His question irked her. Why? Are we just strangers for me to forget you so easily or do you think I might have amnesia? Anuradha turned her face away without answering him. She glanced at Narain, who was feeding Nila with a spoon the morsels of food that remained in her plate as she was bouncing up and down, too restless to eat.

"So, how have you been doing, Anu?"

"Great." Anuradha did not take her eyes off Narain and Nila.

"What are you looking at? Who is she? Your daughter? Oh wait, is she the one you had with me or another child you had with him?" Raghav lifted his chin, gesturing towards Nila and Narain.

Anuradha glared at him before turning away again. Did he really think so cheaply of me that I would have moved on as soon as he left me and had another child with another guy then itself? Losing her temper and feeling disgusted, Anuradha lashed out at him with gritted teeth. "She is Nila, do you remember her?"

"Oh, Nila? Your friend's child? Yeah, I remember her."

There was a moment of silence. Having no interest to carry on the conversation with him, Anuradha turned to go when he heaved a sigh. "Walking around with your husband and such an old kid, looking so haggard and to make it worse, wearing such a dull saree, even you've changed just like every other middle aged married Indian woman, Anu. I mean, your saree looked fine in the lights on the dance floor. But it's just too dull. And can't you even wear a proper layer of makeup at least to make yourself look better? You've become such a bore now."

Anuradha frowned at him. "Had we married like you had once promised me, I would have been like every other middle aged married Indian woman. But I am not married now. That's the only correction. And you don't like it when anyone wears a saree in the first place so you are certainly not the one who should decide whether this saree is too dull or not.

Lastly, I am fine the way I am. Why should I put more makeup? Who do I have to please? No one. I think I look fine and that's enough for me. I lost the desire to try to look more beautiful or bother to wear more makeup the day you threw my bags out and asked me to leave your place without hesitating even once or wondering where I would be able to go then." Anuradha turned to walk away again.

"Okay, I can't help that. It was always your wish. I had given you a choice." Raghav rolled his eyes in boredom. "It's been years since we met but you aren't bothered to ask how I am or at least inquire anything about me."

"Why should I? By seeing you, I already know that you are happy."

"And by seeing you, I guess I can say that you are not."

"But that doesn't make any difference to you, does it?"

He raised his eyebrow at her.

"That was the limit of your love for me. Sadly, my love did not have limits."

"Your love? But I don't need your love. I have Neena's and hers is more than enough for me."

"Then, you should be with her now. Not with me."

"I was just talking to you casually. We ended our relationship on an understanding. You don't have to treat me like a stranger now."

"I'm not just treating you like a stranger. You are one to me now and you've been since the moment you told me that all I ever believed about our love was nothing but a lie."

"Come on, Anu-"

"There's no point talking to you anymore, Raghav." Anuradha interposed and turned to walk away when the elderly man approached her.

"Dear, what are you doing here? Have you had your dinner?"

"Yea, I had, Uncle."

"Alright, all that's left is the piano recital for tonight. I haven't even told any of my children that you'll be playing the piano for us. Are you ready for it, dear?"

"Yes, Uncle, I am."

"That's great. It's ten minutes to ten. The piano is over there." The elderly man gestured to the piano at the corner. "You may start playing it at sharp ten. If I stay away from Latha for too long, she'll know I'm up to something. I'll stay with her till then so that it will be a complete surprise for her. You'll start playing it at ten sharp, won't you?"

"I will, Uncle, no worries." Anuradha smiled reassuringly.

Raghav frowned before interrupting their conversation. "Oh my goodness. Is she going to play the piano now in front of all these people?"

"Yes." The elderly man replied.

Anuradha glanced at Raghav worriedly.

Raghav hit his hand to his forehead with a laugh. "Seriously? Why? Do you want to put all your guests to sleep with her lullaby like compositions? She's not even a professional pianist in the first place, Uncle. Why have you hired her to play the piano? Couldn't you get anyone else?"

"So what if she's not a professional? I am not one too but when I was young, I had played the piano at many such occasions and people enjoyed it. I'm sure she'll play a beautiful poem of love for me. As my gift to my wife, you will from the bottom of your heart, won't you dear?"

Anuradha smiled warmly, seeing the elderly man's trust in her. She nodded a yes reassuringly.

Raghav glanced from the elderly man to Anuradha and back with an amused, lopsided smile. "Looks like she has talked you into believing her piano skills are so great with her convincing words, Uncle. She is one person who loves to do lots of things and thinks she's some multitalented expert. Whether it is piano or deco or even experimenting new things in the kitchen, she loves to do everything though she's no good at it and tries to act like a professional though she's not."

"Say what you like. She's like my daughter to me and I have my faith in her." The elderly man turned from Raghav to Anuradha, while gesturing to his watch. "Start at sharp 10, dear, before the guests might start leaving. I'll be waiting to hear your composition fill the air then."

The elderly man rushed back to his wife and guests, leaving a rather apprehensive Anuradha behind. Other than Shalini and Shiva, Raghav is the only one who has heard my compositions on the piano. Like him, what if everyone at this party too does not like my composition when they hear it?

Are you sure you're doing the right thing, Anu? Uncle is so excited. It is your composition that he wants to surprise Aunty with. What if my composition disappoints Uncle and Aunty? That would be awful, Anu. Anuradha bit her lip, beginning to feel unsure of herself.

Raghav sighed, looking bored in the direction the elderly man had gone. "He can be excused since he's old and so, perhaps he just wants anyone to play the piano for him. But don't you have the common sense to know that only a professional pianist should be playing the piano at such a big party with so many guests? I don't know why you seem intent to humiliate yourself in front of all these people."

Anuradha turned to face him in a mixture of disbelief and disgust. His words were hurting her so much that she felt like she wanted to scream but she could not. Because of the fear that what he spoke was true.

As Raghav began speaking again to her, she squeezed her eyes shut and started walking away to a corner. She could no longer bear any more insult from him. No matter how true his words might be. She had had enough. She felt ready to break down at any moment.

She walked further and further away before stopping under a tree, where she could no longer hear any voices or noises from the party.

A while passed before Nila ran up to her from behind. "Mama! Where did you go, Mama? Why Mama here? Come, Mama! Grandpa waiting for Mama to play piano! People started saying they want to go. Grandpa said wait, he has a surprise for Grandma. Grandma don't know anything about surprise. Grandpa asked me to look for Mama and don't tell Grandma. Come, Mama, come play piano."

Trying to fight back her tears, Anuradha could not help but ignore Nila and turn away.

Nila moved over to the space in front of Anuradha again, looking up at Anuradha's face. "Come, Mama." Nila held Anuradha's hand.

I'm not in a state to play the piano now. And if she goes on calling me again, I will surely cry. Right now. Right here. Someone help me.

"Mama, come, Mama. Please." Nila tugged on Anuradha's hand.

Anuradha shook her hand away, unable to speak due to the emotions that were overwhelming her at that moment.

Nila's face fell. Why Mama sad? Mama always say okay and come if I say please. Why Mama not coming now? Nila ran over to Narain who was standing a metre away. He had followed Nila when the child had been searching for Anuradha.

"Anu, Uncle is waiting for you. Everyone is waiting for you though they don't know that you'll be playing the piano. Please come." Narain called out to her.

Reaching her breaking point at that precise moment, Anuradha squeezed her eyes shut with her back facing him and snapped. "I am not a professional to play the piano. I'm not good at anything, okay? Just leave me alone. I can't play the piano. No one will like it if I do."

"But Anu, you had given your word to Uncle that you would play the piano for him today at this party. You can't say this now. Don't care about the others. Come at least for Uncle's and Aunty's sake. I'm sure they will like your composition." Narain paused for a moment. "Anu, I know you will come and play the piano. Don't waste time now and come."

Anuradha interposed, "I said I can't do it! I can't. That's it. Do you want me to go out there and make a fool of myself by playing a composition I'm sure no one will like? What do you care? I'm no one important. If people laugh or speak badly about me, you will also do the same.

I can't play the piano knowing that I'm gonna be a disappointment for Uncle and Aunty when I know Uncle's looking forward to it so much. Anyway, who are you to force me to come and play the piano now? You are no one to force me to do anything. I'm only bearing with you for Nila's sake. Please give me my space."

There was a long moment of silence.

Anuradha was riddled with guilt over the way she had flared up, shouting at Narain, when he had not deserved to hear her outburst directed to him. Little did he know that it was not her anger towards him but her pent-up emotions that did not involve him at all. I shouldn't have spoken like that to him. I have to apologise. Anuradha turned back to find that she was standing alone. Narain and Nila had disappeared and were nowhere in sight.

She turned back to face the tree again, feeling so ashamed of herself. He left. He must be hurt. You hurt him, Anu. How could you? Words are the most powerful weapons and there's nothing you can do to take back the words you uttered to him. No sorry will be enough. You have ruined everything. Why do you always show your frustration towards him when he isn't even the reason for it? Now you crossed the limit again. He'll hate you forever now.

Anuradha folded her arms, unsure of what to do. You only offered to play the piano. And now, you can't get yourself to play it and disappoint Uncle and Aunty on their special day. Uncle will also be hurt now because of you.

She closed her eyes in disappointment for a moment when she heard the faint sound of her best composition being played on the piano. The same composition she had planned to play at this party today. Anuradha turned her face away in disbelief. It must be just my imagination.

After the momentary pause in her composition, she heard it continue much more clearly in the absolute silence of the atmosphere. Anuradha froze in shock. It can't be. Who could be playing the piano now? Who could be playing my composition? I have only played it for Shalini, Shiva and Raghav before. Shali and Shiva are not here. Could it be Raghav playing my composition on the piano?

With a slight frown, Anuradha turned and moved slowly towards the crowd gathered around the area where the piano was. Despite the fact that it was her own composition and she could recognize it just by listening to it, it sounded so melodic, much more than she always thought it did. Drawn towards the sound coming from the piano, she slipped into the crowd and made her way to the front.

Anuradha was speechless the moment she saw that it was Narain seated behind the piano. The poem she had composed had never felt this beautiful to her ears. But today it did. She watched the way Narain played the notes on the piano in silence. There was a smile on his face, like he was putting his soul into the music. But how does he know my composition?

Anuradha felt like she was in a trance as she listened to the beautiful music Narain brought forth from the piano. Is it really my composition? It sounds like mine but it's bringing up emotions within me like never before. Her heart swelled with sweetness and longing, the music filled her with a different kind of joy and sadness all at once. It was making her feel nostalgic and so emotional inside. She wondered if anyone else there could feel what she was feeling.

Narain ran his fingers along the keys of the piano, bringing the music to an impressive end. There was a round of applause for him.

Narain turned and glanced straight at Anuradha before standing up and adjusting his coat.

The corner of her lips turned upwards as they watched each other in silence for a moment.

"And that was a beautiful poem of love from me for my wife and from this man who played it from the bottom of his heart surely for his wife over there, the love of his life." The elderly man glanced at Narain and gestured towards Anuradha before turning to his wife. "I'm sure you enjoyed it as much as I did, Latha."

Anuradha felt a tingling sensation jolt right through her as she heard those words. From the bottom of his heart surely for his wife over there, the love of his life. She could not take her eyes off him, the man who had played her composition on the piano with all his heart.

Narain too seemed taken aback by the elderly man's statement and glanced at Anuradha. Forgetting momentarily about their pasts and reality, they watched each other. The time felt like it was at a standstill. Even though it was just for the fraction of a second, they felt those words uttered by the elderly man indeed belonged to them and it felt perfect.

"Yes, of course. I totally loved it." The elderly lady agreed with her husband.

Drawing his gaze away from Anuradha, Narain smiled before announcing generally, "The beautiful poem I played is not my own composition. It was composed by Miss Anuradha." Narain gestured towards her while there was another round of applause just for her.

Astounded again, Anuradha watched him while she felt tears prick her eyes.

"It's really beautiful, dear. I have no words to describe it." The elderly lady turned to Anuradha and touched her arm.

"No doubt it is, everyone is clapping here. Her poem of love was surely loved by all." The elderly man added, before glancing at Raghav. "It is really great. She may not be a professional but this poem of love was certainly composed from the bottom of her heart. There is no doubt; Anuradha is a great pianist. Good enough to be a professional."

Anuradha just stared at the elderly man, unsure of what to say. Narain smiled as he was sure the elderly man's words would have cleared Anuradha's feelings of uncertainty regarding her composition.

Narain glanced at Raghav, who was standing nearby with a bored expression. "Yes, Anuradha is a great pianist. She is very talented. Not only in playing the piano but in other things like decoration as well. She deserves respect for how multitalented she is. Respect her for her talents. And respect her as a lady. At least, respect her for her true love. Only one who loves truly can still smile wholeheartedly on seeing her love happy with someone else, not her. She has proved it."

Anuradha stared at Narain, unsure whether she could believe the words he had uttered to Raghav.

"Only one who loves truly can see another one's true love." The elderly lady spoke in a low voice, loud enough for only Anuradha to hear it as she was standing close by.

Anuradha glanced at the elderly lady but remained silent.

"You are lucky to have him in your life, dear. And so is he to have you. The two of you are certainly made for each other."

Anuradha smiled a bit though she felt grief inside. Made for each other? There is nothing called made for each other. It is in how we live and prove that we can get through everything together. Once I thought Raghav and I were made for each other, it gave me only heartbreak. I'm not interested in extending my heart to this guy in case it is meant to be broken again. I'm sure he won't be interested either.

But I have to apologise to him and thank him for this. He has done what no one else has done for me. He has made me feel loved and appreciated for once. Anuradha looked around for Narain as he had gone missing from the crowd. She noticed him standing alone under a tree nearby.

In silence, she approached him and stood by his side, leaving space of about two feet between them. She looked straight ahead at nothing in particular, like he was.

Sensing her presence, Narain began to explain without looking at her. "Sorry. I thought you had confidence in yourself that's why I thought you would come though you refused. I was not intending to disturb you or hurt your feelings. Uncle had been so excited for the piano recital so when you refused to play it, I insisted-"

"Friends?" Hearing Anuradha's voice, Narain fell silent and glanced at her.

As he watched her, wondering if he had heard her right, she extended her hand towards him.

Narain smiled a bit. I don't know why but I feel you are more than just a friend over this short span of time I have got to know the real you. But friendship is enough. I'm not interested in anything more than that. I've been through enough once. Not again. And I'm sure you feel the same.

He extended his hand as well and shook hands with her, before confirming, "Friends."

To be continued...

A/N: Hey peeps! Hope you liked the chapter.

Narain played the piano, not Anu. How was the twist? And they are one step closer. They are friends now. Friends? Just friends? No, but they are not ready to accept that the feelings have gone beyond friends. Waiting for your comments on this chapter now. ;)

Check out the video edit I made for this chapter in Instagram using the link below or by checking my instagram profile rosesecrets89.

Here's the link to find the video on my Instagram page:
Part 1: https://www.instagram.com/p/BP-cyAwj3N3/

Part 2: https://www.instagram.com/p/BP-fPuUj9EL/

Please vote, comment and share. :)