Page 85 of That Same Old Love

Ananya shook her head at the memory and focused on that morning’s mission.

“Hey Ananya. What’s the occasion? You’re dressed to kill this morning in your sexy sari,” commented Mahi, grinning.

She ignored Mahi’s comment about her attire, since she was embarrassed that she deliberately wore the sari knowing Sidhu went crazy whenever he saw her in low cut sleeveless blouses with chiffon saris. “No occasion. Just meeting some friends for lunch later,” she said and greeted her brother.

“Then why do you look angry?” Mahi asked.

“I’m not angry,” she said, sounding angry.

Mahi had a thoughtful expression and then smiled. “You are meeting Sidhu today, aren’t you?”

She was annoyed at Mahi’s deduction, which was accurate. When she got back from following Sidhu, she had spoken on her speaker phone to her friends from the living room because she was bent over on the sofa taking deep breaths through her mouth. Mahi could hear her from the dining room and asked her about it.

She had been too overwrought and confessed about what Sidhu had done. As usual Mahi scoffed her concerns away and told her that Sidhu loved his wife deeply.

“Anu, are you finally getting back together with Sidhu?” asked her brother, smiling.

Most of his happiness must stem from the fact that he was imagining having the house to himself and Mahi. Even though they had announced that they were in a relationship, Mahi didn’t spend the nights in her brother’s home. They spent all of them at Mahi’s home. She found that somewhat sweet.

“No. I’m not getting back with Sidhu. I-I caught him cheating on me. I’m confronting him today to demand some answers.”

“You caught him cheating? How?” her brother asked with a frown.

“Ananya followed her husband yesterday like a stalker,” said Mahi, smiling wryly.

“Like I had a choice.” Her tone sounded defensive.

“Yeah, good point. Simply talking or asking Sidhu would have beenwa-a-ytoo complicated,” said Mahi, earning a scowl from her.

But Mahi grinned at the scowl. “God! Both you and your brother have the same matching scowls,” she said and earned a mock scowl from her brother.

***

After breakfast, Ananya drove to the house where Disha had confirmed again that Sidhu’s car was parked outside.

She rang the bell and waited for it to be answered. She was surprised when the door was opened in just a few seconds, since she had thought that the occupants would be too busy to answer right away.

Sidhu stood at the door, watching her with a hungry expression before dragging her inside and closing the door. She was furious at him and his betrayal and attacked him in blind rage.

When he caught her, he hugged her tightly and widened his stance so she couldn’t knock him off balance when she started to thrash.

Ananya fought him like a tigress. She cursed, screamed and flailed against him, but it was of no use. Even though he was only an inch taller than her, he was much stronger. He held her tightly until she calmed down. He wanted them to have everything out in the open.

When she stopped struggling, Sidhu breathed a sigh of relief, even though he suspected her calm to be temporary. “Are you done fighting me?”

She felt humiliated. In all their years of their marriage, she had never once behaved violently towards Sidhu.

“Let me go, Sidhu. Right now!”

“Why won’t you talk to me or meet me, Anu?” he whispered softly in her ear, and nuzzled her neck and then lower on her almost bare back.

She shuddered, but said, “Don’t touch me like that!”

“Fine. Why won’t you talk or meet me, Anu?”

“Because there’s no point. It’s over,” she sobbed out.

Sidhu remained quiet.

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