Love will fall in place

CHAPTER 1

Shraddha smoothed her crispy blue anarkali and adjusted her pearl necklace. She looked at herself in the mirror. To her eyes, Shraddha looked fairly decent enough to attend her cousin's engagement party. She packed small foundation box and lip gloss tube, which her cousin Natasha forcefully dropped in her hand, into her clutch. Shraddha paid attention to the arrangement as she took small steps from the room to the main hall. The pathway was arranged with red carpet theme and the hall was filled with curtains of bright yellow and red. She mentally imagined his look of disapproval when her cousin would have suggested the theme. Knowing him, one would think he would have preferred beige or even white. Shraddha took a moment to read the menu and grinned at the thought that at least he has won in this department. It was continental, his all time favourite.

As Shraddha entered the hall, she was greeted by curt nods and graceful smiles of her relatives. That is where their interaction ended. Shraddha has always been an enigma who others never want to decipher, but Shraddha knew how it all started. She was 10 when her father died. It was the time when everyone looked at her with pity. "Ohh poor Shraddha" they would say. For Shraddha the low mummers and pitiful looks proved heart wrenching than her father's dismissal.

Shraddha remembers the day vividly. Her uncle has bought jalebi for Natasha when Shraddha was 10 and Natasha was 7. Shraddha saw how Natasha relished the jalebi sitting in her father's lap, how he dotingly fed her jalebi, while wiping off the nectar of the sweet from her chin with his shirt with a smile. Shraddha, hid behind the pillar, looked at them smiling, perhaps, with a bit of longing. Then there was the same words with same tone," Oh poor Shraddha" she heard her aunt say,"Why don't you give her one piece." she said sympathetically. Shraddha's smile vanished as she began to take slow steps away from the living room. She loved her maternal uncle and his wife. They were extremely kind to her and her mother providing them support and all, but she didn't want to be "Oh Poor Shraddha....". That day for the first time Shraddha said that she doesn't like sweets to avoid the sympathy. A couple of days later she excused herself from attending a family gathering on the pretext of studying. A week after she refused to go to the movies reasoning that she had science project competition in her school. She avoided all places where she was "Oh poor Shraddha...". Fortunately or unfortunately everyone stopped offering Shraddha sweets or inviting her for casual gatherings. Shraddha ended up being the infamous family introvert. Shraddha had no complains. Now she is living her life in her own will without being thrown constant judgements by nosy relatives.

Shraddha managed to find her mom in the crazy crowd and went to stand beside her. "Oh Dr.Shraddha" she heard one of her aunties say, "You have grown so much". Shraddha gave a very measured subtle smile. "Oh Dr.Shraddha..." that is what she has become from "Oh poor Shraddha..." and Shraddha has no complains about the isolated path she chose.

"Deepa aunty was saying that nowadays her breathing rate is abnormal. Can you talk to her?" Priya asked her daughter.

Shraddha looked at her mother with an almost mocking smile. Now her relatives also were scared to talk to her.

"Give her my card. Outpatient time is 13.00 to 15.00. I don't work for free." Shraddha said as she gave her mom a mischievous smile.

Priya looked like she was about to chastise her daughter for her snide remark when Ashok, her brother, intervened.

"No professional talks in family gathering." he warned. Then, looking at his sister, he added, "Let Shraddha meet Natasha. She is waiting for her and you come with me to check the return gifts." he whisked away his sister and Shraddha made her way towards Natasha.

"You look pretty." Shraddha complimented her little cousin Natasha who definitely looked no less than a page 3 model in her off shoulder silver dress with a long slit that travelled from just above her knees to her foot. For someone who cheers for tradition and culture her uncle Ashok was way too liberal in letting his daughter dress the way she wants.

"You look pretty too." Natasha said in a voice that she generally reserves for things like "Oh! what a cute puppy". Shraddha smiled and nodded. Shraddha might not be very social but she knew the accepted social conduct, give compliment then take compliment.

When Shraddha thought that the customary compliment barter was over, Natasha has to notice how elegant Shraddha's pearl set looked. And worse she has to add an "..isn't?" and invite him to the conversation.

He, who was busy talking to one of his friends facing his back to her, turned to look at Shraddha. "Dr.Trivedi" he said in greeting and she replied "Mr.Banerjee " with a curt nod. That is it. What more are they going to say to each other? What more have they said to each other all these years? Shraddha was thankful for Natasha for breaking the awkward silence so Shraddha didn't make much fuss when she was asked to pose for photo.

"Have a good day, Dr.Trivedi" she heard him say as she was descending down the stairs. She halted in her place and turned to look at him. His head was bent to his right and an unreadable smile adorned his lips. That moment he looked as if he was the only person who was present in the whole hall and Shraddha would have easily zoned out if it wasn't for the accident thump on her shoulder."You too, Mr.Banerjee " she said maintaining a straight face as usual. "Oh, that I will" he added as his hands involuntarily went around Natasha and she pulled him towards her.

Shraddha had nowhere to go, no one to talk to. She stood in the farthest corner locking and unlocking her phone for the nth time. How can Natasha say she can spend whole life without anyone and anything but phone? It seemed impossible.

'Anything that needs my attention?' she messaged the head nurse

'No emergency Dr.Trivedi. Enjoy the party' she replied after ten minutes.

Great! now she was left with her thoughts and bitter orange juice. Shraddha took a slow sip and let the mix of bitterness and sweetness wet her throat. She for the first time that evening looked at the couple assiduously. They looked no less than any bollywood couple. Both were tall, slim, good looking and classy. Natasha's silver dress only complimented his black tuxedo and for once if Shraddha could stop being a jealous infected woman, she could admit that her cousin was probably the prettiest in the room. No wonder that he has dated her for past 6 years and now, eventually, marrying her.

Shraddha recollected the very first day she saw him. He had just returned from England owing to his father's business but his accent has not left him. Some admired it while others ridiculed it; after all they were just in seventh grade. Shraddha was assigned to share her notes with him and help him with catching up the syllabus considering she was the topper in class and all. So, the whole year he kept visiting her house often. Though Shraddha had soft corner in her heart for the trying-so-hard-to-be-desi boy, he was not spared from the behaviour that Shraddha drafted for everyone. Maybe that is why she always found him chatting with her cousin amicably every time he visited her or now when Shraddha recollects the happenings she wonders if he only visited to talk to her cousin on the pretext of collecting notes. Because, after the initial few months she stopped giving him notes but he never stopped coming home. She remembers how he always calls her aunt Rhea as "Maa" while her mother Priya as "Aunty". That little rascal had schemed even when he was a teenager.

Shraddha smiled at her own thought. Of course as the son of one of India's leading industrialist, and now an industrialist himself, it would have been a surprise only if he was not good at strategising and manipulating. Natasha was quiet a popular girl even in school, so it was a no shocker that he proposed her when he was 20 and she was 17 and now six years later, after several so called break ups and patch ups, they are going to be husband and wife.

Shraddha looked at the couple gracing the dance floor. Some English song, which she knew would have been Natasha's choice, was playing in the background. Amidst the cheers and giggles he swirled her around and caught her efficiently as if they had done it million times. Their eyes met and Shraddha had to turn away to not look at him looking at his to-be-wife romantically.

Dr.Shraddha Trivedi, unaffected and unattached to anyone and anything, had one slip in her whole life and that was forming feelings for the man who she knew she can never have.

She didn't know when or how it happened. Maybe it was the first time she met him, a tall teenager riding a sports bicycle inside the premises of the school, or maybe during one of the numerous times when she has seen him ruffle his smooth hair. It can also be the time when she saw him charmingly woo the members of her family with his sweet talk and inevitable charm. Deep inside Shraddha knew when actually it happened. It was the day when father's day and sports day of the school fell on the same day. It was the day when after five years Shraddha heard "Oh Poor Shraddha..." for not being able to participate in the function. It was the day when Shraddha sat under the tree hiding from everyone. It was the only day when he inadvertently saw her tears. It was the day he sat by her side without speaking for god knows how many hours. It was the day when someone extended their support to her without feeling pity for her. It was the day when someone waited for her to recover from the fall on her own without judging her. It was the day when she walked away from her hideout after hours of brooding; he just stood there looking at her before he went on his way. Even many years after that day, there were times when Shraddha craved for that kind of support. He was too held up in his life to notice her and she was too proud to ask to be noticed.

Shraddha once read somewhere that a crush that lasts longer than 6 months is love. But now it has been 15 years since the day and she has not still gotten over him. 'You don't love him Shraddha' she has told herself many times. And it sounded true to her every time she said that but then again she would see him, sometimes in her house having dinner with her family, sometimes dropping her cousin home or even sometimes in one of the business magazines that her uncle keeps buying, and then she will question her own beliefs.

Every time she would feel like crying or shouting her heart out to him, she will remember the longest ever conversation she had with him. It was two years after they joined college he was pursuing Textile engineering and she was pursuing medicine. He called her. She was shocked even to know that he had her number.

"Hello, Shraddha?"

"How did you get my number?" she asked immediately recognising his voice

"I always had it" he said

"Oh"

An awkward silence passed after which he spoke.

"I......... I am planning a surprise birthday party for Natasha. I want you to come." he said

"Okay" she said. Nothing more, nothing less.

"Shraddha" he called and a long pause followed "I am planning to propose Natasha on that day." he said

"Okay." she said mirroring all emotions she felt

"Okay." he replied

"Okay." she finished before cutting the call.

He loves Natasha, she would tell herself. That was a very young Shraddha with almost weak heart but now she is Dr. Shraddha Trivedi a wise 26 year old woman. She knows where to place her heart so that it will not be broken. She placed her heart in her profession and she was sure she will never be heartbroken.

"Anurag Banerjee you are not mine and I am fine with it" she told herself. The more she told that to herself the more her heart was willing to believe it.

***

CHAPTER 2

Anurag stood by the seven feet long French window in the living room of his apartment overlooking the sleeping city. It was one hectic day but still sleep eluded him. He was thankful for the wise decision of moving into his own small flat three years ago. He loved his parents, but he craved some alone time as well. He was sure he couldn't have spared even a minute back in his family house in peace sipping whiskey, especially not after his engagement day. His mom recently chided him for setting a bad example for his younger brother, who now insisted to move out just like his Anurag bhai. Anurag had secretly even encouraged him to embrace his life as far as he doesn't forget to keep his legs rooted to the ground where he grew. His mom would definitely not approve this advice.

Anurag gulped down the liquid before pouring some more for him. Why was he even drinking? He is engaged to the girl whom he always wanted to marry, so this makes today the best day of his life. That is it, he is drinking to celebrate.

Anurag took his phone to check the photos that was clicked today. Natasha looked attractive. No, she was not beautiful like the way he remembered her from few years back. The innocence and curiosity in her hazel eyes were lost. But, doesn't everyone lose it after they get exposed to this big bad world. Come on, he is not the same Anurag he was few years ago. According to the recent article of a business magazine he is "shrewd and indifferent". But, people who knew him from childhood will swear he was different. Natasha was no different from him. They both have come a long way from those happy-go-lucky teenagers and they both should now learn to acknowledge the new them.

He took another greedy sip from the glass as he leaned on his favourite recliner to reminisce his past.

Anurag absolutely hated moving from London. He was convinced he belonged with the whites. But he had no other choice and Anurag was well aware of it. The shift to India wasn't smooth. It was as if there was an invisible sign board that said Anurag didn't belong there and all kids seemed to read and show him a hard time for it, except one.

Shraddha Trivedi was a mystery and Anurag thought he would decipher her easily. She was his initial help during school and he was not at all hesitant to seek her help often. He was in desperate need of a friend and Shraddha Trivedi filled the bill perfectly. She was smart, intelligent, not judging and he found her very interesting. But, she always saw him as the clingy new boy who bothers her all weekends coming to her house. He liked her family. They were all fun people. And he especially liked her cute cousin, Natasha. Typical man he was, when he realized he didn't get any attention from Shraddha he completely turned towards Natasha's direction. No regrets. Natasha was everything he wanted at that time. She was pretty, classy and famous. Perfect for his reputation, perfect for his ego.

"No regrets." Anurag said out loud to himself and he badly wanted to believe it.

It was all his decision to ask Natasha to be his girlfriend, to date her, to propose her, to marry her. It was all his. Then why does he feel as if he is pushed inside a well with his hands and legs tied?

"You love her don't you?" asked his father casually once during engagement shopping and Anurag answered affirmatively albeit after a pause.

"You hesitated for a minute there." It wasn't a question. It was a statement and Anurag knew his father already understood his heart's plight before Anurag himself could figure out.

Was it always like this? Was he only fooling himself all these year? Anurag closed his eyes leaning on the recliner.

Her brown eyes with so much mystery danced in his mind. Shraddha Trivedi. Anurag always dreamt about her eyes and every time Anurag just ignored. Initially, he even tried to assure himself that it wasn't Shraddha's eyes. But, with growing maturity he just began to accept some unfathomable conjectures of life.

"No, I don't love Dr.Shraddha Trivedi" he again told himself

There was genuinely a time when he thought he loved her. Some years ago on a sports day he saw her in tears and his heart inadvertently went out for her. He sat beside her till she got hold of herself and even after that, because the feelings his heart felt that day was so strong that he was worried his legs will stumble with the weight his heart felt. But, that was the only connecting moment they shared in their entire life. At that time he thought he loved her. He even tried talking to her on couple of occasions but Shraddha Trivedi built a wall around her that no one could ever break. He was too weak to try and fall on his face.

He never tried enough and so he shouldn't complain. Anyways Shraddha Trivedi is the least of his worries when he had his whole life to be brought on track.

His big day is over and he has a new life to begin. He should clear his mind before entering that phase of his life.

***

Shraddha never liked these parties. It was always so petentious for her liking and she wondered how she ended up here. Well, she had no intention to join Natasha's pre wedding party with her friends. It totally slipped Shraddha's mind that Natasha was to have a party that day by their poolside. If she had remembered, she would have gladly swapped night shift with Dr.Kunj. Alas! Shraddha was forced to attend the party as she was home. At least it was better than the teenage birthday parties Natasha used to throw.

Shraddha stood beside a large coconut tree sipping her drink. Just ten more minutes and she will leave faking a head ache. Leaning on the tree casually Shraddha observed the surroundings. She knows most of them. Though she was anti-social, she definitely was a keen observer and she remembers all Natasha's friends from school and college.

"Bunch of grown up idiots." Shraddha muttered as she saw Natasha's two friends compete on who empties the bottle of alcohol first.

"Why would you say that, Dr.Trivedi?" That familiar voice sent a shrill through her spine

Why didn't she wonder why was he absent till then? Anurag Banerjee looked just out of office in a charcoal grey suit and navy blue shirt. His hair was as impeccable as ever and though his eyes looked a bit tired, his smirk was jubilant to take up the whole world.

"Why would you be late for your own party, Mr.Banerjee ?" she asked ignoring his previous question

"This is Natasha's party." said he and immediately regretted

"Natasha's party? Aren't you and Natasha two bodies one soul now that you are about to be married?" Shraddha narrowed her eyes at him and Anurag knows she was too brilliant a woman to smell his thoughts.

"Sure." he nodded and pretended to greet someone else as he walked away. All the way till he reached Natasha's side and even after that he was sure Shraddha's eyes were on him.

"Let's play a game." Natasha shouted and that was Shraddha's cue to leave.

It was three hours after Shraddha left and almost all the guests retired and Shraddha was thankful for that. She was going to kitchen to get some water, when she heard what she didn't intend to hear.

"I wish I loved you." Shraddha heard Anurag say and she was close to paralyzed at that confession.

What did he mean by that? Shraddha was not at all nosy but that confession made her curious and she walked to Natasha's room. There he saw Anurag kneel beside a passed out Natasha with her hand in his and his eyes closed.

Why was he saying this? Doesn't he love Natasha? They were happy couple. They had 'perfect love story', at least according to her mother. Was it all farce? Before Anurag could catch her sneaking, Shraddha walked back to her room with thousand thoughts in her mind.

***

CHAPTER 3

The day was busy and Shraddha loved busy days. These were the days when she actually felt that she was doing something great.

'Thank you doc. My wife is fine'

Shraddha read the message from ACP Abinav Shukla. Shraddha smiled at that message. His wife had stomach cancer and Shraddha had been patient and vigilant in her treating. At first, ACP came out as a person who is indifferent towards his wife's health considering how he never accompanied her for initial days of check up. But, the last one month he was always by his wife's side throughout the operation and post it as well. Shraddha noticed his love for her with just a simple look he gave his wife before she was taken to operation theatre. Shraddha realized that she was quick to judge and began to soft towards the feared ACP.

Has she always been this quick to judge?

Shraddha recollected the night after Natasha's party. Anurag wished he loved Natasha meaning he is not actually in love with her. Shraddha always thought Anurag adored Natasha. They have been together for enough years to understand each other before they decided to marry. When Anurag and Natasha announced their decision, Shraddha thought it was a well thought after decision. Was she quick to judge Anurag and Natasha and their love? What went wrong?

"Dr.Trivedi?" called Shraddha's head nurse grabbing her attention. "Your sister is here to see you." she announced

"Send her in" Shraddha summoned. She wanted to talk to her cousin to understand what is happening in her life.

When Natasha entered the cabin, Shraddha was packing to go out with Natasha. The white walled hospital cabin was not definitely a good place to discuss her Natasha's love life.

"Are you leaving?" asked Natasha placing her blue sling bag on Shraddha's examination table.

"Yeah. I thought we will have lunch outside" Shraddha said searching for her purse.

"But I came to meet you." Natasha said looking at her cousin

"Yeah I know......" Shraddha stopped doing whatever she was doing and lifted up her head to look at Natasha. " Do you mean you are here to meet Dr.Shraddha Trivedi?" Shraddha asked curiously

Natasha just nodded her eyes were lowered and her lips were pressed together just like when she used to be when she is caught after mischief.

***

Anger is an emotion that Shraddha has never felt. She has felt sad, distressed, irritated, disappointed, helpless but never angry. At this moment she was angrier than a raging volcano. How could Anurag do this to Natasha, the one girl he loved since childhood or did he?

Shraddha has never visited Banerjee Industries. She never got a chance. She has heard a lot about the astute businessman that Anurag is but never witnessed him in his all businessman avatar. In dark brown pants, white shirt and cream waist coat he looked like a model just out of magazine. Almost three forth of the day was over but the man looked as fresh as starting of the day. But, Shraddha is not here to assess his looks. She had better agenda.

"Why do I owe this pleasure, Dr.Trivedi?" asked Anurag as he led her to the conference room.

To say that Anurag was surprised to see Shraddha Trivedi in his office was understatement. He asked the associate standing by his side if the woman in yellow salwar was just his imagination or was she actually present. Anurag wouldn't have felt half as surprised as this if the prime minister has walked in his office.

"What is wrong with you?" asked Shraddha as soon as Anurag closed the door of the conference room behind them.

"A lot of things Dr.Trivedi but even a gentleman as humble as me will not confess things that are wrong with him." said Anurag with tongue in cheek. But, his smirk was washed away by her sharp glare.

"Why are you doing this to Natasha?" she asked

"Are you asking me why I am marrying her?"

"Why are you being indifferent towards her?" asked Shraddha folding her arms over her chest.

"You are a doctor not a lawyer. Moreover, I don't know what you are talking about?" he said as he sat in the chair near him

"You know what I am talking about?" Shraddha said as she took the chair in front of him. "Did you tell Natasha that you wanted to postpone the wedding date?"

"Why? " Anurag said shrugging nonchalantly "I am sure it is none of your business."

"Are you having second thoughts? "

"I don't have to answer that to you" Anurag said leaning back in the chair

"Now you would have second thoughts, won't you? Now that she is pregnant and all." Shraddha said glaring at him flipping her hair

"Excuse me? She is what?" asked Anurag moving forward in his chair.

***

Shraddha was furious when Natasha said she wanted to abort her baby as Anurag was not ready for it. When Shraddha argued against it, Natasha confessed that Anurag wanted to postpone the wedding and give them a break as it was all too much for him. Shraddha insisted on talking to him as a professional if not as her sister but, Natasha refused saying that he doesn't like interference in their relationship. Shraddha promised Natasha that they will have this discussion the next day in the presence of gynaecologist and sent off Natasha home before speeding to Banerjee's office. She wanted to give Anurag Banerjee some piece of mind. Anurag's surprise at the news was not half as shocking as her state after he swore that it couldn't have been his child.

"Let me brush your memory Dr.Trivedi past five months I have been in the States and returned only a week before engagement. Obviously, I couldn't have made a two month old baby in your sister's womb through virtual sex." he argued when she accused him of lying and running away from responsibility.

Shraddha has never been in a complex situation before. She never had to deal with anything related to family. She never took decisions nor thought about the family before making any of her decisions. So this predicament was new to her, completely new. What is she supposed to do? It was so easy when she thought Anurag was at fault. She was planning to put sense in him and if he refused she had a backup plan of involving her uncle and his father to make him see sense. But now the situation is completely different. Natasha was indeed pregnant. Shraddha herself tested her. But is Anurag not the father?

"I don't know what to say." said Shraddha as she sipped the coffee Anurag had generously ordered for her.

"I guess you should start by saying something to your sister." Anurag suggested. He looked too laid back for a person who just found out that his fiancée is pregnant with a child that is not his.

"Is it because you don't love her?" asked Shraddha

"Sorry."

"I heard you the other day. You said you wished you loved Natasha." Shraddha said looking at him and for a moment he was taken aback but soon recovered.

"I am sure it doesn't matter now" Anurag said shaking his head

***

The scene was terrible to witness. Shraddha's uncle sat perplexed while her aunt broke into tears. Her mother was trying very hard to make sense of the situation but Shraddha knew it was too much for her conventional mind to take. Shraddha wondered what part she played here. She looked at Natasha who was hugging her father's waist and Anurag who stood leaning on the wall opposite where Shraddha stood.

"I am sorry papa." Natasha said. The first few words to fill the silence ever since Shraddha broke the news of Natasha's pregnancy.

Silence again filled the room and after few minutes Shraddha thought she might as well say something but decided against it considering the very sensitive circumstance. 'Say not if you don't say right'.

Shraddha's uncle inhaled deeply before unlocking himself from his daughter's hold and walked towards Anurag.

"What do you want to do, beta?" he asked standing right in front of Anurag but not looking into his eyes. Shraddha felt sorry for her uncle. Seeing the man who always had pride in his eyes lower his gaze in shame, was painful even for Shraddha.

"I..." Anurag hesitated and for a moment his gaze drifted to Shraddha as if he was searching for his answer in her. "I don't think..." Anurag left the sentence incomplete but it wouldn't take a genius to fill it.

Shraddha's uncle, who was looking at Anurag with small hope that he would accept his daughter considering how much they love each other, dropped his shoulder in defeat.

"Of course." he said wiping the tear from his eyes.

Shraddha looked at her family helplessly. She thought it was her duty to put things back in place. So, she walked behind Anurag who just exited the house.

"Anurag." she called when he was about to enter his car

"I will tell my parents it's me who wants to break the marriage. Let us not broadcast this matter." Anurag said ignoring whatever Shraddha was about to say.

"If you had ever truly loved her even once in these six years, you wouldn't leave her and her family in this state." She said though, she had no intention of convincing him especially after hearing 'I wish I loved you'

"In these six years there were times I loved her, truly. That is the reason I didn't leave her the first time it happened." saying that Anurag drove away leaving a betrayed sister behind.

***

CHAPTER 4

Shraddha took her own sweet time to get dressed that day. Her shift doesn't start before 11 and she had good 3 hours more. Shraddha looked at herself in the mirror. She has caught up to the activity recently, to admire herself in the mirror. Her new purple silk shirt and grey formal pants did justice to her curvy form and cascading brown hair.

"Pretty you look these days" said Natasha standing outside Shraddha's bedroom door.

Shraddha didn't turn to look at her cousin but it was not difficult to picture the bitterness in her eyes that deceived the sweetness in her voice. Shraddha caught Natasha's eyes in the mirror and smiled.

"Not as pretty as Harshit's mom." Shraddha said walking towards Natasha picking her bag in the way.

Natasha threw an acid smile mentally rolling her eyes. Shraddha avoided further conversation with Natasha and went near the crib to greet her six month old nephew, Harshit. Soon after Natasha's marriage with Anurag broke, things didn't take a slow pace. Dev, father of Natasha's child confessed he wanted to take responsibility and marry Natasha. Dev belonged to a middle class family with a low paying salary. But, no one had any choice but to accept him. Soon after the marriage Dev went to Australia where one of his friends had arranged for a good job. He promised to take Natasha and Harshit with him once his life is stable there.

Shraddha thought Dev was a good man. He owned his mistake and set out to redeem it. Shraddha was sure he loved Natasha and their son. But, same couldn't be said for her cousin. Natasha thought it was Shraddha's mistake why her life became this. Instead of marrying a rich and eligible bachelor of town, Natasha is stuck with a struggling architect who stays miles away from her. Natasha has not directly confronted Shraddha but it was hard to miss the snide remarks and taunts. Shraddha was not at all guilty of what she did. Even if she had not revealed to Anurag about Natasha's pregnancy, their marriage wouldn't have lasted if it had happened in the first place, but neither Natasha nor other family members have to know that. All that mattered was that everyone saw bright side of the situation. Dev could have turned up to be a jerk, he could have refused to take dependability, but he turned out to be a genuine person. Shraddha was sure Natasha will see light soon. Anurag and she were only good till teenage fancies lived. In real world they weren't compatible.

After playing with Harshit for a couple of minutes, Shraddha settled in her car and as if on cue her phone buzzed with a message from Anurag.

"I hope you remember your appointment with mom, Dr.Trivedi"

Of course she remembered. Shraddha never does house visits and Mrs.Banerjee is her only exception for reasons obvious only to her. As Shraddha drove to Banerjee mansion, she let her mind to replay how her equation with Anurag had changed over a year. Two months after Anurag's break up with her cousin, he called Shraddha one day regarding his mom's health. Mrs.Banerjee was in second stage of her breast cancer. Shraddha being an expert in her profession dealt with her patient and her disease with utmost care and now Mrs.Banerjee was as good as cancer free. But it didn't end with Anurag and Shraddha just being two people who discuss patient's health. The first time Anurag invited Shraddha for coffee to discuss his mom's health she was suspicious. "What is wrong with my cabin?" she argued. "It is claustrophobic." he complained.

That is it they didn't do more. Just coffee, but every day or two times a day or did they have dinner the other day? It became a frequent affair without both realizing where they were heading to.

"Is she fine?" asked Anurag as he walked Shraddha out of his mother's room

"Absolutely, just follow whatever I said last time." Shraddha answered

"Good. So?" Anurag stood on the head of the stairs with his hands inside his pocket

"Yes?" Shraddha turned to look at him

"Are we also following whatever you said last time for everything?" asked Anurag

Shraddha should have known he will bring this up. It was during late night coffee in the cafe near her hospital. Both were tired after long day of work yet they wanted to catch up with their routine of coffee. Shraddha was busy in her phone talking to a patient and Anurag was waiting for her to hang up. "So you were telling?" asked Shraddha as she put her phone back in her purse. "I want to marry you." No beating around the bush, just as straight as a pole. Shraddha was taken aback by the sudden confession. Anurag justified the impulse by saying that he is matured enough to know who he wants to spend his entire life with and if Shraddha thinks the same for herself then they should go ahead with it. "No." said Shraddha. "Why?" Shraddha had no answer. Why, Shraddha herself didn't know. Maybe it was all too good to be true for her. Few months ago, he was her cousin's fiancé and now he wants to marry her. When Shraddha didn't have a proper answer for the why, Anurag told her to take time to think. It has been two months and Shraddha didn't come up with an answer for why.

"Do you have an answer for why?" asked Anurag

"I..." Shraddha didn't have an answer. She didn't even try finding an answer. She thought Anurag was just too quick to propose her fresh after a break up. She thought he will realize soon that he made a mistake and move on. She was not giving time to her but to him to walk out of this. Why does he still want her answer?

"I can wait if you want more time to figure. Now that my mom is in hands of a good doctor I am sure I can postpone my wedding for a year in spite of my mom's cribbing" Anurag said

"Can we marry next year?" asked Shraddha

"Excuse me?"

"I have lots of patients to attend to. I cannot be free before November of this year. It is long time." Shraddha said mentally thinking about her schedule

"Yeah. Does that mean?" Anurag scratched the back of his head. He knew what she meant or did he?

"Okay." Shraddha said a small smile playing on her lips

A blank look passed Anurag's face for a second before a huge grin broke out. "Cool!" he said smiling.

***

The thought of marrying your cousin's ex-fiancé should be embarrassing. Everyone who was invited for the engagement had their own stories and speculations about the couple. But Shraddha never cared for what others thought about her. She was thankful for her thick skin. On the other hand, Anurag was as good as deaf to the gossip that made round in their circles. Both their families had reservation about their relationship but they both only argued saying that either it is a gala wedding with family or a court wedding with well wishers. So, eventually everyone had to agree.

Shraddha smoothed her yellow lehanga and adjusted her diamond necklace. She looked at herself in the mirror. To her eyes, Shraddha looked fairly decent enough to attend her own engagement party. She packed small foundation box and lip gloss tube into her clutch. Shraddha paid attention to the arrangement as she took small steps from the room to the main hall. The pathway was arranged with red roses and cream colour carpet. The hall was filled with curtains of bright beige and white just the way he likes. Shraddha took a moment to read the menu and grinned at the thought of the argument they both had over it.

As Shraddha entered the hall, she was greeted by graceful smiles and congratulations of her relatives. That is where their interaction ended. Shraddha walked towards him with poise and a smile that is only reserved for him.

"You look beautiful." Anurag complimented as he leaned to peck on her cheeks

"So do you." Shraddha said

"Beautiful?" asked Anurag amused

"Handsome." Shraddha corrected making him chuckle. He looked more than handsome in his maroon shirt with white trousers.

Shraddha generally hated such gatherings but that day the four hours were spent as just four minutes. Maybe, it was because she didn't stand in a corner and sulk. She very well enjoyed Anurag's company and her otherwise annoying relatives didn't seem to bother her much. Everything flew smoothly except Natasha's judgemental and disapproving looks, but Shraddha didn't let it affect her. Now that Dev was here to take his family with him this might as well be the last time Shraddha is seeing Natasha for few years.

Shraddha settled in passenger seat of Anurag's car while he was driving her home. "Enjoyed?" asked Anurag as he drove into the darkness of the city

"Yes." Shraddha answered smiling. Ah! How often she smiles now

"Good because, it is not going to be the same on our wedding." Anurag said looking straight on the road.

"Why?" Shraddha asked narrowing her eyes

"Becauseee..." he dragged as he took a paper from his coat pocket. "We are going to get married in your father's hometown, in your ancestral home just like you want." he said looking at her face to capture her shock and joy.

"How?" Shraddha asked still not being able to contain her surprise "I never told you."

"You didn't, but you always spoke about your father's hometown so I figured you will like for us to get married there rather than any star hotel." Anurag said thoughtfully

Shraddha was dumbstruck. She was never a person of words. Even the few sentences she exchange people find hard to comprehend, even her own mother. To think that Anurag understood her unsaid words was something else.

"Oh! Anurag." Shraddha hugged her hands together. A small tear escaped her eyes. How did she get this lucky?

"Anurag, I love you." She said hugging him sideways. It took Anurag a minute to take in her sudden hug and to pull over the car.

"What did you say?" he asked wanting to savour the words once more.

Shraddha buried her face in his neck and hugged him closer. "I love you." she whispered in his ears.

"Oh!" he let out a gasp putting his hands around her.

"I do too, Shraddha, a lot. "he confessed " Ever since I met you, I guess."

Shraddha all of a sudden pulled out of the hug and looked at him shocked.

Anurag shrugged nonchalantly "I did seriously. I realized that later though"

"You did?" she asked still not being able to believe it

"Yes." Anurag said his left hand caressing her cheek

"Ohhhh"

"Why?"

"I did as well. Ever since I met you." Shraddha declared innocently

"Are you telling me we wasted so many years, Dr.Trivedi?" asked Anurag raising his eyebrows

"No, Mr.Banerjee. We just have gained so many years of togetherness from this day forward." she said hugging him once more before kissing his cheeks.

A minute or two passed in silence as they absorbed the tranquillity of the atmosphere before they began their journey literally and figuratively.

***

EPILOGUE

Shraddha hated feeling helpless. She was a minute away from calling her mom and crying like a school kid. Can't she do just this one thing properly? Shraddha took her phone but decided against calling her mother even before dialling the number. She was in no mood to listen to her mother's 'told you so' lectures. She took her ipad and started to type but before she could complete the first word Google suggested 'How to bake cake'. Shraddha sighed. How much more videos and articles before she finally grows a bone to bake a cake?

This plight of Shraddha was called upon her by herself. It was Anurag's first birthday after their wedding and Shraddha so much wanted it to be special. Marriage life has been bliss so far and Shraddha was extremely thankful for it. Yes, they both have been busy but they make sure to spend most of their free times with each other. But apart from their regular dinners in fancy restaurants and coffee after he picks her up from hospital after work (most of the days), they have spent their actual quality time outside home in small vacations. In these ten months of marriage, they have been on three small vacations apart from their one week long honeymoon in Maldives. Anurag wanted to spend his birthday with her in a beach resort near Mumbai considering it was weekend after his birthday but Shraddha was completely against it.

"Anurag we are always out of our home. We have no memories to cherish here, inside our house. So this time we will be here only." She argued and Anurag obliged as far as he gets to have her for himself these three whole days.

Shraddha had decided to bake a cake for him and surprise at 12. It is already ten and she hasn't started anything yet. Thank god for Anurag has pushed one of his meetings that was scheduled on his birthday to that day in order to spend time with Shraddha. Now Shraddha had sometime before Anurag arrives. Shraddha was checking if she has got all the ingredients when her phone buzzed.

"Hello, Mr. Husband" Shraddha flirted

"Jaan, are you home already?" asked Anurag. Shraddha could hear some voices behind him and guessed he was still in the meeting.

"Yes."

"Just one more hour." he said and she could hear his voice was tired

"Take your time, Anurag. I am good." Shraddha said mentally calculating if she had enough time to bake cake.

"Bye." he said before cutting the call

It took another thirty minutes before Shraddha's vanilla cake went into the oven and Shraddha went to get a quick shower. Shraddha held her breath as she took the cake out of the oven. 'Looks good' Shraddha told herself 'I hope it tastes good'. Shraddha soon wrote 'Happy B'day Hubby'.

It was eleven past thirty when Anurag entered home with his spare key. Surprise was evident on his face as he saw Shraddha waiting for him on the couch fresh with wet hair. Shraddha leaped from her seat to hug him.

"Didn't sleep yet?" asked Anurag as he hugged her and buried his face in her curly hair and kissed her shoulder.

"Go get ready." Shraddha pushed him inside their bedroom impatiently

Shraddha quickly changed into a red saree with backless blouse. Anurag's favourite on her. She avoided make up, one she was bad at that and two he absolutely hated 'painted face', in his words. When Shraddha heard bathroom door click open, she has completed everything that she planned to do.

Anurag came out of the bathroom expecting his wife waiting for him, but in her place a note with a rose and a gift pack awaited him. He knew she was planning something for him but he just didn't know what it was.

Anurag,

Waiting for you in the living room. Do open the gift. ;)

Your Favourite Girl,

Shraddha Banerjee

Anurag smiled reading the letter. Shraddha Banerjee. Anurag loved that she took his surname. Deep inside his man instincts cherished that she took his name to be part of hers. He opened the gift impeccably packed in a grey colour gift wrapper, his favourite colour. 'Mrs has keen eye for details' Anurag mumbled as he touched the texture of the plain grey shirt and black trousers. She just loves white on him. Anurag in record time changed into his gift, gelled his hair the way she likes it and put on her favourite cologne.

As Anurag walked into the living room, he witnessed the most serene scene. His beautiful wife stood in his favourite saree. Her smile shone brightly in the otherwise dimly lit room and her hair cascaded like a honey dew waterfall.

"Happy birthday." she wished hugging him

"Thank you, jaan" he said putting his arms around her waist and pulling her closer

She placed a noisy wet kiss on his cheeks making him chuckle. He showed his other cheek and she repeated her loud kiss. She moved aside displaying her evening's effort.

"Looks good." Anurag complimented as he took the knife from her and cut the cake. Shraddha took a small piece and fed Anurag. She looked at him in anticipation as he swallowed the cake with a thoughtful expression.

"Okay?" asked Shraddha worried. She just hoped the cake didn't ruin the start of his birthday.

"Delicious."Anurag commented as he sat on the couch pulling her to his lap. Anurag fed her one piece from his hand. "Not bad." Shraddha commented with a wink. Blessed was she as the cake has come out fairly well.

"Do I have any other gift?" asked Anurag waving his eyes suggestively.

Shraddha shrugged. "Maybe."

Anurag smiled cheekily as he lifted Shraddha in her arms making her squeal and walked to their bedroom.

What followed was a passion that they both never experienced before. In later years of their togetherness Anurag would tease Shraddha saying that they made their baby boy on the very night of his birthday as Aarav Banerjee was born exactly nine months and thirteen days after Anurag's birthday.

***