By 5 pm that evening, her phone was swamped by missed calls from Rudra. Catching up on the voice messages, she discovered Shivaay had decided not to attend the award ceremony tonight, because the situation in the house was so bad. Rudra's mom and dad had a huge row, and Jhanvi ji was in such a bad state, that Dadi and Pinky ji were holed up with her, after Tej walked out with a small bag.
Rudra had insisted Shivaay go for the ceremony, because it was his achievement, and the family will stand by him. But he didn't feel like it , a strange stubbornness had come over Bhaiya, and he thought only Annika Bhabhi can deal with it. So she found herself, walking into the house at 6pm, after vowing not to return til bedtime. Rudra met her and rushed her to Shivaay.
Picking out the black tuxedo suit from the wardrobe, she fingered the elegant garment softly and laid it out on the bed for him. But Shivaay walked in, already wearing the wine coloured one she had chosen previously. He gave her a small nod but didn't say anything. He stood by his vanity and fiddled with his tie impatiently, which seemed to stupidly turn out either too long or too short.
Now, Annika knew how to tie neckties very well, having tied them for Sahil for years now. She grew tired of watching him retie it, and nudged him to turn so she could do it. Her fingers expertly folded up his collar, brushing lightly at his neck as she manoeuvred the expensive silk tie. Flushing red at the scrutiny the intense green eyes were giving her, she focussed hard on her task. He said nothing, just stared at her raptly.
Clearing her throat, she rasped out a feeble attempt at conversation. Because he looked like he was about to eat her. Or shout. Or both.
"What's this Rudra is saying, that you won't attend your own awarding ceremony? So many people must have done so much work to prepare this event and you will just bunk it?"
"So , we're communicating through Rudra now, are we?" he growled back. She looked up at that. They locked gazes, his accusing and hers shielding.
"I had things to do , Shivaay. I can't just sit around here doing nothing daily. I was working."
"Yeah, you work and after, you have time for everyone in this house, but me. With me you pretend to sleep while you know I was waiting to talk to you...or escape into Sahil's room, right? "
A little angry now, she quickly tightened the tie loop close to his neck and he stopped abruptly. He watched her with narrowed eyes as she then passively smoothened the knot and folded his collar down and buttoned it. Patting down his shirt and shoulders, she smiled at how handsome he looked, smirking with a thumbs up.
He moved up close to her, one hand steadying her back as she jerked. He was staring into her eyes with that unfathomable expression again, a wealth of words unsaid. All she knew was, it made her heart beat like a mad drum.
"I'm not going to the ceremony, Annika..."
"Shivaay !"
"..Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"You come too..."
"What would I do there, Shivaay?"
"For me..."
"But who am I to..."
"For me...please..?" he reached out on his dresser and brought out a little black box. Opening it, he revealed a sparkling ring with shining blue green opal stones and a solitaire diamond. She gasped at its beauty, its extravagance and the gesture. He took her hand and clasped it, slipping the ring on to her ring finger. She looked at the color closely, identifying its significance, and smiled a teary smile.
"They're the color of your eyes... I love it ! " she sniffed, as he slid his hand along her cheek and into her hair. Something urgent burned in his eyes, before he blinked them.
"Say, you'll come..." he whispered. She nodded, with a trembling smile, for him she would do this. With a returning smile he gave her more boxes with jewellery and a saree, which she made her protest aloud.
"Thank you, Shivaay..." she said awkwardly, realizing she had gone back on her promise to herself.
He leaned in quickly and pressed a kiss to her forehead. Blushing from head to toe, she made a hasty exit. He's making it really hard to stay away from him, Kanji aankhon wali bhagad billa...
***
2 hours later, he was nervously standing among the crowd at the gala dinner. He was the man of the evening, and he was greeted by almost everyone with congratulations and felicitations. He himself, was concentrating on the entrance, for her.
Bade Papa had declined to attend, as Dadi stayed back with Bade Ma. His mom and dad were here, and enjoying being the toast of the evening, very proud of their son's achievement. Impatiently, he tapped his phone, and Om answered curtly at the other side.
"Relax Shivaay... Bhabhi is here with us. We're 10 minutes away, and there's traffic. By the way, Rudra, Saumya, Prinku and I are coming too, you know.." Om teased to rambunctious laughter, and received only a curt grunt from Shivaay before he hung up.
Few minutes later, he saw her arrive, or rather felt it. She walked in on Om's arm, looking shy and nervous. He thought she was the most gorgeous thing he had ever seen. Wearing a glittering beige lace saree with embroidery, her hair was swept up to one side, in a loose braid.
She caught his eye, and he quirked a brow and tilted his head slightly with a smirk. She giggled and looked away shyly, walking with Om to his table with the family. Shivaay was breaking away from the group to join them but the emcee then interrupted the mingling to commence the event.
Long speeches were made along with some fine dining, mostly boring and celebratory of Shivaay. He kept glancing at Annika 3 tables away, laughing with Rudra , wishing he were with them. Then he was called up to the stage and the spotlight shone on him.
He walked up to the stage, received his trophy and plaque, made for the podium, accompanied by thunderous applause. He looked, Annika and Rudra were wiping happy tears and clapping happily. His heart swelled so much at the sight of his family right there, his brothers and Annika.
He gave his acceptance speech, thanking God, Dadi, and his parents for giving him all the opportunities to get to his ambitions. He thanked his brothers for their support and love, and finally to his new wife, for understanding him and being his right hand woman, for arguing with him until he saw sense. The emcee gushed and invited Mrs. Shivaay Singh Oberoi on stage, and Shivaay looked straight at her.
At Annika.
This is it, Shivaay. Make it right, now. You can do this. She deserved this, he told his galloping heart.
In the few moments of missed heartbeats, she was being egged by Rudra and Om to go on stage. Gathering her wits, she was about to get up, when the spotlights suddenly focused on someone getting on to the stage.
Tia .
Shivaay's face froze as Tia took his side and grasped his arm. "Congratulations, Shivaay baby...I am so proud of you.." and she kissed his cheek, as the whole crowd aww-ed and whistled to laughter. He saw Annika try and fail to control her tears, turn away and flee. Thankfully, Om ran after and stopped her from leaving in this state, alone.
The dancing began and couples took to the dance floor. He was forced to dance with Tia, and he kept an eagle eye on for Annika. Dancing half-heartedly , he waited impatiently for the song to end. He spotted a few interested men buzzing around Annika, being swatted away by Rudra. She looked like she'd rather be anywhere but here. What was worrying, she was fingering his ring , like she wanted to take it off.
He wanted more than anything to go and talk to her, reassure her, but he was stuck, with Tia by his side. After half an hour, she obviously had enough and made for the exit by herself. Shivaay peeled Tia off from his arm and went after her.
She was walking down the dimly lit drive way when he caught up to her.
"Where are you going, Annika?"
"Why do you care, Shivaay? Kya faraq padta aapko? Just go back inside."
"Stop it! It's late, and cold and dangerous. Wait ! Wait, I'll get my car. We'll talk, okay? "
"No! You can't leave this dinner, are you mad? Just go back, or Tia will talk about her pregnancy to anyone with ears. Go!"
Shivaay winced at the barb but persisted. "Annika , I'm sorry... This is awkward, I know, but"
"Awkward?! No!?? I'd say, it's pretty clear for me. I am not, and will never be an Oberoi. I don't belong here, and I've been fooling myself. No more." She started fiddling with the ring again, and he crushed her left hand to stop it.
"Stop !"
"No, you stop it , Shivaay ! Stop messing with my brains! This... US, was never meant to last! I made a mistake !! We've signed divorce papers for God's sake !! "
"Mistake ..? What mistake? "
"Huh? ...Nothing. I need to go..."
"Stop it, WHAT mistake Annika? What in the world are you talking about? And stop talking about divorce okay?"
"DIVORCE! ! DIVORCE !! We signed it ! Hear it, get used to it Shivaay. Go back to Tia, she is your Mrs. Oberoi! Leave me alone! " she was crying and angry, terribly fed up that she can't get a solitary moment to herself.
He , on the other hand, was petrified at she seems to want to put as much distance between them as she can.
"Wait !!" , he hastily grabbed her hand as she turned on him like wildcat, until all he could do was hold her tight. And hold her he did, as tight as he could, until she gave up the wiggling.
Sobbing, she kept her face downcast, hands to her side.
"I hate it that I love you, Shivaay..." she whispered. "You insufferably arrogant, snobby, master manipulator, bully of a man!!" she leaned her forehead on his chest and wept.
All he heard was, that she loved him. And his heart swelled like a helium filled balloon, about to float. Filled with sweet amusement that she was so unhappy as she told him something he was dying to hear.
"What did you just say?" he asked in the softest of voices, wanting to be sure.
"Me, saadakchaap ladki, was foolish enough to fall in love with an Oberoi. I have no name, no money, no power, I am nothing. I had my heart, and I gave it to you to step on..." she said, weeping bitterly.
Shaking his head in denial, he struggled to get her to stop berating herself.
"Go , Shivaay! Go back to your painted witch, and swim around in your pool of money. Just go away..." she said miserably.
"Annika..." he called gently, "look at me, please.."
"No! So you can gloat? Damn you, Shivaay! You've hurt me enough. I get it. Is this why you invited me here tonight? To remind me, that I am not the wife you want? The wife you want everyone to know about? Is this the way you remind someone? Huh!?! You are CRUEL, Shivaay ! Awful!! I HATE you!!"
"No, Annika you're misunderstanding me. I didn't even invite Tia, she came by herself. I..."
"What was this ring for, Shivaay? A farewell gift?! Before you told me to get out? Well, let me save you the trouble and LEAVE NOW! I HATE you Shivaay!" she yelled.
"No... You LOVE ME. You just said it..." he corrected awkwardly.
She looked at him like he had horns on his head, and ran off through the gates. He gave good chase but a group of well meaning chaps came to see why he was accosting this pretty lady. He let go and she left.
She loves me...
She LOVES me !! he smiled and went back for his car.
Part 3
Part 4
Part 5
Part 6
Part 7 (page 33)
Part 8
Cricket
Udne Ki Aasha
Veer Hanuman
Anupamaa
