Page 102 of 12 Years

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‘Sounds great. Anyway, Akanksha, we never met, but I feel like I know you.’

‘I feel that way too. Payal has spoken so much about you.’

‘What did she say?’

‘Everything. Trust me, I know every detail about you and Payal.’

‘Really?’ I raised an eyebrow.

‘Girls talk.’ Akanksha brushed back a strand of hair from her forehead.

‘How’s she doing?’ I said.

‘She’s getting better every day. All this has been traumatic for her.’

‘Separating from me?’

‘Everything. The entire drama. Her parents walking in on you guys. Then that day, on her engagement, when you showed up drunk at her house.’

‘You were there at her place that night too, right?’

‘Yes. I was there. Right after you left, I had to handle her and make sure she was okay.’

‘What happened after I left?’

‘She was distraught. I took her to her room and she told me what had happened. What you did wasn’t right—showing up like that and creating a scene.’

‘And was it right for her parents to force an engagement with Parimal like that?’

‘What’s wrong with her parents wanting her to settle down well?’

I looked at Akanksha. ‘Payal and I love each other,’ I said.

Akanksha smiled in response.

‘What?’ I said.

‘Nothing. How can I help you, Saket?’

‘Can you talk to her parents?’

‘About what?’

‘About Payal and me. You know everything about us. You know how happy she was with me.’

‘Happiness isn’t everything, Saket.’

‘What do you mean?’

‘What is happiness anyway? And how can she be happy if she knows she’s hurting her parents?’

‘This is about her life, not theirs.’

‘Even for the sake of her own life, is this the best choice for her?’

‘What do you mean?’

‘Sorry, Saket, I don’t mean to be disrespectful. But you’re a lot older. You were even married before.’

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