17. Heroines and Their Hardships

I ALWAYS KNEW people loved characters who are made to go through hardships.

Especially heroines. The female protagonists were made to go through several trials and tribulations to make them relatable and somewhat likable. But the idea sucked if you were the heroine.

When I came back with puffy, red eyes back to home after Nikita ended our life-long friendship, and Virat threw a bomb of love at me, I had no idea what to do. The turmoil was far too overwhelming.

But then something had to happen again. As I unlocked my door, I was greeted with a hustle and bustle of my family. In front of me stood, mom, dad, Arjun, Advay and Advay's sister. It wouldn't take a Sherlock to know why they were here. It was something related to Advay and I.

I thought of the worst possibility, hey Anushka. You're getting married tomorrow. Surprise, surprise. I stifled a snort.

"Hello, everyone." I greeted them awkwardly. It was weird to see them all together, and it was even weirder to be the center of their attraction. I was too used to be in the background, so the spot light infiltrating which seemed innocuous was far too overwhelming.

"Anu," it was my mom who staggered towards me, taking me her in my arms. Reluctantly, I wrapped an arm around her. I missed the warmth of her hands. Sometimes, I wished I hadn't transferred to Mumbai but rather stayed in Rajkot. That would've been so good for me.

Although, I knew the reason why I was here. It was because I never wanted to be a hindrance to the happiness of Sharma family. Surely, my new dad loved me a lot. He had pampered me till I turned into a legal child but I always felt that I owed to him big time. But the bigger reason was because I hated myself.

I hated myself for being the child of the person who shall not be named.

I knew my presence would never let my mom forget the dark part of her fairy tale romance with Aditya Sharma. Where she had heard horrible things, was meted with horrible treatment. I was his vicious blood, and no pious water could wash away that.

I snapped out of thoughts only when mom pulled away. I flashed her a smile, "hey mumma, why're you all here? Any special occasion?"

Before mom could speak, Advay's sister, Anisha raised a glass to toast. "Here's to Advay and Anushka - and their lovely kids and their grandkids."

I looked at her, slightly exasperated. "When are we getting married?" Drop the bomb already. That's what everyone's doing lately.

That was when I heard Advay chuckle. "I know you can't wait to get married to me, babe. But hold on to your horses. We're just getting engaged," His words confused me a little. Weren't we engaged already? I thought, playing with the ring that he had made me wear that night. Noticing my confusion, Advay added, "As in, an official engagement."

"Oh." That was all I could speak. "Sounds good to me. When is it?"

"About that, it is. We're planning to keep it the day after tomorrow. But that is, only if you're fine with it?" Advay asked, his bright eyes crinkled into smile lines around the edges.

"Of course, it's - um, okay." I told him, slightly smiling. Staggering towards him, I looped my arms around him. "I missed you so much, Advay." I laid a kiss on his cheek, and I could feel the scorching heat bubbling inside it.

I heard the sound of throats getting cleared. "It's all mom and future hubby. Brother wouldn't get anything." Arjun whined.

"You dork," I cooed, wearing a huge smile. "I love you, come here." I wrapped my arms around him, giving him a bone-crushing hug. I could imagine him gritting his teeth, and making goofy expressions. My brother has been adorable since the day he was born, and the cuteness only flourished as he grew.

"What about me?" I opened my eyes to see dad, his lips pursed into a thin line.

"Dad," the word spluttered with emotions as I pulled away. I was close to him, really close. I knew he was a good man since I was eight, by then my mom had left behind her past. "I love you the most." I told him, as I strut towards him in baby steps. He leaned closer, laying a soft kiss on my forehead and ran a hand through my hair lovingly.

"And this wanker hasn't left an option, not him but to love you the most, Anu." He told me, honestly reflecting through his eyes. The emotional and intense moment was cut short by a snort and Arjun's crazy antics as he drawled "I'm the most loved child, not her." and mom asking him to behave in front of Advay and his sister.

I couldn't help but smile when I saw them all together. I would trade anything, literally anything, to keep these smiles intact. Even it meant sacrificing my own love.

Virat.

I realized I had left him there alone, in confusion, in pain. I looked out for my phone, checking if he had called me or not.

Surprisingly, he hadn't.

Biting back the dismay, I kept my phone aside. You're not everything he wants in life, he had his own priorities. Like Advay and my family were my priorities.

Everything was visible in clear cut clarity. It always had been, just that I was too ignorant to address it.

I decided to drop a message for Nikita meanwhile. Niki, I know you won't pick up. I'm sorry, really sorry about everything. I hope you and Nikhil make up soon.

When I kept my phone aside, I could feel two hands enclosing my waist. "Advay?" I squelched a moan as he dragged me to the bedroom with a grin. His hands left my waist only to shut the door close. I frowned at him. "Are you crazy? Mom, dad, Arjun, your sister... everyone's home. What are they going to think?"

"That we are the couple who's going to get married, and that we need some alone time together, and also a little bit of space." He replied, quirking his lips as he pulled me towards him.

I tried to push him away gently but his hold was too strong for to push anyway. "You're crazy, seriously."

"I just love you and I'm happy around you, Anushka," he replied. "But the question that matters is are you happy?"

I averted his intense gaze on me. "O-of course, Advay. I'm happy. Very happy."

"You can't even look at me and say this well practiced lie of yours," he said softly. "I saw you were crying when you came home. Didn't want to point it out in front of everyone, but I know something's wrong."

It was then when I finally met his gaze. "I had a fight with Nikita. A huge fight and I think she's never going to talk to me again."

"Oh, why did you two fight?" he asked, but I just looked away. "Um, okay. I think that's far too personal, but have faith, Anushka. She's your friend, and I'm sure things will be fixed between you two, very soon."

I gave him a faint smile before he pressed his lips onto mine for a small peck.

Things will be fixed soon. I repeated his words in my head the entire night, probably even in my sleep.

The next morning, I decided to drop another message for Nikita. But the reply instantly came;

you've been blocked.

This time, probably, forever and always.

•••

I COULDN'T BREATHE when I was standing outside Virat's house. And when he opened the door, and his eyes met mine, the resolve broke.

I know nothing else... take me with you.

It was as if he had read my mind, that he pulled me in, and shut the door close immediately. The reason for coming to him again was because I had no else to go for. Everyone back at home were happy. It was different with Virat, altogether - I would feel this energy, chemistry and synchronicity with him when we were alone.

We were sprawled across his couch when he peered his eyes into me, not looking away even for a moment - as though I would disappear if he did. "Virat?" He only hummed in response when I leaned on his shoulder. "Why life has to be so difficult? Everything?"

"It's not difficult, Anushka. You're making it difficult for yourself," I narrowed my eyes at him because of his answer. "Nush, You've one life, one chance. And it is truly upto you, what would you do with it." He told me, flashing me a faint smile.

"You know about my engagement with Advay, right?" I asked him softly.

"Yeah, it's kinda hard to ignore especially when it comes on the front page of the newspaper." he rolled his eyes exasperatedly.

"And you don't-" want to fight for me?! "Y-you don't seem to care."

"Anushka," he sauntered closer to close the thin gap between our bodies. "Because I know he's the kind of guy who deserves you. I'm not good enough for you, for anyone as a matter of fact."

"Don't you dare say that," I threaded my fingers through his hair. "You're good. So good, in fact." I gently leaned in, and kissed his warm lips.

He trailed his fingers down my cheeks before they settled on my waist, yanking me closer to him. We're soon breathless and exhausted and every breath is like a sin -one after the other. Yet I found myself leaning towards him, our foreheads touching. "I love you, Anushka. I'm not going to fight for you, or tell you to fight for me; but I'm just going to keep on loving you even if you leave me."

"Leaving behind isn't easy you know?" My voice cracked. "Don't make it sound like that." I got up from the couch. "I'm running late. I've to leave."

Virat escorted me to the door.

But before I could leave, his last words kept on ringing in my head. "Not as difficult as being left behind."

•••