Ananya's POV
After leaving the cemetery, I decided to go meet Alex at the office.
I called him and his mobile was switched off. But it wasn't going to deter me from thinking about the new beginnings.
Alex wants the same thing. I was so sure of it that we could begin working on this marriage together.

I reached office and walked straight towards Alex's cabin.
I met his assitant's surprised look.
"Ma'am, you here? Anything I can help you with?"
"I wanted to meet Alex, shall I go to this cabin if he is not in a meeting?"

"Ma'am, I am sorry but Sir left for Paris today morning. I am surprised you didn't know that."

"Oh! No, I was at his Parent's, he must have left in a hurry."
My feet were shaking as a feeling of dejection took over me. He left without saying anything. But I couldn't let anyone see the conflicts inside me. So I made a smiling face and turned to leave

"Oh poor Ananya. Tsk tsk tsk.. Alex didn't tell you. But he got time to tell me that he was leaving."
It was Katherine.
I decided to ignore her taunts and keep moving but she blocked my way with her hand.
She stood tall in front of me looking at me with her painted eyes.
"Don't you get it? He married you just for the babies. Yes. I know. And now I completely understand why he had to call off the engagement with me. But trust me, as soon as the babies are born you will be out and I will get back what is rightfully mine."
She made me angry but I know I had to hold it in. I didn't want to create a scene. Not at the office.
"What? You don't speak now? Or you don't believe me? Umm."
She unlocked her phone and held the screen in front of me.
"Here. Read this message. Your husband sent it to me just as he was leaving."
She made a sad pout face looking at me with pity in her eyes.
I couldn't hold it any longer.
I left from there with tears flowing down my cheeks. The entire staff saw me in that state.

I came back home to my room and burried my head in the pillows.
Why did you do that Alex?

I cried the entire evening and remained locked inside my room. Maria knocked on the door a couple of times. But I didn't answer. I just wanted to lay down on the bed and curl up.
My phone was buzzing continuously but I felt too weak to even move an inch.
My eyes were all swollen with the crying and they were burning like hell.
But the phone wouldn't stop ringing.
I crawled to the  edge of the bed and grabbed the phone from the side table.

"Finally! What happened my dear? Maria said you have locked yourself in."
Her voice made me break down even more. And I started crying even more.
"What happened Ananya? Did Alex say anything to you?"
I didn't want to trouble her anymore. She was suppose to be in Rochester today for some event.
"No. I am just missing Maa a lot today."

"Oh dear! I am coming to you right away."

"No Mom. We will meet tomorrow. You should stay. I will be just fine."

"I am worried about you. Alex is also in Paris. Hope he didn't do anything to make you upset."

"No Mom. Nothing like that."

"Sure? Then will you be a good girl and have your dinner and meds on time?"

"Yes."
I so didn't want to eat anything but I knew I had to.

She talked for a couple of minutes more telling me about how nice the event had been and I should visit with her next time.

We finally cut the call and I knew I had to go and get something to eat. I splashed water on my face to wash the tears away but the eyes were still swollen and red.

I went out and quickly grabbed something to eat. Maria looked concerned, I knew she meant well when she always went and complained to Mom about me missing on meals or meds. That was her job.

"Thanks Maria. I would sleep now. No calls for me please."
I went to my room and switched off my phone. Not that I was expecting anyone's call. But I knew I somewhere wanted to hear back from Alex. But I also didn't want to speak to him.

I lay there wide awake on my bed in complete darkness when the phone rang. Maria must have picked it real quick because it didn't ring for long.
In a couple of minutes it rang again. But no one seem to have picked it. Who can call at this hour? Was it Alex?
Why would he call? He must be having a fun time there with Katherine, afterall that had to be the reason why he called her to Paris.

I was lost in the thoughts when I heard some noise just outside my room. Reluctantly I got up to check on who it was.
"Maria?"  I opened the door to an apologetic look on Maria's face.
She had a mobile glued to her ear.

"I am sorry Ma'am. Sir called and he wishes to speak to you."

"Well, I don't wish to speak to him. You can tell him that."
She looked at me with pleading eyes.

"Please Ma'am. He will not let me sleep till you answer his call." She looked down with embarrassment for complaining about Alex to me.

I felt bad for her.

"Alright. Tell him he can call me back in an hour."
It was 2 am. But I didn't mind.
If he really wants to talk he would wait.

Maria left, although a little disappointed.

In my mind I kept wondering what he might say and what I would say in return.
May be he was just going to scold me for creating a scene at his work place.

I switched on my phone.  And waited for the call.
But the call never came and I fell asleep with the mobile in my hand.

****************************************
Alex's POV

My assistant told me about what happened at the office the day before. Ananya must be so upset.
I tried calling her but her phone was switched off.

I went home drunk the night before. I was feeling guilty about it. I know what she had been through and still in the flow of my emotions I was insensitive towards hers.

I received an urgent call from Paris office and had to leave for the meeting early in the morning. I decided not to wake Ananya and had left a note on the side table for her. May be she didn't get it and so she went looking for me at the office.

I would have loved to have had her by my side in this beautiful city.
But it is becoming more difficult with each passing day to control my feelings. And so at times I disclose my heart's desires which in turn makes her uncomfortable.

Katherine has crossed her limits this time. No one talks to my wife this way. I will never tolerate that. I have to talk to Dad to make Grandmaa understand that I cannot work with her anymore.

Ananya is angry at me. And she is taking that anger out on herself. Mom called me and told me about her. She cried all evening. Her eyes were swollen, Maria had said.
Lost in all these thoughts I waited impatiently for Ananya to switch on her cell phone.
But she hadn't and it was time for me to meet some clients. I just wanted to hear her voice but it would be better if she sleeps. I let her be for the night.

Even though my day had already started, I decided to call her when she wakes up. New York is 6 hours behind Paris.

The meetings went well. I was to wait here for two more days. But I was getting restless without her. I wanted to call her and I kept staring at the phone screen. What would I say to her? I hurt her again.

Just then the light went on, on my phone's screen. 'You have received 1 new message.' It said.
I opened it, not knowing it would be from her.

"Alex, I don't want to be angry anymore. I miss you. I don't know why you didn't call last night or why you left without telling me. But I just want you to know that I trust you. I just want to hear it from you once."

Hearing from her made me happy. I was smiling.
Just then another message came in.
"And yes, I hate Katherine. I don't like her being so close to you."

I was sitting on the edge of the bed but on reading the second text I just fell on the bed on my back and stared at the ceiling. The smile wouldn't leave my face.

I picked up the phone and typed.
"I am sorry. I thought you got the note I kept on the side table. Didn't mean to hurt you like this. I am glad you trust me. It made me so happy. Don't be angry on me. I miss you so much beautiful."

I sent it and went on to type a second text.
"And is that jealousy I see for Katherine? By the way even I don't like her."

I turned to my side and waited for her text. And it didn't take long for her to reply.
"If you don't like her then why did you let her come so close for a kiss? And I am not jealous of anyone. I am your wife."

Was she jealous? Lets see. This was fun.
"I really thought it was you that day. Even if I had kissed her it would have been because I believed it to be you. By the way the French girls are all ogling at me. I might kiss someone here thinking its you. I am missing you that much."

No reply. Its been 10 mins and still no message. May be I went too far.
I started typing a message saying it was just a joke when suddenly the 'new message notification' popped up.
"I am your wife. And till the time I am your wife I would be the only one you will get to kiss."
May be I am imagining things. I read the message again 10 times. She doesn't mean that.
I should think a 1000 times before saying anything.

Another message arrived as I lay there on the bed thinking.
But before I could even open the message the phone in my room began to ring. Was it her? Its too far fetched to expect her to call here.
"Hello."
"Sir. Your guests have arrived and high tea has been arranged."

"Sure I will be right there." It was the reception.

Another meeting. Though its informal but I had to entertain the clients to seal the deal.
I went ahead, straightened my suit and left the room.
It was was only when I was sitting with the CEO of the other company that I realised that I left the phone on the bed.

The message. I closed my eyes in regret, taking a deep breath as I sat there discussing the deal.
The wait!