Delhi, one of the beautiful yet crowded place of India. The hustle bustle of the people could easily be seen or heard after all, its evening and peak time for the people to free from their work. Roads were becoming more rushy during this time as people were going to their destinations. Some were going home whereas some had some other plans. Some were making their own way in the traffic to go while zigging their 2 wheelers whereas some were still waiting in their cars for clearing the way.

A girl was also waiting patiently in her car so that like other people, she too could move ahead and reached to her destination.

“Yeah mom, still in traffic and reaching there...” She said to her mother on the phone which was attached to her car Bluetooth.

“I told you to go early there but you didn’t listen...” Her mother said with disbelief.

She rolled her eyes and said, “Mom, you know, I was busy and moreover, I too told you to set up this meeting either at our home or my office but you too didn’t listen...”

Her mother shook her head while huffing and said, “It doesn’t look nice, beta and you know I can’t set up it at home... society people make different perceptions... you remember what happened last time so, how could I set it up at home...”

She released a heavy breath and said, “Of course mom, even I thought after those incidents, you will not set up another meeting for me but you being you...”

“It’s important for you and...” Her mother was saying when she interrupted and spoke, “Ok, mom... traffic is getting clear... I have to move... bye.”

With that, she cut the call without listening any other word from her mother as she knew what her mother would say to her after all, it’s not new for her and now she kinda habitual of all these things. She knew how to handle the situation and how to say no to anyone who would come to her way.

She moved her car ahead and was going to her destination when suddenly, clouds thundered and rain started.

“Crap... I knew this would have happened after seeing today’s cloudy weather... I hate this rain...” She mumbled to herself after seeing the rain outside.

Finally, after debating with so much traffic, she reached to her destination and looked for parking but to her dismay, she couldn’t.

“Shit... why every bad thing is going to happen, today...” She said to herself feeling frustrated.

She looked around and found one space at the other side of the road. She hurriedly turned her car and before anyone could grab that space, she finally parked it there and sighed. She took the umbrella from the backseat and after opening her car door and umbrella, she came out then locked her car.

She looked the either side of the road and when she confirmed, the road was cleared, she made her way to the cafe. She closed the umbrella then went to the counter and told the person her info. That person checked and one waiter led her to the private lounge where someone was waiting for her.

Waiter opened the door for her and hearing the door opening sound, that person turned and looked the beauty who was coming inside. He looked her from bottom to top as she was wearing a white color suit which she paired with multiple color dupatta. Her hairs were tied in half and her face had little makeup with nude red color lipstick.

She came inside while putting a loose strand behind her ear and he blinked his eyes when she came closer to him.

He forwarded his hand to her while introducing himself, “Hi, I am Akshit Khanna... nice to meet you...”

She too forwarded her hand to him while saying, “Anika Mishra... and nice to meet you too...”

“Please sit...” He offered her to sit and pulled a chair for her like a gentleman.

She said thank you to him after seeing his gesture and they both sat in front of each other.

For a while, a silence prevailed and they looked here and there then in between looked each other while passing their nervous smile.

He cleared his throat to gain her attention and asked, “What would you like to have?”

She looked him and said, “Coffee is fine... I guess...”

He nodded and called waiter by pressing a service button as they were sitting alone in private area. Waiter came and he ordered two cappuccinos for both of them.

Again, silence took place and before he could say anything, she spoke, “Look, Mr. Khanna... you must be a nice guy but I am not ready for any further commitments.”

Akshit looked her with no expressions on his face and asked with sincerity, “Can I know the reason, if you don’t mind to tell me...?”

Anika looked him for once and she was really surprised to see him as she had met 2-3 guys before but no one asked her the reason instead after saying no to them, they just insulted her and her family to call them for wasting their time. No one asked her why she was saying no for the marriage.

Akshit waited her to say something and she looked down. when he didn’t get the response, he asked with little hesitation, “Do you... love someone?”

Anika snapped her head with shock to his side hearing that question. She looked the sincerity in his face and she nodded her head while looking down.

Akshit too looked down while nodding and before he could say further, waiter arrived with their coffee. They both said thank you to the waiter and he left them alone again with their silent environment.

Anika didn’t know how she should tell him her story. Would he believe? So, she remained silent for a while and Akshit again spoke, “Please don’t take me wrong in this but I just want to know one thing, can I?”

Anika looked him and his sincere voice then nodded her head for giving him the permission to ask. He again cleared his throat and asked, “If you love someone then why don’t you go and marry him? I mean, why this meeting set up and all or its just one-sided love?”

Anika again looked him then smiled faintly and said, “No, it’s not one sided... we both love each other a lot... but...”

She said last word in her low voice enough for him to hear and he asked, “But...?”

Before he could ask, Anika’s phone started buzzing. She looked the name and it showed, “Ruhu…”

“I am sorry but I have to take this...” She said to him after seeing her best friend call.

Akshit nodded and she excused herself then went to one corner for taking the call.

“Hello, Ani...”  Ruhani said after Anika picked her call.

“Yes, Ruhu... please tell me you need me in the office…” She said on the phone. It was more like a plead.

Ruhani sighed and said, “Look Ani, I know you don’t want this but I have an information for you...”

Anika’s heart started beating fast hearing the word ‘Information’ as she thought, it could be related to the info which she so wanted to know for so long and that’s about him.

She still was in her thoughts when Ruhani spoke, “Hello Ani... you there...”

Anika blinked and said, “Hmm... I am here...”

Ruhani hmm in response and said while sighing heavily, “I know where were you lost but it’s not what you were thinking... it’s actually about the person, whom you came to meet...”

Anika’s face fell when she heard her but still, she composed her emotions and asked with confusion, “About Mr. Khanna...?” then looked at him who still was patiently waiting for her.

Ruhani hmm in response and said, “He is a nice man, Ani…”

“And how do you know this NRI?” Anika asked still in confusion.

“You remember, last year, Abhigyaan went to Australia for his project... It was actually his company with whom Abhigyaan finalized the deal. Abhigyaan knew him and his dad really well. I casually talked with Abhigyaan about him and he told me that he is a nice and respected man. So, if you want to share your story with him, you can... he will understand it for sure...” Ruhani told her everything which she came to know about Akshit.

Anika heard everything keenly and after finishing her words, she spoke, “I don’t know, Ruhu… it’s so complicated.”

“Did you talk about...” Ruhani was about to ask when she understood her question and cut her in middle while speaking, “I just told him, I love someone...”

“Hmm…” Ruhani hmm in response and about to say further when Anika spoke, “I will talk later, Ruhu... now he is waiting for me.”

Ruhani said ok to her and after biding goodbye to each other, they both cut the call and she went to the table again.

“I am sorry, you had to wait...” Anika apologized sincerely after coming back.

Akshit smiled and said, “No, that’s completely fine...”

She smiled while nodding and he cleared his throat to continue the conversation and said, “You were saying something about your love, but stopped in middle...”

She took a heavy breath then while looking to his side, she said, “He is not here for now, Mr. Khanna but I have a belief in my love that one day, he will be...” she said last line with the determination in her eyes.

Akshit gave a bewildered look to her and asked, “If he is not here then where is he?”

Anika looked him then again looked down while saying in her low voice, “I don’t know...”

“Are you not in talking terms with him?” He asked another question as her answers were making him more perplexed.

She shook her head as no and he again asked, “For how long...?”

“About 4 and half months...” She said with sadness but then immediately looked him and said, “But, I know, one day he will talk to me and we will be together… I know, there must be something which is stopping him and when one day, that reason will sort out, he will come...”

“And what if, he will not… then…?” He asked in his meek voice as he really didn’t want her to feel disheartened with her thoughts and his questions.

Anika looked him then smiled faintly with her glossy eyes while saying, “I have my whole life waiting for him, Mr. Khanna, but if not him then no one else too...”

Akshit looked her with pained and saddened eyes as he was sure during this conversation, she suffered a lot but masking her agony with her fainted smile. He had met many girls in his life but he had never seen a girl like her before who was so much in pain but still, she remained strong. A girl, who was looking innocent but that determination in her eyes to get her love back was making her fierce on the same time. He saw the broken relationships of his friends and cousins due to loyalty, trust and misunderstanding but here, this girl whose love, he didn’t know even he was loyal or trustworthy to her or not but still, she was showing full loyalty and trust towards her this broken yet unknown relation, especially after suffering this heartbreak.

His chain of thoughts broke when Anika called him while tapping her hand on the table, “Mr. Khanna…”

Akshit blinked and looked her concern face then said, “I am sorry, I was lost somewhere...”

Anika nodded with smile and asked, “Can I request you something?”

He nodded while giving her the signal to go and she said hesitantly, “Please don’t tell my parents that it’s me who rejected this proposal… they will be very much upset from me…again”

She looked down feeling sad with her own words as she really didn’t want to upset her parents more but what she could do, after saying many times a no, still, her parents wanted her to get married and settled down with someone.

“I hope you will understand my point and be with me in this situation…” She said with a hope and after collecting her bag, she stood up and about to go when he stopped her.

“Ms. Mishra…” He called her from the back.

She stopped and turned then looked him with narrowed eyes. He too stood up from his chair and said, “This meeting is not over yet...”

His words made her nervous as she really didn’t want something further with him. She came ahead and said with her pleading eyes, “Look, Mr. Khanna, I am not the right girl for you. I am sure, you will get better life partner than me even I would say, you deserve better but I am not the one for you… so, please, let me go and all the best for your future…”

She again turned and about to leave when his words stopped her with shocked.

He was hearing her words very keenly even her pleading voice too didn’t go unnoticed by him and when she finished and about to go again, he stopped her and said, “I want to know your story, Ms. Mishra...”

Anika turned and looked him with shocked eyes. He observed her expressions then came closer to her and said, “I really want to know about that guy, who is so lucky to get you and your love. I want to know about you both specially if there was immense love between you two then what circumstances came which led you both this heartbreaking separation.”

She started looking down as her eyes filled with tears after reminiscing those blissful and hurtful days of her life and he continued, “I have seen many girls who betray their partner in a relationship because I too faced that betrayal from someone…”

She upped her lashes then looked him after hearing his last words and he again spoke while sighing, “But that doesn’t matter to me now because I have moved on from that phase…”

“Why do you want to know about my love?” She asked still having those unshed tears in her eyes.

He looked her again and said while chuckling, “because I have never seen a girl like you…for the first time, I am seeing a girl, who after facing a heartbreak, she still is so determine to get her love back and wants to wait for that guy who, she actually doesn’t know, will ever come to her or not. There is something special in your love and this love story, Ms. Mishra and I want to know that, you can say out of curiosity…” he shrugged at last.

She still remained silent and looked down. He came more closer to her then after forwarded his hands to her, he said, “I promise, I will never judge you or your relationship and I will not tell your parents that you don’t want this marriage even I too don’t want this marriage but I would really like to become your friend, only if you want me to be…”

She snapped her head to his direction and looked the sincerity in his eyes as he wasn’t lying at all. He nodded his head with assurance and said, “Yes, Ms. Mishra, you heard me, right. I never want to build a compromise relation specially after knowing, you love someone so, how can I be so cruel to separate you with your one true love, I am not that type of a person…so, you can trust me…”

She still was looking her with surprised and he asked, “So, if you are ok, can we become friends?”

She blinked and a lone tear escaped from her eye. On that time, she just thought her friend was right, he was actually a nice man as she could see his generosity towards her that’s why, she believed, she could trust him.

Akshit still was waiting for her response and about to take his hand back when she held it immediately and after wiping her tear, she said with her genuine smile, “Yes… I would love to…” then they shook their hands with smiling faces.

He too smiled genuinely and she said, “Thank you so much for understanding me…”

He nodded and asked, “Now, am I allowed to know the story of this new friend?”

They both chuckled then She shook her head with affirmation and he said, “Let’s sit then…”

She stopped him and said, “Not here…”

He gave a confusing look to her and she said, “Come with me…” He nodded and they both left the café.

Mishra House:

After driving around 20 minutes, they reached to Mishra house in their respective cars. As they were going to enter the house, Akshit asked, “Is this your home?”

Anika nodded and he still asked in confusion, “But why are we here? Your parents must be inside, right?”

She hmm in response and said, “Yes and we are here because there is no better place than this to tell you about my love…”

He still didn’t understand her point but nevertheless nodded and they went inside. Anika rang the doorbell and her mother opened the door only to get a shock to see them there. She saw Akshit’s photo before so, she recognised him very well.

“Namaste, aunty...” Akshit greeted her mother while joining his hands then bent down to touch her feet.

Anika’s mother, Ruchika also greeted him with a smile and gave her blessings while putting her hand on his head. She invited him inside and led him to living room. Akshit sat there and Anika too relaxed herself whereas her mother went to the kitchen for bringing a glass of water.

She came and offered water to him and he gladly took it then said, “Thank you.”

They all were sitting and Ruchika spoke, “What would you like to have, beta...?”

“Nothing aunty… sorry, I came with her without any notice…” he apologised with sincerity as he was actually feeling weird for coming here like this.

Anika observed his actions and when he apologised, she really felt bad as she thought, she should have told him that they were going to her house. She looked Akshit and on the same time, he too saw her and she mouthed, “Sorry” to him. He didn’t understand why she was apologising but still gave an assurance nod to her.

Their trance broke when Ruchika said, “I go and call her father for coming home…”

Akshit stopped her and said, “Its ok, aunty... I am just leaving in 10 minutes… no need to disturb him… I will surely meet him one day…”

Ruchika smiled seeing his gentleman behavior and they all sat there in a silence for a while then Ruchika asked, “So, how was your meeting?”

They both looked each other and Anika said, “It was good, mom…”

Ruchika felt happy hearing those words from her daughter’s mouth and Akshit too replied, “Yeah... It was nice, aunty… but…”

His last word made Ruchika tensed and she even saw Akshit’s demeanor was changing as he was rubbing his hands like he wanted to say something.

“But…?” Ruchi asked with worried face.

Akshit looked Ruchi’s concerned face and about to say when Anika spoke in middle, “But, we still haven’t decided anything, mom and we want to meet again to know each other more…”

She then turned to Akshit and asked, “Right, Akshit…”

Hearing his name for the first time from her, his heart fluttered even her mother became happy to see her daughter in this new avatar. Ruchi also looked Akshit for knowing his answer. Akshit blinked and saw Anika who was giving pleading look to him and he without knowing about her this behaviour, nodded his head with smile.

Anika heaved a sigh and Ruchi asked with satisfying smile, “Oh... that’s good to know, so, when are you guys planning to meet again?”

They both looked each other and Anika said, “I think, we should meet tomorrow as well…”

She turned to Akshit and asked, “What’s say, Akshit?”

Akshit knew there was something which Anika didn’t want to let her family knew about what they had discussed before so, he thought to talk about it later with her and again nodded his head while saying, “Ok, I am ready…”

They both smiled and Anika asked, “How about tomorrow you will come to our house again and do lunch with us, you will even meet my father…”

She then turned to her mother and asked, “What’s say, mom?”

Ruchi became happy to hear this and without thinking anything, she smiled and said, “Of course, beta… you are right…”

She too then turned to Akshit and said, “Akshit, now I will not listen any no from you… its final, tomorrow, you are coming to our house for lunch…”

“But, aunty…” Akshit was saying when Ruchi stopped him and said, “No ifs or buts will work here… you have to come…”

Akshit sighed and nodded his head while saying, “Ok, if you guys are insisted that much then I wont deny… thanks for the invitation…”

He stood up from his place and said, “I think, I should leave now… it’s getting late and I have to attend a conference too…”

They both too stood up with him and Akshit took Ruchika’s blessings again and bid her goodbye. Ruchika turned to Anika and said, “You go and drop him till gate, bacha…”

Anika nodded and they both went from there. As they came outside, Anika spoke, “I am sorry for what had happened inside…”

Akshit stopped on his place then turned and asked, “I did’t understand why did you tell lie to your mom?”

Anika knew, he would have surely asked that question. She too stopped with him and said while taking a long breathe, “If I told her that we decided not to marry and you would have told her the truth what we had discussed in café then she would have never agreed for you to come to my place not even as a friend. Even after your departure, she would have surely thought, I must have said to you something that’s why, you denied so, I lied… I don’t want for now they get to know anything…”

Akshit understood her point but still he wasn’t convinced and asked, “I understand your point, Anika but sooner or later, they will get to know, may be tomorrow after our conversation, then what? How will you manage them then?”

Anika looked him and said, “I know, sooner they will get to know and about managing the things, I will do that, don’t worry, till then, let them be happy with the hope for us… because I am tired of saying no every time but still, they don’t understand... I know they want my best but I too want my best and except him, no one can be best for me… which they are not understanding but I will make them do this…”

“And how will you do that?” Akshit asked after hearing her words.

She looked him with faint smile and said, “By proving my love for him…”

He became confused after hearing her words and asked with his narrowed eyes, “Means…?”

Anika turned to another side and while walking, she said, “Love is not a sale tag, Akshit that if someone doesn’t like the price than any other person can claim it… for me, My love is irrevocable for him which no one can diminished neither I will let anyone do this… that’s why, I will fight for it until or unless, I wont get it… even if I will have to wait for him, I will and that too till my last breath…”

She turned to him and said, “This is what I want to make my parents understand. I know if we will tell them our decision still, they will get another one for me but I will fight and say no to everyone who is not meant for me because for me, only, he exists and I know, one day, my parents will understand this too that except him, no one is meant for me neither I belong to anyone…”

She doesn’t know when her eyes became watery while talking about her love and silent tears started falling from her eyes. She sniffled and said, “I am sorry, I don’t know when I became emotional…”

Akshit came to him and handed her his handkerchief. She looked him and he gave an assurance nod. She took it and wiped her eyes then he said, “I am really impressed with your thoughts about your love, Anika and I even respect your family. Being your friend, now, I just want, soon you will get your love… you should because you deserve to be happy…”

Anika looked him and said, “Thanks, Akshit after a long, I felt relieved from inside otherwise, the boys whom I met, they just cursed me for wasting their time and no one understood me the way, you did. So, thank you for everything…”

Akshit smiled and to lighten the mood, he said, “Now we are friends, madam so, in friendship, no sorry, no thank you…”

They both chuckled and he said, “I’ll see you tomorrow, take care and bye…”

She too bid him goodbye and he settled in his car then drove off to his place. Anika looked his car until it didn’t disappear from her eyes then came inside to the house with a satisfaction yet genuine smile on her face.

Akshit was driving but still his mind was on her talks and the reason which she gave to him. He knew that she wasn’t saying the lie because he saw the pain in her eyes whenever she talked about her one love and seeing her and her agony, he was sure, something big had happened with her which made her like this and somehow she still had belief that man too loved her and one day, they would be together which made Akshit more curious to know about that person who surely wasn’t here with her but his presence was residing in her soul.

“Heartbreak”, a most painful thing for person specially for those, who did true love with their heart and didn’t think their life without that one person but when heart broke, it’s not just shattered that person but their soul too breaks with that.

Anika too was feeling the same from inside though, with her “Heartbreak”, she surely broke but still, she was determined to bring her one true love into her life back because she knew, the love which they both did, it’s not random in fact it’s eternal.

******

Hello lovely readers.. 😊

Hope you all are doing fine? 🙂

Here is the first chapter of our beloved Anikhil's book. Hope you all liked it? 😁

Any words for our new supportive character, Akshit. How did you find him?☺

Anika, my stronger girl is determined to get her love.. 🥺

But where is he? Its been 4 and half months but no sign of him neither no one knows, where did he go ...😔

Missed my favorite Ruhigyaan.. though Abhigyaan wasnt here in this update but his name was enough for me to blush...😝

Heartbreak is really a painful thing but my girl is persistant after facing so much...🤧

Next update will be after 2 weeks. Lets see whats there to unfold in their story. 🙂

Stay Safe and Be Happy.. 😊

With lots of love..❤

Take care and bye.. 🙋‍♀️