Third person pov:
All are at dining table to have dinner. Dinner is arrangement of both Indian and American cuisine. All are having their dinner silently; Ana was happy after a long time to have dinner with her family. "Aunt , I missed your food." Ana said.
Sanj replied excitedly "I missed your cooking Ana." she turns towards others and said " Ana is the best cook in our both families. Once you eat her cooking, you will ask again and again. We thought she will become chef in future. But she was afraid of Non veg dishes." Remembering past Sanj starts laughing.
Jen asked with enthusiasm "why she afraid of Non-Veg" Sanj replied " she is so sensitive that she can't hurt living species. She can't touch it, if she touches them, she will run away." "Do you know once when we are 10 years , we went to birthday party. At that party they served us biryani, she doesn't know it was chicken biryani and ate it." Ana said " Sanj stop it." But Sanj continued " After keeping one spoon she felt taste different and asked beside person. They told it was non veg."
Ana tries to close her mouth "Sanj, don't forget I know your secrets." Sanj just neglect and said " do you know what she did?" others shook their head and fin asked " what she did?"
" She ran away from their without eating it. She even cried all the way to home and said to her parents." All of them just laugh hearing it.
*** Don't be angry on me i am just giving a small childhood memories , that she can never hurt anyone. i am not against any culture / food******
Anand explained " Her parents are vegetarian , so she was not adapted to eat them from her childhood. She just can't hurt it. "
Maya said " Anya was best in cooking any dish in Indian style. We also missed her in past years."
Revanth asked " Anya do you even remember how to cook? I think it was a long time?"
Jen said " Don't worry bro. she is running Restaurant. If any chef absents or did any wrong, she will be the chef or mange it. Once I saw with my own eyes, a customer asked an order but chef was not feeling well. She cooked the food and served it. But we never thought she had experience in cooking, Until you say ."
" what ??" Sanj asked. " she runs restaurant? But you said she runs an interior designing company?"
Jen replied " yes, she runs both. At beginning she starts interior design company after it was successful, she starts Restaurant . And if you see her restaurant it have was completely in Indian style. I remember that she once told that it was memory of her parents."
" yes. Her aunt and dad start their business with small hotel, by the time it was popular and expanded they left us." Anand said. Revanth divert the topic to Anya and Sanj childhood memories.
Complete environment changes and had happy dinner. Now all are in main hall Nick said what he wants to say " Uncle, Aunt. you can postpone the marriage. When San want wedding, we can arrange it then."
Ana interrupt nick and said " Nick don't mind it. The wedding goes on planning, she just wants to spend time with me ." ana turn towards Sanj and asked " you want to spend time with me right. " Sanj nodded her head " yes".
Ana explained " if you married then you will move with nick to abroad then you will be always with me. you can meet me when ever you want." Ana asked jen and fin to support her.
Jen said " yes San . you know my flat right; she is living with me. when never you want you can meet us."
Fin supported " we can also have girl weekends, girl parties. Please don't stop the marriage."
Zack teased " see how his face from the beginning? If he did not marry you this time, he can't live without you"
All suddenly laughed at him. Nick murmured " how do you know my problem?"
Hearing nick words David said " he was always jealous about us. That we have our lovers with us, but you were always away from him."
Alex continued " for that sake only he asked your parents to arrange marriage as soon as possible."
Ana said " Sanj stop your stupid thoughts and get ready to married."
All her parents also convinced her, Sanj thought for some time and said " Okay."
Jen and fin shouted " congrats bro, your marriage is fixed" Ana also " congratulated Nick and sorry for her behavior. She disappointed you because of me." " don't Ana, I can understand her, you know how close we are." Pointing other friends, he said " if I am in her position, I also had taken that decision. Don't feel sorry about it."
Nick said " okay uncle, then we will leave tomorrow and come back before engagement."
" okay beta (son)" Anand said with a smile.
Jen asked " Ana, is your work completed here?"
Ana shook her head in no " the person I want to meet, is out of town. He will come back after a week." Jen suggested her " you can return back with us and come back on nick engagement ."
Before Ana replied Sanj interrupt " No way, she will not leave this palce until I get married ."
Ana replied " Sanj, I have business to run I will come back on your engagement day."
" NO Ana, I want to go to all places we have spent in our childhood . I don't know when can we get time to spend in India again . Consider this as our picnic we use to celebrate vacation with our families."
" Sanj stop it. Don't be childish. You should grow up." Ana was about to say something. " No way Ana. do you know how many times I reminded you in past 9 years? When I was in any vacation, I used to think about us? How happy we are at that time?"
Hearing her ana don't know what to say, if she be longer here her family know about it.
Sanj asked " jen, fin if you both want to be here, you can join us. You always asked me to have vacation. We four can enjoy it. What you say?"
Jen and fin were hesitating because they both met after a long time and want time to spend. They think they will be a middle person if they join. " you both want a time to spend. We can join next time."
" heyy, don't think like that. We all are friends form past three years. Ana is close to you then you can also join us. If you accept it, then I can make ana also stop more time." Sanj said to them secretly.
" okay..." both agreed . Ana who was in her thoughts comes out and said " Sanj, I have work to do...."
Jen said "they can manage your work." Pointing boys. " what??" ana questioned.
" I will ask Dav to appoint a manager to your restaurant and company to replace you. don't worry about it." Jen explained her.
But boys face was gloomy. David came back yesterday from Italy, he did not spend time with jen in past few days, so he is hesitating to leave her. same to zack , he can't leave his wife and go to work. So, they both said " we will be with them. Nick and alex return. We will work from here."
Nick interrupt them " I will also be with you, when my bride was here , what can I do there? We also have a lot to do here. It was my wedding I have to take responsibility behalf of my parents and do those rituals."
All three of them turn towards alex and expecting his explanation.
Alex was in dilemma because others have an open relationship to say that they want to spend their time with his lovers but for him, he don't have any relationship with ana. how can I explain to them? After thinking for some time and replied brilliantly " If all of you are here and enjoying what can I do alone there. I will also join you guys."
Hearing there reply jen, fin and Sanj were shouting happily. Ana was surprised to hear all there replies especially alex. She heard him as a busiest person and work holic but he was neglecting his work . Here she is trying to escape but now she was completely locked.
" then for today night you all can rest in this mansion. Tomorrow I will change you to farm house, don't think bad because groom and bride must not live in the same house." Revanth explained.
All agreed to them and went back to their rooms to rest. Except ana all have their night dress with them. For safety all kept their luggage in car dash board but ana luggage was in hotel. They decided to get them tomorrow.
When Ana entered the bedroom, all the things she arranged were same as the time she live here before. Sanj came along with her and sat on the bed. they chat for some time. There was a knock on the door, Sanj went to open door and saw her cousin.
Sanj said to ana " I am going, do you remember Preethi -- aunt ( Sanj father sister) daughter she came back yesterday. She was afraid to sleep alone, she was asking me to sleep along with her. I am going now." Ana nodded her head. Sanj left.
Ana changes her dress and sat on the bed. her surroundings remind her of her parents. She used to sleep with her aunt on the same bed. when she opened the cupboard her aunt sarees and her dresses when she was 15 years old. Ana took her aunt saree and sat on the floor, getting her knees close to her chest and her eyes turns red.
In other room alex fresh up came out in his night outfit. Because of the sudden change in plans he has to inform ben about it and cancel all his meetings. After completing all calls, he stands beside the window and see the night sky. Whenever he saw night sky it remembers Ana conversation on her birthday night.
In silence he hears someone crying from outside the window. He checks outside but no one is there. He was on second floor so he can't hear the sound from outside so he observes the next rooms. He hears the sound from next window to him.
Then he saw the door connected to the next room. he knocks the door but no one opens the door, then alex turn the nob and did not see anyone. But he can hear the crying so he walks towards the sound. Seeing the person on ground alex heart breaks. It was first time to saw the brave woman who can fight for others , now crying holding a dress like a small girl.
Alex walks towards her and kneel before her and placed his hand on ana shoulders. Ana did not observe her surroundings but when sudden hand touches her, she jerks back. Alex said " ana don't worry I am alex". Hearing alex voice ana rub her face with her hands and stood up showing her brave side.
" why are you here?" Ana asked turning her face aside. Alex knows that she never shows up her weakness to others. To not damage her self-esteem alex said " jen moved to my room that was close to David. He begged me to change the room. so, I came to you beside room."
" it was new place so I can't sleep, my luck you are beside me I came to chat with you." Alex explained. Alex asked " what is in your hand? "
" maa saree" Ana said seeing the dress in her hands.
" I hear that this room is yours before?" Alex asked.
"yes, when our family comes here. I and maa used to rest here and next bedroom dad and mom used to live there." Ana explained. Moving around alex saw her photos on the walls and asked her questions. Ana explained about them.
After some time alex did not hear voice and turn around to saw ana sleeping in sitting position. He walks towards the bed and make her sleep and left the room.
Next day :
All went to buy clothes because they only came here for two days, but now time expands so they went to buy dresses. Fin, jen, ana and Sanj were buying clothes and boys are watching them. Girls took nearly Half of the day to buy the dresses but gents return back in half an hour.
All went to have lunch in a near restaurant, then Sanj and ana showed then the surroundings and explained about it. On the way they went to local markets to buy accessories .
By evening all of them put their shopping bags in car and went to park to spend time. Ana and alex left the love couples and walk away.
While walking ana saw a café that she knows before. Ana hold alex hand and asked alex whether he want to have coffee. Alex and ana went to the café. It was one of the famous cafés now a days. It was having a more people. Ana and alex sat at a window seat, ana starts to explain how she know it before. When waitress came ana order for both of them.
Alex was happy to see this side of ana who was not hesitating to talk. Morning Sanj scolded Ana for behaving differently. Her behavior was common to them but to Sanj her ana was different to present ana.
Sanj warned her to behave like before, Alex can see the change in her behavior, she smiles heartfully, talk freely. She was completely different ana they know before. She also has some childishness while talking with them.
After some time, they want to leave, alex got a call he went aside to talk. Ana saw an old man can't walk so she walked towards him and helped him to sit in the chair.
When she was helping someone bumped into her and hot coffee in others hand sipped on her hand ,old man and some on another person dress. Ana felt the burn and blow cool air on it and asked old man "is he was alright." Oldman just nod his head cleaning it. Other person did not say sorry but shouted on them " where you kept your eyes bitch? You spoiled my dress"
Ana raised her head to the lady who bumped her. She looks like a rich brat who always show their money. Ana asked " excuse me, you bumped into us talking in phone and blaming us." Ana rubbed her skin and showing it " you even slip your hot coffee on us, without accepting your mistake you are blaming us." Ana ordered her " accept your mistake and say sorry."
The other person removes her cooling glasses, seeing her face ana was shocked and took one step back to bump into alex. Alex holds her before she loses her balance.
Before Alex can reply " Hii sister, I never thought we can meet again." Ana did not reply anything. Seeing Ana outfit, she raised her eye brows and said " I think you are having a pretty good life sleeping with the old hunks." Pointing to the old person beside ana she asked " how much he was paying you ? per month ? or per day?" she was insulting ana. Alex who was holding ana hearing her words makes his blood boils.
" check the words before you spill" alex glared and said to the lady. Others in the café are stunned to hear other lady words. " Hey, Handsome. you are supporting her. Do you know who she is? What work she do?" she laughed pointed to ana and said " I did not know that even unknown person can supports you. I think you are more famous in your field." Alex tightly holds his fist if ana did not stops him he would make her learn her lesson.
" I think he also wants you sis , for that sake he was gloating you." She spoke. Then Ana takes step forward and stand raising her head high and said proudly " I think I am perfect in my work than you expected. But all the people in the world can't think as cheap as you. Even small child know the word help."
" I think you will be more suitable for the work you suggested than me. so, you can try for it. " Ana replied arrogantly . other lady understand meaning in ana words and felt insulted.
" Ananya, you are insulting me? Do you even dare to talk against me? it's a long time that you had forget about the consequences to raise your voice against me. " She explained " Apologize now, so that I can leave you ."
Ana gave her a fake smile and said " Do you think I am afraid of you or your family like 8 years back? I forget to tell you that I am not past ana who was afraid of you or your family. You can't even touch my hair."
" Say sorry and leave from here." Ana ordered her. She did not like ana attitude. " I will not. You have to apologize else I will call ..." Ana interrupts her " stop your bull shit and say sorry. I am not free like you and waste time for waiting others or others take care of it. I can stand for myself."
That lady saw the people are laughing at her, she felt insulted she lift her hand to hit ana, before she slaps , ana caught her hand. Lady shook her hand to release but ana hold it tight, and said " Apologize first."
" Bitch, leave my hand." Lady tried but ana rotate her hand said again " tell sorry for us."
She tried but at last she says sorry and before she leaves, she warned Ana " you have to pay for it."
Ana helped the old man and said sorry to others for inconvenience and leave from there. Meanwhile Alex observes the disappearing lady who insulted ana just now. He thought " you better don't come before me "
Alex saw ana was leaving the café he followed her. when he catches ana he can say by her expression she was controlling her emotions. Her face was red with anger, Ana requested " don't talk about this with anyone. Particularly don't say to Sanj's family." Seeing alex puzzled face she explained " they will worry about it.".
At night all met at the parking and left to the mansion. Nick and his friends were arranged to live in the farm house beside to mansion.
All went to sleep, alex did not get sleep. He was thinking what happens today evening. Complete day was happily spent by them except evening drama.
He saw different ana who was care free and comes out from her shell. He wants to see her happy through out the day but after the incident ana lost in her thoughts.
Ana sat on the bed and thinks about the lady ,she reminds her of the darkest past of two years she suffered most. Thinking about it her eyes turn red and water flows.
Just then she hears a knock outside but it comes from the window. She was afraid who may be this with holding a flower vase in her one hand and went towards window. She slowly opens the door and saw the familiar figure. " Alex" " what are you doing here?" Ana said surprised.
Ana saw down " alex how can you climb here, it was dangerous" she helped him to get in.
" Alex, what are you doing here at this time?" Ana asked worried and checking if something happens to him. seeing ana worried alex asked "what ? are you worried about me?"
Ana step back and look aside and replied " just humanity." " why you came back?" Ana again questioned.
Alex saw her face and thought " I know ana you will cry. Why should you try to behave stubborn and strong before others?"
Moving close to ana, he hold her face in his hands and rubbed her eyes. " Ana, you have me. Don't worry about anything." With that alex hugged her.
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