Shivaay sat next to a sleeping Anika, watching her with eyes that shone with love as he had been from the past two days. Anika's hand was plastered and the plaster ran high up her shoulder and was wound around her chest for support. She was still under pain medication and he, like a doting husband, refused to let her set her feet on the floor.
He knew for quite some time now that it was Anika that he loved. There was always an attraction between them even before marriage, an attraction that bordered on love but it wasn't love. It had been close to love for that was the reason he felt so betrayed at the thought of her sleeping with Daksh. It was that attraction that made him treat her so brutally
But Anika hadn't held it against him. Where he was quick to believe that she slept with Daksh, she was the only one (other than his brothers) who believed his claim that Tia's child wasn't his. It was she who stood by him and supported him in his most difficult time when his brothers were absent. He knew then that he loved her but he could hardly express his love because of the threats and blackmailing that went around him. He showed his love for her with mild flirtation, small gestures and heartfelt conversations.
He knew that he loved her but he hadn't known the extent of his love for her till she risked her life to save his own.
Shivaay and Anika had been travelling to the same resort where Tia had been with her husband. Now that Anika had a suspicion that Tia's husband was Robin, they wanted to check the records to see on whose name the room had been booked. But halfway, their car ran out of fuel which was in fact very surprising because his staff normally took care of such things and his fuel tank had been full the night before
That should have been his first clue that something was wrong
Anika stood at the other end of the road in shade while Shivaay collected his laptop from the car. The road was secluded and Shivaay was busy talking to Khanna asking him to send another driver and he didn't see a truck coming towards him in full speed. It was Anika who saw the truck. It was Anika who ran towards him and pushed him to safety but as she wasn't that quick for herself as the edge of the truck hit her shoulder and she was thrown forward.
When Shivaay saw Anika being hit right in front of him, he aged years in minutes. It was as if a dark pit had opened up, ready to engulf him up. It was then that he realized that even his brothers wouldn't be able to force him to go on without her.
The journey to the hospital was the longest Shivaay had ever known. It was only when the doctor confirmed that she had miraculously escaped a major accident with a mere dislocated shoulder that he breathed a sigh of relief.
It had been two days for that incident and he hadn't left her alone for a minute after that. It wasn't because he feared for her life in his own house because the only thing that let him sleep was that whoever was behind the attacks was behind his life. It was because he was concerned for her well-being but his dear wife was past the stage of loving his attention and was now getting irritated with his constant presence and his mollycoddling.
Anika stirred and Shivaay sat up straight as she opened her eyes
"Don't look at me when I'm sleeping. Its creepy" she said annoyed
"I'm your husband. I have every right to look at you."
"Shivaay go to sleep."
"Its just 10.00 P.M." he told her
"Then get some work done, drink your coffee, talk to your brothers- anything other than looming over me like a ceiling fan"
"I didn't know you were so irritated by my presence" he told her feigning hurt
"I'm not irritated by your presence. The fact that you fuss over me like a mother hen 24*7 is annoying. I'm fine Shivaay and if I'm not, I will let you know, I promise."
Before he could reply there was a knock on the door and Om and Rudra entered. Anika started to get up and was quickly helped by Shivaay and Rudra who adjusted the pillows and saw to it that she was comfortable
"Shivaay, today a lady came to my art gallery to see my paintings and she said that when one looked at my paintings they look simple and direct but when one pondered over it, it has a different meaning altogether." Om stated, sitting on the bed
"Yes" Shivaay agreed proudly "That is what makes you such a good artist"
"She said that my paintings look very simple at first sight and they have a lot more hidden underneath. They hide more than what they reveal"
Shivaay sat beside Anika and made her lower her head on his chest. Rudra, who was leaning across Anika's legs smiled and raised an eyebrow. Shivaay ignored him.
"Why do I feel you are trying to say something else, Om?" asked Anika looking at her brother in law, not a least bit uncomfortable by her husband's public display of affection
Omkara smiled knowing that after he would break this news, Shivaay's anxiety levels would hit the roof and Anika would be so annoyed this time tomorrow that she would murder her own brother in law-him.
"She had me thinking... what if Anika is right? What if Tia is behind the attacks?" He asked Shivaay as Anika smiled victoriously
Shivaay sighed dramatically
"We discussed this, Om. Tia has everything to lose, if I'm dead" shivaay clarified
"Yes, but she has everything to gain if Anika is dead" Om cut him
There was pin drop silence and Shivaay sat so still, he could have been made up of stone
"Explain" Shivaay said hoarsely but Omkara could hear the wheels turning in his head
"Tia's plan is just like my painting. When you look at it, the obvious target is you. But while you will be cautious and Anika will be worried about your wellbeing, she can catch her off guard and kill her."
"But the attacks-" Rudra interrupted
"Anika drank the tea which was meant for you, Shivaay. What if the pills were put in after the tea was brought from your room? Even if she felt sleepy, Shivaay, lets face it, no one would sleep in the fridge and take pains to close a door whose handle is on the outside." Om told Shivaay
Rudra too caught on.
"What if the glass was supposed to be for Anika but you happened to be in the room or it could have been a plan to make Anika believe that you were the target of the attacks?" said the youngest Oberoi
"Exactly" said Om heavily "Tia knew the day the brakes of your car were cut that you were at home. Mr Oberoi's car was punctured knowing he would take Shivaay's car making Anike believe that the target was Shivaay."
"But Om, the truck--?" Asked Anika uncertainly. Shivaay's arm around her tightened and she flinched in pain. He loosened it immediately
"Tia is attacking your mind first. She knew you would risk your life for Shivaay which you did. Of all the attacks, only two of them were real ones- the fridge one and the truck. The rest were a mere cover."
As Om was done Shivaay's temper hit the roof. He let out a string of bad words directed at Tia while Rudra closed Anika's ears with his hands. He then looked at his brothers and said
"I don't trust the security. We need to make sure that Anika is not left alone for a single minute. One of us will always be with her. I don't want Tia anywhere around her."
He then looked at his wife
"If you suspect that Tia is up to something, do us all a favour and don't follow her."
And then Omkara, Rudra and Anika watched amused as Shivaay went to put restrictions on Anika, the list of which seemed to go on. When he was done trying to find ways to save Anika from being killed, the girl in question looked at Om and Rudra and said
"KILL ME"
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This idea came to me after Svetlana said, jo dikhega wo hoga nahi aur jo hoga wo dikhega nahi
