Anaisha's stirred in her sleep, slightly disturbed by the creaking of the door. Slowly, she opened her eyes a little and noticed Hasan's silhouette. Quickly, she rested her head back on the pillow and pretended to be asleep.

She felt his weight rest beside her, but she doesn't move an inch. Gently, he brushed aside the strands of hair that fell across her face. She resisted opening her eyes and talking to him. He admired her, and even though she felt his gaze on her, she continued with her pretense.

After some time, he got up and adjusted the duvet over her legs, she purposefully yanked it away. All the while pretending to be asleep. Hasan doesn't try again and then she heard his footsteps till the bathroom, the door open and shut. Finally, she opened her eyes and blinked couple of times. Just then, the Azaan played softly, from the clock in living room.

Getting up on her usual time, it took Anaisha a moment to realize where she was. At Hasan's place. She got her luggage and fished out a white khadi cotton saree with contrasting red floral quarter sleeve blouse. After she bathed and freshened up, she walked into the living room.

Hasan was dressed for college in his shirt, waist coat and trousers, and searched for something on the couch. He looked up and passed her a smile which wasn't reciprocated.

"Um, I have kept your breakfast on the table." He informed.

Anaisha rolled her eyes, - "Why? Are you, my wife?" She tossed her damp hair to one side, adjusting the long chain and the heavy locket that her aunt, Shambhavi, had given her.

Hasan smiled, - "No, but I thought it would spare your time. I am your spouse, right."

"Not for long." She taunted him and his smile dropped.

"I will eat something at my office cafeteria." She replied dryly, throwing the sling of her handbag on her shoulder.

Before Hasan could stop her, she hurried to the door. Just as she opened it, Yuvaan stood on the other side. His one hand reaching out for the doorbell and other held bouquet of white and pink bougainvillea flowers.

"Hey!"- He winked at her, - "Your favorite." He forwarded it to her.

Anaisha hesitated, she glanced at Hasan from corner of her eyes. For a passing moment, she thought to use the good-old make jealous to bring out inner-feelings trick, then she looked back at Yuvaan, who was shamelessly smiling at her. No, he doesn't deserve even a minute of satisfaction that she forgave him. Anaisha gracefully took the bouquet from him, his grin widened as he leaned back. She noticed from the corner of her eyes, that Hasan was uneasy. She held Yuvaan's hand and pushed him out of the house, walking out too

"Did you like it, sweetie--", before he could complete his sentence, she slapped the bouquet on his face.

"Get lost before I call the cops." Anaisha reprimanded him. Yuvaan was beyond confused by her reaction. There was a time when he used to be her weakness, his one look and his words melted her instantly. How did she turn so immune to his charms? How did she fall out of love with him?

"Yesterday, I explained you clearly. I am not interested in you. Okay." She pushed past him, marching towards the elevator.

Throughout her office time, Anaisha's mind was restless. So, she decided to take an early leave.

"Sure, sure. This is your dad's company, right?" Her boss, Mrs. Jain, taunted her when she had gone to ask for leave.

Anaisha rolled her eyes, she leaned, placing her palms on the table, - "Listen, mock me all you want. But I need this break."

Mrs. Jain grinned, resting her back against the chair, - "Of course,"- She placed her fingertips together, - "Take this break and all the break you want. Because, if you leave now,"- She moved forward keeping a grim face, - "I will fire you." She said simply.

Anaisha stared at her for a moment and then sighed, - "Okay, fine."- She paused, Mrs. Jain's thin lips curved into a triumphant smile, - "I will go and type my resignation." She added slyly and without waiting for a response, she twirled around and arrogantly walked out of the cabin.

Anaisha was still hot headed and wondered why she was reacting this way. At the entrance to her locality, she stopped her car and just then, noticed the tea stall where Hasan had said he often has tea. She took a deep breath and drove her car into the driveway of the society. After parking her car, she came out again and walked towards the tea stall.

"Excuse me, Bhaiya."

The middle-aged tea stall owner looked up from the steaming tea he had been brewing and smiled at her. Anaisha doesn't smile back.

"Do you know Hasan Rauf?"

Instantly, the man's smile widened, and he nodded vehemently.

"Good, can you serve the tea he takes from here."

The man looked confused, nevertheless he agreed. Anaisha adjusted the edge of her Pallu and sat on one of the wooden benches. Soon, a young boy came to her with a glass of tea. It was dark, not much to her taste, she preferred lighter one.

"Thanks." She paid him cash, whilst taking the glass from him. She had taken just a sip when she saw Hasan's red Volkswagen beetle car at the entrance. She swiftly, turned to her side. And kept eyeing him. After his car disappeared inside, she was relieved.

Anaisha was surprised she was doing this. For the first time, she was sitting at a chai-tapri and having tea at the roadside. Few men threw curious glances at her, a handful muttered amongst them, gesturing towards her. She conveniently ignored them.

After having tea, she decided to visit Sehrish. She was pleasantly surprised to find Anaisha at her doorstep.

"Please sit, I will make tea for you." Sehrish welcomed her.

"It is okay." Anaisha replied, dropping her bag on the sofa, - "I have had just tea."- she said as she sat down comfortably.

"Very well. I will make you a quick sandwich" Sehrish adjusted the red dupatta over her head and headed towards the kitchen, but Anaisha stopped her.
"Let the formality be, Sehrish. Come and sit with me, please. I want to clear my head." She held her head and sighed.

Sehrish smiled politely and sat down beside her, - "Tell me."

Sehrish kept a smile on her face, throughout the time Anaisha narrated her mixed feelings.

"I think you are in love with devarji." She grinned cheekily.

"Huh! No. I have loved only once and got cheated upon. Now, I don't want to fall in love. Especially with someone I will be breaking—"

Sehrish raised her eyebrow when Anaisha abruptly stopped talking.

"I mean, you are being filmy." She added hastily.

Sehrish exhaled deeply, placing her arms over her thigh, - "tell me, Anaisha. Why did you marry Devarji when you didn't love him?"

Anaisha avoided looking at her, - "Um, because—"

"Listen, Hasan is a very nice person. He has heart of gold, please don't break his heart."

Anaisha nodded, feeling guilty. Indeed, he was pure of heart, and she has been using him for her selfish reason. Luckily, she got an excuse when her phone rang. It was one of her aunts. It was a surprise because her extended family never calls her.

"Hello, Anaisha. What is happening in your family? First your brother's divorce and now, Tanu found out and circulated everywhere in the family group that your husband, Hridhaan is a Muslim? Is that true?"

Anaisha bit her smirk. The aunt continued, - "She collected all the information from the college where he is a professor. He was present at Adweta's naamkaran, she got suspicious from there. Why did you and your family lie to us and—what was the need for you to marry a Muslim. You will spoil the bloodline and what if he and his family torture you and—"

"Why don't you call her and ask Anahita Devi?" Anaisha replied firmly and disconnected her call. After that, she turned and found Sehrish bringing a plate of pakora.

Sehrish hesitated, - "Anaisha, what have you thought about devarji?"

Anaisha bit her lip and sat beside her. Sehrish continued, - "Don't you want to stay with Hasan? I don't believe that he isn't a perfect husband."

Anaisha sighed, - "Look, Sehrish. It is not me who will decide this. The main thing is—if Hasan wants to stay with me."

Sehrish smiled a little, and placed a hand over hers, - "Then, there is nothing to worry about. Because, I am sure, devarji wants you. And he is in love with you. I spoke to him few times on phone, and he was always excited to be with you."

Anaisha's eyes twinkled, - "Really?" She felt heart flutter with joy. But then, why wasn't he confessing to her? Was he unsure about her feelings for him? She decided to clear things out with him.

Abhinav searched for his Dadisa in her room and living room. Finally, he found her in the dining hall. She stood in front of the large portrait of her husband. Ashamed he couldn't muster courage to face her. But on insistence of Aryaman he decided to meet her. Whatever, she says and does will be acceptable to him.

He approached her but she doesn't spare a glance at him, her gaze focused on her late husband's portrait.

He cleared his throat, and spoke in a wavering tone, - "Dadisa?" He called, cautiously.

There was no response, he opened his mouth again but this time, Anahita Devi spoke,

- "You were the last person, Abhinav,"- she looked at him. The tears in her eyes, stabbed his heart and he lowered his head in shame, - "who I thought would bring shame to our family. Aryaman was a rebel, Anaisha is a hopeless case but you—you do know how much our reputation means to me,"- She stamped her walking stick hard, making him flinch,

- "You are not a child, Abhinav, who doesn't realize the repercussions of having an affair. You knew how Minal is, then why did you continue this affair? You know my stance on marriage and divorce and my madness for keeping our reputation, then why did you have an affair?"

Abhinav slowly lifted his head and met his grandmother's piercing gaze, - "Because I don't love Minal, I love Tahira. I always loved her."

Anahita Devi sighed, - "Your father loved another woman too, you know that right, but he let me control the matter. You just—blew it over our face. Now, how am I going to face your Dadasa? He has given me everything, more than what I could ever ask for and in return he asked just one favor from me and that was to protect our family honor. And you, you messed up so bad that we are now clowns in our family circle."

"You care about Dadasa and the family reputation, not me, your grandson?"

"I didn't care my own son and his feelings for sake of your Dadasa's words, then how did you assume that will I care for yours."- She was stern in her voice and stance.

Abhinav was in loss of words, he kept blinking at her. How can he not realize how ugly Anahita Devi's obsession to keep her husband's words can go? He has seen his parents and Anaisha suffer because of it. And she was right, how did he expect her to support him? How did he not plan what he would do if his other family was exposed? Had he assumed that he will never get caught?

Dadisa sighed, walking up to him. She placed a hand on his shoulder, - "True love isn't about obtaining the person, it is about keeping them in your heart and moving on, but not truly. They are always with you, in every moment of your life. Always. That love doesn't die, and no one can take their place, no matter how much you or anyone else tries. This is life, my son. Real life isn't love-stories or fairy tales. You will be lucky to get whom you want. Not everyone is. That doesn't mean we have to risk our reputation. You have shamed and shocked me. I will never forgive you. And believe me, Anahita Devi never forgets." She looked away in disgust.

Abhinav had tears in his eyes. He was his grandmother's favorite, more than Aryaman and he too was closest to her. She hadn't ever raised her voice at him and protected him from everyone who dared displease or as much as scolded him. Abhinav also envied her. Whilst, he and his father didn't get their lovers, she did, and she still carries his legacy and love with her.

Anahita Devi had sneaked one of her favorite photographs from the suitcase. She pulled it out from under her pillow and stared at it, lovingly caressing it,

- "Even if it has been years since I haven't looked at your photos or physically gone through our memories, there wasn't a moment in my life that I didn't think of you. Not a moment,"- She drew in a sharp breath, - "passed without loving you. You were right, I am obsessed with you. But what is love without junoon, right."- She chuckled sadly, - "But now, strangely, I wish—I wish I was with you. Away from all this—zoned out with you, like before. Like always."- She paused, pressing her trembling lips together, - "I—lo—love you. I love you very much—"

"Hazaaron mein kisi ko taqdeer aisi

Mili hai ik Ranjha aur Heer jaisi"

These lines for Kalank title track I felt suited the most for Anahita Devi in this chapter. What do you guys think? 

And how was the Chapter, my lovelies? Drop your thoughts in the comments, please and Stay Tuned for next update *lots of love* *hugs and kisses*