Shivika SS: 3 Months Later (Forced Marriage Track) Completed - Page 28

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Chapter Nine: Rewind and Fast Forward

Life beat Hospital, 5.00 pm

Anika was winding up her work as her shift ended when the receptionist who would be working her night shift entered. Giving her a smile, Anika placed her lunch box inside her tote when the other girl sat beside her and said

"How is your friend- the charming Dr Mehra?"

Anika rolled her eyes.

Not another member of the Dr Arhaan Mehra fan club please, she prayed

"He is fine" Anika replied with a short smile

"But there is some gossip doing rounds that he asked Dr Nidhi out and she slapped him. In fact she told him that a person like him would never be loved and he would spend his miserable life alone"

Anika sat stunned, ignoring the glint of triumph in the other receptionist's eyes. With a swift 'excuse me' she went out of the hospital and tried calling Arhaan but his phone was switched off. She was told by another doctor that Nidhi's argument with Arhaan had blown out of proportion and Arhaan had dumped his doctors coat, his phone and stethoscope on his table and walked off to some pub before his shift ended.

Anika knew exactly where he would have gone but before that she caught up with Dr Nidhi who was just getting out of the ladies washroom, her eyes red rimmed

"Look, I don't know what problem you have with Arhaan but those words you said were uncalled for"

"This is a personal issue Miss Anika" she replied sternly

"Not when it concerns Arhaan, it isn't"

Nidhi's eyes grew cold and she stepped towards Anika

"Fine then. Tell me Anika, how can you cheat your husband who clearly loves you to the point of madness and stay unaffected? How can you choose a playboy like Arhaan over your devoted husband who literally worships the ground you walk on?"

"You----you think, Arhaan and I? Are you out of your mind? He is like a brother to me. We have grown up together. I can't believe your thought process is so medieval. And all this while, I was glad Arhaan had fallen in love with a wonderful girl"

Anika turned around in disgust and walked off but it was Nidhi who stopped her. It was Nidhi who demanded an explanation and when she realized that Arhaan had indeed loved her, it was Nidhi who broke down and cried for the love that she destroyed in her own hands before it even had a chance

And when Anika couldn't find an auto to take her to the pub, it was Nidhi who gave her a ride and then made a cowardly exit rather than facing the person she loved.

Anika found a very drunk Arhaan when she walked in the pub. But when she tried to get him home in a cab, he refused. Instead he wore his helmet and sat on the cradle of his bike. He wasn't in a state to ride nor was he in a state to be reasoned with. They argued for a while and when Arhaan told her, in no uncertain terms to go home, she got behind him and stayed put.

It was only when they got onto the road that Anika realized that she should have convinced him harder. For they had taken a secluded road and Arhaan wasn't as much in control of the bike as he usually was. She was trying to tell him that same thing when he speeded up and drove into a high divider. The last thing Anika remembered was falling from the bike and hitting her head on a stone and then the world went black

Present time

The moment Shivaay, his brothers and the ACP left the pub, Ranveer Singh Randhawa got a call on his cell phone. Shivaay watched the ACP lapse into grim silence and looked at him with uncertainty. Ranveer then got into the driver's seat of the car and motioned them to be seated

Shivaay's heart stopped beating and several beads of perspiration formed on his brow.

"What is it?" he asked, his voice a horse whisper

"It is what we feared. They met with an accident. Mehra drove into a divider and Anika is admitted to a government hospital nearby. She is conscious now"

There were collective sighs of relief from both Omkara and Rudra but Shivaay's face was full of alarm and Ranveer was glad that he was the one driving

"What do you mean by she is conscious now? Was she unconscious? For how long? Is she hurt anywhere else? Why wasn't I informed the moment she was admitted?"

ACP flicked the indicator and took a turn before replying

"There was an uncertainty regarding her identity" said Ranveer, choosing his words carefully

"What the f**k does that even mean?" Shivaay asked cursing

"We are there, just hold on."

Even before he pulled the car to a stop, Shivaay was out and running towards the hospital with his brothers following him. The receptionist was informed of his arrival and he was directed to the ward that Anika was in immediately

The hospital wasn't like one of the plush hospitals that the Oberoi's frequented when they were ill. This hospital was shabby, with white tiled floors, damp cracked walls, peeling paint and a strong smell of antiseptic.

It was crowded as well, with sick, coughing people and Shivaay's temper as well as his anxiety skyrocketed when he saw that. Anika was in one of the beds in a general ward that was a home to several other beds.

The moment Shivaay spotted Anika, all the other thoughts flew out of his mind and he rushed to her, uncaring of the surprised eyes that followed him.

Anika was lying in bed, her eyes closed. Her head was bandaged but it was obvious that it had bled as there were traces of dried blood in her hair. Her arms were bruised as well. Shivaay felt tears prick when he saw her in that state. He brushed his fingers on her cheek

"Anika" he said softly

She opened her eyes and gave him a faint smile of reassurance. She was pale, bruised and in pain and yet she was the most beautiful person he had ever seen

"I will get you out of here" he said, looking pointedly at Omkara and Rudra who immediately called the doctor and offered to fulfil the formalities of discharge and have Anika shifted to another hospital. The doctor went to their bed and gave Anika a surprised look

"That is not necessary. She lost fair amount of blood and she is bruised all over but there isn't any major damage. She should be just fine. You can take her home." He replied kindly

"Doesn't your hospital have a procedure to inform the relatives of accident victims?" Shivaay asked through clenched teeth

The doctor shifted nervously on his feet and said,

"Sir, she didn't have any identification on her."

"Why didn't you call anyone when she came around? Didn't you ask her for contact details?"

This time the doctor shot a word of prayer to god

"Sir, we did. She asked the staff nurse to call you but we thought she was lying. I mean she said she is a receptionist at Life Beat hospital and then asked to inform you. We hardly expected her to be connected to you" said the doctor, gulping in fear

Shivaay stood up in temper letting out a few words that would have sent even his chote papa's eyes brows raising. He grabbed the doctor's coat and looked at him straight in the eyes

"So you brushed off her sentence as something inconsequential?" he asked, coldly, shaking him

"I'm sorry, Sir"

"No you are not... but you will be. When I'm through, you will be" replied Shivaay, his voice a thinly veiled threat but it was Om who intervened and asked the doctor to leave. He then held Shivaay by his shoulders

"Shivaay, stop over reacting. For the world, Tia was Mrs Oberoi. Anika doesn't have any proof on her that she is remotely connected to us. She doesn't dress expensively nor does she use a penny of Oberoi money. When such a person claims to come from an affluent family such as ours, you cannot expect them to contact us?" He said trying to reason with his hot tempered brother

"My wife has been lying in these unhygienic conditions, in a general ward, for two hours and you are asking me to stop over reacting" Shivaay shouted making several heads turn

"Yes" stated Omkara sharply "because the doctor is not responsible for the fact that no one knows that she is an Oberoi"

But you are

The words weren't said but they lay heavily between them. Shivaay said nothing for the words stung. Oh how they stung. Shivaay lowered his eyes and sat beside Anika, his throat choked up

The doctor didn't dare look as relieved as he felt watching a relatively calmer Shivaay Singh Oberoi. But his relief was short lived. When the youngest member of the Oberoi family asked him a question, the expression in Shivaay's face had his blood pressure shot up again

"There was a guy with her, Arhaan, how is he?" Rudra asked making Shivaay's attention snap from the dozing Anika and give him an angry glare

"He'd better be dead for if he is alive I swear will kill him." Shivaay threatened, making the doctor swallow audibly while Rudra and Omkara rolled their eyes but it was Ranveer who replied to him

"I warned you about death threats, Shivaay. A person in your position shouldn't be using such words in public"

"You know what Randhawa, I don't give a damn"

Ranveer who was chatting with Priyanka via Whatsapp looked up from his phone

"Dr Mehra is in police custody for drink and drive. Since he was wearing a helmet and a protective gear, he wasn't much hurt except for some minor bruises."

"That SOB got out unscathed? asked Shivaay incredulously but before he could reply, Ranveer was pulled towards the other end of the room by Rudra. When Ranveer was sure they were out of earshot, he said

"Here Shivaay is creating a ruckus in the hospital and that Mehra is teaching swear words to the inmates in his cell- All for one woman, Anika" he said dryly "Mehra is asking for Anika"

Rudra ran his hand over his face

"Just keep him locked in." he told a surprised ACP "If you let him out, Arhaan will try to meet Anika. The state Shivaay is in, I won't be surprised if he carries out that death threat"

Randhawa raised an eyebrow

"As long as he is not bailed out by someone, I will see what I can do. What is the max that can happen if I let him go?"

Rudra looked at him straight in the eye

"Oh nothing much", he said dryly "Arhaan will be spending his night in the ICU, Bhaiyya will be spending his night in the jail, and you will be spending the rest of your nights alone without my sister, for putting your future brother in law behind the bars because your father in law doesn't not understand your duty talk"

Ranveer Singh Randhawa looked at the ceiling in resignation

"Ishq ne ghalib nikamma kar diya Warna hum bhi aadmi the kaam kay" he replied making Rudra laugh.

**

Once the discharge formalities were completed, Shivaay asked Rudra to bring the car around and shook Anika awake. But the moment she opened her eyes, she said the one thing that pricked him to the core

"Shivaay... Arhaan?" she asked faintly

Ignoring the flare of jealousy that ensnared him, he bent towards her and brushed her hair

"Anika how do you feel? Does it hurt? He asked, concerned

"Arhaan?" she repeated, her eyes drifting shut

"You don't worry about him okay. Don't take stress. Rudra is gone to get the car. We'll you out of here."

"Is he okay?" she asked determined to know

"Unfortunately yes" he said with a sigh which didn't hide his irritation

"Don't be angry with him. It is not his fault"

"You could have been killed"

"I'm fine..." She replied but her voice was slurred "I just want to go home."

He nodded and helped her into a sitting position. He put her arm around his neck and made sure her head was resting comfortably on his chest. He then placed his arm behind her back and the other under her knees and lifted her up, much to her surprise

"You can't carry me .." she exclaimed, her eyes shooting open "..people are watching"

"Let them.. It's about time" he muttered

"What?"

"You are my wife and it took me too long to know that I can survive a tarnished reputation, I can survive losing all my wealth, name and status but I cannot survive without you."

She had gone ahead and lost her head now, she thought. She was imagining things. The motion was making her sick as well. So she closed her eyes and tried hard not to throw up on his expensive suit.

"I know that Arhaan is in jail. Please let him out Shivaay" she asked as they reached the corridors of the hospital. Shivaay's temper came simmering to surface at the pleading note in her voice

Shivaay didn't reply but his clenched jaw told her that he was very, very angry. And yet as he helped her in the car, he made a call, firing orders that Arhaan was to be bailed out.

He then sat rigidly, staring out as the others got into the car and Rudra brought the car on the road. His hands were clenched into fists and his posture was tensed. Anika leaned her own head till it rested on his shoulder. She saw his hands uncurl and tremble slightly. He then kissed the top of her head, much to her surprise. She lifted her head, gave him a small smile and leaned back against him again.

She was dozing when the car pulled into the parking. Shivaay was already out. She woke up with a start and proceeded to get out of the car but the moment her feet touched the ground, she swayed. Shivaay was beside her in a minute.

He held her by the waist and helped her inside. Anika inwardly heaved a sigh of relief that he hadn't insisted carrying her in front of all the elders. The moment they stepped inside the house, Pinky, Jhanvi, Prinku, Saumya and dadi were besides her fussing.

Anika looked at the giant staircase and gulped. Her head was already swimming and the stairs seemed unending. But Shivaay immediately lifted her up ignoring all the oohs and aahs from his siblings that had Anika burying her head in his shoulder in embarrassment

**

Shivaay had gone to make a few calls during which the elders had Anika fed and changed. Pinky herself applied cream on her wounds and gave her the prescribed medicines. When he entered the room, she was sitting on the bed, leaning on the headboard, amidst numerous cushions, staring at him.

He went to the bed and sat next to her.

"Who decorated the pool side?" she asked quietly

"I did.. I thought we'd have a special evening. I should have known that it is impossible as long as Arhaan is around."

Anika ignored the bitter remark and looked wistfully towards the poolside

"I want to see" she told him

"You can see it tomorrow" he stated firmly

"Please.. I want to see it now" she pleaded

He heaved a dramatic sigh and shook his head and muttered something that sounded suspiciously like This woman will be the death of me'

***

Anika found herself being carried by Shivaay again but this time she settled comfortably in his arms. As they reached near the poolside, she saw the beautifully arranged table, the candles and the fairy lights.

It was a perfect setting for a perfect date.

It was then that Anika realized that she hadn't lost it. Shivaay was indeed telling her in innumerable ways that he loved her.

Her heart started beating at an accelerated rate and she suddenly felt very conscious and ridiculously shy. He took her around the poolside and she looked into the pool.

Her breath caught in her throat.

For there was something written in rose petals floating around in the water, in a way that every inch of the pool was covered

A message that he hadn't been able to say for three whole months

A sentence that his eyes, his words and actions had said innumerable times

"I'M SORRY"

Chapter Ten: The Flawed Ones

Amazing update

What an perfect update!
Shivaay accepted Anika is his wife in feont of the whole world. His care and concern towards her was incredibly beautiful.
I knew it! Arhaan and Nidhi had an argumwnt leading him to drink. Poor guy... i am really feeling bad for him.
Atleast one person knows that they dont love each other.
And ShivIka moments were beautiful. The pool side setting... all was beautiful.
I was eagerly waiting for u to update... nd u gave a superb update.
Continue sooon.

Love Sharmi

awesomeee

Fantastic, fabulous. ..loved loved it.

Gosh! It was awesome. Loved it.

such an amazing update can't wait for the next one😊