ShivIka OS - His

Additional Characters:

Anish Raichand and Niharika Raichand - Anika's Parents.

Naina Raichand - Anish Raichand's Sister

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His

Loving you was never an option nor was it my choice. It happened to bring you in my life and that was enough to make me fall for you helplessly and hopelessly. - Unknown

Sun was setting, as it was almost evening. The sky looked ever so beautiful with the shades of different colours scattered over, mixing with each other, resulting in a shade, appealing to the heart.

"Anika." Shivaay stomped besides Anika, scaring her with his sudden entry. "Can't you come like normal human beings for a single time?" she asked, frowning at his habit of scaring her time and again. He shook his head giggling.

"What happened today? Who idiot upset my best friend and forced you to land here?" Shivaay asked. They were sitting on two rocks, in front of a lake. Shivaay glanced at Anika, whose eyes stared the soft flowing, crystal water.

Anika Raichand, used to come there to find solace and peace to her heart whenever it wandered in confusion or something did upset her. Shivaay Singh Oberoi, her best friend, her partner... not in crime but in punishment. He always managed to be there for her whenever she needed him. He understood her like no one else could. What they shared, was something beyond everything... something magical, for sure. He just knew everything about her and so did she.

"Nothing. That's just nothing." She nodded her head negatively, throwing some stones in the running water. He stretched his eyebrows hearing her. "Oh so now you started lying to me? Not allowed in friendship. So should I consider you broke our friendship? Why am I even asking, of course you did." Making a sad face, he turned to get up but her tug over his wrist stopped him.

"Shut up. Just shut up. How dare you say that? You do know that you matter to me more than anything in this world after my family, don't you? Still, how could you say that?" she left his hand. Tears brimmed in her eyes, seeing which he felt terrible for upsetting her when she already looked so disturbed.

"Sorry Anika." He apologized holding his ears, trying to make her laugh but she still remained like that, not looking at him.

"Arey baba, I didn't mean that. Really, I was just kidding." He pulled her towards him, wrapping his hand around her shoulder. She struggled, pushing him but he didn't loosen his hold, instead brought him closer. She very soon gave up, being mentally drained out, slipping on his chest. "Am I so bad Shivaay that everyone hates me so much?" she asked him innocently as her heart could no longer hold that pain.

"What? No. Who said this rubbish to you?" he tried pulling her out so that he could ask her properly but she held him tighter.

"Anika, listen...look at him. Please for a minute" he forcefully parted from her. Sliding a finger underneath her chin, he lifted her face above making her look at him but she refused to look into his eyes.

Her eyes shed tears which she tried her best to hold back but she was too sensitive to do that. Shivaay well knew how delicate she emotionally was and that hurt him like hell to see her in such vulnerable state.

"Today, Naina Aunty told me that because of me, my brother couldn't step into the world. She told me, I am such bad omen that I swallowed my brother even before he could take birth. Is it true Shivaay? And she even said that, because of this reason, my dad ignores me, because he hates me for killing his son."

Her throat choked, heart becoming heavier recalling her Naina Raichand's words. She again clutched his T-shirt in her fist, hiding in his chest. He was too shocked to react anything. Naina Raichand, her father Anish Raichand's sister who apparently hated Anika for some unknown reasons which seemed to be getting clearer now.

Anika's question shook Shivaay inside out. Something broke down within him. Her words left a heartbreaking impact on him. Her break down broke him. She was going through a trauma, a trauma of considering herself murderer of her own brother. Anika Raichand, was a very strong girl but when it came to her family, she was way too sensitive and that was one more reason of Shivaay being so distressed.

He had never seen her so broken. She had always been a bubbly, chirpy girl, always laughing and smiling and being the reason of other's happiness, always flying around like a butterfly. He had an insane urge to punish the ones who had made his best friend so upset, who was the reason of those tears in her eyes. He hated those tears. He would do anything to soothe her pain. He could give up anything to bring her dazzling smile back on her face.

Ms. Naina Raichand, you'll pay for this. Shivaay clenched his fist in anger but calmed himself down, seeing Anika was still shaking while sobbing. How could someone be so heartless to say such cruel things to a 20 year old girl?

Unbelievable!

But Shivaay also had seen the way Anish behaved with Anika right from the start. It was as if Anika wasn't his daughter or had given him some kind of grief. He never understood the reason behind that but at the very same time; he knew that Anika's father did not hate her. He had seen that. He had seen that. Anish may behave cold blooded to her but he cared for her like anything.

Shivaay had always seen through his rough behaviour and figured out that Anish Raichand did love his daughter.

But then what made him be distant from Anika, was the main question.

"Anika, relax. Calm down. Stop crying first." Shivaay spoke softly, wiping her tears from her cheeks. Unknowingly his lips lingered over her hairs. It was all in attempt of to ease her off. She did not realize that as well.

"It's nothing like that. Nothing happened because of you." He tried consoling her as she kept weeping in his embrace.

"No Shivaay, why'll Aunty lie? That is a truth Shivaay. I killed my brother."

I killed my brother.'

I killed my brother.'

I killed my brother.'

She kept repeating that line, crying out loudly. Her cries made him restless. Not knowing what else to do, he just held her, assuring her that no matter what, he was always there with her, he is still there with her and he always will.

She slowly stopped crying after his uncountable attempts of calming her down. Gently pulling her out of his arms, he scooped her face in his palms, wiping all the wet drops on her cheeks with his thumbs.

"Look Anika, you trust me?" he asked looking in her eyes. She stared in his eyes with her innocent ones before she nodded.

"Then come with me." He pulled her above, getting up.

"Where?" she questioned in a low voice... Her throat had become all dry because of crying for so long.

"Come Anika." He said once again, leaving her question unanswered and made his way towards his bike holding her hand. She let him do what he was. She was emotionally too weak to resist more.

As they got on his bike, she rested her cheek on his shoulder, gripping him. He turned back to look at her once before he started his bike. She held him like a kid holds his mother on the entire way, seeking out protection in him.

"Shivaay," she gasped as he halted the bike in front of her home. She clutched his shoulder tightly. Once again tears brimmed in her eyes. "Shivaay no please," she softly cried, pleading him to take her anywhere except her home.

He made her get down from bike as she wasn't ready to do so.

Holding her hand firmly in his grip, he entered inside with her. Being Sunday, Anish was at home, reading newspaper sitting on couch. "Uncle."

Anika's eyes shed more tears, hiding behind Shivaay as he called for Anish. Looking above from the newspaper, Anish greeted Shivaay, "Shivaay, you here? Come sit."

"No Uncle, we need to talk first." Shivaay's determined tone made Anish to get up from his place and his eyes caught a glance of Anika, standing behind Shivaay.

"Uncle, why don't you behave normally with Anika? Do you hate her?" Shivaay asked, without waiting further. Anika's broken state was killing him.

"What?" Newspaper fell down from Anish's hands as he heard Shivaay say. Anish definitely hadn't expected such any question from Shivaay.

"Yes Uncle, please clear everything today." Shivaay confirmed that Anish heard right, bringing Anika in front, who was still crying silently.

"Why is she crying?" asked Anish noticing the tears falling from Anika's eyes.

"Uncle please answer, do you hate her?" Shivaay repeated his question again which Anish was yet to answer.

Anish lowered his gaze and that made Anika's doubt to get confirm that her father hates her. She turned around to run from that place where everyone seemed to hate her but Shivaay stopped her, making her stand there.

"Naina Aunty told Anika that she killed her brother."

Shivaay's revelation made Anish's eyes widen. "What?" he asked while his eyes showed disbelief.

"Yes Uncle. She told Anika the same." Shivaay narrated every single thing that Anika told him to Anish. Anish clenched his fist in anger. He couldn't believe his ears. On the other side, Anika grabbed Shivaay's hand sobbing.

"This is entirely my fault." Anish threw himself down on the couch when his eyes fell upon shaking Anika. "No one is to be blamed except me." Anish's low tone forced Anika to look at him. He looked devastated.

"Come. Sit." Anish pointed towards the couch in front of him, asking them to be there.

"No Uncle, its fine." Shivaay resisted.

"Shivaay, come." Anish said once again.

Shivaay looked at Anika whose gaze was fixed at her father, as if hoping him to say that he did not hate her. Shivaay squeezed Anika's hand a little, catching her attention. Shivaay walked along with Anika when she shifted her eyes to him, blinking them once silently conveying yes'.

Anish cleared his throat as Shivaay and Anika adjusted them in front of him. "I am sorry Anika."

Anika raised her eyebrows in surprise. It was for the very first time, Anish was talking looking at Anika. Otherwise, he never looked at her whenever he replied to her. Yes, he only used to reply her whenever she used to say or ask anything. She was kind of used to that. So it was an altogether new side of Anish she was seeing.

Before Anika could say or ask anything, Anish continued, "You were never at fault Anika. I failed as a father. I was so lost in my grief that it never let me see what injustice I was doing to you. Yes if some truths are to be revealed, then you are not MY daughter."

That was something that left Anika in a state, beyond shock.

"I adopted you when you were 4 months old. Few reasons are... I always wanted to give someone a better life if I can. Doctors had lost hope on Niharika saying she never could be a mother due to some complications. That made my decision even more firm. And then I saw you in orphanage, I don't know what but there was something in you which pulled me towards you. You were such a baby... with twinkling eyes. When for the first time you held my finger there, you smiled. You smiled like anything and I felt elated. And that was it then. We brought you home."

"And that was the same day when we got news that Niharika was pregnant. We were so happy, so happy. You were our good luck charm who had brightened our lives with your arrival. Everything was smooth until that day arrived. When Niharika was two and a half months pregnant you were 6 months old, you were playing near stairs. You were about to fall when Niharika saw you and she fell from stairs while saving you. She suffered miscarriage."

Anish stopped seeing a horrified look on Anika's face. She understood that is why Anish hates her. She knew it but after getting confirmed, it was hell painful to bear. She felt extreme anger at her own self for being the reason of whatever happened years ago.

"No Anika. It's not your fault beta." Anish's next sentence again surprised Anika. Her brain just seemed like stopped working with the different revelations and Anish's suddenly softened behaviour.

"Niharika couldn't bear the loss and... and we lost her forever." A tear drop escaped from Anish's eyes as past bitter memories flashed before his eyes again.

But composing him, he continued, "But it was never your fault beta. I had loved Niharika more than anything and after her... I just felt so lost. I drowned myself in work and only work. I just wanted to get busy so much to not remember that she isn't with me anymore. I slowly started refraining myself from you because you reminded me of her. You are just like her, innocent, sweet, sacred. But in process of protecting myself from that pain, I couldn't realize how much I was hurting you. Sorry beta. I am really very sorry. I am just so ashamed of myself now that..." his words broke in between.

Shivaay sat there dumbstruck.

He turned to look at Anika who stared at her father who was almost in a vulnerable condition for the kind of treatment he had given to Anika.

Shivaay was about to say something but,

Anika stood up, walking towards Anish who too got up seeing her coming. "I am sorry beta," he once again apologized. Anika didn't say anything. She just hugged him tight, crying in his fatherly embrace which she had missed from her childhood.

"No dad, it's not your fault either. I love you dad." She said in attempt of making him free from the guilt which had clouded him.

He smiled at his fate. He didn't deserve a daughter like her He definitely didn't. He thought how she can still love him when he had given her nothing but ruthlessness. But then, he remembered, it was the same thing to which he had attracted that day in the orphanage. She was different. She was special. She was an angel. He hugged his daughter back, after a real long time. Both smiled, feeling each other presence after longing.

Shivaay was pleased to witness the beautifully touching scenario right in front of his eyes. His heart smiled, seeing Anika's joy after having gone through a painful breakdown.

"Anish."

All three heads turned towards the door, where Naina Raichand stood. She looked slightly surprised as she caught Anish and Anika together, with a peaceful smile over their faces. Shivaay clenched his fist in anger the soon he found the woman who had dared to hurt his daughter.

"What is happening here?" She asked entering inside, eyeing at Anika quite weirdly.

"What the hell you told Anika, Naina?" Anish moved aside Anika, questioning Naina furiously.

"What did I do? I told her what the truth is." Naina replied coldly.

"That's not the truth and you know that." Anish grabbed her arm, making her to look into her eyes.

"I never knew you still hold her responsible for Niharika's death." His tone softened, as she shivered hearing him. Her eyes turned watery in no time.

"I know you loved her Naina but..." he started but cut off by her.

"Shut up Anish. Just shut up, for god sake. She is responsible. This girl... is responsible my best friend is not with me today. She is responsible." Naina slumped down, crying out loud while Anish stood there helplessly.

Shivaay and Anika exchanged glances with the new piece of revelations.

Niharika and Naina, best of the best friends from the time they didn't even know speaking. Time passed and their friendship grew even stronger. Anish met Niharika in college and they fell for each other. Naina was extremely happy to have her best friend as her Bhabhi. But when Niharika and Anish talked about adopting a child, Naina had straight away denied saying they would not do that. But ignoring her, they went on adopting Anika. For some unknown reasons, Naina had not liked the idea of adopting. So she never accepted Anika and Niharika's accident left behind a deep scar on Naina's heart, resulting out her immense hatred for Anika for snatching her best friend from her.

Anish narrated what bond Niharika and Naina shared, to Anika and Shivaay seeing their clueless faces.

Anish kneeled down in front of his crying sister. "Naina, Naina...Look here. I understand, I understand your pain. She was my love, my wife Naina. Do you think I am in any less pain, not having her by my side? But Naina you have to understand whatever happened was an accident. Anika is nowhere to be blamed for that. Your best friend, Niharika loved Anika. How can you hate her daughter??" Anish was trying his best to erase all the hatred Naina had for Anika in her heart. Naina had stopped crying by then, listening to Anish. His words hit her heart like anything.

He isn't fully wrong. Naina thought over what Anish said. Niharika's elated face when they had brought Anika home for the very first time, her happiness when she had taken Anika in her arms, her excitement when she had name her Anika', her joy whenever little Anika used to giggle and laugh in her embrace, her satisfaction of being complete as a woman carrying the little bundle with her flashed before Naina's eyes one by one.

Be it for a very short time, Anika had given her friend a feel of motherhood. Niharika's love for Anika wasn't something new for Naina. She had always seen immense love for Anika in Niharika's eyes. Would she be happy to see her hating Anika? She questioned herself. NO! Answer was quicker than she had imagined.

She looked at Anika, who stood at a distant staring at her with her tears filled innocent eyes. For the very first time, she felt a sharp pain in her heart for punishing the poor soul for no reason in love of her friend.

She felt bad thinking Niharika must have expected her to take care of Anika after her and all that she gave her was ignorance, taunts and hatred.

Slowly getting up by forcing pressure on the tiles with her palms, she walked near Anika. "Maaf karogi mujhe?"

Anika beamed a soft smile through her tears and nodded her face moving it upside down. Naina weakly smiled before she took her in her embrace seeing how lovely and mature girl she was, who was ready to forgive her without anything said. Was she always that blind to see how sacred this girl was?

All the while, Shivaay was patiently watching everything, beyond happy for Anika. He was relieved to see, she getting her family and their love for which she had always longed for, from her childhood.

"Uncle, I want to say something." Shivaay said, stepping towards them.

Anika's head jerked up at him hearing his all of sudden serious tone. She gazed at him, trying to figure out what was going in his mind but for the very first time in her life, she failed to read his eyes. She couldn't really understand the things running inside him.

He glanced at her once before he said, "Uncle, I want to marry Anika."

Anika's eyes widen in shock. She felt her knees going weak with his sudden marriage proposal. How can he ask something like this without even having talked with her before? Her eyes popped at him.

He didn't even bother to look at her. He kept his gaze fixed at Anish Raichand. Anish startled a bit. "Shivaay, son what are you saying?" Anish asked, quite unsure about what his ears heard.

"You heard me right Uncle. I want to marry Anika." He said passing a cold glare to Naina which didn't go unnoticed by Anika.

Before Anish could say anything, Anika interrupted, "Shivaay, I want to talk to you first."

"No Anika. Not now." Shivaay's sharp tone made her glare at him.

"Uncle, do you have any problem with this proposal?" he added more, still looking at Anish only.

Anish turned towards Anika first and then Shivaay. "Umm...yeah... I mean No...No Shivaay. I don't have a problem, if Anika is okay with it." Anish replied knowing Shivaay would be the best for her daughter. He had seen how he cared for her forgetting everything. He surely loves her to infinity.

"Dad?" Anika's jaw dropped with her father's cool attitude towards the guy who had just proposed his daughter, right in front of him.

Anish suppressed his laughter seeing Anika's overly shocked expression. She stomped her foot, throwing deadly daggers at Shivaay and Anish and marched away from there without saying anything further. Anish laughed aloud before saying, "Your safety is in danger Son."

"Well, I'd love to have such a danger in my life." Shivaay said as he rushed behind Anika.

Anika, who had barely got out of her home, walked fast paced to where her feet were taking her.

"Leave my hand, Shivaay... NOW..." She almost shouted, when she felt her wrist being gripped. She didn't need to turn back to see who it was. She well knew the touch.

"Stop, Anika." Whispering in her ear, he tried to calm her raging soul.

"I SAID LEAVE MY HAND." Emphasizing on each and every word, she turned back, jerking his hand with a force, her gaze burning in anger.

He shook his head at her behaviour. He had never seen this side of her. She was always a cheerful, lovely girl who at times used to get upset, sad but angry? He would need to scratch his head to remember when he saw her angry, last. If she was angry, then, he would definitely require a shield to protect himself, he thought.

Walking closer, he instantly took her hand back in his, and royally ignoring her struggles, hits, and screams, he made her walk along with him, forcefully until he found his destination.

"Well, I had not expected to do this, this way but I guess some things and events are unplanned in life and they are beautiful in their own ways." He stopped near a place, which was familiar to both of them, a quiet place, surrounded with a handful of trees, screaming peace in the crowded atmosphere of the busy city, and left her hand.

She had become quiet by then, putting aside her struggling which certainly had made him concerned. But then, he knew, she was angry and he would take off her blame, every accusation, and would make up for annoying her.

"What kind of tone you used for me, there? You literally asked me to shut my mouth up." She was clearly angry, very very angry.

"I know, and I am really sorry for the same." Holding his ears, he apologized. He was feeling guilty because he had never the cold tone that he had, back there.

"Hmm," she replied looking away from him.

"No, please." His hands reached out to grip her arms, and he made her look back at him. "Don't look away from me. I can bear anything but not your ignorance." He didn't hesitate to let her know, to what extent she affected him.

She stared up, in his eyes, trying to look for the hidden emotions in his eyes, which weren't hidden anymore. Clouds were unblocking, revealing the brighter sun.

"You are special to me, really, really special. It's been thirteen years to our friendship and I cherish each and every moment, I have spent with you and I spend with you. And I want to be with you, my entire life, so that I can cherish every moment of my life. Loving you was never an option nor was it my choice. It happened to bring you in my life and that was enough to make me, fall for you helplessly and hopelessly." He stated rather confessed, his hands slid down from her arms to her palms. He brought them closer, softly placing his lips over them.

"I love you, Anika."

She laughed hearing him, and he left her hands, in confusion. May be she doesn't love me! Though his face paled with the mere imagination, he didn't let sadness took over his face in front of her. After all, how would he bear her seeing guilty for not reciprocating his feelings?

"Why today?" She demanded an answer, getting back to him, as she stopped laughing. She knew the answer but she wanted to hear from him.

He held her gaze for a while. "I don't want you to live there, anymore." He answered, truthfully.

"Shivaay," stepping towards him, she rested her soft palm on his cheek, "everything is fine now."

"I know, but still." His words screamed his fears.

She knew him; definitely enough to understand what was he fearing for. His behaviour towards Naina, had certainly let her know, he may have forgiven her but he hadn't yet forgotten what she had said to Anika. That thing was stuck in his mind.

Scooping her face, in his large hands, he stared in her eyes, assuring her about his support for her, at every step but at the same time unwavering, firm enough to not let her stay in her home for longer.

"I understand, Shivaay. But you understand as well, please. I have just gotten them back... my family back. I want to spend some time with them."

The comfort level they shared was something, out of one's imagination. They never really felt the need of words to convey each other anything; their eyes spoke volumes each time, their hearts converse with each other through an altogether different language of their own, which was out of understanding of anyone else.

"Hmm," he leaned forward, letting her head stay with support of his shoulder, wrapping his arms around his back. Whatever she said wasn't entirely wrong and he wasn't unaware of that fact.

"Um... after six months?" He asked, childishly, pulling her in, more.

She almost chuckled at his question rather curiosity. He couldn't bring himself to say even a year. He just wanted her to be with himself, in his protective shield, always.

She broke the hug, making him look at her. Impatiently, waiting to hear her answer, he gazed in her eyes. She finally, nodded with an admiring smile, and he jumped in excitement, joy, and thrill. The contentment on his face was surely worth watching. She always knew, she was going to be his, one day. To look keenly and honestly, she was always his; her soul was entwined within him in such a way, that it could be never separated and now a beautiful word marriage' would bind them in every sense...

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One more piece, I finished writing today. Thought of posting this before I disappear for a while.

I hope you liked it.

Few Notes:

1. Naina didn't get married. So she lived with Anika and her father.

2. Anika didn't directly confess her love because she didn't need to. I hope you could get the flow, I tried to use up there.

Not many of you, would be able to relate to this, and that is okay.

If you have anything to say, I would be glad to hear.