Bound By Love [Completed]

shot 38

"COME FOR TEA, said the spider to the fly" Richa mocked with a grimace. "I don't like Shreya"

Janani wrinkled her nose. Her best friend, Richa, was very quick in her judgements but Janani tried to give everyone a fair hearing. And that included Shreya Iyyer. After all, Janani would have been the first to admit that the main source of her unease about Shreya was the other woman's close blood tie to Armaan's ex and Ava's mother

"I don't think she is evil" Janani admitted. Though she feels uncomfortable around Shreya, she has to admit the woman is not an evil character.

The gentleness with which she treats Ava and even Advi proves that.

It is just around her ,Shreya seems different.

In any case, she had to admit that Shreya had proved to be an almost invisible guest, occasionally dropping by to visit Ava and Advi, over the past week while Armaan had been abroad.

Richa had reached three days before and Janani had whiled away her time going on wedding shopping and relaxing with her best friend

"What is she even doing there locked up in that guest house all day" Richa remarked suspiciously

"She is working on her next book"

Janani had learned from Aadesh that Shreya is an amazing upcoming writer and her first book had been a best seller nation wide.

Janani hadn't been too keen on reading ever and preferred outdoor activities like gardening anytime over being cooped up somewhere with a book.

The guest house Shreya was staying over was situated a walking distance from Verma Mansion, located at a much more silent area surrounded by thick trees around

Janani was wryly amused that she had found it necessary to dress up to visit Shreya

"Oh, you haven't brought the kids." Shreya sighed in disappointment as soon as she opened the door. "Come in."

"They always has a nap straight after lunch."

"Good god!! You sound like one of those rigid nannies people joke about" Shreya commented with a teasing smile

"I hope not..." Janani stilled on the threshold of a spacious reception room that was dominated by photos and portraits of a very beautiful woman

What caught her attention was the big portrait in the centre

Armaan and the woman, both looking into each other's eyes with a smile on their faces

"Ishana, my sister" Shreya said pointing at the woman in the photos

"Oh" was all Janani could say

"Oh, didn't you know that the guest house is where Armaan keeps his stash of memorabilia?" Shreya remarked in apparent surprise. "I thought you would have guessed. I mean, there's nothing at all to be seen up at the mansion"

"No, nothing" Janani agreed, having naturally noticed that, surprisingly, Armaan had not a single photograph on display anywhere of his daughter's mother.

"Even I didn't know" Shreya sighed "Without knowing the depth of his feelings I had been blaming him for long for everything bad that happened to my sister. It's only once Aadesh gave me the key to his brother's retreat home that I realised how wrong I was in judging him" Shreya said with a sad smile

"Right" Janani mumbled

"Haven't you noticed that he never ever mentions her. It must be too painful for him" Shreya added

Janani was not very practised at female games of one-upmanship but she knew enough to know when she was being targeted and she murmured quietly "Are we having tea?"