Chapter 27 :

Anika's POV

"Are you okay?", asked Esha, sliding the cup of americano towards me.

I nodded but didn't tear away my gaze from the view of the city, through the window of her room.

I heard her sigh.

"Why are you so upset?", she asked again, standing beside me.

It has been almost 10 days since Arnav and I came back from India to Paris. Ever since that night he made me go through so much, I did not see him at all. He didn't even come to meet me after what he did. All he did was send his right hand man, Rehan, to tell me that we were coming back to Paris. I was not surprised that he did not show me his face because how would he when he had his girlfriend with him. He just needs me to torment me and nothing else.

I was at peace for not catching a glimpse of him. I don't know why but the bitterness I felt by the thought of him staying with his girlfriend left me at unease. Maybe as a wife I didn't want to see my husband like that, regardless of the nature of this marriage.

"Your birthday is in two days", she spoke handing me my cup of americano.

I sighed looking down at the cup in my hands, "I ain't celebrating it anyways."

Keeping her left hand on my right shoulder, she spoke, "How much will you torture yourself? It's hard to move on but that time is already gone. Please don't stay stuck there", her voice soft and concerned.

I smiled mildly at the night view as I spoke, "It's not that I'm willingly holding onto those memories. It's just—hard", a lump in my throat formed as tears accumulated in my eyes.

Turning away my head, I blinked away the tears as she sighed.

"I—", her words were cut off by the sound of the doorbell ringing in the living room.

"Wait I'll check", she spoke glancing at me before walking towards the main door.

I stood there silently, waiting to see who it was. As she opened the door, a tall man entered, broad shoulders and a tough physique covered in a white tailored suit and shirt with a waistcoat. His straight chin length blonde hair was tied up into a man bun. Every feature was perfectly sculpted making me doubt the existence of such men.

As I stood there silently, Esha spoke, "Anika, this is Damien Evans, my boss." She introduced him as he smiled at me with a slight nod, his hazel eyes twinkled as he glanced at her.

Locking the door, she led him to the white semicircle sofa placed beside me. Asking him to sit down, she went inside the kitchen as I sat down infront of him, on a single sofa.

"Hi I'm Anika, her bestfriend", I spoke with a smile. I kept my surname to myself because I didn't bear that old one that I had borrowed from my parents and at the same time, didn't want his surname attached to my name.

He nodded, "I know. She keeps talking about you", he replied in his deep voice. The deepness mirrored the depth an ocean would have.

He seemed very calmed, composed and neat.

Soon Esha appeared in the hall before handing the glass of water to him while keeping down a cup of ginger tea along with few of her handmade cookies on the table in front of us.

"Will you have the tea or get fresh first?", she asked, standing beside him. But I was taken aback when he without any warning pulled her on his lap before wrapping his arms around her waist.

"I prefer to prioritise you before getting fresh", he said placing a chaste kiss on her nape.

I looked away, gulping down feeling embarrassment and awkwardness taking control over me.

"Hey, we have guests here. Keep it for later", she spoke faking her anger while standing up before sitting down beside him.

His chuckle reverberated in the room as she spoke, "I'm sorry Anika. He's like that only", she said, "And yeah, you, I, Rooh and Vidhi are having a girls day out tomorrow".

•

27 June, Friday, 2024

11:45 p.m.

Two days passed in a blink and I didn't even feel it. Yesterday I was having some moments with Esha and today we four best friends had our day out. Yesterday Esha finally told me that she was in love with her boss who felt the same for her. She didn't have the courage to tell me about him because he was already married and he had a one year old child.

She knew I won't agree like that to let her have a married man who was a father too. I never controlled her, for, she had her own life and privacy. She can make her own decisions but we four best friends have always worked with each other's opinions. We don't want her bad and that's why we aren't happy or about her relationship, but worried. But she's happy so are we for her.

And Damien had honestly confessed his love for her, provided his messed up life. I wasn't told about the reason for him loving another woman despite being a father and a husband, but Esha had promised to tell me when the time comes. I believe her.

My head hurts now.

I glanced at the clock hung above the wall TV on the wall in front of me.

11:55 p.m.

It's my birthday after 5 minutes but I'm barely excited, instead, a fear is trickling up my chest. Those same haunted memories would haunt me like always. Like every birthday, I'd be crouched down in a corner, weeping my heart out.

Shaking off the thoughts, I stood up prior to walking out of my room towards the main hall downstairs.

His mansion is vast with tight security, tight enough to not even let a bug get inside.

As I stepped into the main hall, my eyes widened witnessing something I didn't expect to see.

Arnav sat there on the black leather couch, still in his black office shirt and pant, but it didn't look as normal as it could have been.

His right side profile was facing me, some shirt buttons undone while his hands rested on the backrest. His hair was messy as his eyes stared at Arshi sitting on his lap. Her arms were circled around his neck, as she stared at him with a smirk on her red lips. She wore a red satin shirt revealing enough of her cleavage and black pencil skirt, that had rode up to her upper thighs.

Anika Roy Chowdhury wouldn't have cared about this, but the Anika Rai Mehrotra I've become, felt tears accumulating in her eyes. Her heart clenched seeing something like that. Those conflicting feelings made it harder for me to even breathe even a second more here.

Emotions can be so complex sometimes that we sometimes even end up feeling hurt by the actions of someone we hate. I don't have a reason to hate, for, what he's doing is because he hates me for ruining his brother but he didn't ruin anyone I love.

This feeling of being unable to neither hate nor love is too difficult to bear. It chokes at times.

I ran upstairs, tears streaming down my cheeks as my heart beat faster. They didn't acknowledge my presence but what I saw, couldn't be erased from my mind.

I don't even love him to question but still I felt hurt. I had locked up my heart for a reason. But now that he has found the key to open all those wounds on my heart, my feelings are resurfacing.

I need to be strong but I feel so stupid and weak right now that I can't even stay strong.

Entering my room, I locked the door prior to sliding down against the door, sobbing my heart out. My heart ached so much that it felt like I wanted to rip it out of my chest. I hit my chest, hating that thing beating inside it which always ruins my everything. It'd have been better if I was born heartless, at least I wouldn't have fallen in love and nothing would have happened that's happening now.

My phone rang, as I tilted my head to read the time on the clock.

It was 12:00 a.m.

My best friends must be calling to wish me but I really have no strength to rise up and pick the call. I don't want them to hear my broken voice and see my tear struck face.

What would I explain to them? Would I say that I saw my husband getting involved intimately with his ex-fiancée and I'm hurt by that? I was hurt by the person I claim to despise?

Pulling down my hair, I hid my face in between my folded up legs while sobbing.

Only if my maa had been here, I'd have ran to her and would've told her everything. She'd have combed my hair with her fingers while calming me down, giving me solutions to all the mess I've been trapped in.

I kept crying like that, pitying myself for being so weak and worthless. I was strong and I needed to be strong again—that's what I kept telling myself as I unknowingly fell asleep.

•

28 June, Saturday, 2024

5:45 a.m.

I woke up with a sudden jolt when my phone rang again. For a moment, I was perplexed to find myself in an unfamiliar environment until things settled in and I realised I was at his place.

As I moved to get up, my body started aching. I slept on the floor the whole night so it was obvious to have an aching body in the morning. Regretting my decision to stay on the ground last night, I stood up while massaging my shoulders consecutively.

Pushing up the green button, I held the phone in front of my face as my best friends yelled,

"Happy birthday Ani, our boss bitch"

I chuckled at their noisy nature.

Esha, a supermodel, who's known worldwide for her composed, neat and professional behaviour is sitting in baggy clothes with a bird's nest like head.

Vidhi, a cardiothoracic in Italy, who's respected for her dedication towards her job, is sitting on the ground with a pizza box on her lap.

Rooh, a corporate architect herself and the owner of her own corporation, always the perfect lady, is sitting with a messy bun on top of her head and one eye is closed while the other is half open indicating that she had woken up just now.

This is how best friends are—messed up and raw, but perfect.

Maybe I'm looking a bit more decent than all of them. I chuckled at the thought.

"Thank you so much my ladies. I'm blessed by your morning looks", I said, my tone in a teasing manner despite the storm inside.

"No thank you shank you behen. We are coming over for the party very soon", spoke Esha pushing her toothbrush inside her mouth.

I smiled, "Come whenever you want. I'll get the preparations done".

"You don't need to. Your husband has already done everything from printing cards and delivering it to everyone", spoke Rooh as confusion took over me.

"Yeah, he must've even got the preparations done. Wait—you didn't know?", asked Vid.

I scrunched my brows as I shook my head.

All of them hissed before Esha yelled at Rooh and Vid, "Yahhh Rooh and Vid, he must've kept it a secret. Why ruin it?"

Why'd he do that? He hated me then why'd he want to celebrate my birthday?

As I was thinking about that, memories from last night flashed in front of my eyes. My face drained its color as I froze remembering everything. Shaking my head I spoke,

"Guys, I need to get fresh now. I have office today so see you all in the evening and thanks a lot for the wishes. I actually slept last night very early because of a headache so I couldn't pick up your call. I saw it in the morning", it felt harder than I imagined to lie to all of them.

Ever since my marriage was fixed, I've been lying to them about everything. I hate myself for this but I'm helpless.

I flashed my weak smile as Rooh spoke, "It's fine Aniii.... Now you get fresh and don't overwork. Let's meet in the evening", I nodded before cutting the call.

I sighed glancing at the window of my room.

Throwing the phone on my bed, I walked towards the bathroom while picking up my towel and bathrobe with me.

I've started working from the second day of returning here. It felt a bit uncomfortable to live under the same roof as him but I couldn't do anything.

8:15 a.m.

I opted for a black top that looked similar to an office coat, designed with a deep v-cut, along with a pair of loose straight white office pants. A black leather Versace belt was wrapped around the waist over the coat.

I completed my outfit with a pair of Louboutin heels and a low ponytail.

Putting my phone and other essentials inside my bag, I walked out of my room after spraying my favourite perfume.

The mansion was silent, the maids and servants busy in their works. They greeted me on my way to the dining hall beside the main hall, separated by a wall.

My breakfast consisted of avocado toast, strawberries, mango and croissant with hot coffee.

I was confused for the third time this morning after receiving such surprises. First I was surprised to find myself in an unfamiliar surrounding, then the surprise my husband had planned for me and now the breakfast I wasn't used to eating.

I looked up at the maid standing beside me before asking, "It's not what I eat. Who asked for this?", my tone was neutral.

"Ma'am it was master's order to prepare this for your birthday. Happy birthday ma'am", she spoke with a bow.

I scoffed at his sudden change in the behaviour. Taking a look at my watch I noticed that I'd get late if I enquired further so without much protest, I dismissed her and had my breakfast.

He didn't appear for once after last night.

It was around 8:55 when I reached my office. His mansion was away from my office by half an hour. So I reached 5 minutes before my usual time.

Putting on my sunglasses, I got out of my car once my personal guard opened the door. I avoided any smile or change in my behaviour because today being my birthday, the media would be there inside the building for any update.

Followed by my guards, I stepped inside the building to be welcomed by Ryle, who bowed with respect after wishing me on my birthday. Only selected news reporters were allowed inside the casual meeting room in the ground floor.

As I sat on my chair taking off my sunglasses, I fixed my gaze on the reporters sitting infront of me.

"Good morning everyone. You may start", I proposed.

One of the reporters said, "Good morning Mrs. Rai Mehrotra. First of all, I wish you a heartful birthday on your twenty sixth birthday."

I nodded.

"So ma'am, we'd like to know how you met your husband, Mr. Arnav Rai Mehrotra?"

I knew this was coming.

Clasping my hands on the table, k answered slowly, "It was a casual meeting", I kept the details to myself.

"But it was known by almost everyone that he was in a relationship with supermodel Ms. Arshi Arora. How did they break up?"

"It's their personal matter. Let's respect their privacy and decisions. Next question", I spoke.

"Ma'am where is Mr. Nishant Rai Singhania?"

I froze. My face must be looking pale. It must be because I hate this name. This name both disgusts and scares me. Gulping a lump down my throat, I cleared my throat before answering, "It's a matter of past. Why don't you move with the present even after I had already given my statement on that particular matter?", my voice was hard.

The next ten minutes continued with their questions on my professional life and a few on my marriage which was much easier to handle than the early ones.

Once I was done with the meeting, I walked out of the room before taking a lift to the tenth floor. I didn't wait for Ryle to get out of the lift as I stormed out of it once it stopped on my office floor.

I was feeling suffocated after that man's name was brought up. His name would always suffocate me.

Running towards the washroom inside my cabin, I rested my hands on the island. My head hung low as I gasped for air. This is how much a single name can torment a person.

Rubbing my palm over my tightening chest, I inhaled and exhaled trying to calm myself down. I hate this.

Rising up my head, I looked at my reflection in the mirror.

The past Anika Roy Chowdhury, stood there laughing at me, the weak Anika Rai Mehrotra. Her laughter full of mockery pinched my heart as I clenched my jaws. Tears accumulated in my eyes as I stared at the past reflection of mine with pain. I missed that old me.

Wiping away the tears, I fixed my makeup before walking out of the washroom.

The morning went by me checking the progress of the company during my absence. The investment has been growing ever since I signed a deal with Yumi Suzume, and many deals are there in the waiting list.

Being satisfied with the results, I closed the file prior to letting my upper body fall back against the backrest of my swivel chair. My gaze remained fixed to the white ceiling as I remembered my childhood birthdays.

We weren't so rich but my father used to bring my favourite chocolate cake while my mother would prepare sweet dishes along with salty ones for the guests who would come in the evening to celebrate my birthday. Maya di used to give me so many things which she used to prepare on my birthday eve. I used to count days once my birthday was away by one month. I used to be super excited and happy because I was a child. I wasn't matured and didn't have responsibilities on my shoulders. I was content with my life and whatever it provided me.

A happy and peaceful life.

But I had it. I had all those moments. And I don't have them now.

Everything started changing as I hit my puberty, started getting matured and with time losing those childhood days. Everything became a memory and I didn't even realise when I got so busy in building my career that I left behind my everything.

I sighed.

I miss maa and papa. Their cheerful voices wishing me happy birthday rang in my ears and tears slid down my temples.

A sudden knock on the door brought me back to reality as I sat up straight, wiping off the tears.

"Come in", I allowed.

The door opened revealing Ryle followed by Mrs. Suzume.

I stood up while greeting her with a smile, "Oh, good morning Mrs. Suzume. Please have a seat", I spoke welcoming her making her sit on the chair in front of mine.

Ryle went out after a bow once I asked her to send two coffee cups with the opinion of Mrs. Suzume.

As I sat back on my chair, I said, "I didn't know that you were here in France."

She smiled slowly, clasping her hands on her lap. She was a classy Gothic lady. Dressed in a shirt with a tie under a trench coat with black office pants, her attire was completed with a pair of black heels. Everything she wore was black. Her lips had the shade of deep cherry red and her upturned eyes were charcoal black, a perfect combination for her pale Japanese skin. Her middle parted long straight hair was tied up into a low ponytail. Each and everything she wore was just black, except the grey tie and golden earrings and studs adorning her ears.

The aura she carried itself was dark and cold.

"How come you grace me with your presence in the morning?", I asked politely clasping my hands on the table while learning back against the backrest.

She smiled, "I just happened to get to know about your birthday. So came to wish you and give you a present", she spoke while motioning her secretary to come forward, who was standing at the back.

Ms. Yamakazi, her secretary, kept a black box wrapped with a black ribbon on my table. Chanel was written in white on the ribbon.

I looked up at her and said with a smile, "That's really kind of you Mrs. Suzume. Thanks for the gift", my tone was warm.

Keeping aside the gift I discussed some business matters with her before she took her leave. Today, I don't know why, I felt something was off with her. But taking it was my imagination due to the morning events, I shrugged away the thoughts.

The morning half wasn't very occupied so after a short meeting with the board members, I settled back in my cabin.

My eyes fell on the gift from Mrs. Suzume amidst all the other presents I have received. Everything was colorful and bright, but her gift was oddly contrasting with them. Standing up from my chair, I walked up to the couch placed on the corner to take a look inside the box.

Upon reaching the couch, I sat down before taking off the lid of the box, as it revealed a black diary with red stones studded on it. A black feather pen lay at the side with a beautiful ink bottle.

Picking up the diary, I traced my finger tips over the dark red sapphires, a very beautiful and attractive creation of God.

Turning the cover, I came across a quote written at the bottom of the first clean yellow page of the diary,

"Each day is a mystery. Find the key before you lose it, forever"

I got confused at the words. Her gift was actually a mysterious type. But again thinking it was because of her lifestyle, I kept it back into the box before resuming my work.

But a disturbing feeling kept nagging me all day long.

Why did she give something like that, that too on my birthday?