Chapter 38
38
B aby, sweetheart, darling—all those are just titles. But when I say Anna, it is my heart speaking and feeling all those emotions. That’s why Anna belongs only to me.
These words were now imprinted into the very fabric of her being. They’d become her truth and her reality now. Mihir had always only called her Anna, and while she’d never thought much of it, now it made perfect sense. He’d never, not even in the past, called her by any other term of endearment. And now she knew why. Even when he’d been angry with her, he’d poured all his love into this one word— Anna .
She’d been so mad at him that she’d deliberately ignored the irrefutable fact that she loved him, despite her anger and her despair. That she’d only ever loved him . Yet, she was hesitating to voice it aloud. Soon, just not tonight.
Her heart rumbled in approval at that decision, and she gave him a smile.
“So, I believe a tour of the house is due,” she said, lightening the moment between them.
“Come on then,” he said, taking her hand.
After leaving class, she had absentmindedly driven in the direction of Mihir’s house. She’d only realized it much later, when she was already halfway there. She’d finally admitted to her concern for him and continued on her way. Now, she was glad she’d decided to come. Her heart was at peace. She was at peace.
Mihir led her out to the main living room that encompassed a large part of the ground floor and stretched between the three different wings of the house. Everything was beautiful and opulent. Expensive artwork adorned the walls; plush rugs softened the marble floors. Every piece of furniture, every decorative detail, seemed meticulously chosen.
A subtle touch of gold was woven into each artwork, rug, and accessory. Even the understated beige sofas were accented with shimmering gold cushions. The dining table, a monumental slab of white marble capable of seating eighteen, bore a golden vein running through its surface. The marble floors also had gold veins interlaced with the white. And despite the opulence, it was beautiful and classy.
Mihir spoke to her nonstop as he ushered her to the middle wing, which belonged to him. She paused for a moment, looking at the house before taking a good long look at him, her husband. Even though he was dressed in simple black cotton pants, a white t-shirt and simple leather slippers, he looked good. But he did look pale, less energetic. She needed to ensure he ate and that she let him rest.
They climbed the stairs, and her foot paused on the final step. She gasped as she stared at a painting right in the center of the wall on the first floor of Mihir’s wing. It was a painting of her !
She rushed past him to the portrait of her standing against St. Basil’s Cathedral, the sun shining on her smiling face. Her face, the colors, the light, all of it was stunning. The artist’s signature at the bottom of the painting caught her eye. Pedro Pavlov.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “You got him to do a portrait of me? From that picture you took of me that day in Moscow?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because you once wondered why he couldn’t have painted something as bright as sunshine,” Mihir said as he pointed to a plaque below the painting.
“ éclatant comme le soleil. Let me guess, this means as bright as the sunshine ,” Ananya exclaimed.
“Actually, it means as radiant as the sun. That day, when I clicked this picture of you, I realized how dark my world was without you. I texted him that same day to request him to make a portrait of you, because with you back in my life, everything was bright again.”
She stared at him, unable to believe that he’d done this even when nothing had been resolved between him and her. She exhaled. She was finally beginning to believe that he had truly wanted to make things better with her despite what he believed she had done to him in the past. She looked at her painting again.
“It’s… it’s stunning. I don’t know what to say.” She tilted her head to the left. Her own eyes followed her. She tilted to the right. Her eyes followed her movement.
She laughed. “It’s not creepy anymore. It’s perfect.”
“Do you know why I bought the painting Noir comme la nuit ?” he asked.
She shook her head slowly. Her heart was already racing in anticipation of his answer.
“It reminded me of our first date. It reminded me of all that I felt for you. When it went on auction, I just knew I had to own it, because it reminded me of you.”
Her heart swelled, knowing how he had loved her through the years.
Mihir looked at her intently. “You are perfect, and I’ve been an utter fool for wasting years of my life living without you.”
Before she could reply to that, she heard a loud squeal from behind her.
Navya and Reina rushed up the stairs, both of them hugging her at the same time.
“You’re here!” Reina exclaimed.
“You’re actually here!” Navya said. “I couldn’t believe it when Armaan told me that you’d come here to check on Mihir. And you helped them find Karina! Armaan is so excited and so happy. It’s all thanks to you.”
“You’re really the best, Ananya!” Reina said. She looked between Ananya and Mihir, her eyes lit with hope. “Does this mean that Mihir and you are together again?”
“It only means that I’m here to check on him because he’s unwell. Please don’t make this to be more.”
“It’s a start,” Mihir said.
“It’s… something,” Ananya responded.
“Oh my God,” Navya exclaimed, pointing at the painting. “That’s you, isn’t it? Mihir’s got a portrait of you on the wall.”
“It’s lovely,” Reina gushed.
“It is!” Ananya looked at Mihir.
Just then, Mihir sneezed once, then three more times in succession. Right at that moment, Dmitri appeared behind them, followed by a few of the household staff, all of them carrying platters of food. Ananya shooed her sisters away, promising to meet them soon.
Taking Mihir’s hand, she followed the staff into his bedroom. His bedroom was a large suite, with a separate sitting area. His staff placed the platters on the coffee table and left. All except the butler.
She dropped down on the couch beside Mihir as Dmitri opened all the cloches. The delicious aroma of hot chicken soup and warm garlic bread reached her nostrils, making her mouth water.
When Dmitri insisted on serving them, Mihir spoke to him in rapid Russian. The older man was clearly arguing back.
“He’s been fussing over me the whole day,” Mihir told her.
“Go ahead,” she told the butler. “I’ll look after him. It’s just a cold.”
The butler gave Mihir an annoyed look as Mihir waved him away. She handed Mihir the bowl of soup and the bread. Both of them dug in, not talking at all as they finished their food.
“Do you mind if I take the last slice?” she asked, reaching for the bread.
He looked amused as he saw her polish off her meal. “You’re actually finishing your food? That is new.”
“It’s the babies!” She clucked her tongue. “I’m going to be fat if I keep eating all the time.”
He caught her hand and kissed it. “You’re going to be perfect.”
She smiled. They finished their food in silence, and soon the staff came to clear the plates away.
She tucked her legs under her, feeling replete. She looked around his simple room, done in shades of beige and navy. Mihir turned on the TV, playing a random episode of The Big Bang Theory .
He stretched his legs out onto the coffee table as they watched the show together, laughing at the antics of the characters. This was how they used to be at one time, watching TV together at the end of a long day. This felt familiar; it felt normal.
It was only several episodes later that she noticed Mihir had fallen asleep in her lap, fully stretched on the couch, her fingers entangled in his hair. Her heart reminded her that this was what she’d always wanted, what she’d ached for till date. That she only had to accept what he was offering and be with him, and this happiness she was feeling would be hers forever. The truth was that they were still married. He was her husband, and she only had to say yes for all of this to be hers again.
A panic erupted in her veins. The feeling that all of this would be cruelly taken away from her made her hesitate. Fate had been very unkind to her once. She had trusted Mihir and loved him with all her heart, and he hadn’t even given her a chance. Perhaps one day soon, she’d be ready to accept him fully. But as much as she tried, it wasn’t happening tonight.
She gently caressed his face. His eyes opened, and he stared at her.
“Hey,” she said. “You need to rest. You’ll be more comfortable in your bed.”
“With you in it?” he asked, looking hopeful.
She patted his cheek. “Not tonight.”
“Soon?” he asked.
She wet her lips. “Maybe. Now, come on. You need to take your medicines and sleep. And I need to go home.”
He pushed himself to his feet. She went with him to the bedroom and watched him take his medicines.
She tipped her head toward the bed. “Get in.”
“So bossy you are.”
“I know. Now get in bed.”
“Stay the night, Anna,” he requested after he settled against the headboard.
“I can’t,” she said, even though she wanted to. “Maybe next time.”
“At least stay for a while. I’m not sleepy yet.”
She smiled, dropping onto the bed beside him. He pulled her into his arms. She rested her head on his chest, linking her hand with his.
“Why aren’t you wearing your ring?” she asked suddenly.
He shrugged.
She looked up at him. “That’s not an answer, Mihir.”
“That ring never belonged to me, Anna,” he said. “It didn’t belong to me then, and it sure as hell doesn’t feel like mine now. It was always yours.” He trailed a finger down her chest. “I miss seeing it on you. I’ll wait for the day you ask for it.”
She clamped her mouth shut. She missed having the ring around her neck. She kept reaching for it again and again, and was disappointed each time she realized it was no longer there.
“I never asked you about your panic attacks,” Mihir said. “How are you with that?”
She shook her head. “I’m much better now. And to give credit where it is due, it is largely because of you. Besting you on the mat gave me a different kind of confidence.”
It was true. She felt a lot more confident and surer of herself now—like she’d once been.
Mihir smiled. “Happy to help!”
His phone beeped multiple times.
“Can you not just turn it off for one night?” she said when he reached for it.
“Alright…” He tapped a few times on his phone. “There! See, it’s off.”
“Just rest, okay.” She kissed his cheek. “Sleep. I’ll see you soon.”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yes.”
She climbed out of his bed. Switching off his lights, she left. She checked the time; it was only ten at night. She looked at the portrait he had of her hanging center stage in his wing of the house and felt something loosen inside her chest. She was beginning to believe that he did love her. Everything he had said and done over the last few weeks was proof. The ball was in her court now, whether to give him a chance and accept him again or not.
Her phone rang the second she sat in the car. It was Devina. Surprised, she quickly answered.
“Hi, Ananya,” Devina’s voice echoed in the car. “Where are you?”
“Driving home,” Ananya said, starting the ignition. “Is everything okay? How come you’re calling me this late?”
“It’s only a little past ten. Anyway, I’m actually calling about Zeeshan,” her friend said. “I know you and I haven’t spoken in a while, but I’m worried about him. He’s not answering my calls or messages. I just wanted to check if you know anything.”
Ananya grimaced. “I don’t know what’s up with him.”
She actually didn’t know what had happened to Zeeshan. Last she’d heard was Mihir asking him to leave Dubai in twenty-four hours. She hadn’t cared enough to check with Mihir as to what happened post that. After hearing about Zeeshan’s deception, she’s stopped caring about him.
“I’m just so worried about him,” Devina said. “He’s always kept in touch with me. I’ve called him several times, but to no avail.”
“I’m sure he’ll get back to you,” Ananya replied. From her rear-view mirror, she saw Adam’s and Anton’s cars following close behind her. She knew Lenin was with Anton. She smiled, grateful for their presence, especially since her pregnancy.
“Anyway, how have you been?” Devina asked.
“I’m good.”
It was hard to be warm toward Devina, knowing that she, too, had exploited Ananya’s friendship at one time, though to a lesser degree than Zeeshan.
“It’s been so long since we caught up,” Devina said. “Actually, where are you? I’m just closing up my store. Why don’t you come over?”
“Now?”
“Why not now?” Devina asked. “It’s not so late, and you said you were driving. Let’s meet. It will be great to catch up.”
Ananya hesitated for a moment. However, she did need to confront Devina. She ought to have done it long back, but her pregnancy and her situation with Mihir had taken priority. Perhaps Devina calling her tonight was a sign that she needed to close the door on the past and move forward with Mihir once and for all.