Subah hotel ke neeche media phir khadi thi.
News channels par sirf ek hi topic tha.
Aarav Mehra ki sudden engagement.
Anaya ne curtain halka sa side kiya.
"Ye sab ab roz hoga?"
Aarav ne calmly coffee table par file rakhi.
"Jab tak unhe naya topic nahi milta."
"Ya jab tak hum galti nahi karte," Anaya ne dheere se kaha.
Aarav uske paas aaya.
"Hum galti nahi karenge."
Phone vibrate hua.
Screen par naam tha — Mr. Mehra.
"Board meeting aaj hi hogi," Aarav ne call cut karke kaha.
"Tumhe bhi aana hoga."
"Main?"
"Ab tum sirf Anaya nahi ho. Tum Mehra naam ka hissa ho."
Meeting room me directors serious baithe the.
Anaya ko sabki nazrein feel ho rahi thi.
Ek director ne seedha poocha
"Miss Anaya, kya aap is responsibility ke liye ready hain?"
Room silent ho gaya.
Anaya ne Aarav ki taraf dekha.
Phir seedha jawab diya
"Main responsibility se nahi darti. Bas jhooth se darti hoon."
Mr. Mehra ke chehre par halki si reaction aayi.
Meeting ke baad Aarav ne usse terrace par roka.
"Tumne aaj impress kar diya."
"Main impress karne nahi aayi thi," Anaya ne softly kaha.
"Main prove karne aayi thi ki main weak nahi hoon."
Aarav uske kareeb aaya.
"Tum weak ho hi nahi."
"Par tum ho," Anaya ne achanak kaha.
Aarav ne eyebrow raise kiya.
"Main?"
"Tum emotions se darte ho."
Ye line seedha dil par lagi.
Aarav ne dheere se jawab diya
"Main control lose karne se darta hoon."
Anaya ne ek step aur paas aakar kaha
"Phir trust karo. Control ki jagah."
Hawa halki si tez thi.
Unke beech ki distance phir kam ho gayi.
Aarav ne uska haath pakda.
Is baar sirf warmth nahi thi.
Decision tha.
"Next week engagement ceremony announce kar dete hain," Aarav ne kaha.
Anaya ne uski aankhon me dekha.
"Ye bhi plan ka part hai?"
Aarav ne halki si smile di.
"Nahi. Ye meri choice hai."
Door se Mr. Mehra un dono ko dekh rahe the.
Unki expression unreadable thi.
Game ab sirf business ka nahi tha.
Dil ka bhi tha.
Aur Chapter 13 ke end par ek naya sawal khada tha —
Kya ye engagement ceremony sach me pyaar ka celebration hogi
Ya kisi aur hidden move ki shuruaat