Page 81 of That Same Old Love

He nodded. “It was a long time ago Mahi. We were young then and we all make mistakes. I had forgiven you a while ago.”

She smiled at him. “I knew you would. And enough of my pity party. So tell me why you are actually here, then?”

“I already told you—”

“Sidhant Shah, I know all about your plans and schemes remember? We were both like two peas in the same pod. The only difference was that your schemes and actions weren’t malicious or mean spirited. You were always pulling some orother silly tricks on me during our time together. Now spill,” Mahi said firmly.

Sidhu shook his head smiling at her accurate deductions, although most of the current plan had been Samrat’s idea. Sidhu was just going to take it a step further to get Anu to react more. His mere presence wasn’t going to get Anu to react as much as what he was about to do later.

“Nothing, Mahi. I uh just needed some advice from a friend on how to convince Anu to get back to me.”

Mahi narrowed her eyes at him, not buying his bullshit. “Okay. So anyway, if you really love your wife, why would she suspect you still have feelings for me?” she asked him curiously.

Sidhu looked frustrated. “I don’t know. I loved you when we were together. And with you, my love started with an attraction and then it was more of being with a similar likeminded person who wanted to escape our stifling families.

But with Anu, it was different.

When Anu and I got married; I started to fall in love with her almost immediately. She was so brave and courageous; she didn’t really want to escape from life or reality even when it was rough for her. She had the most difficult pregnancy and childbirth, but she never even complained once. She was pregnant and huge with my child in her stomach during her last year of college, but she still attended classes and gave all her exams. She got along with the most difficult people from my family and tolerates them by living in a joint family.

She did all this while raising our child and managing a successful career for herself. She is such a brave and strong partner who is also soft and desirable at the same time.”

Mahi smiled at the awe and love she saw in Sidhu’s eyes when he spoke about Ananya.

“Then tell her all that you fool. Women want specifics. Tell her that and then convince her that there can be no one else than her in your life,” Mahi suggested.

Sidhu nodded and checked his phone for messages. “I need to leave now. Thank you for the food and for listening to me.”

“Anytime, Sidhu. I’m relieved as well that we both have gotten our closures. I sincerely want you to be happy with Ananya. And I’ve already met Srishti. She’s a great girl. You and Ananya have done a great job with her,” said Mahi earnestly.

Sidhu smiled. “Yes. Srishti told me about meeting you several times. I’m glad she has you as her friend.”

Mahi went outside to see Sidhu off when she spied Ananya on Samrat’s balcony.

Ananya looked shocked and then crushed when she saw Sidhu coming out from Mahi’s house. Samrat had very casually mentioned a while ago to Ananya that he saw Sidhu’s car outside and asked if she had driven it there.

Before Mahi could react, Sidhu dragged her close in a bear hug and held her for a while.

Mahi was shocked for a few seconds, and then, “I’m going to kill you Sidhu,” she hissed in his ear, figuring out her role in the charade.

“Is Anu watching us hug?”

“You know damn well she is,” she answered him with annoyance.

He released her. “Thanks Mahi for the help. I hope we meet again soon. Say hi to Samrat when you see him,” he told her grinning and got into his car before driving away.

CHAPTER 30

Mahi couldn’t return back to her house after seeing the devastated expression on Ananya’s face. She crossed the street and rang Samrat’s bell.

“Why can’t I have a drama free time for a while?” she muttered out.

Samrat opened the door and looked down at her with a straight face. “Yes? How can I help you?”

They heard Ananya running down the stairs hurriedly.

“Who is it? Is it Sidhu?” Ananya asked hopefully.

Samrat stared casually at Mahi, who was still waiting outside the door impatiently.

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