Chapter 3

*Ansh Pov*

I winced, hearing the sound that reached our ears but didn't move my hands or my eyes. And she too stared back, but all this came to a halt when I heard my sister's voice.

"Are you okay, Kirthi?" she asked worriedly and I can hear her footsteps reaching the door.

When she tried to move my hand away to answer the question, I didn't let her do that and leaned down to reach my lips to her ear.

"She thought I left, do not let her know I am here." I whispered in an urgent tone to which she stilled but then nodded.

However, her head movement caused my lips to trace her ear, which made both of us jerk apart. She stared at me for a second before saying in a loud voice, "I just saw a cockroach and nothing else."

I glared at her, but she ignored, and got a response from my sister back as, "Oh! Make sure you throw it out. They are such disgusting creatures. I hate them so much."

"You are right!" Kirthi said back and I stayed silent until we both heard my sister walking away.

"Cockroach?" I asked and she shrugged before bending to take the plate she dropped.

"Why are you in my room?" she asked staring at me.

"I need to talk to you." I replied, taking a step forward.

"I thought, I am going to live even tomorrow." She mumbled stepping aside.

"It is serious!" I stated to which she frowned before nodding.

"We both can walk out of the house and talk." She offered but I shook my head.

I don't want Anu to know that I am still here when I lied to her leaving but entering the house without her knowledge.

"Fine! I will just come back." Saying that she left the room without giving me a chance to say anything but made me realize one main thing that she is in her nightdress.

After a few minutes, she returned with a water bottle and locked the door, throwing a look at me while I am sitting on her bed.

"Comfortable?" she asked as I am not just sitting, but practically lying on it.

"Very! Want to join?" I asked, smirking and she shook her head, but just waited not saying a word.

"Do you have a problem with me coming here every day?" I asked and immediately realized how silly that question sounds.

Of course, she should have a problem with it. Who will not when some person comes to their house every day with whom they don't have any connection?

"Don't you think it is too much to check up on her every day?" she asked back and I frowned not expecting that direction.

"I need to! I didn't do it before and because of that... all that..." I trailed off brushing away the memories.

"Sorry! I forgot you are a superman who saves your sister by being with her every second." She said nodding.

"Don't try psychology on me! I am not talking about staying away in the normal sense, but a very big sense for my own selfish reasons." I explained, but immediately frowned not understanding why am I even explaining this to her.

"Look, if you have problems, let me know, but don't let my sister feel guilty." I added.

She stared at me for a few seconds in silence before saying, "It just feels amazing just to see a brother caring for his sister. I wish I have a brother or maybe I still can."

When she continued to stare, suddenly there was this need to cut off her thought processing, and sat up straight mumbling, "I will not be your brother."

It came out harsher than expected, but she frowned asking, "Why? I will be a good sister."

"Shut up!" I warned wishing she throw that idea right now, but she opened her mouth to argue which left me with no choice but to take a hold of her hand and tug her making sure she fell on me.

"What are you doing?" she asked, trying to make me release her hand, but I pulled her more staring into her eyes.

"I know you too feel this attraction and I also know we both are so wrong to indulge in that. But I am drawing the line at you thinking any brotherly towards me. Understand?" I asked using the tone I use in the meetings which always make sure I get what I want but this woman just blinked.

"Just because I said you are good-looking doesn't mean I am attracted to you." She said and somehow that increased the anger and frustration when it supposed to give me relief.

"You are lying and you know that." I stated not accepting her words.

"I can never feel attraction towards you." She stated back making me frown.

"Why is that?" I asked.

"Because cockroaches are really filthy creatures." She replied, shrugging and I laughed, shaking my head before brushing my lips over hers a little on instinct.

"I am not looking for any relationship or anything and will never." I immediately explained, realizing what I did and hoping she will not read too much into it.

"Even I am not looking for any relationship." She said and suddenly I stared at her for a few seconds before a few plans formed in my head.

We both are not looking for any relationship and we both feel this something. And we already have to spend time together. So, why not... all my thoughts stopped when I heard the next words.

"I am looking for marriage and kids." She added and I just stared at her this time with complete shock before moving away slowly placing her aside and stood up to stare at her.

"I should take a picture and show your face to you." She mumbled and I sighed in relief realizing she was joking.

I know really well, why I was feeling relief, even though at present there is nothing even started between us. But I have a feeling it will and I need it to. However, the words like marriage and kids will not let it start which is not the thing I want.

"I will leave, but just so you know my sister is trying to match both of us. Even after getting a bad hit, she is still romantic and believes all this nonsense. I don't understand how could she believe all that crap even now." I mumbled with a worry I concealed with a blank look feeling what if she lets this romance play with her head and again gets the pain from that man.

"Just because a patient dies in the hands of a doctor, doesn't mean he should leave the profession." Her voice brought me out of my thoughts.

"Really?" I asked, raising my eyebrow and she nodded without any reluctance.

"We will meet again, but I hope by that time you accept to yourself you feel attraction towards me." I said smirking and moved to the door.

"If I do?" she asked and without looking at her, I replied saying, "Then, I will give a proper kiss."

"Then?" she asked when I opened the door, but I turned around with a frown to see her just sitting on the bed.

"You will say I am best at kissing." I replied shrugging.

"You are!" she suddenly said and I had to shake my head to understand her words.

"That was a peck and not a kiss, Kirthi." I said but she shrugged.

"That is proper for two strangers." She replied saying in not so many words, that's the only thing that can happen between us and nothing else.

"Strangers? Well, don't be a stranger next time." Saying that I walked off already thinking how to be an ex-stranger.

"Finally!" I heard the voice and winced, thinking why did I even come here.

"Mom! Stop this sighing as if I returned from jail after so many years." I said, frowning, and moved to give her a kiss on the cheek.

"It feels like that. I wanted to come by your flat when there was no answer from you for so many days." She said frowning.

"Why? I handled all the meetings and I even met Dad at the office." I said and looked at the person I am talking about who is sitting at the head of the table drinking whiskey.

"So? He can't talk about personal matters at the office." She said, frowning and I shook my head before sitting down.

I still wish, I canceled this dinner and stopped by Anu and spend some time with her and then with my soon to be going ex-stranger.

"That man is seen lurking around here and I don't know why is he even doing that. He took my daughter away from me. What else does he need?" Mom's words suddenly broke my thoughts.

"He was here? Did you guys talk to him?" I asked, feeling the anger still remembering what happened when I last met him.

"No! Why would we talk to him? And why is he here? Did Anusha say anything? Do they need money or some business help?" she asked and I stopped myself from saying the words.

But why did she even think he will need money from us? When they have it more than us in every way.

"They both are divorced." I finally said and there was complete silence.

I saw a flicker of emotion, but she concealed it, saying, "Well, I told her it will happen."

I opened my mouth to tell her about Anu's injury, but remembered the promise I gave her in my stupidity.

"She is staying with a friend." I continued and stared at her but she turned to her plate before taking a spoonful of food.

"Well?" I asked and she gave me a blank stare.

"What?" she asked and I wish I can hit my head on this table, but as it is glass, I will be making some serious damage to my head.

"Aren't you going to bring your daughter here and give her the support she needs?" I asked laying it there without hiding my feeling on this.

"She is not my daughter the moment she chose that bastard and left this house." For the first time he talked but the words are completely ruthless.

"Anyway, we wanted to talk about something else. We found a girl for you who is perfect for your life. I met her and trust me, you are lucky that she is interested to get to know you." Mom started and I stared at her thinking maybe they adopted both of us or someone kidnapped their original children and placed Anu and me with these people.

I blocked her voice and finished my food in a hurry before finally leaving the house. I drove around repeating their words and finally stopped before her house.

"Where is she?" I asked the moment Kirthi opened the door.

"Sleeping! She was sad today." She replied, staring at me and I walked inside completely while she closed the door behind me.

"Today is my parent's wedding anniversary." I explained, but she continued to stare while I paced before her.

"And even hers." I added and then she gave the nod of understanding.

"Dinner?" she asked and I shook my head.

"Ready to vomit everything I had though." I replied, to which she held out her hand.

I frowned, but held it in my hand, after which she walked to her room and I followed her. She left my hand and walked to the closet before returning with a bottle.

"Apply this and sleep." She offered the balm.

"I don't use that anymore. I have this habit of putting my hand near my eyes after applying." I said and she frowned but then gestured to the bed.

I removed my tie, jacket, and shoes before lying on the bed. She calmly applied it and then left the room switching off the light.

I waited for a few minutes and when she didn't return, I stood up and left the room to see her curled up on the couch.

"Stupid woman!" I mumbled and lifted her up before walking to the bedroom.

Getting both of us under the sheets, I drifted off into sleep holding her knowing well, she dare not say we both are strangers from tomorrow after this. And that is an interesting aspect to look forward.