Ishqbaaz FF: Consequences. Chapter 15 on Page 39 (02/08/17) - Page 2

Shivaay Singh Oberoi didn't think of himself as a particularly cruel man but every day he allowed himself one moment of selfish indulgence which he thought others might consider intensely cruel. Each morning, a moment after waking up, he kept his eyes closed and he imagined.

He imagined the life he could have lived had he been a crueler man.

Had he done what his heart had so desperately wanted instead of what his head had assured him was the right decision for his family, for Tia and, ultimately, himself.

Shivaay would turn- eyes still closed- to the form beside him. Slip his arm around the slender waist and pull her close. And he would imagine that it was not Tia Kap- Singh Oberoi in his arms, but the woman who still haunted his dreams.

She appeared less now. But she still appeared.

He imagined what it would have been like to wake up beside a woman he loved instead of one towards whom he felt so indifferent that he couldn't even muster up a respectable amount of jealousy at her myriad dalliances with other men. He had not confronted her when Rudra had told him about Tia- Shivaay had already known. Of course he had. He was Shivaay Singh Oberoi, and Tia was his wife.

He had simply requested that next time, she be more discreet.

He imagined that the woman from his dreams would wake up, would in turn wrap her arms around him. Would make love to him and he to her and together they would...

They would get ready together. Go down to breakfast together. His family would be sitting around the table. Dadi at the head, his father and uncle either side of her, his mother and aunt beside their husbands. Then Priyanka and Soumya and Rudra on one side.

Omkara and two empty seats on the other.

It was at this point Shivaay Singh Oberoi would open his eyes, his own heart no longer able to beat through the pain.

""""

Anika yawned as she turned on the tap and ran her toothbrush under it. It was as she was reaching for the toothpaste that she noticed the yellow Post-It sticking out from the mirror above the sink.

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Thinking of you this morning

As I go to the loo

She giggled and called out "Hey Omkara, your English poetry skills could really use some work! What even is this?!"

He appeared a few moments later, smiling as he leaned up against the doorframe and folded his arms, watching her. "I just wanted you to know that I am always thinking about you." Anika felt the butterflies stir in her stomach but rolled her eyes and spoke through a mouthful of toothpaste foam.

"That's not feasible."

"I'm an artist, Anika. You have no idea how obsessive we can be."

"Oh?"

"Are you saying oh' or are you calling me?"

Anika turned away, spitting and rinsing out her mouth with water.

Omkara was standing behind her, his hands on her waist, slipping under her t-shirt. She turned into his hold and reached up on her tiptoes to kiss him. "Have you showered yet?"

He grinned. "Nope. Have you?"

She shook her head. "Want to er, share?"

"To save water?"

"Well, the environment is very important and I read that clean water is a rare commodity."

"So is your body. Count me in." He nuzzled at her neck, making her laugh.

"You're ridiculous."

He took a step back and in what appeared to be no time, was completely naked. Anika sucked in a breath as he stepped into the shower and turned on the water. "Well?" He turned to her, the water streaming down from the shower head fixed to the ceiling.

Anika shucked her clothes and joined her husband.

""""

"What are you making?"

"Erm, poached eggs with toast and smoked salmon, that sound okay? Sorry it's not more elaborate, I have to be at a meeting with the future Mrs Henderson-Smythe-Whittingston-Darling at 10."

"And white people say we have dumb names."

"Caterina Alexandria Henderson-Smythe and Sebastian Augustus Whittingston-Darling." Anika rolled her eyes as she ground some pepper onto the salmon. "I can barely even pronounce one let alone all 8 of their ridiculous names. What're you doing today?" she asked, handing him the plates to take to the table while she grabbed some knives and forks.

"I'm having lunch with the new owner of that art gallery off Oxford Street, she's supposed to be pretty selective, but the pieces she's curated so far are incredible. She requested the meeting with me so I'm not exactly sure what it is she wants."

"Oh? Sounds... mysterious. If you don't come home tonight shall I assume she murdered you?"

"Seems like a safe bet."

Anika was just about to take a seat at the kitchen table when the doorbell rang. She looked at Omkara. "Postman's early today. Are you expecting a package?"

He shook his head. "Are you?"

Anika thought. "Ah right I forgot, I ordered some new ledgers from Amazon, that's probably them. Be right back."

She grabbed her keys off the counter and ran down the front passageway to the door, yelling out "Hey! Wait I'm coming don't leave, I really need those-"

She had opened the door.

"Hello Anika Didi."

Anika couldn't find any words. None. She, the woman capable of vocabulary which escaped the understanding of even the most elite and educated members of society, was speechless.

"Hey Anika, what's taking so long? Your food's getting co-"

Omkara, being at least half a foot taller than his wife, was easily able to see over her head to the young man and woman outside their front door.

And so it was that Omkara Singh Oberoi, Master of Words and Crafter of Shayaris was also rendered suddenly and completely speechless.

Chapter Three- Then & Now