Inside the hotel…
Aditya had booked an entire room because he knew Anamika didn’t like eating in a room full of people. Aditya was about to sit on his chair when Ira, moving ahead with her plan, sat next to him. Anamika was just about to sit on the seat on the other side of Aditya, when Ira suddenly said,
“Hey, not there!”
Hearing that, Aditya squinted at Ira and asked, “Why?! Why not here?!”
Hearing this, Ira got nervous and smiled, then thinking quickly, she said, “Why not there…! Yeah… I mean, I want to talk to her, right? That’s why… here (pointing to the chair next to her) sit here!”
Anamika nodded and sat down on the seat next to Ira. Meanwhile, Aditya’s mind started running like a horse, “When did this wild cat become so innocent!! Looks like she’s in the mood to hunt today!”
Thinking that, he remembered the recent moments and took a deep breath , “Nothing can be done about her!! Anyway… after so many years, she deserves a little fun with me!”
The waiter came to the table. As soon as he came, Ira quickly gave her order. After that, Aditya ordered for himself and Anamika.
In a while, their food also arrived. Aditya and Anamika started eating, while Ira smiled with mischievous thoughts.
She held Aditya’s hand and said, “Adi… like before, feed me with your hands, please!”
Hearing that, and seeing Ira’s naughty smile, Aditya thought to himself, “So… her drama still isn’t over! Wait, girl… I’ll show you now!”
With a fake smile, Aditya said, “Yeah… I’ll feed you.”
Hearing this, Ira looked at Anamika and said, “When we were together, he used to take me out and feed me with his own hands. Now I’ve gotten used to it… if he’s with me, I don’t feel like eating on my own!”
Ira was trying hard to make Anamika feel jealous, but Anamika’s eyes were only on Aditya, who had just taken a bite, and sneakily put a chili in it while hiding it from Ira. His face had a concerned smile, but she didn’t say anything because he was signaling Anamika to stay quiet, while Ira wasn’t even letting her speak!
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While Ira was still talking, Aditya brought the spoon near her mouth, and Ira, keeping her eyes fixed on Anamika, ate it with a smile. But the moment she ate it, her expressions changed.
She screamed, “Water… water! Brother, water…!”
She reached her hand toward the jug, but Aditya picked it up and moved it away, saying, “Wait now… I’ll make you drink it with my hands too!”
Ira had tears in her eyes. She held Aditya’s other hand and, just like a child, insisted,
“Brother, please give it! My mouth is burning!”
Seeing the tears in her eyes, Aditya stopped and quickly poured water into a glass and gave it to her, then immediately called the waiter. As soon as the waiter came, he asked him to bring something sweet, but seeing Ira’s condition, he couldn’t resist and went into the kitchen himself to bring something sweet.
Here, Ira felt relieved just with the water.
Anamika softly said to Ira, “You… you both care a lot about each other, don’t you?”
Ira’s face had turned completely red, but even in such a moment, with the aura of a fierce cat, she said, “Yeah… Adi cares a lot about me!”
Anamika gave a sweet smile and said, “Yes… of course, Aditya cares the most about you in this whole world, and I know that you also care about him very much!”
Seeing Anamika’s smile, it felt like all of Ira’s anger had disappeared. As if Anamika’s smile was some kind of magical spell, which instantly calmed Ira’s heart.
When Aditya came out with the ice cream a little later and saw the atmosphere at the table, he paused.
Ira was talking to Anamika with so much love that it felt like Anamika was not Aditya’s, but Ira’s first love. Ira was also eating with Anamika and feeding her too.
Even Anamika looked happy. Seeing this, Aditya looked at the ice cream and thought, “Now… what about me and this icecream?”
Here, even while sitting next to Anamika, Aditya felt like Ira had pushed him far away from her. And for the first time, Aditya felt jealous of his own sister.
On the other side, there were two more people who, at this moment, were feeling alone without Anamika.
Saaniya and Ruhi!
They were both at Anamika’s house. Right now, it was morning here!
(Note: Due to the time zone difference, it’s morning here, and it’s night where Aditya and Anamika are!)
Like every other day, today no one was in a hurry. Saaniya and Ruhi were sitting in the hall and the TV was on in front of them. The same cartoon show was playing that Anamika watched every day.
For the past few days, Ruhi had been coming to Anamika’s house to learn portrait drawing and would then sleep there. Yesterday, she completely forgot that Aditya had taken Anamika with him to the US, and she ended up coming to Anamika’s house. Since then, she’s been there.
She had become so used to Anamika’s presence that she was starting to miss her terribly. If someone like Ruhi—who had only met Anamika recently—was feeling such longing, one could only imagine what was going on inside Saaniya’s heart.
Saaniya’s face still had no expression, but inside her, a storm was raging.
She wanted to call Anamika, but she couldn’t. Because she had promised herself that she wouldn’t disturb Anamika! After all, for the first time in all these years, she had gone on a journey alone. According to Saaniya, Anamika should be free now… but it felt like Saaniya herself was trying to get used to staying away from Anamika!
While watching the TV screen, Saaniya said, “Aren’t you getting ready for office?”
To this, Ruhi said, “Aren’t you getting ready to go to the hospital?”
Saaniya stayed silent for a while and then said with a deep breath, “Without Anamika here, it feels like everything is calm! I don’t feel any rush to do anything!”
Ruhi replied, “You’re missing her too!”
Hearing this, Saaniya stood up and said,
“Oh no! Why would I miss her?! What I meant is, because of her I always got late. Today she isn’t here, so I can get my work done peacefully. I don’t need to rush anything!”
Saying that, Saaniya went into her room. After she left, Ruhi smiled and said,
“Ahhhh… Aditya sir… please bring our lady boss back soon!”
On one hand, even though Aditya was with Anamika, Ira had somehow pushed him away from her! And because of that, for the first time, Aditya was feeling jealous of his own sister.
And on the other hand, Ruhi and Saaniya were both feeling the emptiness left behind by Anamika’s absence!
So when will Aditya’s journey come to an end?
In all of this, have they forgotten the reason they both came here?
Will they be able to convince Aniket’s father?
Or will Ruhi and Saaniya’s loneliness go in vain?
