Anamika was still lost in her grief, the weight of Vineet's betrayal pressing down on her, when a sharp knock on the door pulled her back to the present. She quickly wiped her tears, trying to steady her breath as her assistant's voice filtered in from outside.

"Ma'am, it's time for your meeting with Mr. Raman Bhalla," her assistant called softly, not wanting to intrude but aware of the importance of the appointment. "We need to leave in ten minutes."

Anamika blinked, trying to shake off the emotional fog that had engulfed her. The meeting. The whole reason she had come to Delhi. She had almost forgotten in the midst of her sorrow, caught up in memories of Vineet and the pain of the news she had just read.

She glanced at the clock on the nightstand, realizing her assistant was right—time was running out. With a heavy sigh, she folded the newspaper and set it aside, forcing herself to push the thoughts of Vineet out of her mind. She couldn’t afford to fall apart, not now, not when she had a critical meeting that could determine the success of her latest project.

Wiping the last of her tears, she stood up, smoothing down her outfit, trying to regain some semblance of composure. She was here for a reason, and she had to stay focused. The meeting with Raman Bhalla, one of the most influential businessmen in the city, was key to securing a deal she had worked hard for.

Still, the ache in her chest remained, and as she grabbed her briefcase, she couldn’t help but glance back at the newspaper one last time. The image of Vineet with another woman seemed to mock her, reminding her of how much had changed. But Anamika knew she couldn’t allow herself to crumble now. She had to face the world, even if her heart was breaking.

Taking a deep breath, she walked towards the door, her steps heavier than usual, trying to summon the strength she would need to get through this meeting. Her assistant greeted her with a concerned smile as she stepped into the hallway.

"Are you okay, ma'am?" the assistant asked cautiously, noticing the red in Anamika’s eyes.

Anamika forced a small smile, nodding. "Yes, I'm fine," she replied, her voice steadier than she felt. "Let's go. We can't keep Mr. Bhalla waiting."

And with that, she moved forward, burying the pain deep inside, determined to handle business as always—even if her heart was still shattered.

Anamika arrived at the upscale café where her meeting with Raman Bhalla was scheduled, her assistant by her side. The bustling sounds of the city outside and the quiet elegance of the place didn’t help ease the turmoil within her. She straightened her posture, mentally preparing herself as they entered.

Raman Bhalla, a tall, confident man in his mid-forties, stood up from his seat as he spotted her approaching. His reputation as one of Delhi's sharpest businessmen preceded him, and Anamika knew that this meeting was crucial for her latest project. She had worked hard to secure this opportunity, and she couldn’t afford to lose focus now.

"Anamika, it's a pleasure," Raman greeted her with a warm smile, extending his hand.

Anamika returned the gesture, her hand slightly shaking, though she forced a confident smile in return. "Thank you for making the time, Mr. Bhalla."

"Please, call me Raman," he said, motioning for her to sit. "I’ve been looking forward to discussing the proposal. I must say, what you’ve put together is impressive."

She nodded, acknowledging the compliment, but her mind was already slipping away, back to the hotel room, back to that newspaper. Vineet…with another woman. The image refused to leave her thoughts. Even as Raman began to talk, outlining his thoughts on the project, her focus drifted.

Why didn’t he tell me? she wondered, staring at Raman but seeing only Vineet’s face in her mind. The promise of forever, the warmth of his embrace—all of it felt distant, like it belonged to a life that was slipping further away with each passing second.

“…so, as I was saying,” Raman continued, unaware of Anamika’s inner turmoil, “the timeline for this expansion aligns perfectly with what our board is planning. But there’s just one concern I have…”

Was she special to him? Does he love her the way he once loved me? Anamika’s thoughts continued to spiral, her heart pounding painfully in her chest. She could barely process Raman’s words, and for a moment, it felt as though the walls of the café were closing in on her.

"Anamika?” Raman’s voice broke through her thoughts, snapping her back to the present. His brows were slightly furrowed, and he looked at her with polite concern. “Did you hear what I said? Are you okay? Aap kuch pareshan lag rahi hai!”

Anamika blinked rapidly, pulling herself back into the moment. She straightened, her cheeks flushing in embarrassment. “I’m sorry, Raman. Aisa kuch nahi hai, I'm totally fine! Could you repeat that last part?” she requested.

Raman nodded, not pushing further. “I was asking about the risk assessment you mentioned in the proposal. Given the scale of the project, how do you plan to mitigate the potential financial risks?”

Anamika nodded quickly, grateful for the more direct question. She forced her brain to focus, reaching for the folder in front of her. “We’ve outlined several strategies to address the risks, including contingency plans and phased rollouts to ensure we can adjust based on early feedback.” Her voice was steady, but her thoughts wavered again, torn between the present and the chaos inside her heart.

She continued to speak, answering Raman’s questions with the professionalism that came naturally to her, but even as the conversation moved forward, her mind kept slipping back. She had always been good at handling business, at keeping things together, but this was different. This time, she felt fragile—like a part of her was breaking, even as she tried to hold it all in.

Is this how it ends? she wondered. Vineet moving on, while I’m stuck holding onto memories?

“…I think we’re on the same page,” Raman said after a while, looking satisfied with her responses. He smiled, leaning back in his chair. “I like the way you’ve approached this. I think we can move forward, pending a few more details.”

Anamika nodded, grateful that the meeting seemed to be going well despite her inner turmoil. She smiled back at him, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. “That sounds good to me. I’ll make sure my team gets you the revised documents as soon as possible.”

Raman seemed pleased, and the meeting wound down, but Anamika’s heart was heavy. Even as she shook his hand and exchanged pleasantries, her mind remained with Vineet, with the woman in the photograph, and with the broken pieces of the promises they had once shared.

As she walked out of the café, her assistant by her side, Anamika realized that no matter how successful the meeting had been, her personal life was unraveling. And she had no idea how to put the pieces back together.

....

As Anamika sat in the backseat of the car heading back to the hotel, the weight of the day bore down on her. The city blurred past her window, but her mind was a whirlwind of memories, thoughts of the meeting fading as one particular moment began to take over.

In her mind, she was transported back to a lazy Sunday morning a few years ago.

The sunlight streamed through the curtains, casting a warm glow over the room. She and Vineet lay comfortably in bed, the soft sheets tangled around them. She could feel the gentle rise and fall of his breathing beside her, the peacefulness of that moment wrapping around them like a cocoon.

“Vineet,” she had asked playfully, propping herself up on one elbow to study his face. “Did you ever have a girlfriend before me?”

He had looked surprised by her sudden question, his eyes widening just a fraction before he smiled. “Why do you want to know?” he teased, a playful glint in his eyes.

Anamika shrugged, her heart racing slightly. “Just curious, I guess. You know… if there were any other girls in your life before.”

With a gentle chuckle, he had brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re the only girl in my life, Anamika,” he assured her, his voice warm and sincere. “And I promise you, there won’t be any others in the future. It’s always going to be you. Meri life mei tumhari jagah kabhi koi nahi le sakta na main kabhi kissi ko ye haq dunga. I only want you!” he expresses.

The way he had looked at her, with such honesty and affection, had made her heart swell. She remembered feeling a rush of happiness, a flutter in her stomach that told her he meant every word. In that moment, everything felt perfect. Their laughter filled the room as they playfully bantered about past relationships, but the reassurance Vineet had given her remained etched in her heart.

Now, in the car, that memory felt like a bittersweet echo, contrasting sharply with the reality she faced. How could he have moved on so easily? The tenderness of his promise felt like a distant whisper against the current pain of betrayal.

Tears threatened to spill over again as she grappled with the image of Vineet standing next to another woman, a picture that starkly opposed the words he had once spoken. *How could everything have changed so quickly?* she thought, feeling the hollow ache of loss deep within her.

The driver navigated through the bustling streets, and Anamika turned her head to look out the window, trying to chase away the tears and the memories. But no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t escape the warmth of that Sunday morning, nor the weight of what she had lost.

In the silence of the car, Anamika made a silent promise to herself: she would find a way to heal. But as the memory of Vineet's words lingered in her mind, she knew it would take time to mend the wounds that had been opened.

---

To be continued..