Note: Thanks to all those wonderful readers who have commented and kept my spirits up to keep writing more.
Chap - 30 Lost
Ananya had waded through the water logged streets aimlessly dripping and completely soaked till the rain stopped. She did not know whether her heart had gone cold or her body was colder as the winds caressed her soaked body. She shivered as the night fell wondering aimlessly around the same lanes. She was brought out of her spell when some boys passed by making some nasty comments and then Ananya realized that she was soaked head to toe and what she must be looking like and she needs to go back for her safety and sanity. Tears refused to stop as she made her way back to her apartment and entered through the back gate to avoid people questioning if somebody saw her. As soon as she entered the apartment she broke down sobbing on the floor. She cried till she got tired and slept off. As the morning sunlight peeked through the curtains of her windows, Ananya got up to find she hadn't changed and her clothes and they had dried off on her .She realized she had fever and her whole body was paining because of being wet and soaked . As she got up the memories of last night came flooding back to her "I can never fall for a girl like you, don't you understand. You were a fool to think that I am in love with you. I never was and never can love you". Had he really said that after all that had happened between them? She had dull pain in one corner of her heart which didn't seem to dissipate and she realized that she might have to live with it for the remaining of her life. She sat unwilling to get up, her hunger lost, her zeal lost everything lost. At this point Ananya felt dying was a much better option rather to live like this and with that she woke up and took out the kitchen knife ready to slit. As she stood there about to take a step, she recalled the memories of her hard days at the orphanage, her dream to be a doctor, how she ended up in NIAMS and then she met Akash.She threw the knife away with her eyes shimmering with anger and determination in them. She was not weak to end her life over a man who did not care, she did fall weak once and now she would not, her career, her aim would be everything in her life. She was strong and she would become again the same Dr. Ananya Rawat who will show the world what she is and prove to the world her worth and nobody can ever dupe her again. Her grey matter is hers and she knows she is the best. With the determination she got up to clean herself, prepare herself some breakfast and have some medication. Although she felt weak, she was determined to take care of herself without any support, on her own. After a couple of hours Ananya was feeling much better as the medicines had taken effect. She then dialed a number, spoke to somebody for some time and started packing everything that she had.
Akash had been distraught and had walked to a country liquor bar and drowned himself in the bottles. He did not know how but he heard some faint voices of people, he did not know where they were taking him, was it safe and frankly speaking he did not care. When he woke up next day afternoon groggy and lost he saw his mother standing near him looking worried. As his vision cleared up the memories of the last night came back to him and he teared up letting his tears flow, he had broken Ananya's heart completely and himself as well.Aarti was hell worried about her son, she had never seen him in such state and as soon as Akash realized that he brushed off his tears, trying to smile and said "I have a bad headache". His mother held a lime water glass in front of him and said "I have been more of a friend than a mother. I would like to know what or who caused my son to be in this state. And don't make excuses now..I will not force you...tell me when you feel up to it ".With that she walked leaving Akaksh in his own thoughts. Akash had kept himself locked up in the room, neither answered his calls, had taken a day off and stayed at home. He wanted to stay in solitude contemplating what will be the repercussions of his actions and how would he face Ananya and the rest who knew their relationship and those who did not know and will know shortly about him and Natasha. His mother also had left him alone knowing that Akash will not tell her anything unless he felt like it, like father like son. Seeing her son in this state even the next day evening she decided , she needs to talk to him and she cannot wait for him to come around. As Aarti was about to knock at Akash's door the doorbell rang and the servant opened up to a furious looking Shefali and Kuna in the doorway. As both of them did not know each other Shefali was initially shocked but quickly figured out from the old lady's features that she must be Akash's mother. Knowing Shefali was hot headed, Kunal quickly stepped in to take control of the situation "Auntyji, we are Akash friends, could you please let us know where Akash is, we need to meet him urgently".
Aarti : Sorry beta, he is at home but not well and resting .He has specifically asked not to let anybody in and even taken off from work.
Kunal: I understand Auntyji but it's like one of his colleague has been missing since yesterday and we wanted to know if he could provide some information.
Aarti: I am so sorry beta. I will go and check with him if he can step in for some time.
After sometime Akash came down and before Kunal could stop Shefali she lunged at Akash "What have you done to Ananya, tell me what you have done with her"
Her behavior had shocked both Aarti and Akash and Kunal used all his might to loosen Shefali's grip on Akash and pulled her away from him and shouted back "I am talking Shefu, wait why do you have to butt in".
Shefali was angry at this comment and shouted back "Butt in, hell I will butt in.My Ananya has been missing since yesterday evening. She is not in the house, neither picking up calls nor does anybody know where she is and on top of it I hear about his and Natasha's engagement. How the hell I am supposed to have my sanity? I told you and her as well this guy is up to something. He has cleared Ananya off his path so he can have a nice cushioned life with that drug addict Natasha."
Akash was shocked to hear this and as he had seen Ananya in the apartment. He sat in the floor numbed, what had happened to her. He had made everything to save her and give her what she wanted and it will be not worth if something happened to her. As if in a trance he went out started his bike and rode off as Aarti shouted after him "Where are you going Akash?" and Akash answered back "To look for Ananya Mom and don't wait for me, I will not be back till I find some news of her". As he rode off, Kunal and Shefali looked at his disappearing back and Aarti turned and looked at a little shocked faces of the couple and she said "I am not sure what happened but I know Akash was pretty serious about Ananya and he had bought her home as he wanted to propose to her soon. My son is very adamant and he won't reveal what happened between them till he feels up to it. So, I think he is not behind Ananya's disappearance but if you still do not believe me please go ahead the way you want but if I know my son well then put your energy and effort to search Ananya in some other direction as he is not the one behind it.I will try to coax him to get all information if it helps you in finding Ananya."
Kunal felt really sorry about Shefali's behavior and somehow he was convinced that there is some other story behind which none of them know about and are simply following the wrong person and he also did feel that Akash was broken to hear about Ananya's disappearance. Shefali and Kunal had come rushing back from their honeymoon in Udaipur when Ananya had not picked up their calls for more than 24hrs and the neighbors had said that the house was locked since the day before. They had enquired with friends but none had seen them and Akash was the one who had not picked up his calls so they were somehow been sure that Akash was behind Ananya's disappearance but after coming here looks like they are not so sure of their theory.
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