Part 15
The next five years where extremely fulfiling and gratifying for Ananya and Kabir.
The three years of Ananya's contract were spent doing on-field reporting in Qatar, Dubai, Egypt.It was an extremely enriching time for her as she got a chance to adapt to different cultures and bring forth different aspects of life in these countries. Life wasn't easy for her. She spent 4 months covering the activities of the ISIS in Syria and Irag. Towards the end of her stint her team had been the target of a suicide attack. One of her colleagues lost his life while Ananya escaped with minor injuries. It was nce again a reminder of how precious and unpredictable life was.
At the end of her three year stint, Reuters asked her to move to Lebanon and establish their office there. Ananya was excited at managing such a large operation and learned a lot in the one year she spent setting up and stabilizing that office.
Kabir had been by her side throughout these four years. He had traveled with her from country to country relishing the opportunity to explore new cultures and to see Ananya blossom again. His first two books were non-fiction pieces and received a mixed response. While Kabir wasn't too disappointed Ananya was frustrated because she was convinced that Kabir had written masterpieces.
He wrote his third book during their time in Lebanon. He stepped out of his comfort zone and wrote a historical fiction novel based in Egypt, inspired by their time there. That turned out to be a bestseller. He was heralded as the next big thing in the world of historical fiction. Kabir was thrilled but Ananya went crazy with happiness.
As the lebanon office stabilized Ananya was keen to move on from Reuters and explore new frontiers. At the same time Kabir's publishers asked him to undertake a promotion tour for his third novel which had been translated in several languages. Ananya decided to accompany Kabir and spend this time figuring out what she wants to do next.
In many ways Kabir and Ananya had grown even closer to each other in this time. Living away from their homeland, they had learned to be everything for each other. They had also accepted the fact that they would never have a child in their lives. In time this fact stopped hurting them. Their lives were full of happiness, excitement and love.
At the end of Kabir's promotion tour, Kabir and Ananya were in their hotel room in Salzburg. They were lying in each other's arms exhausted by a long night of passionate lovemaking and were enjoying the view of the beautiful sunrise over the alps.
Kabir: Ananya...
Ananya: Hmm...
Kabir: What's the next chapter in our lives?
Ananya: You tell me Mr Bestselling Author.
Kabir: Since Arman got married last year Ma has been missing us a lot. I was thinking that we should consider moving back to India. I have just received a brilliant offer to write a series of historic novels tracing the ups and downs in India from the time of Independence. And you have received..
Ananya: Offers from every leading news channel
Ananya chuckled mischievously.
Ananya: Mr Sharma you snatched the words from my mouth... Kabir even I am excited about returning to India and having Ma living with us.
She turned towards Kabir and gave him a warm kiss. Kabir noticed that she had tears in her eyes. He immediately sat up.
Kabir: What's wrong?
Ananya: Nothing. These are really tears of joy. I have been so fortunate to have you in my life. You make my life perfect. I love you...
Kabir: And I love you my darling...
Anita was ecstatic when she heard the news. She had been thrilled by all the success that ananya and kabir had seen in their lives. But she missed having them around.
Kabir and Ananya returned to India to settle down after five long years. Khalid had been trying to woo Ananya into accepting the offer to lead KKN's international expansion for 6 months. She enjoyed making him and Malvika run around. But finally she gave in and accepted the offer.
Kabir and Ananya spent three months settling down and getting used to being back. Once they were comfortably settled they threw a poolside party for all their friends and family.
Anurag was now a strapping 16 year old lad. He had benefitted from advances in medical science and was now able to walk around with a stick. He had often visited Ananya and Kabir in their exotic homes in the past 5 years. But he missed having them around in the same city and was very excited to have his bhaiya and didi back.
Tarini had gotten married a year back to a wonderful lawyer named Sidharth who had embraced Anurag as an indispensable part of their lives. Tarini and Sidharth were expecting their first baby and Anurag was very excited at the prospect of being a doting uncle to his nephew/niece.
Ronnie and Richa had a 4 year old son. They had named him Anant after Ananya and she adored him
Trisha and her NRI husband were also in India at that time with hear daughter. Her daughter Riya was a spitting image of her and she regaled them with gossip from her pre-school life in the US.
Malvika and Manav had finally realized that they were perfect for each other and had gotten married last year.
Khalid was ecstatic to have Ananya back at KKN and Kabir back in the same city.
Sunny was still single and the moment Annaya entered the venue he started hitting on her.
Sunny: Ananya you seem to be ageing in reverse. You look like you are still in college.
Ananya: Sunny are you really going to try and flirt with me? Kabir...
Sunny: Pagal ho gayee hain kya? Kabir sir,,, I mean KABIR ko kyun bula rahi hai? Tu to meri maata hai!
Ananya, Richa and Ronnie laughed.
Richa: but seriously Ananya! You are 35 and Kabir is 42. But both of you don't look a day over 30...
Kabir walked in and said.
Kabir: Ms. Richa, why are you publicizing our ages to the whole world. How will I flirt with women if they know that I have crossed 40?
Kabir winked at Ananya who hit him playfully.
Ronnie: Kabir I doubt that age will ever be a problem for you!
"Or for Ananya..." A voice said loudly.
They turned to see a heavily pregnant Tarini entering with Sidharth and Anurag.
Ananya went and hugged Tarini and then promptly began scolding her.
Ananya: Didn't I tell you not to strain yourself? Why did you come?
Kabir: When has she every listened to anyone?
Tarini: Mr Sharma and Ms Kashyap, I don't need anyone's permission to visit your house. And it's not everyday that we get invited to a party at Golf Links. Perks of having the rich and the famous as friends...
Kabir: Tarini you are incorrigible.. Sidharth how on earth do you handle her?
Sidharth chuckled and said.
Sidharth: Kabir i'll get killed if I open my mouth here.
It was a lovely party - a reunion of sorts and everyone was excited to have Kabir and Ananya back.
At night as Kabir and Ananya were getting ready for bed, Kabir noticed that Ananya was rather quiet.
Kabir: What happened ANANYA?
Ananya; Tarini looked so beautiful and happy. And she was so excited about her baby. She was talking about it non-stop.
Kabir: Ananya, I am sure Tarini meant well. She is just very happy. I am sure she didn't intend to hurt you...
Ananya: I wasn't hurt. I was just reminded of my own behaviour at Ronnie and Richa's wedding. All I could talk about was our baby...
Kabir tried cheering her up
Kabir: Why didn't you come into the pool? I was having so much fun with Anant and Riya. Trisha is impossible. She was trying to matchmake for those kiddos.
Ananya: You looked so happy with Anant and Riya. You had become a child yourself.
Kabir, do you mind if I ask you a question. Promise to tell the truth.
Kabir: Of course darling what's bothering you...
Ananya: You have a natural charm with kids... You would have made a wonderful father. Because of me you missed out.. Do you ever regret falling in love with me?
Kabir: Are you crazy Anaya? Nothing happened because of you. And every single day I thank my stars for bringing you in my life.
We fought a losing battle against infertility. but we have so much and I mean so much to be thankful of.
ANanya: Kabir the thing I am most thankful of is having the best husband in the world.
Precap (for the last part):
Tarini gives birth to a beautiful baby girl.
Tarini: Ananya I really can't accept this. It's too precious. I can't accept it.
Ananya: Thanks for making me realize that at the end of the day we are outsiders. Fine.. I am going...
Kabir: Ananya!
Ananya ran out.
Tarini turned to Kabir
Tarini: I had no intention of hurting her. You realize it's not possible for me to accept such an expensive gift.
Kabir: I understand and I am sorry on Ananya's behalf. I don't know whats gotten into her? She has been behaving very eratically over the last few weeks.
Edited by paradigm - 10 years ago
Anupamaa
