Chapter One
"Hey...what are you doing?" Anika shouted running towards the person, who was standing on the edge of the bridge, ready to jump at any time. Is he up to suicide? She started running even faster after guessing about his suicide plan.
He turned to look for the owner of the voice and found her, running a marathon race whose finish point was probably he. She was short as compared to his height. Her hairs which were little less than her waist length, were flying with her running pace as she had left them open. She was dressed in a beautiful Silver coloured Saree with black borders giving the Saree and her as well, an absolutely breathtaking look.
Seems like she was about to go to some function. He for a second didn't realize what he thought. The very next second, he was surprised with himself. You are not here to think about her. He told his mind, he was not supposed to pay attention at her. He shifted his head in his original position of how he was standing, getting prepared for what he had come there.
"Stop. Stop I said."
He heard her voice again, which sounded like she had gotten a throat for a singer. Though she was shouting on top of her voice, but it was melodious to his ears. Not again! He sighed. Get Set and Go. He pushed himself to the front, willing to get drowned in the embrace of fast flooding river down there, to get vanish in the pure, crystal water. He knew, at least it wouldn't pushed him away. But to his surprise, instead of falling down at front, he fell down back, as he got pulled by someone.
"Ouch" escaped from his mouth, as his back collided hard on the road and she fell over him. He held her arms so as to protect her from getting hurt. His eyes could not get shifted from her as he got a clear view of her face. She was as beautiful as her voice was to him. He could easily say she was a sweet and a very delicate girl. Her big eyes were staring in his, making him forget of everything around him, making him forget of his main motive of coming there. That's it. Not again. Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi, stop doing this again and again. But I am not able to help it either.
Getting trapped in the two different thoughts, he knew he should not be doing that but on the second hand, it was not something he was able to control.
"Tum mere upar ho. You are on top of me." He whispered to her, seeing no movement from her side.
"Hmm?" She did not hear what he said or to be more specific she did not pay any attention to what he said. Rather she was busy in admiring his features. His dark eyes, now showing irritation but that didn't reduce the fact that they were too beautiful, something she never had come across. They showed something that she could relate to, she saw pain in them, and they looked troubled to her. Her eyes travelled below registering the sharp features of him that could make any girl to drool over him.
"I said, tum mere upar ho. I said you are on top of me." He repeated again, on her question. Realizing their position, she quickly got off him. She adjusted her Saree and her hairs properly what she messed up during the running process. He stood up as well, holding his arm, rubbing the side of his elbow which got hurt when he fell on the road.
"You?" He asked looking at her while she was there, standing with her angriest glare.
What did I do? Why is she glaring at me like this? He wondered over her reaction.
"Are you mad, dumb or a coward? What exactly do you think you were you doing here?" She had come in her fierce mode, seeing his extreme stupidity.
"I am not a coward." He instantly made a statement letting her know he was not a coward. Probably he couldn't take that word which she used for him. I am not a coward, am I? He asked, to assure himself and the answer he got from his soul was, NO.
"Oh really? Then you must be dumb." She brought out the other case which could be his, according to her.
"I am not dumb either" he was getting annoyed with the adjectives she was using for him. She felt an urge to pull his cheeks. He looks adorable when he is annoyed! Arghh! Anika, what the hell you are thinking? She cursed herself.
Getting back to where she stopped, "Oops...so if you are not dumb then that means you are intelligent, are you?" She asked, making a slightly amused face at him. Annoyance reduced a bit from him hearing the first nice word for him from her.
"I don't like to praise myself but yes I am. I have been consistent topper in my college time." He told her with a proud, remembering his college days where he was famous for his intelligence, where he was known as the second name of brilliance.
"Achha...then you must be...No you actually are M.A.D." She stressed over the word mad, bringing his annoyance back again.
He pointed her finger at him saying, "Look...you are now..."
"Crossing my limits?" She completed his sentence before him. Shock was evident on his face seeing how correctly she understood his words even before he could speak them. He didn't say anything but preferred being quiet. "No I am not Mr?" she asked for his name so that she could frame her sentence well.
"Shivaay Singh Oberoi." He said. A very different introduction must say. He never thought one day, this could be a way to introduce himself to someone.
"Alright...so I was saying, I am not crossing my limits Mr. Shivaay Singh Oberoi but you are mad and that is the fact. In fact you are mad, stupid and...and much more." She went on saying much more' on not finding more words appropriate for him at that point of time. He just let her say what she was, without interfering in between.
She turned and took some steps ahead. "Ek chotisi chot lagi, to "Ouch"...yahi kaha tha na tumne?...ek chotisi chot ka dard to bardasht nahi hota aur Mr. Oberoi Ji chale hai marne...Nahi? A little bruise and ouch'... that's what you said right? Cannot even tolerate a little pain and Mr. Oberoi has gotten out to die, no?" Shifting her gaze to him, he found her standing there with clenched fist. He still didn't utter anything. The pain she saw overpowering him that time, made her regret of her words for a minute but then she realized, she was not wrong. It was he, who was.
"I know, you must have a reason that made you so much depressed in your life, I know you must have a valid point that made you think you have remained with nothing in your life but...that doesn't give you a right to kill yourself. No matter what but there is always a ray of hope remained in the life, even if you can't see it, it's always there. You might be thinking now that you have lost everything but one day you'll surely realize there was much more awaiting for you. Suicide is a crime and I...I won't let you do that." She softened her tone with him, but at the same time keeping it determined that she would not let him kill himself. He was listening, listening and listening to her. She had brought back many memories to him with her words. She had angered him and she could see that.
He took steps towards her which scared her somewhat but she kept wearing the mask of confidence in front of him. "What do you know about me?" He asked her, in a very normal tone which left her stupefied. She had expected him to shout at her, to burst his anger on her. That was normal kind of behaviour from a person who was trying to attempt suicide towards the stranger who was sort of giving him free advices about right and wrong. "
Nothing." She mumbled in a low voice.
"Come again. I didn't hear you." He took a step closer to her.
"Nothing." She projected aloud.
"When you don't know anything about my life then you better not comment on it, got it?" He shouted turning back, walking away from her. His sudden increased voice made her startle.
"Do you even know what pain is? Do you even know how it feels when your life turns as nothing but a punishment for the crime which you haven't even done? Do you know?" He put forth some questions to her which were heartbreaking. On getting no answer from her, he glanced at her. She seemed to be in some other world. He opened his mouth to say something but was cut off by her.
"Tell me...what's your story? I would help you." She said making him go stunned at her reply. Hearing her care, he felt a sudden wave of happiness rushing though his veins but he wasn't expecting her to say something like that, was he?
Chapter Two
"And why would you do that?" An obvious curiosity came out of him in form of the question that why on the earth that girl, who looked a very happy in her life, her appearance told him that she had to go to a function and there she was, with him, saving his life and telling him that she would help him.
"Because I don't want you to, again make a stupidity like this. I won't always be around to save you."
He couldn't understand why but the last sentence by her didn't go well with him. Though they both were strangers but still, she would not be with him made him feel a little bad.
"You can't do anything Ms.?"
"Anika...Anika Kapoor."
"You can't do anything Ms. Anika Kapoor. You can't help me in any way. Actually no one can and I don't even want anyone to. So it's better if you leave from here right now."
She shook her head in denial. "See, sometimes the other one's perspective can help you. You might think that nothing can change now but let me try, may be things will work out." She brought a way so that he would allow her to help him. He thought for a while before he agreed.
"Tia..." He started.
She raised her eyebrows at him to ask who she was.
"Tia...my love from school life. She loves me too." He continued.
"Then what's the problem?" She asked not understanding if they both loved each other then why he was hell bent on ending his life.
"She broke our relationship... because her family do not wish to get her married to me and she loves her family much enough to not go against their wish... today is her marriage and I am here to end my life...Confused? I will clear it. She loves me and I don't want her to stay in guilt of leaving me and marrying someone else...if today my life ends, she is free to get with anyone and it will not cause her pain of marrying to someone else even after loving me. Mai hi nahi raha to usko koi guilt bhi nahi rahega."
She was shocked to hear his story of life and reason for trying committing suicide. It wasn't about him but for the one he loved. He wanted to die to make it easy for Tia to get married. She kept wondering how he could love someone so much to finish his life for.
"But why her parents don't want you two to get together? I mean you just told me sometime before that you was a topper of your college so you must be having a good job. Looking at you, gives me a glimpse of you belong to a good and reputed family. Then why?" It was something which she was unable to understand.
He said, "Before a year, we... I and Tia were going for a small vacation. She insisted that she would drive and I let her. She made an accident which apparently caused a hit to a woman along with her child. That woman got bruised and a fracture in her hand. She did complain and I took blame on me saying it was me who was driving the car. I had to go jail and so her family don't find me eligible enough for her...That's it."
"Oh wow...What a love! You took her blame, you went to jail because of her and she just let you?" Anika asked in disbelief. It came as a shock to her. "Not like that...she loves me...as much as I do...maine use kasam di thi...so she had no option." Shivaay defended Tia.
Kasam! Just a mere word for many and life for a few.
"She could have told her parents at least" Anika said, still being on her point. If she let her parents know about the matter, then there would be no complications at all. Shivaay denied. "Her parents will never forgive her."
"Every parent forgives their child no matter how many mistakes they make." One more opinion or a strong belief came from Anika.
He shook her head. Tia had told him numerous times that her parents would not forgive her for any such mistake and rather they would break their all ties with her and knowing how much Tia loved her family, Shivaay could never do anything that would create differences between her and her family.
A bunch of things ran in Anika's mind hearing Shivaay. She said, "Alright. Uski shadi kaha ho rahi hai aur kitne baje hai?"
"What are you up to?" Shivaay asked. He did not want her to create any problem in Tia's marriage.
"Just answer what I asked. You want her back or not?" She asked again, without answering to what he actually asked. He looked at his watch.
"Abhi...ek ghante me...uske ghar pe."
Anika looked at her phone. "Give me her address and I will see the rest."
"One minute." She excused herself to answer the phone call. "Haa Maa... Maa actually I won't be able to come. I have something more important to do." She cut the call and got back to him.
"You have something important to attend right?" He asked what he was thinking right from the moment he had seen her.
"Yeah I do...it's my sister's engagement but it is okay. Your problem is more important for now." She told him.
He was pleasantly surprised and shocked to hear, that he was important for her. "Look you don't have to..."
"Ab dosti ki hai to nibhani to padegi hi." She flashed a smile, lightening his mood.
"Dosti? Ye kab hui?" He raised a brow.
She gave it a thought. "Accha nahi hui kya? No problem. Hi I am Anika Kapoor, would you mind being my friend?"
He couldn't help smiling at her. She was innocently adorable.
When she fell over him, he found her beautiful. The next moment she stood up, he found her feisty. When she gave him some life lessons, he found her mature and now, she was adorable. He had not seen so many shades in a person in such a short time so far in his life.
"No. I wouldn't. Shivaay Singh Oberoi."
Now this was a proper introduction with a start of friendship which was probably going to take them far, together.
"Okay then, give me her address now or else it will be too late." Anika shrugged off everything as she realized that time was running fast pace and she really needed to hurry up or else she wouldn't be able to stop Tia's marriage. Shivaay, for a moment was dumbstruck wondering on the fact that how and why on the earth, that stranger was willing to do so much for him. But he couldn't dare utter anything. That moment, only she was the ray of hope for him. He simply nodded and gave her Tia's address.
She turned to leave for Tia's house and had merely taken few steps ahead when she turned once to look at him who was staring, watching her back. "Until I come back, promise me you'll not do any such stunt." She almost ordered him, pointing a finger at him.
He, for some unknown reasons felt a sharp wave of happiness rushing in his veins seeing her so concern for him.
"Don't worry. I at least owe this much to you." He assured her, as his face beamed a smile. "But how'll you go?" He asked the soon it hit him that how she would make it to Tia's home.
She hadn't thought about it. She was going to her sister's engagement with her friends when their car broke down some distance away from where, they were standing now. They called for mechanic but Anika had started walking to see if she could find anything to reach on the spot early and then she found Shivaay there.
"It's okay. I'll manage something." She asked him not to worry about her but from inside, she herself wasn't sure about what she was going to manage and moreover she had to reach at Tia's wedding before time. That was the most important thing, rest everything was secondary.
"I have my car here." He pointed towards a white Mercedes parked near-by.
Her eyes widen in shock. "Tum Mercedes leke marne aaye the?" She chucked but soon controlled as she saw him glaring at her.
Chapter Three
"Fine... Fine... Give me key." She forwarded her hand towards him while he looked at her quite doubtfully.
"You can drive?" He asked unsure.
"Don't worry. I am not Tia." She soon regretted the words she spat off. Not really but partially, she did regret them. "I mean I am a safe driver." She added more, covering her sentence in another way, putting a direct statement of what she meant.
He nodded and took out keys from his pocket. "What? Dont tell me tum ye keys lekar yaha se kudne wale the? Fir iss Mercedes ka kya hota?" She asked him with a serious expression. Though, she was giggling hard mentally but still maintained a shocked face in front of him. He stared at her for a while before he burst out laughing. His laugh made her smile.
"How cute he looks while smiling? I have to return his love to him. He doesn't deserve this." She thought mentally and she was more determined now that no matter what she has to do but she wouldn't give up. She would bring back his love to him.
He stopped laughing as he caught her staring at him. She looked quite lost in him.
He kept the key on the palm of her hand and immediately lifted it up from her hand which brought her back to reality. She shook her head with her eyes raised at him to understand what he just did.
"I will drive. I'll drop you little before than her home. Get inside car and no argument over this." He declared and moved towards the car without even waiting to hear her.
"Huh? What was that?" She stood there in confusion, thinking what happened suddenly to him. He was ready to let her drive till sometime ago and now all of sudden a complete attitude in change wasn't easily digestible for her. But she couldn't ask him either as he didn't even gave her a chance to resist. He more like commanded her to do so and to her surprise she wasn't offended. She has had a very genuine feeling behind his sudden change in decision and she chose to appreciate that rather than questioning him.
He opened the door and adjusted himself on the driver seat. His hand went over his Shirt beneath which, his heart which was beating rapidly. He was all ready to give her key and let her go as he really didn't wish to give a visit to Tia's home after what happened. In any case, if he comes before Tia, it wouldn't be right according to him, nor he had courage to go and witness her wedding. Though Anika had promised him to turn things other way around but he didn't wish to lighten false hopes within him.
The moment he placed the key in her hand, the accident done by Tia flashed before his eyes and his heart filled with the same fear again. What if something like that happened with Anika? NO. That was what his soul screamed from within and that was when he decided he would not let her go alone. He could not and would not take the risk, no matter what. He just couldn't bear the mere thought of something happening to her.
Why am I behaving like this? ...why wouldn't I? After all she saved my life and she is doing all this for me. I am just returning her favours. Ya right...I am just returning her favours. Questions haunted him in his thoughts about why he wanted her to be safe, why the mere thought of she being hurt made him feel the pain of getting stabbed by several knives at a time but later he made himself understand that it was just because she was doing a lot for him so at least her safety was his responsibility.
Just in a meet of few minutes, she had formed something in his heart, a place in his heart. He knew he was being over-protective towards her but he would not deny that he liked the feeling.
His thought process broke as she sat beside him. Bringing his self to normal, he started the car and drove to Tia's home.
"Can I ask you something?" She tilted her head slightly towards him while he agreed in the reply.
"You were ready to give me your car. You almost had put the key on my hand then what happened all of sudden?" She asked out of curiosity which was disturbing her since the time she had taken a seat in the car. She just couldn't get it out of her mind. It would be more appropriate to say she was keen to know the reason behind his sudden change and his not allowing her to go along by driving on her own.
"Because I did not wish to let you go alone. Because I feared that just in case, anything happen, I won't be around to save you. This absolutely does not mean that I doubt on your driving skills...not at all. But considering my life history so far, I don't trust my destiny. It comprises people around me in its bad as well. So I just didn't want to take any chance."
He answered what she wanted to know, with all honesty. He had no reason to lie. He just spoke what was in his heart. She looked amused, delighted and pleased at the same time. She felt fortunate to have had met someone like him, who was so open, so honest, so pure at his heart. Such people are rare to find in this world. She thought.
He glanced at her as he didn't get any response from her. Her gaze was fixed front side with a smile still increasing the shine of her face. He was contended seeing a serene look of her.
"Should I tell you something?" He asked her playfully.
"My smile is beautiful, right?" She proposed an answer when he saw him staring at her before he could actually say what he wanted to. She had receiving number of complements for her beautiful smile so far in her life from almost everyone, be it her family members, her friends or even strangers. So it was pretty easy for her to guess that he must be one among them to complement her, the same.
He nodded negatively while his eyes glued on road.
"No, when you smile, you look beautiful." He asserted with a stressing slightly on his words, stealing a glance of her after it and found her shockingly amused.
Now that was something new. No one ever had complemented her other way round, twisting words in such any way. He could see a strong pink coloured blush making its way from her neck to her cheek, making her look adorable. He admired the girl sitting next to him, who couldn't stop smiling and blushing after his complement, even after trying hard not to do so.
It didn't go unnoticed by him that she was really taking efforts to maintain a stern face and control the smile which seemed to be turning wider and wider but failed to do so. She is really innocent. He thought shifting his gaze from her to the road, focusing his all attention on driving.
He heard her softly mumbling a thank you while she chose to look forward only, to avoid any awkward glares. He smiled in return, not saying anything. Sometimes, silent conveying of emotions are the most beautiful things. Even she didn't expect him to respond on her gratitude she expressed. It was simply the end of the beautiful complement giving and receiving thing.
He halted his car, applying immediate brakes the soon he realized he was too near of Tia's home. Anika's companionship made him forget that he had a finishing point of his journey too. She straightened herself, adjusting her hairs properly which were slightly messed up due to the blow of wind.
"First left, third home. You can see the decorations there." He said, letting her know Tia's exact address from where he had stopped the car.
He was no way going to even see her from distance.
He knew, he would not be able to see Tia's marriage preparations with somebody else.
He knew, seeing Tia in bridal attire for somebody else would tear him apart.
He knew he wasn't strong enough to see her getting someone else's in front of his eyes.
He knew he would fall apart.
He knew he would break into zillion of pieces.
He knew he just wouldn't be able to bear it. He knew it.
"It's okay Shivaay." She said, providing him silent strength. Though he didn't say anything, but she could see the sadness which was overtaking him. She made her way towards Tia's home, getting down from the car. She turned back once, to assure if he was fine or not. He looked devastated. He had pretended to be composed enough in front of Anika but even Anika was aware of what he was going through inside.
The guy, who could go jail just to save the one he loved from any kind of allegation, insult and pain would definitely get shattered seeing the same person he devoted his soul to, getting married to somebody else. He truly had loved Tia with all his almighty.
That was a heartbreaking scenario for Anika seeing Shivaay, breaking every next moment with fear of losing Tia. It gave her more determination that no matter what and how, she did have to stop Tia's marriage and bring her back in Shivaay's life because Tia was Shivaay's ultimate happiness and she quickly headed towards the Tia's marriage venue, which was her home.
Chapter Four
Anika stepped inside Tia's home. That more looked like a beautiful set-up of any movie set. Everything was decorated gracefully. White orchids increased the beauty of hall. Guests had made their appearance to bless the two, who were going to be tied in a sacred bond of marriage. The wall shined, with the big names decorated over it,
'Tia Weds Robin'
Anika stopped one of the girls, there. "Excuse me...can you please tell me where Tia is?"
"Upstairs." That girl showed at one of the rooms upstairs and she rushed for some work. Everyone was busy there, in preparations of the wedding. Anika quickly moved towards the direction shown by that girl. She was quite hesitant to barge in someone's home like that, especially if that someone was stranger to her but she had no other option either. She had to do it. She reached to the room told by that girl and stood in front of it. The door was half open. Anika thought twice about how to enter inside as she did not know Tia. That was an awkward moment. She was about to push the door of Tia's room when she heard some voices from inside. Anika stopped at her place.
"Tia, I am not getting why are you marrying Robin? You love Shivaay no? Then what's this?"
"Oh come on Riyu. You seriously think I love him? Like seriously? Me and he? We don't have a match bebe."
Anika was shocked to hear the conversation Tia was having with Riya. From the way they were talking, it was pretty easy to guess Riya was Tia's friend and probably Shivaay's as well.
"But you were dating each other, right?"
"Riyu... I never loved him. It was he, who was always behind me. When we were in school, he proposed me. He was topper of the school, best in everything. I thought it would be a good decision of saying yes to him. And it indeed was! You know I never had any problem in my school because he was always there for me. He used to do everything for me... right from the notes to teaching me in exam time. Moreover I used to get awesome attention being his girlfriend as I said earlier also, he was the best. Later in college, same trend went on. I already knew we were never meant to be but I realized it more specifically as we grew up but later I realized he never grew up. He was still the same Shivaay who used to stick to me like a bee sticks to honey. Trust me Riyu, he irritated me like hell. Every time accompanying me and all I had to get rid of him. We made a plan, that accident was a planned trap for him, just so that I can get a reason to break up with him. And that worked and finally I am out of that creepy relationship."
Anika clenched her fist in anger hearing Tia's disgusting deeds. She couldn't believe how someone can stoop so low, how someone can play with someone's feelings just like that. Seriously unbelievable!!! She was about to barge inside but held herself back as again their voices fell upon her ears.
"But Tia, what was the need to do all this? You could have straightway told him. He went to jail, just for you. Don't you think it was wrong? You could have directly break up with you."
"Oh please Riyu, you don't have any idea how he is. He is an emotional fool. He'd have blackmailed me emotionally, would have done anything but never had left me and with this plan, he himself chose to get away from me. Actually I'd have married to him for his status and money even mom dad wanted that but six months before, I met Robin. He is richer than Shivaay, more handsome than him, more charming than him. Shivaay, he is just dumb. Robin makes me feel beautiful, hot and Shivaay... he and his restrictions. He never liked me in western outfits, for him I was more beautiful in Indian, huh? Anyone wears traditional in today's time? He doesn't even like clubs. He is Sanskari Shivaay and he isn't of my type. Hope you got about this plan now."
Anika stood there in utter shock. She felt absolute disgust for Tia that time.
"Anyways, today is such an amazing day. Please don't spoil it by taking his name." Tia refused to talk more about or regarding him. After-all today was the day; she was waiting since long six months.
Finally, she was getting married to the one she desired... Robin! Robin was her wish, her desire since the time she had met him. She has had a good time with Shivaay of course. Even she felt somewhat little bad that she used him for her selfish deeds, for her selfish reasons and deep somewhere in her heart, she did have a regret of it and she would always have that.
She wasn't deprived of the fact that he loved her with all his almighty. She could have married him and lived a stable and luxurious life with him but then she found Robin, someone who was not only richer than Shivaay but was almost better than him in many ways. It wouldn't have affected her only if she had some feelings for Shivaay in her heart. But she had nothing. She absolutely felt nothing for him so she pretty easily got attracted towards Robin who looked equally interested in her.
She had met Robin in one family party. He was the elder son of Mehtas. Mehta, the name itself was enough to define the heights of success. Robin owned many companies; simultaneously he had opened some schools along with hostel there for orphans, providing them everything at free of cost, right from food, a place to live to the education they wished to pursue.
After having some introductory talks in the party, they exchanged numbers. It was a mere start of the relationship, where they were heading. Few more meet and Robin lost his heart to Tia and ended up proposing her.
How could she refuse and to be more specific, why she would? She felt a different pull towards Robin and he was capable of giving her the life she wanted. Shivaay anyway meant nothing to her. She accepted Robin's proposal and today, they were getting one in all the senses.
"Fine." Riya said, acknowledging what she was told by Tia.
"Not so soon Ms. Tia."
They headed back at the door, to see the owner of the voice. Anika pushed the door, making her appearance inside the room. She absolutely had no idea what she was going to do because the disgusting stuff done by that girl had shaken her inside out. She was just not able to digest that someone could stoop so low.
"Excuse me. Do I know you?" Tia jerked up from her seat, on not finding a known face there.
"No you don't! But I know you very well" Anika stepped towards her, with the harsh and bitter tone letting Tia know that meeting Anika was definitely not going to be pleasant. But still she maintained a smile on her face through the confusion which wasn't ready to leave her.
"I am sorry. I didn't get you."
"You soon will get." Anika mocked at her. She felt like slapping her right there but she still held her hands back.
"How could you do that Tia? How could you play with Shivaay's feelings like that? Don't you have a heart? Someone who loved you so unconditionally that he didn't think twice before taking the blame of your crime on his own shoulders, not worrying about what his family, his friends, who world think about him... just for you and you had purposefully planned it? Seriously, you are a girl for god's sake but what you did, make me assume that you are nothing but a heartless creature. You, disgust me." Anika felt a sharp intense pain, even saying about Tia's betrayal towards Shivaay. She had never come across any such situation.
The basic start of her trust in love was her parents. Her parents were so much in love with each other, that Anika used to see their love right in their eyes and it looked so beautiful to her. For her, her parents were the inspiration of how every relationship should be. Tia's such a betrayal towards Shivaay who was more than required loyal to her, had blanked Anika. She couldn't believe such people could exist as well.
Chapter Five
"Woah girl! Take a pause and tell me, who are you? His girlfriend?" A slight frown of Tia was turning into anger after getting insulted to the extreme by Anika.
Anika lowered her eyes, laughing a bit. "That is it. I can't expect anything else from you. Someone like you who don't value relations for whom love is a joke can say no different than what you just did...But let me clear to you, I am not his girlfriend because he has devoted his heart to you and I really feel sorry for him that he has chosen you. He doesn't deserve someone like you. He deserve much better than you."
Anika wasn't surprise with Tia's sarcastic taunt on she being his girlfriend. Not that, it affected her but what's disgusting is disgusting.
"And you know what; I actually feel pity for you. You have lost a gem running after glitter. I really wish that someday, someday you understand what it is to get your heart break... understand how it feels when your loved one turns their back towards you... understand how severe the pain is."
Anika glanced at Tia once to see that look on her face, that guilty look after having seen mirror of her cruelty right in front of her, in the form of Anika and she turned to leave from that suffocating place.
She had reached to the door, when her figure turned back. She saw some tears rolling down Tia's cheeks. Probably, her words had made Tia realize what actually she had done and how much it must have impacted Shivaay.
"But let me tell you one thing Tia, he will not suffer if that's what your motive was. He has suffered enough and now he'll live, he'll live to the fullest. He won't sat and cry for you. He'll find his happiness and I, will make sure that. Thank you Tia, or else he would have never overcome you. Thank you for showing me what kind of person you are. Thank you for making him free of the relation which in real was never there, at least from your side. Just do me a favour now, don't ever show your face to him. It would be great."
Tia felt a stinging sensation in her heart just like someone had slapped her again and again but what Anika said was no less than that also. Anika left the place as soon as she could, not having turned back.
Tia somehow managed to adjust herself on the chair nearby. Some more tears rolled down her cheeks.
"Are you okay Tia?" Riya asked, who quietly witnessed what happened just few moments ago. She felt sorry for her friend but she couldn't help either. Even she knew, Tia was wrong and no one else. Tia gave a small nod, wiping her tears. She wanted to forget what happened sometime before. She wanted to forget her encounter with Anika. Applying some more make-up, she tried to hide to sorrow which had overtaken her. Her wedding was the most important thing for her that time.
Anika hurriedly walked off her home. On the way from her house to Shivaay, her mind clouded with so many things. She didn't know how she was going to tell Shivaay about Tia. Her hands clasped within, while she shuddered from inside not understanding how Shivaay would take all this.
No! It'd pain him, a lot more than a lot! But I have to tell him! He must know. He must know and move on.
By that time, she came to the place where Shivaay had left her. He stood near the window of his car, leaning backwards. She let her gaze linger on him. Why god? Why he? Anika mentally asked.
"Anika"
She heard him. He quickly rushed towards her. "What happened Anika?" He asked impatiently. Anika's confidence had lit up hope in him. He was almost sure that Anika must have done something.
"Shivaay come." She blankly said, not meeting his eyes as she walked and sat inside the car. He raised his eyebrows in anticipation and confusion.
Getting inside the car, he again asked squeezing her arm. "Anika..."
In return, she could only say. "Let's go back."
She let him know to drive back to the same bridge. He found it weird, way beyond weird. But the way Anika's face paled, the way she was not looking at him made him sure of one thing, something wasn't right.
Without questioning further, he drove back to the place from where their journey had started.
She asked him to come out, while removing her seat belt.
***
"Anika, speak up." He held her wrist on the road.
"Tia doesn't love you Shivaay. She never did and she never will." He left her hand when he heard her and backed out few steps.
She turned back within a moment with the swift of his movement. That reaction was definitely expected by Anika, in fact a lot more was yet to come.
"What... what did you say?" He asked her to repeat again when his every sense refused to believe what reached to them. She stepped forward, staring in his eyes and repeated her words again.
"Stop it Anika. This is not true. This can't be true. No. My Tia loves me." He blabbered.
"Shivaay... Shivaay, please don't do this." Anika's eyes brimmed with tears seeing the broken man standing in front of her.
"Tia used you. She never loved you." Anika narrated entire conversation of Tia and Riya to Shivaay.
His legs stumbled hearing the revelations which turned him upside down from inside. He shook his head negatively walking to the other side of the road. She tried stopping him but there wasn't any use.
He scratched his head messing it up with his fingers. Frustrated, angry, hurt... emotions were overpowering him. He didn't know how to react.
No. Tia can't do this. His Tia can never do this. Never!
He glanced at Anika once and the next moment, he pulled her grabbing by hand.
"Shivaay...what..."
Anika was cut off as Shivaay opened the door of his car and pushed her inside, yet sure enough to not hurt in any way. Closing the door, he himself slumped down on Driver's seat. He drove the car away without looking at Anika even once. Everything happened in such a swift of a moment that Anika couldn't even understand.
Regaining herself back, Anika stared at Shivaay's driving figure. His face was almost blank, devoid of any emotions. Tears blur Anika's vision when the intense crying of his heart reached to her heart. Though he wasn't saying a word but she could feel it.
She could feel it.
She wanted him to talk, she wanted him to shout, she wanted him to cry, and she wanted him to let out everything which he was hiding. She didn't dare say anything. She just let him do what he was. Deep inside, her heart clenched seeing that painful expression over his face.
Chapter Six
"Shivaay." Anika gasped. He halted his car, in front of Tia's house. Anika's eyes brimmed with tears and mind clouded with severe fears.
What is going in his mind? Oh god, please help. I don't know what to do. Is he going to confront Tia? Damn! It will result into nothing but only will make him more disturbed.
Shivaay stepped off car, closing thse door back, with a force. It broke Anika's trance, bringing her out of her thoughts. Realizing he had already gone inside, she rushed behind him, getting out.
Their feet stopped at the entrance, seeing the fiasco going inside.
"Robin no, please. I love you, I really do." Tia pleaded, grabbing Robin's hand. Robin looked every possible where except her.
"Tia, I could never have been able to believe if it wasn't my own eyes and ears by which I saw and heard it." Robin's words and tone were nothing but cold, his face deprived of any emotions. Removing her hand, which still had held his, he spoke finally looking at her.
"How could you do that with a guy? With that guy, who loved you unconditionally! Forget everything, how could you play with anyone's feelings just like that? You made a joke of love, Tia. You made a joke of love. Because probably, you don't know what love is. And that also means you never loved me."
"No Robin, I love you. I really do. Please, trust me. I know, I know what I did with Shivaay is wrong, absolutely wrong. But please, don't say that I don't love you because I do. I love you more than myself. Don't leave me, please marry me. I will die without you." Tia repeated and repeated, confessing her love for him. She couldn't bear his statement that she never loved him.
Robin stared at the woman clad in red bridal outfit in front of him.
She was supposed to be his bride.
She was his love.
She was his life.
But when he heard, her conversation with Anika about her betrayal towards Shivaay, he was left shattered. He had come to Tia's window to surprise her, but it turned out to be a shock for him.
Don't leave me.
Please marry me.
I will die without you.
Her words echoed in his mind. Tia's every word about playing with Shivaay played in his mind like movie.
"I loved you, I love you. How can I let my love die? I can't. I will marry you. But that marriage would mean nothing for me. Because you... now mean nothing for me. I will give nothing in this marriage. You heard me? Now say, you still want to marry me?" He asked, putting every single thing straight and clear in front of her.
She wanted to laugh at her fate, more on her own self. You didn't care about hurting Shivaay. You didn't respect love. Now this is what you deserve Tia. She knew, it was Karma, who came back to her.
Her fingers wiped the tears from her eyes. She nodded positively. She still wanted to marry him despite of everything he just told her about what would be the reality of their marriage.
He shook his head at her, in disbelief. He expected her to back off, at least then. But she stood there, adamant.
------------
Shivaay's hold tightened, as he held Anika's hand tightly. Tia's acceptance of playing with him stiffened him. Robin and Tia sat for their wedding and Shivaay's steps decremented, with Anika.
On the other side, Anika failed to understand anything. The next thing she knew was, he threw himself in her embrace, when they reached to his car. She was taken aback with his sudden act. He knew nothing. He understood nothing except the fact, that love has betrayed him.
Circling her hands around his back, she hugged him. None of them said a word. After few minutes, pulling apart, he directly went inside the car. She, again, without asking anything, followed him, sitting beside him. He drove back to the same bridge, where they had met.
"I think you should go your home now. It's quite late. Besides, you missed your sister's engagement also, that too for no reason."
She heard him say, gazing at the steering in his hand.
"Anika, what happened? Don't you have to go?" He said again, on not getting any response from her to his earlier said thing.
"I have to. But I won't go, until you speak everything in your mind and heart." She said, softly, yet an altogether different level of stubbornness came out with it.
"What? No I am..."
"Fine? Ah please Shivaay, we both know you are not." She cut him off, completing his words before him, surprising him again that how well she understood him in such a short span of time.
"You don't have to pretend that you are fine because I know you aren't. Say everything which is disturbing you Shivaay. Just let it out. Trust me, you will feel better." She said, asking him not to hold things anymore to himself.
She knew, he was just trying to act normal in front of her but he was left shaken from inside. And that was pretty much justified too. How could he be fine after knowing that the beautiful love life, he was living was nothing but just an illusion, a mirage. It was everything for him, but it meant nothing to Tia. For him, she was above everything and for her, he was nowhere.
And that was it. His hands slipped from steering in his lap and his head fell on the steering. The pain he held inside him so far came out with the stream of tears rolling down his cheeks. Things were going far worse than he could imagine, the pain residing inside him was making his heart heavy with the passing moments.
How he wished he could control himself! How he wished he could grab a hold on his emotions! Getting weak in front of her was the last thing he wanted. He was breaking and he didn't want anyone to see him in that vulnerable state.
***
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Edited by LoveToWrite - 7 years ago
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