"Kya hua Appa?", Anushka asked with a thudding heart.
"Aree itna tension mein kyun Anushka? Baitho naa. Apne Appa see aise hi baat nahi karega?"
Just then, her phone rang. Siddhant flashed over the screen and her breath froze. She looked at KK frighteningly.
She quickly disconnected the call. It rang again in succession. The rings echoed through the walls of the quiet room.
"Kya hua? Utha lo, koi important call hoga", he told.
With shivering fingers she swiped it right.
"Haan bolo Siddhant?", She spoke cautiously and hurriedly. She tried her level best to give him some hint while sounding normal.
KK took the phone from her hand and kept it on speaker mode. He strenuously signalled her to continue the talk.
"Kitne missed calls madam! Aur time dekha tha? Bhool gayi naa? Call karna reh kya gaya, tumne toh band hi baja di! Batao ab kya hai?", He joked.
Her heart raced in her chest. Her mouth went dry and prayers after prayers flew like birds from her soul, asking for his presence of mind to not say something that could worsen this. She wanted to frown but couldn't. This man! He and his taunts.
In a quivering voice and with fast thought, she replied
"Karthik se baat karni thi, phone lag nahi raha tha toh..."
"Hello?Aadhi raat ko Karthik se baat karni thi?", He laughed and cut her short. "Tumhaara haal toh theek hai naa Miss Reddy?", He asked slowly. She could feel his expression - a smirk in his voice.
She closed her eyes for a fraction of second. Her stomach shrinked inside. When she wanted him to talk properly, he didn't. And now when he didn't had to, he was flirting. Her throat muscles tightened.
She barely looked at KK through the corner of her eye. His face was straight and eyes narrowed. She knew her Appa - there could be a storm going inside him but he'd put up a very calm facade. And this was one such incident.
"Theek hai, bass thoda nak laal hain", she answered suddenly and quickly, in a deep voice, stressing on red.
"Please please please", her prayers were on.
"Ahm Woh, humein, koi kaam aa gaya hain, I'll talk to you later", he replied gravely and cut the call.
Her heart skipped a beat. She wanted to get up and dance but alas, couldn't even smile!
...
Flashback
"Wow yaar, kya connection hai!", A young Siddhant was in awe of a crime series airing on television.
"Matlab museebat ke waqt, sirf ek keyword bolne se uske assistant ko pata chal gaya ki gadbad hai!", He remarked.
"Haina? Kitni acchi understanding hai!", Anushka replied.
"Accha Siddhant, humaare beech bhi toh kuch aisa hona chahiye naa?", She asked him.
"Not a bad idea. Tum kuch suggest karo?"
"Colours. Colours se coordinate kar sakte hain"
"Kya? Rangon se?", He was surprised.
"Haan, kyun nahi? Red for danger, yellow for happy and purple for love!", She spoke fast.
Immediately, she was conscious about it and blushed. He too looked elsewhere.
"Wah, bada dimaag daud raha hai aajkal! Lagta hain humaara asar finally tumpar ho raha hai", he spoke, only to receive a punch on his arms.
...
She quickly silenced the phone and turned towards KK. There was an awkward silence between them.
"Anushka, tum America se aayi thi toh KK tumko choice diya tha - kaam, padhai, bharatnatyam. Shaadi", he stressed on the last bit.
"Aaj phir deta hain".
His voice was so cold. That warmth couldn't be felt.
She played with her fingers with her mind racing at breakneck speed. Shit, what now?
"Shaadi", he told, when she didn't reply. "Tumhaari Shaadi jald hi hogi", he announced while getting up.
Her eyes widened. Never had she felt so threatened in her life.
"Koi ladka hain tumhaare dhyaan mein?", He asked seriously and slowly.
She tightened her face and shook a slight no. He locked his hands behind the back.
"Haan. Good", he shook his head slightly.
He walked upto the door and turned. Anushka's face was devoid of colour. She could barely feel her heart.
"KK ko lagta tha ki tummein bohot himmat hain" he told. "Par ...", His face fell down. "Lagta hain KK tumko acche... Acche sanskaar nahi de paaya", he said, greatly disappointed.
That was it. She could contain no more. Her truth was bare out in the open.
Anushka's self control broke loose as tears flowed down her cheeks. She ran and hugged him tight.
"I'm sorry Appa. But I love him. Bachpan se. Uske alawa... kisike baare mein socha... nahi kabhi", she spoke hesitantly while crying.
He freed himself of her grip and heaved a sigh. He left the room, leaving her weeping on the floor.
Riddhi was standing close by the room. She had sensed what could've been on.
KK stopped & glared at her. Once again she had let him down by not revealing important things.
"Appa woh...", She spoke but KK left the next moment.
She rushed inside. Anushka was crying uncontrollably.
Riddhi cupped her face.
"Bhabhi... Bhabhi... I let Appa... down Bhabhi", she coughed and cried.
Her nose and cheeks had grown red.
She tried to shush her but in vain. Outside, the clouds thickened. The sunlight weakened itself as the greys took over it. It was the time to rain.
...
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