Chapter 02

Anahita

I hear sound coming from a distant. It's so disturbing, I reach for it and my hand came in contact with my phone, it's the alarm. Squinting my eyes I looked at the time. It's ten minutes to seven. I jerked awake remembering why I wanted to get up early in the first place, and now I'm late. Well I still have time if I quickly freshen up I will surely make it before breakfast. With this thought I dashed towards the bathroom.

I got dressed in a cotton kurta and Palazzo, tying my hair loosely at the nape of my neck with few loose strands framing my face. I quickly check the time, twenty minutes past seven. Alright I have time, I can do this. I left my room And took the stairs to the second floor. Twisting my fingers and cracking my knuckles I went through the hallways. Now I stood in front of his door, with clammy hands , I quickly swiped them on my kurta and raised my hand to knock at the door.

"Yes. Come in." He called in his calm but authoritative voice. I twisted the doorknob and went inside. The rich scent of cider wood and spices filled my nose as soon as I stepped in. There he stood majestically by the bed where his suit jacket laid neatly, scrolling through his phone, probably replying to some work e-mails. He hasn't noticed me yet and I can't help but gaze at him noticing how his finger swipe at the screen or how magnificent his side profile is or the fact that I have been staring at him for far too long and I need to come out of it. I took a deep breath composing myself and called him.

"Adhrit..."

Hearing my voice his shoulders stiffened and his finger which was scrolling his phone stilled.

"Do you need something?" He asked without looking at me.

"N-no, I mean yes. I wanted to talk to you." I stammered, feeling like a child asking for permission to go outside and play.

"Is there a specific reason for this talk of yours. Should I be calling my lawyers." He drawled lazily without any shred of emotion, like he didn't just insinuate that I was talking about breaking the terms of our contract.

"You sound happy thinking about the divorce. But no I'm not here for that discussion." I marched and stood infront of him

"How can I be happy when I have so much to loose, should you choose to walk out of this arrangement." He lifted his head and looked me dead in the eyes.

Those eyes. Those heartbreakingly gorgeous eyes darker than the night sky, stared at me and I was struggling not to avert my eyes from his.

"And you think I don't" I hissed.

"I don't have time for this" he exhaled while gesturing between us. "Maybe we can continue this after I return from work." He threw at me sarcastically.

"No. It's important." I countered standing my ground. The vein in his neck was getting more prominent and I feared it would pop anytime now.

We both remained silent for a moment. "Meet me at the breakfast table in five." He instructed.

I let out the breath I was holding and scurried out of his room after nodding my head and mumbling a quick ok.

Sitting on one of the chairs at the dining table, drumming my fingers I wait for him to come downstairs. A servant came forth and asked me if I would like to have breakfast but I declined politely,nas I'm already on edge just thinking about the upcoming conversation.

At exactly seven forty five I saw him descending the stairs. Like a king of some palace. He has his suit jacket on now, looking like a devil but only more gorgeous who is on his way to ruin someone or something. In this scenario some company going bankrupt I guess.

He came and took a seat infront of me at the other end of the table. As he sat a house help came and served him his breakfast which I couldn't help but notice, consisted of avocado toast, boiled eggs which were cut in halves a cup of black coffee, some leafy greens maybe lettuce, were also there on his plate. 'Health conscious' my mind screamed. How not at all peculiar seeing the shape he's in.

"Why aren't you having your breakfast"? This jostled me out of my la la land and I chastised myself mentally for my ridiculous thoughts.

" Oh I'll just eat something later." I said with a flick of my hand trying to think of ways to ask him about getting a job.

"Nonsense. We can talk while eating."

"Ramesh ji inka breakfast serve kijiye" he instructed the house help who was standing a few feet behind him after serving his breakfast.

(Ramesh serve her breakfast.)

"Ji chhote sahab." He obliged coming towards me and started asking what I would like to have.

(Yes young master.)

"Just some toast will do. And a glass of orange juice please." I told him meekly.

While he was serving me I took a moment to look across the table to find him engrossed in the newspaper sipping his coffee. As if sensing my gaze he lifted his head and I quickly look away and smiled at Ramesh ji thanking him, before looking down at my plate.

I started nibbling on a toast when he spoke.

"So what do you wanted to talk about?"

I looked at him, now newspaper aside, his whole focus on me. I felt shivers having his undivided attention on myself like that.

I choked on a piece of toast while trying to swallow hastily. Coughing I reach for the orange juice. After drinking it slowly I put it aside.

"I'm going to get a job." I announced composing myself.

He stilled for a moment. "You don't need one."

"You don't get to decide that."

"Why not? Have I not provided you with everything money could buy?"

"It's not about the money." I said clenching my jaw.

"Then what is it?"

"It's been months since our marriage and all I do is stay inside my room doing nothing apart from the rare occasions when I accompany you to some business events as your plus one. I'm getting frustrated adhrit there is no one I can talk to. I have to do something before I completely get bored out of my mind." I tried to make him understand

"I know Dadu(Grandpa) has told you about the different societies and NGOs run by the wives of my business associates. So tell me why aren't you recieving the invitations. I know they've been sending those. If you had joined them then maybe we shouldn't have been having this conversation early in the morning." He remarked sarcastically.

"I don't like them."

"You don't like them." He repeated mockingly, urging me to continue further.

"Yes. They are snobby, entitled, overbearing brats who think...."

"Anahita" He warned clenching his jaw

".....the world revolves around them." I panted ignoring his warning.

"Fine." He sighed pinching the bridge of his nose and closing his eyes."You want to work then come with me to the head office. You can work there."

"No. I will not work in your company."

"Why? Can't stand working for your husband." He added cockily

I scoffed. "I like to keep my personal and professional life separate and that's the very reason I'm not going to work for you. Besides I used to work for Khosla's before marriage." His fist clenched hearing this.

There has been rivalry between these two companies since the time of their grandfather, and now the current heads are taking this competition ahead. No one is ready to relent, both of them are trying to ruin each other's business.

I continued further "And it will not look good on my part as well as yours if I joined Raichand industries." He didn't comment on this.

"Alright do whatever you want." With a sigh, he finally gave up on stretching this matter even more.

"Thank you." I grinned feeling like I just won a match, and boy... He sure wasn't planning to relent easily, was he?

After a moment of silence in which we both concentrated on finishing our breakfasts, he left for work leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I too got up and went to my room thinking, where should I start searching for jobs. In my room I checked my appearance in the mirror. then I grabbed my shawl and my bag from the closet and put my phone inside. My documents are already in it.

Leaving the room I went to the kitchen and took out a water bottle from the refrigerator. Stashing it too in my bag I left the house.

As I was walking towards the gate, a guard came rushing down to me and asked if I require a car and chauffeur.

And I thought maybe I'll just stroll around the corner for a while, and declined the offer of car.

There were some guards at the gate too. God why are the people here so obsessed with guards, I thought to myself. Then ofcourse it is necessary as they are worth billions and the livelihood of many depends on them.

I quickly slipped through the gate. After walking for ten minutes I come across a beautiful cafe surrounded by alluring blooms of Bougainville. The cafe was tiny itself but pretty cute, if you ask me. It's vivid colours giving of the expression of tranquility. I couldn't resist going inside the cafe. Taking a seat next to the window, I looked outside admiring the soothing beauty of the flowers in contrast with the usual business of the road. People are always in a hurry to reach somewhere, everyone is so busy that they don't even have the time look around the beauty which is nature itself. But it's not their fault for they have more pressing matters to attend then sitting here and relaxing. I consider myself fortunate enough to enjoy the peace. That if I don't want to be part of this vigorous life, I can choose to do something else.

I was lost in my thoughts when a waitress came and asked for my order. Snapping out of my thoughts I ordered a caffé mocha. I've just had breakfast so I wasn't hungry.

The waitress returned with my order and I thanked her. Taking a sip I look around There aren't many customers at the moment. Apart from myself someone was working on his laptop at the table right across mine and an elderly couple occupied a table on my left. And as for the staff I could see one at the counter and another who just attended me. I was enjoying my coffee when my eyes turned to the main entrance due to the bell chiming when a man entered the cafe with bags in both hands and disappeared through the door on the other side of the room. Another staff maybe, I thought to myself and turned my head to the window and let my eyes and thoughts wander.

Finishing my coffee I went to the counter to pay the Bill and left from there.

Roaming around the streets I came across a flyer from a flower shop. "Blue's blossoms" was printed in it. It was a promotional flyer. I checked the address. "Rani road" it said, not far from here, just two streets ahead. Suddenly I thought of going there and checking it out myself.

Flowers have always been one of the few things I liked the most, and not in a way when I want them as gift or anything but simply just to look at them, admiring their fragility, their fragrance and ohh the colours. Roses, orchids, lilies even wild flowers and many more. I found them captivating, like they are the ones responsible for the colours in nature. I know it's a silly thought but I still feel enchanted whenever I come across them. And the garden in the Raichand villa is truly a work of art, having so many different flowers, from wild rose bushes to canopy of cassia, beds of chrysanthemums and hyacinths, vines of jasmine, honeysuckle and many more creepers creeping the walls which surrounded the villa. After my marriage I too have started spending most of my time in the garden strolling and admiring it's calming beauty. The gardener has noticed my earnestness and has asked me for suggestions once. He's a middle aged man with salt and pepper hair which reminds me of my father. We had talked about different flowers and what should we plant next. And since then I've been spending my time following him around the vast lawn and helping him in any way I could. It gives me the motive and helps me to keep my mind from thinking about the obvious travesty that I've walked into.

Deciding to pay a visit to this "blue's blossoms" I folded the flyer and kept it in my bag and started walking down the street.

AN :- Everyone meet The husband.

The banter though!! 😘      

This is exactly what I live for.😌

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