrow. I will make arrangements for our tickets.” He told her while grabbing my elbow and pulling me to his side.

“Ok, Arjun. Thank you.” She said to him and he took me out of our room.

“Let me go, Arjun. You are hurting me.” I tried to free myself from his iron fist.

“Shhh, don't make a scene. Come with me quietly.” He dragged me to the elevator.

“Arjun, why are you doing this? How did she end up here? Where did you see her? Why are you taking her with us now? You guys are divorced and I am your wife now. I will not allow her between us.” I whisper yelled to him as we have company in the elevator. He just threw me a look and decided to ignore me.

“Sit down.” He pulled a chair out in the restaurant for me. His voice and posture made me obey him.

“A garlic naan, a mutton kofta curry and a chicken lollipop.” He ordered when the waiter placed glasses of cold water on our table.

I was damn hungry and I wanted to ask if he ordered for me or he ordered for himself. The order is for a single person but I don't know if two people can eat. And my ego was stopping me from asking it to him. I could not push the words out of my mouth in front of him as his eyes were on me and never left a second.

“Here, eat.” He pushed the plate and the dishes to me. Ok, he has ordered it for me.

“You didn't eat?” I asked him before I touched the food.

“I don't eat at these untimely hours. I had my lunch on time. Why didn't you call the reception to serve your food in the room? Or you could have got down to the restaurant. I don't care if you starve and your starving will never change a thing between us.”

“Oh, do you think I starved to gain your sympathy? I don't want a life out of pity. I want your love. I didn't eat because I was new to this place and I have never been to a five star hotel like this before and I didnt know how to do anything you said. Above all, I didn't have money!” I told him, gulping down the sobs back into my throat.

“Sorry, I didn't think of that. You can order food from our room connecting straight to the restaurant. There is an intercom directory that tells you what number to dial to connect to various places inside this hotel. You don't need money at all. You can eat here or purchase anything from the shopping area or even play at the arcade games. All you have to do is tell them our room number. Everything will be added to our room bill.” He explained how things work here. I can see that he is genuinely sorry. This compassionate Arjun is the one I fell for.

“Thank you for explaining things to me.” I didn't know what else I could say to him. This empathy in him is what makes him but he tries hard to dissolve it to me.

“Eat before it all gets cold.”

I waited no longer to devour the delicious food in front of me. All the while he just sat there looking at me eat every last drop of the curry. My hunger got the best out of me and I disregarded his looks.

“Arjun, can I tell you something?” I asked him after I came back from the wash area.

“About what?” He asked me getting back in his A**hole self.

“About Arun. He is not ..”

“I don't want to hear. I gave you enough chances to talk about that or him. Now you will never get a chance.” He cut me off.

“How could you know anything if you don't let me explain my point of view?”

“I don't care about your point of view.” He stood up from the chair.

“Sit down, Arjun. Alright, no Arun. Let’s talk about Anamika.” I held his hand making him stop.

“There is nothing to talk about her. She is my wife and she needs me now. I will be with her.”

“She is your ex-wife. I am your wife.” I tried to correct him.

“Oh, right. But I am not you to just cut ties with my ex when I get a new better present.” He said.

“You are wrong, Arjun. Don't just assume things. Is it so wrong to love someone and break up when we know that someone is not good enough?” I asked him out of frustration but immediately regretted the choice of words I used.

“Exactly what you are. You loved Arun and broke up with him because he was not good enough like me. But again, I am not you. I don't just throw people away from my life. Anamika is a way better person than you but don't worry I am not going to break up with you just because you are not good enough.” He told me looking in my eyes. He clearly hates me. His hate is clouding his love for me.

I have heard from Nithu that extreme feelings are shown only to the person we hold close to our heart. That means, Arjun is holding me close to his heart. This is more than enough for me to fight for his love. I saw him make calls to someone to arrange for our tickets back to Chennai. He also made calls to the farm house giving orders to the people working there. So he is going to make her stay in the farm house with granny? I sat there in awe looking at him ordering people to do things, his voice has something in it that mesmerizes everyone that no one questions him back.

“Why did you give them paid leave? It is impossible for Anamika to do all the chores in the home and also take care of granny.” I told him as soon as he hung up the call.

“Who said Anamika is going to do all the chores?” he chuckled at me as if I was joking.

“You gave leave to all three of them that were working in the farm house. You didn't want anyone to know about her. So I guessed that you are going to make her stay with granny.” I told him unsure because as I explained to him, I saw a sadistic glint of smile that ran across his lips.

“You are right in one thing, I asked all the servants to leave so that the person that is going to stay there is going to have a tough time doing all the chores along with taking care of granny. But that is not Anamika. You are going to stay there.” He said coldly.

“You think making me do house chores is a way of punishing me? Then you are wrong. Know something, I am more comfortable in your small farm house than in your huge palace. I am happy to live there rather than in your alienated bungalow.”

“I see, let’s see if you can handle at least a week there.” He said with a beautiful smile. He is enjoying hurting me.