The mansion stood silent. Almost eerily. As if the walls and floors and doors understood what had passed and steadied themselves in solidarity against further assault. Every member within was coping with the events of the day in their own way. However, the world outside had exploded ever since the news of the scandal and fraud that had touched the Oberoi family so intimately had become known - reporters scrambling for juicy tidbits, investors worrying for stocks, society circles buzzing with frenzy, police and lawyers scrambling to build a case against the Kapoors.
But the mansion stood silent.
_________________________________________________________________________
"We need to talk." Shivaay's deep voice broke through the deafeningly silent room, bringing it to life.
Anika stood stunned. She shuddered with the strain, but slowly turned away from the balcony and shook her head. She was done talking. She was done with him, his family, his world. She wasn't stupid. She had known that sooner or later Tia's truth and Mrs. Kapoor's nefarious plans would unfold. And in anticipation of that day, Anika had secretly harboured a hope close in her heart - that eventually, after Tia's truth being unveiled, Shivaay and her would make amends, that he would perhaps, in time, come to love her.
He had announced loudly, after the Kapoors had made a hasty exist, that Anika and him were married in the eyes of law and they were going to stay married. Hearing those words had made her heart leap. He was accepting her in front of everyone! Surely, this meant that he cared for her at least a little?
But that illusion shattered only a few seconds later. Turning towards his dadi and mother, he had spoken quietly but Anika had heard him.
"Anika is my legally wedded wife and naturally, my responsibility. She has been a treated abysmally since the time she has stepped... Everyone will treat her with the respect...our responsibility...what will people say... duty to ensure... make sure it stays out of the papers...divorce now will cause a bigger scandal..."
Her heart had clenched with such force then that Anika, comically wondered whether a heartbreak can lead to a heart attack.
But one thing was certain- Anika wanted to be no one's responsibility. Not now. Not ever. So no, she didn't want to talk.
A muscle clenched in his jaw. She could feel the tension in him, like a spring coiled to jump, and she took another step back into the curtains.
When he spoke, however, his voice was soft. Dangerous. Like a double edged sword.
"Why not?"
All the misery of the last six months hardened inside of her, and she felt herself coming apart at the seams.
"Why not?" she cried, scoffing at him, her voice shaking.
"Why not? Shivaay, look at yourself! Nothing touches you, does it? Like a frozen lake. You've taken everything I have to give, my self-respect, my pride, my home, my love and given me nothing back. You'll never let me in. What kind of marriage do you think we'll have? A happy one? Forget happy, let's bet on whether we'd even last a year. It's not a damn business deal, Shivaay. You keep yourself behind an iced wall, and I'm tired of trying to break it.
His nostrils flared. "Did you... did you just say you love me..."
"Is this what you've come for?" Tears welled in her eyes, rolled slowly down her cheeks.
"An ego boost? Are you going to get a kick out of knowing that a nobody from nowhere had the audacity to fall in love with you? Will I be the punchline to a joke at your next party? But since I have nothing left to lose, here goes - I love you. I am in love with you, Shivaay. And I have been trying so hard not to say it. I struggle everyday to swallow the words and keep quite but the simple truth of the matter is that I am so in love with you. Every minute of every day. I love you.
Happy? Now get the hell out."
She saw his powerful muscles tense, saw his eyes flare with something savage. Her heart leapt, and too late she saw the danger. She turned to run, but Shivaay grabbed her, whirling her to face him. His hands tightened on her waist until his fingers dug painfully into her soft flesh, a grip that she knew would leave bruises.
"No. I'm not leaving. And you're sure as hell not going anywhere. And you're right," he said almost soundlessly. "I've never wanted anyone to get close to me. I've never wanted to care this much for anyone, to let you or anyone else have this kind of power over me. But let's be clear on that, Anika. You own me."
His lips drew back, and he was breathing hard. "Shut you out? F*ck, I've tried to, but I can't. You want me? All right, love. I'm all yours. I love you so much I can barely function anymore. My world seems to now revolve around you and those damn brown eyes of yours.
But there's a goddamn flip side to it." he continued harshly. "I'll give you more than I've ever given any other human being, just about everything I have, but...f*ck, I'll take more, too. You don't get to pick and choose which qualities you like the best. It's a package deal. You get all the bad with the good, and I think you know by now that I'm not a nice guy."
"No," she whispered, "you're not." She hung in his grip, her eyes fastened on his face, seeing the sheen of sweat on his forehead and the ferocity of his expression. Her heart thundered at what he had just said, her mind reeling with joy. He loved her? She almost couldn't take it in, couldn't believe he'd actually said it. She stared up into those turquoise eyes, too dazed to say anything else.
"I hate loving you because worst part about it Anika, is that there will always be things I can't protect you from. Things beyond my control. I finally realized that there is something worse than dying . . . and that is having something happen to you. Hurting you. I have to live with that fear always. And that fear makes me crazy.
"I'm a jealous bas***d when it comes to you," he muttered, still in that tone of stifled violence. "I don't want you so much as looking at another man and God protect any sorry asshole who tried to come within five feet of you.
Shivaay cupped her precious face, nuzzling her cheek. "No one else, sweetheart. Not now, not twenty years from now."
It was like the floodgates had opened up and she could feel the desperation surging through him.
"I'll want you with me all the time. I can't ignore the business, so I'll expect you to fit your schedule around mine. As he talked, he moved her backward and roughly pushed her against the wall.
"I want babies. I want a house full of kids." Anika countered.
"Shit." His teeth were ground together, and a drop of sweat ran down his temple. "I want it all. Now say yes, love. Please. "
"Yeah," she whispered, and splintered with joy. "Shivaay, yes !" she leapt in his arms, wrapping her legs around his waist. Her heart singing with joy. She dropped kisses on his face, eyes, nose. This was where she belonged. At his side. Forever.
He caressed her cheek, pulling her impossibly closer to him. "I don't want to hurt you, my heart." he said tenderly.
She heard the worry in his voice and knew that he was uneasy with releasing all the force he'd kept contained for so long. He caught her mouth and she kissed him back sweetly, pouring all her love into it.
His eyes glittered in the moonlight light. "I'm sorry about what happened earlier, baby. I have no excuse other than the fact that I'm an idiot." He mumbled as he nibbled on her ear. Tortured by her tears, he clasped her tighter and rubbed his jaw against her temple, his voice a ravaged whisper: "I'm sorry," he told her. He cupped her face between his palms, tipping it up and gazing into her eyes, his thumbs moving over her wet cheeks. "I'm sorry." Slowly, he bent his head, covering her mouth with his. "I'm so damned sorry for everything I've done."
His wife smiled through her tears and kissed him gently, letting him know that he was forgiven.
-----
Cheers,
Sohaa
Ghum Hai Kisikey Pyaar Meiin
