Page 39 of Obsession

Sheena smiled. “When you have kids, you are always looking around, ensuring they’re not getting into trouble. I saw you going to the pool house. A few minutes later, Mihir also went somewhere. A long time later, I saw you come out of the pool house, looking flustered and red in the face. And a few minutes later, Mihir followedfromthe same direction.”

Ananya gulped. She looked between the two girls.

Avantika dropped her spoon in her plate and laughed. “Oh. It’s like that, huh?”

A waitress came to clear their plates.

“Talk, Ananya, I don’t have all day,” Sheena said. “And don’t you dare say nothing happened. Your face clearly says otherwise.”

Ananya wiped her clammy hands on her dress. “I’d gone to change into my swimsuit. When I came out, he was there, waiting for me. As usual, he was trying to order me around. We got into an argument, and then…”

“And then? Sheena asked, wriggling her eyebrows.

“One thing led to the other, and then my mouth was on his, and his hands…” She shook her head. “We ended up making out.”

Pin-drop silence followed her words. Her friends looked shell-shocked.

“Say something…” Ananya whispered.

“Have you gone mad?” Sheena burst out.

“I thought you hated him,” Avi said at the same time

“I do hate him.” Ananya looked at her hands. “I hate him for hating me. I hate him for not caring for me enough to even tell me he was alive. I hate him for judging me for something I don’t even know I did. But most of all, I hate him because when I was in his arms, it didn’t feel like hate at all.”

She dropped her head in her hands. “Fuck, I don’t know what to do.”

Sheena went to sit beside her, and Avi scooted closer to her from the other side. Both the women put their arms around her.

“Hey, it’s okay,” Sheena said. “We’ve both been exactly where you are.”

“Yes,” Avi said. “We know what it is to want a man you shouldn’t want.”

“But it turned out fine for you two,” Ananya said. “In my case, he hates me so much.”

“Well, thatiscomplicated,” remarked Sheena, never one to mince words.

Ananya made a face. “You think?”

Avi sighed. “Look, the only advice I can give you is to stay away from him. He doesn’t even want to clear the past with you. A physical relationship with him will only hurt you, Ananya.”

Sheena nodded in agreement. “She’s right. Mihir’s been holding a grudge against you for years. I don’t want him to use your physical attraction to him to hurt you further. I could tell Rajiv?—”

“—Please, no,” Ananya looked at each of the women. “Both of you have to promise me that you won’t breathe a word of this to your husbands. And Sheena, we can’t tell Navya and Reina. I don’t want any trouble to come out of this.”

Avantika smiled. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with us.”

“Sisters before misters, always!” Sheena winked.

Ananya gave them a grateful smile. Her friends changed the topic to that of their children, and soon, they all stood to leave.

At the exit, Ananya hugged the ladies, and they promised to meet soon. A waitress neared them, carrying a takeaway cup. Avi took the cup and handed it to Ananya.

“It’s your favorite iced latte,” Avantika said. “I know how your coffee makes you feel better.”

Ananya gave her a warm smile. Avi really was a great friend. “Thank you.”

With a quick wave at the girls, Ananya moved in the direction of her car.

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