She burst out of the kitchen entrance and stumbled out into the back garden of the Mansion. It was getting so noisy in her head and around that she couldn't breathe properly. Walking aimlessly in a straight line, stumbling on the grass, uncaring that her beautiful lehenga was being dragged on the ground.
She stopped when the noise from the house was inaudible. Willing herself to take deep breaths, she fought with gasping wheezes. Anyone who saw her would think she was choking on something.
She froze when she heard footfall behind her.
"Annika..." a gentle voice called out from behind her.
She swung around and saw Omkara, who's face went stricken watching her misery. She gestured with her hands, saying she couldn't breathe, as he strode forward and pulled her into a hug. Her face was pressed sideways against his chest, as he patted her back in a stroking motion.
She let out a guttural groan like an injured animal and dissolved into ragged sobs. She dropped down on her knees and he went down with her, still holding her. She cried and cried with all her feelings: pain, confusion, fear, anger, desolation.
"Annika... don't cry like this. It's not good for you. Here, take a deep breath first. Shant.. Shhh...", Omkara tried to calm his wavering voice and looked over his shoulder at a crying Rudra, who was watching them. He signalled for silence, and pointed indoors at Rudra, mouthing the words Shivaay... Rudra nodded quickly and went to see if his big brother was okay, wiping his tears as he ran.
A waiter came with a bottle of water and Omkara forced Annika to take a few gulps to calm her sobs. She sat with her knees folded,head hanging low as though her back couldn't carry the weight of her head anymore.
"Annika... What are you doing? A fool can see you are very traumatized with the attacks. What was the need to accept Daksh's proposal? It is okay to say no, Annika, if you don't want to. You mustn't let the crowd pressure you into accepting. It's killing you inside! " he chided gently.
She hiccupped jerkily and stayed silent.
"It makes no difference, Omkara. I have nobody here. I have a job to do , I will do it and get on with my life..." she whispered.
"You're a nobody?! Really? Shivaay is inside, walking around devastated, like somebody died. He looks like he might punch Daksh for being so happy you accepted his proposal. A fight is about to break out inside, Rudra is the only thing keeping Shivaay at bay!"
Annika grunted angrily at the mention of Shivaay. "Your brother is just fine, Omkara. Give him a few more minutes, he might perform another dance at his Sangeet happily. Nothing gets through his thick skin. He is an freezing cold Block of ICE ! Cruel and Hard ! Heart of Stone..."
"You affect him Annika... everyone can see it. But my Bhai is the most stubborn man in the world. He won't follow his feelings ever.." Omkara sighed. Encouraged by her willingness to listen, he decided to put in some perspective.
"You know," he went on, " he wasn't always like this.. He was different when we were kids. He had a rough time keeping up to the family's expectations of him. Chote Papa wasn't always this serene man. He was hard on Shivaay when we were kids, he had to work hard at everything, studies, sports, tuition, reading lists. He had to get top scores and win prizes for everything, for Chote Papa wanted him to be the best at everything. Chote Papa's disappointment was his personal torture. "
"One day, (I think he was 10 years old..) he found a little puppy outside out school. He loved it instantly and brought it home to us 3. Gosh we loved Aloo ! He was the most adorable thing ever. Shivaay cared for it, fed him, bathed him, nursed it from illnesses and played with him so much. I had never seen him so attached to anything like that. He really loved that dog. He slept with it, studied with it, shared snacks with it, everything..."
"Then one day Chote Papa came home angry because Shivaay had gotten second place in his exams. It was terrible. He made such a fuss like he came last in class or something. He took away all of Shivaay's favourite things as a punishment, storybooks, games and Aloo. He saw his father give away his beloved dog to an employee. Shivaay cried so much that night. After that he was never attached to anything but his brothers." Omkara finished with a sigh.
"I'm not a pet dog, Omkara..." Annika said it in such dead pan voice that Omkara couldn't help himself and burst into laughter. Watching him laugh, a small smile cracked Annika's long face.
"Tell him to leave me alone, Omkara , please.." she pled. "I really am not out to catch him as a husband. I am not obsessed with him and trying to break his wedding to Tia.."
"What are you saying, Annika? He never said those things! It was..."
"It doesn't matter, really. Anyway, he's closed all accounts as well, paid me baksheesh for services rendered in helping him avoid jail as well. Not even directly, through Tia he sent me money, telling me to accept it as thanks and to buzz off.."
Om made in incredulous face. W*F is going on here? Things are a lot deeper than he thought.
"Something doesn't add up, Annika. Shivaay wouldn't do this...But what has all this got to do with marrying Daksh?" he asked.
"He needs to see that I am not in love with him..." she replied after some thinking. Her face fell again, thinking of what kind of a situation she had just thrown herself into.
"Just talk to him about all this Annika... please.."
"No thanks. I'm done with all this. I'm leaving... Goodnight Om.. and thank you so much.." she hugged him lightly again and turned to head for the gate. She didn't particularly want to see Shivaay , or Daksh tonight. Sahil was back at home, and she was dying to see him.
Reaching the gate, she saw Shivaay standing there waiting. When she tried to walk past, he blocked her, saying "What are you doing, Annika? " His eyes were blood shot and shining.
"Why are you marrying Daksh?"
"Because he loves me, and he says he will wait for me to love him back.." she replied stonily.
"And you think you could?... You will?..."
"That's none of your business, Mr. Oberoi... You'll be married to Tia by then.."
Shivaay was stunned by the formal address. He ached to hold her again as he did that night. She is scared and tired, and just jumped hastily into marriage. If I don't stop this, who will??
He touched her hand gently and she snatched it away. So he took it again forcefully and lightly pulled her close.
"Why are you marrying Daksh?"
"Its none of your business !"
"Oh but it is my business. I'm the fool who has to watch out for you!! "
"Then don't bother anymore !! I can handle myself !!" she started struggling to get free. He held on harder and backed her up against a wall.
"Why are you marrying him?"
"Because I love him.. !! Now , happy?! Let me go !!"
Shivaay's eyes flashed dangerously, as his grip tightened and he leaned close to mutter, "Liar..."
Both of them exchanged looks , breathing hard. Shivaay's anger defused as he watched her eyes tear up again. He cupped her cheeks with his hands like a precious jewel. Staring hard at her lips, he slowly pressed a tender kiss. Hot breaths mingled as the kiss deepened with feeling. Breaking apart, he growled, "You love ME... Annika ...me "
Startled with the certainty in his voice, she pushed him hard, earning her freedom. She ran away fast, out on to the streets , hailing an auto as the brooding man watched.
End.
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
