A Collection of Fortunate Events - A Special Thread [22.7.17] Edited - Page 2

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Posted: 8 years ago
#11


You Are...



"Splash."

"God Dammit. What are you doing Anika?" Bewildered, Shivaay stared at his wife in utter disbelief as she continued giving him a water bath from the jugs kept in their room. Third time, for the third time he asked what was wrong, trying to calm his wife down who seemed in her tigress mode that day but all he got in return was water after water from different jugs landing straight on his face, hitting his skin.

Until that day, if anyone would have told him, water could hurt, he would have given his SSO glare to the person, would have played with his hair, SSO style and left giving an you-are-crazy look but now, hell no. The water was kissing his skin so hard, that it was actually hurting. As embarrassing as, it was, but it was his agony.

Damn! Who the hell kept so many jugs in my room? Whoever you are, I'll find out and you are dead. He muttered curses under his breath, and another round of bath started.

"Oh god, stop, I said." Stepping towards her, he snatched the jug from her hand, throwing it somewhere on the bed. His one hand caught her wrist, twisting it to her back and he pulled her with a jerk. What is wrong with this woman? The soon, he brought her closer, the next moment she started struggling to get away from him which was so unlike her. Even when they fought, all he needs to do was, somehow increase their proximity and that was it. He had that effect on her that she could never move his gaze from him when she was in his arms but now, looking at her, one thing he was sure... the matter was beyond serious than he could imagine.

Glancing at her, he was left wondered. Her nose had turned red, her gaze never catching his sight, her hands continued her attempts of getting off his grip... Never had he seen his wife so angry with him, in past one year.

More than anything else, she was hurt and he could see that. He tightened his grip on her, stopping her from struggling. "What happened Anika? Why aren't you looking at me? Did I do something wrong?" He was concerned, desperate to know what had bothered his wife so much. A thin layer of tears, shining in her eyes was enough to raise his panic level and he kept on asking her again and again till she shouted pushing him back with a force that left him startled, amused at the strength she showed, that he never knew existed.

"What happened? You have dares to ask me that? Really? Despite of being married, you are... you are having a relation with another woman and you ask me..."

"I have what?" He hadn't let her complete. Raged, when he heard her, he grabbed her arm, pinning her to the wall. Eyes blazing anger, he was furious. "What did you just say?"

She was taken aback with the outburst he showed. She wasn't expecting him to do that. Momentarily she was at loss of words, when she stared in his eyes that reflected clear sadness apart from fury, but she gathered herself recalling why she had said, what she had said.

"Meghana... this is her name, isn't this?" Ignoring everything, she put over a mask of confidence and she went on.

He loosened his grip on hearing her this time. A fresh stream of tears rolled down her cheeks, as for her, his actions confirmed that she was right.

"Just because I did not do that 2 Rs things with you, you went to another woman. She is your girlfriend, na?" Firm mode of Anika Shivaay Singh Oberoi was gone and now what left over was, a broken wife whose husband had an extra marital affair according to her. She sobbed and clutched the bed, running over it.

Shivaay pulled back from the hug, smiling at the lady standing in front of him. "Thank you Meghana... Thank you so much for giving me this. This was so difficult to get done without Anika's knowledge. I know when she will get to know, she will be angry, upset but I'll handle it. In the end, she would have to agree. Thank you. In return, she had leaned on her toes to kiss his cheeks, beaming brightly at him.

Anika's words broke as she told him, she was right there when he was doing all this and on the other side, he stood, blank, emotionless.

"If you think, I'll give divorce to you and let you live happily with your girlfriend, then you are wrong. You are wrong Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi. I'll file a case against you for cheating on your wife, and that Meghana... that Meghana, she will pay for trapping my husband, a married man." All he could do was to blink his eyes at her laser fast switches, in attitudes. Tears were vanished long before. He saw her gritting teeth as she mentioned about Meghana.

That was it. That was the break point. Before she could come up with something severe than sending him in Jail, he burst out in fits of laughter. This woman is ridiculously crazy. That was all, she could figure out from his words? Ah, 2 Rs things, Shivaay... 2 Rs. Things. Stop laughing or else, she would bring a knife and pierce in Meghana's heart first, then yours and then hers.

She fumed, passing death glares at him, and he realized, he better stop. Otherwise, no one would be able to determine, in how many pieces, he would be found.

"Oh god, she is not my girlfriend, you fool." Shivaay walked up to her, lightly smacking on her head. She raised a brow in response, and then shook her head, signalling, that she was not a fool. She was intelligent and hence, she knew that he was lying.

"Neither had I done any 2 Rs things with her, as you call them." He clarified another, most important fact.

Liar! She shrugged her shoulders, turning her face away.


Closing eyes, he sighed. "Take this. She gave me this." He pulled out something from his pocket, handing over to her. She refused to even look at it but he forcefully made her hold it.

"Shivaay..." She whispered, glancing at her hand and then at him. Leaning against the wall, he crossed his arms to his chest, shaking his head.

"This is a key." She looked at him again, visibly confused. Could he just hit his head on a wall? Marching towards her, he pulled her up from the bed and stormed out with her, without a word exchange.

***

"Whose house is this? This is so beautiful." Stepping in a wonderfully designed and decorated house, she forgot everything, her anger on Shivaay and every single thing. The house was magnificent, ten times more appealing than Oberoi Mansion. She loved it to bits and why wouldn't she? It was after all, as per her taste.

She still did not get it? Oh god. Shivaay increased his pace to reach near her as she walked on, exploring the beauty.

"Hamara... tumhara... was that too hard to guess?" Clearly disappointed, he muttered the last line feebly.

Huh? She turned back to meet his gaze.

"Meghana is my college friend who happens to be an interior designer. She was just helping me in designing this house." Shivaay cleared the air, as the confusion from her face was still refusing to disappear.

"I know, you would have never preferred another house. You would never have appreciated it rather would have emotionally blackmailed me that how could I even think of leaving everyone and shift to another home and blah blah... So I had to do it without your consent. And yes, we are not shifting here, but this house is on your name. I want you to be secure, always. This is our personal space, whenever we would want some quality time together. He said, detailing about his intentions, reasons of doing what he did. "I wanted to surpriseyou but you shocked me." He added, faking hurt.

"Hey," seeing tears brimming in her eyes, he rushed near her, cupping her face. She must be feeling guilty. He thought, feeling bad for her. He decided to cheer her up but his jaw dropped when she pushed him back.

What the hell? He felt his mind twirling with the unexpected reactions; he was getting from his wife. "If what you are saying is true, then... SHE was designing this house, right? Then why were you coming late from a week, saying you have works in office when Khanna Ji told me, you left office at 8 everyday."

That Khana! Let me see you next time and I'll show you, what it is to provide every minute detail of a husband to his wife.

"Sweetheart, how exactly do you think, everything is according to your likings here? Of course, I had to be here to guide Meghana about your choices, right?' He said, putting some senses in his crazy wife's brain.

She stared at him for a while, her mind processing over what he said. He watched her face realizing things, her lowered gaze, and her hands on her waist. Finally! Relieved, he was sure that she had understood everything but she seemed to be hell bent on proving him wrong, in everything, that day, he thought when she made it towards him and started hitting his chest with her palms, fists.

"Pehle nahi bata sakte the? Soch soch ke mai khud pagal ho jati ya fir aapko kisi pagal khane me chod kar aati... uski raah dekh rahe the?"

He chuckled, at her tigress mode again which soon turned into a kitten as she leaned onto him, her one hand wrapped around his back, other one held his arm and she rested her cheek on his shoulder. He would have held her just like he was having, if he had not realized that she was crying.

"Hey." He pulled apart, shifting her hairs that were covering her face. "Aww..." He uttered, teasingly, kissing the tears of his adorable wife. "Aap ka phir se chalu ho gaya ye... aaa." Frowned, she complained forgetting everything. Smile vanished from his face as he heard her. "Aaa nahi Anika... Aww... Aww." Bounded by his habit, he couldn't help correcting her only to gain some more smacks, hits and glares from his wife. "Haan wahi... aaa aww pata nahi kya kya kare rehte hai."

Snaking his hand around her waist, he pulled her onto him. Her hands rested on his chest. "So, you really thought I have an affair huh? Because... you don't like, to do 2 Rs' things with me. Now I also think, I should look for someone. What say? Should I have an affair? He raised a brow, anticipated to know her reaction. He was enjoying so much. It wasn't every day; he got to see such shades of his wife. Sharpening eyes, she narrowed them passing a deathly glare. "Karke to dikhaiye... phir batati hu."

"Decide kar lo. Either you do it with me or I will find someone else."

Quivered, she looked up to him. He looked pretty serious.

What? You still hadn't done anything with him? Pagal hai tu. Har husband wife ke beech me ye sab hota hai. Its normal. Its his right.

She recalled her conversation with Chanda that she had a few days ago. After increasing proximities and Shivaay's actions which she found weird, she had decided to talk with someone and except Chanda, she had no one, she could share such a thing with.

May be he is right, thought Anika, with a plenty of thoughts running in her mind. She had sat many times, thinking and wondering, realizing and figuring out the feelings evoking in her heart whenever he came closer to her, whenever he held her, whenever he touched her. That surely felt weird because she had never been so close to any guy before, but that never felt uncomfortable to her... never.

She closed her eyes, allowing him silently the permission. Even if her heart was beating rapidly against her chest, she felt it was right to do so and she did and on the other side he stood in awe, admiring the woman he had married to, the woman he loved, the woman he cherished. He leaned forward, dropping an affectionate kiss on her forehead making her eyes open wide in a jerk, shock. He whispered in her ear, "I love you not because you attract me physically but because you attract me mentally. I know, you still aren't ready for intimacy and trust me, I'll never force you into it unless you are comfortably entirely. I love you heart more than anything else but till then, I hope you don't mind me getting little romantic because you know, I am not immune. It's terrible to resist you." He said, lingering his lips over her cheek. Hearing his last words, she felt a shiver run through her. Didn't he sound adorable? With his gesture, she fell in love with him, all over again. She let herself hide in his warm embrace, his strong arms wrapped around her petite figure as he pulled her closer, if that was even possible.

"You are my love,

You are my girlfriend,

You are my wife,

You are Anika, you are and you will, always and forever."



----------------


Edited by LoveToWrite - 8 years ago
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Posted: 8 years ago
#12


THIS IS A "MEMBERS ONLY" POST
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Posted: 8 years ago
#13

[MEMBERSONLY]



I have decided to make this as a series. Basically this would contains, short shots based on tracks. I wanted to write drabbles but since I cannot do within a hundred words so yeah, short OS's.


This one is set in the 'Attacks on Anika' time.



***



I Won't Let Anyone Harm You




"Shh Anika. Relax. I am here. Slightly rubbing his palm against her skin, he whispered, comforting her. She clung more onto him, holding him as if he was any elixir to her ill life. Sweat bids had covered her forehead, which he quickly realized as she rested it on his Shirt. Her petite figure was shaking and shivering in his firm embrace. He was left wondering what exactly had scared her to that extent where she failed to bring herself to say a word to him, leave alone explaining.

Confused, he tried pulling away to get some information but she didn't let him move. Her fear alerted him about the seriousness of the situation. Something terrible has happened, for sure. He thanked his stars and patted his back mentally for going against his mind and with his heart and intuition that forced him to land at her place, just on her one phone call... that phone call, on which, she hadn't said anything.

Damn! He would be considered stupid if he ever tells anyone the same. How could he just feel that something was wrong with her? That did not make any sense. Insane, he concluded warning some stupid things from his inside that were screaming, asking him the same question.

Anika. She was important, for now. Rest could wait. He needed to calm her down first. She always had been a strong girl and he, for the one, never expected in his wildest dreams that one day; he would get to see her in that state. Fear just did not suit her, he thought.

"Trust me Anika. I won't let anyone harm you. Once he gets out of her line of sight, he would surely sit and discuss with himself why did he even say that. He promised or say vowed to protect her... but why? Keeping everything aside, he felt that was the best thing he had ever said.

"I... do... trust you, Shi..vaay. Even if her words broke with her tearing voice but she did admit it and why wouldn't she? She was Anika and not Shivaay Singh Oberoi who constantly battled with what he felt and what he did.

"Tell me, what happened here? He had understood by then, that she was extremely scared and she would not shift away from him and more, he wasn't willing to let her out of his shield... not especially when she looked like doubting for her safety. This way or that way, he wanted to make her feel guarded and free from danger. If he couldn't verbalize it then he would make it visible through his actions.

"Attack... some...one here... do..or door locked... ph.. phone dead... someone here.

He hardly had grasped what she was trying to tell but one thing was inferred without a doubt she was being attacked and to the bound, she was terrified was horrifying... even for him. It must have been so severe if it had frightened her this way, he was sure. Gritting teeth, he clenched his fist that rested on her back but soon freed it, wrapping around her.

Who could target her? And why? Be that person in heaven or hell, in home or jail, he would do anything and everything to hunt him and once he finds him, he would pay... he would have to pay for doing what he did with Anika. How dare he come near her? How dare he try to harm her? Her tears had pricked his heart and cold body had put an uneasiness in him, making him panic.

Nobody, nobody can ruin her beautiful smile.

Nobody can hurt her.

Neither he would tolerate nor would he let anybody do that.



Edited by LoveToWrite - 8 years ago
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Posted: 8 years ago
#14


THIS IS A "MEMBERS ONLY" POST
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Posted: 8 years ago
#15


Peace



It had been a day, since he saw her last, a long day, without her. Desperate, would be the adequate word to depict his exact state. Restlessness, would be less to portray the amount, he lacked peace. He kept pacing in his room, rubbing his forehead with his cold palm. A throbbing pain, he felt in his head forced him to halt his steps and sit on the bed.


Gulping the water that acted like an extinguisher for the fire blazing in his soul, he sighed. Could he blame her? Could he blame the destiny or by any chance God? If not, then who it would be to be blamed? There has to be someone, right? Someone has to take the responsibility for his broken relationship?


It should be him, he thought. Of course, who else? Having had done unforgivable mistakes, he owed to at least accept that. If she wasn't in his life, if his relationship came to an bitter end with her, then no one except him was supposed to be blamed. He had married her, forcefully, not she. Despite of the hurt, he caused her, her purity never allowed her to sit back, watching him facing any problems. Forgetting her agony, about the injustice he had done with her, about the ridiculously unforgivable act of holding her brother's life at stake, she had always managed to go out of the way, to help him out.


Thinking that he would change would have to be written in the black words by the coal in the book of her life, if she ever decides to write. Okay may be he had, quite a bit but does that change the fact that, still, Naam, Khoon and Khandan matters to him more? Apart from that, what exactly is this Naam, Khoon and Khandan he had kept chanting all along?


Naam, the name used to refer someone, given by us, most probably parents.

Khoon, the blood, compulsorily red in everyone's veins.

Khandan, the family you have brought up into.


How does it change a person, by these three words?

In the end, isn't everyone a human?

Isn't everyone same?


Being born in a reputed family, neither makes you worthy enough nor being brought up in an orphanage takes out your worth.


It's all about you, how you carry yourself, what you have kept tied with you since your childhood that helped you to grow, what respect and love mean for you, what humanity is for you. It's all about you. No Naam, Khoon or Khandan can add this to your personality and neither it can erase it from you.


Often, you don't realize the impact your words leave. Words can be forgiven but can never be forgotten.


If Naam, Khoon and Khandan is actually held tremendous importance in his life, then he should be happy for not having her in his life. If these things are actually right, then why his heart wasn't at peace?


She had gone, gone from his life, far from his reach. She would never come back. He had dared to compare her worth with these baseless namesake words, and he lost her forever, right there.


And he had lost his peace, forever.



------------------------



Edited by LoveToWrite - 8 years ago
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Posted: 8 years ago
#16



Soulmate


Anika Raichand, a girl who was full of life and love. She used to spread colours of her love wherever she used to go. A bubbly and chirpy girl whose life was dependent on nothing but love... that was the definition of Anika Raichand.


But one incident in her life changed her entire self. She slipped into depression. She did not hate love now but she did not believe in it either.


She sat on one bench in the park around some distance from her home. Her face buried in her palms, and sobs escaping from her mouth continuously made her cries painfully heartbreaking for anyone who would have had listen to them. But being a Monday, a very busy day for the students and workers, park was quite empty. Her lost figure had searched for a last bench in the corner at the opposite side of the start of the park. Just from her back side, street wasn't really busy. It was unusually one quite day.


"Hi"


She heard a voice and the pitch made it clear for her that, the owner was standing right in front of her. She lifted her face, pulling her hands down and found one guy in his late twenties there... a guy wearing casuals, with dark brown eyes and a smile through the confusion.


He quickly pushed his one hand in his pocket and pulled out his handkerchief from it. Forwarding it towards her, he asked politely, "May I know, why a beautiful girl like you is crying here, alone?"


She stared at him for a while. He felt quite weird seeing her narrowed eyebrows.


"Are you trying to flirt with me?" she asked, taking the handkerchief from his hand and wiping her tears. He chuckled at her question. Even when she was crying, she was equally feisty, he would say.


"What? No. Not at all... Don't I look like a descent person from face?" he answered putting another question forth for her.


She had stopped crying by then. "Well, if you ask me... then I guess you do. But I don't believe in faces you see. People are more what they hide than they show." She replied in a strong opinionated tone.


"Woah Young Lady... Hold on. You seem to go much deeper than how girls of your age go." He said, taking a seat besides her. "But don't worry. I am exactly what I look. You can trust me. I promise I won't break your trust ever." He told her, in a soft tone.


"And why do you think, I would trust a stranger?" she asked, returning back his handkerchief to him. She was one independent and strong girl who knew how to deal with people. And trust was one sensitive topic there.


"Oh I am sorry. Hi, I am Shivaay." Shifting himself a little, he turned towards her, forwarding his hand.


"Anika. She said, without shaking hands with him. He ruffled his hairs before he took his hand back, wondering at the lady with him.


"So as we aren't strangers now, you can let me know. He brought up the unanswered part of his question again.


"What? She asked casually, not understanding what exactly he meant.


"Reason of crying of course, what else? he answered.


She nodded her head negatively. "No... nothing... its just


"Oh please! Now don't say that some sort of kachra went into my eyes...I wasn't crying... its just because of that... Typical TV serials he cut her off, saying it in the funniest way, mimicking actresses of daily soaps.


She laughed at his antics but quickly stopped seeing him staring at her.


"Should I tell you something?" he asked.


"Ke mai haste hue bohot acchi dikhti hu na? Try some new line Mr. I have heard this line more than 100 times." She said, giggling.


"Nahi. Tum bohot accha hasti ho." Shivaay replied, looking straight into her eyes which left her stunned. They shared an eyelock. She saw something in his eyes, something which she couldn't understand. He was the first one to shift his gaze.


"Achha ab to bata do, why were you crying?" he asked, diverting the attention.


"My marriage got fixed." She finally answered, sighing.


"What? Are you serious? Hahaha... Oh my god... hahaha. You are crying because you are getting married? Thats unreal! I don't believe this. I can't believe this." He burst out laughing but stopped glancing at Anika, who was glaring at him angrily.


"Okay Okay I am sorry." He lifted his hand above his head, surrendering. "You are crying because you are getting married?" he asked, on a serious note.


"I don't want to get married." She said, blankly.


"Then say it to your parents na that you don't want to get married. Big deal?" he gave her a solution in no time, saying casually.


"Nahi bol sakti." Her face paled.


"Why?" he asked.

"

Mai ek bohot badi galti kar chuki hu, kisi par bharosa karke... Jiski saja bhugat rahi hu. Mai kisi se pyar karti thi."


"Oh ok. I got it. You love someone but your parents are not agreeing right? Aaj ke zamane me bhi parents ko love marriage ke liye convince karna itna mushkil hai...I didn't know." He went on and on, presuming things.


"Stop okay? Esa nahi hai. I used to love him." She replied stressing over used to' making clear that it was a past. "He betrayed me. He was playing with me. He never loved me. He was with me for his own selfish needs. My family knew about him. They even warned me but I was a fool, who was crazy in his love. When they got to know about his betrayal, they found a guy for me and I said yes without even looking at his photo." She said, defending her family.


"Oh I see. That means you don't even know whom you have said yes? Agar ugly nikla to?" he teased her.


"Pata nahi. We don't know each other. We haven't met even once and that dumb guy, he said yes for this marriage just by looking at my photo." Anika was irked up with the thought that he agreed for the marriage just by looking at her photo. Who idiot, in today's world does that?


"To ab? At least uska number to hoga? Call karke milne ko bolo usko." Shivaay came up with one more brilliant idea.



"Unfortunately no. Neither I have his number nor he is in India. I have heard from mom that he is a businessman and he is in US for next one month for some deal."


"Oh okay. What is his name?" Shivaay asked.


She looked at him, helplessly.


"What? You don't even know his name? Unbelievable!" Shock would be an understatement to describe his state, knowing Anika's knowledge about her would be husband.


"Actually NO. I told you right that I have no interest in this marriage. So I don't know what his name is! Waise bhi after one month, when he will come, this marriage is anyway not going to happen." She told him, a smile started playing over her lips.


"Lekin tumne to haan bol diya na?" he was confused.


"Yeah so? I can't say no but he definitely can! And he will. I will make him say no for this marriage." She grinned with the naughtiest smile.


"You are great." He folded his hands in front of her, bending his head down, bowing her while she giggled more and more.

***


"Wait, I don't believe myself. I told my entire life story to a stranger like you, whom I met just few minutes back. Unbelievable!" she sighed, wondering over her act, she just pulled off.

He chuckled hearing her. "Well, I believe, it's often easy to share things with people whom we don't know much."

"Maybe." She said. "Anyways, I should be going now." Tilting her wrist, she spoke, realizing the time in her watch. Nodding, he stood up. "As you say, My Majesty." He bowed down, bringing his hand to his chest. She laughed seeing his antics.

"Thank you." She mumbled, knowing his every effort was just to make her feel better. Blinking eyes in response, they walked out, parting their ways.

*

"Anika, where were you? I was so worried." Her mother embraced her, as she entered inside her home. "Mom, I am fine. Anika replied, which calmed her mother to some extent.

"I am really tired Mom. I am going to sleep." She spoke in a tired voice, heading towards her room. "Anika, are you unhappy with this marriage? If so, then tell me. You know, I would never force you for anything."

Anika stopped in her track, as she heard her mother. Her eyes closed for a moment, guilt taking over her. Despite of everything, her mother still wanted only her consent for the marriage. A mother's heart can never be wrong. The inner turmoil, Anika was going through, didn't go unnoticed by her mother. Walking back to her mother, she held her hands before she assured, "Mom, I want this marriage. You are not forcing me, no one is. I know you want best for me. I trust you."

A weak smile appeared on her mother's face. "Go now. I'll bring you something to eat in your room." Her mother didn't question any more, asking her to rest. "Okay." Anika muttered happily.


I am sorry Mom. I know, you want happiness for me. I trust you, and your choice. I really do. But I am not ready for this marriage, right now. I... I need time. And more, I am not sure about myself that if I can get into any relationship as of now. But at the same time, I dont want to disappoint you. So I have said yes for it. And also, if he refuses for this marriage, I apparently won't be responsible at all. Anika was lost in her own world of thoughts on the way to her room. The last thing, in her mind made her giggle.


*

Next Day:

Being a busy morning, Anika wrapped up the work at her home quickly as she could, and left for her work, hugging her mom, saying a bye' to her. Her entire day was hectic; she was busy as the bunch of customers crowded.

Finally, around 6, she could take a breath. Removing the bow, she had tied her hairs with, she let her hairs open. She loved her hairs open. She remembered, how at a time, she used to spend so much time in washing her hairs, drying and setting it properly so that when she lets them open, they look as beautiful as she did. It made her recall, why she used to do that, FOR HIM because, he loved it that way. Scratch that... He never loved her. But the least, he used to complement her hairs and that was the one reason, she started spending a lot time in nourishing them, making them more beautiful, FOR HIM.

Her hands worked back, in tying her hairs once again the soon his betrayal flashed before his eyes once again. Now, she never lets her hairs to fly in the hair. She would never do a single thing liked by him. Or probably it wasn't the case. She might doesn't want to do anything which would remind her of him.

Her trance broke as her eyes caught the person, who just entered inside, sitting on one table. Oh, he looks familiar. Thinking for few moments, she finally registered who he was. "Hey Shivaay," she walked near him, catching his attention.

"Anika? Hi. You here?" Shivaay greeted, as she stood next to him. "I own this cafe." She told him, smilingly. "Oh is it so? That's great."

"It's such a pleasant surprise to see you here." Her sweet voice rang in his ears, making him smile brighter. "Same here." She heard him say.

"So tell me, what I should bring you?" she asked, forwarding menu card towards him. She stared him, in surprise as she saw him pushing the menu card ahead on the table, not even sparing a glance at it. "Anything... you say. I'd prefer anything you bring."

She took few moments to recover from the much, she was taken aback. His stressing on you' didn't go unnoticed by her. "Um okay. How about some Coffee and pastries then?" she asked, thinking for a while about what could she server him.

"I have already said, anything you bring." He repeated again, but sensing her looking at him in confusion, he quickly replaced adding, "That would be amazing."

Her eyes still fixed on him, wondering what exactly he meant through his words, she averted, getting back to bring his order. She came back with a tray in her hand after few minutes.

"Are you accompanying me?" he asked noticing, as she put the order on the table.

"Would you mind if I do?" she in return put forth a question, rather than answering. She saw him shaking his head in denial. "Ah, I am so tired and hungry as well. Today, it was much rush in the cafe. I couldn't eat anything." She told him, pulling the chair next to him, sitting down comfortably.

"Do you run the cafe on all your own? I mean, don't you have hired people here?" he looked quite surprised to see if she was managing it all on her own. She laughed seeing his amused face. "No No... I do have many people, who work here for me. But today, I have given off to everyone."

"Why so?"

"Just like that. It's been four years since I finished my college. I always wanted to open a cafe of my own. I had got a job, even before I could finish my college. So I worked for two years in that company and earned enough to open this cafe. From that time, these people are with me, working here. They are like a family. So, I just gave them a day off to enjoy their personal lives. Luckily, my cafe runs very well. Today is the day, I started this cafe on. And I kind of wanted to be here alone today. This usually is open till 9, but today I have hanged a board out, "Closed at 6, for today. You probably missed it." She pointed out, showing him the board. He instantly turned back to see the same.

"But you can sit now. I owe you at least this much." She again spoke, not letting him apologize. She hadn't forgotten his efforts for bringing a smile on her face, yesterday. He had been there for her, when she probably needed someone. Be it unknowingly, accidently or coincidently, but he had.

"You owe me nothing, Anika." His fingers reached out to hold hers, unknown to himself. To her surprise, she didn't struggle or felt uncomfortable but they exchanged smiles in return. "Okay, so let's eat now. I am damn hungry." Her hands slipped from his, as she clutched her stomach in order to show him, that her poor empty stomach badly needed to get filled. Chuckling, he nodded, taking some sips of the coffee. "Since, I can see you are managing everything alone today, let me presume, you have made this. This is the best coffee I have ever tasted."

His complement managed to bring a beam over her. She looked delighted, she looked pleased. "Thank you." She said, acknowledging his admiration and appreciation.

"So, you must have worked in a good company. Or else, it quite difficult to set up such beautiful cafe by earning in company just after completing graduation only for merely two years, considering the starting salary..." he asked, as he put the spoon from pastry in his mouth.

"You do have good information about companies I must say. Yeah you are right. I was topper of my college. Being placed in a company which provided me package of 0.5 Crores... so yeah, that's it." Her casual reply, made him gaze at her, being impressed, with a proud look. A package of 0.5 Crores and that too at the start, was not everyone's cup of tea. And that refers; her intelligence was too high to be running a cafe.

"Don't you think, you could have been more successful in that career. I mean 0.5 Crores isn't any joke. You are talented and could have easily earned money and been a billionaire by now, I am sure." There came, his another question.

Anika wasn't a girl to get friendly with anyone in a meet, and especially that much to share her deepest secrets with. But then again, she didn't feel uncomfortable in talking with Shivaay. "May be, but this is my passion. And real happiness comes only when your work and passion is one. So here am I. And I believe, just because you have educated, that doesn't mean you are supposed to constrain yourself there. I studied, did a good job, earned enough. Now I want to live my dreams." Her reply made him satisfied. She surely wasn't like any other common girls. The much her way of thinking differed from others, so did she her own.

That made Anika remember one more reason, she didn't wish to stay in the company more. It was the same place, where she had met him, the one she loved but got betrayed later. She now chose to cut off every single thing in her life which could connect by any way to him. Cafe was indeed her dream. And she was happiest being where she was now.s

"And by this, what do you do?" she asked, busy in eating her pastry, remembering she doesn't know what he does as work.

"Ah just a businessman." He finished, saying his occupation in a word. She being, lost in feeding her stomach, just nodded and with that, they sat there, talking about each other.

*

"Anika," he called for her.

"Hmm," she responded, knowing he was asking some other thing. That's what they been doing since the time, they sat with each other.

"Its 12" he softly said, making her aware of the time striking in the clock. "What?" and there came a loud scream in shock. She couldn't believe what she heard. She rechecked in her wrist watch and then shifted her gaze at the outside of the Cafe to see it was dark.

He didn't look surprised. He had expected the similar kind of reaction from her. "Does that mean it's been six hours since we are talking?" she asked unbelievably, her eyes showing nothing but utter disbelief. She saw him, moving his head upside down in agreement.

God! What the hell is wrong with me? Cursing, she mentally smacked herself several times; still unable to understand how it happened. She stood up hurriedly, with mixed emotions, being nervous, slightly embarrassed.

"I think we should leave. It's too late." She spoke, gazing at everywhere except him. She walked back to the counter and picked up her phone from there. She could see several missed calls from her home. She again cursed herself for putting it on silent mode. If only it had been on general mode, things would have been different. He was about to say something, when he heard her talking on phone. The moment she took phone in hand, her Mom called her again.

"Hello Mom, No, No. I am fine, I am coming. What? Oh okay, I'll see Mom. Bye." Disconnecting phone, she went through the messages of her phone to check out the number of her would be husband, her Mom had texted her. Her Mom told him, that he was in India, Kolkata to be specific. But he would be going the next day. So he wanted to meet her. Why god? You have to do all the weird things today itself, right? She thought, glancing at Shivaay.

"Shivaay you go. Mom sent me his number. He is here and going back tomorrow. I have to meet him." She stepped towards him, informing him to go.

She could see all of sudden a mischievous glint in his eyes. She failed to understand what happened to him all of sudden and the next moment she heard him, "Oh, Call him then. I also want to meet him." He got up, crossing his arms to his chest.

"What? Why? I mean no. She searched for words to say. But ignoring him, she decided to call him. And the next thing left her stunned. It was something, she couldn't imagine in her wildest dreams.

The moment she called him, Shivaay's phone started ringing. Finding it a bit suspicious, she still ignored. But then he pull his phone out of his pocket answering, "Hi..."

Anika's phone literally slipped from her hand, staring at Shivaay with wide eyes. Shivaay is the one, my marriage fixed with?

Turning the phone screen towards her, he showed her the name flashing over it. "Sweetheart" she read in mind, which made a pinkish blush rising up her cheeks. "So you were lying to me all the time?" she asked, soon realizing she had been played all along by him.

"No Anika. It just happened to be that way." He interrupted.

"You were saying na, how can someone say yes' for the marriage by just looking a photo. So here am I, in front of you. Now tell me, will you marry me?" he stepped near her, holding her hand, in a gentle grip. His sudden marriage proposal made her speechless.

"You were wondering right, how did I agree for this marriage, just by seeing your picture. Let me tell you why. It was your eyes Anika. I, Shivaay Singh Oberoi, a workaholic person who had no girlfriends, no relationships in my life because I was all into my studies and work... besides that no one ever attracted me that way. But when I saw you, I felt a pull towards you. I don't know. I don't have any logical reason Anika but its just the connection I could feel with you. But now, when I met you yesterday and today... I want to confess, I feel much more than just liking you. I won't say I love you because I know you won't believe and instead will ask, how can I love you in just two meets but Anika, loving someone doesn't require knowing for long. So yes, I do love you but I want you to step on this journey with me, where we will be together, knowing each other, and gradually falling for each other more and more. I want to cherish my every success of life with you, and want you by my side, in my every failure. I want you have the fortune of everyday drinking the Coffee made by you. I want to care for you, I want to support you, I want to protect you... I want to love you. Will you allow me that right Anika?"

She was standing like a statue in his grip. She never expected, he would say anything of that sort. Astonishment would be an understatement to describe what she felt hearing his every word. She lowered her eyes, recalling what she had told him about her... almost everything... even about her betrayal, she got in love.

"Anika, don't feel embarrassed because you told me about everything. Okay, tell me one thing... you were denying for this marriage because you still couldn't forget him, right?"

Her silence gave him his answer.

Leaning forward, his hand went back, and his fingers gently pulled out the bow, which was holding her hairs in a bun. The soon he took it off, her hairs danced with air. "Today, did you remember him even once in last six hours?"

His question made realization to dawn upon her. He was right. In those six hours, she couldn't realize the time... leave aside him. She once again chose silence, which made him smile, knowing her unsaid answer.

"So, will you marry me? I am waiting for an answer." Taking out a box from his pocket, he pulled off a beautiful ring from it

She could only stare at him. "And if you are still not ready for this marriage, just tell me. I promise... I will handle everything. You don't have to worry. He assured her, taking a step backwards. He would never want to force a marriage upon her. Though his heart had already gotten its answer but, he would double assure himself for not burdening her.

The next thing he knew was, she initiated steps towards him, circling her arms around his neck and she was in his arms. Pulling her closer, he embraced her. He had never felt so complete. Holding her in his arms was the best feeling he had ever experienced. He could feel her smiling against his skin. She didn't say anything but still said every-thing. Her one gesture and there, he got his answer.

***


You must have read this story from someone else. That was me. That time, I was going through so many things. Almost my every second story was getting plagiarized and I was so depressed. I thought of writing from another account as then there won't be any copy pasting issues as no one would know that this is me.😊

Edited by LoveToWrite - 8 years ago
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Posted: 8 years ago
#17




You Are My Everything



I hope that someday, you will realize,

That I can see forever in your eyes,



"Oh come on yar, don't be a spoil sport now." Tia pulled Anika's hand, dragging her to the edge of swimming pool. "Tia, please." Anika requested Tia with a calm face to not force her for getting into swimming pool. "Arey come na, nothing will happen." Tia wasn't going to leave Anika so soon. Before Anika could protest more, they heard him.

"Tia don't." Shivaay held Anika by her shoulder while his other hand worked in order to free her hand from Tia's grip. Anika's face lightened with a smile on his arrival. Tia frowned with Shivaay's actions. "What is this Shivaay? Don't do this. We are here for our picnic, for having some fun and like always, she won't let you enjoy."


Tia's words snatched the smile crept on Anika's face. She instantly shivered as Tia's words rang in her mind again and again. Shivaay clenched his fist in anger. Closing his eyes in regret as her body went cold in his hold, he quickly made his grip firm on her but Anika couldn't stand there more. She removed his hand from her shoulder, "Shivaay let me go." She couldn't say more than that.


"No Anika." he resisted, trying to hold her. "Shivaay please." her soft plead filled with pain and only pain made his heart bled. He left her the moment he gazed into her agonized eyes. She simply walked away from there as fast as her legs could take her.

He stood there frozen. He had never felt so helpless. He had never felt so worse. "Leave her. Come on, let's enjoy." Tia said with a sigh as Anika left from there. He clenched his jaw, gritting teeth as his anger reached to the threshold. Tia's latest words did more damage to already worsen situation. Turning toward Tia, Shivaay roughly grabbed her by her arm, shouting, "How dare you? I asked, how dare you say that. Again? Didn't I make it clear earlier that never... ever mess up with her? Answer me dammit"

Tia was scared beyond anything seeing Shivaay's anger. She had never seen him so angry... not at-least with her. Earlier when he had brought up this topic, he was much calm.

"Shivaay... wo... wo," her words broke in between with the fear rising within her.


"I was so good to you because you are my sister, my cousin sister but now, you are forcing me to forget it. Just because you are my cousin, I don't give you the right to insult her. Why you only... I do not give any damn person any right to say any such thing to her. I do not allow anyone to hurt her in any way... not even myself." He let her know once again, with his words and the tone he used that he would not tolerate a single scratch on her, be it mentally or physically. Tia actually took some moments to register his exact meaning behind the words. Shivaay showing the amount of authority on Anika left Tia bewildered. The over-protectiveness of Shivaay for Anika made Tia to get lost in wondering the reason behind it. Anika was best friend of Shivaay from past nine years. Tia gave a second thought to the best friend' theory and within no time, she concluded remembering Shivaay's care, affection and protectiveness towards Anika and the way Shivaay was confronting her... his own sister for Anika that there was definitely something more than what was she seeing. This isn't just friendship. She smiled within her soul.

"What? What exactly problem you have with her? Why can't you just let her be the way she is? What happiness you get by hurting such an innocent and poor soul like her, haan? Look Tia, I have cleared this earlier also and I am saying this again so just listen and listen carefully. Stay away from Anika as much as you can. I am with her and I am not sacrificing my any happiness because my happiness lies within her. She is the sole reason of my happiness. She never asked me to accompany her, to be with her. It's me who did. I choose to be with her. Nothing is more important to me than her happiness. I can do anything for her one smile. Nothing hurts me more than her tears. I'll always shield her from all the odds. Got me? So you better think twice before saying anything to her, alright? Because now I won't think twice."

Tia was listening to him quietly. She rubbed her arm from where he had held her. A sudden guilt rushed inside him when he saw that and ended up saying, "Did I hurt you? I am sorry Tia. I never meant to." He felt really bad for having had done that, be it intentionally or unintentionally but he did and that was the last thing he wanted to do. He never wanted to hurt her. But Anika was his first most priority and whenever it came to her he just couldn't help being extra concerned.

"Its fine... That's nothing" Tia assured him. "And I won't say anything to her now onwards which will hurt her" Tia said, promised him. "Thanks Tia." He expressed a quick gratitude, giving a side hug to her and he left from there, in search of his Anika.

Shivaay walked, fast paced out of his farmhouse, looking for Anika. "Shivaay, where are you going?" he heard Pinky's voice from behind. "Anika ke paas" he answered turning towards her. He saw a sudden brightness shining in his Pinky's eyes on his mention of Anika.

Shivaay and his parents had come for a little trip to their farmhouse along with his cousins. At first, Shivaay denied for this trip for his ever so obvious reason, Anika. But the moment Pinky told him that she already had convinced Anika and she had agreed to join them on the trip, Shivaay too said yes happily.

"Why don't you tell her Shivaay?" Pinky asked, moving towards him.

"What mom?" he asked, shaking his head in questioning mode.

"You don't know?" Pinky revolved the question, of which they both probably knew the answer. He lowered his gaze being well aware of the point she was hitting at. Holding his face in her palms, she made him look at her, "Just go and tell her what she means to you. Go and confess your love to her. Go and make her aware about what importance she holds in your life. Go and let her know how much you love her."

Shivaay was taken aback for a moment when the never expressed emotions and never confessed love of his heart found vocal words through Pinky. He was slightly surprised on knowing his mother knew everything.

"Mom, no... wo actually..." he scattered his eyes around, unable to register what to reply to his mother. His mother simply put her hand over his shoulder providing him ultimate peace and relief. "Don't keep it more within you Shivaay. Just express your love for her and trust me, two lives will get more beautiful with this"

"I don't think so mom. She considers me as her best friend and that's it. I don't think she thinks of me that way and if she does not then she will feel that I betrayed her and as far as I know her, she'll simply walk out of my life mom and I can't afford that. And more to that, she'll punish herself for this and I really can't let that happen. So it's just okay. Really, it is. I'll stay by her side like this, always... as her friend" Shivaay said, with not a slightest line of complaint over his face. His love for her was unconditional. He never expected her to reciprocate what he felt for her. Instead, he was there to do everything for her which would make her happy. He was all okay until Anika was happy.


****

Love is the most unpredictable thing in the universe. You never know when it will embrace you. One moment you are living your life normally, everything is running fine just like usually it does but the next moment, you see someone has stepped in your life and apparently and in your heart without your consent and your life is changed, you are changed, forever. When that someone special makes an entry in your life, everything seems nothing but beautiful. You start looking at life like never before. A perspective towards everything changes in a blink of eye.


The very same happened with Shivaay. Anika's arrival in his life made his life more beautiful. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever laid his eyes on according to him. He was 16 when he met her for the first time. His heart had skipped a beat seeing at the visibly innocently naive girl around 14, trying to help an old lady in crossing the road, by holding her with her tiny little hands. Instantly, in a sight he had felt immense pull towards that angel, a wave of pride rushing through his veins. He still wondered how someone could be so sacred, selfless even after being deprived of everything she deserved to get.


Those memories with her in the initial days was something he still loved remembering and it wouldn't be wrong to say that he had captured them in his heart and playing them over and over in his mind, gave him heart-warming pleasure. That memories were something, he would cherish for his entire life time. After that one indirect meet with her, he couldn't help looking for her the next days. When he encountered with the next day, his heart broke into millions of pieces watching her stepping inside an orphanage. That was when; he decided to show up to her. One day, she was sitting in a garden, staring at the kids playing with their parents. It must have reminded her of something because a fresh thin layer of tears gathered in her big hazel eyes but she was quick enough to not let them fall. May be because she wanted to be strong, just how she had been and according to her crying would have presented herself weak in front of others. Then someone would have come to console her and she hated sympathy.

"It's okay."

Her hands worked faster in cleaning her eyes, sensing someone's presence beside her, his voice sounded clear letting her know he was exactly right besides her. She chose to not turn. Only she knew what was going in her mind, but she refused to look who was the person.


Her eyes fixed at nothing particular, roaming everywhere in the garden from kids to their parents, guardians, flowers and everything else lowered in a moment when she felt someone's touch over her hand resting on the bench. It seemed to force her to finally look for the owner. She stared at him, confusion along with plenty of emotions locked in those hazel eyes, as if hiding numerous things from the world. But she had crystal eyes who failed to support her in hiding whatever she wanted to. Neither did he remove his hand, nor did he look away from her even for a fraction of moment.


"I am sorry. Do I know you?" her soft voice came like a melody to his ears. He didn't realize for a while that he kept gazing at her beautiful and angelic face, without answering her and she in return couldn't do anything except thinking about his identity. Nodding negatively, realizing he hadn't yet said anything, he spoke lovingly to her, "No, you don't. But I do. You are my friend." Her eyelids blinked several times, when she heard him. Friend? But she hadn't seen him earlier. Then how did she become his friend? A stream of questions flowed in her mind, answers to which she was clueless to find.


"Will you allow me to be your friend? Please?" he asked, softly, for her friendship. He found her, still staring at him, seeming slightly unsure about what he was asking for. Taking his hand off her, he forwarded it towards her, waiting for her response. Despite of every single thing which had clouded her mind like anything, she didn't realize when her hand slipped in his, lifting from the bench. It made his happiness to turn into ecstasy and that was visible with his smile reaching to his eyes. She didn't understand what it was about her, which pleased him so much, but that came as quite delightful fact to her. Though she didn't know him and he was nothing but a stranger for that little girl but even then, she felt somewhat better with him. He didn't seem to have any intentions of hurting her. Instead, for some unknown reasons, she could see a person within him, who wanted just to be with her, for her. And that day, without exchanging any words, their friendship started.


From that day, he used to accompany her in the same garden after their schools. At times, he found her very silent but he never did really force her to speak. Instead, he was there for her, with her as a silent supporter, who might knew what was bothering her but still chose to be quiet for sake of her, giving her own needed space and time. But he never left her alone, not even for a day. But it was one unusual day in those three years since they met, that he didn't show up. She waited and waited for him, till late night but it didn't result into anything. He didn't come.


That night, sitting in that garden, she realized one thing that he mattered to her. She wasn't upset or mad by not seeing him for the first time in three years but worry and concern for him took over her, to the extent that it landed her straight in his home.


She never had gone to his place but she knew his home... Oberoi Mansion. Because the orphanage, she stayed in, was owned by Mr. Shakti Singh Oberoi and Mrs. Pinky Shakti Singh Oberoi. She had even met them often when they visited the orphanage; they were one of the nicest and pure hearted people. Being very hesitant, she battled real hard with her own self for ringing the door bell. But the next moment, she saw the door getting opened and Mrs. Pinky Oberoi there, looking visibly tensed and anxious.


"Anika?" Pinky was surprised, would be an understatement looking at the girl clad in a simple light blue dress, standing in front of OM, clasping her hands but quickly welcomed her pulling her inside, softly with a smile, asking how did she come there. Before either of them could say anything, Shakti Singh Oberoi came in a rush. Pinky moved towards him, "Bring the doctor soon, please." In response, Shakti only cupped his wife's face nodding and immediately walked out.


"I don't know what should I do with Shivaay. He is so unwell and still he was insisting on going out. Doctor prescribed medicines and left. But I don't know what is so important to him more than himself that he got up and started going out. He fainted near the door and still is unconscious." The mother in Pinky was scaring for the life of her son, who seemed to least care about that, told Anika who stood there still, hearing Pinky.. Anika was too lost to say anything except, "Shivaay?" And that was when realization dawned upon Pinky about many things. Pinky had seen Anika and Shivaay many times with each other. Once on asking, Shivaay told Pinky about how he met her and about their friendship. Without saying anything further, Pinky took Anika to Shivaay's room. Gazing at Shivaay, who was lying unconscious on the bed, Anika's legs trembled a bit. Nothing was going unnoticed by Pinky. Asking Anika to stay with him for some time as she was going to make some Soup for him, Pinky left the room. Anika would have been surprised with Pinky if situation would have been any little different. But that time, she wasn't able to register anything except the unconscious Shivaay in front of her. Pinky's words played in her mind again,

I don't know what I should do with Shivaay. He is so unwell and still he was insisting on going out. Doctor prescribed medicines and left. But I don't know what is so important to him more than himself that he got up and started going out. He fainted near the door and still is unconscious.

In spite of being sick, he was coming to see her. That one thing was all, going inside her. Walking towards the bed, she sat there, besides him. Her palm reached out for his forehead, checking if he was fine. He still had mild fever. The moment, she caressed his forehead tenderly; his hand instantly caught her hand over his forehead. His eyes still closed, he seemed like had identified her touch because she heard him mumbling her name.


"Shivaay," her voice again did some magic because he was slowly regaining his consciousness. With quiet efforts, he finally opened his eyes blinking several times. Seeing her there, he instantly shifted in order to get up but she rested her palms on his shoulder pushing him back to the bed. Looking in her eyes, he tried to figure out if she was okay but for the first time, he failed to read those eyes.


"Why did you try getting out, even after being this sick?" she was mad at him, but still maintained her ever so calm tone.


"For you," he replied the next second she finished her question, without thinking twice. She couldn't avert her gaze from him even after wanting.


"Are you mad?" she asked again, shifting her eyes from him.


"For you," he repeated, leaving her stunned.


But when he saw something disturbing in her eyes again, he quickly ended up adding, "I am a very good friend. I was worried for my best friend. I can't live without seeing her." Giggling, winking, he smartly diverted the centre of attraction of the topic of the discussion. He had seen her, closing her eyes momentarily, breathing deep, sighing in relief and satisfaction. He yet failed to understand, what was that... which he saw in her eyes that time.


"I am fine, Anika." He held her hand gently, caressing it with his thumb, assuring her, trying to take off the worry he saw in her eyes. He hated seeing the tears which she was trying hard to hold back and even was successful in that attempt to some level but he held the capacity to look through her soul. He knew his condition had scared her but then again, there were few questions, of which, answers were yet to find. But he preferred not asking anything, which would leave her uncomfortable or anything of that sort.



Present...



A beautiful faint red shade, had embraced the sky. It has to be one of the most beautiful scenery of sunsets ever. The usually still water in the lake, today, had been waving continuously. A deep sound echoed as she threw another stone in the water.


He came to a halt, stopping at quite a distance before, catching her lone figure, sat on a large rock, her gaze fixed at the lake, her hands picking up the stones absent minded, and throwing them in water, occasionally.


Inhaling a breath, which he almost forgot being clouded with the worried thoughts for her, he walked up to her, with slow steps. Not uttering a word, he quietly slipped beside her. She still hadn't acknowledged his presence. Letting his eyes adore the flowing water, he caught her hand, resting on the rock, tenderly caressing it with his thumb. She closed her eyes momentarily, not taking a second to realize who it was. The act was seemed to have repeating. Years ago, the situation was kind of same. She had met him the same way and today as well, the destiny seemed to have brought them on the same point, again.


"Anika." He turned towards her, cutting off the silence, with the most beautiful word, he considered in his life. Wonderful, isn't it? She was so precious to him that her name set an altogether different level of fascination for him. He watched her, taking a sharp breath before she finally opened her eyes. Glancing at him, she could easily see how concerned he was. Since the time, she had met him, she might not have vocalized but she understood him much well, than he did. Often, he didn't say many things, but she just could understand by reading his eyes. His eyes spoke... much more than normal ones do. She blinked her eyes, bringing a smile.


"I am fine, Shivaay. I really am."

"Hmm, I know." He shifted closer, lifting her hand as he clutched it in his firm grip. That was it. Her head fell on his shoulder and he wounded his one arm around her, letting her stay near himself. The next few minutes went in absolute silence, but time was blissful having each other's presence as companionship.


"Want to cry?" He asked, as he held her hand near his heart. It wouldn't be wrong to say, they were more than perfect for each other, each knowing, when to talk, when to not.


She nodded negatively. "Don't pay attention to other's words, so much, Anika. It will hurt you many times. If only, you understand the people who matters to you and whose words should, life would be far easier." He said, almost explaining her as if she was a kid, a naive, innocent kid. She would always be innocent. And she indeed was very naive.

Did I say anything wrong? Confusion drowned his confidence, with which he was speaking as she lifted herself from him. It almost scared him, knowing she was one sensitive girl and now, she looked emotionally vulnerable. But then, her beaming face, made him relived and he ended up blurting, "You scared me."

She grinned. And he genuinely smiled, seeing her happy. "How much you scold her?"

"Huh?" Unable to register, what she meant, he raised his eyebrow questioning her. "Tia. How much you scold her?" She asked, as if it was scripted and she had already read it. He looked away, the very next moment. At times, he wondered, how, how exactly on the earth she knows him that better. He shook his head and chose to not reply, what she asked for.

"Why do you love me so much, Shivaay?" He was taken aback with her question. He really was. It left him dumbfounded. She knows? Yes, she does.


"Anika... wh.. what... this... I mean.." He stuttered, unable to speak. "What did you think? I didn't know?" She pulled her hand back, staring in his eyes.


"Come on Shivaay, we have at least spent that much time together, that you certainly can't hide anything from me. If you do, it doesn't take me minutes to catch your lies. And this... this thing I knew from so long, but I have started understanding this, since few years." Slowly getting up, she spoke.

Being too speechless to react, he just preferred listening. She forwarded her hand towards him. Clasping his hand within hers, he pulled himself up, to her height.

She knew? Since... when? How? If she did, then why she never mentioned? What made her put forward this now? He had so many questions but the answers, the answers could be achieved from her only. But she graced him with her silence, which he found weird. Every passing moment was causing a tremendous rise in the tides of his stormy heart. He heard her say. "Do you remember when I, came your home first time? When you were not well..." And they drifted back to the memory lanes.

******

Pinky had asked Anika to stay at OM for a night, saying it was pretty late and it wouldn't be safe for her to leave at that clock. Though Anika wanted to deny, badly, but Shivaay's condition forced her to keep mum. Despite of knowing it wouldn't be right to be there, she just couldn't bring herself to leave from there. The concern for Shivaay had overtaken her to the extent that she failed to listen, her mind and chose to follow her heart. Pinky showed her guest room, asking her to be comfortable there.

It had been past midnight since she was tossing on the bed. She was trying hard to give rest to her utterly confused mind and over speedily beating heart. Picking the pillow, she covered her face with it. Unfortunately it did change nothing, absolutely nothing. Unable to resist more, she finally sat straight on her bed. Neither his words were letting her be in peace nor her worried self for him was allowing sleep to be anywhere near her.

She decided to have a check upon him. Making sure, not to disturb anyone's sleep, she carefully stepped out of the guest room, and directed her feet to the destination, which was his room. The door of his room wasn't locked. A light push and she walked inside. The room was lit dimly. She glanced at him. He was sleeping. As she walked up to him, the view of his face was getting clearer. The illness had certainly left him paled. She sat beside him, careful enough to not make any sound which would wake him up.

Unknowingly, she reached out, caressing his hairs, slightly touching his forehead to see if the fever was gone. His temperature seemed much normal to her. She sighed, getting assured that he was fine. That night, she realized one more thing, he just didn't matter to her but he held such importance and place in her heart, which no one ever had. The much she cared for him, she hadn't done for anyone else. He indeed was the first most special person in his life who, had made, her life brighter.

He shifted a bit, grabbing her hand which caused her a pull, and she landed on his top, making him wake up with a jerk. He quickly held her, by arms, opening his eyes, being startled. She had tied her hairs in a loose bun, which came out cascading down, falling on his face. Firming on her hand, which rested near his heart, he softly removed her hairs from his face, tucking them behind her ears. Locking his eyes with her ones, he leaned forward, letting his lips adore her forehead with their touch. Momentarily closing her eyes, she just allowed her heart to flatter with the emotions that were beautiful for her. Scooping her cheek in his large palm, he kissed her eyes, and the next moment, he placed his lips on hers, igniting fireworks within them. She was definitely an inexperienced one, because she hadn't allowed anyone else to even hold her hand in her life, leave aside... ermm... a kiss. Not that he was expert, but being a guy, he knew how to take things forward.

She herself failed to acknowledge the changes taking place in her life. It wasn't like every next day, she gets to feel, what she was doing. The reason must have been so influential for not being able to resist as her feelings managed to dominate her senses. She didn't know how to respond. It was just a couple of moments, when he pulled himself back, staring at her face, which wasn't clear to him, being wrapped up with layers of confusion, embarrassment, blushing, slightly angry or upset and many more...


And that was when, he realized, he had committed a mistake, which he shouldn't have. No matter how much right it had seemed to him, but a part of his soul scared him to death, that the recent act he pulled, might push her away forever from him. The fact that he had crossed his line, he had most probably hurt her, left him broken. He instantly let her go, and she backed off, his bed.

"You need rest... sleep." She cut him off even before he could say a word and vanished from his room in no time. He couldn't sleep for the whole night. The soon, sunrays made their way in his room, the first thing he did, was to run out, in search for her. And then, he came to know from his mother, that Anika had left some time before. And that point of time, his world came crashing down. He thought, she had chosen to refrain herself from him, chosen to stay away, chosen to forget him.


He thought that he lost her. But before he could think of anything else, his phone beeped with a message. Though he was least interested in looking for it, he still did. And he considered himself fortunate, that he did. It was a message from her, Things are fine between us, Shivaay. Don't think over what happened.'

That was enough to give him a clear idea about her feelings; she doesn't feel that way for him. But he was happy, at least, what he did... didn't put their friendship at stake. And from that day, neither he, nor she pulled that topic ever in their conversation. They just pretended like, it never happened.

******

He gazed down, as she for the very first time, had spoken about the incident, which held the capacity to either make or break his life. It could either make him the luckiest person or the most unfortunate one, if she walks out of his life. But she would have done that long back, if she wanted to. He was assuring himself. He was scared like anything, but a small ray of hope was still ignited within him. He looked up to see her, waiting for her to say something.

He expected her to speak up. Be it anything, if she wanted to scold him, she could do that, if she wanted to take off her anger on him, she could do that too. But he wanted her to react, in some way. Her silence was frightening to him. She kept staring at him. Decreasing whatever the little bit distance was between them, she let him hold her entire weight, as she wounded her one hand around his back, and clutching his T-shirt in a fist of another hand. He quickly wrapped his arms around her, but he wasn't able to understand what was going in her mind. And that time, the world stood still with them. Her mind was at peace and so was his heart. How could she not bring herself to reciprocate his love before? The love which was pure, unselfish and undemanding... His big, strong arms that had held her made her feel so protected, there. He gently stroked her long hairs, and kept rubbing her back.

"I love you." Whispering against his skin, she snuggled more into warmth of his side. And he felt he was hallucinating things. Unable to trust his ears, he pulled himself back from the hug. Though, she wasn't ready to leave him, and so not he but he needed to know. She had her gaze fixed at the ground. Sliding his finger near her chin, he lifted her face, making her to meet his eyes.


"I love you, Shivaay." She repeated, the soonest, her eyes lost herself in the beautiful world of his ones. His eyes almost had widened at her confession which was no less than a dream come true situation for him. Grabbing her arm, so delicately as if she was a glass doll and would break by his touch, he stepped closer, staring at her, as if asking, really? She nodded understanding the question he never vocalized.

"That day, when... when you kissed me, I... I felt so good, loved, actually. I was getting butterflies in my stomach. I... I have never felt like that. My heart... my heart was beating so loudly. It was flattering. I... I didn't know, what was happening to me. I was scared, to accept whatever the feelings were growing inside me. I somewhere, didn't want to get so attached to anyone that it will break me after they leave. My parents... they left me, when I was small, so small that I don't even remember their faces but still every day, thinking that they left me, I die, I die numerous deaths. And these slow deaths are painful. If I feel this, this much pain for my parents, whom I haven't remember to met, how would I manage if you... whom I have known, whom I have been with, whom I have spent so much time with me... will leave me. But at the same time, I didn't want to let you go. I couldn't have. So, I just asked to you to forget whatever happened." She was explaining him everything, stuttering and stumbling, occasionally, about the decision she had taken in past, about whatever she had said to him, about why she had never talked about the incident, which had bothered him every day, had snatched his sleep much often. And he focussed his entire attention on her, grasping her every word, and the decoding the gaps between her words, which were left unsaid.

"But how much I tried, how much I tried to not let myself fall for you, it all went in vain. Every day, every minute, every moment and minute fraction of a moment, I was falling for you. And now I realized, I have fallen for you so deep, that there is no way to come back. I have terribly failed in controlling my feelings for you. Your concern for me, your care for me made me respect you. I knew, I knew that you love me. But you never confessed, and I know why you didn't. Because you didn't want to force your love upon me right? And that made me love you, love you so much that I don't know how to express, the extent of my love for you. I love you... I love you so much. You won't leave me right? If you do, then I don't think I'll be able to pull myself together, again." Pouring her heart to him, she confessed, she confessed her love, fears and most important, her deepest secrets of life to him. It must have taken a lot within him to open up about the things that could tear her soul.

"Shh..." Edging his hand towards her, he slid his hand into her and brought it up to his heart. She looked surprised but more amused.


Placing her hand exactly near his heart, he let his hand stay on her, so that she could not back it off. "My heart makes you a promise, that it will never stop loving you." He spoke, with the kind of sincerity in his voice that it sent shivers down her spines.


Taking a step close to her, he kissed her right cheek, "I promise you, that I will never leave you." And he pulled himself back on quite a distance from her, "And if you still have any doubts, then I will never..."

He couldn't complete his sentence as she had walked up to him, and pulled him close until their lips had been locked. She had closed her eyes, and placed her soft lips on him, conveying how much she loves him. He was pleasantly surprised with her move. The kiss was sweet, tender and promising, gentle yet passionate speaking everything that their words could never have. He left her unwillingly realizing she was breathless and leaned forward, letting their foreheads meet. "You are my everything..." He whispered, before claiming her once again his, and they were lost in their very own world once again, the world created by them, the world in which only they existed, the world which was beautiful with their love.




***
Edited by LoveToWrite - 8 years ago
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Posted: 8 years ago
#18


Forever And Always

"Shivaay ab bolo bhi, kya hua?" Anika asked Shivaay who was looking too upset, nearly on verge of breaking down. They both were sitting on the terrace of Shivaay's house. Anika was getting impatient by each passing second seeing Shivaay's vulnerable condition. He was skipping their college from past two days, was avoiding Anika's call which forced her to land at his home early morning today. When she arrived at his home, Shivaay's mom told her that he was on terrace since six in the morning.

Anika's concern was increasing with each minute as it was almost an hour she was sitting with him and he had not spoken a word. She had not seen her best friend so quite in past 20 years. They were together since their childhood. They both knew each other like no one else do. They both understood each other like no one else do. But today even Anika was also unable to understand what exactly was wrong with Shivaay. He wasn't a person to get upset by a small thing so there had to be something really really strong if he was so upset that he was even avoiding her.

"Tum bata rahe ho ya fir mai apne sources use karu?" Anika threatened him giving him final ultimatum. Shivaay gazed at her finally meeting his eyes to hers. Anika could see the pain he was feeling from the inner side at that point of time. She took no time to understand it was something major he was upset due to. Keeping her hand over his shoulder, she softly asked him, "Don't you trust me Shivaay?"

"I trust you more than anyone else in this world Anika, even more than myself...and you very well know that" Shivaay uttered instantly as if it was something which his heart responded before his brain could even register what she said. He didn't even need to think twice over his trust on her. Anika smiled at his extra quick reaction to her. "So just speak up now...what happened? Why did you skip college? Leave college why are you avoiding me?"She bombarded her list of questions over him.

"It's not like that Anika...I was not avoiding you...it's just that I wanted to be alone for some time"Shivaay told Anika looking at ground.

"Oh really? Avoid nahi kar rahe the? Go and find someone else to whom you can lie Mr. Shivaay Oberoi...I am not the one who cannot catch your lies...tumhe tumse behtar jaanti hu mai...so please" She told him reminding him that she knows and understands him even better than himself.

Shifting closer to him, Anika said staring deep into his eyes, "Mujhe nahi bataoge?" Her tone had become much soften reflecting care, concern and her right in her voice.

Shivaay couldn't help but hugged her, encircling his arms around her, trying to relax in her touch. Anika hugged him back, rubbing his back frequently in order to calm him down. She was just unable to figure out what had made him this much upset.

"Maine tumhari gift ki hui chain kho di" Shivaay said in feeble voice with guilt and hurt in his voice. Anika took some seconds to register what he said.

"What?" She said pulling herself back from the hug. She saw him staring at nothing particular in ground. He couldn't dare to meet her gaze. He looked terribly guilty and in pain.

"Yes Anika...I lost the chain you gifted me on my 14 th birthday...I...I don't know how...how I lost it...Mujhe khud par itna gussa aa raha hai...How can I be so careless? I just..." He sounded terribly angry at himself with hatred dripping in his tone for himself. He was cursing himself for losing her gift. Since the day she had gifted him than chain, he had never removed it from his neck but suddenly he lost it somewhere before two days. It made him so upset that he skipped the college. He was feeling so guilty that he even avoided taking her calls. He was having hard time with himself of how he would face her.

Anika stared at him in absolute disbelief. She couldn't believe what her ears heard. She knew she mattered a lot to him...but to this extent? That losing her one gift affected him so badly. She could only smile at her importance in his life.

Shivaay glanced at Anika. "Tum gussa ho na? Hona bhi chahiye...Kam hi esa kiya hai maine...Sach me lekin maine jaan bujke nahi..." He said stammering over his words.

Anika kept her finger on his lips stopping him from saying anything further. "Are you mad Shivaay? Bas itni si baat ke liye apne aap ko punish kar rahe ho? Pagal ho tum...ek baar mujhse baat to kar ke dekhte"

"See this...Idiot" she said by taking out his chain from her bag. She picked up the chain when it fell down from Shivaay's neck without his acknowledgement and he left the college before she could give it back to him. His eyes shinned as his gaze fell over the chain in her hand. He took it immediately from her and wore it caressing it with his fingers lovingly silently promising himself that he would never let it to go away from him.

She was astonished to see how much importance her gifted chain held in his life. She never thought losing her one gift could cause him such terrible pain.

"Losing anything related to you is unbearable for me" Shivaay said shifting his gaze from the chain to her.

He made her stand and held her hand in his soft grip. Looking straight into her eyes, he said, "Anika, you are very special and important to me and so as everything related to you ...Don't look so confused Anika...I don't think you are unaware of what we both feel for each other. We know each other the best. We understand each other the best. We feel much beyond just friendship for each other Anika...and this...this is called as love...I love you Anika...I want a lifetime with you Anika...and looking into your eyes I can guarantee you feel the same for me"

Shivaay confessed his love to Anika in a very direct way, without revolving things around. He didn't feel need to do round round things as they had that much understanding in between them. And he was sure about her feelings as well. Anika's eyes were shining with a thin layer of tears formed into her eyes after hearing his confession. She expected him to confess one day but that day will come so soon...she definitely had not expected. It is been said that the love which have friendship as a base is the strongest and deepest love. Shivaay and Anika were walking on the path to prove it. They had not fallen for each other in one day. It was not love at first sight with them. Their love had gradually grown and deepened with time.

"I was always yours Shivaay"

"And I want you to be mine forever Anika"

Taking a step ahead, Anika placed a soft kiss on his cheek before hiding her face in his chest. "You know Shivaay, I have waited for this day from so long...aur jab aaj ye din aaya hai tab mujhe sach me vishwas nahi ho raha...It feels like a dream Shivaay...a beautiful dream...I love you Shivaay...I love you" she was unable to believe their beautiful relationship had started.

Shivaay encircled his arms around her, pulling her closer to him. He felt blessed after hearing her heavenly confession.

"This is not a dream Anika...this is reality...and you will believe it soon" he said pulling her out of the hug.

She looked at him in confusion.

Leaning forward he gently pecked her lips leaving a shocked and stunned Anika behind. Her eyes widen at his sudden move.

Shivaay chuckled seeing her cutely adorable face. "Ab hua yakeen?"he whispered into her ears making her to turn tomato in embarrassment.

"Aww you look so cute while blushing" he said pinching her cheeks.

She hugged him tightly, being thrilled at what have had happened in just few minutes. They both confessed their love for each other completing themselves. They both started a new and a beautiful relationship life together. It just felt like absolute bliss to them. They were being tied in strongest relationship together because relationships are always stronger when you are best friends first, and a couple second.

***

Edited by LoveToWrite - 8 years ago
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Posted: 8 years ago
#19


Inopinatum

She swiftly turned. Not realizing, he was standing just behind her, her soft body collided with his hard one. His hands instantly wrapped around her petite waist. Gazing up, she caught him smiling at her.

"Shivaay." She called out, shyly, playing with the buttons of his shirt. "Where were you going, Princess?" He asked, bringing her closer. She shook her head, giggling in a low voice. Amused, he became more curious to know, what exactly, his wife was finding so funny.

"Anika.. "Stressing over her name, he slid a finger underneath her chin, making her look in his eyes, he demanded an explanation. All he could get in return was her sweet giggles and laughs. Astonished, when she couldn't control and burst out laughing, he released his hold and she somehow caught the support of bed, sitting, laughing like anything.

"Ayan sent me this." Reaching out for her phone, she turned it towards him, showing her one picture.

The expressions of Shivaay changed in a moment, from surprised to shocked, from amused to annoyed. "You are dead Ayan." Muttering under breath, he let out few curses in a voice audible to only him. The picture was surely an embarrassing one, where he was trying to run and she had held him firm. Trapped, was how he looked and Shivaay Singh Oberoi certainly disliked being helpless.

Seeing his frustrated and embarrassed face, she stopped laughing. Peeking at her from a corner of eye, he walked to the window, clearly irritated.

She quickly jumped off the bed, rushing towards him, catching a glimpse of his upset self.

"Was she your girlfriend?" She asked, sliding her arms from his back to shoulder as she hugged him, in a mischievous tone.

"Does she look like the one to you?" His sharp voice cutting off the silence after good thirty seconds, reflecting his displease on getting his name associated with someone else.

"I was just kidding baba." She finally gave up, becoming aware on how severe he sounded mentioning it.

"What else that Ayan told you?" Gripping her wrist, he pulled her front, letting her back rest to the wall.

"Nothing... Shivaay." She lifted her hand, touching his cheek. "I was laughing, just by seeing your expression there. I mean who will believe, someone who could die to stay away from girls, is so romantic." She rose on her toes to kiss his cheek.

"That was a forced picture, I wasn't interested a bit." He murmured, eyes blazing remembering past incident.

"I saw that." She again giggled a little. Could her husband get cuter? She could just stand there, lifetime, adoring him. He generally, was more a mature person but at times, when she got glimpses of his childish side just like how he was getting irritated like a kid now, it was a treat for her.

Gently pushing him aside, she moved to the side of bed, adjusting the bed sheet. "I am sure, you have had no girlfriends." Confidence screamed from her voice. She was a proud wife to say, she was her husband's first and last one.

"She had proposed me, back there. That picture is of 'Propose Day.'"

She coughed hard, her jaw dropped and eyes shot up at him who stood there, crossing his arms to his chest, leaning against the wall, with a sheepish grin and a smirk... a smirk, she had lost her heart to.

***

Inopinatum is a latin word which means 'Unexpected'...

Edited by LoveToWrite - 8 years ago
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9th Anniversary Thumbnail Visit Streak 180 Thumbnail + 8
Posted: 8 years ago
#20


Additional Characters:


Anish Raichand and Niharika Raichand - Anika's Parents.

Naina Raichand - Anish Raichand's Sister



***


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...



***


Foot 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.

Edited by LoveToWrite - 8 years ago

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