Chapter 3
Time and again it has been proven that one should never test the power of love because you will always lose and love would always win. No matter what scenario, circumstance or hurdle you put in its way, love will find a way to triumph and protect. Lying in his hospital bed Shivaay replayed the incidents of yesterday. He had left the palace seething at his mother's and Samar kaka's wedding plans for him. There was no one else for him but her. He driving like a maniac on the highway when he suddenly felt suffocated at the thought of spending his life with someone else and then came the body numbing realization the she might not have waited for him, moved on and married someone else. Suddenly, he could not breathe so he slammed the breaks of his car and got out, and walked to the other side of the road to curb his fear that there was a possibility that there might be someone else in her life. And then there was a blast, he saw his car flying into the air flames engulfing it from all sides. Even though he was on the other side of the road the flames gave him minor burns. The car was fitted with a time bomb. The bomb went off on its designated time but because of his love for her he was not in the car when it went off. Her love had saved him like it had saved him eight years ago.
He closed his eyes resting his head on pillow and promised himself that he will find her and bring her back in his life. There was no possibility of her moving on to someone else because if that was the case he would have felt it and he would be dead. Apparently she was only one who had the power to end the indestructible force called Shivaay Singh Oberoi.He did not want to spend another second. He needed her. He will get her come hell or high water. Simplicity of this truth was amazing and for first time in eight years he felt relaxed sitting in a hospital bed all banged up and burned. Shivaay smiled to himself and made a mental note to send a thank you note to his uncle for planning this attack on him and making him let go of his fear of losing her again when he found her. And reminding that when Shivaay Singh Oberoi puts his mind to something he does not lose.
DING! The elevator door opened and suddenly there was commotion outside his room. He heard his mother's gasp Omkara, Rudra and Priyanka's happy shrieks. He was lying all banged up in the hospital and his family happy shrieking. What was going on out there? He was about to ring the help bell attached to his bed when the elevator went ding again. The air sizzled, his heart raced and he felt calm. She was here. Plan One Successful.
Jhanvi and Kalyani just could not believe their eyes. They were here, all of them. She stood glued to her spot, afraid that she would move and this will all be a dream. Then Aruna came and hugged her. The two ladies held each other and cried away the pain of eight years,
"Here you are again in my time of need, Jhanvi said breaking away. She was beyond ecstatic to have her best friend back.
"Always, Aruna replied, "How is my son doing? The media was blocked and Samar Singh ji wouldn't pick up his phone. I was so worried.
"He is fine. He was not in the car when the bomb went off. Just some minor scratches and burns. You can go see him right away. Jhanvi assured Aruna. Something dawned on Aruna as if all the pieces of puzzle fell into place. Shivaay was incorrigible. Omkara, Rudra and Priyanka hugged Vinay. Sahil came and touched Kalyani and Jhanvi's feet but Annika was nowhere to be seen.
"Relax, Annika is here. She is just making a call to find coverage for her at work. Aruna replied noticing Jhanvi's searching eyes and right on cue the elevator opened and Annika walked out of it. Priyanka, Omkara and Rudra hugged her instantly making her lose her balance a little.
"Looks like I am attending a wedding, Annika said as they broke the hug.
"You better. You have no idea how much I have to beg and plead Samar Kaka to send you a wedding card. Priyanka replied with tears in her eyes.
Annika went ahead and touched Jhanvi's feet and getting up turned to Aruna, "You go see him. I won't go inside Ma. Our deal was to come here and I fulfilled that. Annika told Aruna.
Aruna was about to argue with Annika when Jhanvi cut in, "Then I will stay here with you. Jhanvi told Annika. Both Aruna and Jhanvi looked at each other knowingly. They were going to have to use the same tactics on their children that they used to when they were kids to get these two together.
Aruna turned and opened the door to Shivaay's room and stepped in to see him reaching for the help bell, "What do you need, tell me, I will get it. She rushed to him.
"Aruna Ma, Shivaay's face lit up as he saw her rushing to him. "I am fine, relax. I just wanted to know about the commotion outside. Now I know it was you. Shivaay sighed and then said excitedly when he saw rest of the Bose family walked in, "You came. All of you came.
"Yes, we came. Apparently your plan worked. Aruna said seating her on the stool next to his bed.
"Do you have any idea how sacred we were? Vinay admonished, "We had no idea how you were, and how bad your injuries were? All the media block and not letting Samar pick up our calls just to get us here.
"You figured it out? Shivaay asked surprised that he got caught.
"Please I had you the first time Samar did not pick up Annika's call. He always picks up her call no matter what. I just kept my mouth shut. Don't forget that your teacher is my wife. Vinay explained, "Aruna on the other hand put two and two together just outside your room.
"She is not going to come inside Shivaay, Sahil explained when he saw Shivaay staring at the door.
Shivaay looked at Aruna pleading, "She is with your mother Shivaay and I am not going to ask her to come inside. Aruna stated leaving no room for arguments.
"You are going to take her side Ma, Shivaay said unbelievingly.
"One of us has to Shivaay, Aruna said simply.
Shivaay sighed at Aruna's reply. She knew. Annika had told her everything. He really had his work cut out for him.
That Bloody Scoundrel. Annika paced in her room at the palace cursing the only man she had ever loved. He was still the same arrogant, controlling, conceited jerk. He should be called His Royal Highness Drama Queen Singh Oberoi. All he had was some minor scratches and burns. He was so okay that the hospital had discharged him. He controlled the media of an entire nation just to get her where he wanted. And damn him, she was here because no matter how much he hurt her she cannot stop loving him. His love lived in every cell on her body along with his betrayal. He evoked so much emotion from her that sometimes she thinks that she won't ever be able to breathe again. The news of the blast had paralyzed her momentarily. Then Samar Kaka would not answer his phone. Her mother was frantic and she was just numb inside when Baba decided that they will go see him at the hospital. He put her through hell again because that big man-child did not get what he wanted. Me.
It had taken every ounce of her strength in her to not walk into his room at the hospital. It grated her that even after getting her heart broken into a million pieces by him just the very thought of him hurt and harmed in any way made her heart stop. No matter how much she loved him, she respected herself a little more. So, she sat outside his room with Jhanvi Ma,Omkara, Rudra and Priyanka and took comfort in catching up with them after all these years. Yes, he had her here but she will not give him the satisfaction of seeing her hurt and worried over him. She had made a promise to herself eight years ago to put herself first and she intended to keep it. The stubborn boy she had loved had grown into an arrogant man but what he had to learn is that she also had built defenses that he won't be able to penetrate.
Kumkum Bhagya
