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Shivaay sat ruminating in OM's room, hoping his brother's wisdom would somehow seep into him although he wasn't available himself. He needed to think clearly, and all this stress was not helping one bit. Annika is trying to help, but she herself is a large portion of his stress. She does not say anything about the issue, but her big honest eyes ask loud questions about what he was going to do.
He had to divorce her. He planned to even as he married her, the resolve set firmly in his mind even as his heart went a different direction. He knew her before, perhaps better than most; her stubbornness, her bad temper, her arrogant spunk, her flair for dramatics, her courage, loyalty steadfastness, her big heart, compassion and ... beauty.
His heart hugged close the memories of her comforting hand on his shoulder, her efforts to cheer him up, her silly dancing with Sahil to get him to see the bright side. Those bright moments of simple happiness are priceless to him. If he had a chance, he'd bundle Annika and Sahil and run away somewhere.
But he cannot be selfish. He is Shivaay Singh Oberoi, his family is everything to him. The media were intruding in every nook and corner of his life. Even his PA was stalked by reporters to find out details of his whereabouts and activities. The weight of his family's disapproval was pressing down on his shoulders.
Do the right thing Shivaay. There's nothing to think about.
Make this right, and throw off the wolves from this scent of blood.
Do the right thing Shivaay.
He had just come from Uncle Tej's home office. He was presented with the business side of the decision. Investors are waiting for him to forge ahead with the business deal he had planned with the Kapoors. The Kapoors won't sign for some reason and the Board of Directors were getting jittery with uncertainty.
"You need to marry Tia now, Shivaay. This is what you wanted for a long time. What's the issue now? This baby?"
"This baby is not mine, Bade Papa. I'm very sure about this"
"Marriage is not the end of your life, Shivaay. You don't have to stay married to her forever. Don't go soft and romantic on me , young man."
After a pause, he continued, " Is Annika the problem? Is she refusing to sign? "
"She's just determined to find proof of my innocence, Bade Papa. She's just being kind. Actually, she's the only one who agrees with me, I see." Shivaay said falteringly.
"Stop seeing this as a death sentence, Shivaay. We need this now. We won't be once the deal is struck. I have done thorough research into the Kapoors. Maybe better than your guys. They are neck deep in debt and flailing. Mr Kapoor has gone and found a second wife and secretly moved to the Maldives with her, along with most of his money and assets. His wife is fighting a lawsuit and is bleeding money fast. So they need our money and stability, and are desperate enough to stage this." Tej spoke with clarity, to a stunned Shivaay.
"What !? Why not just tell us? Why the secrecy?" Shivaay thundered, feeling sick at the thought of being made a pappu, as Annika rightly put it.
"That issue aside, The investors are adamant that we merge with the Kapoors for this loan to come through. What happens after, is ENTIRELY up to us, Shivaay. I am telling you in advance, I will not take this amateurish fraudulent scheme lightly. When I'm done with them, they will wish they had not even met us..." Tej finished gravely, as Jhanvi sat watching the younger man.
"I will speak to her, Shivaay," Bade Ma said. While Shivaay looked grateful, he doubted she would get it done.
I have to divorce Annika, he realized. Although it made him sick to his stomach, it had to be done.
This was about business.
This is the right thing to do.
The best plan of action.
Now, if he could only stop feeling nauseous.
***
An hour later, he went to his room to find Jhanvi the recipient of another "Anika express" speech on Shivaay's innocence and Tia's duplicity. He closed his eyes, steeled himself and walked in to relieve his aunt.
He felt Annika's eyes upon him, but couldn't bring himself to look back, fearing his resolution would break. He marched straight to his wardrobe and pulled out the divorce papers he had put under a stack of clothes.
"Annika... you need to sign these, right now. " he said without meeting her eyes.
"Why? What happened? What did Tia do now? Put those papers away and tell me!"
"Nothing happened Annika. I'm asking you to sign these now. Just sign these and I'll give you your house back. "
Annika stood there shocked. He was offering her house back? She blinked a few times and asked him, " Again, what did Tia do that you are giving up exposing the truth?"
"This is NOT ABOUT TIA! This is about this marriage !? It needs to be over ! " He shouted with unnecessary force and anger.
There, it was done, Shivaay. This is the only way she will sign the damned papers. Just stand your ground. It's the plan for now.
Annika was taken aback, stunned with the hostility emanating from him, so unlike him of late.
She shook her head and went close to him, "Why are you doing this? "
"STOP these questions !! Just sign the damned papers and GO !! Leave this house and GO HOME !!" he barked ferociously.
"What if I don't? " her eyes glittered with mutiny, determined to be past his bark. He almost gave in at that point. Summoning all his strength, he grabbed her and imprisoned her hands behind her back angrily.
"Who the HELL are you to defy me?? Sign the papers right now, and get out of my life !! I can never be married to the likes of YOU!!" he shouted in brute force, all the while watching the light in her eyes splinter and go out.
"You're a nobody!! You have no rights here. Just as i dragged you in, I will throw you out just the same! " She threw off his arm and pushed at him as hard as she could. Her face was red with rage and humiliation, as she grabbed the papers and signed them without another look at him. Throwing the paper at him she turned to walk out.
but as Fate would have it, Tia arrived just then. Intruding on his last moments with this typhoon of a woman he had grown so fond of.
"I'm so happy for you, Annika. You're finally free of this marriage. Now you're free to do as you like!? Sign it Shivaay, what are you waiting for ? Come on?" Tia whined as she pestered Shivaay into signing the divorce as well. With a face dark like death, he signed them.
Annika watched him sign their divorce papers and abruptly turned to leave the room. He wanted to follow her but couldn't. This disconsolate feeling of loss made his heart heavy.
***
2 hours later, Shivaay came to his bedroom to find Annika packing silently. He stood silently, nto sure what to say. He can't explain this dread of seeing her leave. She pointedly ignored his presence. She packed away her pretty clothes on one large paper bag, and her own in a smaller cloth bag. She placed the bag of borrowed clothes by the sofa, unwanted.
Unable to bear the silence, he cleared his throat and broke the silence.
"Annika, here are your house keys..." as she turned sharply to give him an accusing look. She marched up to him and snatched the keys off his hand without a word. Going back for her bag, she found him blocking her path.
"Annika..."
She resolutely looked at the floor,, hiding her angry tears.
"Annika.. please don't take this personally. It's business, and I must do this for the family. Please understand my difficult position.." he touched her arm lightly, as she flung it off like it was a poisonous bug.
He hated it that she had lost her ready smile for him, lost their connection and rapport. It's as though their bond never happened, and was a figment of his imagination.
"Annika, talk to me. Please understand this does not reflect in any way to our relationship. I am and will always be there for you if you need me. You can call on me at anytime, for anything. I am just a phone call away.. Annika please..." his voice trailed off as she shot him a poisonous look of hatred.
Evading him, she made for the door. He tried blocking her path, obstinately, stupidly, not really sure what he was doing. He just couldn't bear her silence and departure. Bristling with rage, she pushed him off to a side and got to the door. There stood Priyanka, tearfully, to take her best friend back home.
Rubbing her eyes with force, she spoke.
"Priyanka, tell your brother never to come anywhere near me and my brother ever again. If I see him anywhere near my house, I will make a police report for harrassment and I will have this whole house summoned as witnesses !!"
With a shaking rage, Annika left. She walked straight out, looking to no one for goodbyes and tears. She'd finally had enough.
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