Page 118 of Obsession

Ananya grimaced. “Um, not today.”

“Huh, you’re saying no to a chilled latte?” Avi shook her head, setting the coffee glass on the table beside them.

Her friend didn’t know she was carrying a baby, and hence, was off caffeine.

“So,” Avi tipped her head toward Mihir. “Care to tell me what his tantrum is about?”

Ananya sighed. “It’s a long story.”

Mihir looked up from his laptop. Seeing her standing with Avi, his face broke out into a huge smile. He pocketed his glasses and winked at her. She wanted to hit him. He’d caused so much inconvenience for everyone just for her to come here.

Ananya scowled. His smile widened.

Avi laughed. “Considering that he’s disrupted my schedule by over an hour, only so you could come here, I think I need to know more. So, speak fast.”

“Won’t you get late?” Ananya asked.

“Your man can wait a little bit.”

“He’s not my man.”

“You sure about that?” Avi asked. “From the way he’s staring at you, he certainly seems to think otherwise.”

“Oh God, Avi.”

Avi gave her a pointed look. “Talk.”

Ananya ran a weary hand through her hair.

“I’m pregnant,” she blurted. She was so tired of dealing with this news by herself. She’d driven herself insane over the last few days, worrying about the baby, about herself, and about their future. And Mihir’s part in it.

She should have gone to Avantika first. Her friend had been in a similar situation at one time.

Avantika’s eyes widened, and then she exhaled. “I so did not expect you to saythat. That does explain why you’re not having the coffee, though.” Avi looked at Mihir. “So, it’s his.”

“I could have been with someone else, you know,” Ananya said weakly.

Avi glared at her. “Oh, please. Just from the way he’s looking at you, I can safely say it’s his, and that he knows.”

She sighed. “It’s his, and he knows.”

“Oh boy…” Avantika said slowly. Taking Ananya’s hand in hers, Avi squeezed her fingers. “Tell me everything. I’m here for you, and you know I’ll never judge.”

And so she did. For the first time in her life, she told her whole story, the past and the present, to another person. Avi listened to her raptly, asking a few questions here and there. When she was done telling Avi everything, Ananya felt an overwhelming sense of relief.

“Are you keeping the baby?” Avantika asked.

“I am…” Ananya looked at their joined hands. “When I returned from Moscow, I was so heartbroken and miserable. I kept telling myself that it was better I’d ended everything with him. That now I could move on in life. But that never gave me any hope. However, this baby… it has filled my whole heart with hope and happiness. I have so much to look forward to now.”

Avantika gave her a mischievous smile. “I guess seeing other men for an arranged marriage is not happening now.”

“Uff, how do you know about that?”

“Rajiv said your parents are looking at prospective grooms for you.”

It was true. On her return, her parents kept hinting that they wanted her to meet some of the men they had in mind for her. So far, she hadn’t agreed, although she had considered the option. But now…

Ananya rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that’s not happening now.”

---