As Anamika made her way to meet Vineet, Raman's words echoed in her mind, each syllable tugging painfully at her heart. The thought of Vineet being with Shikha brought an ache she hadn’t anticipated. She tried to steel herself, reminding herself of her own strength, but her mind betrayed her, slipping into memories of happier times with him.

One evening from their past surfaced vividly. They were lounging together, the warmth of their laughter filling the room as she had teasingly asked him if he’d ever had a girl before her. He had looked at her with a mixture of amusement and sincerity, pulling her close as he said, “Shona, I only love you. I’m not some womanizer to chase after every beautiful face. You’re the only one I want. You're my forever.”

Remembering that moment, a mix of nostalgia and bitterness settled within her.

In the quiet warmth of that memory, Anamika had felt incredibly blessed to have found someone like Vineet. As he held her close, she looked into his eyes and whispered, “I love you, Vineet. I don’t think I could ever feel this way about anyone else.” Her words were filled with genuine affection, and a sense of security wrapped around her.

Vineet responded with a deep, passionate kiss, pulling her closer as they melted into each other. Their touches grew bolder, their connection intense, and they surrendered to the moment fully. She felt cherished in his embrace, as though nothing in the world could come between them. They moved together with a rhythm that felt timeless, every touch a declaration of love. Wrapped in each other’s warmth, they stayed connected, feeling the depth of their bond.

That night was one of those perfect moments—pure and unbreakable.

Anamika’s thoughts lingered on that beautiful memory as she walked toward Vineet’s suite, heart heavy yet resolute. The contrast between the man he was in her memories and the reality of who he had become felt painful. Each step brought more fragments of that past, reminders of promises and laughter they once shared, only to see them now cracked and scattered.

As she reached his door, she took a deep breath, fighting the urge to turn back. She knew she couldn’t keep living in the shadows of what once was. She needed clarity, to close this chapter if nothing else. Steeling herself, she knocked, ready to confront whatever lay beyond.

Vineet opened the door, his expression unreadable but his eyes betraying a hint of guilt as he took in Anamika's composed, yet weary demeanor. She gave him a small nod, silently accepting his invitation as he gestured her inside. The room was dimly lit, and an air of discomfort hung heavy between them as they settled on opposite sides of the room.

Vineet cleared his throat, breaking the silence. "Ashok said he offered you a place to stay."

Anamika’s gaze sharpened. "Ashok might have, but I didn’t come here to rely on anyone. Kissi ke ehsaan ki jarurat nahi hai mujhe."

Vineet’s brow furrowed slightly, sensing the distance in her words, but her quiet strength also stirred something deep within him. "So you chose a hotel instead of staying with family?" he asked.

Her eyes held his with unwavering clarity. "Family... Vineet, things aren’t the same," she replied, a touch of sadness in her voice. "After everything, I came for work, not for support."

Vineet looked down, wrestling with a sense of guilt that tightened around him. "Anamika," he started, hesitating before continuing, "I know things between us... they broke in ways neither of us imagined."

She didn’t respond, only watching him as if searching for the truth buried beneath his words.

Vineet shifted slightly, leaning forward as if trying to bridge the distance between them. "Anamika," he began softly, "I don’t understand why you wouldn’t just stay with Ashok. He’s family...he could be there for you, help you if you need anything."

Anamika’s gaze remained steady, but there was a glint of resolve in her eyes. "Vineet, I’m here for business, not to depend on anyone," she replied firmly. "And to be honest, I’m not here to disrupt anyone’s life—or to pretend things are normal."

Vineet sighed, visibly struggling. "I just thought..." he trailed off, glancing away. "I just thought it might be easier."

Anamika shook her head slightly. "I can manage, Vineet. I’m not looking for 'easier.' I’ve made my own way here, and I’ll continue to do so."

He could sense the determination behind her words, a strength he’d always admired. But now, that very independence, the way she stood tall and distant, brought a pang of regret that he couldn’t ignore.

Vineet’s voice softened, almost hesitant. “Anamika… is it because of me that you’re not staying with Ashok? Are you avoiding family because of… everything that happened between us?”

Anamika looked at him, a hint of sadness flickering in her eyes. She took a deep breath, steadying herself. “Vineet, this isn’t about you,” she replied carefully. “I came to Delhi for work, not to lean on anyone. I’m here on my own terms.”

Her words were calm but resolute, yet there was a vulnerability beneath them that Vineet couldn’t ignore. He felt a surge of guilt and frustration, realizing how deeply the past had wedged itself between them. She hadn’t come to him for support or reconciliation—she had come as her own person, managing everything on her own.

There was a pause, a silence that weighed heavily on both of them. Finally, Vineet cleared his throat, attempting to mask his discomfort. “I just… I don’t want you to feel like you have to go through things alone.”

Anamika’s lips curved into a faint, bittersweet smile. “I’ve been doing that for a while now, Vineet.”

Vineet’s gaze softened as he looked at her, his voice low and genuine. “Anamika, I know things between us haven’t been… easy. But I care for you. I don’t want to see you suffer, not now, not ever.”

Anamika’s expression remained guarded, but his words stirred something deep within her. She searched his face, trying to discern the sincerity in his eyes. Part of her wanted to believe him, to take comfort in the familiar warmth he was offering. But another part of her, the one scarred by their painful history, held back.

“You don’t want me to suffer,” she repeated quietly, almost to herself, her eyes momentarily lowering. “But Vineet, sometimes care alone isn’t enough to undo everything.”

The vulnerability in her voice struck a chord in Vineet. He reached out, almost instinctively, placing his hand on hers. “Anamika, please. I know I’ve hurt you… I know I’ve made mistakes. But seeing you like this—it just makes me want to help, to… make things right, somehow.”

She looked down at his hand on hers, feeling the warmth but also the weight of the past that lay between them. Finally, she gently withdrew her hand, a look of quiet resolve in her eyes.

“Some things, Vineet… they can’t be fixed by just wanting them to be different. But… thank you.”

Her voice was steady but tinged with sadness, and the depth of her pain seemed to settle in the silence between them.

Anamika gathered her things, preparing to leave. She adjusted her bag on her shoulder, her expression resolute, but Vineet hesitated, watching her with a look that hinted at his reluctance to let her go just yet.

“Anamika,” he said softly, stepping forward. “Would you… would you at least stay for lunch? We could talk more… maybe clear the air.”

Anamika’s gaze shifted slightly, and a faint, polite smile appeared on her face. “Thank you, Vineet, but I already had lunch with a business associate.”

He swallowed, a flicker of disappointment crossing his face, but he nodded. “Of course. I understand.”

A silence lingered, heavy with unsaid words. She took a small breath, then spoke gently. “I’ll let you get back to your day.”

With that, she gave a brief, respectful nod, turning toward the door. As she walked towards, Vineet’s gaze lingered on her retreating figure, a mixture of regret and frustration brewing within him. He knew she was slipping further from him, but he couldn’t find the right words to bridge the distance that had grown between them.

Just as Anamika was about to leave the room, her heel caught on the edge of the carpet. She stumbled forward, her balance wavering as she instinctively reached out to steady herself.

In an instant, Vineet rushed forward, catching her arm just in time. He pulled her close, steadying her, his hand firm yet gentle as he held her up. Their eyes met, and for a moment, the tension between them softened into something unspoken. The proximity, the warmth of his hand on her arm, brought a flicker of the past into the present.

Anamika quickly regained her composure, her cheeks flushing slightly as she straightened herself, creating a bit of distance. “Thank you,” she murmured, glancing away, feeling a mix of gratitude and discomfort.

Vineet’s gaze lingered on her, his hand releasing her arm slowly, as though he wasn’t quite ready to let go. “Just… be careful,” he said softly, his voice carrying a hint of concern that caught her off guard.

With a quiet nod, she managed a small, composed smile before finally turning away, leaving the room with a steady step, even as her heart raced from the unexpected closeness they’d just shared. Vineet watched the door close behind her, feeling a pang of something deeper than he cared to admit.

As soon as Anamika left, the silence in the room became unbearable for Vineet. Her absence seemed to hang over him, the weight of unspoken words, the pain etched on her face, everything clawed at his mind. He felt restless, frustrated, and caged. Just as he struggled to make sense of his emotions, the door swung open, and in walked Vandita, her face stormy with anger, her husband Bala standing firmly beside her.

"How dare you?" Vandita's voice lashed out, raw and filled with contempt. She flung a newspaper onto the table in front of him, the headline boldly showcasing the rumor about her and Vineet.

Bala stepped forward, his eyes dark and furious. "You think you can ruin my wife's reputation and get away with it? You don't know who you're dealing with."

But Vineet, instead of backing down, met Bala's eyes with an unsettling calm. He was past reasoning, past regrets. His voice, low and dangerously steady, cut through the room. "I don’t care what it takes, Bala. I’m willing to do anything to have her in my life." He asserts, suddenly Anamika disappear from his thoughts and Vandita took over the place.

Vandita’s expression twisted in shock and anger. "You’re delusional, Vineet! There’s nothing between us, and there never will be."

But his gaze didn’t waver, and a disturbing sense of pride filled his face as he repeated, "I’ll do whatever it takes."

Vandita’s eyes narrowed, and her voice was sharp as she took a step closer to Vineet. “You have no right to use my name, to spread lies and act as if I’m some pawn in your sick fantasies! This obsession of yours, it’s twisted, Vineet. I was never interested in you, and I never will.”

Bala took her hand firmly, his tone icy but controlled. “We came here to put an end to this nonsense. I don’t know what’s broken in you, but you’re not dragging my wife’s name down with you. You stay out of our lives, or I’ll make sure everyone knows exactly who you are.”

Vineet’s face hardened, but his words came out more like a desperate plea than a threat. “Vandita, can’t you see? I could make you happy. You’re not meant for this man,” he gestured towards Bala dismissively. “You deserve better.”

Vandita’s anger flared, her voice rising. “And you think you’re better? Do you know what you look like right now, Vineet? A desperate, pathetic man clinging to a fantasy. I never led you on, never gave you a reason to believe I’d ever choose you!”

Vineet’s jaw clenched, and he took a step closer to her, trying to keep his voice steady. “I don’t care what it takes. I’m not walking away.”

Bala stepped in between them, his voice commanding. “Enough! You’ve lost whatever sense you once had. I warned you, Vineet. Keep this up, and I’ll ruin you myself.”

The tension in the room was thick, charged with anger, and desperation. Vineet’s face flashed with something unreadable, but he didn’t respond as Bala took Vandita by the arm and led her out, leaving Vineet standing there, defeated but somehow still resolute.

....

To be continued....