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Hello To All 😳. I'm Back, With A Collaborated OS (Unfortunately My Friend Does Not Want To Be Named Because She Has Supposedly Given Up On IF *rolls eyes*) 😆
Work, Studies And Writers Block Kept me Away, But I'm Back And Hopefully My Writing Muse Is Back Too
What You're About To Read Is A Result Of My Writing Gears Finally Turning Again, So It'll Be More Than Rusty And Sloppy.
Apologies In Advance. 😭
P.S. Since We Didn't Get A Hospital Scene...I Decided To Give Myself One 🥱
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*There was a celebration in the Mansion a few days after Shivaay and Anika had gotten legal rights over Sahil. It was actually a joint celebration- of Sahil finally being theirs officially and Anika's mendhi ceremony*
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Anika's eyes scanned the room, from her seat on the decorated sofa, looking for the man who had been a part of every ritual with her today, but soon after that would vanish from her sight.
It was as if he was avoiding her.
"Where is he?" She muttered to herself as her eyes failed to find what they searched for. "Maybe he's related to a magician. He keeps disappearing. Mad man!"
Her eyes swept round the room again. Grinning, Anika watched with a surge of warmth in her heart as Om wacked Rudra on the head and then pulled him in for a hug.
Before she could scan the room further, her attention was drawn to the man who commanded the room, and her heart, just by his mere presence.
"Shivaay" His name involuntarily escaped her lips.
And as if he had heard her, his eyes snapped to hers even as he continued walking to where Khanna stood. Everything ceased to exist for Anika at that moment, her irritation and anger with him all went poof.
Shivaay was all she saw, all she needed to see. Just him. Always him.
"..., right Anika didi?" Small hands shook her arm and Anika was snapped out of her daze.
Her eyes left a now smirking Shivaay and looked to her little brother who was frowning at her. "Huh? Sorry, what did you say?"
"I said everything feels so perfect. I'm finally yours" His eyes shine with genuine happiness. "I know I was always yours, but now no one can take me away from you"
Throat suddenly clogged with 1001 emotions, Anika bent and wrapped her arms, all the while careful not to smudge her drying mendhi, around the child who held a piece of her heart.
"I love you Sahil" She whispered into his hair.
His arms locked around her neck. "I love you too, Anika didi"
"Mind if I steal your Anika didi for a bit?"
Both Anika and Sahil parted and looked up to see Shivaay smiling down at them. Anika scowled at him and turned her head. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Sahil look from her to Shivaay who shrugged his shoulders and then back to her.
"Well I have to ask O' bhaiya something anyway so all the best SSO" Sahil said, laughter in his voice.
"Thank you, Sahil" Shivaay replied in a voice that sounded almost nervous to Anika
She narrowed her eyes at her brothers retreating back and wondered what that was all about. "Shivaay, what was he-"
The words died in her throat as she saw her husband-to-be-for-the-second-time hold his hand out for hers. His eyes were flitterring between so many different emotions that she just stared at him, caught in the changing shades of green and blue.
"Come, Anika. I have something to show you"
As if being pulled by an invisible string, she got up and walked towards him. Not going to him wasn't even an option, because where Shivaay was concerned, Anika would never resist going to him.
His hand a delicious searing brand on the skin of her back, Anika let herself be guided by Shivaay. They were almost at the stairs when Khanna stopped Shivaay to whisper something in his ears.
"Bhabhi! Dadi's 2 feet rule is not over yet" Om's voice drifted to where Anika stood
She turned back to glare at her long haired brother-in-law and her cheeks flushed as she realised that everyone had turned in her direction at Om's words and was now smiling, chuckling or plain down laughing.
And then something caught her eyes.
Anika realized what was about to happen a fraction of a second before the trigger was pulled. There was no time to shout a warning, even if she did, it would be too late.
So she did the only thing she could.
She stepped in front of Shivaay in the split second between realization and the pull of the trigger. The bullet felt like a knife thrust into her chest, bloodying her white outfit and sending her crashing into Shivaay and Khanna.
Anika felt Shivaay roll out from under her and she sighed in relief that he was safe. Shouts echoed around her. Most of which she could not make out because each shout over lapped the other.
"Stay with me, bhabhi" Om ordered in a choked voice, putting pressure on Anika's gushing wound.
Anika, her body starting to shut down, kept her eyes open long enough to see Khanna and the security team speed out of the house.
Silence.
Shivaay,Anika thought as her chest spasmed, as blood began to pour out of her mouth,where was Shivaay?
A rush of scent an instant later, of cardamom and musk. Her soul sighed in peace as her eyes met her favourite shade of green and then they closed.
...
Shivaay felt his heart stop even before Anika had slammed into him. Khanna had pulled him out from under Anika and then the burly man was running towards the front door.
"Anika. No! No" Falling beside his brother, he replaced Om's hands with his own. "Don't you dare leave me"
"Shivaay we have to get bhabhi to the hospital"
"Bhaiya please"
Shivaay was aware of his brothers speaking to him. But his concentration was on the woman who lay in his arms,her body warm and fragile. His Anika. His heart.
...
"ANIKA" Shivaay screamed his hand flying to his chest.
Something was going wrong inside the operation theatre, he could sense her life draining away slowly. The pain that was clawing his heart was becoming unbearable, his vision blurred and his lungs felt like it was giving up.
He fell to his knees, hand still clutching his chest.
"Shivaay!! What's wrong?" Om rushed to his brother, kneeling down beside him, he held Shivaay's arm, shaking him lightly. "Shivaay!" He repeated.
His brother was frightening him, in fact everyone had who had rushed to Shivaay's side after hearing his tormented scream was standing there, fear on their faces.
"Someone call the doctor" Shakti cried out, while running to his sons kneeling form.
"No, I don't need a doctor. Anik... Anika, please save her...I need to go to her" Shivaay managed to get out through the deep breaths he took.
The pain was getting more intense and he knew that Anika was dying, he needed to go to her, she needed him. Anika needed him. No, he needed her, she couldn't leave him. Not now. He gathered his last bits of strength and rushed towards the operation theatre doors.
"ANIKA NO" And darkness took over him.
...
Rudra watched as the doctors wheeled the stretcher into the ICU. He stood there frozen, as if his soul was slowly draining away. On one side was his Anika bhabi and now Shivaay bhaiya. What more did their family have to go through to get proper happiness?
If only he had seem the sniper he could have been the one who took the bullet, he would have given his life for his brother and bhabi.
Why wasn't it me?! His mind screamed
Though his mind was at war with itself, he said nothing , knowing there wasn't anything he could do at this time. He only prayed that the doctors managed to save his Anika bhabi,he didn't pray for his Shivaay bhaiya, no just Anika bhabi.
Because he knew if they lost Anika, Shivaay would go with her, stubbornly holding on to her even in death. The light above the operation theatre's door blinked red.
"Rudra?" Bhavya's whisper caught his attention.
She had come back. Bhavya had left her wedding and came to him when he had phoned and informed her of what happened. And that was when Rudra knew that he couldn't let her leave him again.
"We can't lose them, Bhavya" He said as he continued to keep his eyes on the red light above the operation theatre that his bhabi was currently in. "This family will break if we do"
Anika had become one of the heart pieces of the Oberoi family, she connected them all to each other in a way that was difficult to explain, but integral to the functioning of their family.
Losing her would cut that heart wide open, leave them a bleeding and losing Shivaay would crush what foundation remained. He was the Oberoi's strongest support pillars, the Great Wall. If he wasn't there, their family would be left with nothing.
Rudra felt Bhavya move closer to him and he realised, as he took in her red and puffy eyes that she was looking for comfort so he tugged her to him.
"Well you know Anika bhabi, she wouldn't want all the money spent on the wedding and the other ceremonies to go to waste so I'm sure she'll be fine" He said after clearing his throat, not liking that Bhavya looked so sad and worried
That made her lips curve a little and she rested against him. "And I don't think Shivaay bhaiya will give up the chance to marry bhabi again after he worked so hard to organise everything. He'll also be fine"
...
Having just spent 30 minutes beside his brothers motionless form, Om pressed his palms to the wall outside the ICU room, wanting to do some damage, find his revenge.
But knowing that even if he was able to get his hands around the sniper neck right now, it wouldn't help either Shivaay nor Anika who was still in the operation theatre.
The sound of anklets. He stayed still, hoping like hell she'd pass by. But she stopped and to his shock, put a hesitant hand on his back.
"Is he...?"
He didn't turn, knowing that if he looked at her right now, he might do things that could never be taken back. "He's stable, the doctors suspect he'll wake soon"
Her fingernails scraped against his kurta as she curled her hand into a fist. "He'll be okay, right? Bhoujai too? Won't they?"
She was asking him for reassurance, and had it been any other member of his family, he would've turned and taken them into his arms. But this was Gauri, and he couldn't trust himself around her.
"They're both strong. Their love is strong"
When her hand dropped from his back, he felt the loss like a knife wound. Gauri nodded and he just caught the movement with his peripheral vision. As he watched, she went to the door of the ICU and slipped in.
Only then did he push off the wall, his body taut as iron. There was work to be done. One of the most important things was ensuring that the sniper was caught.
Next- every single surveillance device within the entirety of the Mansion was sought through.
...
"He isn't waking up O', should we wake him up? I think we should wake him up"
"Dumbbell Oberoi, he just had a heart attack, and YOU think we should wake him up? Did you leave your common sense at home or did it get lost somewhere on the way here?"
"Stop it O', this isn't the time for your sarcasm. I seriously think we should wake him up. Just to see if he's alright"
"Rudra, Shut Up!"
Shivaay heard it all, the voices sounded as though they were muffled, but he heard it all, the seriousness & fear in Rudra's voice, the sarcasm in Om's when he questioned Rudra and as the two continued to bicker, their voices started to get clearer.
Rudra say "He needs to be ok O', we need him, Anika bhabi needs him, especially now, if he doesn't get better, how will she-?"
"Rudra!" Om's voice was a low shout that cut Rudra's words off.
Oh God, Anika. Anika. She's ok. She didn't leave me. Ofcoz she didn't leave you Shivaay, your heat is still beating so that means She is still alive. She's alive, Shivay thought as he finally opened his eyes to the bright lights of the hospital room.
Shivaay tried getting off the bed, but his chest hurt, letting out a gasp he fell back onto the bed. And that triggered OmRu to rush up to his bed and ask him how he's feeling, they helped him sit up comfortably, handed him some water and then without waiting for his questions Om told him
"Shivaay! You aren't supposed to be attempting anything stressful!"
"And bhaiya before you start throwing your tadi around, the doctor said he has to do a check-up as soon as you wake up so don't even try to move" Rudra quickly chipped in before Shivaay could reply.
"Yes Shivaay, please wait for the doctor, you just had a heart attack, so until the doctor doesn't give us the go ahead you won't be leaving this room. Do you want to scare the family again? Dadi is already worried sick!" Om told Shivaay sternly,
"I'm fine Om Rudra, I just need to see Anika. She is fine right? I need to see her, please, take me to her" Shivaay begged them, knowing he wasn't strong enough to get off the bed himself.
All he could still picture was her lifeless body lying in his arms, blood flowing from the hole in her chest. Her blood. So much blood.
"Om please take me to her, I need to know if she's alright, I need to see that she's fine" He begged his brother again, desperation thick in his voice, chest paining again as he struggled to get the images out of his head.
He pulled the needles and cords attached to his arms and chest and attempted to get off the bed only to be stopped by hands on his shoulders.
"Bhaiya please. Don't do-"
"Where is she?!" He asked them before they could say anything. "TAKE ME TO HER" He screamed at them when they failed to answer him within 2 seconds.
"Shivaay let the doctor check-" Om said only to be cut off by Shivaay who pulled him forward threateningly.
"Take me to her. Or I will do it myself" He whispered coldly to his brother.
Shivaay watched as Om struggled with an inner battle and then he sighed and latched onto Shivaay's arm. "Come"
...
Shivaay sat next to Anika's hospital bed, watching her chest rise and fall slowly. He could feel her in his heart, his soul, a vibrant presence, but in front of him, she was pale, unmoving.
It had been 3 days since she had gotten shot and the doctors were clueless as to why she why still unconscious- Anika should have woken by now because she defiantly hadn't slipped into a coma. Shivaay just grew frantic with every passing second.
He couldn't lose her.
Who'd throw water on him? Who'd teach him new words? His heart wouldn't last any longer without her. He closed his hand around her fingers and squeezed.
"Wake up, Paanika" He said, trying to reach the light in her. "I need you"
He had never said that to anyone. Ever. Only Anika had the power to render him this vulnerable and weak. In his hand, her fingers lay still, so unlike the woman he adored with every fibre of his being.
These 3 days had been nothing less than torture. Never in his life had he felt this helpless and lost.
Shivaay touched his lips to Anika's forehead feeling her warmth. He hated seeing her so quiet, so still. Anika was never quiet. She was energy and life and mischief. She was his.
"You're doing this for revenge. Just because I didn't say those words back, you're doing this. You're angry with me, aren't you? " He scolded her, hoping she would wake up and scold him back. "Wake Up Damn It!"
"Please, Anika" He whispered as he rested his forehead against hers. "Please"
"Bade bhaiya. Are you ok?"
Shivaay lifted his head and saw that Bhavya was standing at the threshold of the room. He had been so into trying to wake Anika up that he hadn't heard the door opening.
"Yes" No. "What's this?" He asked, distracting the her by gesturing at the bottles on Anika's bedside table.
"Rudra" Bhavya smiled. "He keeps sneaking in here to leave bottles of protein shake. He thinks that it might motivate bhabi to wake up"
"See, Anika" Shivaay said as Bhavya left to answer a phone call that came through "You have to wake up now. What's going to happen to Rudra if he keeps giving your his protein shake? He'll end up being Chubby number 2. Chubby and Bubbly"
He was stroking Anika's cheek when he heard a knock on the door before it opened to reveal a haggard looking Gauri.
Shivaay knew how much Anika's state affected Gauri. The woman had to go through the same thing twice. Someone she loved was injured and wasn't waking up. First Om and now Anika.
"How is she?" Gauri asked him as she came towards the bed, her eyes already welling up.
"Strong" Shivaay said "She will wake up. Even if I have to throw her into a lake for that to happen. Your bhaujai will be back hom with us. Soon"
Meeting his gaze in silent understanding, Gauri leaned down to whisper something in Anika's ear before pressing a soft kiss to the side of her head and then leaving several minutes later.
Rudra had already been by that morning and would likely return again within the hour.
He, unlike the other members of the family who would only spend a few minutes or an hour or two, didn't care that Shivaay wanted to be alone with Anika. No, Rudra would often send Shivaay out of the room just so that he could spend hours chatting to his bhabi.
...
Shivaay sat on one side plush sofa that was placed in the room while Om sat on the other side of the sofa. Both men staring at the pale figure looking peacefully asleep on the bed.
"I was going to show her the video I made" He told his brother. "She'd written my name in her mehndi. I wanted to let her know that hers was written in my heart"
There had been too much going on since she and Sahil got back from Sahil's boarding school and he'd wanted it to be a special, private moment, he had decided that after she applied her mendhi would be the perfect time.
"I was going to give her the video, but...Anika's in my heart, Om. So deep" He told his brother. "Until the thought of losing her feels like razors cutting across my soul"
"We're going to find whoever was behind this Shivaay" Om said, his voice cold and calculating. "Bhabi will recover but whoever was responsible for this, I will tear him to pieces myself"
The only thing that brought comfort to Shivaay was that Anika hadn't been the target. It had been him, but his super woman wife had decided she wanted to be his human shield again.
His heart clenched painfully as he remembered seeing her lying there, blood flowing from the hole in her chest.
A hand on his arm. "We will get him Shivaay. Whoever he is, we'll get him"
Right now, all Shivaay wanted was for Anika to wake up. 3 days ago, he had leashed the thirst for vengeance, because nothing mattered more to him right now than his wife waking up. Yes, he wanted blood, preferably he wanted to tear the man who pulled the trigger to pieces, but...that could wait.
His brothers embrace almost brought moisture to Shivaay's eyes, but he swallowed back the tears. He would not cry. To do so would be a surrender.
And he refused to give Anika up.
...
Om had just been about to open the door when Shivaay had to catch him before he hit the ground...Because the door had been flung open and then there was a rush of noise as Rudra, Sahil, Gauri, Bhavya, Dadi, Shakti, Jhanvi along with Khanna entered the room.
Everyone scattered themselves around the bed and on the sofa and chairs, conversing amongst themselves or at times to Anika.
Too many people...But Shivaay knew that they were Anika's and she wouldn't have had it any other way.
Dadi asked Shivaay for an update but Om answered because Shivaay's attention was on Anika and so it was because of his unwavering attention to his wife, that he caught the instant her breathing changed.
Then he heard the sweetest sound of all.
"Shivaay?"
...
A whirl of sounds and scents crashed against Anika's senses. She felt hands on her face, her aching chest, heard Sahil's cry of welcome, saw Om's distinctive long hair, but...There he was.
"Hi"
Memories tumbled into her, pain and anguish and the incredible power of someone holding her to life. As if willing her to live. Shivaay.
He didn't say a word, just pushed passed everyone to crawl into bed beside her, his face buried in her neck. Anika felt heart almost stop. He'd done it in front of everyone, her strong, great wall of a husband.
And then she didn't care, because she could feel damp heat against her skin. "Please give us a moment"
Everyone left. The door closing with a soft click.
"Shivaay, please dont cry Anika couldn't stand it. Shivaay was tough to his bones. "Please, Shivaay, please."
His hands wrapped around her waist, his tears heartbreakingly silent. Anika stroked one hand into his hair, a little lost, but determined to stop her husband from crying.
"I promise not to get shot again. Twice in one lifetime should be enough to fulfil anyone's quota."
She kissed the parts of his face she could see, his ear, the corner of his eye. "Shivaay, you have to stop. Or else I'm going to start crying too. You want me to cry, don't you? That's why you're doing this!"
Unable to bear the sight of the tear trails that marked his cheek, Anika rubbed them off with her thumbs. "Im sorry"
"You should be! Mad woman." A husky reprimand, her Shivaay coming back to sparking life. "If you make me go through that again He lowered his face to hers threateningly "So help me, God, I might just end up in prison under charges of murdering my wife!"
Sighing because she was finally home, in his arms, she stayed quiet and listened to him scold and threaten her for about 45 minutes until he whispered her name softly.
She nodded and he continued. "I have something for you?"
"What is it? Is it pav bhaji? I have a craving for-"
He chuckled and replied with an almost nervous look. "Its not food. But I hope you like this as much as you like pav bhaji"
Anika furrowed her eye brows, wondering what Shivaay could have gotten her over than food, and nodded for him to go on. He took her right hand and placed her palm on his chest, over his heart. She felt the strong steady beating of his heart, and felt her own meet his, beat for beat.
He lowered his head so that his lips brushed her ear "I love you, Anika"
Bigg Boss 19
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