*Anusha Pov*

You can do this! I chanted in my head reaching the building and took a few minutes to step out of the cab.

I know I am way too early, but I need this preparation time to finally face him. I still remember when he suddenly stood before me when I opened the door.

It's like I was acting as if nothing happened in my life from meeting him to leaving my parents to his home to the gunshot and mainly his accusations. But with his presence everything burst right through into every thought in my head.

Taking a deep breath, I entered the building and saw the receptionist arranging her things before looking at me.

"Good morning, Maam! How was your holiday?" she asked smiling.

"Good!" I replied, covering my shocked reaction with a cough and continued to walk and reached the elevator.

Finally, after reaching my cabin I took a deep but stilled when I saw the room to be as it was the last time I saw it. I glanced at the notice board to see that, except for two places everything is ticked but nothing new is added.

So, the two contracts are left, but why didn't they add any new one? Do they want to close the company or what? I shook my head but felt happy knowing well there is too much to do.

I sat down and started taking out details for the new clients whom I can reach out. I was so involved but suddenly startled when I heard his voice asking in a loud surprised tone, 'She is here?'

Oh god! He will be here and I need to be strong for sure. Don't think of any excuses for his words and he is your Ex-husband now and nothing else except your collegue.

"Sha!" he whispered entering the cabin, but I didn't look up.

"Yes?" I asked in a normal voice.

"Sha! How are you? I have been going..." he couldn't finish when I lifted my head to stare at him.

"I am here working, Mr. Kolgha. I don't want you blaming me if something wrong goes with that also." I commented making him flinch and she flinched inside.

I decided not to be bitter then why am I doing this? I thought taking a deep breath while he composed himself.

"I don't want to work here, but like you reminded me in the phone call, this is my duty according to the contract and that is for next one year. Let's just ignore everything and concentrate on our work." I suggested and even passed a smile.

"Sha!" he whispered, walking near to her table, but I shook my head.

"It's all in the past and call me Anusha or Ms. Bindla." I suggested but he shook his head.

"We need to talk, Sha... Anusha." He said to which I sighed rubbing my forehead.

"Satvik! I actually don't blame you for what you did. I mean for the way I ruined your life, what you did was so simple." I said looking at him.

"What are you saying, Anusha?" he asked, frowning with a confused look.

"I was behind you to have our dating life more public when you were not comfortable. Hell! I forced you to marry me, didn't I? No wonder you threw me out of your home." I replied, trying to control the tears.

"Don't! Don't say such lies. It was never like that. I was..." he couldn't finish when I suddenly stood up.

"If I shouldn't say such things then don't give me a reason to. Don't bring our past anymore near me otherwise I will dissect it as I wish. Now, if you can excuse me, I need to work and finish even the work for the time I was on leave too." I said gesturing the door to him.

But he just stood there looking at her in shock while I stared at the door and when he finally started walking off, I calmly added, "I am not asking you to leave as a tit for tat for the way you showed me. Whatever I do or say would be a normal thing and no where near aimed to do anything with you. So, please take those thoughts out of your mind."

When the door closed, I fell back down on the chair, feeling the energy drained out with just five minutes. And I know so well he thought I am taking some petty revenge when I showed the door.

What can I say that I too learned to understand what people are thinking or at least what he is thinking after living with him for all those months. This is going to be a long journey.

After sometime the door was opened and I opened my mouth to give another order to leave but stopped seeing the visitors.

"We are glad that you are back, Anusha." Jay said, smiling and I felt bad as well as good when he called me by my name and not 'Bhabhi'.

If he had called using that then it would have been awkward, so I am glad but it somehow passed a wave of sadness. I need to get used to all these things real soon.

"How are you both?" I asked, smiling at them and they nodded taking their seats.

"Why didn't you guys approached any new clients?" I finally asked and their faces fell.

"We wanted to get another consultant in your place at least for some time but Satvik was against it. He didn't want even a temporary one in your place." Yash replied.

"So? This company is not just his and you both has the equal decision power. What would you have done if the remaining contracts also finished and I didn't return?" I asked to which Jay chuckled.

"Very nice! One wants to go against rules whose life is this company while the other wants to show the rules who is here not on their own wish." He commented and I stilled.

"Jay!" Yash mumbled to which Jay just stood up and walked off while I looked away to stare at the window.

"All I can say is he is somewhat like Satvik or like how Satvik used to be. He just considers what he can see with his eyes and never go in depth. We both don't know much except that something worse happened and he is considering what he saw in Satvik's behavior after you are wounded. So, just don't mind him." Yash offered.

"I will be here just for one year, Yash. I do not care about anything except the work I am going to do here." Saying that I turned the page in the file I am reading and he calmly left.

I sighed, leaning back and closed my eyes, thinking maybe I should have just taken Bhai's help and walk out of here. No! I can't run away no matter what and maybe this will give me the closure.

"Tomorrow morning I will meet this client. He just started his business, but whatever I have read proved to be very good. It is better if we bag him right now. Later it will be really tough and also costly." I explained, showing the details not looking at anyone.

"I am sorry!" Jay mumbled and I just gave him a smile.

After finishing the meeting we three stood up while Satvik stayed in his chair, but when we were walking out he called out Jay to stay back. I frowned at Yash but he just shook his head.

"Are you leaving now? It's past the time, right?" he asked checking the time.

"No! I need to arrange my cabin and there is some more to do before I leave." I replied and walked into my cabin while he waved off saying he will leave.

The moment I stepped out of my cabin after finishing the work I stilled looking at the person standing near the elevator. I just ignored him and walked near him and pressed the button when I saw it is not pressed.

When I stepped in, he too followed not saying a word. However, when I stepped out and started walking out he stood before me stopping me in my tracks.

"Let me drop you, Sha." He whispered, but I just stepped aside to walk which he followed.

"It's late! I will not say anything but let me drop you." He requested.

"Satvik! I told you to not disturb me and just let me go." I warned, but he just shook his head.

"I am not disturbing you, but just taking care of you. Do you know how far you have to go and that too this late?" he asked and I glanced at the time to see that it's pretty late.

"I am taking a cab." I replied, to which he snorted.

"A cab is completely safe? At least call your brother and ask him to pick you up, but you are not going alone from here." He said, folding is arms and I know so well that he just decided to not listen and he will not.

I took out my phone to call Bhai but then I remember him, saying they are going on a date today and they will return a little late. I closed my eyes, shaking my head, deciding to make him move.

"Let me drop you, Sha. Think of me like a driver." He offered before I can say anything and I opened my eyes to stare at him.

"Fine!" I mumbled and immediately we both walked near to his car.

Like he promised he didn't utter a single word and drove in silence while I stared through the window. How did we reach this point in our life? And what is he trying to do with his actions now?

"We reached, Sha." His words brought me out of my thoughts, but before I can open the seat belt he held my hand.

"You said you will just drop." I pointed out.

"And I did! Just... just listen to me, Sha." He pleaded and I glanced at him.

"I didn't ask you to leave the house, Sha. I just wanted you to leave from the place when Dad started his words. How can I ask you to leave when that is your house too? And... and the before words, god! I wish I can take them back, but I know I can never. But I know I will curse myself through my whole life for saying such things. I was never like that who utters whatever that is near to the head. But somehow all the circumstances changed me and I regret that I let them overpower me. I regret that I let them make me lose you. But I will regret more if I just accept the decisions we are at present." He continued to talk while I just stared at him.

"Just... just tell me what should I do to... to get us back together because all I can think is to hug you tightly for as long as you allow while chanting sorry without stopping." He added.

"Imagine! Imagine that I died with that bullet wound and you will be fine." saying that I yanked my hand.

"Then I wouldn't have been alive to imagine, Sha." He whispered.

"You say something, but you do something else. Trust me on one thing, Satvik. That day your words at that moment are not the only ones for this decision. There were many incidents, but that was just the last of it." Saying that I opened the door and started walking towards the gate.

"No matter what, I will not stop caring for you, Sha. Once, I got blindsided and didn't care enough, but now even a single twig would be removed from your way." His words reached me but I just opened the door and slammed it behind me.

"God!" I whispered, covering my ears and fell on my knees.

What will I do if he continues this every day? I can't bear him dropping me everyday for sure and I can't ask Bhai. He has his own life and now he has a special person in his life.

Wait! What if there is no chance for him to drop me in the first place? I asked myself and immediately walked into my room before packing all my things.

"What?" Kirthi asked the next morning when I informed her about my decision.

"It is very far. So, I think this is best." I explained.

"Did you tell your brother?" Kirthi asked.

"I will! He has to wake up first, right? Do you give sleeping pills everyday? I never saw my brother waking so late before. He was supposed to be finishing his gym work right now." I continued to talk laughing.

"I will start my gym now by making the coffee and lifting the cups." Suddenly Bhai said and we turned to see him standing near the door.

"And yes, she kind of gives sleeping pills." He added and to my surprise Kirthi blushed and there was the ever green pang in my heart but happiness at the same time.

"Okay! By the way I am leaving her house." I stated.

"What? You are coming to live with me?" he asked but I shook my head.

"You are returning to our parent's house?" he asked.

"Will they allow me in the first place?" I asked, smiling, but the sadness is still there.

"Then where are you going and the main question is why?" he asked frowning.

"I am going to the penthouse. And the reasons could be the distance I am travelling this whole week along with the time at which I am travelling which is not safe and many other reasons." I replied sighing.

"And I already decided, Bhai." I added.

"Aren't you going to stop her?" he asked, to which she shook her head.

"She recovered completely and it is her wish whether to stay here or not." She replied and that felt like a last thread.

"Do whatever you want to do." Saying that he walked off and I rushed behind him but he completely ignored me before driving off.

"He will come around like always." Kirthi suggested and I nodded smiling at her.

"Thank you for supporting me and letting me stay here. Even though because of that you found Bhai but still thank you." I said hugging her.

"Yeah! This is all your fault. If not for you then my life would have been with peace." She mumbled and I have this sudden thought that she is not at all joking which made me chuckle.

"Finally!" I mumbled, reaching the building and walked into it with my luggage.

Thank god I reached even earlier than yesterday and no one is there to see this. I don't want anyone to question anything I am doing.

However, after I placed all my clothes properly and noting down what things I need for the house, I walked to my cabin and opened the door to see a bouquet with a card saying 'Welcome to our flat'.

"Welcome!" I heard his voice and turned to see him leaning on the door.

"Our flat? It is my flat! You are the one who didn't step inside not even once for your Mom sake. And if I see these flowers again, then I will complain about you to the HR department." I warned before throwing the flowers at him and he hissed.

When he took the bouquet down, which hit his face I gasped when I saw the scratches on his face and glanced at the bouquet to see the thorns.

"Didn't have time to get them cut and thought they are not that sharp." He mumbled rubbing his cheek with his palm.

I closed my eyes to stop myself from reaching near him and looking after the wound. But opened them when I heard the door closing to see him already leaving the cabin.

The days passed just like that with him talking and with me warning him. But there was a change when the weekend started.

On Sunday I woke up groaning hearing the bell ringing and walked to the door before opening it but stilled looking at the people.

They both are looking at me back and I opened my mouth, but closed it back. I glanced at the clock to see it is very late and then at my dress which is definitely inappropriate.

"That... I was working late and slept early morning and..." I stopped my explanation frowning.

Why am I explaining myself in the first place? I don't need to do that anymore and the proof for that is also there.

"Yes?" I asked composing myself.

"Anusha!" she said, hugging me and I hugged her back smiling.

"How are you, Manvi?" I asked when she released me.

"I am fine!" she said, nodding and moved a little so that the other person can step near me.

"I am sorry!" she whispered to which I just stared at her.

"I... I always talk about family values and everything related to it, but you are the one who acted on it than just talking. I know a sorry can never bring back anything but not saying it is also a wrong thing." She added while I looked away before again staring at her.

"It's okay! Everything that happened was not meant to be and we both should have heard our families. Families are always right, right?" I asked and gestured them to come inside.

"No! Families are wrong from every side. And I was told what happened that day. I will not say to forgive him or anything but just know that we lost him that day along with you. He is yours whether you accept him back or not." Aunty continued but didn't walked inside.

"He asked us not to talk about him." Manvi pointed out.

"Right! We will leave now. We will meet some other day." Saying that she walked off.

"A bullet can make a person accept the other?" I asked Manvi.

"I don't know whether you will believe or not. But she accepted you way back before she was kidnapped. Just ignore my words, if you want. I know now this is your life, but just wanted you to know that you made the impossible possible with having her respect for you, but not because of a bullet." Saying that she walked off smiling while I just shook my head closing the door.

The shocks of the day didn't end there because I got a call by afternoon and lifted it only to still in my place.

"Mom?" I asked again, not believing her.

"Yes! Will you come for dinner party tonight?" she asked and I calmly sat on the couch.

"Really, Mom?" I asked, holding the phone tightly.

"Yes!" with her words I smiled and felt the tears rolling down.

"I will be there, Mom." I mumbled and she hung up after talking for a few minutes.

If I smile for some more time, my lips will get stuck like this no matter what I will do later. I sighed in relief, finding an empty spot and stared at the sky.

"Party is not nice?" Mom asked, reaching beside me.

"It's nice! Where is Bhai?" I asked, to which she shook her head.

"He has a headache." She replied and I nodded.

"Your Dad will come around." She offered and I smiled at her thinking how Dad talked for a few minutes before the party started.

"I will wait for that." I said and she nodded before holding my hand.

"How are you? Angry at your Mom? You should be, but... but I am just like this." She mumbled and I felt like to go and drown myself somewhere with everyone hell bent on apologizing.

"Mom! Let's just forget the past." I offered and she nodded, giving me a small smile.

If I hear another person apologizing, then I will definitely go mad and run away from everyone. I thought looking at the guests and pasted the smile again before walking near to them along with Mom. Now, I have my family back and Bhai has Kirthi. Everything will be better for sure.

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unexpectedly it became a big update...

how is it???

comment plz and vote...

p.s- some scenes will be repeated from "Against all odds" and that too mainly in the next chap...