Adrita's POV

As I walk away from Anirudh I feel a thousand feelings overwhelming my sensibility. I didn't plan to lash out at him but then something snapped in me and I had no restraints. It hurts. It hurts walking away from him. It hurts not being able to talk to him. 

And it hurts to think that he thought the same about me as Nyra does. Maybe I was right, maybe he truly asked me for that lunch because I was his employer's daughter. I feel like a hypocrite because there was a time I had no issues with it and now, I feel like a loser whose only accomplishment is to be born into a rich family.

Nyra thinks that too and so did Anirudh.

I wanted to smile...to count things I am grateful for but I couldn't, because every time I tried, Rohan's face would pop in my head and then I would be reminded of how the people I love think about me.

"Hey..hello Miss Adrita. I am Rohan and I work in the marketing department. Could I have your two minutes?"

"Sure."

"So I know it's wrong for me to talk to you about this, but I wish to share my concern with you."

"Concern? Regarding what?"

"About you."

"I am sorry? What?"

"Forgive me as I am aware I am interfering in your matters. But you should talk with Anirudh. He has always been a passionate, ambitious guy and I fear he has gone too far. I don't want anyone to get hurt and you need to know how he felt about you earlier."

"Is this some sort of dramatic ploy for promotions? Sabotaging relationships to get ahead? Cause I might look naive but, I know how the corporate world works."

"He asked you out only because he was intrigued by your exuberant nature, so he just wanted to see what's the deal with you. He thought you were fake."

Forcing a smile I chin up and calmly respond, "Well, we all make judgements based on first impressions. You don't have to worry about us. And it's bold of you to assume that we haven't talked about this already. Thank you for being concerned but you should have talked to your friend first."

"Ohh. I did. I am sorry. It's just that I have known Anirudh for a long time and I always knew how he saw others as his competitors, especially the rich ones. That had always been his strategy to win. Even though he always won fair and square, I thought maybe this time he-- instead of just fuelling himself with the competition he went a little too ahead. I am deeply sorry I just didn't want anyone to get hurt."

I didn't say anything because I knew there was truth in his words. I just nodded my head and he left.

I feel horrible. After Rohan bombarded everything on me, I just wished to simply talk to Anirudh. At that time, I wasn't that upset because I believed this was Anirudh's first impression of me and we all have been guilty of making the wrong first impressions. I trusted him because I got to know him with time. And I knew he would never try to hurt anyone intentionally.

"Sometimes I feel like you are not being real with me."

But then those words of his broke me.

********

Anirudh's POV

I have been staring at the wall clock for the past 40 mins and it still showed the same time it was showing 40 minutes back because like me it was also stuck. Now that I lay on my sofa, ideal with my thought process I realise I have no idea what exactly we both were communicating about.

It wasn't the same thing.

It was a miscommunication.

But then what if her cousin fed her with the same stupid stuff she said to me. What if our financial situation comes between us? What if one of us has to adjust? Who will it be?

I know we are both above this and our relationship is beyond our financial status but still, it is a question. I would know; my parents left me due to all the financial burdens.

"Only if staring at the wall could magically solve all the problems. Penny for your thoughts?" Grandma asks as she strolls across the living room and sits on another sofa.

"I...Grandma what if I tell you I am seeing someone?"

"I am aware." She says, shrugging nonchalantly.

I jolt upwards as I stare at her, horrified, "excuse me?how?"

"There had to be a reason for you misleading me to my friends' house? Huh... So how is she?" She asks, wiggling her eyebrows.

"Huh yeah, I am not going to talk about her with you. It's weird. And you will get to meet her one day so no big deal."

She pushes herself against the sofa and throws her head backwards in annoyance."Why did I have a grandson and not a granddaughter?" She glances at me and smiles forcefully "No offence to you, of course."

"None taken."

A lapse of silence envelopes us which soon breaks as my grandmother speaks, "So what's the matter?"

"She comes from an extra rich family. Her lifestyle is completely different from mine. Heck! She gets rashes when she wears the fabric I have worn my whole life. Her holidays are spent abroad whereas I haven't even stepped out of this city. She has people following her around and I...She doesn't have to think before buying anything, and I plan my purchases even before I enter the market."

"And you are worried it will one day come between you?"

"I am just worried about how we will balance our lifestyles? I am not the kind of guy to be mad if my partner has more money or something, but there is a difference in our lifestyles and if even one of us has to change it will end up making us uncomfortable. My parents left me to you because they couldn't bear their financial debts. They never came back. Finance does play a huge role in relationships."

"You know your Grandfather and I had an arranged marriage. Our parents made sure that none of our stars were mismatched but after marriage, we came to realise that we couldn't be more different. He had an obsession with football and I despised it. I am a huge filmy woman and he was against cinema. He loved seafood and I couldn't even bear to be in sight of it. We thought our marriage was going to doom...

In the beginning, we had no idea what to do so we used to stay clear of each other. But for how long? So one day he bought two tickets for a movie and then went with me to sleep throughout it. And just like that one day, I got him a football and he broke all the glasses of our little home with it.

Days went by and we became somewhat friends. Then my friends tried to force me into making seafood for him and he got to know this. He got so mad. I still remember his red face flushed with anger- when he asked me to break up with them. I never stopped him from eating seafood and, he never forced me to try it or to make it.

The thing about us was our understanding. We never forced each other into anything. We had debates sometimes but that was all and they were quite necessary too.

In relationships, compromise plays an important role but that doesn't mean you become a copy of each other. You are your own person and she is her own.

 I know my relationship issue was different than yours but if you have a partner who loves you and respects you- they will understand your boundaries. And if you have fallen in love then I am sure you must have chosen the best girl out there.

You say she travels abroad a lot so what? She has money, she can. If you want to go with her, go. You must go! You say she gets rashes? So, learn about each other, and care for each other. You keep on planning your purchases and let her do whatever she wants with her money. I am sure she must be sensible enough to know when to stop. Your relationship is at the budding stage. Soon when the time comes, plan your financial future. 

I am proud of who you are and how far you have come. Having you is her greatest prize. Love, care, and loyalty will mean the most in your relationship. Everything else comes secondary and can be overcome.

None of you need to completely change your lifestyle, you just need to incorporate your partner in it.

And if this has to do anything with someone saying about how the guy should be the richer one in a relationship, please give me the names I want to address them that they have lost their brains in a ditch."

A laugh bubbles out of my lips as she grumbles away the last part. "No, not exactly that but just how I have caught a big fish and stuff."

Grandma rolls her eyes in annoyance and huffs out a very annoyed sigh. "They don't know that my grandson is the best fish out there. I am sure your girl agrees."

I hope she does. I hope we can figure out whatever is bothering her. 

I near her and sit on my knees in front of her, placing my head on her. I say what I have always been grateful for, "Thank you for being there for me, Grandma. You are my light."

Grandma chuckles and pecks the back of my head. "And you are the bestest Grandson I could ask for." 

*****

Author's note:

Any thoughts?