F O U R

I stir awake with a throbbing headache and arms wrapped around me like a bear. I frown, pulling at Yukti’s arm, untangling myself from her.

Clingy.

I groan again in frustration placing my hands over my head.

Damn all the glasses I chugged down.

Thinking alcohol was going to numb my aching heart, but no..it just had to add up to the pain.

I walk straight towards the washroom, I splash some water on my face. A shudder running down at how cold it is, Mumbai's weather isn’t cold while everything else is.

I brush my teeth using my spare toothbrush in Yukti’s washroom. I scoff looking at the pink pajamas engulfing my body.

I take a shower and change into my clothes, I take pain relief hoping it would work its magic while I glare at the kettle of water. It would probably be wondering why am I staring at an innocent boiler.

I pour it in a cup along with coffee powder and a little milk settling on the couch with my phone. I drink it sip by sip going through all the media posts, reels and blogs from the event last night.

I spit the coffee, coughing. My eyes widen as I clutch my phone harder.

‘Rao Group if Hotel’s, CEO announces romantic relation between his daughter, a rising fashion designer, ‘Anaya Rao’ and old business partner Premraj Sharma’s son, Kabir Sharma’

I stare at the headline, re reading for like- the fiftieth time hoping I am still drunk. The two-page long article proved me wrong.

I call papa with trembling fingers. The line rings for a while before he answers, ‘’Hello?’’

‘’Papa how could you just publically announce it before giving me a heads up?’’ I instantly snap on the phone, pacing around the room.

‘’What’s the huge deal Anu?’’

‘’Huge deal?’’ I scoff, ‘’The deal is papa that I have my own fucking life, on fucking business that I also need to consider, I am not just some pawn you created!’’ I spit the words, hoping they would make his morning chai bitter.

‘’I am your dad Anaya Rao, mind your tone-’’

I add before he can finish, ‘’Don’t you think you should have considered asking me first? Rather than just announcing it?’’

‘’I talked to Premraj uncle before doing that Anaya, stop cribbing’’ He says, I could hear his tired sigh.

‘’And me? I am the one fucking eposed to the media and fake-dating Kabir, not you or Premraj Uncle!’’ I say before plopping on the couch. I groan, staring at the white wall with colourful paintings.

So much colour. ick.

‘’I have a business papa, this also affects me!’’ I mumble softly this time.

‘’Look An, I am sorry..I thought you would be okay with me making some decision around your life, especially as it's related to MY business.’’ He streches the word my' making me scoff.

I hang up slamming the phone on the coffee table, I chug down the coffee to stop the new headache. Yukti steps out of her room, rubbing her eyes. She settles beside me, keeping her distance and understanding my frown.

She sighs softly as I give her my phone the tab with the article still flashing.

‘’WHAT?’’ She screams so loud even the neighbours might join us to earn some gossips. ‘’Anaya?’’ She looks back up at me.

‘’Papa gave a public statement without talking to me!’’ I exclaim, sinking in my seat, my phone flashes with calls from so-called friends who don’t even call on birthdays, models, employees and most of all…the PR team.

Yukti gets straight to manager mode as she grabs her ipad and starts getting in contact with the PR team.

This is gonna be fun.

I sip on my coffee, spiking despicably on my messed up life. My phone rings with a call from an unknown number, I ignore it.

Might be some eager media. I think until the phone rings again.

I run a hand through my hair answering it, ‘’Hello?’’

‘’Hey there.’’ I could hear his grin almost, such a flashy annoying smile he had.

‘’How did you get my number?’’ I roll my eyes walking into the balcony.

‘’You gave me, remembeer?’’

‘’Kabir, be serious for once.’’

‘’Okay okay grumpy pants, I asked papa to get it for me from Veer uncle, easy.’’

‘’Wow, are you that free?’’ I squint my brows glancing down at the morning sun creating reflections against the widespread sea.

‘’For you? yeah.’’ He murmurs almost seriously, making me scoff.

‘’Are all of your pick up lines this tacky?’’

‘’Not sure, maybe I should try all of them on you.’’ His voice was calm, as if he did it everyday.

‘’Just shut up and tell me why did you call?’’

‘’Well..did you see the article?’’ He asks softly this time.

‘’Yeah, such a great way to start my morning.’’I roll my eyes, drawing patterns on the metal railing.

‘’So I was saying, Now that everyone knows, we should go out for the sake of the deal of course, I am not interested in taking out some grumpass like you.’’

‘’Like you have a chance at doing so?’’ I scoff rolling my eyes.

He scoffs on the other line, ‘’Taj Churchgate, saturday, 8 PM..be ready.’’ He hangs up instantly. I step back out into the room and sit beside Yukti who was furiously typing on the keyboard while talking on the phone, almost losing her calm.

I step inside the kitchen as I boil some water, adding a spoonful of tea powder and sugar along with the tea-spice she taught me how to make.

I pour the tea in one of her cute mugs and walk outside along with a plate of cookies. I set it on the table.

Hours later she groans slamming her laptop shut making me look up from my ipad.

‘’I swear to god, I love Veer uncle but I was this close to bad-mouthing him in my mind while all of this.’’ She says bluntly, holding up her index finger and thumb at a small distance.

I close the distance, ‘’Might have as well just done..I am not super proud of him right now either.’’ I murmur, landing my head on the couch's backrest. She follows me grinning.

‘’How was talking with Mr.Golden Kurta?’’ She says earning a glare from me, she zips her mouth smirking then continuous, ‘’How was talking with..Kabir?’’

I roll my eyes ‘’He is still so cocky.’’

‘’Stil?’’She grins, making me slap her arm.

‘’Just shut up..we are going out on saturday, Taj.’’

Her eyes widen as she straightens up, ‘’Wait,.no not saturday!’’

‘’Why?’’

‘’The secret blind date I planned..is on saturday I can't refuse him.’’ She groans dramatically.

‘’Well forget it now, It’s not happening especially with this new ‘Fake-dating’ drama.’’ I mark the words fake dating with my fingers.

‘’Ughh…Maybe I should just go instead?’’ She grins

‘’And blindly fall in love with another random man? No thank you, you are going no where.’’ I say patting her head.

I stand up as I take my bags, ‘’Well I will be leaving, see you at work tomorrow.’’ She frowns while paddling to me.

‘’Now? Atleast have lunch.’’

‘’Nope, I still have to feed Mirchi.’’ She nods, hugging me, making me frown.

‘’Bye chipku.’’ I push her away softly smiling, I step out and walk towards the elevator.

As I start my car, driving out of her building’s parking lot onto the rushy Mumbai traffic.

The radio blasts with random interviews and news which I barely acknowledge over the thoughts clouding my head. I look out of the window glancing at the group of college kids walking on the footpath. Probably bunking lectures.

A guy had his hand intertwined with a girl’s hand making me roll my eyes. ‘’Kids’’ I drove ahead.

Isn’t it ironic how the man I had finally managed to hate after all these years was now my so called boyfriend. The disgust I have for him grows every second I think about Didi's wedding. The day was filled with tears and laughs along with heart being wrecked.

The day my heart turned into a wrecked mess.

I stop at the driveway of my house. I get out, shutting the door softly as I make way towards the elevator. Tapping my foot against the floor while the lift man scrolled through random brain rot reels.

I sigh, kicking my heels away walking inside, I walk straight to Mirchi’s room finding her staring at the wall with a string in her mouth.

I smile stepping inside, ‘’Did my goofball behave today?’’ I take her in my arms, making her purr. I walk out and pour her food in her tray patting her head as I walk into my room.

I change into comfortable wear as I get ready to make lunch.

I stir the garlic in olive oil, keeping an eye on the spaghetti boiling. ‘’Mirchi! NO.’’ I say with glaring eyes as I catch her trying to jump on the laundry basket, she meows and jumps on the counter. I sigh picking her up and placing her on my shoulder. I keep her back down when she when she starts chewing on my hair.

I stir the aglio-e-olio one last time before turning the stove off. I serve it on a plate and sit on the dining table, Mirchi climbs on my lap nuzzling, making me smile. I twirl the fork around the pasta taking a bite while stroking her fur.

I take the last bite, looking down at Mirchi sleeping on my lap I sigh, I wipe my hand on a tissue carefully holding her and laying her in her bed. I kiss her head and keep the dishes away.

I enter my room and settle on my desk turning on the computer. I got on a call with the event manager, planning the opening of the first ever store of ‘Anaya Rao’.

‘’Okay thanks, you can reach out to my manager for anything else.’’ I say before hanging up. I take out the fabric book testing fabrics for the brand new collections.

I call Yukti, ‘’Listen.’’

‘’Yes babes?’’

‘’Ms.Yukti.’’ I say sighing.

‘’Yes ma'am, what’s wrong?’’

I roll my eyes, my lips twitching in a smile ‘’Can you arrange a meeting with Shalini for tomorrow? I need the set of ladies for handwork on the new fabric.’’

‘’On it, anything else?’’

‘’Nope bye.’’ I say hanging up.

The sun sets over the shore, the honkings and the swearing of passerby.

I stretch my arms groaning. I walk to the kitchen filling some water while the ehlp washes the dishes, she shoots me a smile ‘’Hi didi, kaam kaisa tha?’’

(Hi didi, how was work?)

‘’Theek tha.’’ I pull my lip up in a faint smile. I grab a bottle filling it with water ‘’Main gym jaa rahi hu, Mirchi ko khana de dena please’’ I announce before stepping into my room.

(It was nice/I am going to the gym, please give Mirchi food)

Changing into my gym set, I glance at the mirror, i sigh , pulling the mid-length browns in a ponytail, I sling the bag over my shoulder and walk out of my house, I take the elevator to the gym floor placing my headphones in place.

I start with the treadmill looking out the floor to ceiling window. The music blasts in my ears. I pant when I hit the stop button.

~

My phone rings mid dinner, I see Jiju’s name flashing.

‘’Hello?’’ I answer softly.

‘’Hi Anu, how are you?’’ Didi’s voice rings in.

‘’Great.’’ I respond bitterly.

‘’I talked to dad..I am sorry’’

‘’It’s fine, I will get over it.’’ I lie confidently.

‘’Well I have been trying to call all day but Kishi wouldn't hand me my phone for even a minute, she says her barbie dolls need it for their important meetings, I had to wait till Vi got home, did you have dinner?’’

I smile, ‘’Yeah, palak paneer, what is Kishu doing?’’

‘’Playing with Vivaan wait I will give the phone to her.’’ I could hear her soft voice calling Kishi.

‘’MASSI!’’ I grin at her cheerful welcome.

‘’Hi babu, what are you doing?’’

‘’I put a bow on dada’s hair.’’ She giggled, probably admiring her work.

I chuckle,’’Oh is that so?’’

‘’Yuss! Maasii I wanna pway with Michi.’’ She says in her baby voice making me wish I didn’t have to face all the man drama to get a baby.

‘’How about I bring her over after work tomorrow?’’

‘’You are the best massi, uw you.’’I smile, ‘’Love you too jana, give the phone to papa will you?’’

The next minute I hear Vivaan’s voice, ‘’Hi, how are you?’’

‘’Well..we both know I might just lie.’’ I chuckle ‘’Kabir called me today’’

‘’Oh..did he?’’

‘’Yeah we are going out for this whole fake thing, I just wanted to ask for any heads up, because he is your friend you know.’’

‘’Don’t worry Anaya, he is a great guy..I promise it will go great.’’

‘’Okay then, goodnight”

‘’Night, take care.’’

I keep the dishes in the sink before sitting on the chair in the balcony, I pull out a cigarette, lighting it up as I look at the smoked up, barely starry sky.

I exhale slowly, my thoughts fogged up with only one person. And I hated how much this was affecting me now, I planned on not taking any stress but here I am smoking, something I only did when I felt like I had a major life crisis, which was like once a year.

Looking at the sky I stroke mirchi’s head, I blow the smoke away from her wondering how eighteen year old Anaya would react to meeting Kabir again.

Would she cry?

Would she get her heart broken..again?

Or would Kabir feel guilty?

I mirror the image of the sassy, young Anaya standing in front of him, lips swollen, eyes misted up trying her best not to cry, Clutching her dupatta tight..watching his retreating figure, his golden kurta catching the light.

I shrug, tapping the cig on the ashtray. I groan in frustration, Mirchi meows in my lap softly as if understanding me, she snuggles closer and licks my hand softly.

I smile, whoever said cats aren't affectionate definitely didn’t have the right one.

I stroke her golden brown fur looking at the night sky reflecting in the sea.

This can’t happen again, nope.

I am not the fragile Anaya anymore who will let anyone’s words or action affect me. This is just for papa’s sake, It’s just a month, nothing more..

He will no longer be a soul that affects me, I am determined to not let this change me, This won’t change the fact that I never love..right? Right!

****

Hey hope everyone is doing greatt!!

Kindly follow my instagram account, @/saumyaaverse for constant updates, edits and spoilers!

Kindly vote and let me know how did you like this chapter.

LOveyou, muahh.