Page 57 of Obsession

Smiling, Rajiv stood. “The mayhem has reached home. I’ll go down and help Sheena with the kids. It’s going to be dinner and bedtime soon.”

Her parents also rose.

“We’ll leave too,” her mom said. “Just remember, it’s time to put yourself first, Ananya.”

They all left her room, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She picked up her phone and typed a message to Mihir. She wanted to hear from him that he was ready to do this interview with her.

I heard you’ve agreed to me interviewing you

His reply was instant.

Yes

What are your hard limits?

Meaning?

Questions I cannot ask

Let’s talk when you come here

Where are you right now?

Moscow

When do you want me there?

Come next week. I’ll organize your stay.

Alright

Text me the details of your arrival. A car will be waiting to fetch you. Let’s finish this

Her heart ached as she reread his last words over and over again.Let’s finish this.

Not once had he asked her how she was. He clearly hadn’t cared enough to, and that hurt and made her mad at the same time. His indifference had always hurt, no matter how many times she’d tried to move past that pain and him.

Staying mad at him was better. For her own sanity, it was better to not let other emotions consume her. She had to focus on her anger. Fill her heart and mind with it, and let him go. She had to finish this. Finish them.

And while doing that, she had to also heal that part of her that had broken after her attack. She’d train her body and mind to overcome her fear and panic. And once she was healed fully, she’d tell her mother that she was okay to meet the men she’d selected for her. It was time to take a chance on her heart again, and hopefully, not get disappointed.

15

The past

Mihir zipped his Ferrari down the busy London roads. Even though it was early in the morning, the traffic was crazy. Luckily, he found a parking spot close to the coffee shop where Anna was waiting for their breakfast date.The last four months with her had been the best time of his life. Apart from the times when either of them had family visiting, they’d been together daily. In fact, Anna stayed at his place several nights a week.

Being with her, laughing with her, listening to her talk, making love to her, had all become the highlight of his days. Anna had intricately woven herself into the very fabric of his being, so much so that living without her was becoming next to impossible.

He hadn’t yet told his family about her. While initially, it was because their relationship had been too new, and then later, he wanted to have her to himself for a while before he got his family involved. His brothers would endlessly hassle him, and his dad would want to do a thorough background check on her. They’d all want to meet her and get to know her. He wanted Anna to himself for a little while longer before his family’s chaos descended upon them. But now, it was time to tell them. It was also time to tell her who he really was. He’d only told her that he was originally from India and that now he had no ties to it. He’d never told her more.

He hadn’t told her that he was an orphan who, by a random stroke of luck, had been adopted by a Russian billionaire. He hadn’t wanted her to think poorly of him. However, now, knowing her as he did, he was certain that Anna wouldn’t judge him. She’d accept him for who he was.

Parking his car, he headed to the café. His face lit up when he saw her seated at their favorite corner, staring into her iPad, her iced coffee and a half-eaten sandwich next to her.

She stood as he neared her and pecked his cheek. “Hey, handsome! You’re late, again.”

“Sorry, got stuck in traffic.” He palmed her cheeks and kissed her smiling mouth. “I missed you last night.”

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