The three friends fell silent.
Well, Aanya continued with a bitter smile, "it was my mistake to think he would ever love me."
Tara immediately said, No, Aanya. It's his loss.
"Exactly," Meera added. Forget him. He doesn't deserve you.
Aanya looked down.
Nisha noticed her expression and asked softly, Aanya, are you okay?
Aanya forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine. Anyways, I've already forgotten about him."
After a brief silence, Nisha asked curiously, By the way, how is Kunal? Is he actually nice?
Aanya hesitated. "I don't know… sometimes he seems nice. But sometimes he does things that make me uncomfortable."
Tara frowned. What do you mean by uncomfortable?
Aanya immediately remembered yesterday's incident, but she didn't want to talk about it.
"No… nothing. I just said it by mistake," she covered up quickly.
Tara narrowed her eyes slightly but didn't say anything.
"Do you have a photo of him?" she asked instead.
Aanya showed them a picture on her phone.
The three looked at it carefully.
Meera suddenly said, "He's not as handsome as Aryan."
Tara and Nisha immediately turned and stared at her seriously.
Meera quickly tried to cover it up.
"No, no! I mean… he's more handsome than Aryan."
Aanya didn't say anything.
Nisha secretly signaled Meera to stay quiet.
Trying to change the topic, Nisha asked, So you're coming to Mumbai in four days?
Yeah, Aanya replied softly.
Then Meera said dramatically, "Thank God your wedding is in Mumbai. Otherwise, it would've been really difficult for us to attend every event if you got married here. And that too, a destination wedding!"
Aanya gave a faint fake smile.
Tara then asked, "But Aanya, what about after the marriage? Kunal will probably go back to the US, right? So how are you going to continue your studies? Will you come back to the hostel?"
Meera immediately added, "Yeah… are you going to stay at Aryan's house again?"
Tara and Nisha looked at Meera seriously.
Before she could continue, Nisha forcefully stuffed a sweet into Meera's mouth.
Aanya looked away.
I don't know where I'll stay, she said quietly.
"But I know one thing for sure… I'm not staying in his house."
Everyone fell silent again.
Nisha softly spoke, So until your graduation, you'll stay here… and after going to the US?
Aanya nodded slowly. I'll apply to some university there and complete my MBA.
Meera sighed dramatically. I'm going to miss you, Aanya, if you go to the US.
Tara rolled her eyes. "She isn't even married yet, and you already started crying about the US. Stop overacting, Meera."
A small smile appeared on Aanya's face.
Nisha laughed.
Meera crossed her arms. I was just saying normally.
Later, at Aryan's office, Aryan was sitting in a meeting.
But his mind was somewhere else.
With Aanya.
Meanwhile, the client finished discussing the proposal and asked, "So what do you say, Mr. Mehra?"
Aryan didn't respond.
Everyone in the room exchanged confused looks. Even Simran looked surprised.
The client spoke again. "Mr. Mehra?"
Aryan suddenly came back to reality.
He looked around and realized everyone was staring at him.
"Is everything alright, Mr. Mehra?" the client asked politely.
Aryan straightened himself slightly. "Yeah."
So what do you say about the deal? the client asked again.
Aryan replied shortly, "Let's finalize the deal."
After the meeting ended, Aryan returned to his cabin.
Simran entered after him.
"Sir… are you okay?" she asked carefully.
Aryan looked at her.
"I mean… did something happen? Even during the meeting, it looked like you were thinking about something."
Nothing happened, Aryan replied.
Then after a pause, he said, "Can you bring me cof—"
He stopped midway.
Suddenly, he remembered Aanya's voice.
"Mr. Aryan, your favorite is coffee? You're so boring!"
She had laughed teasingly.
"Sir? Sir?" Simran called.
Aryan snapped out of his thoughts.
Aryan snapped out of his thoughts.
Sir, you were saying you wanted something?
Aryan looked away for a second before replying, "Yeah… I want coffee."
Sure, sir, Simran said and left.
Aryan leaned back in his chair.
"What is happening to me?" he thought.
"Why am I thinking about her all the time?"
A few minutes later, Simran returned with coffee.
"Sir, your coffee."
Aryan nodded slightly.
Then he asked, Do I have any other meetings with clients today?
Simran checked the schedule. Sir, you have a meeting with Mr. Bajaj this afternoon. But he said he has some personal work and asked if it's possible to shift the meeting to tonight because he won't be available for the next two or three days.
Aryan listened quietly.
But I told him we could postpone the meeting instead of keeping it at night, Simran added.
Aryan looked at her. "Why did you say that?"
Simran became silent.
"It's okay for me," Aryan said calmly.
"But sir—"
Tell him it's fine, Aryan interrupted.
"Okay, sir."
Later, Aryan called Devika.
Mom, I might come home late today. I have a meeting with a client.
Devika replied, "Okay. I'll tell Sudha(the new maid) to stay and open the door for you."
Then she added seriously, And don't eat outside food tonight, no matter how late you come home. Eat at home only. Also, don't make excuses like yesterday night and this morning.
Aryan stayed silent.
Devika sighed and cut the call.
Later, at Aanya's house, her parents returned home.
Radha noticed the plates on the table and asked, Aanya, did someone come?
"My friends came," Aanya replied.
Radha looked surprised. Your friends came? You didn't tell us earlier that they were coming.
Even I didn't know they were coming, Aanya said. "After finding out that I'm getting married, they came."
Naveen frowned slightly. What do you mean after finding out?
Aanya looked at him silently.
Naveen continued, Didn't you tell them that you were getting married?
Aanya replied seriously, "When did I even get time to tell anyone or do anything? Everything is happening so fast that I don't even have time to think."
Naveen stayed silent.
Without saying anything else, Aanya went back to her room.
Later that night, Aryan returned home.
The maid opened the door for him.
Sir, Devika ma'am told me you would come late, she said nervously, but she didn't tell me how late. So I kept the food in the fridge so it wouldn't spoil.
Aryan listened quietly.
Sir, you freshen up. Meanwhile, I'll heat the food and serve it, she offered.
"There's no need," Aryan replied. I'll do it myself. You can go.
"Okay, sir," she said and left.
After freshening up, Aryan opened the fridge to take the food.
But suddenly—
His mind drifted to the past.
He remembered one night when Aanya had been searching for food in the fridge.
And Aryan had found it for her.
Aanya had looked shocked.
"What? Where did it come from? I just checked, Mr. Aryan! It wasn't there before!"
Aryan suddenly came back to reality.
He stopped himself from thinking further and quietly microwaved the food.
A few minutes later, he sat at the dining table and started eating.
But once again—
Aanya's voice echoed in his mind.
"Join me, Mr. Aryan. I'll feel weird eating alone. Please eat."
Aryan closed his eyes for a second.
Again, he forced himself back to reality.
"What is wrong with me?" he muttered to himself. Why am I thinking about Aanya all the time?
He closed his eyes tightly.
"I'm the one who rejected her… thinking it was better for both of us."
A painful silence filled the room.
And now she's getting married… I should forget her and move on.
His jaw tightened.
Eventually… she'll forget me too.
He lowered his gaze, a bitter pain settling in his chest.
I'm not right for her anyway.
After a pause, he whispered to himself painfully,
"You don't deserve her Aryan."
---
The next day, at Aanya's house, Radha knocked on Aanya's room door.
Aanya opened it.
Radha smiled. "Look who came to see you. She's waiting downstairs."
Aanya looked confused.
As soon as she walked downstairs, her eyes widened in shock.
"DADI!"
She immediately ran and hugged her grandmother tightly.
Everyone smiled happily.
"Dadi, I didn't know you were coming!"
Aanya said excitedly.
Her grandmother smiled lovingly. "My granddaughter is getting married. Why wouldn't I come early?"
Aanya became emotional.
"First let me sit," her grandmother complained dramatically. My legs are hurting. Your father didn't even come on time to pick me up. He made me wait.
Naveen defended himself immediately. "Maa, I came on time only. The train arrived early. What can I do?"
Aanya laughed softly. "Come, Dadi. Let's go to my room."
Radha quickly interrupted, Aanya, let Dadi stay downstairs. It'll be difficult for her to climb the stairs.
Her grandmother instantly frowned.
Radha, do you think I'm so old that I can't even climb stairs?" she said proudly. "I'll go to my granddaughter's room.
Radha smiled helplessly. Okay, Mother-in-law. As you wish.
After reaching the room, Aanya made her grandmother sit comfortably.
"How are you, Dadi?" she asked.
I'm fine, as usual, her grandmother replied.
Then after a pause, she looked at Aanya carefully.
"Now tell me… why are you getting married so early?"
Aanya stayed silent.
Her grandmother continued softly, "Is it the same guy you once told me you loved?"
Aanya's eyes suddenly filled with tears.
Without saying anything, she hugged her grandmother tightly and started crying.
Her grandmother became worried.
"Aanya beta, why are you crying?" she asked gently. Isn't the groom that same boy you loved? Wait… what was his name?
She thought for a moment.
"Yes… Aryan?"
Aanya shook her head emotionally.
"No, Dadi," she whispered painfully. It's not him.
Her voice broke.
"He rejected me."
Then Dadi looked shocked.
"What? He rejected you? But why?"
Aanya lowered her eyes. "He said he never loved me… and that I'm too young for him."
"What?" Dadi frowned. Too young? How old is he?
"He's 29."
Dadi looked confused. So what happened? It's only a nine-year age gap, right? What's the big deal in that?
She continued proudly, "Your grandfather and I have a twelve-year age gap. Even your father and mother have a six-year age difference."
Aanya stayed silent.
After a pause, she said softly, I don't know about all that, Dadi… but he rejected me.
Her eyes filled with tears again.
And I'm so stupid," she whispered painfully.
I waited for him for five years, thinking one day he would love me.
Dadi immediately held her face gently.
Aanya beta, don't cry, she said lovingly. It's his loss for rejecting my granddaughter.
Aanya wiped her tears but couldn't stop crying completely.
"Dadi, I know I have to forget him and move on," she said emotionally. "And I keep
convincing myself that I've moved on…"
Her voice broke.
"But in reality, I haven't."
Dadi listened quietly.
And I really hate the fact that even after being rejected, I still can't forget him.
"Oh, Aanya…" Dadi sighed sadly and hugged her.
Aanya tried hard to control herself.
After a moment, Dadi softly asked, "Then whom are you marrying?"
Aanya told her the entire story.
After listening to everything, Dadi looked shocked.
"What? Wait, I'll talk to your father."
It's useless, Dadi, Aanya said immediately.
Dadi looked at her.
Dad has already made up his mind. He won't change his decision, Aanya said quietly.
"And now… I also have to marry Kunal."
"But Aanya—"
"Dadi," Aanya interrupted softly, "maybe this marriage will help me forget Mr. Aryan."
Dadi stayed silent.
And at least I'll be able to continue my studies in the US, Aanya added.
Dadi interrupted her worriedly. "But Aanya… do you at least know whether that boy is a good person or not?"
Aanya looked away. "I don't care whether he's a good person or not, Dadi."
She took a deep breath.
Right now, the most important thing for me is to forget him.
Her eyes slowly filled with determination.
"And I will."
---
End Of Chapter 75.