Chapter 1 - Revelations and Eye Openers
Never in my life, have I ever thought that I would have to succumb to a situation like this. For so many reasons, I am astounded by my own plight. This is what I had wanted from the start of it all. To marry the woman sitting next to me in her wedding lehenga. To strike this deal. This wedding was just the filler part of the deal anyway. And she was tolerable, classy, rich, from a family of wealth, good name and linage which was everything I could have wanted in a girl, if I ever had to look for traits in a girl as a prospective spouse that is. Because if I had it my way, love does not happen and even if it does, it does not last, so why marry? But I guess for a deal, and one in which there's no emotional connection, getting married to Tia was really a plus. She was everything I needed in a partner. At least that's what I thought back then.
Back then I didn't realize that all the qualities Tia had, if left to stand on its own, without other qualities I hadn't deemed important, was really useless. But then again I didn't know I would change so much and actually be able to appreciate other things beside family name and linage. There was a line, called Shivaay, which stood between his family and the next side, everyone else. Only my family saw the side of me that loved. I didn't need anyone or anything else to be emotionally attached to, it is not worth it. And this worked for me. This logic worked for me, but now... I am beginning to question myself.
What baffles me is that I have become a puppet to my own stubbornness. I literally feel the "universe" laughing at me. Because when I am getting what I wanted, I feel like I'm going to die. I'm going to die. If I live through this, it's gonna be a miracle. A pretty damn big one.
The last time I was in this position at the mandap with her, I was uneasy. I was being forced to marry her, at that point in time, to be able to pull up the stocks of our company and with hopes of freeing my Papa and Bade Papa. Literally a gun to my head, which I gladly agreed to just to re-establish the importance of my marriage only occurring if it is a deal because I believe in nothing more, and of course to save my family. I felt so flustered sitting there, waiting for a miracle that I knew would not come. At least that was what I thought. When I was saved, I didn't know what to think. It was selfish but I felt more relieved to know I won't have to marry her than I felt relieved that we had found evidence. I mean I am The Shivaay Singh Oberoi, I would have found a way to free Papa and Bade Papa from that blame and manage the business eventually I guess, but I would have never found a way out of my marriage.
The last time I was at a mandap, was when... I tied my life to hers. The way in which it happened is something that I am still ashamed of, it was mistake to marry her the way I did, but it sure as hell was not a mistake to marry her. I didn't know then, that I was making the best decision of my life. I was plagued with betrayal and hurt and anger, which I found out late was for no reason, and I ruined the best decision I could have made by torturing her.
But the point I am trying to make here, is that last two times, I was saved. I was saved by Annika. But this time, I just know, my miracles are gone. She is gone. It's like the first time it was bad, yet I was saved. The second time it was worse, I was saved by torturing her and by becoming a monster for a reason that did not even exist. But somehow we got past that. This time is the worst. The more time had passed, the worse it seemed to feel to have to marry Tia. And now there was no turning back. No second chances. Not a thing. Annika's memory being gone worsened things to such an extent too.
I wish I could turn back time but I can't. My time is up. Maybe this is all my karma playing out. Tables have turned on me and I cannot do a thing. All I can do is rethink and replay all the memories swimming in my mind of our wedding. What am I about to do Shivaay? What has this life come to? I looked around for the umpteenth time but I knew I would not find her. She made it clear. She emotionally blackmailed Dadi into emotionally blackmailing me into giving her house back. My brothers had seen her plight and decided to tell her about her house and she built up a case so good, I really had no choice but to allow her to leave. Soumya and Prinku and our latest addition Gauri, had all been on Annika's side, I don't blame them. I don't expect them to understand what I am going through because, even I don't. Yup, Soumya is back at home, and Om was so jealous of Rudra and I, that he had a very circumstantial wedding also.
Dadi of course has forced us all to settle down and try with our wives. She blackmails them daily, nightly, every chance she gets. Honestly months ago I'd say that's bullshit. But now, ... let's just say sometimes circumstantial marriages turn out better than you'd think. Not always, but Sometimes.
In my case, it was a blessing and I pray that my brothers do not make the same mistakes as I have. So yup.
She must have been there now, at her home, hurting. I know she says it makes no difference, but every time I saw those eyes, I could feel her pain. Even if her memory was gone, her soul recognized mine. I wish I could put an end to this. But we have reached too far. I managed to delete the video on Mrs. Kapoor's phone two days ago at my haldi ceremony. But she was faster than me. She exposed Om's truth in front of everyone. I remember the way Om looked at me, did he really think I would not accept him. Even then Annika handled the situation so well. She fit in my family and my life more than she could ever imagine. More than I could have ever fathomed. I had felt a weight lift off my shoulders and I wanted to buy myself more time to fix things with Annika and find evidence against Tia to prove the baby was not mine but just then Dadi and Annika announced that my wedding would be today and that she would be returning to her home.
At that point, even if I wanted to change things, I felt as if it was really too late. I know I am being a coward also. But I have a guilty conscience. Decisions had been made. And I had no explanations for myself or for what I wanted. Again, I guess I am being a coward. But it is so much more than that. I lost track of the times I wronged Annika. Maybe this would give Annika a clean slate to move on with. Maybe this is what I deserve, I decided as I sighed and stood up after being instructed to take the pheras.
I put one foot forward and I froze. I felt my thoughts pouring down over me again. I was mentally incapable of marrying someone else right now. I never thought I would feel sick to my stomach like this, all because I no longer wanted what I wanted. Or more like, I never thought that when I would get what I wanted, I would realize, it was the furthest thing from what my heart really did desire.
Be careful what you wish for.
"Shivaay... what are you waiting for ?" Mom urged me and honestly I have never felt so hollow. My own mother couldn't read her son's pain. She was so blinded by I don't even know what. Her son's hurt did not stand out to her. Nor could she see any good in Annika. How?
"Bhaiya are you okay?"
"Haan" I replied stoically, knowing if I were to say anything more, I would crumble before O.
I took a deep breath as I tried to lift my other foot forward.
"Shivaay baby hurry up" Do I really have to hear this voice for the rest of my life. What am I doing?
I began walking, we completed one phera when I realized I really did not have the energy to move on. I slowly came to a halt. I had to stop this. I didn't even sign the divorce papers. The video was deleted. What was I doing. This has to end. But how? On what basis? I was muddled in thoughts when I felt it.
That feeling, woh ehsaas , whenever she was close to me.
I looked up, straight to the doorway, in hope of seeing her but to my dismay she was not there. I looked around, because my senses could not be lying, my entire being that knew whenever she was around could not be wrong.
"Shivaay, come on let's just do this quickly" Tia encouraged but honestly she had this look as if she just wanted to get this thing over with and then to hell with it. If my attention hadn't been on seeking her out, I would have been slightly confused at Tia's reaction.
I looked to the door again in defeat and sighed. I turned my attention back to the fire and was about to gear myself up to finish this and just get over with it when I heard that voice.
I thought I was hallucinating for two reasons
One, I had been totally desperate to hear her voice but I knew she was not going to attend this wedding. And two, the name that she called me by, had me stunned. Either this meant she remembered. Or maybe the name just came to her. But whatever it was I realized everyone heard it too because they all turned toward the door. I followed as well and was slightly confused.
"Billuji" her voice had echoed. It probably just came on the spur of the moment, similarly to when she stopped my wedding with Tia the last time.
What was shocking was that she stopped my wedding now as she walked in with.. Robin?
Hold on. What was more shocking was Tia calling out " Dushyant!!" completely astounded and emotionally occupied.
Honestly everything was a big fat blur from then on. I vaguely remember everyone wanting to drop as Tia untied her dupatta and started walking slowly towards our two new additions to this ceremony.
"is it really you?" she asked shakily,
"Mom, Svetlana di Romi look! Its Dushyant"
"Haan Tia, it's me" he said, his eyes looked teary.
I saw Mrs Kapoor hold Tia by her elbow and threaten her but she pulled and tugged and freed herself and literally ran into Robin's wait no Dushyant's arms.
FHAT THE WUCK! I thought but apparently I said it outloud.
Everyone's jaw dropped. Though I am not sure about what exactly.
Not sure if it was because Tia left the mandap, or because she was in her brother's arms who suddenly had a different name, that too of her supposed lover according to Annika, or if it was because she called out to Svetlana as Di, or if it was because she called out to Romi.
All of it were good candidates honestly. But what had me reeling backwards was when Annika opened her mouth to talk.
She walked up to Mrs Kapoor first.
Turning to all of us, she said "This woman. This despicable woman right here, you guys have no idea what lengths she can go to. Along with her two daughters Svetlana and Tia, as well as Tia's sister-in law."
I could almost see my mom gearing up to start some nonsense but she thought twice because at this point, I think everyone was honestly at a loss for everything that was unfolding.
Annika launched into an entire long story. She told everyone about how Mrs Kapoor blackmailed me. She then revealed Svetlana's truth as well as Romi's and Tia's. I must say she was damn sharp tongued and outstanding. She kept going on and on discussing all the plans they made against her and tried to harm her. About how it was Svetlana and Tia who made her almost fall, who put acid in the henna, who framed Sahil and framed her too with the glass splinters. Who tried to shoot her. Who put her in the fridge. Who put acid in my coffee machine.But the best bomb dropper was a DNA report Robin handed her which confirmed Tia's baby was not mine.
Everything was now in the open.
One thing had me baffled. Annika was back. But how. When?
Realising everything was out, they all tried to malign Annika and tear her down.
"CHUP! Tum hoti kaun? You have already done enough to my family. Do not dare try to deny this you cheapdi Svetlana. How many more lives will you ruin? Jhanvi aunty has bared the brunt of your disgusting deeds, and this entire family has had enough of you. You Kapoor chudails. Mrs Kapoor Don't even try to poke your nose into this. You tried to kill me.You blackmailed my husband. My husband. The Shivaay Singh Oberoi. You made him hurt me, you made him lie to his family, you made him go through with a marriage he didn't want. You made him agree to marry your daughter who was already married. What kind of woman are you? And to make it worse? You tried to do so even after knowing Tia is pregnant for Robin? You tried to kill Robin and had him tied up and locked in a room all this time to get on with your dirty plans. How low can you go?"
Everyone was stunned as more details came out. Annika was given the spotlight to put them in their places because the Oberois were very shocked and still trying to digest this sudden wealth of information about this turn of events.
"MOM, DI? Is this true? How could you?! How could you do this to me?
Next she walked up to Tia.
"Karma Tia. This is what the universe wanted. Did you really thing you could get away with forcing your baby onto my husband? How cheap are you Tia? You are so low you would even take a chance to drink juice with splinters just to frame me."
"Annika.."
"Baat abhi khatam nahi! Money isn't everything Tia I see now you have understood that. If it wasn't for you telling that you suspect your mom and sister, I wouldn't have been able to find everything out. So thank you! But that can never undo the wrongs you have done till now. You should feel equally ashamed of yourself"
Just then everyone regained their composure. Mom was the first. She basically Oh my mata-ed her way into calling Tia and her family a bunch of fake disgusting cheap people and admitting to how foolish she had been to trust them blindly. I think everyone took turns, even Bade Papa and suddenly all eyes were on me.
At this point, I literally have no words. I want to know how the hell all this transpired. But what I want to know is When did Annika get her memory back?
I took one look at the Kapoors, and pulled out my phone. Being an Oberoi, that too, Shivaay Singh Oberoi, had its perks so when I called the police station, in under 5 minutes I had Svetlana and Mrs Kapoor arrested.
Tia begged me to stop when I lost it.
"FHAT THE WUCK! What the hell is wrong with you? Are you mad? Do you know what you have done? What you ALL have done? You tried to harm my family, to ruin our reputation, to mislead me, to KILL Annika for God's sake, grow a conscience. And besides you damn well know you guys are gonna bail them out but the challenge is on because if you are a Kapoor, even I am an Oberoi I will not let this case go that easily. You're lucky you're pregnant so I can't do anything about you either." I was shouting and hyperventilating at this point, exasperatedly pointing his finger up in Tia's face as I unconsciously got closer. Robin came in front of her. I didn't even realize how angry I was until Annika touched my arm and made me step back from them.
When everyone left, I honestly hoped that's the last of the Kapoors I'd see.
The drama had now unfolded, but quite frankly, with only us Oberois in the house, the real deal was about start.
Annika was holding Dadi and supporting her and taking her to sit. Everyone else just stood in awe. I think my mom was most affected. She looked as though she would throw up. My brothers and Prinku, Soumya and Gauri looked happy. The elders were all guilty. Dadi was plain upset at the events.
I was all of the above.
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