Shivika SS- 'Untamed Obsession '- Redux- updated 2 Oct- p - Page 9

"Anika.." His voice was like the music to heal her soul. The way he spelled her name. The way he looked at her concerned. She simply stared at him. She did not want to go away from this warmth. But she knew it wasn't warmth. It was fire. It only seemed as a reassuring warmth because she was cold. Very cold .

* * *

Omkara sat before Daadi. He had left Shivaay alone, with a sleeping Anika. Shivaay was adamant. He wasn't ready to leave her alone.

"What is it Daadi?"

"I am scared for Shivaay. He is going the way his dad took. "

Omkara blinked and held her hand as she slowly continued.

"Mrinali was my friend's sister's daughter. She was orphaned when she was eighteen when her mother died. She had no clue who her father was. My friend couldn't afford to keep her so I brought her home. She was just like our daughter. When Shakti came back from abroad we fixed his marriage with Pinky. Everything was fine. Pinky brought happiness, she brought Shivaay. Then you and Rudra were born. Happiness was overflowing. Our family was so happy. After Shakti's marriage Mrinali went away. She said she wanted to make her own life. She returned when Priyanka was born. With Mrinali's return our happiness turned to ashes. " Daadi wiped her tears. Pinky came to know that Shakti had an affair with her at the time of the marriage and continued when she cane back. I still remember the day she came crying to me with little Priyanka in her arms. Shakti wanted to leave her. He wanted to marry Mrinali. "

Omkara gasped. He had always known there was something. But he was never told what it was exactly and he had never asked further. None of them knew. His parents had kept mum. The chapter had been shut. No one spoke of it.

"I told her I was helpless. I tried to knock sense into Shakti. But him? Don't know what possessed him. He was mad about that woman. He was willing to break the family.He wanted his share and wanted to live separately. He was willing to leave his kids. Before we all could do something about it Pinky took things in her hands. She killed her husband and then herself. Leaving Shivaay and Priyanka estranged. Priyanka was lucky to have Jaanvi. Rudra was only a month older to Priyanka. But Shivaay, he witnessed the wrath and was affected until days. I still see that same vulnerability in his eyes."

Omkara had tears in his eyes as well. This was the hidden hurt Shivaay kept. He had not the slightest idea that Shivaay had witnessed his parent's death. He hugged Daadi. "Don't worry Daadi. I promise Shivaay will live, live happily. Live his life as he is supposed to without his past." With that Omkara left his Daadi to execute his tack. He couldn't blame his Daadi or Shivaay for not trusting people easily.

He reached Priyanka's room and asked her to keep Shivaay's company for some time so that he could talk to Anika in private. She agreed.

* * *

"How are you feeling now?" He asked his voice overflowing with concern.

"I am okay." She said sitting up uncomfortably.

"I told your aunt and brother. You are here." He said softly.

She nodded gratefully.

Their eyes locked for a minute and looked away for the another.

"You should take care of yourself."

"Thank you!" She said simply, ignoring his words.

" I think I should go home." She started speaking feebly.

"You aren't going, anywhere. Not until you are completely fine. " he ordered. She simply stared at him. She shouldn't, she shouldn't love this concern.

"I am fine. " she said looking away.

"I can see. " he nodded sarcastically.

"You are being too concerned aren't you?" She asked slowly looking into his eyes. What was in those eyes? Why were they so confusing? She hoped she did not imagine what she saw in them.

"How can I not?" He said, his voice feeble and vulnerability cascading in his tone.

"Why?" She asked as he settled before her.

He traced his fingers to her face and wiped away the tear that fell off her right eye. "I don't know."

She was tired of that answer. But she could see the honesty in that answer. There began her trouble. His confusion was honest.

He slowly inched closer as she stared at him with moist eyes. His other hand held her hand. Like he would never let go. She found herself yet again on that route to 'escape'. It was all very warming. His concern. His care. His ...love?

Her phone rang, breaking the spell. She jerked her hand out of his hold. He pulled back slightly but his left hand still remained on her face. She turned aside picking up her mobile phone. Her lips parted as she read the caller Id. He read it too. Soon his anger flashed on his face like her flashing mobile phone screen. It was Nikhil! He sat back pulling his hand away, staring at her, as though she had cheated on him. She gulped. She was about to lift the call when he ended the call.

"Mr. Oberoi." She said frustrated.

"Shivaay!" His shrill voice corrected her.

"That was my fianc calling!" She spoke irritated of his dominance.

"I told you he isn't right!"

"I told you to stop interfering in my matters."

"Enough Anika. " he said glaring at her.

"Stop being stubborn!" He added.

"It's my life. Shivaay. " she said trying to hint at what he was doing. He had no rights to take her decisions.

He got up irked up. "He is a fraudster. He does not care for you or love you. Can't you see. "

"Everyone deserves a chance to rectify their mistake, I am giving him that!" She said straight.

"You can't. " he said irritation evident in his tone.

"I.." Before she could say further Priyanka entered the room.

She looked at the two of them. Their expressions hinted at an argument.

Priyanka, composed herself and asked Shivaay if he could come with her for a few minutes. Shivaay immediately got up and walked to her. She held his hand and walked out with him. Once Om saw the two leave the room and head to Priyanka's room. He slipped into Shivaay's room.

Anika looked up at the sound and wiped her tears. That did not go unnoted by Omkara.

"You okay?" He asked sitting on the stool.

"Yeah. Thank you so much. " she smoked sitting up straight.

"Anika?" He looked at her trying to gauge what was going on in her mind.

"Yes."

"Is there a problem? problem between you and Shivaay?" He asked looking into her eyes.

She flinched and looked away. Omkara knew there was something.

"Do you love him?" He came straight to the point. She looked at him with shock. "No." She said looking at the wall behind him. She did not love him. But, he? Did he not?

"Do you think he loves you?" He asked his next question.

"Huh. No. I don't... Think so." Anika said awkwardly. She hoped he did.

"Anika, there is a problem alright. He isn't himself with you around. There is something between the two of you. And it's unsorted. This is all I understand. Unless you tell me or he tels something or both of you sort out things. How is it going to work?"

Anika did not know how to answer. She herself did not know what was going on, neither did he. "Omkara, I have been a trouble for you guys. Ever since I came things went terribly wrong for your family. I apologize. I think I should leave. " Anika said earnestly. Omkara satred at her. How was she too blame? No she wasn't. Why was she blaming herself?

"Anika, it was not your fault. In fact you saved Priyanka's life. You came for the better of our family. And if there is anything that hurt you, anyone one of us who hurt you, then I apologize." Omkara spoke gently with his eyes screaming honesty.

"Thank you. For everything. " she said simply. "I should leave. "

"Are you sure you are fine enough to leave? Can I please ask the driver to drop you?"

Anika smiled at him. "Its okay."

"No please. I insist. "

Anika nodded. Omkara quickly called the driver to keep the car ready. He led Anika out. Exactly in the corridor they encountered a surprised Shivaay.

"Where are you going?" He asked immediately.

"She is going home Shivaay!" Omkara replied for her.

Shivaay stared at his brother. "She is not okay."

"She is better now. She said she can go home. She wants to go home." Omkara smiled.

"Om, she is weak. She can't."

" The driver will drop her Shivaay relax."

Anika simply stared at him as he looked at her. His look screaming that she had wronged him. She looked away. What was this between them? Would she ever understand?

-Anami!

Anika turned to move downstairs. She could still fee his gaze in her. Omkara keenly observed Shivaay. There was definitely something in his manner. He was so irked up seeing her go. What was wrong with his brother?

Omkara temporarily put his thoughts on the stack of his brain and followed Anika down. No longer than she had got down she turned up to look at him. Omkara stoppe don the step and turned his gaze. He was still looking at her. Some intense eye-lock. Interesting! Very interesting.

But soon, there was commotion. Before he could escort Anika to the gate, from there entered her fianc, Nikhil! Nikhil immediately called out to her and got to her side. "Anika are you okay? I was so worried! Why weren't you picking my call? Aunty told me you are here and I.."

"Nikhil. Relax I am okay!" Anika said gently touching his forearm and slowly pushing it away from her while looking at Shivaay from the corner of her eyes. She prayed he did nothing in the rage. She knew it was rage, she was now familiar with that fire in his eyes.

He rolled his fist to look similar to a cannonball. How dare that man touch her? What hurt more was the assuring look she gave him. Hell! His does it matter to him? Whatever she does. It's her life. Well! Whatever she does, does matter. It does. It downright does. But it shouldn't...right? His thoughts put him in an unknown pit. He had never known the color of confusion. Right now his world was painted with that- colors of confusion.

Omkara slowly saw where Anika was looking. Damn, his brother looked as though he was ready to pounce. He then noted that stiff body and fist. Hell, he was like a fireball.

He had slowly started approaching the trio. Omkara was shocked. Why was Shivaay behaving that way?

Anika quickly stepped away from Nikhil, not wanting Shivaay to create a scene. Like he always did when Nikhil came into the picture. She had heard enough from his Daadi.

"Bye- Om!" She said and hurriedly signalled Nikhil to leave. Both walked out before Shivaay could even reach the stairs halfway. He hurriedly walked up again. A confused Omkara stood rooted at the spot. Something wasn't right. What? The way Anika hurried to leave, the looks they exchanged. There was something big. Very very big. Taking his phone out of his pocket he called Mallika. Only she could help him, figure these two after all she had a richer experience in human psychology.

* * *

The night was cold and the wind was howling. Shivaay stood at the window staring at the unoccupied outhouse. He felt terrible. He wanted to see her. A strong urge to see her filled his heart. He was growing restless. He had opened the window to kill the suffocation. But the suffocation was internal. All he needed up doing was staring at the outhouse. Why couldn't she stay there? Always - before his eyes?

Soon the glimpse of Nikhil and her came to his mind. He was plainly cheating her. Couldn't she see? Was she insane to allow a man like him in her life?

He could no longer hold his patience. Grabbing his coat from the couch and flicking it over his should he walked out. One call was all he had to make. In next two minutes he had her location. He smiled.

* * *

The knock rang still louder. Anika gasped. Sleep was away. She had been sitting and doing the artwork for Saahil. She had spoken to Gauri but had not mentioned anything to her. Neither of Shivaay's behavior nor of her health.

She wondered who it could be at this time. It was fifteen to eleven and her aunt and Saahil were sound asleep. Daksh? She trembled at the thought. No. It can't be him. Glimpses of him screaming at her with wicked looks came into her head. Oh no! It can't be him. Please. It can't. She decided to ignore the knock so whoever it was would think people in house were asleep and simply leave.

A third knock resonated. Anika wiped the sweat of her head using the edge of her duppatta. She was only over thinking. Maybe it was sthe neighbor. It was raining terribly maybe she needed help. Gulping she walked to the door. Wishing this small flat like two bedroom house had a window.

She froze when she saw the silhouette of a man. She had opened the door slightly, just as much as enough to have a glimpse. The rains had paused but still sounds of leaking droplets from various ambiguous sources could be heard. Anika took a few more seconds to realize to whom that outline belonged to. It was dark with the help of light from street lamp flashing right behind him she could see a rough dark figure. Shivaay!

She had gasped his name aloud. He stepped forward and his face came visible thanks to the dim light of the living hall.

"Umm..you here at this hour?"

"Yeah. Thought of checking on you. How are you know?"

"I had sent Omkara a message saying I was fine. " she said simply.

"Yeah. He told me." Why did she not message him?

Anika stared at him in silence. He looked at her intently.

She gulped. He stepped closer. She shot her eyes wide open. She immediately backed off. Her muscles grew tensed.

"Water?" He asked.

She nodded and disappeared inside. She quickly filed the glass and turned to see him right there. He was right behind her. She gulped. She extended the hand to him. It was the table, a few inches away her and at another few inches him. The cold night suddenly grew hot.

He bent over and placed the glass on the table. She immediately stepped back, her rear body touching the table. Once he had placed the glass he let his hand linger on the table tip as he stared into her chocolatey orbs.

"Shivaay!" She whispered alarmed.

He had a smile on his face. One having semblance to a smug smile .

He bent his head over her shoulder steadily. Anika could feel his body heat radiating to her.

Not again Anika.Please, not again. You are not going to that escape again. You are not going to do anything that leaves you with that title no woman desires. She took all the courage and fought all the temptation and pushed his shoulder slightly. Away.

He looked displeased.

"I think you should leave. " she said in a straight manner. She stepped aside immediately.

A frown started blooming on his face. " I am alright. " she added. He simply stared. She then moved to the door. Was she implying a get-out? A get-out to him? To him?

He strode to her and held her forearm. "What's your problem?"

"My problem. What's wrong with you Shivaay?" She said irked up trying to get his hand off her arm.

He looked at her hands. He pulled her more into himself. "You don't mind when that Nikhil touches you but mine bothers you so much?" He asked his nostrils flaring.

Anika was pissed. "Keep your tone low. Mr. Oberoi. " she said whisper yelling. "He is my fianc. And you are no one!" She said propelling her hand back. Shivaay gritted his teeth. How dare she!

In one shot he pulled her outside the house and pinned her to the wall next to the door. "Really? No one."

"No one!" She whispered looking at him. That is what bothered her most. She was a freaking 'No-one' in his life

"No one?" He asked with moist eyes and terribly heavy voice. As though made heavy by the weight of his heart.

"No one!" She looked down. He tipped her chin, she still didn't look into his eyes. He slowly pushed away the hair on her shoulder and neck. She was losing herself again. He then bent over and whispered in her ears with his breath seducing the skin he had just revealed. "No one?"

"No one!" She immediately pushed him behind and turned to go inside. He clenched his jaw and jerked her back into him. He drove his hands holding hers behind her back. He gave her. a longing look and then claimed her lips.

She just stood their frozen. Not responding, not protesting. What did she want?

His tongue claimed her mouth like of had done a million times. His hand left hers and now gently rested on her back. His hands moving slowly as his tongue. Claiming every inch.

---------

-Anami!