His Ex Wife - Misunderstandings Create Voids

Chapter 6

Ananya’s POV

"I am excited for it." Sakshi’s voice boomed

"We all are." Shaan added. The four of us smiled and supported him

We are currently sitting in my cabin after the meeting. We are only left with half an hour for our shift to end. So here we are chit chatting over the internship.

"If I get selected, it will be my first time in Mumbai." Sakshi once again yelled with excitement lacing her voice

And my excitement went down the drain.

"Mumbai" I spoke in a low tone, memories clouding up my brain once again

"Yeah, our biggest task will be taking place in that city.” Shaan answered and observed as my face changes its color.

"All okay Ananya." Shaan asked his voice concerned

"Yeah... I am… am... just a little ... I mean....." I tried to explain but terribly failed.

“Ani you need to do this for him also I so want to meet that guy who had the audacity to hurt you.” Arun went into a possessive and protective mode again

They all know that I am divorced and I am from Mumbai.

But they don't know anything about Arjun except his name. I never told about relationship and they never insisted to be told either

"Arun is right Ananya. I know it will be difficult for you to leave both of them here and go to Mumbai for two months. But you know how important it is for you and him" Shaan added softly.

"Don't worry Ananya, we are with you." Sakshi said.

Mumbai Hell no!!!!

I will never return over there.

Never

The word Mumbai only brings one thing in my mind. Arjun

"I know guys just that even the name of that place brings back all the bad memories."

I said  

"Ananya just remember you’re doing all this for Dhruv." Varun’s voice came as I reached near the door.

Dhruv

My feet stopped at their spot. No movement is shown by any part of my body except eyes. They tore away.

"Just think of him." he said again.

I turned and faced him with red eyes.

"I know it’s just hard for me. You know I practically lived my whole life over there. So going back…" I broke into tears at end.

I no time, all of them joined me on the floor. I rested my head on Arun's chest and Sakshi stroked my hairs.

"Don't cry." Sakshi whispered.

"I don't wanna face them anyone of them, especially him." I admitted.

"You won't be able to." Shaan says and I turned towards him.

"How can you say that?"  I asked all perplexed

"Mumbai seriously you think that you will be able to collide with him in just a span of two months." he said in serious tone

"But...." I tried but he cut me off

"You will go over there, work all day, return to your place, sleep and then will repeat the same." he announced

"So, there are almost nil chances of you to meet him." Sakshi joined her husband

"Exactly Ananya. I agree with Shaan." Varun agreed

"But..." he again cuts me off.

"Just think of Dhruv. You will be doing all this for him." Shaan tosses the topic on Dhruv. My one and only weakness

"Dhruv need surgery as fast as possible. And for that you need money. That's what internship is providing you." Sakshi says in my hairs as she hugged me again

Thinking time please!!

Demerits of going to Mumbai:

(i) Facing Arjun.

(ii) Facing Jay, Jenny and Sister Adrienne.

(iii) Delaying in Dhruv's surgery.

Merits of going to Mumbai:

(i) Money

Even if the list of merits is small it still however over the demerits section.

Money would be required for Dhruv's surgery.

Arg!!! What to do?

"Just go for it. You are so strong Ananya. You’re the strongest one among all of us." Shaan boosts up my confidence

"I am afraid." I said more like whispered

"To face your ex-husband." Arun asked or more like stated and I couldn’t do anything but nod my head in agreement.

"Then don't be. He doesn't deserve you. So don’t waste your time on thinking of him." Varun said in a duh tone

I analyze

"I need Dhruv’s well being. Just for him and for the task assigned to us I’m going to go for this internship." I added the last part almost in a whispering voice so that only we could hear it not anybody else

I sighed and stood up. They followed. I rubbed my hands over my cheeks to remove tears.

You have to do this, Ananya. Not for you, but for Dhruv and others

"Let's get some coffee and then we will plan for tomorrow's meeting." I said.

The expression on their face is worth watching. From

"Let's go." Sakshi said while holding my hand and dragging me out of the cabin

Please God!! I don't want to have a faceoff with Arjun again. Help me out.

Shaan goes to get some tissues while I, Arun, Varun and Sakshi attacked coffee machine.

"Hey!! Sakshi." a voice called out from behind

We all stomped our feet on floor and turned with annoyed expression.

There stood! Veer.

He was trying to make a move over Sakshi in past but thank god Sakshi choose Shantanu over this man.

"What do you need?" She asked him with a raised eyebrow already annoyed with his presence near us

"I just needed you. But you choose him." he replied sounding desperate and I openly rolled my eyes at him

You don't know how much I wanna to smash his face. Arg!! Annoying man

"Thank God I choose Shaan." Sakshi said in a blunt tone

He moved towards us and stood in front of Sakshi.

 "Can't we talk normally baby girl just you and ..." he started but was apparently cut off by someone dragging him away from us. It was none other than Shaan

"You f*****g bastard. How many times I have told you to stay away from my wife." Shaan shouted

Veer struggled in his grip but soon managed to get out. He rushed out of the cafeteria.

People here are used of this show so no one commented.

Shaan was fuming with anger. His eyes are blood shot. Jealousy!! Brings the worst out of him Why is so that a man is so possessive towards his lady. Well, except my man.

Sakshi hugged him like her life depends on him and his anger dissolved. He hugged her back.

History is repeating itself.

Flashback

It's been ten weeks since the construction has started.

"How much more time?" I asked the cab driver.

"Five minutes more Mam." he answered.

After seven minutes, yes I counted, I reached home. Top floor structure is already built up and now they are turning to add railings. Just two more weeks and the work will be finished.

"You are early today." Arjun said as he spots me.

I lied in my office that I am not feeling well to get back home two hours earlier.

"Yeah, I was feeling bored as no work was left." I lied.

"Okay, so I think our coffee session will be early today." he says with a bright smile.

"Hope so." I said and turned inside the building.

Every day when I return from work we both share a cup of coffee which I prepare in the kitchen and we enjoy it in the garden.

I quickly showered and then walked out till kitchen. Jenny was standing there with crossed arms.

I raised my bows and asked "What?"

"You are home early today because of Jay or Arjun?" She asked.

Jay. What he has to do with this.

"Jay isn't here." I reminded her.

"He is." she answered.

"When did he return, he didn't even inform." I asked and reached for my phone only to notice four miss calls from Jay. s**t!!!

My phone was on silent mode.

"Got your answer." she says.

"Yeah" I answered.

"So you are back home early today for Arjun?" She asked and I nodded.

Well my sister knows about my feelings towards him.

Only Jay is left to be told.

I quickly called Jay.

"Hey...So you got time for your poor friend after your session with your boyfriend" he says through the line.

"What Boyfriend?" I asked in disbelief.

"Someone named Arjun. Jenny told me." he answered.

I gave a death glare to Jenny and she mouthed a sorry.

"He is not my boyfriend." I protested.

"Whatever he is, you didn't tell me about him. I need explanation. I have told everything thing about Maya to you and now look at you." he says.

"Sorry... I will explain when you will come here." I answered.

"So get ready with your speech. I will be there in a hour." he says and I nodded.

Even if he couldn't see me, he says "don't nod, I am not there."

Best friend thing.

"Yeah" I said.

And then we bid our good buys.

"What exactly did you told him about Arjun?" I fired at Jenny.

"That you like him very much." she casually answered.

Before I could say anything she added

"You are getting late for you coffee session with your boyfriend" air quoting at word 'boyfriend' and left the kitchen

I made our coffee and went outside. He was nowhere to be seen. I asked a worker about him and he said he is on the current construction site of top floor.

As I entered the top floor I was greeted by a heaven look.

Arjun was helping workers in uplifting heavy panels, his sleeves were folded up to elbow and top two button of his shirt were undone giving my eyes access to his masculine body.

Apparently he turned and our eyes meet.

He smiled and walked up to me.

We sat on one of the wooden blocks present over there to enjoy our coffee with silence.

As soon we finished, he asked

"Would you like to have a round of the floor?"

"Sure." I answered because one I haven't seen the floor properly yet and two I wanted to spend time with him.

Soon we were engrossed in looking the site. Arjun says that it can take more the two weeks to finish. And I internally danced. As I was about to take my leave an familiar voice boomed

"Missed Me?"

Jay.

As I turned I found Jay on entrance of the floor.

Four weeks. Four weeks damn it I haven't seen him. I couldn't be much happier than this to see his face again.

I rushed into him and he balanced my weight instantly.

"Mad woman." he commented in my hairs.

"I missed you too." I said while rolling my eyes.

As we broke hug, he whispered

"Is that Arjun?"  Indicating his gaze in Arjun’s direction

I turned around and saw Arjun having an expression on his face which I can't understand.

"Looks like someone is jealous" Jay commented.

I turned to him in disbelief. He smirked.

I turned again towards Arjun but he chose not to look at me this time. He went to resume his work.

"Let's make him more jealous." I heard Jay. Before I could react, he snaked his one arm around my waist and pulled me towards him and started walking in Arjun's direction.

"You must be Mr. Arjun Malhotra right?" Jay asked

Arjun turned towards us his eyes rested on Jay's arm which was around me for a second before he meets his eyes.

"Yes, I am." Arjun answered a bit arrogantly

"I am Jay Verma." Jay spoke and let out his free hand for handshake.

"I am sorry I can't. My hands are a bit filled with dirt." Arjun says and shows his hands.

There were few sand particles all over his hand but the thing which surprised me the most was his tone. He practically snapped at Jay.

"Would like to show me the new floor?" Jay asks.

"No" Arjun snapped and resumes his work after looking in my direction for few second.

"Jealousy is in the air." Jay whispered to me.

We went to my room after that and I told him about everything from first meet to coffee sessions to almost kiss to room incident. Everything

"I think he likes you." Jay said. But I just looked at him in disbelief.

"I am a man. I can bet he was jealous after witnessing you in my arms." he says and I blushed.

"Hmm" I answered.

"Okay now don't blush and tell me the name of flowers you had suggested me earlier for Maya." he asked and rubbed his neck.

"Red and white Tulips but why?" I said.

"I called her today after getting home and asked her if she could come with me for dinner. She replied positively." he said.

I smiled and hugged him.

I am so happy for him.

"You know she was very sad for last one month. The way she used to look at your empty cabin is inexpressible. She used to miss you a lot." I told him.

He smiled.

"Yeah now may I leave so I can go and get ready for my second official date." he asked and I nodded.

We walked up to the main door only to spot Sister Adrienne and Arjun talking with each other.

Jay holds my wrist and led me towards them.

He greeted Sister Adrienne and talked to her for some time. All the time I could feel eyes on me. Arjun's soon Sister Adrienne leaves all the three of alone.

Jay turned towards me and spoke

"Ananya please change the bed sheets of your bed before anyone could see them."

What he meant?

I wanted to ask but he left in a second.

"He was in your room?" Arjun asks with anger raising his veins.

"Yes, but..." I said but he cut me off

"He was on your bed with you?" his voice had expression which I had never witnessed.

"He was but he is my best friend, nothing else." I assured him. And now I got to know what Jay did. He f*****g misled Arjun.

"Friend with benefit" Arjun mocked.

"No you are taking in a wrong way he was just doing this to ma...." I tried again.

"I don't wanna hear anything." he yelled.

"He is just my best friend. Nothing else" I emphasized each word.

"Even I am your friend but you didn't hug me like you hugged him today. Like your life is dependent on it." he says and leaves before I could speak.

As he reached his car I called him.

He turned and irritatingly asked

"What?"

Instead of answering I rushed to hug him my life out.

He seems to be surprised as he walked backwards a few steps to balance both of us.

I tighten my grip over his neck and soon I felt his hands encircling my waist.

Fireworks

"He is just my friend nothing else. He was trying to make you jealous. I didn't sleep with him. Moreover he is dating someone else." I spoke on his chest.

"What?" He asked.

"It's true." I said while shrugging my shoulders

"I like you." I admitted it finally

To my shock he said

 "I like you too Ananya." and kissed my forehead.

I smiled on his chest. Soon we pulled away and he awkwardly tucked a few hair strands behind my ears.

"Bye" he said and jumped in his car.

Flashback Over