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It was a quiet ride home and she rushed to her room the moment they had got in; letting herself fall onto the bed she cried silently thinking of Shivaay as those images flashed through her mind repeatedly. Suddenly her phone rang; she knew without looking it was Shivaay, cancelling the call she rushed to the bathroom still in tears. After sometime she came out and got into the bed ignoring her phone which was now vibrating at the end of the bed silently; she turned off the light and closed her eyes letting the tears flow continuously from her eyes as she fell asleep.
The next morning Anika got up half an hour before her alarm; not that she had slept well throughout the entire night. She went into the bathroom for a shower and came out twenty minutes later, still not feeling any better. She got dressed and sat at her dressing table putting on her usual jewellery; she looked into the mirror to see a sad, pale face staring back at her; she had had less than two hours sleep and was feeling awful. She opened up her makeup kit and took out her foundation brush and tried to hide the dark circles from around her eyes. She applied a little kajal to her eyes making her look a tad brighter than when she had sat down. She got up not even trying to meet her own eyes in the mirror afraid that those horrific images would flash into her mind again.
Moving away from the table she checked her bag to see if she had her books for today's lesson, she then made her bed, while fixing the duvet something fell onto the floor, she looked around to find her phone laying there face down. She picked it up and looked at the screen unlocking it; forty missed calls. Her eyes welled up; she cancelled the calls and turned off her phone, throwing it in her bag she left the room without looking back once. She made her way downstairs; the house was still very quiet as she walked into the kitchen. She scanned the place checking the time on the microwave which read 7:25. She put the kettle on and waited for the water to heat up, the second it had clicked off Saakshi walked into the kitchen still looking very sleepy but was surprised to see Anika already there making tea.
Saakshi: Anika? You're up very early...it's only 7:30...aur yeh kya hain? - pointing to the kettle and mug -...You never drink this kind of tea...let me make you some proper tea...
Anika: Nahi mama...I have to go quickly...I'll have this for today... - sitting down at the table
Saakshi: Why are you leaving so early...why don't you wait for Shivaay...
Hearing his name she felt a pang in her chest, she tried to cover up quickly because she knew her mum would ask a million questions if she thought something was wrong.
Anika: Mama I need to see the teacher before registration...if I wait for him I won't be able to talk to her...that's why I will take the bus... - taking a sip from her mug
Saakshi: Theek hain...but did you let Shivaay know that you'll be going by bus?
Anika: - again she felt the hatred building up for him - ...I'll call him... - getting up, if she sat here any longer she will hear his name another twenty to forty times - ...I'm getting late...I should go now... - placing her mug in the dishwasher and grabbing her bag
At the same time Ram walked into the kitchen and sat down at the table.
Ram: Where's my princess off to so early in the morning?
Anika: - giving him a hug - ...Papa I have to go to school...I've got to see a teacher before class...I was just leaving...
Ram: Wait a bit and I'll give you a lift...
Anika: Its okay papa...then you will have to rush...I'll go... - giving Saakshi a hug ...bye...
She left the house and walked through the estate quickly to the main road pulling her jacket around her as there was a small breeze which made her shiver; right now she was cursing the weather; it was suppose to be spring but instead it was cloudy and dull just like her feelings. She finally reached the bus stop and again was angry at the bus for being late. After standing there for five minutes which seemed like fifty minutes the bus arrived and she hopped on frowning at the driver; she sat in the far end of the bus and stared out of the window, her mind filled with anxious thoughts of what will happen today, no way was she ready to face Shivaay, she thought of every way possible to avoid seeing him more further meeting him. Twenty minutes later she got off of the bus and walked into school knowing exactly where she wanted to go.
*
Shivaay arrived at the Gupta's place forty minutes after Anika had left; he stood on the doorstep patiently after ringing the bell. Saakshi opened the door with a curious look making Shivaay raise his eyebrow.
Saakshi: Shivaay? What are you doing here?
Shivaay: Matlab? I mean...I came for Anika...
Saakshi: Woh toh chale gayi...she didn't call you?
Shivaay: - thinking - ...She's still very angry with me...- then out loud - ...umm...I must have missed her call...
Saakshi: Okay...you better go now...or you'll be late...
Shivaay: Yeah...bye aunty...
He got back into his car and drove as quickly as possible to school to meet Anika; on his way he thought of how he would make it up to her. The moment he turned off the car he jumped out and ran straight for registration, wanting to speak to her immediately. He rushed into the class to see his tutor end the register and turned on him.
Teach: Late Shivaay... cross
Shivaay: Sorry sir...I wa...
Teach: Better not happen again...- looking at the group - ...get to your lessons...
He left the room and some of the group left as well; Shivaay made his way towards his friends, now worrying as he didn't see Anika anywhere.
Shivaay: Where's Anika?
Rudra: Whoa Shivaay...Late?? I can't believe I made it here before you... - smirking at his own joke
Shivaay: - not in the mood - Where's Anika?
Gauri: Calm down Shivaay...not even a Hi? - looking at his face she dropped it - ...But I was going to ask you that...where is Anika...she always comes to school with you?
Shivaay: I know we always come to school together but when I went to her place to get her Aunty said she had already left...I thought she was going to be here...
Omkara: Let's calm down first... - putting his hand on Shivaay's shoulder - ...we should go from here...there's a class waiting to get in...
They left the room silently and stood outside in the corridor; Shivaay was now very worried.
Bhavya: Shivaay...what happened?
Shivaay: Gauri, call her...find out where she is...
Omkara: Why don't you call her? - confused
Shivaay: She won't answer my phone calls...I've been calling her all night...Gauri please call her...
Gauri: Okay... - she whipped out her phone and called Anika, a second later she moved the phone away from her ear - ...her phone is off...
Shivaay was now getting tensed and the others were also worried.
Gauri: Shivaay listen to me... - coming closer - ...I know something is wrong but I'm not going to ask what right now...but I think you should go to class...
Shivaay: Gauri... - she cut him off
Gauri: Shivaay just listen to me...you need to go to class...we all have a free period...we'll look for her...but I'm her best friend and I know her very well...right now she must be in her maths lesson...she never misses her class...
Shivaay knew she was right and so did the others; he thanked Gauri and he left them to go to his lesson, hoping that she would be there. The others walked with him half way then made their way to the library; he reached the class and knocked on the door, as he walked in everyone's head turned to look at him but Anika's.
Teach: You're late Shivaay... - cross at Shivaay for disrupting his lesson ...see me at the end of lesson to catch up on what you missed...
Shivaay: I'm sorry sir...
He walked to the back of the class to the only space available and swore at himself silently; he should've thought that she would be here, if he was a little earlier he could have sat next to her, but now she was sitting right at the front of the class next to the geeky maths whizz. According to Shivaay's thoughts the lesson was dragging and he prayed for it to end soon, very impatient, he needed to speak to her now. The end of the lesson had finally arrived; Shivaay threw his things into his bag and rushed to the front of the class to where Anika was.
Shivaay: Anika I'm sorry...
Anika ignored him and carried on packing her bag looking very uncomfortable thinking of how to get away from him.
Teach: Shivaay come and collect your papers...
Shivaay looked from the teacher to Anika and back; she was ready to leave the class and he had no choice but to wait back; he quickly collected the papers and rushed out behind her. He caught up with her just as she was about to reach the stairs.
Shivaay: Anika listen to me... - apologetically
They were still rushing down the stairs when Anika shrugged him off, Shivaay barged into a little boy who was coming up the stairs with a pile of books. Everyone stopped to look at the books on the floor; Shivaay watched Anika and made a move towards her but the group standing around made him pick the books up. He swore angrily and picked up the books hoping to meet back up with her. After handing the books to the little boy he rushed down the remaining stairs and looked through the crowded corridor of students moving from one class to another; at the far end he could see Anika going towards her Textiles class. Pushing and shoving through the crowd he finally made it to the end; he rushed up the stairs knowing that he would meet her in Textiles as she never missed her favourite lesson.
He got to the corridor but was in time to see her leaving her textiles class and walking in the other direction; he shouted her name but again she ignored him. At the same time his teacher called him; he looked back; his electronics teacher was waiting for him by the classroom door.
Teach: You have a lesson...
He shook his head and walked towards the class now feeling very angry and disappointed. He wanted to speak to her really badly, he hated this feeling of hurting her and wanted to apologies to her but every time he got close to her he felt he was losing her even more. He hung his head low as he sat around a table with Rudra and Omkara not being able to take in a word the teacher was saying.
At the end of the lesson the guys met up with Gauri and Bhavya who were in the class next to theirs. They walked towards the common room; Shivaay was still very upset as they got into the lift.
Shivaay: Why did she not stay in class? - to Gauri and Bhavya
Bhavya: She's ahead of everyone in the class...she's ready to make her dress so she went to the Textiles block to use the machines...but I doubt she's still there...
Rudra: What happened between you guys anyway...why is this so serious?
Gauri, Bhavya and Omkara shot him evil looks as to say "Shut Up but he shrugged curiously. They stepped out of the lift and walked silently to the common room to grab something to eat. Shivaay scanned the room for sight of Anika but hard luck and he sat down with a grumpy face thinking of what he was going to do now. The others had bought their food and sat down next to him.
Shivaay: Gauri please call her again...maybe her phone is on now... - hopefully
Gauri: - nodding, she took out her phone and pressed Anika's number, she held it to her ears waiting for an answer after the second ring -...Hello...//Anika?? Where are you??...
Anika: Hi Gauri...I know he's there right now so I can't say...I'm sorry...
Gauri: But why...
Anika: Gauri please...I'm not ready to face him right now...I can't...// yeah I'm fine...don't worry...I...
Shivaay: - snatching the phone from Gauri -...Anika I'm really sorry...we need to talk...I need t... - stopped, moving the phone away from his ear
Anika had cut the phone on him; Shivaay now looked very pitiful, the others tried to cheer him up until it was time for their third lesson, the girls headed back to Textiles and the boys dragged Shivaay back to Electronics for their double lesson. After an hour of boredom for Shivaay he walked with the guys to their business lesson before going in search of Anika who he knew had a free period along with him.
On the way to their business class the guys walked into Daksh who was having a lesson in the room next to the guys. Daksh saw the guys walking towards him and he stepped up to Shivaay angrily.
Daksh: How dare you...
Shivaay: What? - really not in the mood for him right now
Daksh: How dare you try to hurt my Anika...you have no right to make her cry...
Shivaay: What? Wait a second...firstly she's not yours...she's mine...and where is she?
Daksh: You think I'm going to tell you... - pushing him up against the wall
A crowd had gathered around the guys; Rudra pushed Daksh away and the guys looked angrily at each other.
Shivaay: Tell me where she is...
Daksh: I don't know...I met her this morning...she needed a shoulder to cry on and I was there for her...but even if I knew where she was right now I would never tell you...
Shivaay rounded up on him this time but before anything could happen the teachers sent everyone to their classes; Omkara tried to calm Shivaay down before going to his lesson. Shivaay walked away slowly thinking of every possible place of where she could be; he searched every department hoping to find her and had asked everyone on his way who knew her. Almost giving up he walked into the library and sat in their usual cubical thinking why had this happened; how could he have let this happen, it was now over fifteen hours that he had not spoken to her and he felt awful for hurting her. His elbows on the table he put his head in his hands and thought hard about where she could be when someone had touched his hand gently. He looked up suddenly to see a little girl from his "fan club standing there looking at him.
Girl: Shivaay...are you okay? - worried for him
Shivaay: Umm...yeah? - curious
Girl: You look really tensed...can I help you with something? - naive and sweet
Shivaay: - smiling slightly - I wish...
Girl: Tell me...
Shivaay: Have you seen Anika?
Girl: Anika...your girlfriend? - sweetly
Shivaay: Yeah...have you seen her anywhere?
Girl: Umm...yeah I have...
Shivaay: - looking a bit brighter - Do you know where she is right now? - eagerly hoping to hear a positive answer
Girl: Yeah...
Shivaay: - standing up - Where? Where is she??
Girl: - pointing upstairs to the balcony of the library to the 6th form study area - She's there...
They both looked upstairs to see Anika sitting in the small cubical surrounded by books; Shivaay looked at the little girl and smiled then gave her a big hug making her cheeks go red.
Shivaay: Thank you so much... - letting go of her, he picked up his bag he started to walk away then came back - What's your name?
Girl: - blushing - Minnie...
Shivaay: Cute name...but shouldn't you be in class?
Girl: - looking shocked Ooopps -...I forgot...I came to print something...
Shivaay: Thanks again... - he winked at her making her cheeks turn a darker shade of red then walked upstairs
Anika sat in a small cubical surrounded by books; she was writing her English essay when another tear dropped from her eyes onto the paper in front of her. She closed her eyes as those images flashed into her mind for the zillionth time; she had avoided him all day but those images did not spare her; every time she almost got rid of them they seemed to pop back making her fell shattered all over again. She folded her hands on the table and rested her head on to them letting the tears roll from eyes.
A few moments later she felt a strong hand on her shoulder; she looked up; her face tear stained and eyes with blurry vision. It took a couple of seconds for her eyes to focus on the figure sitting next to her; Shivaay; she quickly made a rush to pack her things away and move but he held her hand making her look in the opposite direction.
Shivaay: Anika...I know I have really hurt you...but if we don't talk there is no way this is going to be sorted...
Anika ignored him and carried on looking away.
Shivaay: Please Anika...just give me one chance to explain... - rubbing his thumb on the back of her hand - ...if you've ever had feelings for me...even a slight bit...please give me this one chance... - her hand twitched and he could feel her body soften a tiny bit - ...please...
It took several moments before Anika turned her face towards Shivaay's direction but she still did not look up to his eyes. No matter how angry she was with him she always seemed to melt when he spoke softly to her; she could also hear the pain in his voice and she knew that she was not the only one who was hurt, it pained her to stay away from him and not answer his calls so she could understand how he was feeling. But once again those images flashed into her mind and tears dropped from her eyes; Shivaay wiped her cheeks with his knuckles and felt really stupid at himself for making her cry like this.
Shivaay: Anika...I'm really sorry...but I promise you will feel better if you just hear me out... - there was a pause for a few seconds until Anika nodded her head slightly - ...Anika...what you saw...I mean...those photos are not really what you think...she's not my girlfriend...never was and never will be...and I know you must be thinking that I'm lying...thinking that we were all over each other and here I am saying that we're not a couple...but seriously if you have even a little bit of trust in me you will believe what I'm saying...the girl you saw in the photo...that's Soumya...my best friend...she's like my sister...
Anika finally looked up into Shivaay's eyes to see the pain and the truth; she knew from the look in his eye that he was not telling a lie and nodded allowing him to carry on.
Shivaay: Soumya was our neighbour...but she was treated like family...she lived at my house more than hers...bhai treated her like a baby sister and me and her were friends...and mum, dad... - he went silent, gulped and carried on - ...mum and dad saw her as the daughter which they lost...
Shivaay had gone silent and Anika was baffled; she wanted to know more but waited for Shivaay as he seemed a little hurt talking about this.
Shivaay: I'm not the youngest in the family... - looking up at Anika - ...I had a baby sister...Sachi, she was not even two when she died... he saw the shock on Anika's face...mum and dad were completely shattered...that time I was almost four...I didn't have a clue what was going on...all I knew that Sachi was gone...mum cried and dad consoled her...bhai was older but he always stayed in his room...that time Soumya was the only one there for me...we were the same age and she use to call me to play with her...at the time I thought no one cared for me but her...we became best friends and her mum was my second mum... - Anika stretched her hand out to hold his giving it a small squeeze with tears still falling from her cheeks - ...when I was ten mum and dad sat down with me and bhai...they apologised for ignoring us and thanked Soumya's mum for caring for us...they had become so close to us...she's my Ayi... - thinking a little - ...you remember during bhai and bhabi's wedding time I was with that lady...
Anika thought back to the Sangeet function when she had walked in to the kitchen to find Shivaay speaking to an older lady about someone then nodded to Shivaay. He was about to speak again when his mobile vibrated in his pocket, he took it out to see Gauri's name flashing on the screen.
Shivaay: Just a second... to Anika, then held the phone up to his ear ...Hello...//Yeah...we're together...// Yeah she's fine...//Okay... hands the phone to Anika ...Gauri...
Anika: - takes the phone - Hi Gauri...//I'm fine...//Oh sorry...I'm in the library that's why I switched it on vibrate...it's in my bag so I didn't know...sorry...//Okay then...//No that's fine...//Yeah okay...I'll see you tomorrow...//Bye... - cuts the phone and gives it back to Shivaay - ...they're going to the mall...
Shivaay: Okay...umm yeah so...Soumya is just family... - looking apologetically at Anika again - ...those photos was just a dare...I didn't even know someone had taken them and they were on my phone...it's really not what it had seemed like...I would never do anything like that with her...or with anyone...you know what Anika...I might act like I was a stud but honestly speaking...you are my first girlfriend...yes I was popular with the girls but I was never with anyone in particular...and I never had feelings for anyone like I have with you... - trying to make his point clear to her - ...and you know what the weird thing is...Soumya was the one who told me that I was in love with you...after the wedding all I could talk to her about was you...whatever we did, whatever we said...even from the very first day we met at school I told her how annoying you was and she told me that I was in love with you or I would fall in love with you...we are that close that even she knows my feelings before I do...can you believe it...
Anika finally smiled for the first time since they had spent time alone yesterday at her house; she felt like an idiot for misunderstanding him and also felt sorry after hearing about his life story. Her eyes welled up again now thinking about the loss of the Oberoi family and how Shivaay had felt left out.
Shivaay: Anika... - looking sadly at her - ...you're still angry at me...I'm really very sorry...I...
Anika: Nahi Shivaay... - cutting him off - ...it's not that... - wiping her tears away - ...I'm sorry...I didn't even give you a chance to explain...I took this whole issue so far...I didn't mean to hurt you...thinking that Soumya was your girlfriend...and what she really means to you...I'm sorry...
Shivaay: It's okay Anika...I mean anyone who saw those photos would have thought the same thing...I don't blame you but I felt horrible for hurting you...all I wanted to do was make it up to you...you know what...it's the worst feeling when your love one ignores you...
Anika: I'm sorry... - Shivaay moved closer to her and put his arm around her while she rested her head on his shoulder - ...sorry for the forty missed calls...
Shivaay: - moved back and smiled - It's okay...forget about it now...the good thing is that we're together again... - rubbing her hand - ...let's go from here...
Anika motioned to him that she had an essay to do but he just packed her things in her bag and grabbed her jacket, making her get up and she smiled; they walked towards the lift holding hands. Leaving the building they got into Shivaay's car and he drove to the nearest Mc Donald's to get something to eat as he was starving. They sat around the table; Shivaay munched away on his chips.
Anika: Shivaay...I'm really sorry to hear about Sachi... - looking sadly at him
Shivaay: - nodding - I do miss her and I know there's not a single day that passes that mum and dad doesn't think of her...but what's happened can't be changed right...
Anika nodded and they carried on eating. When they had finished they drove to the park, as it was a lovely day with beautiful weather they decided to sit on a park bench and make up for the day which was spent in anger and frustration with love and care.
That's all for Part 24!
Hope you all liked it..
Do leave your comments.. :)
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