Ananya's pov
I groan softly into my bed trying to control my emotions, like I do every time when the topic of marriage comes. I know that I have to get married someday to a man, but I don't want to end up like my mom. I hate commitment. All of my past relationship didn't stay for long, because eventually the guys get tired of my commit-o-phobia and end the relationship. But even before I enter into the relationship, I already tell them that I don't commit.
In the start they all agree believing that they can change my mind, but end up changing their own. I don't know but whenever I enter into a relationship, I can't bring myself to love that person. I do like the guy and all, I do feel attracted towards him, but I can't get that emotional connect with him.
I simply freshen up and then rush out of the house, so that no one would notice that I am going out. I make my way to my love, my bike hop on it and ride myself to the office of my best friend Rudy. Rudra Singh Tanwar, my best friend since we were 2. Our mothers used to work in the same place and I and Rudy used to go in the same school. We clicked and then we were in seperable since then. When I shifted to Mumbai after mom's death, Rudy also shifted back. Our moms were very close, just like sisters.
It was Rudra's father who insisted Pa that I should live in Seattle, since I can get the best doctors for my Panic attacks and Nightmares and since Rudy was his son he somehow convinced him that he should shit there as well. We went to high school together, but seperated when we chose colleges. Rudra chose to study business while I chose engineering. But that didn't mean that we weren't close. We used to talk every single day, no matter. He made great friends there especially Veer and Aryan and also found his love there, Rehana. I have only met Rehana and we are good friends now. Our relationship was rocky at first when she started dating Rudy since she thought that I am interested in Rudy. But later on when she understood the bond that we share she knew that we love each other but not romantically, he is practically my brother. Not by blood.
My high school was the best time I ever had. The college was fun, but without Rudy I kind of dumped myself into studies and my pranks also reduced. My partner of crime Rudy wasn't there. But that didn't mean I didn't do anything. I am known for being reckless and a prankster and there were certain time when I hacked into the server of Rudy's university so that I could hamper his grades, his attendance and for certain other things.
I am a software engineer and gadgets are my weakness. The two non- living things that I care with my life are my laptop and bike. All hell would break loose, if something ever happens to them. I reach the 20 storey building that I know is Rudra's office. He is a successful businessman in textiles and his company produces one of the best quality clothes in the world. He is a sweet and charming man.
The receptionist knows me pretty well so I don't have to ask for the permission to meet him. I take the VIP elevator and wait for the door to open so that I can greet my friend. The elevator opens on the 20th floor which has his office and I barge into his office without even knocking only to make him look at me at surprize. It takes him a 5 seconds to register that I am standing in front of him when he does, he gets up from his chair and in a flash he picks me up in his arms and twirls me around till I feel the world spin around me and my vision blurry.
"Oh my God, when did you come?"
He asks his voice full of excitement as he places a kiss to cheeks and forehead in a brotherly manner.
"Just a couple hours ago. I am back here."
His looks at me in confusion before he understand my words completely as he twirls me around again shouting that 'my best friend is back', as I hold onto his shoulders for dear life.
"I can't believe you are shifting here permanently." He grins excitedly.
He takes to his couch and orders my favorite pizza as we catch up. It's not like he doesn't know anything about me, he knows it all. Just me shifting permanently is a surprise for him.
"So how does it feel to be back ?" He asks as I chuckle.
"You know I always wanted to come back. I just couldn't because of grandma."
"Hmm. Hey, what's wrong ?"
See that's the thing with best friend. Even if you don't say anything they somehow guess that something is wrong.
"Just the usual. Ma asking me to get married." I say with a groan as he grin at my discomfort but then his expression turns serious.
"But Ana, don't you feel alone. I mean don't yoy want to get settled ?" He asks curiously and I sigh.
"I don't know. I just can't bring my self to love someone to spend my life forever with him."
"Well, if you don't want than I can talk to Jahnvi Aunty."
"As if she would listen to you. This time she is more determined to hook me up with someone. I am afraid if I didn't find anyone she is going to arrange my marriage."
"Don't worry about it. You have just come and just enjoy your time. These heavy things can be done later."
"Well, I want you to meet Veer." He states all of a sudden when I munch on my pizza as I look at him quizzickly.
"You aren't setting us up are you ?" I joke but a bit of seriousness as he shakes his head no.
"Veer and Aryan are my closest friends after you. I have known them for 10 years and yet you guys have never met. And Veer is coming to mumbai for a business deal so I want him to meet my best friend since childhood, about whom he has only heard."
He says dramatically as I chuckle at his cheeziness to convince me to meet people. I have never meet Veer and Aryan, but I have seen them and heard about them.
Veer Raj Singh Oberoi is the topmost businessman of the country, one of the moost eligible bachelors. The upcoming project that my company is starting with is in collaboration with Oberoi Empire. So I have a feeling that personally or not, we are going to meet professionally.
Aryan Khanna on the other hand has a construction business and one of the finest architects of the city. He is also a millionaire and has a charm with ladies.
According to Rudy, Veer and I are very similar. We both don't like crowds, have limited friends and fucked up pasts. if anyone would say that to me in face that I have I fucked up past he would me damned. But we are talking about Rudy who has no filters when he talks to me. He is my best worst critic and best supporter.
"Okay, Actually my company is signing a joint project with Oberoi industries so there are chance that I might meet him."
"That's great actually. I wish you guys get along."
"What do you mean get along ?"
"Well, you both are headstrong and stubborn, so if there is any disagreement between you guys then I don't know who will will or who will back out first."
"Rudy, I have been working in this industry for 7 years, I know how to convince people." I say flaunting myself cheekily with a wink.
"Anyways, I better get going otherwise Ma would kill me." I hug him goodbye but he come to drop me off to the parking and rolls his eyes when he sees that I came on bike. But come on the traffic in Mumbai is so bad and it's better that if you use two wheelers rather than four.
Veer's pov
"Alright everyone. So I want the proposal ready by tomorrow."
I instruct the managers who nod in agreement. I am flying to Mumbai tomorrow with my Nani (grandmother) who's insisting me to get married as soon as possible because she isn't getting any older and wants to see my children soon.
When my father left us for money and my mother killed herself because she couldn't handle her husband leaving her, I was left alone in this world at the age of 15 with my sister Sara who was just 7. My nana and nani took us with them and raised us. They both were devastated when they heard about their daughter killing herself.
Ever since than I lost my childhood and became the parent for Sarah. My baby sister is my world and has me wrapped around her pinky. My Nana passed away a few years back which left Nani alone but she is doing well past couple years. Yes we all miss him but she is still happy that she has us.
After Nana ji died I nani has joined the business, she just supervises certain deals and helps me with it. Currently I am working on the new project that I have signed with the haynes collbaroation. It is one of the best IT companies and the project is based on netwrok security. I have heard a few things about the cheif programmer of the company Ananya A. Bajaj. She is one the best software engineers and excels in her work. Apparently she is a genius when it comes to software designing and programming.
So here I am trying my best so that I could impress her and get this deal confirmed. I have never seen her all I have known about her is heard. I would be living at Rudra's house, one of closest friends along with Aryan. Though we have contrasting personalities we complement each other well. Rudra is a peace loving and quite enrgetic and Aryan is a great player with girls and is quite fun. I on the other hand carries the image of ruthless and cold hearted businessman, but that doesn't mean I am not good with ladies. I have my fair share of women. But I just don't do commitments, moreover the girls are more like hookups or one night stands and all of them are interested in my money not me.
Veer's pov "I have found a girl for you and I believe that she is perfect." Nani told me and I controlled the urge to grunt. Since she has figured out that there is no way in hell I am getting married on my own and get settled she has made it her life mission to see me settled and have her great grandchildren. Like if she just wants great grandchildren I don't have to marry right? But when I suggested her the same thing even though I was joking she took it seriously and now wants to me to get hitched. Since past 6 months she has gone through so many girls and their families but hadn't found the girl that compliments me yet. "Nani, I don't want to marry." I say but her one glare was enough to shut me up. "Veer, just because your parents didn't had a happy marriage doesn't mean you won't be as well. I want you to be happy with your wife and children before I die." Yeah right. She played her death card now, knowing f
Ana's pov To say I was pissed would be an understatement. Mrs. Oberoi sadly watched her grandson stomping out of the house, if it wasn't for Rudy holding me than I would have lashed out at him more. No one spoke, no one dared to, because they could tell from the tension hanging in there that I was pissed. I took deep breathes and then looked at Pa, his eyes told me that he too didn't want this. Why can't Ma understand that I don't want to get married ?. Ma looked guilty and when she noticed that out of all people my brown orbs were fixed at her she opened her mouth to speak. But before she could utter another word, " I know you want the best for me, but this was a low blow Ma." I stated my tone polite but message clear. I left the dining room and went to my room to shower and then sleep. I had had enough of bull shit and I simply wanted to sleep. I changed into my pjs when I heard a knock on my door. Rudy entered in, knowing full well that I
Veer's pov We got ready to join the function at Ananya's place and Nani was very muc excited to go there. According to her she was going to convince Ana for this marriage and soon when we would get married she would be able to see her great grand children. I neevr wanted to get married and Nani's constant nagging was getting on my nerves. Even Rudra said that his ship was sailing, he was so excited and he could already see his both best friends in the wedding hall, sharing the sacremental vows. We arrived at the mansion and I was greeted with Mr' Bajaj and his eldest son Shorya Bajaj. We had signed the deal with their company, not because I was interested in his sister, because I had seen his proposal, it was realy great and Shorya Bajaj was a renowed businessman in the industry. He had taken over his father a few years back and had expanded the empire in almost the entire Asia. We entered the house and unknowingly my eyes wandered over the hall to and then my
Ananya's povI closed the door behind me with a soft bang, and was about to dwell myself in the agony when someone knocked. I knew it who it was, at least that's what I thought but to my utter surprise there stood the person I was least expecting to come to me."Mrs. Oberoi." I acknowledged my tone curt yet polite, seriously I was in no mood for any of this marriage shit and the last thing I wanted to do was to snap at the old woman."How are you dear?" Her voice held one thing that I hated.Pity, sympathy."I am fine. Just need some rest." My tone was firm, a clear disguised statement telling her to back off so that I could spend some time alone, but fate had other plans."I heard what your grandmother said." Tone laced with pity and I controlled the urge to snap."Mrs. Oberoi, I appreciate your concern but the last thing I want is pity from you or anyone for that matter. So I suggest you giv
Ananya's pov I woke up to a massive headache, and found it hard to even open my eyes. Standing in the front of the mirror I took in my appearance, my eyes were puffy, cheeks were stain with dry tears and skin was pale. I looked horrible, as if I had just lost the love of my life. But technically my situation was like that only, Ma wanted me to find the love of my life so that I could live a happy life, which was far from what I wanted. As I took the medicines, the moments from last day came rushing down in my mind. And I realized how rude I was to Mrs. Oberoi. Yes she pushed me to my limit, but still it didn't justify my behaviour towards her. I shouldn't have been disrespectful towards her. I made a mental note to apologise to her later. I got ready to leave for the office, not my office, I could do my work from home. I was going to meet Shori at his office. It had been quite a time since I had a chat with my brother. I went to his
Ananya's pov. It would be an understatement if I said I was pissed. I was furious. How dare he?. The nerve of that bastard. Who the hell does he think he is ? He is very wrong if he thought I would get scared of him and agree to anything that he has to say. The hell I would. He might be able to dominate others but not me. From what I could understand, was that he was furious as to what I said to his Nani. It was understandable, what was not was that he can't threaten me like that. No way in hell I would marry that, he might me a good man according to Rudy but for me he is an arrogant asshole, which I strongly dislike with my every being. On my way back to home I was greeted by an overjoyed Ma. The reason was, she had found the perfect man for me and is sure that I would like him and we would get married. A big part of me was shouting that run woman, you aren't not the one to have a married life. Run before you screw up your or someone else's life.
Ananya's pov. "Sweetheart what do you think of this dress ?" Ma asked me for the umteenth time and I didn't have the energy to say anything, so I just nodded. it was half past ten and Ma was excited for the lunch date I had with Veer and I was too. Not for the date, but I was waiting for him to stand me up. and I knew he would because I made sure of it. My plan was simple I was going to put Veer in a badlight, and would show him as a bad guy for me and then Ma would deny for this alliance. As simple as that sounded it was difficult because Veer was a persistent man, and that was what scaring me. I didn't want to get married to him. But I just couldn't speak at all. By then Ma had made my room a god damn boutique and my every single dress that according would work for a date was on my bed, my sofa. My whole room was a mess. Not like it wasn't before, because I am a messy person, but this was another level of it. Ma hones
Veer's pov. "I should have known that, she is a genius in tech. She ain't that easy." Rudra's voice rang in my ears but didn't reach my ears. I was still occupied by her last words that she said to me. And I knew she wasn't bluffing, she made a promise and fucking meant it. She wanted me to back down. Her voice was filled with venom, a dark aura covering it, her eyes held a fire in them, she wasn't afraid of me or anything. Even if the devil would come and threaten her to marry me I knew she would fight him and send him back to hell. Where people were scared of my stone cold face, she had the audacity to enter my personal space and make a promise that she would ruin my life. And both of us knew she could do it, if she wanted to. Today was just a trailer, she was coming after me. When I entered the cafe and saw her in that tight fitted clothes something in me snapped. I was furious at her but still I admired her beauty. Her pale skin to her soft features