Page 30 of Obsession

“Yeah, what she said,” Reina concurred. “What the hell is going on, Ananya? And first, why were you staring at him right now?”

Ananya laughed. “I wasn’t staring at him; I was watching him with Nia. Look at them.”

From across the pool, Mihir entered the water. He called Nia to the ledge and held his arms out. She jumped right into the pool, squealing in delight as she bobbed back up, thanks to the floats on her arms. Nia said something to him, and Mihir propped her on his shoulders. Nia stood atop him, and on a count of three, she jumped from his shoulders and into the water. Her happy laughter echoed around them. The little girl wrapped her tiny arms around Mihir’s neck and kissed his scarred cheek. He gave her a wide smile. Something in Ananya’s heart melted at the sight. For the first time in a very long time, she had actually seen Mihir happy.

She’d spotted him with Nia the second she’d entered the party. He’d thrown his head back and laughed at something the little girl had said. Her mind had flashed to the past, to the time when he used to laugh so freely with her. Seeing Nia in his arms, the two of them talking, had made her heart ache. At one time, she had wanted a little baby girl just like Nia. Hers and Mihir’s baby. She had even dreamt of her. The urge to go to him had blindly driven her forward. But then his brothers had stopped her. Still, she’d moved past them and gone straight to Mihir.

He’d been alone then, looking serious and grumpy again. Unable to resist, she had kissed his cheek only to wipe that sullen expression off his face. Sure enough, his demeanor had changed instantly. That sour expression had disappeared replaced by shock and something else. Something that?—

Navya shook her shoulder. “You are staring again.”

“Oh, I am not,” Ananya replied.

Navya’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “Really? Credit us with a little intelligence. You were ogling him. Again.”

“Alright!” Ananya sighed. “I can’t help it that I find him hot.”

Reina gasped. Navya opened and closed her mouth.

Ananya shrugged. “Please, stop behaving over dramatic. He’s hot. There is no denying that. Besides, to answer all your other questions, he invited me to this party.”

Reina gasped again. Ananya glared at her.

“I cannot help reacting like that,” Reina said. “You and he were like a war waiting to happen. All of us walk on eggshells around you two, not knowing when a mention of the other person will tick you off. And now you’re saying thatheinvitedyou. Forgive me if that sounds a little unbelievable.”

“Agreed,” Navya said. “Also, can we circle back to the fact that you kissed his cheek?”

“It was to get a rise out of you all!” Ananya said casually. “It worked.”

Ananya studied them both. Navya wore a blue bikini and Reina was in black.

“You both look good…” Ananya gave them a smile. “I hope you’re covered in sunblock. It’s bright today.”

Reina scowled.

Navya threw her hands on her hips. “What the fuck is going on? Explain now, and no deflecting or talking in circles to confuse us.”

Ananya dropped her bag on the lounger next to her.

“Mihir and I met last week,” Ananya said. “We decided to call a truce for all four of you.”

Reina blinked. “You met? And you’ve called a truce?”

“I don’t believe you!” Navya squinted. “What is the catch?”

Ananya stepped out of her slippers and took her hat off.

“No catch,” Ananya said. “He and I have agreed that our cold war was putting a dent in your lives. Hence, we’ve decided to work towards being more amenable to one another.”

“Just like that?” Reina asked, looking very doubtful.

“Yes.”

“It can’t be that simple,” Navya said.

“He wants his brothers to be happy, and I want you both to be happy. We’re doing this for you all. Can you not see that?”

“But what about his problem with you?” Reina asked.

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