What on earth just happened?!

Anjali was running amok, distraught, dishevelled, and confused. The rain seemed to have catalysed feelings that were supposed to have found a rational way out for themselves by now. So far, her emotional mettle had shown extraordinary resolve by successfully giving Rahul the silent, indifferent treatment that he surely deserved. She was marvelling at herself by not giving in to the innocent ministrations of Anjali, the daughter Tina had chosen to name after her. That, Anjali thought, was an unwarranted tribute.

She never wanted them around her ever again. The Khannas were a toxic tribe, which was now her perspective. Rahul had made his choice years ago with Tina, and she, for her part should have known better than having her heart broken over him. However, that was an error, a grave one, but not unforgivable. Back in Delhi, she had completed her graduation, pursued her interests in dancing and singing, and had eventually landed herself a pretty decent position as an instructor with a reputed institution.

Little did she know that just when she had begun on her journey of complacency, her past would return to jeopardise her stability. The moment, eight year old Anjali Khanna made herself known, she knew she had to find a way out, tactfully.

And of tact, Anjali Sharma knew nothing.

The child was thoughtless, and after all, a child, all of eight years old, no matter how hard she tried to project herself as her Daddy's Saviour. Yet, the truth stood at this sole point:

Rahul Khanna was a fully functioning adult, a widower, who was tasked with the colossal responsibility of bringing up a motherless child. A person, who should have had enough sense to not let his daughter be lured into this matchmaking initiated by her late mother. A husband who would have done well to have the reason to let Tina know that she was the be-all and end-all of his universe, like he had promised her, in the very early days of their courtship.

It was Rahul Khanna who had severely messed up.

---

Back in her room in the camp, Anjali sat herself down to put her meagre tact to its test. She knew she couldn't possibly sleep. That would be an impossible elusive bird at this moment. However, the solitude bred by the still pattering rain, and the deep slumber of the campers gave her space to at least think about making the necessary amends.

The first person who crossed her mind was Aman, the man she was supposed to marry. That alliance wasn't without its characteristic set of doubts either. But then, since Aman was no Rahul, she expected it to work, and so far, it was working better than she had hoped. However, a significant kink in this prospective relationship was the fact that Aman knew nothing of Rahul. She had, with all her resolute conviction, decided not to bring up past phantoms that had no bearing on her present and/or future.

But they did, because if she was considering marrying Aman, it was her moral responsibility to let him know. And if that intense moment with Rahul was any indication, she had to understand that a part of her heart was still occupied by him, however, undue that might have been. Secondly, she had almost cheated on Aman.

That was unethical. Period.

There was no point declaring herself as the victor of the psychological battle she had been fighting for eight years, unless she actively faced her demons of whom she was evasive thus far. She had built herself a new fortress, leaving her previous kingdom to be plundered relentlessly, while she turned a blind eye. It was only when the intruders loomed at her gates of her supposedly impregnable fortress, that she was now bound to take notice of her still bleeding heart, which had probably numbed itself to the pain.

However, the good news was, her conscience was still alive, and very much sensitive.

Hence, a genuinely trepidation Anjali picked up the phone, and dialled the number she knew she must.

That was the right thing to do. 

P.S: Hey Y'All, missed this space for the longest time, like the LONG-Est time. So, corporate literally consumed me, and I'm kinda out of shape and sync here, so -er, well - Here goes nothing. Do leave us your lovely comments, if you find this worth your time, and if this is any good. 

Lots of love, XOXO - Not Gossip Girl :P (Yeah, that's lame, but reboots are in, so here's my desi reboot  ;) )