Anita's POV

Akash was adamant that we watch a movie tonight, but I kept refusing.

However, he didn't take no for an answer, and his persistence eventually made me accept, not because I wanted to watch a movie but because I couldn't endure him continuing to plead with me.

After all, he had offered me shelter when no one else would.

On a more exciting note, the restaurant deal is moving forward smoothly and quickly. We're scheduled to meet tomorrow to finalise the purchase of the property.

I'm very thrilled about it!

With our cups of coffee in my hand, I headed into the living room.

The room was shrouded in darkness, and the atmosphere was undeniably spooky.

My gaze fell on him.

He was already settled into the plush couch, his face evolving into a warm smile as he heard my footsteps.

I took a moment to scan the room, my eyes adjusting to the dim light.

It was my first time in there, and a shiver ran down my spine.

The house always scares me, with its sombre decor and dark colour scheme.

I wonder why the owner chose such a foreboding aesthetic.

"Everything fine?" he asked, his voice drawing my gaze to him.

I nodded silently, and I walked over to join him on the couch.

I handed him his coffee, and his face lit up with a warm smile.

"I just love the scent of it," he said, inhaling the steam before taking a sip.

His eyes closed in thrill, and he let out a contented sigh. "Delicious as always. Very addictive too," he complimented, his voice filled with genuine appreciation.

I smiled, feeling grateful that I could bring him such joy.

"So, what will we watch?" I asked.

"Go ahead, you choose," he replied, grabbing the TV remote to turn on Netflix.

"What genre? Horror? Romance?" he asked.

"I hate horror movies, and I don't think I can watch a romantic movie with you," I admitted, looking away.

"Why? Both? Why?"

"Horror movies scare me, and romance...it's forbidden at home to watch it with just anyone," I explained, feeling a little bit embarrassed.

"Who forbade it? We'll watch a romantic movie tonight," he asserted, more like declaring, and I giggled, trying to understand why he always wants me to break free from my upbringing.

"Honestly, Mother says—" I started, but he interrupted me.

"Let me remind you, your mother isn't here," he said, his eyes glancing at mine for a moment before he turned back to the TV and started playing an American romantic comedy.

I sighed, and my gaze shifted to the screen.

We were immersed in the movie for many minutes when he broke the silence. "What kind of proposal do you want?" he asked, his eyes still fixed on the screen.

I turned to him, slightly confused. "Pardon?" I replied, my heart skipping a beat as our eyes met.

He glanced at me briefly, his gaze warm and gentle, before looking back at the TV. "The actor is planning a romantic surprise proposal for his girlfriend. I was wondering, what's your dream proposal like?"

I smiled. "Honestly, I want something simple," I began in a quiet whisper.

"A quiet moment in a beautiful garden, just the two of us. Maybe a picnic with some greenery, like a date, before he proposes. Very private."

He raised an eyebrow with amusement dancing in his eyes and also a spark of interest. "That's very simple. Don't you fancy a grand proposal in Paris, with the Eiffel Tower in the background and a crowd of people cheering?"

I shook my head. "No, I don't."

He nodded, and his eyes returned to the screen.

I asked, curiosity getting the better of me, "Why did you ask?"

He shrugged. "No reason," he said, but his tone whispered otherwise.

"Do you have a wife? Where is she?" I asked.

But he changed the subject, his eyes sparkling. "This is the best part of the movie. Watch carefully." He gestured towards the screen, and I turned my attention back to the film.

However, when the actor leaned in to kiss his girlfriend, I let out a mortified shriek, my eyes widening in horror.

I quickly covered my face with my hands, peeking through my fingers while I begged him to turn it off.

His deep laughter rumbled through the room, making me feel even more embarrassed. "Why? He just proposed to her, and she accepted. It's a romantic moment," he replied with a mirthful tone.

I shook my head, feeling my cheeks burn with embarrassment. "This is why I didn't want to watch a romantic movie. How can they show such intimate scenes so openly?"

His laughter grew louder. "Why are you behaving like a child? Isn't a kiss a normal expression of love? Haven't you ever kissed someone before? Even your husband?" His words were filled with playful sarcasm, but also with curiosity beneath them.

"It's gross," I whispered, my cheeks burning with embarrassment.

"Mother said I would have to do that with my husband, but thank God he never asked me for it. I can't even think about it." I shuddered, my eyes still covered.

He laughed even louder, his voice echoing through the room. "You're seriously behaving like a child! Open your face now; the scene is over."

I peeked through the gap between my fingers, and when I saw the end credits rolling on the screen, I let out a long sigh of relief.

I looked at him, my expression still uneasy.

"You're telling me you're still a virgin?" he then asked, and I nodded.

"Yes. My husband and I had an arranged marriage. There was never any love or romance."

He smiled broadly, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Well, that's quite a story. Are you tired, or should we watch another film?"

I was still feeling a bit unsettled, so I declined. "I have to meet your boss's friends tomorrow. I should probably get some rest." I said, my voice still a bit shaky.

••••

I slipped into a flowy gown that swept the floor.

Akash said it would be a great choice because it would make me look both stylish and professional.

I paired it with black sneakers and let my hair cascade freely down my back.

Last night, he offered to drop me off before going to work.

I made my way to the hall.

When he heard my footsteps, his attention got drawn to me, his eyes staring at mine along with a warm smile.

His gaze swept over my outfit, and he nodded in approval, his expression radiating admiration.

His eyes slowly lowered, settling on my lips, and his smile grew wider. "One of these days, I will make sure I break your perfect record and kiss you," he said.

I giggled, knowing he was just trying to make fun of me, but a tiny shiver ran through me. "Last night's discussion is already closed. Let's not bring it back," I said, trying to sound serious though my voice was still playful.

He shrugged, his eyes sparkling brighter than usual. "Don't say I didn't warn you. I have, but you're free to keep acting innocent," he replied, his tone still light and teasing as we headed out.

As we approached the car, he quickly opened the door for me, and I smiled in appreciation.

But just as I was about to slide into the seat, I felt his presence suddenly looming behind me, his warm breath on my neck making my heart skip a beat.

He whispered in a deep, husky voice, "I forgot to tell you—you look beautiful, like always."

I felt a shiver run down my spine as I turned to face him, my eyes meeting his warm smile.

His gaze held mine for a moment, and I calmed down.

Then, he moved around to the other side of the car and slid into the driver's seat beside me.

"Why did you do that?" I asked, very curious, after he started driving.

He kept his eyes on the road, his expression calm, but a slight smile played on his lips. "To make you get used to the presence of a man around you," he said, his voice low and gentle.

"I mean, you need to grow up and feel that warmth—that warmth of a man getting very close to you." He spoke as if it were a matter of fact, but his words provoked a sensation of butterflies in my stomach, making my heart beat a little faster.

I smiled, trying to sound playful but also a bit wary. "Did I tell you I want that?" I asked, my eyes fixed on his face.

He shrugged, his broad shoulders rising and falling. "I didn't ask, nor am I asking," he replied, his tone nonchalant.

He parked the car, and his eyes turned to me. "I know if I lean in to peck you a goodbye kiss on the forehead, you'll misunderstand my intentions," he said with a chuckle. "So, I'll just say, have a nice day."

I smiled because he was right; I would have misinterpreted the gesture.

"One step at a time, right?" he added, and I nodded slowly, still a bit uncertain.

"My father has a saying that he always shares with anyone about to start a new business," he said.

"He says, Get it all. Don't leave anything behind. Make sure you get everything for yourself." He paused,

"So, I want to pass that on to you. May you receive all the blessings and success in your business."

His words gave me excitement and nervousness, and I asked impulsively. "Can we hug?"

"Of course!" he exclaimed immediately, his face lighting up with a radiant smile.

He quickly got out of the car, and I followed too.

We embraced each other, and I exclaimed, "I'm very, very excited!"

"I am too, on your behalf," he replied, his voice filled with genuine joy and support.

I chuckled and pulled back from the hug, still grinning from ear to ear.

When our eyes met and I saw the encouragement in them, it made me feel even more confident and happy.

"You're already late; let's not keep them waiting," he said, while his hands rearranged the straps in my hair.

"There should be no secrets between best friends," he added, his eyes sparkling with mischief.

"I honestly want to peck you. The urge only increases." He leaned in, his breath whispering against my skin, making my whole body go weak.

I laughed, nodding in approval, expecting a gentle kiss on the forehead, but instead, he pecked the forehead, then gently moved to my cheek, leaving a soft touch that made my body shudder.

After he pulled away, I smiled, though my heart was racing rapidly.

"Goodbye!" he waved, his own broad smile growing wider, to which I nodded and waved back.

I approached the two-story building.

He told me that this was the company of one of my business partners.

"Welcome, Anita!" His friend, or rather, his boss's friend, exclaimed, greeting me energetically as I entered.

"Good morning," I replied, slightly taken aback by his enthusiasm.

"I've been wondering when you'd arrive," he said, his eyes sparkling with curiosity.

"Come, tell me quickly. Akash has been secretive about his relationship with you. When can we expect the wedding invitations? We need to prepare for a grand celebration, you know." He beamed at me.

I furrowed my brow, confusion reaching my face. "What wedding invitation?" I asked, my voice filled with puzzlement.

"For your wedding with Akash, of course! When are we supposed to come for the wedding? Don't hide it anymore!" He exclaimed, his eyes twinkling with excitement.

"I saw the passionate hug, the romantic kisses, the grin... I saw it all!" He grinned mischievously, as if he had uncovered a juicy secret.

I shook my head, trying to understand what he was getting at. "What are you talking about?" I asked, my confusion evident.

He chuckled. "Fine, drag the charade on for a while longer. But at the end of the day, you'll have to invite guests to your wedding, unless you plan to keep that a secret too!"

He winked. "If you're ready, let's head to the location we bought to start planning. The others are waiting for us there."

I nodded, still a bit perplexed.

He seemed to be assuming a lot.

••••

"Sign here," his friend said, pointing to the paper that already had their signatures on it.

I signed my name alongside theirs, and he turned the page, revealing another set of documents for me to sign.

I complied, signing each one until the last.

After I finished signing, one of them said, "I'd love to celebrate this with champagne, but let's remember to maintain professionalism. We are in an office, after all."

Another one added, "We can't get too friendly... yet!" They all chuckled.

Then, in unison, they announced, "So, this space is ours, Anita!"

I gazed around the empty floor, taking in the sheer scale of the room.

They had bought three entire floors in one of Mumbai's most stunning skyscrapers.

I stepped out onto the balcony, and I was breathtakingly greeted by the panoramic view of the city.

"We have the floor plans right here. Let's take a look," one of them said, pulling out a laptop.

"I think we should review these first. You'll have plenty of time to enjoy the balcony later, but for now," he started, and I interrupted.

"I'm so sorry," I said, returning to the table and taking a seat beside them.

He opened the laptop, displaying vibrant images of the floor plans, and we all leaned in to take a closer look.

"We need to prioritise the upper floor, which is why it's bigger than the others," he began, pointing to the floor plans.

"As you can see, it's two floors combined into one. Our plan is to create a VIP room, a VVIP room, and a relaxation room within the restaurant. We'll be charging customers an hourly fee to access these exclusive areas, in addition to the cost of food. We'll finalise the pricing and menu details later. For now, let's focus on the interior design and layout."

"Remember that company that relocated from Banaras to Mumbai? I'm so glad they made the move!" one of them exclaimed.

"Mukesh, don't you recall? We purchased all our materials from them when they were still based in Banaras. They offer top-notch quality materials for everything. Why don't we propose a contract with our interior designer and see if they can collaborate?" He turned to me, awaiting my response, and I hummed, nodding my head.

Mukesh responded, "Absolutely! I was impressed by their designs and the exceptional quality of their materials. Let's schedule a meeting with the chairman and bring our interior designer along. We can all go together, select what we like, and finalise the deal on the spot!"

"Why not? Of course!" they all chimed in, and I nodded in agreement again.

"Let me see if I can find the company's contact information online. I think the company's name was Global Supply Solutions." the man said, scrolling through his phone.

After a quick search, he exclaimed, "Yes, I got it!" and dialled the number.

He spoke briefly on the phone, then shared the update: "I managed to convince the woman to schedule a meeting for tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. She was initially suggesting it a week later, but thankfully, I persuaded her to move it up."

The others expressed their enthusiasm, with one of them saying, "That's great news! The sooner, the better. We can't wait to get the restaurant opened!"

"Banaras!" The word popped into my mind all of a sudden.

It conjured up the scathing voice of my mother-in-law, her words still stinging in my memory, "You can't eat that food until he graciously leaves you his leftovers. And since he didn't touch the food, you can't either."

I closed my eyes, trying to stem the tears and bitter memories, but my husband's harsh words also echoed, "Don't bother pretending to be my wife. This charade isn't necessary. Soon, I'll convince my mother that we're not compatible, and we'll divorce. Until then, let's not honour this sham. I refuse to acknowledge you as my wife. I'm still a bachelor, and I suggest you adopt the same mindset."

I remembered my own desperate response, "My family won't take me back."

And his reply was, "That's not my concern. They should have considered that before forcing me to marry a woman I despise."

As the memories flooded back, a single tear escaped, rolling down my cheek.

I quickly brushed it away, opening my eyes and finding the others still engaged in their discussion, oblivious to my sudden breakdown.

I took a deep breath, whispering to myself, "I will not let my past dictate my present."

My gaze drifted away from the group and their conversation, my focus shifting inward. "I will work tirelessly to ensure no woman suffers what I endured. I will break the cycle of arranged marriages and ensure no one is forced into a union they don't want."

••••

Akash picked me up, and we returned home.

While we walked inside, he asked, "How was your day? How did the meeting go?"

"It went fine. We have another meeting tomorrow at a company that relocated from Banaras." I filled him in on the details, but stopped walking and turned to face, my eyes meeting his when the memories of earlier flooded my mind.

"It brought back memories of my life there, what my mother-in-law said to me, and my husband's words."

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, Anita," he said softly. "Look at you today. The Anita of then is long gone, isn't she?" He smiled encouragingly, and I forced a smile back, nodding in agreement.

"She is. This is a different Anita."

"Then go freshen up. I'll order dinner tonight," he added, and I nodded.