98 Anupama's Thoughts and Future (1)

Anupama froze when she saw Aditya getting out of a normal car. She did not know why he had come but her heart was agitated a little when she saw him. This person had supported her in every aspect, in school, when she had newly joined. It would be false if Anupama said that she did not enjoy this feeling of being cared for and protected.

Anupama knew that Adi did not like mathematics but he still joined the Olympiad team for her. She knew he did not share her interest in literature but he would also accompany her when she read the classics. Aditya was more interested in dance but he still accompanied her in singing lessons which she knew. She just basked in this feeling of been precious to someone and forgot the effort that the other party put in to make all this possible.

Her immature mind was thrilled when she heard how a boy called Mayur was roughed up by Aditya when Mayur tried to just impress her. Anupama was delighted when she started feeling the care which she had craved for all these years. But everything went downhill when she started to know more about Aditya through him or others. She felt that Aditya was too reckless trying to pursue a career which had no clear path in India. Unless one had a lot of money, talent and training from a very early age, one couldn't easily strive to become a professional formula racer.

Anupama felt that Aditya was pursuing a highly unrealistic goal and would damage his future. A little consideration that she had for a future together with Aditya collapsed when she came to know about Aditya's past affair with two girls in his tenth grade through some people. At that time, she had decided to bury whatever feelings that had sprouted in her heart forever. She had decided that if Aditya tries to propose to her, she would just reject him indirectly before the matter gets complicated.

But things did not go as she had expected, Aditya's parents suddenly went missing and he did not come to propose to her as he became preoccupied with concern for his parents. Anupama wanted to be there for him many times but she stopped herself as she feared that she would succumb to her feelings if she stayed close with Aditya. Also, she thought that Aditya might get the wrong idea and think that she was in love with him.

But to her surprise, Aditya stopped everything he used to do for her since his parents went missing. It was like the worry for his parents' safety completely overwhelmed his feelings for her. He started spending more time with his friends which caused a void to form in her heart. She missed those days when she was with Aditya, she felt a vacuum in her life whenever she saw him from a distance. These were the days when Anupama started to search for all kinds of reasons to stay away from Aditya. She would think about how he is not the perfect match for her, how he does not have any good qualities in him which are worthy of her recognition.

But deep in her heart, she wanted nothing but Aditya to come to her for succour. She was pained to see him turn towards his friends for support but not towards her. She felt that she was a horrible being for failing to overcome her pride and supporting Aditya on her own initiative. All kinds of complicated thoughts made her very restless. The final shock came to her when she heard Aditya's words about how he wished that she would find a person who makes her feel safe and secure.

Aditya had clearly indicated that moment that he did not intend to pursue her anymore. That moment she felt like she had lost a precious opportunity in her life, all the sweet memories that she had shared with Aditya became bitter at once.

When Anupama heard that Aditya's elder sister had come to the school, she had hoped to establish good relations with her so that she could always know the well being of Aditya. But, before she could talk, his elder sister pierced her sensitive heart with sharp words about her parents. She did not expect even in her dreams that Aditya's elder sister would possess such hostility towards her.

When she had met him in Neela Palace, though she displayed indifference towards Aditya, she wanted him to come to her and give an explanation about his elder sister's rude behaviour. She even expected that he would get back at his elder sister for her just like how Aditya dealt with Mayur. So, her shock could be imagined when Aditya also maintained indifference and did not even speak to her let alone giving an explanation. At that moment, she realised that Aditya now was not the person in her memories anymore. She became aware that it was she who was not able to move on and that Aditya had already turned on a new leaf.

She felt a feeling of melancholy since then, even if she did not want, the memories of her and Aditya would haunt her during nights. After some time, she decided that she would find a boy who was perfect in all aspects and that she would show him to Aditya to make him realise where he was lacking and why he couldn't get her. This was the only way that she could think of erasing Aditya's mark from her heart.

The boy who she was conversing with was Hitesh, the only heir to a jewellery business group. He was introduced by her mother as she felt that her daughter was having some issues. Hitesh was perfect in all aspects. He had a good background, had a clear goal in life. He was kind, handsome, nice to her, had similar views of life as her. Both of them were made for each other in all aspects.

After meeting Hitesh in a few social gatherings, Anupama felt that he was a good person. But whenever she was with Hitesh, she couldn't stop herself from comparing him with Aditya. Hitesh was well trained in social etiquette and knew how to handle himself in a group of eminent people, he knew how to treat a girl with elegance, like a gentleman. Aditya did not possess any of these qualities but Anupama knew that she was happier when she was with Aditya which both puzzled and haunted her. She tried hard to convince herself that it was just a matter of time.

Today, Hitesh had asked her out and wanted to take her to a new food festival which was set up in the nearby cricket ground. She had complied but the car stopped on this road for some reason. Hitesh had tried to repair but failed. He then called for the service centre and both of them were waiting for the service personnel to come.

Aditya got out of the car as he looked at the person beside Anupama, a coldness flashed in his eyes before disappearing. He smiled as he walked towards them. Anupama's eyes gazed at Aditya's face in a daze as it had been a long time since she saw him but the memories were still fresh in her heart. The other person looked at the reaction of Anupama and understood that she knew this person. He put on a welcoming smile on his face.

"Hi Anupama, how come you are here?" Aditya asked as he smiled at Anupama. He could only hope that she had forgiven both him and his elder sister Maahi. From what he knew about Anupama, she was a girl with a refined mindset combined with a princess mentality. She usually did not have the characteristic of carrying grudges for long but he was not sure.

Anupama looked as beautiful as he remembered her to be. She was still in her teens and an irresistible charm was already showing itself on her along with her rather tall figure and lily white complexion. The only difference was she had dyed her jet black hair with an Expresso brown base and caramel highlights which matched perfectly with her honey brown eyes. She wore a peach-coloured top with keyhole neck along with a pair of casual jeans.

Just as Aditya hoped, Anupama smiled when she saw Aditya after so long. The grievance from before did not feel that important anymore. She said, "Long time no see, Adi. This is Hitesh, a friend who I made recently."