Five Weeks by Shruti Omar (any book recommendations .txt) 📕

He gripped her waist more possessively, breathing softly in the crook of her neck and unconsciously begun to pepper kisses on her shoulder. When he didn’t respond, she pinched the back of his palm and he took his arm away, frowning in sleep. He turned on his stomach and faced the door, still snoring softly.

Anahita sat up and threw the blanket aside, immediately grasping the fact that she was naked. She looked around and picked up her top, throwing it on hurriedly before darting to the bathroom. She did her business, deciding to bath already as she had to meet Mukund and she wanted to get done with it ASAP. The thought of tagging Yuvraaj along with her escaped as soon as it came. She didn’t want a bloodbath for her.

Mukund didn’t deserve to be beaten up to death, actually. Loyal or not, he was still the catalyst between Yuvraaj and she. Hadn’t he been there, she wouldn’t have loved Yuvraaj so madly. He deserved a proper, courteous adios. She got ready in a casual orange jumper and avoided any makeup, except the moisturizer. She emerged into the bedroom and saw Yuvraaj sleeping peacefully and her heart fluttered.

I can do anything for this man and his peace. She realized, tracing her fingers on the contours of his face. She thought he took the side pillow as her because he had clutched the pillow tightly and the notion got her giddy. She adored his face and removed the stray hair from his forehead before kissing his lips soundly.

"I'll be back soon. Bye. I love you." She murmured against his lips and gave a little suck one last time before getting to her feet and walking out confidently. There wasn’t any sign of Mukund near the poolside and since she didn’t have her phone, she couldn’t contact him. Waiting was the only option left for her.

She sat on a longue chair and relaxed. Her mind travelled back to the villa, wondering if Yuvraaj and woken up and panicked on not seeing her there but after last night, she hardly expected that. The last night, it brought pinkness of her face about her boldness and his advances. She clenched he thighs together, feeling the same zing attacking her body.

"Anu…" She stiffened at the echo of very familiar brittle voice that belonged to Mukund – her once beloved. He reached up closer, jogging on his feet and hugged her, "I am so happy to see you, baby. It’s been weeks. I feel I’m seeing you after years.”

"Mukund!" She pressed one hand on his chest, distancing them, “How are you?”

“I am good. Where is your luggage?”

“I was going to get to that part,” she began, rubbing her arms but he didn’t give her chance and cupped her face, “I know you're angry, right? I am sorry to hurt you. I was mad at you for being with that guy and…”

“You asked me to be with him.”

“That was the demand of the situation, Anu.”

“No,” She denied, stepping back, “The demand of the situation was for you to be man up and accompany me to my home. The demand was to make my dad accept you. The demand was to marry me without caring about your job when you knew our lives were on stakes. You didn’t do any of these.”

“I had given you reasons, Anu.” He defended himself boldly.

“Those were bulls.” She rolled her eyes, “But, that doesn’t matter now. I am here to tell you that I am happy in my life. I have realized that my father took the right decision for me, that Yuvraaj is the one for me and I want you to get the hell out of my life now.”

“You are lying.” Mukund whispered, shaking his head like he couldn’t believe she was leaving him.

“Well, I lied before when I said I loved you. It wasn’t my love; it was my fear of getting married to Yuvraaj that got us together. I stuck to you because I thought you were the only one to save me from him. How naïve I was, right? If only I knew that you would be the person to bind me to him.”

“So, you are suddenly in love with him?” He gritted his teeth and she nodded, pasting a smile on her lips, “You can say that. I am in love with him and I don’t think I am answerable to you. The only reason I am here is to bid you farewell. I can reimburse your plane tickets if they are too costly for you but you’ll have to leave alone.”

“Anahita…”

“One more thing,” she impeded, holding a finger up. “Thanks for not turning up that day. I really owe you for this. Thanks for being a coward and making me meet my soul mate.”

She made a move to go and Mukund bitterly laughed, “Not surprised to hear that. It happens when you fuck on the daily basis. So, I was right. You both had something going on all this while and that got you attracted to him. Now when you are ashamed to cheat on me, you’re handing me crap of this sex oriented love. How fast your interest wavers, Anahita? You keep guys for what? Days? Months? Weeks?”

Anahita burned from inside but decided to play it cool. She folded her arms over his chest, looking unaffected and scoffed, “Nice to see you spewing shit. What can I expect from a stinking pig like you? Actually, calling you pig is an insult to a pig. You’re free to think whatever the fuck you want, asshole. I care a damn.”

“Oh,” She decided to annoy him more, “And, yes. I kept you for months only to realize you were a bogus and lost deal. Thank god, I got Yuvraaj who is more of a man. He owns the power to chafe you in pieces for your words and you can just shit your pants.”

“Bitch!” Mukund twitched his lips and she grinned, feeling lighter. “Don’t tell me your mom’s name, rather ask her about your father if she is bitch. Men can’t procreate such failures.”

Yuvraaj fluttered open his eyes to an empty bed and sat ramrod straight, looking around for Anahita. Checking the whole suite, he remembered her conversation last night and his temper flared. She left him was all he could think. He slumped down on the bed, clutching his head. Without her, the room was empty, void and lifeless.