Page 13 of Obsession

Mihir had never really had friends before. His brothers and he only ever had each other to count on. But now, thanks to Rajiv, he had someone else he could depend on. Hence, he would never ruin that friendship, which had become his strength in more ways than one.

Rajiv Mehra was a year older than him, and Mihir respected him a whole lot. Not only was Rajiv a successful businessman, he was wise, sensible, considerate, loyal—and like Mihir, he put his family first always. Mihir treasured their relationship. All of this further complicated everything between Anna and him. And if she decided to finally announce the marriage… Rajiv would never react favorably to that news. He would feel betrayed. Mihir’s brothers would feel betrayed, as would Navya and Reina.

Which meant he had to let her go, quietly, without getting their families involved. Fuck. He had to let go of all his plans for revenge and live his life away from her.

But how did one let go of someone who had been such an intrinsic and disastrous part of their past? Memories rushed through him, memories he had tried to suppress for the longest, but now he no longer could hold them back.

* * *

The past

London

Seven years ago

“Why the hellis Surya here? Oh my God, he’s following me.”

Mihir looked up from his laptop at the sound of that agitated voice. He’d spotted her the second she’d entered the café.

Ananya Mehra—the woman who’d been haunting his dreams for months now.

The coffee shop next to London Business School was always busy this time of the evening. She was seated on a table to his right with two of her friends, her expression thunderous as she stared at a man two tables in front of her. The café was small, and the tables were placed very close to each other. Add to that, Ananya’s group was loud enough for him to hear their conversation.

“Just ignore him,” a girl with pixie-cut hair said from next to her.

“I’ve tried, but he doesn’t get the message,” Ananya replied through gritted teeth.

“Well, can’t help that he’s infatuated with you,” their third friend said, a girl with blonde streaks in her hair.

Ananya rolled her eyes before she looked at her phone. Mihir studied her. Dressed in a navy-blue fitted knit dress, black knee-high boots, her face clear of makeup, and her fair skin glowing, Ananya Mehra was gorgeous. She was a classic beauty, her striking eyes framed by long, dark lashes, high cheekbones, full rosy lips, and that long lustrous pitch-black hair.

While growing up in the orphanage, the matron, Mrs. Braganza, had narrated stories of a beautiful princess in a faraway land. He hadn’t believed those tales until a month ago, when he had seen Ananya for the first time. Ananya Mehra was stunningly beautiful, graceful, and had a regal air about her. Her entire demeanor screamed wealth and privilege. She was pursuing an MBA at the same college as him and was his classmate in the Global Business class. He’d noticed her on the first day of classes this semester. But he doubted she even knew he existed.

So many women had tried to approach him in college. Mihir had ignored all of them. He had been resolute to focus only on his studies and not women. He had six months left before he could return to Moscow and start working again at O-Corp. He and his brothers had been given a golden opportunity, one that only a rare few got in life. He wasn’t going to squander that by losing focus.

However, Ananya Mehra seemed like a woman one could lose themselves to, and that’s why he hadn’t approached her ever.

A waitress put a glass of chilled latte in front of her. She took a sip, and her eyes rolled shut. “This is so good.”

Her blonde friend laughed. “You have an unhealthy addiction to chilled lattes, girl.”

Ananya smiled, and then her lips fell. “Oh God, Surya hasn’t stopped staring at me. It’s bugging me now. Why can’t he understand that I am not interested in him?”

“He’s crazy about you. Why don’t you take pity on him and put him out of his misery?” the short-haired one said. “I’d totally do him.”

“Honestly, Ananya, he has a lot going for him. He is super rich. Maybe you should go on one date with him,” the blonde one said sagely.

“Absolutely not. I don’t care about his money.” Ananya squinted. “What the hell is he doing? Ugh.”

Mihir finally looked at the man the girls were talking about. He was making a heart sign with his fingers at her. Mihir chuckled, looking at his laptop screen again. He’d seen this guy around their college campus before, mostly hanging around Ananya and her group of friends like a puppy.

Ananya tossed her dark hair over her shoulders. “Please, for the love of God, someone make him go away.”

The girl next to Ananya looked sheepish. “Him being here and everything he’s doing maybe a bit of our fault...”

Ananya glared at her friends. “What did you do?”

“Actually—” the blonde one began, but she was cut off by the short-haired one.

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