Isha was taken aback when she saw Imara already seated in the office. Imara seemed completely absorbed in designing the toys as she didnât notice Isha entering.âWhy are you here so early today?â Isha asked.Imara glanced up from her laptop to respond, but Isha had beaten her to another question. âDid you open the factory for godâs sake?âImara sighed and furrowed her brow, returning her gaze to the laptop. âIshâ¦stop it. I am capable of doing that, you know.ââI sure do know that, Imara! But why are you so early? I meanâ¦is everything alright?â Isha asked, placing her bag on the makeshift shelf in the corner of the room.âI just wanted to get some work done...â Imara whispered, refocusing her attention on the laptop. This response made Isha frown.âYou had breakfast?â Isha asked.âI am not hungry,â Imara replied, her brows knitted together as she focused intently on the task at hand.Isha felt a pang of frustration at her friendâs stubbornness, but she ordered something for Imara, anyway. She knew Imara could easily go without eating for a whole day. Food used to be a source of joy for Imara, but ever since Dheeraj happened, it had become nothing more than a means of survival.With an eye-roll and a shake of her head, Imara dismissed Ishaâs concern. She dived back into her work, finding solace in designing toys, a welcome distraction from the restlessness that had plagued her all night long.The memories of the past haunted her, the pain of facing her parents and reliving the beginning and end of it all was overwhelming. She longed to escape, to retreat to the solitude of her apartment, and cut ties with everyone. Determined, she began working on her plan, starting with a decision to no longer eat any meals at Shekhawat Mansion. She was adamant about not adhering to their traditions of eating together. And with Sunday approaching, she made up her mind to inform Vandana that she would not be attending any temple visits.Just as the thought consumed her, Isha appeared, breaking her concentration with the aroma of freshly brewed tea and the tantalising scent of a sandwich.âHave it, Imara,â Isha instructed, her voice gentle yet firm.Reluctantly, she took a deep breath and forced herself to take a bite of the sandwich. The taste was bland, mirroring the emptiness she felt inside.ââââââImara Madam left early today,â the maid informed Vandana, following her instructions to check on Imara. The words hung in the air, reaching the ears of everyone gathered at the dining table.Virender, his brows furrowed with worry, glanced around the table. He wasnât concerned about Imara missing breakfast; instead, his concern was rooted in the events of the previous night when Imara had met her parents. âShe must have had some work,â he declared, his voice confident yet tinged with unease. Nods of agreement rippled through the room, and the clatter of cutlery resumed as breakfast was resumed.Vandana, however, felt a pang of confusion. She had believed that she and Imara were slowly building a bond, a connection that would prompt Imara to confide in her. The news of Imaraâs absence left her feeling a little lost, as if a bridge between them had been momentarily severed.Meanwhile, Adhirajâs worry grew as he stared at his half-empty peanut butter shake. The breakfast, his favourite meal of the day, no longer held any appeal. He excused himself for the day, the sound of his chair scraping against the floor echoing, and continued his routine of arranging lunch for his wife.âââââTime flew by and Imaraâs stomach started its own drum solo. She peeked at the clock and realised it was already lunchtime. On cue, in walked Isha, carrying her lunch and a packed meal, just like yesterday.Imara let out an exaggerated groan and facepalmed, clearly irritated with Adhiraj. To add salt to the wound, Isha flashed a mischievous grin as she unpacked her lunch and teased, âDid you happen to tell him your favourites? Todayâs special is Bharwa Bhindi with piping hot rotis.âImara shot daggers at her friend, who waved a note in the air. Imara snatched it and read, âYou get a kick in defying anything and everything anyone suggests. Well, I get a kick in seeing you agreeing to anything and everything that I suggest - Adhiraj!âChuckling at the vexed look on Imaraâs face, Isha couldnât resist helping herself to the lunch meant for her friend. The delectable spread in front of Imara made her mouth water. Unable to resist any longer, she grabbed a roti, loaded it with bhindi, rolled it up, and took a bite that sent her taste buds into a frenzy. She moaned in pleasure. That meal was pure bliss!Isha was amused as she watched Imaraâs reactions. It was a rare sight to see her friend so focused on food. For the first time in ages, Imara wasnât mentioning Dheeraj or her parents for two whole days. It was a small victory, but a victory nonetheless.âIsh...,â Imara broke through Ishaâs thoughts. âThe designs will be ready by today. When can we get the moulds?âIsha, chewing thoughtfully, replied, âTwo days!âImara gave a nod of agreement before finishing her meal, mentally calculating how much she owed Adhiraj for these delicious lunches. On the other hand, Ishaâs heart was filled with a newfound sense of hope. Perhaps, her friend would find the strength to embrace life again, taking a leap of faith and giving it another chance.âââââOn that afternoon, Adhiraj stood by the wide window of his spacious office on the twenty-fifth floor of the Shekhawat Group of Companiesâ building. The warm rays of sunlight bathed the room, casting a golden hue on his face. Lost in thought, his eyes were fixed on the road, his mind still processing the information he had received from Virender about Imaraâs past. He had made a decision the very same nightâhe instructed Sanchit to stop his investigation about Imara and instead focus on Dheeraj. But before he could dive into that file, a message from Atharv popped up in the brothersâ group chat.âWe demand a sponsored honeymoon for all the top-secret intel weâve gathered from our wives about Bhabhi.âAnd then, just to add some levity to the mix, Samrat chimed in with, âLunch tomorrow: garlic bread with cheesy dip and hot chocolate!âAdhiraj couldnât help but cheekily reply to Atharv, âShoo, fly!â and to Samrat, âI need a full list of her likes and dislikes, too!âWith a smirk, he locked his phone, mentally making a note to thank Anika and Tarushi for their help later on.âââââThat evening, Imara was utterly exhausted, her body drained of all energy. Her weariness deepened even further when Isha unexpectedly left early. As if on autopilot, she navigated the bustling, cacophonous streets of Delhi, her mind drifting to a familiar lane that held a special place in her heart. A lane where she could drive with her eyes closed. But as reality sank in and she took in her surroundings, tears welled up, burning her eyes. Her heart constricted, her lip quivering as she parked the car in its usual spot, hidden beneath the comforting shadows. From this vantage point, she could steal glimpses of him, the man who had once been her Dheeraj.Wait! More wait! And more wait! She endured the endless waiting, fully aware that catching a mere glimpse of him would only inflict more pain upon her wounded heart. Yet, this pain had woven itself into the very fabric of her being. A bitter smile played upon her lips, a testament to the cruel irony of her situation.Finally, she saw itâa car pulling up to his gate. The engine hummed softly, a sound that matched the rhythm of her racing heartbeat. Her eyes locked onto the car, memories flooding back of the day he received it as a gift from his in-laws. The image of the brand new Swift Dzire parked in front of the grand banquet hall where he had married another haunted her.Her breath caught in her throat as she waited for him to emerge from the car. But fate had a cruel sense of humour that day. Instead of him, it was his father who stepped out, clutching a warm blanket close to his chest. The silence around her grew suffocating, threatening to consume her. Then, from the backseat, his mother emerged, carefully assisting his wife as she exited the car. Her eyes welled up with tears as she laid eyes on himâDheeraj, her Dheeraj, radiating happiness at the sight of his wife and the child cradled in his fatherâs arms. It was their child, Dheeraj and Deepikaâs child.Imara sat paralyzed, her tears dropping soundlessly onto her cheeks, their salty taste mingling with the bitter ache in her heart. The thought of Dheeraj caressing Deepika haunted her, breaking her heart into a million pieces. Gasping for air, she couldnât help but imagine the affection he once showered upon her, now bestowed upon his wife. The weight of betrayal crushed her, as she realised how effortlessly he had fallen for another, how he had made love and created a life with someone else.Overwhelmed by sorrow, Imara burst into uncontrollable sobs. The urge to confront him consumed her, to question if he still remembered her, their stolen moments, if he understood how she was living without him. But instead, she turned the key in the ignition, the engine roaring to life as she sped away, her mind trapped in an endless loop of memories.
Chapter 40: chapter 40
The Fated Knot•Words: 9405