Hi pearl, Long time didn't post anything in IF!! blame my lack of time and also the bina-sar-bina-pair ke stressful story line for a Long time.
Since u r speaking about the time here it just struck me that shivaay never had any time to think about his and an image relationship before 3month Long separation. Annika had only one reason as she went the distance beside him - shivaay. On the other hand, shivaay though was walking wth annika, he did not have time to check how was she, is she with him all the way and all that... I don't blame him. Bande ko time hi nahin mila iske baare mein sochne ke liye!!! One after other, some or other thing was cropping up from somewhere to look into. He naturally assumed, annika was walking along. She was, yes, but not in the way, he thought. He did not look after her thirst, tiredness and hunger. He was desperate and focussed to reach the destination that he failed to notice her discomfort. He took their relationship just like it was, failed to see their progression and where they were standing. Everything that happened between them, he accepted it just like that with time.
The stark difference between male and female in understanding the relationship. - men tend to get excited whereas women try to be rational.
In the three months without her, I'm sure like u said, he would have been reminded of her every second now and then. When he had almost made his mind that she wasn't going to come back, she came back again. Everything came back in a rush to him. But the bits and pieces which were missing were puzzling him.
Annika went her whole distance with him aware of him and his presence irrespective of his presence.
Shivaay just analysed their relation in these 3 months and realised what he has got and is missing.