Chapter 44: Chapter 44

Armaan drove a visibly panicking Janani over to Ananya's place.

"What did she say?" He asked for the hundredth time.

"I told you a million times. She didn't say anything. She was panicking. Something has happened" Janani said anxiously

"I will call Inder and see if he knows something" Armaan said and took his phone out

Janani snatched the phone from him.

"Don't use your phone while driving. How many times do I have to tell you that?" Janani asked furiously and Armaan sighed in exasperation

"Don't you want to know what is wrong with Ananya?" He asked

"Ofcourse I do. But not at the cost of having our life in danger. I will call Inder" Janani said and dialed Inder's number from her husband's phone and put it on speaker

Inder picked up the call on the third ring.

"Inder? This is Janani speaking" Janani said

"Hey Janani. What's up? Already tired of Armaan?" Inder asked jokingly

"F*ck off" Armaan called out from the driving seat, making Inder laugh

"Language" Janani hissed at Armaan making him roll his eyes

"Inder, what happened to Ananya?" Janani asked

"Ananya? Why? She was alright fifteen minutes ago, when I left her place" Inder said making Janani frown

"She called me a few minutes ago. She sounded so panicked. I am worried. Did something happen when you were there?" Janani asked

"Oh!" Was all Inder said

"Oh? What does that mean?" Janani asked

"Well, you will know when you reach there Janani. And yeah, talk some sense into her" Inder said seriously making Janani and Armaan frown in confusion

"What's the matter, Inder?" Armaan asked worriedly

"After you drop Janani at Ananya's place, meet me over at the Orleans Cafe two blocks down that place." Inder said and hung up the call

"I think they fought" Janani said

"If she called you simply because she had a silly fight with Inder, I will strangle her" Armaan said and Janani looked at him in horror.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that? Your brother and mine ruined our wedding night yesterday. I was planning on make it up today, when Ananya's call came. Come on, Janani, there is a limit to how much a man can wait" Armaan said making Janani blush to the roots.

"You are shameless" Janani hissed

"And you love this shameless man" Armaan said with a smug laugh.

*******

"Do you want me to come inside?" Armaan asked, as Janani stepped out of the car.

"No. You go and meet Inder. I will handle Ananya" Janani said and walked inside.

The sight that welcomed her inside was, Ananya walking to and fro in her cabin, sweat beads on her forehead and a worry lines on her face.

"Ananya" Janani called out.

As soon as she heard Janani's voice, Ananya lurched forward and hugged her tight.

"What is it? You are making me more and more worried. Tell me, what happened?" Janani asked

"Inder proposed. He asked me to marry him" Ananya said and Janani squealed in happiness.

"That's such a happy news. By the way, why are you hyperventilating. This is not the first time he is asking, is he?" Janani asked in confusion

"He had always talked about his love and wish to marry me. But today, he officially asked me. With ring and all" Ananya said

"Oh wow. That's such a great news. So, you are having wedding jitters? Don't worry. From a woman married for a total of 28 hours, let me tell you, it is blissful" Janani said laughing.

Her laughter died down seeing the guilty look on Ananya's face

"What did you do, Ananya?" Janani asked, with her hands on her hips.

"I panicked." Ananya said

"And?"

"And I said No" Ananya said and Janani looked at her in disbelief

"You gotta be kidding me. Are you insane. That man is crazy about you. Crazily in love with you. And it is very clear that you too feel the same. Why in the heavens would you say a no, Ananya?" Janani asked

Ananya's teary eyes went up to the photo frame in the cabin.

Janani sighed. She hadn't experienced what Ananya went through. So she can't imagine what Ananya would be feeling now.

Vikram had cheated on her, so it was easy for her to move on and accept Armaan.

But Ananya's case is different. Ananya and Dhruv were so much in love, when Dhruv was snatched away from her. The love didn't die. So it must be difficult to move on.

"I feel like I am cheating Dhruv" Ananya admitted

"Oh darling" Janani whispered and embraced a visible shaking Ananya

"He died saving me. If not for me, he would have been alive still. It has only been four years. What kind of a woman am I? To feel something for another man? I don't know what to do" Ananya said crying.

Janani's heart ached seeing the despair in Ananya's eyes

"I understand Ananya. I can't imagine the plight you are in now. But life is giving you a second chance, Ananya. Don't forget that" Janani said

"How can I marry Inder? My Dhruv. He loved me so much. I was his life" Ananya said

"And Inder? He loves you more than anything in this world, Ananya. And he loves Aarav like his own. What more can you wish for" Janani said softly

"I don't know what to do. I didn't want to hurt Inder either." Ananya said

"If the roles were reversed, would you have wanted Dhruv to live his entire life in your memory, Ananya. Or would you have wanted him to move on and find love again?" Janani asked

"Ofcourse I would have wanted him to move on. I would never have been peaceful watching him suffer" Ananya cried out.

"And you think Dhruv would be peaceful watching you let go of your second chance at love?" Janani asked leaving Ananya speechless.

"I am so lost, Janani. For the last three years, it has just been me and Aarav. I was content with that life. And all of a sudden, Inder came into my life. And made me dream again. But I can never forget Dhruv" Ananya said

"Inder fell in love with the Ananya who loved Dhruv. Inder would never want to replace Dhruv. Don't give this up Ananya. You will have to regret later"